The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-03

Flat Rock. N. O.. September 2.-tspecial correspondence) 1.-The old houses and gardens of Flat Rock are so steeped in history that 1t is like a day out of a book to have any part of the past unearthed. Some of the ancient house date back to the early thirties and the old church, St. Johns in the Wilderness, built by Charles and Susan Barring, is one Of the most his- toric in the whole country. The private estates owned by coast planters in those days have passed to other falimies and the records of these old places point to the sad fact that no descendants of the lords of the manor own at the present time any of the vast possessions that should have descended to them, had the ravages of war been less devastating
 There is a group of houses and gar dens that belong in a distinctive class because of their antiquity, but other villas with histories not so ancient form also a distinctive group. Conspicuous in this latter class is Beaumont distinguish ed looking house built in the early part of the last century. The records of this old place that have been preserved show that the patent was granted in 1903 by Jane McAim. The estate consisted orlgl- nally of some two thousand acres. Later some, if not all of the land, passed into the hands of the Countess de Cholrseul.
 Marie Joseph Xavia de Chorseul is plainly visible on the titles and the name of the Countess de Choirseul as- soeiated with much Of the earlier history Of Flat Rock gives an interest to any place. as there were many reasons that made her an historic and therefore most interesting woman.
 The titles clearly show that Beaumont passed from the Countess into the pos session of Andrew Johnson of Charles ton a wealthy coast planter who Tn com mon with other Charlestonians came to Flat Rock annually. All of the old houses have been occupied at one time in their history by the old families of Charles ton and the coast. Other owners from time to lime have given more or less in- terest to the place. Now its present owner, Mrs. Vertner Woolley oI Neh- lucky, has brought into the old house many priceless treasures, and as the last person into whose possession the title mas succeeded it deepens the interest since she represents an historic name In Amer lean history.
 The tragic story associated with Beau mont is well remembered today by res .idents of Flat Rock, who were conteih- porarles of Andrew Johnson.
 During the war this part of the coun- try was a rendezvous for deserters ana group of bush whackers were respon- sible for the only crime that seems to have ever shadowed Flat Rock Andrew Johnson was their victim ana the me old house where today may be seen the blood stains and the marks of the bullets fired by the bush whackers, was the scene of the tragedy.
 Several men in the uniforms of a Con federate soldier appeared one day at Beaumont and asked for food. They were treated in the most hospitable manner, a bounteous feast was prepared for them and they were seated at the long table in the state dining room
 MT. Johnson observed that some of his guests were glancing rather furtivey at the massive silver plate and their actions aroused hls suspicious
 In the dining room with the party was a young son of MT. Johnson a youth Of fifteen. His father. now quite awake to the situation and yet not over looking any of the ciyllties, turned to his son with the remark:
 Get Miss Betsy ready"
 Miss Betsy was MT. Johnson's sym onym for his gun and the boy quickly left the room. Before the boy returned the men arose to go, passing from the dining room into the hall. Suddenly one of them turned and fired on MT, Johnson, who had followed them to the front door, He returned the fire and one of the bush whackers was wounded. Several shots were fred some of them going through the wall in the front hall near the draw ing room door,
 Mir Johnson, fatally wounded, was brought In the dining room where he died before he could be conveyed to his pri- vate apartments.
 The tragedy stirred Flat Rock as 1t had never been stirred The military from Hendersonville were ordered out and searching parties went in every direction. The attempt to find all the men implicated in the tragedy was unsuccessful, but one of the bush whackers was found des- perately wounded just outside Of the rose gardens He was instantly shot and his body buried beneath the pines that cover the hillsides His grave is still pointed out by the old residents of Flat Rock.
 The passing of the years has never en- tirely obliterated even the smallest de- tail of the tragedy While accounts differ in some trfiing way, it is remark able with what similarity the story Is re- peated today, the essentials agreeing fully Accounts vary as to whether the shots were fired in the dining room, or from the front walk. as the deserters were leaving Beaumont. But from the most reliable authority in Flat Rock the facts obtained show that MT, Johnson had left the dining room when the fatal