Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-27


the words "one, two, three-fire!" no
sportsman aiming at a squirrel in q
tree. ever raised his weapon more
deliberately, or took more careful aim.
Both pistols went off simultaneous
ly. When the smoke began to lift,
Perry was seen standing unmoved, as
when he took his position, his eagle
eye watching his opponent, whose
frame began to quiver, when he drop
ped to the earth. Perry's ball had
sped straight to its mark and pene-
trated Bynum's heart. He had fought
one duel too many and his last. Per-
ry's friends rushed him off the blood
stained island, and he remained away
from Greenville, until the excitement
blew over, when he returned, and be-
came one of the most distinguished
men in South Carolina, having been
honored by his people with
the highest office within their gift.
But let us return to that field.
Just as this duel ended, the sun sank
in the west, and a dreadful rain
storm set in, as If even the heavens
were weeping over the bloody tragedy.
A few friends lifted up the body of
the dead duelist, and placing the
corpse in a boat, carried 1t to the
mainland over in South Carolina.
Reaching the shore a consultation
was held as to what should be done
with the body. Bynum had no rel
atives in Greenville, and with the
death Of their champion the political
hopes of their hackers perished.
Perry would now be the hero, and
his faction strengthened. A litter
was made from some poles found on
the bank. and upon this his body
was placed. 1t was then put into
carriage, and driven to the historic
Stone church, about two miles from
the present site of Clemson college,
and which old structure has been
standing since the days Of the Revo-
luton. Near the edifice was burial
ground. Some negroes were found
and employed to dig a grave. With
the rain pouring down in torrents,
the body Of the dead duelist was con-
signed to it's last resting place. There
was no burial service read over the
body. and the interment was that OF
a soldier killed on the field OF battle.
Two uprooted pine saplings supported
the rigid body, and in order to mark
the grave they were stuck at Its head
and foot. But there was enough VI
tality in those sticks to take root, and
they grew into large pines. Some
two years ago the Southern Field
editor visited this old church. and
was shown the grave Of Bynum.
Some vandals, in clearing off the
burial ground, had cut down those
pines, but their stumps were still
In this old burial ground is the
dust of many great South Carolini-
ans, including the ancestors OF our
friend, Mr.. Berry Benson Of Hart
well; but to our eyes the saddest
spot Is the neglected grave Of that
young man who lost his life to vindi-
cate political resentment, and was the
victim Of a bloody and brutal prac-
tice.
Several years ago we met son OF
Gov. B. F. Perry, and spoke to him
HG
of that duel. He said that his father
never recovered from the horrors OF
the deed. He never spoke of the
matter but once to his family, and
when the subject was brought up.
raised his hand in mute protest, and
then stated that he never desired TO
have that unfortunate and deplorable
mentioned In his family;
that he would give all he possessed In
the world-fame. fortune and politi-
cal future-if he could only wipe
from his hand the stain Of Bynum's
blood. 1t haunted Perry to his grave,
and his saddened face plainly showed
that the bullet which carried death
TO Bynum on that little island also
inflicted an incurable wound In his
own heart.
The writer is familiar with the his
tory of this tragedy, for his father al
that time lived in Greenville county,
being a young man. and we have
heard the facts recounted many
times.
So that picture possesses historic
interest, especially to South Carolin-
ians. If you ever visit Clemson COL
lege, do not fail to pay a pilgrimage
to that old Stone church. which
Is still standing, but no longer used
as a place Of public worship. It's
grave yard is still kept up, and con-
tains many costly and imposing mon
uments. In a few years those pine
stumps that mark poor Bynum's
grave will have decayed, and this sad
spot become lost. There Is no doubt
that this is the grave of Bynum, for
II has been pointed out by men who
were present at both that fatal duel
and the dismal burial. But the pres
ent generation seems ashamed that
this duelist's dust mingles with their
and it Is said those senti-
mel pines were purposely felled that
the memory of this bloody tragedy
might the sooner fade from the pub
lie mind.
In that old Stone church John Z.
Calhoun once worshipped, as also the
Pickens, and other distinguished
men from the old Palmetto state. In
that little grave yard repose the
bones of the leaders in the American
and men whose eloquence
and craftsmanship were heard and
throughout the world.
Bynum was clearly in the wrong;
for he was q hot-brained and impet-
uous, yet a gallant young man; and
the duel he forced on his opponent
proved not only his own death knell'
but left a blot upon his name. His
lived along and honored
life, but he could never wipe from his