Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-16
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
From the First Settlement to the Close OF
the Revolution.
From the Yorkville Enquirer OF 1915
INSTALLMENT XXI.
Trouble Brings Union.

Trouble Brings Union.
Calamities often befall nations, as
we'll as individuals, in quick success
sion. The infant colony of South
Carolina was no exception. Harassed
by designing men in her midst, and
surrounded by blood-thirsty neigh
bors, her very existence was almost
in Jeopardy. The usurpation of few
unscrupulous fanatics nearly drove
many Of the best citizens from the
colony. They had heard Of the mild
and just government of William
Penn, and being oppressed by a set
of mongrel ecclesiastical tyrants, they
formed the resolution to leave the
home of their adoption, and cast their
lots with the honest Quaker. But
few actually left the colony; still
many had been planning their depar-
ture. Two calamities befell the colo
ny, which to some extent, caused the
disturbances amongst the inhabitants
to cease. and united the advocates Of
the various creeds in a common cause.
Scourse of Yellow Fever.
In the summer of 1706, the yellow
fever again made its appearance In
Charles Town. This dreadful disease
commenced its ravages at an early
period amongst the settlers Of the
New World In st. Domingo, In 1894
and 1893, it prevailed amongst the
Spaniards. 1t made it's appearance in
Boston as early as 1898 and two years
afterward In Philadelphia and Charles
Town. Again 1t appeared with more
virulence and with greater fatality In
Charles Town, in July and August Of
1905. In the city, for some time, five
and six deaths from yellow fever, oc-
CURED daily. Many of the prominent
citizens were swept off. All that
could do so, left the city and retired
to the country. The governor went to
his plantation, which he called Silk
Hope. Dissenters and High Church
men, alike, fell before the plague.
With death, all around them, the in
habitants forgot their differences; or
at least ceased, for time, to cherish
their hatred for one another.
Queen Anne's War.
| But at this juncture, another event
occurred, which still further tended
to cause them to lose sight Of their
party quarrels. England was at war
with France and Spain. Both Of these
powers laid claim to the Continent or
America The claim of England rested
upon a grant made by the Roman Pom
tiff to the English Monarch, and both
France and Spain based their claim to
the same territory, on priority Of dis
covery and occupancy. So soon as war
was declared in England by Queen
Anne against France and Spain both
these nations turned their attention to
wrestling the country from the hands
Of the English. 1t was thought that
the colony in South Carolina would be
easily captured. Impressed with this
idea, an expedition was planned by the
French fleet under the command Of LIE
Feboure. The plan was concerted at
Havana. The governor of st. Au-
gustine agreed to render him his as
sistance in the enterprise. From Ha-
vana, LIE Feboure sailed with a frigate
and four sloops. He touched at st.
Augustine to receive the promised aid.
On arriving at st. Augustine, 1t was
| learned that the yellow fever was rag
ing at Charles Town. This was
thought to be favorable to the under
taking. 1t was confidently expected
that they would find the inhabitants
of Charles Town unprepared. This
was the case. 1t Is true that the city
had been comparatively speaking, well
fortified. But many of the inhabitants
were sick; others were waiting upon
the sick and watching over the
couches of dying friends; whilst not
a few had fled from the plague into
the country.
Threatened Attack on Charles Town.
A circumstance trifing in itself
saved the city from being attacked
whilst in this unprepared condition
and saved It, perhaps, from total de-
struction. The governor had sent out
a Dutch privateer, formerly from New
York, to cruise on the coast. The COM
mand of this vessel was given to Capt
Stool. 1t was known that vessel
was to pass from Havana to st. Au-
gustine, bearing the money to pay of
the garrison at the latter place. This
vessel Capt. Stool was instructed tC
capture. Suddenly Capt. Stool came
: up with the fleet under command OF
! LIE Feboure. Holly pursued by the
fleet he made his escape by entering
the harbor of Charles Town. This was
: on Saturday, August oath. Scarcely
had he entered the harbor when sig
: nails were given by those posted or
Sullivan's Island, that five armed ves-
sells were in sight. The signal was
given by kindling five separate fires
! in different places. on the island. The
sun was only about two hours high
and it was feared that the invaders
would Immediately sail into the har-
Dor and commence the attack. A
dispatch was sent to the governor with
all possible speed. Runners were sent
in all directions, to gather up the scat
tered militia. The enemy came to the
bar, but feared to cross, lest they
might become entangled in its wind
ings. Alarm guns were fired in the
city and through the surrounding
country during the night. The Sab
bath and Monday We're spent by the
invaders in taking soundings. During
the Sabbath. General Broughton arriv-
ed in the city with two foot companies
and Colonel Logan with one company
of cavalry. On Monday. Governor
Johnson arrived from his plantation
He found the inhabitants in the great
est confusion and distress. His pres
ence soon restored confidence in the
people The first thing he did was tc
declare martial law He did every
thing calmly and deliberately. The
Indian allies were sent for from the
surrounding country. and preparation