The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-04-17
Washington In Columbia,

:I>:'' fI;l 80! ; -: :" Jip ~ :''<'.
=. .>1' ~ go =: =:
49, Washington In Columbia 'di
The State.
Through the courtesy of the con-
eressional library. I have recently
had the opportunity Of seeing and
reading Benson J. Lossing::s rare edi-
ton Of .Washington's "Diary." " The
journal of his southern tour extends
from March .2lst to June y, 1791. In
the course of this trip he accomplish
ed a journey Of more than seventeen
hundred miles from his seat on the
Potomac in. sc days with the, same
teams Of horses, eight days less than
the time allotted in the itinerary.
The entire tour was sineular]y unin-
! terrupted by sickness. bad weather.: or
accidents of any kind. -. -,
."In, this tour,' writes Washing
ton, ."I was accompanied by Maj.
Jackson. Ny equippage and attend
ance. consisted of a chariot and four
thorses, drove in hand-a light bag
gage wagon and two horses--four
saddle ,horses, besides: a led one for
myself, and fve,. to wit: My valet de
.chambre, two footmen, coachmaA and
/ postilion.' How different from, the
imperial splendor. ,of the progresses
made by recent presidents! -.
The father Of his country reached
Columbia on Sunday. May 22nd, and
remained here until Wednesday, the
25th. The entries for those three
days will be of interest to all Co
:lumbians. no doubt, and I therefore
tranScribe them, preserving the quaint
capitalization of the original:
"Sunday, 22d.-Rode> about p
miles to breakfast, and passing
through the village Of CRANKY, just
below the first falls in the Congaree
(which was passed in fiat bottomed
boat at a rope ferry), I lodged at Co.
lumbia, the newly adopted Seat OF
the Government Of South Carolina
about 3 miles from it, on the No. side
of the River, and 81 from my break
fasting stage.
"The whole Road from Augusta to
Columbia is? pine barren of the
worst sort, being hilly as we'll as poor.
This circumstance added to the dis
tance, length Of the stages, want OF
water and heat Of the day. foundered
one Of my horses very badly:
"Beyond CRANKY 4 miles was met
by sevl. Gentlemen Of that place &
Wynnsborough; and on the banks Of
the River on the No. side by num-
Der of others, who escorted me to
Columbia.
"Monday, 23d.-Dined at pub
lie dinner in the State house with a
number of Gentlemen & Ladies of the
Town Of Columbia, L Country round
about to the amt. of more than l5O,
Of which so or go were Of the latter.
"Tuesday, 24th.-The condition Of
my foundered horse obliged me to re-
main at this place, contrary to my in
tentions, this day also. .
."Columbia is laid out upon a
large scale; but, in my opinion, had
better been placed on the River be-
low the falls.-It is now an uncleared
wood, with very few houses. in it,
and those all wooden over-The State
House (which is also Of woody, is a
large and commodious building, but
unfnished-The Town is on dry, but
canot be called high, ground and
though surrounded by Piney & Sandy
land is, itself, good.-The State
House is near two miles from the
River, at the confluence of the Broad
River & Saluda.-From CRANKY the
River is navigable for Craft which
will, when the River is little swell
ed, carry 5000 bushels Of Grain
when at it's usual height less, and al
ways ome.-,The River from hence to
the Wateree below which it takes the
name of the Santee is very crooked; it
being, according to the computed
distance, near 400 miles-Columbla
from Charleston is l3C miles. "
Such was the appearance OF our
city and it's impression on George
Washington one hundred and fifteen
years ago.
G.. A. Wauchope.
South Carolina college.