Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-11-19
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THE ISLE OF PALMS.
Interesting Sketch of South carolina's
Most Famous Resort.

Interesting Sketch of South Cardinals
Most Famous Resort.
Rising from the waters Of the blue
Atlantic along the low and sandy shore
Of South Carolina not far from Char
lesion, and forming one Of the chain OF
sea islands for which that region Is
peculiar, there has remained unnoticed,
until within the last few years, q GER
tain island whose beach Is unrivaled on
the South Atlantic coast, and whose
history may be Of interest to the many
people who visit 1t during the summer
season. Its formation is similar to that
Of the rest of these islands that abound
along this coast; that is, they consist
Of sand and other materials washed up
by the sea, and may be regarded as
encroachments Of the land upon the
water. 1t has q luxuriant growth OF
pines, palms and oaks, but Of no great
altitude on account Of the ocean breezes
to which they are constantly subject
ed. It differs from Sullivan's Island
In not being a mere sand bank, cast
up by the waves at the mouth of the
harbor, its undulations being Of a
more fixed and permanent nature, and
not a succession Of sand drifts and
dunes at the mercy Of winds and
waves, much more resembling the
neighboring main, from which It is
separated by a stretch Of curving
creeks and marshes. The beach. CO.
extensive with the island, is fully
twelve miles long, affording driveway
unequalled by the best roadway in the
world. This island, formerly known as
Long Island, first comes into notice as
having been the scene Of the landing
of the British troops during the Amer
lean Revolution, at the time Of the ex-
pedition against Charleston, in 1776, by
Sir Peter Parker. The deep inlet at the
southern end separating 1t from Sulli-
vans Island Is the especial point Of
interest, as 1t was impossible to make
the passage in the face Of hostile bat
teries, In order to attack Fort Moultrie
from the land side, while the feet at
tempted to run the gauntlet Of the fort
itself. How famously this attack on
Charleston was repulsed by the COM
plete defeat Of the British, and how the
vanquished squadron sailed away to
New York is an Oft told tale. For
more than century after this military
visitation this island lay quietly on the
bosom Of the restless sea, undisturbed
saved by occasional storms and the
friendly visits of hunters In search Of
game and adventure. It has In times
past been used by farmers for raising
products more or less, as some por-
tions Of the soil are somewhat fertile,
and toward the centre Is swamp or
lagoon which gives to the eye from en-
elevation a picturesque contrast to the
surrounding scene. 1t is, however, in
the last decade that 1t has come prom
inently into public notice as pleas
ure resort, for which 1t is indebted to
the advent OF the trolley. During the
summer months crowds throng the
spacious pavilion erected there to en-
Joy the. music. OF the United States
army post band, and to indulge In the
luxury Of salt water bathing. The
broad beach presents an animated
spectacle at that time with Its NOV
ing panorama Of bicycles and vehicles
Of all sorts. Fronting the ocean and In
full view Of the end Of the jetties,
there are vessels almost always In
sight, passing In and out and adding
to the variety of the scene. In addi-
ton to the attractions Of the pavilion
a fine hotel affords ample accommoda-
tions for the guests that frequent 1t In
yearly increasing numbers, not only
from the city. but from the interior OF
the state and from the neighboring
states as well. The trip from the city
Is one Of peculiar and varied interest.
Emerging from the ferry boat the
rustic village Of Mount Pleasant with
its cozy homes and shady lanes is
quickly traversed and the long bridge
is soon reached, which is the third that
has been erected at this point, the
first in the Revolutionary and the sec
ond in the civil war; The trolley then
threads gardens blooming with olean-
der and other flowers amid the white
sands Of Sullivan's Island, grazes an
angle of historic Fort Moultrie, near
whose portal lies the grave OF Osceola,
the Indian patriot and warrior, while
apparently within a stones throw lies
the other historic fort, Sumter. sur
rounded by its moat Of boundless blue
water Approaching the eastern end
of the island, the odor Of the myrtle
groves, from whose wax excellent can
dies were made during the civil war,
is very perceptible. The changed as
pect on entering the Isle Of Palms Is
very striking; one observes little
peaks of sand surmounted by palmet-
toes and is soon whirling through
variety Of foliage, which becomes more
dense, till, on nearing the terminus at
the pavilion, a grove Of live oaks sheds
its perpetual shade down a sandy slope
to a near creek on the rear Of the Is
land. Thus has this now favorite re-
sort-in obscurity for more than two
centuries-become an integral part Of
the social life OF the city and state,
monopolizing as it does so large part
Of the pastime and pleasure seeking
people Of different and distant parts
of the country.-Gustavus Memminger
Middleton in News and Courier.