The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-05-15
What WAS THIS RUIN?
AN OLD MAUsoIEUM OR FORT
ON THE SANTEE.
The Builders of This Strange struc
ture Left Us No Clue That Time

Has Not Obliterated.
Mr.. M. T. Carlisle writes of an
old ruin in this county in the State
that will be read with interest by
tions its romantic development into a
never heard of it before. Here is
what Mr.. Carlisle says about this
mysterious old ruin:
South Carolinians have begun to
treasure the history of their entire
state Much effort is now being
made to preserve to future genera
tions its romatic development into 4
great State. However, there is much
of it's history that dates so far back
into the vague, uncertain past, that
its very obscurity stimulates in us
the widest conjectures.
On one bank of the Santee river
near Parler, at a point formerly
known as Pinckney's landing, stands
a remarkable ruin. 1t is evidently
the remains of an old fortress or
of mausoleum. However, it can
not be determined for which pur-
pose this vast work of masonry was
employed.
AS it stands today it consists of
a wall inclosure in rectangular shape,
80 by 60 feet The walls are five
feet high and 1S inches thick. They
are completed on top in octagonal
shape, which indicates that they
stand today at their original height.
A noticeable popularity of the
walls is the fact that they are solid
and intact, not containing single
opening for door or gate, they are
built Of firm English bricks, which
are substantially cemented. 1t is
with great difficulty that one Is
able to extract even souvenir brick
from the wall.
AS to the history of this unique
inclosure very little can be learned.
1t Is known to have existed very
much in its present condition 15O
years ago. Beyond this period it
is obscure and uncertain, BUT is
thought for various reasons to have
existed since the earliest settlements
were made in the State.
1t is situated on high buff over
looking the river just opposite
huge bend and for this reason is
claimed by some to be the remains
of an old fort. This theory is fur
ther strengthened by the substantial
nature of it's walls. However, the
fact that the walls are only five feet
in height, we feel, totally disconcerts
this idea.
The oldest inhabitants of the Sec
ton claim that far back about the
close of the 18th century an English
settlement was made at this point.
The settlers after year Of hard
ships, had nearly all died of malaria
(Which is known to be severe in that
section). The few survivors erected
this walled inclosure as mausoleum
around the graves Of their dead
comrades and returned to England.
This theory is substantiated by the
existance of a large Surrounding
field, which, like the Enclosure, dates
back beyond the recollections of the
Oldest inhabitants for several gen.
erations. This, also, Of course, is
nothing more than mere theory, but
being the more rational of the two
is the generally accepted one.
What ever the facts may be there
is some unrecorded history of i'm
portance connected with this mould
ering ruin worthy of inquiry; in
deed, there is something romantic
and fascinating about this secluded
spot. More than one curious OBJ
server, after much examining, inquir-
ing, dreaming and guessing, has had
to abandon the hope Of ever reach
ing the clue to the history OF this
singular structure.
7 for one have examined the wall
with the utmost care but could not
discover anything that enlightened
me in the least. The builders left us
no clue that time has not obliterated
unless they have placed something IN
one of the cornerstones. l nope
some time to make search for this.
Though I can offer no explanation
for the existance of this interesting
structure, I feel that it must be
landmark in South Carolina history.
Its very antiquity inspires one with
awe and we can not look at its grim
walls without feeling that 1t stands
as q monument commemorating some