The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-04-22
A Trip to the Magnolia Gardens.

A Trip to the Magnolia Gardens.
Left Summerville a. m. on train;
arrived at the ferry wharf 10 a. m.
There took steamer Jackson for the
beautiful Magnolia Gardens, sixteen
miles from this ferry, up the Ashley
river. Out on the bay we have fine
view of this magnificent harbor and
the city as it extends along it's water
front, the Cooper river on the East;
bay on South, and Ashley on the
West These waters form the
peninsula which encases the gem
city of the South and the Venice
of the future, when her neighboring
marsh flats shall have been utilized,
canaled, and gondolas shall traverse
the waterways from river to river.
Mt. Pleasant, Fort Moultrie, Fort
Sumter, and Fort Johnson (where
the quarantine is located), all come
into view as we skirt along the ex-
tensive water front of the city.
AS we leave let US take glance at
the custom house. See the American
flag as she drapes at half-mast to
honor our great citizen, soldier,
statesman. Gen. M. c. Butler Is no
more. He has fought his last bat
tie, and peacefully rests in the bosom
of his own beloved State, where his
name will ever be honored and per-
petuated. See the magnificent ships
there the Apache of the Clyde Line.
She has just received her cargo, and
now glides majestically out into the
open waters of the bay. We are now
in the deep channel of the Ashley
and passing in review the long stone
walls of "the Battery" it's beautiful
park, and the charming residences
that adorn this lovely resort of the
city Now we approach other ships
lying lazily., at anchor. Beautiful
day, the sun shines brightly and not
a ripple disturbs these peaceful wa
ters. se'.';' go
See the numerous church spires,
and central in, our love, dear old st.
Michael's. Chime on, chime on ye
beautiful bells, ring out your sacred
songs for 'tis glad Easter tide. Your
Ginning bells fill our heart with Joy
and. inspiring lift our souls, to- higher
co1templations. b..
The tide is low and against us as
we are slowly sugging up the Ashley.
Here are the old rice and lumber
mills, and many vessels are loading.
See the high draw bridge swings
round for our entrance and now we
come in sight of Hampton Gar
dens," where a few years ago we
witnessed that exquisite Exposition.
It's remembrance and those with
whom we mingled, sweet memory
still holds dear. On either side the
neighboring forests draw near, the
sable oaks draped in. their mossy
mantle are discerned more clearly
as we hug the margin Of the .marshy
stream to seek the deeper channel
which at low tide scarcely permits
our passage. Now we pass close by
the wharfs of the great phosphate
mills, inhale the incense waited from
their burning furnaces. On, on, we
move, our merry little party, some
from the city, and others tourists
from the North, that linger to
breathe our balmy air and feast upon
this lovely scenery, no other place
excels. The steamer blows her sig
nal and the Atlantic Coast Line
bridge opens for us. And now the
third. the last, and largest bridge
of all opens wide it's portal where
the railroad brings the rock from
the phosphate mines to the margin
of the river, where, after it has been
washed, it is then loaded into huge
bulky barges and transported down
the river to the mills which we pass
ed. There it is ground into COM
mercial fertilizers, the same which
is SO extensively used and by proper
means has so greatly enriched our
farming glands.
Now we are at the landing. Un-
der the bowed branches of stern old
oaks of centuries growth, here I'M
der this high arch of natures
building, we pass through and are
now in the famous Magnolia Gar
dens. 1 shall not attempt to de-
scribe the scenery which art and
nature have combined to make so
grand, beautiful, and sublime. Here
the swamp cypress and the stern
old oak with interlocking branches
have grown old and have withstood
the storms and tempests of cen
turies. And the stately magnolias
In rows and long avenues stand
(not yet in chaste beauty dresse6)
can we'll abide their time and in
calm complacency admire the clus-
tering roses, japonicas, and
azaleas in their gorgeous array,
which is only prelude to the beau
tiful scenery when the magnolias
are in bloom.
L. N. BELLINGER.
Bamberg, April 10, 1909.