The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-07-13

HISTORY OF
**SUNNYSlDE''
Scene Of Avant-Bigham Homicide is Place OF Great
Historic Value.

~ 2ss ~ 81 3ass Xss8se8Ses6asss
Since Avant, the convicted slayer
of Mrs. Bigham, has been captured IN
Texas and brought back to the South
Carolina penitentiary to serve his
sentence of three years, interest IN
this murder case has been revived
throughout Carolina. DR.. Bigham,
husband of the victim, who was con-
victed also with Avant, is still at
large, while his bond of $4,000 has
been estreated. The bond of Avant,
$4,000, was collected by Georgetown
county. where the homicide occurred,
and in addition to losing the bond
Avant must serve his sentence. 1t
is said that he thought the payment
of his bond would suffice, and he
would not have to serve his sentence.
But he has now learned otherwise.
The site of the homicide is on Muir
rell's Inlet, a large marsh near the
coast in Georgetown county. In this
marsh is a creek affected by the tide
circles and furnishes the very best
of fishing. Hence, the inlet is a kind
of resort, but owing to it's inaccessi-
bility it is not popular resort. The
exact spot of the killing occurred on
the banks of this small creek, just
in front of the old summer home OF
the Alstons and in which Avant and
Bigham were living, the house being
known as 'tSunnyside." This particu-
lar home place has peculiar and in
teresting history, since it has been
the scene of many tragedies, and also
q. the scene of some of the most bril-
liant ante-bellum society entertain
ments.
"Sunnyside" was built IS years
ago, so it is said, by Mr.. Aston, a
close kinsman of Gov. Alston, and to-
day the house stands just as good as
when first built. 1t has huge rooms,
ten in all. The walls are several
feet thick, and in the walls of one of
the rooms is hidden one Of the mys-
teries of the place. It is said that
Mr.. Aston became angered with one
of his many slaves, and that he slew
him. His body was placed within
the wall, through small door built
for the purpose of fighting fire in
the roof and between the walls. This
story may or may not be true, but
the people of that community believe
in it firmly, and TO-DAY the room Is
known as the haunted chambet."
Theodosia Burr Disappears.
Way back yonder in Aaron Burr's
time "Sunnyside" was the scene of
an awful tragedy which interested all
of the people of the original thirteen
States. Theodosia Burr, as Mrs. Ais
ton, with party of ladies and
slaves boarded a small launch and
went out of the Inlet into the sea to
meet her husband and some friends
who were coming home from a trip
to Charleston or down the coast.
When Mrs. Aston and her party
boarded the launch that was the last
seen of them. The launch was either
caught in a squall, or was captured
by pirates. At any rate, the only evil
dence of the drowning of the party
was a dress picked up on the beach
many miles. distant, the cloth being
recognized as that of Mrs. Alston's.
The general impression is that the
party was captured by pirates. And
in this connection it might be stated
that the Inlet was named for Capt.
Murrell, pirate who plyed up and
down the Atlantic coast, and who
used to seek safety from the storms
at sea by running in the Inlet. 1t is
also said that Capt, Kidd did the
same thing, and that both of these
pirates buried great treasures on the
UdukS VI lie 1ulSL. OO uiuly ID lu1S
believed that even to this day ex-
plorers can be seen digging on the
beach for fortunes.
Tide Kills Is Persons.
Within two miles of "Sunnyside," I"
but clearly in view of that place, is
situated Magnolia Beach, where Is
persons lost their lives when the
great tidal wave of September, 1892,
invaded that part of the coast. These
Is persons were of the Flagg family
and their servants. Around the inlet
to-day can be found several persons
who were there when the wave came,
and their account of it is quite inter-
esting.
Story Of the Tidal Wave.
The story runs thus: About 10:45
o'clock one morning in September a
s'northwester" storm was sighted off