Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-07-05
THE MYSTERIES OF 'sUNNYsIDE,
Scene of Avant-Bigham Homicide
Place OF Historic Value.

Since Ayant, 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 ($3,000) 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 tho Homicide
Is on Murrell's Inlet, a large marsh
near the coast in Georgetown county.
In this marsh 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 mac
feasibility 1t is not a popular one.
The exact spot Of the killing is
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 "Sunnyside." This
particular home-place has q peculiar
and interesting history, since it has
been the scene Of many tragedies,
and also the scene OF some of the
most brilliant ante-bellum society
entertainments.
'Sunnyside" was built IS years
ago, 80 1t Is said, by Mr.. Alston,
close kinsman Of Governor 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 mysteries Of the place. 1t
is said that Mr.. Aston became an
gered with one of his many slaves,
and that he slew him. His body was
placed within the wall, through a
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 1t firmly, and
to-day the room is known as the
haunted chamber"
Thcodosia 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 Thir-
teen States. Theodosia Burr, as Mrs.
Aston, with party Of ladies and
slaves, boarded small launch and
went out Of the inlet into the sea to
meet her husband and some friends
who were coming home from trim
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 cap-
tured by pirates. At any rate the
only evidence Of the drowning Of the
party was dress picked up on the
beach many miles distant, the cloth
being recognized as that Of Mrs. AL
stons. The general impression ia
Hat the party was captured by pi-
rates And in this connection it
might be stated that the inlet was
named for Capt. Murrell, a pirate
who piled up and down the Atlantic
coast, and who used to seek safety
from the storms at sea by running in
the inlet. It'is also said that Cant.
Kidd did the same thing, and that
both Of these pirates buried great
amounts Of treasures on the banks
OF the inlet. So firmly Is this be-
heved that even to this day explorers
can be seen digging on the beach for
fortunes.
Tide Kills Fifteen Persons.
Within two miles Of "Sunnyside, ;"
but clearly In view Of that place, Is
situated Magnolia Beach, where ff-
teen persons lost their lives when the
great tidal wave Of September, 1892,
invaded that part Of the coast. These
hfteen persons were OF the Flagg
family and their servants. Around
the inlet to-day can be found seve-
raj persons who were there when the
wave came, and their account of 1t
is quite interesting.
Gfnrv rf tI,o
The story luns thus: About 10.45