The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-04-04
The Father of the Melon Industry.

It was on the first day of Janu-
ary, 1853, that Lincoln issued the
famous proclamation of Emancipa-
ton. The slave was a great factor
in the Civil war. His liberation was
the doom of the Confederacy.
In the tide-water section of South
Carolina slavery had wrought won
ders. Marshes were dried, ravines
and morasses were subdued and an
earthly Eden established where for
ages Fauna and Flora held high car
nival in the dreary wilderness. The
sea island, and rice planters had
upon slavery built up the very acme
of aristocracy. No planters on earth
were more prosperous or lived on a
grander scale. The ancient Barons
of England and Germany were poor
when compared with some of the rice
and sea island planters in ante-bel-
lum days. The planters themselves
were for the greater part educated in
Europe, and their children were sent
to the great European seats of learn
ing and returned with not only learn
ing, but with the social polish of
FURNISHED steel or refined gold. Sew
eral generations had been educated
abroad, from the most wonderful
agricultural country on earth-the
farming Eldorado.
One dreary morning in January,
1868 a prominent sea island planter
was in his palatial home going over
the mornings mail and found the
Emancipation Proclamation. He was
rot only learned, but wise man,
and he didn't need a Daniel to inter-
pret the handwriting on the wall,
but he himself saw that slavery was
done, and that the Confederacy was
doomed. He called up his house
servants and bid them to go over
the entire plantation and summons
every slave to appear at the residence
at once; that he had good news for
them all. In due course of time
every slave came according to or
ders. He then read to them the
Proclamation, and explained it to
them. He made them fine talk, and
wound up by asking each and every
one to remain on the plantation, and
stated also that he had gift for
each and all. He proceeded to make
these gifts, and to the Oldest couple
on the place, Uncle Ben and Aunt
Bina, he gave them their cottage and
a few acres of land around it.
On going home Aunt Bina made
several suggestions, what crops to
plant, and so on. Uncle Ben was
silent. On entering his cottage he
sat by the fire, smoked his pipe, and
was in a deep study. At last he
spoke:
"Bina done figger out what we
fer plant"
What you gwine fer plant, Benz
DE watermellin."
"Watermellin on de whole crap
Benz
Eyes, on de whole crap. You
sees da be two armies 'roun Charles
town, don't g. Den dere's de city
right at de door wha We fer sell de
mellin, an us git rich
"Oh! Ben l Ieber Know you
"Oh! Ben L neber know you
could forecass matters dat away.
When spring came the entire place
was planted in melons, and if mis-
take not this was the very beginning
of melon culture on a commercial
scale. Old Ben had access to both
armies, could go to the city when ne
chose, and he knew that nice water
melons would sell like hot cakes on
a cold day to a hungry crowd. AND
the melons grew finely, and when
the crop was made, it was wonder
to behold. But every night thieves
would raid the melon field, and Uncle
Ben swore vengeance. on the depre-
dators. He loaded up an army mus
ket, and when dark came he went TO
the middle of the melon field, and
sat down by a low stump, to guard
his fortune. The night was delight
full. The ocean breeze was cool,
saline and balmy. In front the lights
from Charleston, the doomed, and at
that time the Niobe of cities, were
like beacons keeping vigils over the
watches of the night. On the bay
or rather in the harbor the Federal
blockading fleet was sweeping the en-
trance to the city with powerful
searchlights, and were signalling to
each other in those mysterious fash
es. which to Uncle Ben was Greek,