The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-04-12

j
the earnest prayer OF all present that
for your future each day be richer
in its rewards.
At the close Of his address music
was again rendered by the band and
the exercises were over. Many crowd
ed around to read the inscription and
see the tablet after which the assem-
bly, slowly dispersed, having in mind
the brave deeds Of their fathers and
grandfathers VIXEN duty called them
to defense Cf their homes.
An interesting feature Of the occa-
sion was the presence at the unveiling
OF number of those who took part
in the battle Of Dingles Mill. men
who are now old and feeble, whose
heads are covered with gray but who
then were in their bOyhOod. or lust
entering upon the vigor Of manhood.
Among these were Messrs. s. +. Flow
4 ers Moultrie Reid, J. K. Newman, r.
j. Davis, Howard Jones, NJ. ]. Mich
aux, T. +. Cole, d. II. McCallum am
ID. James Wnn Besides there were
a large number Of other veterans who
in Virginia or on other fields were
fighting at that time in defense Of
the South
The signs of the battle are still
plainly visible, when one is told that
many of the old gum trees which
stand all along on each side Of the
causeway have no tops, or are forked
high above the ground, because Of
the fact that their tops were cut off
with cannon balls in this battle.
The ride out to Dingles Mill bridge
was found a pleasant one by those
who attended the exercises. The road
was found in excellent condition and
the weather beautiful for being out
of-doors. The trip was made in bug
gies, carriages and automobiles, the
veterans being taken out by the peo-
pie Of the city in automobiles. so that
there would be no hardship on them
in making the short trip of three and
a-half miles.
The improvements which have been
recently nade on the causeway Great
ed favorable comment from those
who had not passed that way recent
ly and the bridge was examined by a
number of those present, it being the
first opportunity which they had had
to do this since it's completion. The
bridge is built over the Turkey Creek
stream and has span of twenty-four
feet. 1t is built upon piles for a
foundation and has vertical supports
instead of the usual arched supports.
1T Is supported across by six big steel
beams which are strongly reinforced
by concrete. The sides are several feet
thick and tn bridge presents an ap-
pearance Of solidity and permanency
1t is a great Improvement over the
old wooden bridge and many Of those
who have to use this much used road
are very thankful that it has been
also supported by steel uprights and
arches. it being in the central part of
the bridge that the tablet is placed.
The bridge was ordered built by
the county board of commissioners
and is probably the best in the coun-
ty 1t was planned and the work su-
pervsed by Prof. NJ. G.. Homes of the
/ University of South Carolina, the cost
being about s1,5OO. In building the
bridge it was found convenient to
move it from its original position to
a point in the causeway opposite the
stream, which formerly ran along the
dam for more than hundred feet
and then turned in under the bridge.
In doing this the workmen found it
necessary to open up a canal down be-
low the causeway for several hun
dred feet.