Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-01-06

FRlDA Y J "a N u 1
and other islands Of the sea were sc
poor they could not pay the taxes. The
district was represented by Bob Smalls
negro congressman. Largely through
his influence the sold4for-t tax land;
were divided by the Federal govern.
ment into tracts OF from ten to nfteer
acres and sold to the helpless and de-
pendent negroes for something like q
dollar tract--just a nominal sum tc
make legal sale.
| And yet some lands around the cit!
of Beaufort less than twenty miles of
bring $1,000 an acre and even more
and this land of st. Helena is just as
rich. 1t Is said that forty per cent OF
the splendid land in Beaufort county
today--land so much wanted by white
truck farrners-is owned by negroes.
Such is ST. Helena Island, dark
Africa of the South Atlantic coast and
the conditions there are like those OF
other coastal is'es. And yet some day
it is predicted, it will bloom like the
country in the rear Of the historic old
city of Beaufort is blooming-the coun-
try that is becoming know as Little
Florida"
sBriekyard River.
Churning her way out of Coosaw,
leaving st. Helena Jslahd behind, the
Christensen boat ploYs her way into
Brickyard river. Mr., tRice. calls at
tention to the fact that there on the
right is Chisolm Island where the late
DR.. Robert ,Chisolm madc a fortune
growing olives before the War Bewtecn
the States. The olive industry is no
longer carried on therf; but with the
new awakening that iscoming over the
wonderful coast counttysit may be re-
vived because it is possible to produce
almost any fruit in that wonderful
semi tropical climate.
But the scenic beauties of that coun-
try--numerou; palmettos--at one point
a regular forest of palmettos; stretches
of woodland, long festoons of Spanish
moss, graceful and p,ilnted, hanging
from the trees arc begond comparison.
The marsh grass Zines the river
banks for miles and miles, flocks OF
wil6. duck fly up front the grass and
pass near the boat. VI one had had a
gun and could shoot--well, it would
have been an. easy matter to supply
half of York county with the fine meat
In short order.
Herring gulls sported around the
boat. Interesting pastime on the trip
was to throw bit Of bread or other
food into the water The gull appears
to have eyes all around. lie sees the
throw and he flies hleng over the spot
and dives for the lnprsel. Perhaps he
misses his quest. fPM herring gull, one
learns, is q bird or great patience. Lots
of persons might learn, a lesson from
him. He swoops again and comes UP
with the bread and flies into the sky.
He does not so far; because there
might be another morsel thrown into
the water. There is, and he Is there to
get It. And SO he and his brothers
follow for miles and miles and miles.
This river country Is veritabie
paradise for birds and water fowl. We
see several species of tern. High above
is q big marsh hawk looking for some
thing to eat as he casts his sharp eyes
over the landscape.
There on the right Is a flock Of red
winged blackbirds. The Selted KING
fisher flies about. The solitary sand
piper fits along the river banks on the
edge of the marsh; noiseless and
crafty and cunning.
Out there TO the left q loon or great
northern diver, disports in the water
diving with a grace and skill that Is
peculiar only to his species, the natur-
alist Of the party says.
One sees q great, ugly bird-in fact
a pair of them, perched on buoys q
mile ahead. Mr.. Rice, despite the dis
tance away, identifies them as Florida
comorants. The boat comes closer TO
the 'buoys and, the big water birds ny
away into the distance, clumsy, ul-
calmly looking fowls, flying low.
A dozen species of ducks are seen IN
the marshes and on the rivers. The
didapper is along the river banks; II
flock of grackles passes overhead, the
kildce crying his pIcintive note is seen
and heard; numerous crows pass by.
On the river bank on the right great
blue heron stands i'll s%ampy place
and thinking maybe that the boat IL
coming toward him when it isn't, ne
stretches his great spread Of wing. He
rises like Il great aeroplanc and In Il
shorter time than 4 flying ship could
do it. he is lost in the heavens max
inc for some other place where his
perch might not DC disturbed
Porpoise Plays.
Nearing Beaufort a great bottle nose
nornoisc bobbed up just ahead of the