News Articles for Charleston County South Carolina Genealogy Trails Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) - November 6  Page 3 A fire occurred at Fort Moultrie, near Charleston, on the 21st ult.  It consumed the whole range of the officers' quarters on the east side of the Fort.  The barracks were preserved by the greatest exertions.  The principal sufferers are Lieuts. Griffiths and L'Engle, having lost almost all their clothing, & c. – Ib - Contributed by Nancy Piper The following news stories transcribed and contributed by Shauna Williams October 20, 1836 - Wisconsin Democrat, Green Bay Wisconsin The cholera has made its appearance in Charleston, South Carolina-eleven new cases were reported on the 30th of August. March 7, 1849 - Tioga Eagle, Wellsboro Pennsylvania There was snow storm at Charleston, South Carolina, on the 19th ult., quite a novelty in that region. The same storm extended to Savannah, Georgia. March 16, 1853 - Daily Commercial Register, Sandusky Ohio List of Patents Issued from the United States Patent Office for the week ending March 8, 1853 John J. Wagener, of Charleston, South Carolina, for improved Cannon Sight. Dated March 8, 1853. July 12, 1866 - The Madison County Courier, Edwardsville Illinois Hon. Robert Barnwell Rhett, of Charleston, South Carolina, was fatally shot on the 3d inst., while on his way to his plantation near that city. Mr. Rhett will be remembered as an ultra states rights man, and prominent nullifier during General Jackson's administration. He was, in fact, the first person who proposed on the floor of congress a dissolution of the union. He was delegate from Charleston to the convention of seceding states, at Montgomery, and was chairman of the committee by the constitution of the "confederate states of America" was reported. During the war his opinions found vent mainly through the columns of the Charleston Mercury, a paper owned by himself, and edited by his son, R. Barnwell Rhett Jr. June 19, 1867 A freedman lately fished up a torpedo from Stone River, below Charleston, South Carolina, and trying to break it open with a hatchet, it exploded, blowing him t atoms. A small piece of one arm lodged in a tree, was all that was found of him. Two other negroes were blown into the river and killed, and two more mortally wounded. June 9, 1869 - Elyria Independent Democrat, Elyria Ohio A brother of Parker Pillsbury, famous as one of the original abolitionists, is Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina. December 8, 1879 - The Globe, Atchison Kansas Hundreds of school children in Charleston, South Carolina, had never seen snow until one day last week, when snow fell in that city for the first time in ten years. April 11, 1883 - Fort Wayne Weekly Sentinel, Fort Wayne Indiana EARLY WOMEN JOURNALISTS In 1773 Elizabeth Timothy published and edited a paper in Charleston, South Carolina. After the revolution Annie Timothy became its editor, and was appointed State printer, which position she held seventeen years. Mary Crouch published a paper in Charleston about the same time, in special opposition to the stamp act. She afterward removed her paper to Salem Massachusetts, and continued its publication there fore years after.  August 8, 1884 - The Delta Herald, Delta Pennsylvania Mr. Andrew Toilenger, formerly of this neighborhood, but who has been engaged in the jewelry business for a number of years in Charleston, South Carolina, is visiting friends near this place. September 17, 1885 - Weekly Reno Gazette, Reno Nevada A Father's Life - Kansas City, September 14. Rev. Andrew D. Hunter, an itinerant preacher from Charleston, South Carolina, was shot and killed yesterday in Caickasaw Nation by a man named White. The latter had persuaded Hunter's daughter to elope with him. Hunter followed and was slain while trying to force White to make the girl his wife. White escaped. January 6, 1900 - The Times Democrat, Lima Ohio Charles Wilson and Jack Singleton, negroes, were hanged at Charleston, South Carolina. October 25, 1930 - Times Signal, Zanesville Ohio Charleston, South Carolina, is about 250 years old and has over 100 churches. Several of them date back to pre-revolutionary days.   The New York Times, New York, NY February 27, 1898 FATAL FIRE IN CHARLESTON Seven Lives Lost - A Fireman Sees His Family Carried Out Burned and Dead CHARLESTON, S. C., Feb. 26.---Seven lives were lost in a fire on Church Street this morning. At 2:10 o'clock a policeman discovered flames issuing from the tenement house at 160 Church Street and he sent in an alarm. The fire started on the first floor, the occupants of which escaped without injury. The police were informed that a family of women were sleeping on the third floor and they went to the rescue. When they reached the top story the life-saving work was stopped by the flames, which had rapidly spread over the entire building. Agonizing screams were heard, and Officer Bagby rushed in and pulled out three charred bodies. The Fire Department soon checked the fire, but not until seven of the occupants of the third floor had been burned to death. The dead are: Mrs. Rebecca Knickmayer Albert O'Neal Caswell O'Neal Josephine Knickmayer Katie Knickmayer Frances Knickmayer and a one-month-old baby of Mrs. Knickmayer Mrs. Knickmayer was the wife of Theodore Knickmayer, a carpenter, who is also a call man in the Fire Department. The other Knickmayers are all his children and the O'Neals are his brothers-in-law. Last night Mr. Knickmayer was on watch at the fire engine house at the corner of Meeting and Wentworth Streets. When the alarm came in he was among the first to arrive on the scene, and as turned into Church Street he saw, to his horror, that it was his own house. He rushed into the building, only to see the police carrying out his children, burned and dead. The building was gutted, but the damage is not very great. The Coroner is holding an inquest. The Telegraph and Messenger, Macon, GA November 13, 1883 FATAL FIRE AT CHARLESTON CHARLESTON, November 12 - A fire broke out in Wilbur's clothing manufactory, on Hayne's street, this afternoon, and spread to the establishment of Robertson, Taylor & Co., wholesale grocers, completely gutting both buildings. A bag factory adjoining was also damaged. The loss is estimated at $60,000. There were eight women and a boy employed in Wilbur's factory, most of whom jumped from the third story to the street. Eilen Herron was killed by jumping, and Susie Bould was mortally injured. Mary Wolfe was badly burned, but may recover, as she was not injured much in jumping. Maggie Quinlick and Annie Tyler were badly hurt, but will recover. Abigale Guy and Laura Green are supposed to have burned in the building. A little boy named Lightheart jumped and was caught without receiving any injury. Only the sight person named were in the third story. The fire broke out under the stairway on the second floor and spread with amazing rapidity, cutting off escape from the third floor by the stairs, and persons on the second floor only escaped with great difficulty.  The State, Columbia, SC January 25,  1894 DROWNED NEAR CHARLESTON Six White Men Lost – Nothing Known of the Cause of the Accident CHARLESTON, Jan. 24 – A boat containing six white men left Sullivan’s Island on Monday last for the life savings station on Morris Island. Today the bodies of two of them were found on the shore of Morris Island. One of them H. R. CAMPSON, is a member of the life saving crew of Morris Island. The other, named FRED MILLER, was a resident of Sullivan Island. The other four men are missing and are supposed to be drowned. Nothing is known of the cause of the accident. Lowndes Suicide Charlestown, SC May 29 - Last Saturday Morning between 9 and 10, Mr. Charles LOWNDES, (who being parted from his wife, was put in prison by order of the Governor and council for not being willing to allow her a maintenance) shot himself thro' the head and instantly died. He left upon the table several writings, the first was dated Nov. 3, 1735. and directed to Arthur MIDDLETON, Ralph IZARD, Col. BLAKE, and Nathaniel BROUGHTON, Esqrs. where he gives a full account of his misfortunes he met with since his arrival in this Province, by law suits and otherwise; and recommends to them the care of his 4 children, and pretends to justify the crime of self-murder he then premeditated. All this is contained in 4 sheets, and it appears by the conclusion, that he was then just ready to put his design in execution, but being hindered at that time, he wrote another sheet and annexed it without date. The second was a letter to the Hon. John COLLETON, Esq., dated March 7, 1735,6 much to the same purpose with the former, wherein he exclaims against several persons, who, he thinks by their unjust proceedings against him, are the cause of this violent design of laying hands on himself. In this letter he says, that he was a long time before prepared to make an end of his unhappy life, having his pistols cock'd ready by his side, but was hinder'd by the coming in of the said John COLLETON, Esq. to his house, but now he was fully determin'd to clear himself or die, by cutting an artery or shooting himself thro' the head, &c. and that he was very much tempted to kill all his children, in order to be all buried in one grave. He was put in prison after this time, where he wrote another long memorial of 12 sheets, which I have not yet seen, but am inform'd it contains very odious reflections upon several persons, which having been wrote by a desperate man, ought rather to be suppressed than published. After having finished this memorial, he sent a letter to invite John COLLETON, Esq. to his funeral, and after having shav'd and dress'd himself, he laid down on the ground, with a loaded pistol in each hand, he put one close to his temple and blew out his brains, which were found at a little distance all in one heap, his scull being split in two. (Boston Evening Post - July 5 1736)  The Southern Patriot January 31, 1843, col 2 United States District Court District of South Carolina In Bankruptcy In the matter of John W. Yarborough, formerly of the firm of Yarborough & Merriwether, late of the firm of Yarborough & Mullay, and Yarborough & Robinson, Printers, a Bankrupt. 'Pursuant to an order of the District Court of the United States, for the District of South Carolina, notice is hereby given, that cause be shewn before the said Court, at the Federal Court House in Charleston, on the fourth day of March next, at eleven o'clock, A.M. Why the said John W. Yarborough should not receive his Discharge and Certificate, as a Bankrupt. H. Y. Gray, Clerk Charleston 5th day of December, 1842 Dec 8  The State – September 15, 1905 The Citadel Scholarships Results of Recent Competitive Examinations Made Public Yesterday Charleston, Sept 14 – The results of the recent examination on the competitive scholarships at the South Carolna Military academy were announced today as follows: Charleston, William Workman; Aiken, J. Chester Bushee; Bamberg, kA. B. Cauthen; Beaufort, not decided; Berkeley, Olin F. Conner; Chesterfield, U. A. Malloy; Darlington, Joseph E. Muldrow; Fairfield, A. S. Yarbrough; Florence, Alexander Brunson, Lancaster, C. M. Murray; Marion, Joseph Watson; Oconee, Clinton L. Harris; Orangeburg, Clifton L. Hair; Saluda, not decided; Sumter, R. S. Ives; Union, J. Glenn Osborne; Williamsburg, W. W. Barr.  The State March 1, 1894 An Abductor Captured Ran Away with a Thirteen Year Old Girl Both Came From Charleston - Ben Gregg, Came to Grief in Columbia. The Story of His Crime An abductor of a pretty young girl, after effectually dodging the officers of the law for about ten days, was yesterday afternoon run down and captured in company with the child whom he had taken away from home, and is now behind the bars. The parties came from Charleston, and to Charleston they will have to return. It is quite a romantic story, and it is hard to believe that a girl of such tender years could become so much infatuated with a grown man, so homely and unprepossessing as the one in this case, as to willingly permit herself to be abducted. She is a miss of only thirteen years, petite and pretty, well developed and altogether quite a striking looking child. The man, on the other hand, is a long way from being good looking. He is red-headed and has a red face, and wears a short cropped moustache. He is about thirty years of age. He hailed originally from Lexington county, and was once employed in the Congaree cotton factory here. The girl is from Charleston, where her parents live. When the pair were arrested yesterday afternoon and taken to the station house, she did not seem to mind it much; perhaps too young to realize what it meant. The fellow seemed to be much excited. About ten days ago Chief of Police Radcliffe, having previously received a brief telegram, got the following letter, notifying him of the abduction: Charleston, S.C. Feb. 19, 1894 Mr. L. J. Ratcliffe, Chief of Police, Columbia, S.C. Dear Sir: Please use your best endeavors to capture the following persons, viz: Ben Gregg, John Rambo and a young girl named Marian Williams. The description of the girl is as follows: About five feet four inches tall, dark brown eyes, dark hair, very young, but well developed. When she left here on the evening of the 17th inst. she wore a black hat, black dress trimmed with red velvet, and a blue blazer and had a locket ring on one of her fingers. The charge against the man is abduction. The girl is not yet thirteen years old, but looks much older, and was enticed away by these two men, one of whom, Ben Gregg, is a married man. They are all factory hands, and the men will very likely try to get work in some of the factories in your city. They left here for Columbia on the 17th at 7:30 p.m. We are very anxious to get these persons, and trust that you will be able to assist us in their capture. Yours respectfully, J. Elmore Martin Chief of Police The man brought the child in here on the night mentioned in the letter and they spent the night at the Hill House, on Gervais street. The next morning they went on to Newberry and tried to get work in the factory there, and failing in that, proceeded to greenwood trying to get work in the factory at that place. They failed there, too, and yesterday afternoon returned to this city, via the Richmond and Danville road. Conductor Roche of the South Carolina Railway happened to be standing near by when they stepped off the train. He recognized the couple and informed Officers Griffin and Clark of the police force that they were the parties wanted. In the meantime, the couple had started off towards the river bridge. They were soon overhauled and taken into custody. They were forthwith taken to the station house, where the man was placed in a cell and the girl was kept in the ante room. The man is Ben Gregg. Rambo has not been seen or heard from. They told a good many different stories, but made no effort to deny their identity. At first they said they had been married while in Newberry. Then they said that they were going over to the home of an uncle of the man in Lexington county and intended to get married there. At first the girl denied that she had ever been to Charleston, but soon confessed it all. The man denies emphatically that he was ever married. He says that he lived with a certain woman in Charleston for three years, but he was never married to her. The father of the girl is a fireman employed at the Edisto phosphate works in Charleston. Both Gregg and the girl had been working in the weaving room of the Charleston factory. Both deny that Rambo had anything to do with the abduction. Gregg says that on the afternoon he left Charleston, Rambo simply walked a portion of the way to the depot with him and that was his only connection with the affair. After the arrest last evening, Chief Radcliffe telegraphed the officials in Charleston of the capture and Chief Martin replied: "Hold Mary Ann Williams and all of the parties until our officer can come for them." The wayward girl will accordingly be taken back to her parents and Gregg, who has been living with the child for the past ten days as his wife, will be prosecuted. Republican Compiler ( Gettysburg , Pennsylvania )  December  8 1824  We understand (says the Charleston Mercury) that the number of deaths by Yellow Fever during the last fatal season, was about 240.  An official statement will shortly be published by the Board of Health. Submitted by Nancy Piper The Centinel ( Gettysburg , Pennsylvania ) October  14 1807 We have been informed, that at a great ball play given a short time since by the Cherokee Indians, at High Wassee, some misunderstanding took place between the celebrated Indian chief Double Head and an Indian by the name of Dry Bones.  Double Head, in a rage, shot Dry Bones on the spot.  The friends of Dry Bones, who were determined on revenge, shot Double Head the same night, which nearly put an end to his life; he was immediately conducted by his friends to a retired place, in order to have his wound dressed, when the friend of the deceased, not being satisfied rushed upon him and shot several bullets through his body, which terminated his existence.  It is conjectured that the affair will go nor further. Impartial Review - contributed by Nancy Piper Republican Compiler ( Gettysburg , Pennsylvania ) October 20  1824 Charleston A letter from a gentleman at Sullivan’s Island, near Charleston, dated 24th Sept., to his friend in this city, states as follows: “The city is a complete hospital, and we have more sick upon the island than can be attended to.  A gentleman removed his family to town yesterday in a most shocking situation – his wife and six children at the point of death, with the corpses of two other children who died the night previous.  A few days ago he lost a brother, and two of his house servants, and I understand that his sister died a few hours after he arrived in town yesterday.  If the fever continues much longer, God only knows what is to become of us.”  N.Y. Mer. 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