USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 42
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
On Thursday, June 14th, the Georgian printed the following list of "Passengers per steam packet .Pulaski,' for Baltimore and Charleston -Mrs. Nightingale and servant, Mrs. Fraser and child, Mrs. Wilkins and ehild, Mrs. Win. Mackay, child and servant. Mrs. Wagner, child and servant, Miss A. Parkman. Miss C. Parkman, Miss T. Parkman. Mrs. Hutchinson, two children and servant, Mrs. Lamar. Miss R. Lamar. Miss M. Lamar, Miss R. J. Lamar, Miss E. Lamar, Miss C. Lamar, Mrs. Dunham, Mrs. Cummings and servant, Mrs. Stewart and servant, Mrs. Woart, Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Williamson, Messrs. S. B. Parkman. G. B. La- mar, C. Lamar. W. Lamar. T. Lamar. R. Hutchinson. R. Brower. Dr. Wilkins, S. Livermore, B. W. Fosdick, H. Eldridge, C. Ward, G. Hunt- Vol. 1-22
338
SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
ington, J. II. Couper, Col. Dunham, Rev. E. Crofts, H. B. Nichols, A. Lovejoy, L. Bird, W. W. Foster, Dr. Cummings, Dr. Stewart, J. L. Woart, Col. Hodson, W. A. Stewart, Dr. Ach, A. Hamilton, S. Miller, R. W. Pooler. R. W. Pooler, jr., W. Robertson, A. Stanchfield, Carter, Burns, Maj. J. P. Heath, and Master Parkman; for Charleston, Messrs. J. Middletown, King, Travers, M. H. McAllister, Goddard, and others."
FIRST NEWS OF DISASTER
The first news of the terrible disaster was received in Savannah on the 20th of June, and the Georgian of the 21st appeared in deep mourning, with this editorial :
"AWFUL CALAMITY
"We hasten to lay before our readers all the information received in regard to a calamity which has befallen our city, but one the parallel to which we have never before been called on to announce. We have no words to express our feeling. Sym- pathy even for the survivors of those who have perished would be poor consolation in this the hour of their bereavement.
"Our city has sustained a loss which years cannot efface. Many families have been suddenly whelmed in sorrow, we mourn the valued companions and bosom friends of yesterday, while our whole city sympathize, deeply sympathize, with the survivors. "Other sections of our state, as well as our sister city-Charleston-were great sufferers on this melancholy occasion. The boat was uncommonly full, near sixty hav- ing probably embarked at Charleston, besides the large number from this city.
"Some of our most respected and valuable citizens, principally engaged in com- mercial pursuits, and others retired from business, have, we fear, met a watery grave, for, many of them having most of, if not all, the members of their families with them, they were compelled to share their fate.
"Letters received from Capt. R. W. Pooler and Col. Robertson, of this city, by yesterday's mail, confirm this heart-rending intelligence, while they announce their own safety, that of Capt. Pooler's son and of Mr. J. Hamilton Couper, and ladies under his charge, Mrs. Nightingale and Mrs. Fraser, of St. Simon's, who are men- tioned with others, in the Charleston and Wilmington extras, as saved.
"We must await anxiously further tidings, and trust that surviving friends may still be allowed to hail the deliverance of some cherished relative or friend from the fated wreck who may have been picked up by the vessels or reached the shore on pieces of the wreck." Then the Georgian inserted a postscript from the Charleston Courier, dated June 19, 8 A. M., with headlines in large capitals worded: "Awful Steamboat Accident! !! Loss of the Steam Packet, Pulaski, and the destruction of between 160 and 170 Lives. "
The account further stated that "at 11 o'clock on the night of the 14th inst. one of her boilers exploded with such violence as to destroy the whole of the midship of the boat, including so much of the hull that the water rushed in with such violence as to sink her in three-quarters of an honr." The account to the paper had been sent from a point ten miles south of New River Inlet, North Carolina, and. continning, said : "Two small yawls with 23 persons, after remaining three-quarters of an hour near the wreck to pick up as many of the sufferers as they could safely carry, succeeded in landing near this place yesterday even- ing, after losing five of the number from the swamping of both of the boats in passing through the breakers.
"The destruction of the 'Pulaski' took place abont forty-five miles south of Cape Look Out, and thirty miles from land."
.
339
SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
The Wilmington Advertiser, in an extra issued June 18th, gave an account of the disaster under headlines announcing the loss of the steamer "with a erew of 37, and 150 or 160 passengers."
Mr. Wm. Robertson wrote from Stump Sound Coast, North Carolina, June 16th. a letter, in which he said "Of about 200 persons on board but 21 escaped from the wreck, of whom 5 afterwards perished in the surf on this miserable coast."'
POEM ON THE LOST PULASKI
The Hon. Robert M. Charlton wrote a poem on the loss of the "Pu- laski" which deserves, and shall have, a place here. He used to great advantage throughout the stanzas the words of the advertisement of the sailing of the vessel given as an inducement to travellers to take passage in her. The poem was sent to the Georgian accompanied with a letter explaining the circumstances which directed him in the writing of the lines. He wrote:
"In the advertisement which announced that the Steamer Pulaski was ready to convey passengers to her destined port a strong induce- ment held out was that she would be 'only one night at sea.' The terri- ble consequence of the 'one night' we all know and shudder at. The words I have alluded to were made the subject of a very forcible and eloquent commentary by the Rev. Edward Neufville, of Christ church. in a sermon delivered on the last Sabbath. An extract from that dis- course was handed to me yesterday afternoon, with a request from a friend that I would give it a poetie form. I have complied, under the . pressure of sterner duties, and with many misgivings that I have but faintly embodied the touching language of the reverend author."
"Thou destroyest the hope of man."-Job 14:19.
" 'Only one night at sea,' 'Twas thus the promise ran, By frail presumptuous mortal given, To vain, confiding man ; 'Only one night at sea,' And land shall bless thy sight, When morning's rays dispel The shadows of that night.
"The pledge has been received, The vessel leaves the shore, Bearing the beautiful and brave Who ne'er shall greet us more; And every heart beats high; As, bounding o'er the wave, The gallant bark moves on To bear them to their grave. -
-
340
SAVANNAHI AND SOUTH GEORGIA
"The merry beams of day Before the darkness flee, And gloomy night comes slowly on That 'only night at sea ;' The watch upon the deek Their weary vigils keep, And countless stars look down In beauty o'er the deep.
"Within that stately boat The prattler's voice is still, And beauty's lovely form is there Unheeding of the ill; And manhood's vigorous mind Is wrapped in deep repose ; And sorrow's victim lies, Forgetful of his woes.
"But hark! that fearful sound, That wild, appalling cry, That wakes the sleepers from their dreams, And rouses them-to die; Ah, who shall tell the hopes That rose, so soon to flee, The good resolves destroy'd By that 'one night at sea.'
"That honr hath passed away, The morning beams are bright.
As if they met no record there Of that all-fearful night; But many souls have fled To far Eternity, And many hearts been wreck'd In that 'one night at sea.'
"Great God! whose hand hath lannch'd Our boat npon life's sea, And gives us as a Pilot there A spirit bold and free ; So guide us with thy love, That our frail bark may be Mid waves of doubt and fear, 'Only one night at sea.'"
CHAPTER XXVII
GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
DR. ARNOLD'S ACCOUNT OF ITS ORIGIN-ACT OF INCORPORATION-I. K. TEFFT, MOVING SPIRIT-DR. HARNEY'S FAREWELL-CHARTER MEM- BERS-SECURING PERMANENT QUARTERS-FIRST STEAMSHIP TO CROSS ATLANTIC-BURNING OF FILATURE BUILDING-BINDING THE CITY TOGETHER.
In 1839 the Georgia Historical Society was organized, at the sugges- tion of Mr. Israel Keech Tefft, who had devoted many years of his life to the collection of autographs. He was joined by Dr. Richard D. Arnold and Dr. [afterwards Rt. Rev. ] William Bacon Stevens.
DR. ARNOLD'S ACCOUNT OF ITS ORIGIN
In relating the facts connected with the society's origin, in an ad- dress before that body on the 24th of July, 1871, Dr. Arnold said : "It was in the spring of this year that a new movement was inaugurated to establish another society, for the purpose of rescuing from oblivion the records of the past, and furnishing authentic data for the history of Georgia. The origin of this society is given so accurately and fairly by Dr., now the Rt. Rev. Bishop Stevens, of Philadelphia, that I shall quote it as given by him in the appendix to the 2d volume of the Georgia Historical Collections :
" 'The necessity of some historieal institution had long been felt by literary men, but no regular effort had ever been made for its estab- Jishment.
" 'The splendid autographical collection of I. K. Tefft, Esq., together with the many valuable documents in his possession pertaining to the colonial and revolutionary history of Georgia, suggested the importance of such a society, and it was immediately determined by Mr. Tefft and Mr. Win. B. Stevens to proceed without delay to its foundation. This measure was first decided on towards the close of April, 1839, and at the suggestion of Mr. Tefft the latter endeavored to prepare the way and awaken attention to the subject by two articles on this topic, which ap- peared in the Savannah Georgian of May following. These individuals were now joined by a third, Richard D. Arnold, M. D., and after many conferences as to the best method of procedure, they resolved to address
341
342
SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
the following circular to those whom they thought would be interested in their design.' "
Continuing, Dr. Arnold said, "On the 24th of May, 1839, a meet- ing was held at the Savannah Library Society's room, in pursuance of a call made through that circular, which was signed by I. K. Tefft, R. D. Arnold and W. B. Stevens, for the purpose of organizing an Historical Society for the State of Georgia.
"There were present Judge Charles S. Henry, Hon. John McPherson Berrien, Hon. Jas. M. Wayne, M. H. McAllister, George Jones, Dr. Wm. Bacon Stevens, Wm. Neyle Habersham. Dr. J. T. Posey, Wm. Crabtree. Jr., Dr. William A. Caruthers, A. A. Smets, Solomon Cohen, A. G. Oemler, C. McArdell, John E. Ward, Dr. R. D. Arnold, Judge John C. Nicoll, Dr. Edward Coppee, Dr. P. M. Kolloek, Hon. Robert M. Charlton. Charles Stephens, M. Myers, H. K. Preston, I. K. Tefft, George Jones Kollock.
"To this list were added the names of twenty-seven gentlemen who were not able to be present, but who had signified their desire to co- operate and become members of the Society.
"A constitution was submitted to the meeting which was read and referred to a committee for revisal and to report at an adjourned meeting.
"The adjourned meeting took place on the 4th of June, 1839, and the Society was fully organized by the adoption of a constitution and by-laws, and the election of the following officers :
"President-Hon. John McPherson Berrien.
"Vice Presidents-Hon. Jas. M. Wayne. Hon. Win. B. Bulloch.
"Corresponding Secretary-I. K. Tefft.
"Recording Secretary-Wm. Bacon Stevens.
"Treasurer-George W. Hunter.
"Librarian-Henry Kirk Preston.
"Curators-Wm. Thorne Williams, Chas. S. Henry, John C. Nicoll, Wm. Law, Richard D. Arnold, Robt. M. Charlton, Matthew Hall Me- Allister.
"Thus was the Georgia Historical Society fairly launched on the stream of time.
"The Society immediately set to work to collect from every available source every document, Mss or printed, which could illustrate the his- tory of Georgia. At the session of the Georgia Legislature of 1839 the Society was duly incorporated, and it was made the eustodian of the copies of the Mss in the State Paper office at London, relating to the early history of Georgia, which had been transcribed by the Rev. C. W. Howard as agent of the State."
ACT OF INCORPORATION
The charter was assented to by Gov. Charles J. McDonald on the 17th of December, 1839, and in it the objects of the organization were set forth by declaring it to be "a society instituted in the City of Savan- nah for the purpose of collecting, preserving and diffusing informa- tion relative to the history of the State of Georgia in particular, and of American history generally."
343
SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
In section 5 of the act of incorporation it was stipulated "that the Governor be and he is hereby authorized and requested to confide to the care and keeping of the proper officers of said. Society the transcripts of the Colonial records lately taken by the Rev. C. W. Howard in London, until further disposition of the same shall be made by the General Assembly."
It was further declared in the charter "that it should be the duty of the Governor of the State to transmit, or cause to be transmitted to the said Society a set of the Aets and also of the journals of the present and future session of the legislature, and also copies of all other docu- ments, papers, books, and pamphlets that shall hereafter be printed under, or by virtue of. an act of legislature, or joint resolution of both branches thereof. unless such aet or resolution shall otherwise provide, and that the said Society may, by their agent or agents, have access at all reasonable times to the several public offices of this State, and at the corporate town and cities thereof, and may cause such documents to be searched, examined and copied without paying office fees as they may judge proper to promote the object of the Society."
I. K. TEFFT, MOVING SPIRIT
Mr. I. K. Tefft was the moving spirit in the forwarding that im- portant and honorable institution, and it is conceded that the first proposition in that direction came from him. He was the first corre- sponding secretary of the society and served in that capacity until his death in 1862. It was evidently an oversight on Dr. Arnold's part to have omitted to say more than he did concerning that man and to accord to him the praise due his memory in the address from which we have quoted ; but, convinced of his mistake, he took the occasion of the dediea- tion of the society's new home, Hodgson Hall, on the 14th of Febru- ary, 1876, to correet his error and to make Mr. Tefft the subject of a special address, in order, as he said, to "show the effect which his literary tastes had in securing him an honorable position during life. and affectionate memories after death.
In the course of his remarks Dr. Arnold mentioned several matters illustrating periods of historical interest to those who care for facts relat- ing to Savannah : and what he said concerning Mr. Tefft's connection with the newspaper called The Georgian is well worth reading. "On the 25th of November. 1818," said Dr. Arnold, "the first number of The Georgian was issued by Dr. John M. Harney, an erratic son of genius, whose remarkable 'Curse upon Savannah' has given him an undying notoriety amongst us. Harney was a brilliant bohemian, and he ex- hausted the patience and the purses of his friends, which were both on a liberal scale."
Continuing, the speaker said : "Mr. Tefft saw his opportunity. The late distinguished actor. Harry James Finn, came to Savannah in the fall of 1818. in the dramatie company of Mr. Gilbert, when the present Savannah Theatre was first opened. That company was a bright galaxy of histronic talent. On the 21st of March, 1821, The Georgian appeared with the name of Tetft & Finn at its head.
344
SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
"Mr. Finn did not continue long in his vocation as editor. He re- sumed his profession, and adopted an entirely new line of acting, and when ultimately death occurred. from his being burnt up on a steamer on Long Island Sound, he had acquired the reputation of the best repre- sentative of genteel comedy who had ever graced the American stage.
"Mr. Tefft edited the paper alone for some time, when he sold it to Mr. George Robertson, who afterwards associated his brother, William Robertson, with him; Mr. Tefft ever showing a lively interest in the prosperity of the paper, and my first intimacy with him commenced when, in January, 1833, I became joint editor and proprietor with my esteemed friend William H. Bulloch. In 1822 Mr. Tefft entered the State Bank# as a clerk. He was gradually promoted to the tellership and finally to the cashiership, which latter office he held at the time of his death. He was elected cashier in 1848, and he died at his residence, southwest corner of Jones and Bull streets, on the 30th of June, 1862.
"When Mr. Tefft gave up The Georgian he did not give up his literary pursuits. He took an active part in trying to develop American * *
literature, which we all know was then in its very cradle
His literary researches took the form of autographs. The collection of auto- graphs, particularly those illustrating our Revolutionary history, be- came a passion with him. Quietly, unostentatiously, he worked this literary mine. Patience and perseverance reap their usual reward. Gradually he accumulated a rare and valuable collection. His repu- -tation as a successful autograph collector became spread abroad. He had been particularly fortunate in his material for Revolutionary his- tory. He had not obtained mere signatures, but very many long and interesting letters upon contemporary affairs from the hands of some of the most distinguished men of those times. His correspondence with various distinguished collectors in all parts of the cultivated world became extensive. His rich collection, as to Revolutionary matter, en- abled him to supply his correspondents with many valuable originals.in exchange for others of a different era. Thus his autograph collection became one of great extent and value, and there was no individual in Savannah who had a more varied and extensive literary acquaintance than Mr. Tefft."
DR. HARNEY'S FAREWELL
The reference in the above to Dr. Harney furnishes the opportunity to reproduce at this point the curious but clever parting words of that eccentric character on his departure from the city whose people had treated him well, but from whom he wished to exact more than patience could endure.
"A FAREWELL TO SAVANNAH. By John M. Harney.
. "Farewell, oh, Savannah, forever farewell. Thou hot bed of rogues, thou threshold of hell. Where Satan has fixed his headquarters on earth,
* Bank of the State of Georgia, where the Citizens and Southern Bank now stands, . in Johnson Square.
345
SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
And outlaw'l integrity, wisdom and worth,
Where villainy thrives and where honesty begs, Where folly is purse-proud, and wisdom in rags;
Where man is worth nothing, except in one sense, Which they always compute in ponnds, shillings and pence; Where the greatest freeholder is a holder of slaves, And he that has most. about freedom most raves, Where they'il worship a calf. if like Aaron of old, Where the Devil may reign, if his sceptre be gold ; Where - against knavery is constantly bawling, For they seldom agree who pursue the same calling. With bailiff's he drives every rogne from the town, Determined to put all competitors down;
-
Where even the churches, subservient to gain,
Are bought in by stock-jobbers, to sell out again.
Each pew is a lucrative turnpike to heaven, At which an exorbitant toll must be given. At fifty per cent. you must purchase salvation,
And the rich have monopolized all that's in fashion. When the most approved tests of a gentleman are The taste of his wine and his Spanish segar ; If these recommend, he's a gentleman sure,
Though a fool, or a rogue, whether Christian or Moor. Where your friend must compute, ere he asks you to dine, First your value to him, then the cost of his wine, Then, if it appears he will not be a winner, To the Devil you may go -- not to him-for a dinner.
When the girls cannot tell, if they win you they'd wed you Without pencil and slate to subtract and to add to.
They make a shrewd bargain miscalled matrimony-
'Tis a mercantile business, a matter of money; For a union in wedlock, in friendship, and trade, Are alike by the rules of arithmetic made. Each nation is marked by some national crime,
Which is charged as the first of the soil or the elime.
But the soil of Savannah new vigor imparts, To vices transplanted from all foreign parts. Cursed be the winds that blew me to your strand ;
Your honses are board, and your alleys are sand!
Oh, still may your beds be the moss from your trees! Long life to your bed-bugs, the same to your fleas! May all your free citizens, wealthy or poor,
Be bribed for their votes, as they have heretofore! May every quack doctor be patronized still,
And his talents be judged by the length of his bill ; May all your quack lawyers find themes for their tongues, And their brains get the applause that is due to their lungs; May your miserly merchants still cheat for their pence. And, with scarce any brains, show a good deal of cents! Now, to finish my curses upon your ill city,
And express in few words all the sums of my ditty,
I leave you, Savannah-a curse that is far The worst of all curses-to remain as you are! "
CHARTER MEMBERS
Returning to the founding of the Georgia Historical Society, it seems proper that the names of the persons asking for a charter in the act of incorporation be here given, They were: John MePherson Berrien. James M. Wayne, Matthew Hall MeAllister, I. K. Tefft, Wm. B. Stevens,
346
SAVANNAHI AND SOUTH GEORGIA
Geo. W. Hunter. II. K. Preston, Wm. T. Williams, C. S. Henry, J. C. Nicoll. Wm. Law, R. M. Charlton. R. D. Arnold, A. A. Smets, J. W. Anderson. Wmn. B. Bulloch. Wm. H. Bulloch, Jos. H. Burroughs. J. Balfour, Jos. G. Binney, Win. P. Bowen, Theodosius B. Bartow, James Barnard. Morgan Brown, Geo. B. Cumming, Solomon Cohen, Joseph Cumming. D. C. Campbell, James Hamilton Couper, W. A. Caruthers, W. H. Chyler. Edward Coppee. Win. Crabtree, Jr., Archibald Clarke, Wm. Duncan, Wm. C. Daniell. Geo. M. Dudley, Jacob De La Motta, Jr., Joseph S. Fay, S. II. Fay, Wm. B. Fleming, J. F. Griffin, Robert Haber- sham, Wm. Neyle Habersham, Joseph Clay Habersham, Edward J. Harden, S. L. W. Harris. George Jones, Jos. W. Jackson, P. M. Kollock, Geo. J. Kollock, Ralph King. Thos. Butler King, Wmn. Me Whir, J. B. Mallard, John Millen, W. H. Miller, C. MeArdell, James S. Morel, Mor- decai Myers, J. F. O'Neill. Edward Neufville, E. A. Nisbet, A. G. Oemler, Anthony Porter. John F. Posey, Thos. Paine. Willard Preston, Edward Padelford, Thos. Purse. R. W. Pooler. Win. Robertson, L. O. Reynolds, Jas. Bond Read. R. H. Randolph. F. M. Robertson. George Schley, James Smith, Win. H. Stiles, Benjamin E. Stiles, J. C. Shaffer, Chas. Stephens, Win. P. White, John E. Ward, and Georgie White.
SECURING PERMANENT QUARTERS
Again quoting from Dr. Arnold's sketch: "From the time of its organization in 1839, up to 1841, the Georgia Historical Society con- tinued to hold its meetings in the room of the Savannah Library Society, on the northwest corner of Bay lane and Whitaker street.# It was the reading-room of the Library Society. This was done free of rent up to the first of February, 1843, when the Georgia Historical Society rented the room for its exclusive use."
The city of Savannah granted a lot to the society, known as No. 73 Liberty street. LaFayette ward, on the 28th of November, 1844, and exempted it from ground rent, but, on request, council passed an ordi- nance on the 6th of August, 1846, permitting the society to exchange it for another lot. Again. on the 22d of July, 1847, the city granted to the society the first mentioned lot, in LaFayette ward. in fee simple, but in the following month of Angust, permission was given to substitute the word Crawford for LaFayette, making the change only in the ward, the lot in Crawford corresponding in number and location with the former. Then the society disposed of it, and used the proceeds of sale in putting up a building of its own of which we will now give an account.
Doctor Arnold relates that. "In the spring of the year 1845, the attention of the Society was called by the President, the Hon. James M. Wayne, to the eligibility of what was known as the Custom House lot, which was owned by the United States Government, and was then covered by the debris of the brick building which had been burned in the great fire of 1820.
"During his judicial sojourn at Washington, Judge Wayne had
* Where the building of the Savannah Morning News now stands.
347
SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
opened the subject of a purchase to the authorities there, and he was formally authorized by the Society to act in the premises.
"The Society continued to meet at the room of the Savannah Library Society. In January, 1846, Dr. Arnold offered a resolution as to the practicability of purchasing the shares of the Savannah Library Society for the use of the Georgia Historical Society. * *
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.