USA > South Carolina > Charleston County > Charleston > The newspaper press of Charleston, S.C.; a chronological and biographical history, embracing a period of one hundred and forty years > Part 3
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" dollars. Many are of the opinion it exceeds a million
"sterling. The number of lives lost, is not great. We " have not heard of more than six, some of whom were " negroes. The Charlestown Library Society's* valua- " ble collection of books, instruments, and apparatus for " astronomical and philosophical observations and experi- "ments, etc., being unfortunately placed in a house, in the " neighborhood of that in which the fire broke out, is almost " entirely lost."+
Public notice was given on the evening of the 15th to all those that were at a loss for lodgings and victuals, that both were provided for them at the public expense, in the several public buildings; and on the 16th, the General Assembly voted £20,000 for the immediate relief of the sufferers. The State of Georgia was not unmindful of suf-
* Shecut refers to this Library in his " Medical and Philosophical Essays." " It was founded," he says, "by seventeen gentlemen, and that they obtain- ed an Act of Incorporation in the year 1754." He adds, "the Library was destroyed 17th January, 1778."
The Journal under date of 5th February, says : " We have been informed that the fire on the 15th of January, broke out in a kitchen, hired out to some negroes, and not in Moore's bake-house. We were mistaken in say- ing the fire did not spread any farther after 12 o'clock, on the 15th, as Major Beckman's house, which was the last that took fire, was not in flames until 4 o'clock in the afternoon."
Elkanah Watson, in his Memoirs, abridged and published by his son, W. C. Watson, in 1856, in a volume entitled "Men and Times of the Revolution," chapter iv, pages 44-45, makes mention of this conflagration. " I had passed the evening of the 15th January, '78," he says, " with a brilliant party, at the splendid mansion of a wealthy merchant of the City. In two hours after we had left the scene of elegant refinement, the stately edifice, the rich furniture, and all its gorgeous appliances, were wrapped in flames. In the mid hours of a cold and tempestuous night, I was aroused by the cry of fire, and by a loud knocking at the door, with the appalling intelligence-The Town is in flames. I pressed forward to the theatre of one of the most terriffic conflagrations that ever visited Charlestown. The devastation was frightful. The fire raged with unmitigated fury for seventeen hours. Every vessel, shallop, and negro boat was crowded with the distressed in- habitants. Many who, a few hours before, retired to their beds in affluence, were now reduced, by the all-devouring element, to indigence.
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OF CHARLESTON, S. C.
fering "Charlestown." "' Their Assembly generously voted $10,000 to relieve the distressed.
In March, 1783, The South Carolina Gazette and Gen- eral Advertiser began an irregular publication, then semi- weekly, at 94 Church Street. It was conducted by JOHN MILLER, a public Printer, who came from London, Eng- land. He, in his proemial, alluded to his arrival in Phila- delphia from the "Mother Country," in January, 1783, just after the news of the evacuation of " Charlestown" had been received there. That evacuation took place on the 14th of December, 1782, now eighty-eight years ago. Mr. MILLER made mention of the fact of his having been sent to "Charlestown" by the Honorable Delegation in Congress, to be Printer to the State. Our delegation, at that time, consisted of EDWARD RUTLEDGE, THOMAS HEY- WARD, THOMAS LYNCH and ARTHUR MIDDLETON. Mr. MILLER closed his prefatory address to the people, among whom he came, thus : " My ambition could not have been " more truly gratified than finding myself the Printer of " the Commonwealth of South Carolina." His paper was,
" After laboring at the fire for many hours, I returned to my quarters, to obtain a brief respite. I had scarcely seated myself, before a man rushed in, exclaiming-' Your roof is on fire!' The mass of the conflagration was afar off, but it, as it were, rained fire. When we had extinguished the fire on the roof, I thought it time to remove my trunk, containing funds to a large amount. Not being able to obtain assistance, I was constrained to shoulder it myself. Staggering under my load, (a burden which in ordinary times I could scarcely have lifted,) I proceeded along Main Street. The fire had extended far and wide, and was bearing down in awful majesty, a sea of flame. Almost the whole of the spacious street exhibited on one side, a continuous and glaring blaze. My heart sickened at beholding half- dressed matrons, delicate young ladies, and children, wandering about un- protected, and in despair."
Elkanah Watson, in continuing his account of the fire, speaks of his having been prostrated on the ground alongside of his trunk, by the blowing up of a large building. His description of his hastening on, until he reached an elegant house (Governor Rutledge's), in the suburbs of the City, and there depositing his trunk, and his final recovery of it, is rather amusing.
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at that time, printed on the East side of Church Street, within a few doors of Broad Street.
In The South Carolina Gazette and General Advertiser, of April 26th, 1783, Mr. MILLER, the proprietor, wrote in this wise of the restoration to peace : " Tuesday last was "a day ever to be remembered, such an one this State " never before enjoyed ; 'twas a period of its severe distress, " a confirmation of its Independence. The pleasing coun- " tenances of its citizens on Monday, were truly expressive " of the pleasure they derived from receiving the official "account (published in the Gazette on Sunday) of the " conclusion of a war, begun on one side in injustice, car- "ried on in wickedness and folly ; and opposed on the "other from the strictest principle of self-defence, the " maintenance of their freedom and property."
In the Gazette of the 29th of April, 1783, THOMAS HALL, Clerk of the Court, Sheriff, etc., announced that he had just been appointed Post Master, and that he had " opened his office," at the State House, from " whence he " will send a rider northwardly, as far as Falmouth, in " Calco Bay, every Tuesday, at 6 o'clock, P. M. Also, " one for Savannah, every Monday, at 10 o'clock, A. M. ; " thence he is to return, and meet the northern post on " Saturday."
At a later date, appeared this announcement from the Post Master : "Post Office, Charleston, Oct. 17, 1783. " The Post Master, desirous of extending the utility of " his office in a general manner, at the request of many " of the citizens, will, in future, receive letters for Eu- "rope, or any other part of the world, to be forwarded " by the first safe and convenient opportunity ; to defray " the charge of bags, etc., for the preservation of the " letters, the small and customary sum of one penny, with " each letter will be requisite. Monday and Tuesday of
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" each week, are the proper days for sending letters to the " post office, to go by land."
As ISAIAH THOMAS has told us that ELEAZER PHILLIPS was the " first Printer to His Majesty," it may, therefore, be safely stated-strengthened by the preceding notice, that after the night of the fire of the 18th of November, 1740, PHILLIPS had removed from Church Street to Madam TROTT'S Wharff-that he was the first Post Master.
We will here trace the appointments of post masters to the present incumbent.
PHILLIPS was succeeded by GEORGE ROUPELL, who had the office in Tradd Street. ROUPELL was succeeded by PETER BOUNETHEAU, who received his commission from BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, then Post Master General of the United Colonies. His warrant* is dated 10th of May, 1777. THOMAS HALL, BOUNETHEAU's successor, whom the Gazette of the 29th April, 1783, announced had just been appointed Post Master, was succeeded by THOMAS W. BACOT, who at the close of the year 1791, was appointed by TIMOTHY PICKERING, then Post Master General, under the Administration of President GEORGE WASHINGTON. The 22nd of April, 1812, Mr. BACOT moved the office from 52 Tradd Street to 84 Broad Street, north side, a few doors west of the Court House. It was opened there the fol- lowing day. "By direction of the Post Master General," the same authority says, "it was removed in May, 1815, to the Exchange building."t
Our highly esteemed and valued fellow-citizen, Honorable
* This warrant of Peter Bounetheau is now in the possession of his son, H. B. Bounetheau, of Charleston.
+ That structure, the present "old post office," was then an open arched vestibule. The building was the property of the City. It was, subsequent- ly, bartered to the United States government, the City taking in exchange the present "City Hall," and giving a bonus of $2,000 to the government for the purpose of fitting up the post office.
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ALFRED HUGER, was in turn appointed Post Master, by President ANDREW JACKSON, and he entered upon the duties of his office on the 1st of January, 1835. After the capture of the City, by the United States forces-18th of February, 1865-Mr. A. M. MARKLAND, a special Agent of the Government, took charge on the 22nd, and acted as Post Master, at the South West corner of King and George Streets; this was pending the arrival of STANLEY G. TROTT. Mr. TROTT became, by appointment, in April, 1867, the seventh Post Master this City has known, and the third since the adoption of the Constitution. This latter ap- pointment has given entire satisfaction.
CHAPTER IV.
CHARLESTON INCORPORATED-THIRTEEN WARDS CREA- TED-FIRST WARDENS-REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PAR- ISHES OF ST. PHILIP AND ST. MICHAEL-FIRST INTEND- ANT-ELECTIONS ENDORSED BY THE PRESS-THE BELLS OF ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH-THE FIRST CIRCULATING LI- BRARY, 1783-JOHN MILLER-HIS WEEKLY MESSEN- GER-DEATH OF JOHN MILLER-COLUMBIAN HERALD OR THE PATRIOTIC COURIER OF NORTH AMERICA-OTHER PAPERS AND THEIR EDITORS-THIRD AND FOURTH DIS- ASTROUS FIRES, 1796 AND 1800.
ON the 13th of August, 1783, there was published in the Gazette the act incorporating Charleston. The seal of the City was adopted by the proprietor of the paper as a vignette. The obverse was at the head of the paper on one side, while the reverse was placed on the other. The title of the journal, set as it was in three different de- scriptions of type, old style double pica, pica capitals and double small pica italics, occupied the space between the obverse and reverse of the seal. The Act of Incorpora- tion, provided that " Charlestown" should hereafter be called and known by the name of " the City of Charles- ton," and should be divided into the following Wards : *
* The City is now divided into eight wards, and sixteen precincts. The intersection of Meeting and Queen Streets, forming the internal boundary of the lower four ones, and what may appear a little curious, if a person were to stand on the central point of said intersection, he might be said to have a footing on all of the four, or lower wards, at once.
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"No. 1. From Wilkin's Fort, East side of Church "Street, to the South side of Tradd Street, easterly to the " Bay.
"No. 2. From the North side of Tradd Street, to the "South side of Queen Street, easterly.
" No. 3. From the North side of Queen Street, to the " South side of Ellery Street, (now Pinckney) easterly.
" No. 4. From the North side of Ellery Street, up to " Meeting Street, and along the same to the West end of " Queen Street, through Anson Street to Boundary (now " Calhoun) Street, easterly.
" No. 5. From the South end of King Street, to the " South side of Tradd Street, easterly, to Church Street.
" No. 6. From Tradd Street, along King Street, to the " South side of Broad Street, easterly.
" No. 7. From North side of Broad Street, along King " Street, to the South side of Queen Street, easterly, to " Church Street.
"No. 8. From the North side of Queen Street, along " King Street, South of Hazell Street, easterly, to join the " Ward No. 3.
" No. 9. From Hazell Street, along King Street, to " Boundary Street, and to join the Ward No. 4, easterly. " No. 10. From the South end of Legaré Street, includ- "ing the West end of Tradd Street, easterly, to King " Street.
" No. 11. From the North side of Tradd Street, to the " West end of Broad Street, easterly, to King Street.
"No. 12. From the North side of Broad Street, to the
" West end of Ellery Street, easterly, to King Street.
" No. 13. From the North side of Ellery Street, West to
" Boundary Street, easterly, to King Street.
" And it is further enacted by the authority aforesaid,
" That the Church Wardens of the Parishes of St. Philip
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" and St. Michael shall within one month after passing this " act, give ten days public notice that Wardens are to be " chosen for each Ward, whose qualifications shall be the " same as that for a member of the House of Representa- " tives ; and that all free white persons residing in each " Ward, being citizens of this State, who were taxed three " shillings sterling, the preceding year, or are taxed three " shillings sterling in the present year, towards the support " of the government of this State, shall be entitled to vote " for a Warden for their respective Ward; and they shall " also notify the time and place, when and where, the elec- " tion is to be held in each Ward, and appoint proper per- " sons for managing and conducting the same; and the "said persons after the election is ended, shall make" a "return to the Church Wardens of the persons chosen " Wardens of the respective Wards; and the said Church " Wardens shall give notice to the several persons of their " appointment respectively, and summon them to meet "together at any time and place, within ten days after " their election, for the purpose of taking the oath of qual- "ification, allegiance, and office, prescribed by the law, "which oath may be administered by any one Warden to "the other. Provided, seven shall be present at the time " of administering of the same.
"In pursuance of the above act, we, the subscribers, " Church Wardens of the Parishes of Saint Philip and "Saint Michael, give this public notice, that Monday, the "first day of September next, is fixed for the holding of " the said election, from ten to twelve o'clock in the fore- " noon, and from two to four in the afternoon; and the " following gentlemen are hereby appointed to superintend " the same, viz. :
"Ward No. 1. JOHN Cox, No. 46, corner of Lynch's " Lane.
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" Ward No. 2. SAMUEL LEGARE, No. 26} Church Street.
" Ward No. 3. SIMS WHITE, at St. Philip's Church.
" Ward No. 4. Colonel LUSHINGTON, at No. 3 Hazell " Street.
" Ward No. 5. EDWARD LIGHTWOOD, at the Scotch Pres- " byterian Church.
" Ward No. 6. BENJAMIN VILLEPONTOUX, at his house,
" No. 77, corner of Tradd and King Streets.
" Ward No. 7. THOMAS EVELEIGH, at No. 3, behind the " State House.
" Ward No. 8. HUGH SWINTON, at his house, No .- , in " Meeting Street.
" Ward No. 9. THOMAS RADCLIFFE, jr., at his house, No. " 1 George Street.
" Ward No. 10. ISAAC HOLMES, No. 8 Legare Street.
" Ward No. 11. WILLIAM PRICE, at his house, No. 39 " Tradd Street.
" Ward No. 12. Dr. TUCKER HARRIS, at his house, No. " 147 King Street.
" Ward No. 13. ROBERT LADSON, at his house, No. 4 " Wentworth Street.
" At which places of election all persons duly entitled to
" vote in their respective Wards are desired to attend.
" JAMES BENTHAM, " LAMBERT LANCE, "Church Wardens for St. Philip. " DANIEL HALL, " PHILLIP PRIOLEAU. "Church Wardens for St. Michael. " Charleston, August 18, 1783."
On the morning of Tuesday, the 2nd of September, 1783, the result of the election for members to represent the Parishes of St. Philip and St. Michael, in the General Assembly, and for Wardens, is given.
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OF CHARLESTON, S. C.
" Yesterday, came on the election for three members to "represent the Parishes of St. Philip and St. Michael, " when at the close of the ballots this day, the following " gentlemen were declared duly elected :
" Hon. W. H. GIBBES, Hon. J. F. GRIMKE, and THOMAS SHUBRICK.
" Yesterday, came on in the different Wards, the election " for Wardens of this City, when the following gentlemen " were chosen :
" Ward No. 1, JAMES NEILSON ; Ward No. 2, THOMAS " BEE; Ward No. 3, A. ALEXANDER; Ward No. 4, B. " BEEKMAN; Ward No. 5, JOSHUA WARD; Ward No. 6, " THOMAS HEYWARD; Ward No. 7, JOHN MATHEWS; Ward " No. 8, GEORGE FLAGG ; Ward No. 9, THOMAS RADCLIFFE, "jr. ; Ward No. 10, ISAAC HOLMES; Ward No. 11, RICHARD " HUTSON; Ward No. 12, JOHN WARING ; Ward No. 13," no election. The two candidates who stood highest in this Ward had an equal number of votes. To supply this va- cancy consequent by a tie vote, another election was held on the 2d October, following, when ROBERT LADSON re- ceived the largest number of votes.
In the Gazette, the second day after the general election, it was announced that
" Pursuant to the Act of the General Assembly to incor- " porate Charleston, the Wardens duly elected and qualified "this day, agreeable to the directions of the said act, " hereby give public notice, that Thursday, the 11th day " of September, instant, is fixed upon for the election of an "Intendant for the City, from among the Wardens; and " that all persons qualified to vote for Wardens in their "respective Wards, will be entitled to vote for such In- " tendant. That the election will be held under the Ex- " change of the said City, from the hours of nine to twelve "in the forenoon, and from two to five in the afternoon,
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" when and where the subscribers will attend to manage " the same.
" JAMES BENTHAM, " LAMBERT LANCE, " PHILLIP PRIOLEAU, " DANIEL HALL.
" Thursday, came on the election of Intendant for this "City, agreeable to the Act of Incorporation, when RICH- " ARD HUTSON, Esq., was chosen. After the election, " Messrs. BENTHAM, LANCE, HALL and PRIOLEAU, the " returning officers, waited on Mr. HUTSON, to acquaint " him of the issue of the election, and although he had in " the most pressing manner requested the citizens not to " vote for him, it cannot be mentioned too much to his " honor, that on finding the voice of his fellow-citizens " had declared him their Intendant, he instantly gave up " his own private wishes, and cheerfully accepted the bur- " then they had laid upon him. After which, he went " with the above gentlemen to Mr. MOCRADY's, where an " elegant entertainment was provided, and where the citi- " zens, on this novel and pleasing occasion, had the happi- " ness to congratulate the Intendant on his election."
The editor of the Gazette, in alluding to the election, remarked, that " a private station is not the post of honor ; "yet, in the present instance, happy may those gentlemen " be said to be, on whom the election did not fall. In the " first year of Incorporation, the office of Intendant will " prove a most arduous and laborious task. Though it has " been forced on Mr. HUTSON, yet the public are satisfied " they shall not be disappointed of his every exertion to " contribute to their peace and happiness by the full exer- " cise of his great abilities, and integrity in accomplishing " the great objects of regulation and reform, pointed out " by the Incorporation Act."
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OF CHARLESTON, S. C.
" This is a new era in the history of Charleston ; may it " be propitious to its rising glory, increasing commerce, "and growing. opulence; and on this occasion we could " wish to do away a prejudice (and nothing but which can "prevent its becoming the first City in America,) enter- " tained in Europe against Charleston, on misinformation " of its being unhealthy. The printer thinks he owes it to " truth to declare, that so far from finding the climate of " South Carolina, as they conceive, unfavorable to any Euro- " pean constitution, he has not had an hour's illness since his "arrival in this State, nor does he remember to have " enjoyed, for the same length of time, such an uninter- " rupted state of health. From the best information, we "may venture to say, there is not a more healthy City on " the continent."
Intendant HUTSON served until the 14th of the follow- ing September. He was then succeeded by Col. ARNOL- DUS VANDERHORST.
On Saturday morning, 22d November, 1783, Mr. MIL- LER published, in this quaint and ambiguous style, the subjoined information :
" THURSDAY MORNING, 10 O'CLOCK.
" The public will believe Mr. MILLER has no little " happiness in informing them, that the Lightning may " shortly be expected. Off Edisto, the second mate came " on shore, from whom a gentleman learnt, who is just " arrived in Town, that she brings Mr. M. almost as many " children as she brings them bells. She is about three "leagues to the southward."
These bells which Mr. MILLER alluded to, have a mem- orable record. They are St. Michael's chime, eight in number, and were purchased in England, in 1764. The ship Little Carpenter brought them to "Charlestown," July 17, 1764. Major TRAILLE, of the Royal Artillery,
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took them away at the evacuation of December, 1782. They were sent back to " Charlestown" in the Lightning, and arrived here 20th November, 1783. During the last war, they were sent to Columbia, and were destroyed at the sack and destruction of that City, in February, 1864. The fragments were sent to England in the spring of 1866, and re-cast, a century after, by decendants of the original manufacturers. They were landed in Charleston from the Norwegian bark Gladstone, February 18, 1867, and were again rung March 21, 1867.
About the close of the year 1783, Mr. MILLER estab- lished, with the aid of several prominent gentlemen, a Public or Circulating Library. "This was," as he said, " with a view of supplying the present scarcity of books, " arising from the devastation made in gentlemen's private " libraries, in the Gothic, savage and wanton wish of the " British Army, to exterminate all knowledge."
JOHN MILLER sold The Gazette and Advertiser to TIM- OTHY & MASON, and went to Pendleton, in this State. There he published Miller's Weekly Messenger. This journal changed hands, and was known for many years , as the Pendleton Messenger .* The editor and publisher, JOHN MILLER, died in Pendleton, in 1809, and was buried at the "Old Stone Church."
Between 1783, the year in which the act incorporating Charleston was passed, and 1795, a period of twelve years, there were but two diurnal publications in this City. One was The Columbian Herald or Patriotic Courier of North America, published by Messrs. HARRISON and
* The rapid increase of the population of the upper portion of South Car- olina must have been the inducement for Mr. Miller to go to Pendleton. Ramsay states, that in the two new western districts, now called Pendleton and Greenville, which were obtained by treaty founded on conquest from the Cherokee Indians, in 1771, filled so rapidly with inhabitants, that in the year 1800, they alone contained upwards of 30,000 sonls.
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OF CHARLESTON, S. C.
BOWEN, then by THOMAS BARTHOLEMEW BOWEN and J. MARKLAND, as BOWEN and MARKLAND, at 4 Queen Street ; afterwards (1784,) it was published at 15 Meeting Street ; then, removed to No. 92 Church Street. This last re- moval took place on the 9th of May, 1795. The motto of this paper was, this constituent part of the Constitution of the State of South Carolina : "That the liberty of the press is inviolably preserved." The Columbian Herald had a bust of WASHINGTON as a vignette.
Mr. BOWEN had been a Lieutenant in the British Navy, possessed fine literary taste, and was once the publisher of The South Carolina Weekly Messenger. Prominent as a Mason, he was, anterior to 1800, a Grand Officer of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina.
The other paper was The Charleston Evening Gazette, printed by J. V. BURD and R. HASWELL, at 102 Broad Street. The Evening Gazette was, afterwards, printed by . J. V. BURD, at 24 East Bay. JOSEPH VINCENT BURD died, after a short illness, on the 4th of October, 1785. He was, at the time, editor and proprietor of The George- town Times.
The City papers were, at that time, unsatisfactory as to their marine reports. The arrival and departure of ves- sels, and the names of their captains alone were mention- ed. No distinction was made in the "making up" be- tween that which was written and that which was selected. The type, too, was large, and inartistic.
Subsequent to 1783, there came into life The Charleston Morning Post, printed by CHILDS, HASWELL & MCIVER. There was, also, The City Gazette and Daily Advertiser, printed by MARKLAND & MCIVER, " Printers to the City," at 47 East Bay, from 1789 to 1797. This paper, of the 22nd of March, 1791, contained the Act to Incorporate
4
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Camden, ratified 19th February, 1791. PETER FRENAU and SETH PAINE published it from 1797 to January, 1801. They were succeeded, January 1, 1801, by JOHN MCIVER, who was at one time associated with Messrs. CHILDS & HASWELL, as before mentioned. Nothing is known far- ther than this of either CHILDS or HASWELL.
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