Waving Girl: This
statue on the riverfront in downtown Savannah, Georgia, commemorates the Savannahian
Florence Martus, (1869 – 1943). She had lived near the Savannah River Harbor
entrance and waved to every ship that passed -- for 44 years!
At the
eastern end of the old waterfront warehouse district in downtown Savannah is
situated the Waving Girl monument that relates one of the saddest stories I can
remember. The Waving Girl had more significance to us after being told her heartbreaking
story by a personal friend of ours who took her place.
The Waving
Girl story as related to us by Billie Burn from Daufuskie Island, South
Carolina: Billie told Jane and I of the young girl, Florence Martus, who became
known as the Waving Girl. As we recalled
the story; this young lady, whose brother was the lighthouse keeper, had a
love affair with a sea going sailor who promised to return to his love. Everyday this lady would go out to the
lighthouse station and wave to all incoming ships in the hope that her lover
would be returning as promised.
The Waving
Girl passed her entire life in undying hope, and she faithfully met each ship
with a wave looking for her lover who never returned.
Over the
years, the ships came to expect the lady’s wave when they passed.
After the
death of the Waving Girl in 1943, the wife of the new light keeper kept the
tradition of the Waving Girl alive by waving at each passing ship in the Savannah River. Billie Burn and her husband Lance were
substitute light keepers that maintained the lights on the Savannah
River and also along the Intracoastal
Waterway. When Billie and
Lance were on duty, Billie took the place of the Waving girl and waved at each
passing ship.
The Waving
Girl was also the name of a riverboat owned by Captain Sam Stevens that docked
downtown in the historic district on the Savannah River. Jane and I, in the
following years, got to know Captain Sam and his boat when we, along with many
of the residents of Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, took the once a month
trip to Savannah aboard Captain Sam’s boat the Waving Girl.
I have
written more of this fascinating story in Sailing the Sea Islands, Travels of Dursmirg, (Summers at Daufuskie) available in
paperback and digital editions worldwide.
Read more.
13 comments:
Don't know why more is not shared about Savannah's real riverboat captian, Captian Sam Stevens? Can anyone tell me.
I wonder the same because I am his Great grandson and my mother and I just found out about him a couple years and we are his only lineage. If you happen to know more please email me.
When I was a kid, I reme.er stories my mom you to tell about her trips she a d her friends took on Captain Sam Stevens boat to Daufuskie Island. South Carolina. Many patrons took that trip once a week back in the day. Captain Sam also took supplies from Savannah to the ppl of Dafuskie. I dont know what happen after the Captain passed on.
When I was a kid, I remember stories my mom you to tell about her trips she and her friends took on Captain Sam Stevens boat to Daufuskie Island. South Carolina. Many patrons took that trip once a week back in the day. Captain Sam also took supplies from Savannah to the ppl of Dafuskie. I dont know what happen after the Captain passed on.
They threw him in jail on trumped up charges, and literally took everything away from him, remember the Indians
I have searched and searched for the History of Captain Sam Stevens, and keep coming up empty, now I understand partly why, thank you anonymous for that piece of of information
Capt Sam had a government contract to deliver fuel to Hunter Army Base in Savannah. He shorted the fuel deliveries and pocketed the extra monies he received. He was convicted and sent to Federal Prison. The charges were not trumped up, he did commit the crime. Broke my heart when this case came in for prosecution. Good people do bad things sometime.
I have fond memories of Captain Sam as a child...R.I.P...
It’s my great uncle they did he was 80 sum years old
I was telling a friend how wrong the his bookkeeper did him he went for tax evasion and other charges it’s sad how they did him he had no kids to try to open up boat on the river front
One of his boats was named after his wife leola
Just found this article. One of my good friends grew up around this guy and has nothing but amazing stories about him being an amazing man. Glad to see he is remembered
I actually lived on the same street, grew up knowing them and went on a lot of his cruises to Daufuskie, Island
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