Newspapers / Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.) / Jan. 31, 1957, edition 1 / Page 11
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GmtemKMng A Vital Task In Bygone Days k By NANCY ALEXANDER (In Lenoir New*-Topic) Cray, wintry wind* rite and rlirob the steep walled skies ol time and sigh of days when deer, eft, and buffalo strolled among the priestly pines; and a man had little elae to da but tramp t forests' shadowy haze and with hi* "rifle-sun" quickly fell his choice of fame A proud possession of the pioneer was hi* flint-lock, lone barreled rifle, which was usually called • "rifle-sun." A gun was a necessity in those days and was most always by a man's side. It was permeated with something of his personality for it was especially made by his orders or handed down to him by his father before him. Guns were welded on the jamril and forge with a hammer 'and bored with a water drill. Most - blacksmiths could turn out a fairly passable gun; but a man who wanted a sturdy, trusty rifle had it made by a man skilled in the trails—a gunsmith. Among the fading hills of Mul, berry, a small, ice glazed creek trickles along the valley and murmurs softly Its name from out of the past—Boring Mill Branch. On it* waters (here was once the homestead forge of a well known gutamrtth, Reuben Coffey, whose name was synonymous with pa tiehee and craftsmanship. He migrated from Albemarle county, Va., where he was born September 19, 1790, fought in the Revoktionary war with a North Carolina Regiment, and settled in the Mulberry section on land first owned , j by Isaac Emmons and afterwards by Washington Moore. His wife was Sally Scott Coffey. They later moved to Wayne county, Kentucky, about 1820 and Reuben died^here on Marrh 4, 1841. While at Mulberry he spent many long wintery days over fireforge thunder, boring out perfect gun barrels with the minutest of care. 1THt process of making a good rifle took a man hours. An iron bar of the correct length, obtained from the iron works, was hammered to a thickness of perhaps three sixteenths of an inch. It was then | rolled around a smaller iron rod of a diameter less than the gun caliber desired. The roll of iron was welded a few inches. at a time, because it was impossible to weld more without the inside rod, which acted aa a ram, getting too hot and bending out of shape. The rod was withdrawn from the barrel and permitted to cool,. while the barrel was reheated; then the bar was reinserted and the welding > process started again, progressing a few inches at the time. After the process was repeated a number of times and the barrel at last completed, >the drill, operated by a water-powered steel bit, cut a spiral groove inside the barrel with two inch pieces of steel, with saw-teeth edges, which filed the spiral channels. The caliber was determined by the number of bullets which could be molded from a pound of lead, usually from 80 to 140, that would fit the gun. The caliber of rifles is now measured by die decimals of an inch, regardless of the number of bullets. So strong were these hand-fashioned, smooth bore rifles that u» was never known to burst Locks, triggers, guards, ramrods, hammers and all the parts were made by thi gunsmith on the anvil. The breachpin and the lock were works of art. There were only a (few artisans skillful* enough to temper f nice point and give a piece of steel a spring temper for the (prints and a firm temper for the "frtaen." The old muxrle loading flintlock rifle made a man a sure shot for it took such • long tiaae to load one, that unless the first shot was a deadly one, the game had had ample time to disappear. Between each shot the gun had to be "wiped out", charged with powder, by ramming a leaden bullet encased in buckskin down the barrel, usually with a slim hickory (tick ramrod, and then the flintlock "primed" with powder, which was ignited. There was often plenty of time for the animal to escape after the powder was lighted MfoVe the discharge came. There were various methods of hunting. Some litutters set the woods on fire for a circumference of five miles to drive the game of all kinds to the center, where other hunters were stationed to slaughter them. An early writer reported that the deer in such drives were heard "to weep and groan like a Human Creator." This type of hunting, according to the writer, was "much practiced by Indians and frontier Inhabitants." Other hunters blinded deer at night with flaming torches, shooting them through the eyes. Slim, swift, long limbed, deep throated hounds were used for deer hunting; while a mongrel, which was a mixture of cur, bull, and terrier, was bred for bear hunting. The Plott dog, named for a well known frontier bear huntre, Enos Plott of the Balsam mountains, was said to be the finest bear dog In the state. According to ThVraite's "Daniel Boone": "At first buffaloes were so plentiful that a party of three or four men with dogs, could kill from ten to twenty in a day; but soon the sluggish animals receded before the advance of white men, hiding themselves behind the mountain wall. They exhibited no fear until the wind blew from the hunters toward them, and then thpjf "Would dash Wildly away In Urge drovfes and disappear." Tradtion has it that buffalo once herded at the head of the Yadkin river; Buffalo Cove and Creek were known to be their feed feeding and watering grounds. It was written that "The ground literally shook under the gallop of the mighty heards; they crowded in dense throngs around (salt) licks, and the forest resounded with their grunting bellows." Their trails could be followed across the mountains into Tennessee. Thwaite wrote, "Three or four men, with dogs, could kill from ten to twenty buffaloes in a day" and "sn ordinary hunter could slaughter four or five deer in a day. In the autumn from sunrise to sunset he could kill enough bears to provide over a ton of bear meat for winter use; wild turkeys were eaty prey; beavers, otters, and muskrsts abounded; wtofle, wolves, panthers, and wildcats overran the oountry." Panthers, wildcats. •c to lTION or PIPE ia New T«A CHy city h imm fcy ►r MM la btthH N«w i % wolves and bean were considered the most destructive animals and preyed on the livestock of settlers. Even in the days of abundant game, hunters had to be skillful and patient. Successful hunters of the sky, skittish deer spent much 'time learning to imitate their calls and to.determine the best weather and wind conditions for hunting. Except ior eating purposes, Most fur-bearing animals were killed only in the winter when their pelts were in the finest condition; however, deer were usually killed in the summer and autumn when their pelts were the* softest and most velvety. When an airaal was killed, It was promptly skinned, the best part of the meat and hide removed, and carried on the hunter's back to his campsite, where at night the meat was smoked or prepared for "jerking" and skihs scraped and cured. Hams of red deer were cured and saved for market or far winter use; while skins of deer and bear were "dressed" with the hair left on them. At the camps the skins were baled and wrapped with strips of bark to protect them from the weather and then placed upon high scaffolds to prevent bears, wolves, and wildcats from tearing them to pieces. Tow cloth which had been used for cleaning rifles snd swelled of burnt gun powder was hung on trees and bushes near the meat to keep away the annuls. In curing skins it was written: "For Expeditions sake they often stretched' their skins over Smoak in order to dry them, which makes them smell so disagreeably that a Rat must have a good Stomach to gnaw them in that condition; and 'tis said, while that perfume continues in a Pair of Leather Breeches the Person who wears them will be in no danger of that Villanous Insect the French call the Morpion." Bear oil was carefully saved and used for all types of Insect bites. Skins were sold to traders who made frequent trips into the frontier or at the scattered trading Vee eep «<h • new MemilN EZ dwi mw that often you • Ml • MvlMCHt nhr w Pi"3'#SrffS.'i you. ThM't nothing lor nolhlnflft write, no obliSmVm now Homelfte tZ direct drlvt chain taw today ani fat your ctMnco to«*tl Govt Creek Store I 6—m CroTC. H. C porta and later at such early stores a* the one of Harper and Waugh at Fairfield, John* River, or Wilkesboro. Deerskins were considered Very profitable. Roughly dressed, they were worth approximately a dollar each. They were also so light that many could be carried by hort^back to market. Beaver pelts were among the most valuable, being worth about two dollars and a half each, and otter skins were valued from tfiree to five dollars each. Skins of buffaloes, bear, and elk were too bulky to carry for long dstances. Many of the skns were used at home, where they were turned into leather garments and moccasins and made into rugs and mats to be placed before the great fireplaces. They were also cut and used for plough lines, bridles; the horns and hooves of the animals were turned Into spoon and knife handles. The long, flint-lock rifles which once resounded through the forests and-brought down the stately game are stilled and rest now over firesides and on display racks of antique lovers. MILITARY BUDGET President Elsenhower's military budget for fiscal 1953 asks a total of $39,2000,000. Of the total, the Air Force Is expected to receive *17,8000,000,000, which is $2,400,000,000 higher than requested last year and about $1,000,000,000 more than the upward revised estimate he sent Congress last August. The Navy will get $11,200,000,000 under the budget, the Army $10,000,000,000 and $200,000,000 for Defense Department expenses. Low Heat ftest In Lard Making "One mistake many farmers make when processing their hog carcasses is rendering the lard it too high temperatures," states John Christian, Extension animal husbandry specialist at North Carol in« State College. He advises rendering lard at a temperature below smoke point. This is a temperature of 265 degrees F., he aays. If smoke is given off when rendering lard, says /Christian, the temperature is'too high. This will cause the lard to become off-color. It will also reduce tni keeping qualities of the lard. If the lard is to be kept for a long period of time without becoming rancid, Christian advises sealing the lard in half-gallon jars while it is still hot. In this way it can be stored in the smokehouse for a year's time and still be fresh and usable. ' Christian says if the lard is to be put into stands, an antioxident may be added by mixing one pound of white vegetable shortening with five pounds of lard. This will give enough antioxident to postpone rancidity for at least a month or so. He adds that there are commercial antioxldenta available at processing plants, although in some vicinities he believes they will be difficult to locate. Traffic accidents killed more Americans in ISM than eWr before. The traffic toll is expected to be more than 40,000. Yon may not knofr h, little one, but you and yofcr telephone are going to be real friend*, all yrar tile. You'll be able to call upon your phone to help you do a thousand and-one things. And it will respond by bringing other friends to you ... and by making your life easier and note pleasant. Where earlier generation* saw the telephone a* a modern miracle, youU come to take its faithful service far granted. Yet, as yon grow, youll see many new developments —— even now taking slu^M — that will make your It friend, the mare than mm Com'i <U and 5tk Grade*) Ronnie PitU, (Dean Knight, Bar bsra McLean, Shirley and Duwey Coffey were absent put of but week because of sickness, but they have returned to school. Ideal cittsens ehoftw by the elaaa for the first semester are Ronnie Pitta and Gloria Walsh, jfc. Lindel Miller went to Croasnore last week tod Judy Teague visis ted her gi-eat-grandmother, Mrs Hatteo, in StatesvOls. Mn. Beech's 4th Grade Doris Cornett has moved to West Jefferson • Carlene Ford, Jo Aw Lentz, Ashlyn Klutz, and Margaret Harman nude a bulletin board on "Introducing Friends " The following have visited the claas In the new building: Mr. Angell, Mrs. Harmon, Mra. Smith, Mrs. Pitts, Mrs. Martin, Mrs. Dula, Mr. Hayes, and Mrs. Bdmisten. The fourth grade contributed *16.10 to the March of Dimes. Mrs. Winkler's tth Grade Rhea Holder, Sonny Young, Billie Foster, snd Robert Harmon are studying the forming of snow. The class has made a January safety chart. Students have also been making charts for health. Visitors In the room last week were Dr. Davant, Mrs. Edmlsten, Mr. Angell, and many fathers and mothers. Mr. MeCtirry's 7th aad 8th Grades Good citizens for the week ending January 18 were Beulah Harrison and Ronnie Green. Jimmy Coffey has been sick for several days, but Is back in school. Two basketball teams have been organized. The girls have Frances ampton as captain and Marian Ford as co-csptain; the boys chose Don aid Tolbert captain and Ben Green co-captain. t j Blowing Bock dropped two games to Virfinia-Carolina lad Wednesday Blowing Rock boy* lost fay a M More VirginiaCarolinas (irla defeated Blowing Rock 77-62. Blowing Bock boya won ovar Bethel laat week by a 71-18 count, while the glrla lost to Bethel 6WS7 pioyer* to Federal Social Security ww raised from X per cent to *V« per cent This ta*. <4 course, ap plies only to the W #4.300 of stdary «r oaraod. For se^ employed persons, the SocUl Security tax moves up from I per cent to three and thre*elfllti per cent the Increased tax will go Into a special fund to finance disability benefits recently authorized " Paul said tomr. Ed: One day there was « beautiful bull rampaging and bellowing and snorting in the pasture. A lion heard him. The lion sneaked up on the bull, attacked him and ate him. Then the lion felt so good that he, too, romped around the pasture and roared in rapture. A hunter hoard the lion. The hunter stalked the lion and shot him. Paul Moral: Never shoot oft your mouth when you're full of bull. E. A. QAULtNEY AND I. PAUL WINKLES Watauga Insurance Agency Northwestern Bank Bldg.—Phone AM 4-8291 Box 267—Boone, N. C. Priced To Sell — Compare Our Prices — Ataywhere WE WILL TRADE FOR CARS, LIVESTOCK AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS — CARS — '56 PLYMOUTH SAVOY V« , Club coupe, light green, low mileage, one owner, radio, heater, clean. '55 CHEVROLET BELAIR V8 2 door, two tone, radio, heater, low mileage, extra dean, white tide walls. '55 FORD CUSTOMUNE V8 Green, heater, clean, white aide walla. '55 CHEVROLET BELAIR 2 Door, two tone, green and Ivory, radio, heater, overdrive, white aide walla. '54 CHEVROLET • 4 door, black, extra clean, radio, heater, automatic transmits ion. '53 PLYMOUTH 4 door, maroon, radio, heater, white aide walls. '53 PLYMOU+H 4 door, two tone gray, hydrive, heater, clean. '53 FORD 4 door, gray, radio, heater. '53 FORD 2 door, two tone Mae, radio, heater, white aide walla. i '52 PONTIAC Gray, • cylinders, straight drive, riAIo, heater, extra nice. | '52 FORD CLUB COUPE V8 Radio, beater. ' '52 CHEVROLET 4 door, radio, heater, two tone , ^ , ^ . '52 CHEVROLET CLUB COUPE Blue, radio, heater, white aide walls. '51 PLYMOUTH 4 door, blfecfc, white side walls, low mileage, heater. '51 KAISER 4 door, black, extra clean, heater. '30 MERCURY 2 door blue. 'SO FORD 4 door, green. < '49 CHYRSLER WINDSOR Gray, radio, heater. '49 FORD V8 2 door, black, heater, radio. 46 DODGE 4 door, Me owner, heater. — TRUCKS — •56 DODGE y, TON PICKUP V8 Blue, trim dean, radio, heater, good tires, one owner. '56 DOD^E Va TON PANEL Black, heater, locally owned, ready to sell. '51 DODGE lVt TON TRUCK Good tires, heater, black. '49 CHEVROLET Vt Ton Pickup Extra dean, heater. '46 CHEVROLET Vl Ton Pickup Extra defcn for the model.
Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.)
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Jan. 31, 1957, edition 1
11
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