Newspapers / The Journal-Patriot (North Wilkesboro, … / June 27, 1940, edition 1 / Page 33
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^alNNrVBBSARY EPITION „ rPATRIOT, =P ^PidAshed by John Croi^ m 1902 ^Continued from page six) tll«- Indiana bacame ao much at- taehed to him that they refused •to part with him; and after leaT- ta( at Detroit the other prisoners, they returned with Boone to Chili Cothe. He was adopted as one of a^he tii'he and pretended to be Tery fond of his new father and mother, and take great Interest in their sports and hunting. His plan of escape was hurried by an alarming circumstance; while meditating upon it he was aston ished to see an assemblage of four hundred warriors at Chill Cothe. An attack on Boonesboro was planned. On the 16tb of June he escaajed and reached Boonesboro on the 20th a distance of one hundred and sixty miles, during which he ate but one meal. He found the fort in bad condition, and set all hands about to repair it. The Indians, finding that he had escaped, postponed the at tack. On the 1st of August, with nineteen men, Boone sets out to attack an Indian town called Paint Creek, on the Sciota. With in four miles of the fort they met forty Indians on their way to attack them. A desperate tight ensues, in which Boone conquer ed without the loss of a man. ||Pn the 8th of August the larg est force that they ever had ap pear before Boonesboro orders it ^surrender. The assailants were ■ t^Mr hundred and forty-four In- dUlns and eleven Frenchmen, commanded by Ciptain Duquesne. Boone requested a parley of three days during which he made every preparation for an active and vigorous defense. On the 9th Boone informs the French commander that "h e would defend the tort as long as a man could raise a rifle.” The wily Frenchman, knowing the prowess of his O'Pponent, seeks to effect by stratagem what he dares not attempt by arms. A treaty is agreed to. Boone with the required number go forth to sign the document He is inform ed, after signing, that it was an Indian custom from time immem orial for two Indians to shake the hands of one white man. This he reluctantly consented to, and the moment the savages took hold of each white man they endeavored to hold him fast. Boone feels the •aipewy grasp of two athletic In dians, knd his companions are be trayed into a like perilous condi- , tlon. Now arose the mighty striig- gle for liberty and for life. "Now gallant Boonel now hold thy own. No -Maiden arm is round thee thrown: That desperate grasp thy frame would feel. Through bars of brass and triple steel.” Fortunate favors at this mo ment of peril her gallant son; the' knife of Boone finds a bloody sheath in one of his opponents; the other is thrown down, and ^jgtKine and his men escape to the His name can never die. The memor;^ of this chilalric exploit, and the name of Boone will live as long as the Kentucky river rolls its troubled tribute to the "Great Father of Waters;” and when the marble in our National Capitol, which commemorates ] this deed, shall have crumbled to its original elements. The Indians, after an unsuc cessful attack, raised the seige, after a loss of several killed and wounded. During the absence of Colonel Boone in catptlvlty among the Shawnees, his wife, thinking her husband was killed, returned with her family to her father’s, on the Yadkin in North Carolina. Boone came to North Carolina after them. He returned with them in about two years to Boonesboro, during which time many battles had been lost ind won. As he and his brother were re turning from the Salt Licks, they were attacked by the Indians, his brother was killed by a shot from the Indians. Boone was not hurt and only escaped by rapid flight, killing the dog the Indians had sent On his trail. Such was the life Boone le^ until the defeat of the Indians by Wayne (1792) introduced peace and quiet in this dark and dangerous country. Between this time and the time (1792), the new territory came into the Union, Virginia had en acted so many laws, which Boone in the simplicity of his nature had failed to comply with, or his bus iness was done so loosely, that the very land he had 'oought and paid for, in the sacrifices of him self and the blood of his son and his brother was wrested from him. How sad a commentary upon human nature. How mournfully true the Latin adage, "home horn ini lupus” (man is a wolf to man). In 1798 he shoulders his rifle and goes to the wilds of Missouri. Here was a country as wild and unclaimed as his heart desired. The republic was that of the for est, and the rifle and the hunter; and Boone was commander-in- chief. He never sighed for what was lost. He said Kentucky was too crowded, he wanted more el bow-room. Here he lived until 1813. when he lost his wife; the faithful companion of all his trials and troubles exchanged thi.s tor a brighter world. This was the severest blow Boone received. He left Missouri and came to his son, Major Nathan Boone, where he lived, employing his leisure with his favorite rifle and trapping heavers until 1818 when he calm ly and resignedly breathed his last, in the eighty-fourth year of his age, surrounded by affection and love. It was stated in the pap ers at the time of his death that he was found dead .st a stand, watching for a deer with his rifle sprung and raised ready to fire. In the Indian idea he had gone to hunting ground of the warrior a- bove, where his spirit would be happy when the stars would cease to give their light. The Character of Boone is so peculiar that it marks the age in which he lived; and his name has been celebrated in the verses of the immortal Byron: —Of All Men— Who pass for In life and death most lucky. Of the great names which In our faces stare. Is Daniel Boone, backswoodman of Kentucky. Crime came not near him—she is not the child J|i>f •olltuda. Health shrank from him, for Her home la in the rarely trodden wild. Don Juan, Canto VII, LVI ■ I And tall and strong and swift on foot were they, Beyond the dwarfing city’s pule abortions. Because their thoughts had never been the prey Of care or gain; the green woods were their portion; No sinking spirits told them they grew gray. No fashions made them apes of her distortions; Simple they were, not savage; and their rifles. Though very true, were not yet used for trifles. Motion was their days, rest In their slumbers. And cheerfulness the handmaid of their toils; Nor yet too many, nor too few their numbers; Corruption could not make their hearts her soil; The last which stings, the splen dor which encumbers. With the tree foresters divide no spoil; Serene, not sullen, even the soli tudes Of this unsighing people of the woods. In North Carolina was Boone reared. Here his youthful days were spent; and here that bold spirit was trained, which so fear lessly encountered the perils through which he passed in after life. His fame Is a part of her property, and she has inscribed his name on a town (Boone) in the region where his youth was spent. I am Indebted to a sketch In the National Portrait Gallery, by W. A. C., for the leading facts and dates in the life of Boone. It was on a farm near Holman’s ford that Boone’s early life was spent. There are objects still ex isting in that locality which were associated with him in his hunt ing expeditions and travels. There are trees standing to this day bearing marks which indicate that at or near the spot Daniel Boone killed a bear. Boone’s Gap in the Brushy mountains, near Boomer, is so called because it was in Boone’s route across the moun tain on his hunting expeditions. A short distance from this gap, on a tributary of Warrior creek. Is a beautiful waterfall which owes its name—Boone’s Falls— to this great hunter. KING’S MOUNTAIN The battle of King’s Mountain is very closely connected with the history of Wilkes County. Nearly, or probably more than, half the American soldiers, engaged in this famous battle for freedom of the American people were from Wilkes county, as her boundary lines were at that time. Wilkes furnished three distinguished leaders for this battle—Col. Ben jamin J. Cleveland, Col. John Sevier and General Isaac Shelby. The forces assembled at Watauga, in Wilkes county (now in Carter county, Tenn.) and decided to attack the British forces under Maj. Ferguson. At that time the Western part of North Carolina was a strong hold for the Tories and many of the men in the British ranks at King’s Mountain were 'Tories. Following is a circular letter issued by Major Ferguson to the Tories just seven days before the ^kttl«'of Klac*« Moafitalat HOW WELL... 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Insure In Dividend Paying Companies Sentinel Insurance Agency W. A. BULLIS,—Manager pf North Wilkeaboro Bldg. Telephoo* j|67 «. ., Donsrd’s Ford, Ti^on Co.;' Oct. 1, 1786. Gentlemen! Unless yon wtsh to be out up by an inundation '^f barbarian, who hare begun by murdering the unarmed sOn b^ fore the aged father, and afterr wards lopped off his ams, and who by their shocking cruelty and irregularities, give the beet proof of their cowardice and want of discipline; I say If you wish to he pinioned, robbed and mur dered, and to see your wives and daughters. In four days, abused by the dregs of mankind—In short, if you wish or desire to live and bear the name of men, grasp your arms in a moment and run to camp. The backwater men have cross ed the mO'Untaina; McDowell, Hampton, Shelby and Cleveland are at their head, so that you will have to depend upon. If you choose to We p—d upon for ever and ever by a set of mongrels, say so at once, and let your wom en turn their backs upon you and look out for real men to protect them. PAT FERGUSON, Maj. 71st Regiment. Ferguson was expecting an at tack from the Americans and di rected a letter to Lord Cornwall at Charlotte, soliciting aid. At this time Ferguson and his divis ion of the army were at Gilbert town, from which place he began his march to King’s Mountain. He camped the first night at Cow- pens (soon to (become famous for the success of our arms over Tar- leton, Jan. 17, 1781). On the 5th of October he crossed Broad riv er at Deep Ferry and marched sixteen miles; on the 6th he marched up the ridge road, until he came to a right hand fork a- cross King’s creek and through a gap towards Yorkvllle, about fourteen miles; and on the sum mit of King’s Mountain he en- camp-3d. Here he declared was ”a place where God Almighty could not drive him from.” About 3 o’clock on the 7th of October, 1789, after being in the saddle for thirty hours, without rest, and drenched by a heavy rain, the fearless Americans ap proached King’s Mountain. This mountain is in Cleveland county, on the borders of North and South Carolina; it extends East and West and on the summit Is a plateau about five hundred yards long and sixty or seventy broad. On the summit was Fer guson posted. The Americans di vided into three wings. The right wing was under the command of McDowell, Sevier and Winston; Campbell and Shelby commanded the center, while the left wing was under the command of Cleve land and Williams. The plan of Imttle was to surround the moun tain and attack each side simul taneously. The center commenced the attack and marched boldly up the mountain. The I'attle here was fierce, furious and bloody. The center gave way, but rallied, and reinforced by Campbell’s reg iment, returned to the charge. To wards the latter part of the ac tion the enemy made a furious onset from the eastern summit and drove the Americans to the foot; there they rallied and in close column returned to the at tack. and in turn drove the en emy. They gained the summit and drove the enemy before them to the western end, where Cleveland and Williams had been contend ing with another part of their line. Campbell now reached the summit and poured in on the en emy a deadly fire. The brave Fer guson, like a lion at bay, turned on these new adversaries and ad vanced with fixed bayonet. They gave way for the moment, and rallied under their gallant lead ers to the attack, "The whole mountain was covered with smoke and seemed to thunder.’ Attack ed on all sides, the circle becom ing less and less, Ferguson in a desperate move endeavored to break through t h e American lines, and was shot dead in the attempt. This decided the day. The British flag was lowered, and a white flag raised for quarters. One hundred and fifty of the enemy, including their command er, lay dead on the field, 810 wounded and prisoners. 1500 stands of arms, and the Ameri can authority restored,, were the fruits of this victory. This was the turning point of the fortunes of America. This de cisive blow prostrated the Brit- tlsh power for the time, vanquish ed the Tory influence, and en couraged the hopes of the pa triots. ' Lord Cornwallis left Charlotte and fell back to Wlnnsboro, deem ing any proximity to such fearless men unsafe for the main army, nor did he advance until rein forced by General Leslie with troops from the north. The total loss on the American side was twenty-eight killed and sixty wounded. THE SIAMESE TWINS The celebrated Siamese Twins, Chang and Eng, after traveling over all the world and seeing the advantages and disadvantagee of every country, chose the quiet of as lorellest ^ - - )>N C. ^ at %alfkiBK, Siai^, and died ’ la Wilkes eonBty, near Haya post- office, aMrat tte year 1880.. ' In 1629 they left thefr eoaaf ty for America, and since they have traveled over the whole of this continent, Bneland, France and other coantrles, exciting the admiration of the crowd, and the Invratigations of the scientific Sir Ashley Cooper, of London, Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell, of New York, and others, who have reported upon this singular phenomemon In the natural world. They were united together as one by an ensiform cartilage from the side. The blood vessels and nerves of each communicated. There seemed to he a perfect sym pathy, for when one was sick so was the other. They went to sleep at the same moment, and woke at the same. Both died on the same day, o^y a few moments intervening between their deaths. A time or two was appointed to Separate the twins hut the scientific doctors decided that such an operation would termi nate their lives. They were wealthy, well settl ed, and both happily married and had interesting families around them. They married twin sisters named Tates, sisters of Austin and Jesse Tates, late of this county. Ex-County Commissioner, Robert Yates, who lives near Boomer is a nephew of the wives of the Siamese 'Twins. Several of their descendants yet live In Sur ry county and they have adopted the name Bunker as their sur name. The house now owned and occupied by Ambros Wiles was built by the Siamese Twins, and they lived and died there. They differed widely In appear ance, character and strength. One was sober and patient; the other Intemperate and Irritable. It is said that they frequently fell out —generally about their move ments—whether they should or should not go somewhere—r.nd sometimes fought like dogs. In 1870 Chang was stricken with paralysis from which he died a few years later. In a short time— probably about 30 minutes—^Eng followed him to the great beyond. They were the most interesting persons that ever lived in the county. In the natural history of the world there Is not another case like them. THE SHOW FIGHT Between the years of 1855 and 1860, in Wilkes b'oro, occurred one of the most remarkable fights in the history of the coun ty. Robinson’s show had pitched (heir tents in the vale on the north side of Main street, just ckurci no# tiM «1k>w pnopla hud » when thagr sold enndr,.4MB^de,’ etc. It was at this atand that tka tmuhle arose. Oeonge Johnson wont up to the stand to hny some candy; the showman wanted to charge him albout three tlmee the naual price In the stores at that time, when finally Johnson told him to take the candy and go to h—I with it. This insulted the showman who in tnm insulted Johnson, who was something of afighter, and he at once began the fight. The showman’s partner came to his aid, armed with sMcks, singletrees and such other weapons as they conld get their hands on. Johnson’s friends came to his aid aibout as fast as the showmen to the aid of their com rade. A desperate battle followed. Among Johnson’s friends who engaged in the fight may be men tioned the following: Ellis Ander son. Andy Porter, “Bill” Tran- sou, Wesley Nlcholls, Peter John son, Jones Transou, and others. Such weapons were used as were most convenient and several on each side were badly hurt, but no one killed. Sheriff Staley was Informed of fhe fight and he soon had the participators under arrest and under guard. After the showmen who bad engaged in the fight had been released, a party who were absent with the horses during the fight, came up. They were attack ed by the Wilkes party, who by this time had procured sticks, axes, and other deadly weapons, and were prepared to do some fa tal execution. The showmen told them they knew nothing of the trouble and were not concerned with it, but the enraged citizens were not disposed to hear them. About that time Sheriff Staley ap peared on the scene and inform ed the citizens that the showmen who had engaged in the fight were under arrest; then the citi zens calmed down and another bloody figl^t was averted. The showmen under arreet were marched to the court house and a preliminary trial was held before Dr. R. F. Hackett, who was a Justice of the Peace at that time. The trial lasted until about midnight when the whole party was bound to court. The showmen did not want to go to jail and the jail was not sufficient to hold them, so they were kept in the courthouse, under guard, until morning when, after the showmen had paid him ?500., Gen. James B. Gordon stood surety for their appearance at court. They never appeared and finally the case was :page ^ I K upon payment ni by (HMiw. nort fi' tikn e*ih» nmoitnited to glmnl 1166.; ■» Gordon «tonro4 ahont |876 In .Ump - tranaactlon. Alter the ones engaged in thoji^ fight were arrested the ehew pro* ceeded’and a large crowd wib-' neased the exhibit. n JAMBS HCMBT ffl*AINHOVll \{. By Frank B.'Hendren James Henry Bpainhour was bom in Burke county in ISSB, and came to Wilke*, county ” 1# 1858. New Hope Academy In ^ Lewis Fork township, had jutt been completed and was In qneat of a principal. Maj. Jas. H. Foota recommended Mr. Spalnhour te the poeitlon and he was elected. He remained in this position un til the outbreaking of the wag. when be enlisted In Company IV Capt. Stokes, which company wm attached to the First ReglmeM N. C. Volunteers. Mr. Spalnhouf being a licensed minister of tho Baptist church, was appointed Chaplain of this Regiment in which capacity he served until his death at Fredericksburg, on the 17th day of October, 1861. It was under Prof, fipalnhour’e principalship, that New Hope Academy enjoyed Its brief period of ascendency among the schools of this county and had its career not been cut short by the war it would douhtlees become one ot the leading Institutions in the western part of the state. It waa located in what was justly con sidered at that time the most pro gressive community in the coun ty. The Academy was burned during the war and after that un happy struggle still-houses took its place and the community long suffered from their blighting In fluence. Recently, however, the Academy has been rebuilt and tho community, which contained some of the -best people in the county, 8 regaining some of Ita old time activity and progress. The late Maj. H. Bingham, aa well, as many of the leading citi zens of this county, of the older class received their education at New Hope Academy. (X>L. W. H. H. CXIWLES (For the leading facts in thin sketch the author is Indebted te Jerome Dowd’s sketch of Cod. Cowles in "Sketches of Prominent Living North Carolinians,’’ and to the sketch by W. W. Barber, which appeared in “The Wilkes- boro Chronicle” Jan. 8, 1902.) Colonel Cowles, the subject of this sketch, was born at Hampton- ville. In Yadkin county, April 22, 1840, and spent his youth in his father’s store and on his farm., (Continued on page eight) TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN THE YEARS 1890 f. ■ 1 iiA \ ^ 1940 HAS SHOWN MARKED IMPROVEMENT! From oxen-drawn, covered wapon days df 50 years ago to fast motor vehicle express is the record achieved in itransportation as it a - fects shipping today. Call for and deliverj’ service enables you to get shipments from K distant cities on short notice, eliminating /the nece^rty for carrying ^ 2 large stocks. Customer demands can be met quickly, inexpensively, and * satisfactorily. Our Fleet of Trucks and Moving Vans Embraces Carrying Capacity of All Sixe Requirements. We Solicit Your Long-Distance Hauling. Queen Trucking Co. NORTH WILKESBORO, N. C. ‘C” STREET r irtfliNiiV- li ill i
The Journal-Patriot (North Wilkesboro, N.C.)
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June 27, 1940, edition 1
33
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