Newspapers / The Franklin Press and … / March 1, 1928, edition 1 / Page 7
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1 KEY CITY OF THE MOUNTAINS 1 1 v a VOLUME XLIII FRANKLIN, N. C, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1928 NUMBER NINE 7 $1 f r 4- -7? 7 O- O -.' F 1 Recall Heroic Rescue Done In North Carolina Mountains Death of Charlie Wright Re vives- Story of Thrilling 11 - 1 r r neroism on tiirr on Whiteside Mountain. Highlands," Feb. 11. The recent !eath of Charles N. Wright, of High lands, in a fall in'an automobile down a steep cliff near Lake Toxaway, almost ' within ' sight of Whiteside mountain, recalls vividly to the minds of Macon county residents the- details of the thrilling rescue made on the mountainside by Wright and W. M. -1 )iIiard"T)f - Cms Baty, of - Highlands,- in -1911 Dillard is a-farmer .of Dillard, Ga., now, and remembers . the accident which came near costing the life of Baty and which brought fame, to . Wright and Dillard in the . form of $2,000 "awards from the Carnegie ' foundation and medals for their hero ism. . Baty is a carpenter at Highlands, and never has forgotten a detail of the rescue. "So far as 1 know, unless they have been worn away by time, my necktie and some belongings I had in mv . pockets when I went over the side of the cliff and hung to a rho dendron bush, still are there. 7 I don't know of anybody who wants to go there to find out," Baty said. He could not say enough in tribute to the bravery of his rescuers. v Visitors frequently go, to Whiteside , -mvHrt.tairi.3nl, -stop to pause in, won- ''ism oT thVMaanh1fnTi -persons have preserved xopies: of pa pers carrying details of the near tragedv, written by the Rev7 GrW, Belk for "the Charlotje Observer, was brought out upon inquiry. ' Text of Story Here is . the story, as it appeared in that paper in October, 1911 : "Away in Jackson countv, some 20 miles west from Lake Toxawav is the far-famed Whiteside mountain, a spur of the Blue Ridge- and one ot the most sublime and picturesque, points ot scenic grandeur in me whole region known as The Land of the Sky.' . ' f "This mountain stands out from the main ridge, almost alone, and lifts its loftv brow to an altitude of above 5,000 'feet. "The side to the eastward lies jn an irregular semi-circle, the protect ing nbints sweeping , out at either, end. forming a rugged concave, aoout one mile, on a line, irom imim m i 1 r point. From the highest part of th(? middle section 'of. the mountain the wall is almost perpendicular, standing some-2,000. feet-above: the-vaUey,anr the outlook is one of grandeur un 5iirnn!sed. Even the view irom 'Caesar's Head' is tame in comparison At this noint a" ereat tongue of granite projects some fifteen feet in to the air and resembles a huge arrow Fiead. I named it 'The Lion's Toncate.' but a number of the natives call it The Fool's Rock implying, perhaps, that no one but a fool would venture out on it. If this be true, then the writer must be enrolled as one among the many who have stood upon that rock and felt the thrill of mdcscrib able grandeur flow into' his soul. ' At the base of the rock, seated with a number of others, I saw an eagle high in the air, above the top of Black Rock mountain; and as he passed over ,thp summit, he folded his great wings and dropped like a large ball " some two or three thousand feet, then spread again his pinions . and swept across, the valley before us with his incredible speed and on to his nest among the crags at the farther end of the Cliff. ' The Party Starts Out "I never before felt the full force of the figure 'swift as an eagle.' But to my story : "iXbout three months ago a party of sight-seers from Highlands set out for Whiteside mountain. The com pany Was composed of Mr. and Mrs. Charles N. Wright, Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Dillard, .and the Misses "Martha Heacock. Efiza Peck and Ircra Ed wards: Messrs. Frank Cabe, Hatley . McCall, Sam Reese, Barney Wilson, Gus Baty and Gene Potts, just thir teen in all. "On reaching the summitthe com panv soon divided, some going to the highest point, some to 'Lion's Tongue' or 'Fool Rock.' while. Mr. and Mrs. Wright, Miss Heacock and Mr. Mc Call went on some two hundred yards farther to the north. "Suddenly the top of the mountain was ringing with wild screams. Mr. Wright rushed rapidly to the scene. All was confusion. The women were running to the front, almost frantic. It was some little time before Mr. . ' " ' i.i.'v fc.t.iv " " I Wright could learn vvhat had really J happencd. "Mr. Baty and Sony of the oilier? had been standing on the ryck,, iew- ing . the scenery with a spy glass, when in a moment of dizziness, he made a false step and stepped on the projecting rock. The cry was: 'Cuss Baty had' fallen off the rock;' he slipped through just there and shot like an 'arrow down the cliff. 'Oh, Lord, he's killed, he's killed,' was the cry. Just then one of the girls faint ed. . i . "Charlie Wright ran out on-the rock, looked and saw Baty hanging over the edge of the precipice some 150 or 160 feet below, holding onto a scrub 'bush of rhododendron wh ile below him the perpendicular rock went -down one thousand -fwt-r-""-' , , , , . ,, "As he looked, he saw Gus -move his hand and by this he knew he was still alive. ' "Now,- no man in the country knows Whiteside mountain better thatr Char lie Wright, and no man knew 'better the risk and peril of attempting to reach the place where Gus Baty was hanging by the little bush. "Take all thee women away we must have silence take them clear out of hearing. Thus Charlie Wright gave orders. Then returning to Mr. Dillard, he said, 'Can you go with me?' Mr. Dillard said, 'I'll try.' "Remembering that ' there was a ledtre leading to the place where the young man had lodged, Wright led S 1 r,'ii f 1.1. t the way and uniara ionoweci. Clings To Crevices "Mr. Wright believed that ji he forty feet of Baty. . i "After going some distance, the rock'" became so steep - that . I )illard said, 'I . can't cross that rock, Charlie,' and turned back. Charlie Wrijdit went on clinging to the rock until he reached some bushes growing in the crevice. Charlie Wright clung to the rock, gripping his fingers in the 'crevices worn there by the storms of ages. "At last he reached the line along which Baty had fallen and, looking down, saw his man some twenty feet below, wedged against the small brush on the very edge of the precipice, side his left foot crossed under his Baty was lying partly . on his left knee, his right -foot hanging over the cliff. The very last brush on the edirc had stopped him. Had he miss ed this bush or gone one foot on cither side of it, he would have fallen , fully one thousand ieet. "'Be still. Gus, I'm coming to you Don't move. It's. Charlie Wright.' "Climbing down some twenty feet more, and brave Charlie Wright had his hand on-Gus Haty. "He was still alive and conscious but badly hurt by the fall. One knee was terribly bruised, and a large stick had pierced his head, just back of the ear. . "Wright pulled out the stick and spoke a few words to the wounded man. "Now think of these two men one of them almost entirely disabled 150 or 160 feet of sloping rock be tween them, and nearly two thousand feet to the valley below, clinging to the bushes and rocks, and no human heln. It makes one feel dizzy! "The other day I stood on the east prn slone and looked at the place and the whole thing took on the coloring and shape of the miraculous "But the crisis was not yet over. How could Charlie Wright, brave and strong as he vas, climb out of this perilous position with a man almost entirelv unable to. help himself? To get cmt himself would seem almost impossible. But . cfMnb that rock with a man .half deadL would be a little less than a miracle. But Wright is both strong and bravcV Tells Him To Forget Pain "He spoke in a commanding tone.: 'Now," Guss, ' 'you must not think of your.' pain; you must help yourself all you can. Be cool and do as I tell you.' . ' - "Taking1 him firmlv by the collar of his coat and vest, Wright pulled him out, and scrambled up a few feet to where he could get a temporary resting place. Then Mr. Wright got below him and, putting his shoulder under 'him pushed him little by little, some thirty feet up the rock. V Now, they have reached the most terilou spot the steep rock must be crossed. ' Mr. Baty was in great pain. What was done had to be done quickly, His strength would not brook long delay. "At this point, Mr. Wright called to Mr. Dillard to come to his help. " 'If voir can't come, send for mv brothec I must have help.' But he knew that delay would no " ' ' " - ) doubt mean death perhaps the death North Skeenah News Mr. Willie Green passed through this section Monday on his way to his work on South Skeenah. Mr. E. L, Dellart has moved his saw mill from this section to Otto. Messrs. J. W. Hastings' and E. B. Dclfart were in this community Tues day. Mrs. Ltxie Sanders made - business trip to Franklin' Monday. Mr, Quince Shone from Virginia has been visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Zeli Shopc this week end. Mrs. Robert Carpenter had a birth day quilting Tuesday.. Those present seemed to enjoy themselves very much Mr. Rcamus Sander's has a ten by twenty smile, its a girl. Mr. Frank Shopc went to Nanta hala Wednesday, in spite of rain, to feed hogs. -. .- . ""Mrs; Annie"- Crawford and her brother, Fred Childers, were in this section on business1 Saturday. . Mr. Vestcr Stockton from Try phosia, spent Monday night with home folks. , New Movie " S. H. Lyle, Jr., and Steve Porter, owners of the local moving picture house, have leased a building in Clay ton, Ga., next door to Dover's Drug store and will install modern motion picture equipment. It is understood that Clayton has been without a movie for some time. The building leased by the local citizens will be enlarged and repaired. of them both. "Seeing the peril of the situation .,.nirw vii r. ta 11 1 "And come he did, clean to the steep rock "We held Batv on liisl feet, one on each side, dragging and pushing him little by little moving his feet along with our feet, and along on, I don't know how, till we reached the ledge where the rock was not so steep. "Here we rested until the lines and halters from the buggies were brought. Then they .tied them around Mr. Baty and pulled him to the top. "This is as they told it to me. "As soon as they reached the top Mr. Baty fainted and it took half 'an hour to . bring him to consciousness; then they made a litter of .poles and lap robes and carried him to the bug gy, more than a mile down the moun tain. They drove to Highlands and in two months Mr. Baty was sound and well. "Mr. Baty, what did you think as you slipped from the rock?' I asked ."'I scarcely thought anything. It was all so quick. But I knew that I was -gone. It surprises me, even now to think I am alive. I shall never cease to be grateful to the good Lord, and these two men. "These men live at Highlands, Ma con county, and no report of this in cident has been given to the paper. One of Most Daring Rescues In State "The above is a report of the most daring rescue ever made in the old north state, and is but a feeble por trival of the facts. A man tpust see the mountain to be fully impressed with the degree of a hero's nerVe necessary to do such a deed. ' N "Men who know the mountain de Hare to me that this feat of daring has perhaps never been equalled in the history of North Carolina. "A gentleman who knew all the facts said to me: 'Charlie Wright is the only, man in this country,, in my judgment, who has the nerve and the courage even . to . have attempted .: to rescue- Gus Baty from . the edge of that cliff.' And after seeing the place I am. of the same opinion.' "If any man ever deserved the hero medal, Charlie. Wright i tb 1: man: Andnexf to him is W. M. Dillard. ' "These men told me that no sum of moncv could tempt them to 'un dertake, 't again. "T would not dcr U for all. the monev in the world, said Charlie Wright. 'But T guess I would try it if some one was hanging there nd 1 thought T could save his life.' Now that is the language of true courage. "Mr. Baty is a man soni" twentv- Finc years of ,-ure. Mr. Dillard is thirty and M Wright about thi'iy- fivc. Air. Wright is the son of Bar- rak Wright, of Sh",-'ff. who lives some six miles f-oni Whiteside moun-tevi.v tain and who first told , me of th rescue o Gus Baty and took me to see both ; the mountain and the men. So t 'write from personal ' knowledge. If Mr. Carnegie ever gave a medal to men who deserved it. let him giv ""Hah to ChaHe Wright and W. M. Dillard. And if he wishes to sec the place from which Gus Batv was res cued, let him prepare to behold one of the sublimest sces in th f--- fpmod 'Land of the Skv'!" Asheville '''III. ' i Times FISH AND GAME MAKES APPEAL C. N. Mease, Deputy Game Warden, States Aims of Department in Restocking Streams and Forests. (By C. N. Mease) The time has come when"' the State of North , Carolina Department of Conservation and' Development is go ing to provide for the cart... of game and fur-bearing animals and migra tory birds, the time has come when the state has seih the wisdom of establishing game pa-servos or refuges juut.it we are goir.g t. .. wan lor iiu. eeiurai oouy i. reacn i v. l n mv . i i. i . . - , . itst headquarters and covers -with - gaiiu7,.- ;uu fill our home the - streams back of our homes with iih, we've got a long, long wait ahead. 01 tt. , The game restoration j.rogram. Marls with the home cover;; a-id pmti.c;ioti. It is based on the "olicv tliat i-'"-li of us must assume the responsibility for the care, -development, ami re stocking of some . fav orite ' anjmai or bird which we like to hunt! This applies to fishing as well. 'The game restoration program is laid down in broad 'lines, each of us should supply our local cov ers with the kind of game which we wish to increase to some extent, where it is possible to do so. Most any' kind of game will do. well in Western North Carolina, At the present time I think we shouKr give our attention to game as we never have before. Quail can. be propagated to .increase pheasants, they can be raised easily ' in- this section ot the stater as. we readily? knnvv most- any kind of small game can be propagated in most any section of Western North Carolina by giving it the proper protection and attention. In fact there is no kind of game now in Western North Carolina that can not be increased if we . people vvitl as sume the responsibility of, the Work and intelligently follow the simple plan of a game program. Therp is nothing new in the breed ing, protecting and keeping of . game as many spoftsmen and sportsmen's clubs have been doing this work for years, and they are on ' the right track, but they heed the active sup jrort and assistance of every ne who is ' interested in game propagation. The only thing new in the propa gating of game in Western North Carolina is that each of us must do our share of- the work if breeding and increasing" game . in Our respectiv e' lo cality, and as soon as we people wake up to the possibilities of , the policy, they will be more game and better shooting every where. It is well to realize : that charity begins at home, and it is essential that in all sections or districts of Western North 'Carolina, where the forests or' covers are available, for us to organize among ourselves, a club of some form and purchase some few pairs of animals or birds which we like to hunt and assist the state in stocking its fields and forests with game and fish of various kinds and now as the state is taking this great step in trying to protect and increase the game throughout the state for the benefit and sport of its people, it is also essential that every citizen should constitute a game warden and- assist the wardens in protecting : the game and fish and co-operate, in the work from ev ery " angh . ----- We 'wardens realize that of our ..own efforts alone we will he able to' ac complish but little ' in propagating and protecting our fish and game, but if each of us. will wake . up' to the 1 acJT ti atvTrrc-Hnttrret ei- t-wl th-at- we assume the responsibilities of pro tecting our, own localities of local streams 'and. hunting' covr. we vviil then be able to accomplish our undertakings- .complete . ' The game restorati' m program as sumes that every sportsman is willing to work for the improvement of his country as well as the improvement of his. own sport, if he is shown the way, if this was 'not' the case, the end of sport .would be close at hand, t'v nronarntihir of uame starts at Home in the home covers, it gives man in the ranks : a delinite job. i:i the in-breeding ' and protect ing fish and game u his respective locality or cov ers i:i which he is per sonally interested; The leaders of the Department; of Conservation and Development may plan campaigns and the officers may give commands or appeals and lead the way, but' without the co-operation and assistance of the people who loves to hunt and fish and loves the outdoor life, the best laid plans must fail, the game program supported by ; CUP GIVEN BY SUNDAY SCHOOL Men's Class of Local Metho dist Church Will Offer Cup for Best Attendance and Increase Membership. With a view to giving impetus to Sunday School work among the men of Western North Carolina the Men's Bible Class of the Franklin Metho dist church has ottered a cup to be 'competed' for among similar . classes of Andrews, Murphy, Hayesville, Bry son City, Sylva and Franklin. '$iis contest will begin the 15th day of April and will continue for .six months. ' At, the end of the first six itioiitlts the' class hav ing the greatest percentage in HicW'aririBnbcrsh'i'iT anL als: . thC'gfcatelC'pf-rccntagctf attendance; will win the cup. The second contest of six months will begin 'immediately after, the close of tin first. If the same class wins the cup for the second time in succession the cup- will become its permanent property, in which case all losing classes will provide a second cup to be competed for in a '.similar manner. In the work for possession of the en p increased membership and per centage attendance will count 50 per cent each. With a view to getting this eontest under way at once the Franklin class has appointed delegations to visit the towns mentioned next Sunday and present the proposition. -J. C. Led better -wll-go-Sylvajir-G Gabrels to Bryson City, Gordon Moore to Andrews, Mark Dowdle to Murphy ..-....,'. lilirfflW!-lr Strawberry Plants $2.00 Per 1,000 Mr. H. N. Moore announces that he can supply good strawberry plants, certified by government oficials,- at $2.(X) per thousand. ; Mr. Moore re quests that those wanting such plants bring their orders to town next Mon day and see him at the county agent's office. It is imperative, states Mr.. Moore, to get orders listed at once so that the plants will reach here in time for resetting in the early spring. P. TV A. Meeting There will be a meeting of the P. T. A. at the school auditorium Fri day at 3:30 p. in. Please be interest ed enough in your school and children to attend. ' ''.-.'.' strong citizens and sportsmen's clubs will be the 'most important influence in building up"thF"''gamc- restoration program. When we begin to sec the increase of game in our home covers and fish in the local streants f rpirTThe" interest in which we are taking amoung our selves many of the most jierplexing problems of the present day, particu larly relating to law enforcements, will be automatically solved. When we people have a close personal interest in the game and fish supply, and be gin to feel that we are primarily responsible for it, then , we will get results that we have never seen be fore. I must say that the North Carolina Department of Conservation and De velopment is doing overytlu'ng possible as funds become available, in re-stock-, ing and propagating game and fish in the state and arc getting successful results. The '..leaders' of the depart ment' have in - the last few months established three state game sanctu aries . Or refuges, and is now stocking the preserves with game of various kinds for the benefit of its people. And in order to bring back the gamt-tlHotvg4wut-4he state-r-the deparl ment also has a number '-of fish hatcheries raising fish '.o, stock our streams. ' .-.' " . "' ; . ... To bring back the me and fislt to the present genera. n means so much in so' many ways, and it seems to ' me that we people m the hills o.f Western North Carolina have the adv vantage, if vve will take it. c hav z the covers, hiding arid breeding places for game and tlie fresh water stream:;' for the fish. While we have ' the co-operation of the National forest service and their forests of help us we should take ad vantage of it. Western North Carolina is an ideal place throughout the mountain sec tion for a fish and game refuge or sanctuaries and there is no rcdson why we should not have fish and game of various kinds and in most any number, if we will dp our part in re-stocking and protecting our owr; '-, home covers ,and local streams and observe the state game and fish I a vs C. N. MEASE. Deputy Fish and Game Commissioner.
The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
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March 1, 1928, edition 1
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