Newspapers / The Yancey Journal (Burnsville, … / June 21, 1956, edition 1 / Page 3
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THrtISDAT, JIWi: 81, 19M ABOUT THE “BIG TOM” WILSON REUNION, 1931 Address by B. B. Bay of Azalea, N. C. (Editor’s note) The following address was made by R. R. Ray in li£i3l at a reunion of the family of “Big Tom” Wilson at Stepps Spring Gap. Mrs. R. R. Ray is the granddaughter of “Big Tom” Wil son. She and Mr. Ray left Pensa cola, N. C. 35 years ago, and had a hose of friends in Yancey Coun ty. Mrs. Ray now resides in Bilt more, N. C. Messrs. A. G. and Ewart Wilson having decided they wanted to get the descendants of the Big Tom Wilson family together at the' Wilson lodging house at Stepp Spring Gap, which is only two miles from the summit of Mt. Mit chell, gave an invitation for all the descendants of this noted man to meet at the home of Mr. Ewart Wilson on Saturday, June 20th, at 5 o’clock P. M. R. R. Ray and family, of Azalea, having been invited to join that happy group, motored over from Asheville just in time to join the happy band as the evening shad ows were lengthening, so as to have a cool pleasant drive up the mountain. So leaving the home of Mr. Ewart Wilson the party did not travel but a short distance up this beautiful valley until they reached the summer home of Judge Adams, where his family spends a great deal of their time throughout the hot summer months, and where he can also jon ’hem at weekends and enjoy the cool pleasant breeze under the shadow of Mt. Mitchell. Passing this beautiful location they found themselves traveling along the bank of the Blue Sea prong of Cane River where the water was so clear as to photograph the blue etheal sky from above, where you could see the mountain trout swimming about leisurally, seeking for food. Going still fur ther up this stream we camjb to-a point where we could look across to our right and behold the upper Blue Sea Falls, where the water ( was flowing over a large rock that was so near perpendicular that the water running down this rock is as white as snow, and when the current is a little strong the water falls with such force causing a spray to rise to the extent that when the morning sun is shining brightly, you are able to behold the most beautiful colors of the rainbow. Passing by this spot of pictures que beauty we soon came to Bear Ridge, and going a little distance came near the spot where Mr. Wilson killed the largest bear of his life. The scenery was beautiful and we stopped along to look at points of interest until we reached the camp, where about"l2s of the. near relatives of this noted man had ( Every ounce of JFG Special coffee is best perf of the masl" 1 _ ■ gathered. After a short time spent in con versation a supper was spread that had no equal except on similar occasions. After supper all gather ed in a large room. Messrs. Gene I Riddle, Roscoe McMahan and Walter Riddle took down the violin, banjo and guitar and played some of the sweetese music that was possible to be produced, and a number of young people enjoyed those soul-stiring strings so much that it seemed that they were al most bound to dance awhile. I On the morning of the 21st the I golden sun rose in all its brilliancy and the atmosphere was exceed ingly pleasant, so the entire party decided it best to reach the summit in the early part of the day. The roup was soon seated in trucks and cars and were carried along a very delightful drive to a parking place within 300 yards of the summit and only a few minutes walk, and we were all on the highest point East The road was so good that Mrs. of the Rockies. M. P. Ray, who will soon be 88 years of age, said to be the oldest person to have ever made the trip, was a guest of honor, and made the trip easily: Also W. M. Allen, age 82, was a member of this party, to 88 years. so the age ranged from 3 months The musicians took their instru ments along, went up on top of the tower and continued to produce their sweetest melodies, which string band was said to have been the first to play on top of the tower. The party returned to the camp about noon. After a splendid dinner, and after more music, a speech was called for. The speaker expressed sincer thanks and appr eciation of the—crowd to Messrs. A. G. and Ewart Wilson for the free pass over the splendid road they have constructed and the com fortable quarters that they had arranged at Stepp Spring Gap for - -ttHfrTeception. After this he re ferred to Big Tom Wilson as not ( being only an industrious man, but I also a great hunter who killed 117 bears and 144 deers, and smaller game such as turkeys and raccoons almost without number, he being a man with a keen eye, so that very few things ever escaped his obser vation, and by this gift, granted to very few except the red men, was able to trace the few marks left by Dr. Mitchell, until at last he found the body sleeping in a watery grave and had it not been for him it is very likely th#it his resting place would never been known until the morning of the Great Resurrection. The speaker having seen this once strong man with massive form just beginning to stoop from age and hardships, but still he would go alone searching for the wild animals, and when night over ' took him he would lie down at the most convenient place, the leaves of the tree for his bed, the canopy of heaven for hie roof. There he would sleep fearlessly until the break of dawn, when he would re new his chase. While it seemed that in life he ought to have easily reached the 100th milestone, yet by hardship he was stricken down at the age of four score yeafS, while he lingered for about four years in bad health. His once brilliant mind became clouded, and again he lived over his former happy days of chase. But * Ralph Webb Gardner Is Yancey County’s Friend! .* •, t •/_ . • ~ - . 4 a\ Ralph Webb Gardner will use his influence in Congress and will join I hands with Senator Ervin and other North Carolina Representatives I in opposing tolls on the Parkway. - I * ’ , Q Ralph Webb Gardner will support a program that will attract more rj . J tourists to Western North Carolina. —H I Relph Webb Gardner will give immediate attention to obtaining more till r telephones and new industries for Yancey County. IIH Q Ralph Webb Gardner will support legislation that is needed to pro mote the price and sale of all types of minerals. |||| Q A friend of.-the veteran, Ralph Webb Gardner will sponsor legislation II to promote the interests and welfare of disabled veterans, their wives |||| nnd children; favors paying compensation to widows, orphans and HI < disabled veterans in accordance with costs of living and will advocate s \ more liberal medical and hospitalization benefits for disabled veterans. THE FARMERS FRIEND jf I Ralph Webb Gardner advocates and will fight for a gradual support 1 t-cale with 100 per cent support for those farms showing gross revenue of $7,000 or less; 00 per cent for gross income between $7,000 and - $20,000; and 75 per cant, support up to $50,000. This program would give major benefits to the family-sized farmer instead of the big operators or corporation type farmers. The large corporation farmers nre bulging our surplus warehouses and making it increasingly diffi- * I tor the farm to at a GO mm GARDNER * I TO VICTORY AT THE POLLS JUNE 23 Gardner Committee For Congress VIRGH3 “CRICKET” WEATHERS, Chairman I THE YANCEY RECORD not until he had passed the age of 84 did this once strong structure of his succumb to the wasting hand of sickness; his body to go down into the valley of the shadow of death, and his spirit return to the tiod who gave it. Then the speaker referred to the vision of the former night when the stars of light shown forth with all their brilliancy, the way streched across the heavens, while gazing into space and behold ing the planetary worlds as they evolve in perfect harmony, thought of the words of King David when' o 1 he said, "What is man that thou vlslteth him, or the Son of Mhn that thou art mindful of him?” - When morning light dawned be looked out over so much of nature spread out before him, as if a veil had been lifted, revealing nature in all her exquisite beauty. While he be held this beautiful panaroma, again he wondered if King David beheld a vision half so beautiful as this when he 9aid, “The heavens de | clare the glory of God, the firma j ment showeth His handiwork Day t unto-day uttereth‘speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge,” Then looking over the audience and seeing some who were very young, some who were reaching the matur ity of manhood and womanhood, while others whose lives had crossed the zenith and were going down in to the valley of the shadow of death, and While looking into aged faces, could almost hear the call of the boatman ,could almost see the stroke of the oar as He is coming to farry them to the other shore, Then the thought of the speaker was caught away to the thought of the re-unlon on the other shore where sickness and sorrow, can never come, where the weary shall forever be at rest, for the Lord hath said, “Eye doth not see, ear hath not heard, neither hath it entered into the hearts of any the joys that await the souls of the redeemed," and the sincere hope of the speaker is that we shall all meet in another re-union, where we can walk arm in arm under the shadow of the tree of life; where the music will be strong and sweet that we can fill (Continued on back page)
The Yancey Journal (Burnsville, N.C.)
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June 21, 1956, edition 1
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