Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-08-06
DAVID FULTON, ED1rOn.

And, while upon this sub Jet, since it has been
predicted by man for whose opinsions enter
tain the profoundest respect especially since
the prediction), that my writings will be read
with increased interest hundred years to come;
and as [ can see no good reason. if this be
true, why they should not be read thousand
years hence with more interest, will take the
liberty of dropping a word here to the curious
reader of the year 1893. He will certainly
wish to know the site of Harrisburg (seeing 1t
is doomed, at no distant period, to share the
fate of Springfeld) and OF Campbellton.
Supposing, then, if the great fire in Angus
ia, on the Sd of April, 1929, did not destroy
that city, nothing will | select this as per-
manent object.
In 1897, Campbell-street was the western
verge of Augusta, limit to which it had adj
vanced but few years before. from Jackson
street Thence to Springfield led large road,
now built up on either side, and forming
continuation of Broad street. This road was
cut across obliquely by deep gully, the bed
of which was an almost impossible bog, which
entered the road about one hundred wards be-
low Collock-street on the south, and left it a.
bout thirty yards below Collock- street on the
north side of now Broad-street 1t was called
CampbelFs Gully, from the name of the gen.
tleman through whose possessions and near
whose dwelling it wound its way to the river
Following the direction of Broad street from
Springfield westward, 1347 yards, will bring
you williamsburg, which had nothing to boast
Of over Springfield but a warehouse for the
storage of tobacco, then the staple Of Georgia.
Continue the same direction 700 yards, then
face TO your right hand, and follow your nose
directly across Savannah river, and, upon as
cending the opposite bank, You will be in the
busiest part of Campbellton in 1898. Between
| Harrisburg and Springfield, and 1143 yards
from the latter, there runs stream which may
be perpetual. At the time just mentioned, it
flowed between banks twelve or fourteen feet
high, and was then called, as it still is,
Hawks Gully."t
Now Mr. Prator, like the most success
full politicians of the present day, was on all
sides in a doubtful contest; and, accordingly,
he laid off his gander- pulling ground on the
nearest suitable unappropriated spot to the
centre point between Springfield and Harris
burg. This was between Hani burg and
Hawks Gully, 10 the south of the road, and
embraced part of the road, but within 100
yards of Harrisburg.
When g S0Hcyday Of Ties presents munth''
rolled round, determined to go to the gander-
pulling. When reached the spot, consid-
cradle number of persons, Of different ages,
sexes, sizes, and compilations, hal collected
from the rival towns and the country around.
But few females were there, however,; and
those few were from the lowest walks of life
A circular path of about forty yards diane
ter had already been laid out over which,
from two posts about ten feet apart, stretched
a rope, the middle of which was directly over
the path. The rope hung loosely, so as to
allow it, with the weight of a gander attached
to it, to vIbrate in an arc of four or five feet
span. and so as to bring the breast of the gan
der within barely easy reach of man of mid
die stature upon a horse of common size.
A hat was now handed to such as wished
TO enter the list; and they threw into it TWEEN
ty-fve cents each this sum was the victors
prize.
The devoted gander was now produced
and Mr. Prator, having first tied his feet to-
gether with a strong cord, proceeded to the
neck grcdstng. Abhorrent rs it may be to all
who respect the tenler relations of life. Mrs
Prator had actually prepared gourd of goose
grease for this very purpose. For myself,
when | saw Ned dip his hands into the grease,
and commence stroIing down the feathers from
breast to head, my thoughts took melancho-
" turn. They dweltin sadness upon the ma
ny coniugal felicities which had probably been
shared between the crease and the greasee
/ could see him as he stood by he Side, thro'
many a chilly day and cheeress light, when
she was warming into life the oAspI, ng of their
mutual loves, and repealed, with chvalrous
spirit, every invasion of the consecrated spot
which she had selected for her incubation. ]
could see him moving with patriarchal digni-
ty by the side of his loved one, at the head of
smiling, prattling group. the rich reward of
their mutual care, to the luXuries of the mead
ow or to the recreations of the pool And
now, alas! an extract from the smoking sac
rfice of his bosom friend was desecrated to
the unholy purpose of making his neck " a fit
| object for Cruelty to reach her quick, I'M
errinS fingers at" Ye friends of the sacred
tie! Judge what were my feelings when, in
the midst of these reflections, the voice of
James Prator Numbered on mine ear, Darn
his old lodging soul; brother Ned grease his
neck till fly can't light on -
Ned, having fulfilled his brother Jims re-
quest as we'll as he could, attached the victim
of his cruelty to the rope, directly over the
path. On each side of the gander was sta
toned a man. whose Office it was to lash for
ward any horse which might linger there for
a moment; for, by the rules of the ring, all
pulling was TO be done at brisk cantcr.
The word was now given for the competi-
tors to mount and take their places on the
ring. Eight appeared: Tall Zebley lin
mounted upon Sally Spitfre; Arch Odum
mounted on Bull and lngons (onions); Nathan
Perdew, on Hellcat James Dickson, on Mig
ger; David Williams, on Gridiron; Fat John
| Fulger, on SLOUGH Gorham Bostwick, or
Gimet; and Turner Hammond, on 'Possum
"Come, gentlemen" said Commandan
Prator, " fall in. All OF you git behind one
another, sort O in row"
All came into the track very kindly but Sal.
| " Spitfre and Gridiron. The former, as soon
as she saw general movement ofhorses, took
| it for granted there was mischief brewing, and
because she could not tell where it lay, she
concluded it lay everywhere, and therefore
took fright at everything.
Gridiron was a grave horse; but suspi
cious eye which he cast to the right and left
wherever he moved, showed that she was
| wide awake and that &C nobody better not &C
toollng with him. as his owner sometimes
used to say. He took a sober but rather in
tense view of things; insomuch that, in hi:
CONCENTRATIONS, he passed over the track three
times before he could be prevailed upon tc
stop IN 1t. He stopped at last, however; and
| when he was made to understand that this
was all that was required of him for the pres
ent, he surrendered his suspicious at once
with countenance which seemed plainly tc
say, "Oh. If this is all you want, I've no OBJ
| lection TO it,