The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-11-19


in SO perilous field.
/ At length, however, an advertisement ap-
Ipeared promising another effort in behalf Of
the Gospel. The notice was unique, perfect
backwoods curiosity, both as to its tenor
and mode of publication. Let me give it
uerba'im aiffraium
"Barbacue Camp Meeting.
"There will be Camp Meeting, to COM
mence the last Monday of this month, at the
the Double Spring Grove, near Peter Br.n-
sons, in the county Of Shelby.
"The exercises will open with a splendid
barbecue. Preparations are being made to
suit all tastes there will be good barbc-
cue. better liquor, and the best Of Gospel
"PArL DEsToS.
Sept. /, 1886. Missionary NJ. L. c."
This singular document was nailed to the
door Of every public house and grocery it
was attached to the largest trees at the in
tersections of all crossroads and principal
trails; and even the wandering hunters
themselves found it in remote dells Of the
mountain, miles away from the smoke of
human habitation.
At first many regarded the matter as
hoax played of by some wicked wag, in
r!dcule Of popular credulity. But this n.y.
pothesis was negatved by the statements Of
Peter Brinson, proprietor Of the "Double
Spring Grove" who informed all inquirers,
''that he had been employed and paid, by
stranger calling himself a Methodist mis-
sionary, to provide an ample barbecue at the
period and place advertised"
"But the liguor-the better liguor--are
you to furnish the liquor toos" was the in
variable question Of each visitor.
"The missionary said he would attend to
that himself" replied Brinson.
He must be a precious original" was the
general rcjoinder. A proposition which most
of them afterwards had an opportunity to
verify experimentally.
need hardly add that an intense excite
ment resulted. The rumor took wings; flew
on the wind; turned to storm--a storm Of
exaggeration--eyery echo increased its sound
4 till nothing else could be heard but ''the
Barbecue Camp Meeting;" it became the
focus Of thought, the staple Of dreams.-
And thus the unknown preacher had insured
one thing in advance, congregation en-
bracing the entire population Of the country,
which ,.s@- :. :: zi:l--l-s H. .ssi~ P~.PS~~ =
his stratagem.
4 was travelling in that part Of Texas ut
the time, and my Imagination being infamed
by the common curiosity, | took some trou-
bic and attended. But although my ewes
witnessed the extraordinary scene, may
well despair Of the undertaking to paint it /;
the pen Of Homer, or the pencil Of llosarth,
were alone adequate TO the sublim.ty and
I burlesque Of the complicated task. may
only sketch the angular outlines.
t A space had been cleared away immedi-
ately around the magnificent Double
, Spring" which boiled up with force sufi-
clent to turn mill-wheel, in the very cen
tire Of the evergreen grove. Here pulpit
had been raised, and before il was the insep-
arabic altar for the mourners. Beyond these
at the distance Of fifty PAGES, succession
of plank tables extended in the form Of a
/ great circle, or the perimeter Of polsgon,
| completely enclosing the area about the
Spring. An odorlorous steam, Of most dc.
lcious SAVIOR, dlflused itself through the air
this was from the pots in the adjacent pra..
rlc, where the fifty slaves Of Peter lrinsor
were engaged IN cooking the promised bar
becue.
The grove itself was literally alive, team
ing, swarming, running over with strang,
figures in human shape, men, women an,
children, in every variety Of outlandish cos
tunes. All Shelby county was there. Thi
hunters had come, rifles in hand, and dog
!, barking at their heels, the rogucs, refugees
IS and gamblers, with pistols IN their belts
I and biz knives peeping from their shirt-bo
is SONS while here aud there might be seei
i a sprinkling Of well dressed planters, Wit
Il their wives and daughters.
i The tumult was deafening, tornado q
!. babbling tongues, talking, shouting, quar-
d reing, betting, and curslng for amusement
IS Suddenly cry arose "Col. Watt Fceman
i Hurrah for Col. Foeman." and the crow
d parted TO the right and left, TO let The lio
IT Lyncher pass.
ii | turned TO the advancing load.star of q
a ewes, and shuddercd Involuntary IL iii
Df deyilish cOuntcnance which met ms glance
f and vet the features were not only youthful
i. but cminentiy handsome the hidcousncs
). lay in the look, full Of savage fre--ierGciuu,
$, murderOus. II was in the reddish yellu'
" eye-balls, with arrow pupils. that seemed {
ri fash Jets Of lurid flame in the thin snecr
le ing lips with their everlasting icy smilr.-
Is As TO the rest. he was tall, athletic, yer
: powerful man. Ills train, dozen arhe
Dr. desperadocs, followed him.
lg Foeman spoke in voice, sharp, piercing
le as the point Of dagger: "Eh BFinsoI
N where is the new missionaryi We want ;
to give him plumcd coat "
"Ile has not yet arrived" replied the plar
q. tiers.
n. "Well, suppose We must wait lor hin
"a bit put the barbecue on the boards; ! II
or hunrry a a starved wolf"
lie Il cannot. till the missionary comes. q
rd barbecue is his property"
~ A fearful light blazcd IN Forman's eve
d. as he took three steps towards Brlnson, an
ef fairly shouted. "feteh the meat instantl.