The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-06-13

Vile ana STOCKTON, In georgia, ana
Jasper, Lake City, Newnansville, Waca-
hootie, Brooksville and Tampa, in Flor
ida, and my intention was to camp every
night that I could so manage near some
farm house where 1 could procure room
for Mrs. S. and the little boy, Edgar, at
night, the larger boys being able to do
very we'll in the wagons. Mr.. Burriss
received US very kindly, gave us a COM
Portable room, and showed US other little
acts of kindness for which he and his
good lady have our hearty thanks. By
daybreak next morning we are up and
feeding our horses preparatory to an
early start, but in spite of our diligence
do not get off until s o'clock. We had
long and fearfully muddy hill, called
by the neighbors "Beasy HILL" 4 miles
from Mr.. Burriss', to go up, which tested
the metal of our mules and horses as
pullers pretty severely, though they were
equal to it, which gave me some encour-
agement in view of the journey before
us; and we moved along successfully
until o'clock in the afternoon of the
second day, (14thl when we stopped to
camp for the night near Harper's Ferry,
on the Carolina side, Col. Harper telling
us it would be dark by the time he could
get our wagons across, and we preferred
to have more time ahead of Us, as I was
not sure that my mules would go quietly
into the fiat. We were accommodated
with room by the Colonel, had pleas
ant and agreeable evening with his
family, and a comfortable nights rest,
and drove out of camp next morning at
7 o'clock. AS feared by me, the mules
are unaccustomed to the fat, and we
have trouble to get them in, but Col. H..
has plenty of help at hand, and we are
soon across, but owing to the continued
rains the river has been swollen and out
of its banks, making bad and boggy
landing. My mules are shy and timid,
and going right out of the fiat into bog
stick fast and refuse to pull. For several
hours we are prizing and working to get
out, finally have to unload, and are thus
delayed until after IL o'clock. I feel
under deep obligations to Col. d. for his
patient and valuable assistance in getting
us out, and move on with the confidence
inspired at the "Beaty Hill" little
dampened, as only a short distance
ahead of me is worse one, and mules,
drivers, wife, children, all are demoral-
lied, condition very unfit for accom-
plishing large ends, and the result,
another balk, is not much to be WON
dered at. Luckily for me, however, 1
encounter a darkie with his team, and
get him to help me up, after which we
have a few yards only of level road, and
prospects of rain. I think on account of
the continuous hills the Lady has con-
cluded to make the trip on foot, as she
is all this time walking and looking out
for hills ahead, secretly wishing, I think,
that she hadn't started; but it is too late
to reconsider, and we move on. Accom-
plishing nearly seven miles that day, we
stop for the night, in the rain, at Mr..
Wallis, (the Blackwell place. three miles
beyond Ruckersville from Anderson, and
thus endeth the Srd days lesson.
We start off Saturday morning in
heavy fog, with prospects of clearing off
during the day, but are in much dread of
the hill beyond Bakers Ferry, on Broad
River, Col. Harper and Mr.. Wall both
warning us of heavy pull there, the
latter even telling us we would save by
hiring team at the river to help us on
our way to Washington, as the roads
were fearfully cut up and bad. Having
undertaken the trip, however, am de-
termined not to be discouraged, and move
on. This morning We get along better,
mules getting used to it, and I think
some slight improvement in roads. We
stop at 12 for one hours rest and re-
freshment for man and beast, and learn
from persons passing that roads are COM
paratively good until we cross the river,
which we reach about 8 o'clock. Mr..
Starke, who lives there, offers to furnish
me help if I desire it, but my mules
have improved and are pulling well, so I
determine to 60 it alone, as must get
used to depending on myself. We drive
out of the fiat this time without sticking,
and push on for the dreaded hill, desiring
to reach the top before stopping for the
night. My lady is out, of course, as we
have reached the hill, or rather success
sion of hills, as there are three of them
quickly succeeding each other, and they
look fearfully steep and muddy. We
boldly attack the first, my scotchers
ready with their rocks, and stopping a
few times "to blow" we are soon safely
up it, with renewed courage for the'sec.
ond and third, which are safely and SIM
ilarly accomplished, and We drive into
camp near an empty double cabin on
Mr.. Henry Hills place, which we are
permitted to occupy until Monday morn
ing, tomorrow being Sabbath, and we do
not expect to travel on Sundays. The
sky gives prospects of overclouding
again, and we are sorry, for we are much
tired of cloudy and rainy weather.
Mr.. Hill would regard as a successful
farmer. He has pretty place, fine clover