Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-02-26
THE CELEBRATION.

| At this hour the crowd, which had been in
creasing all the morning, by arrivals on the
railroad, and by private conveyances, from all
directions of the surrounding country, num-
bered, as was generally estimated, from three
to five thousand.
According to the programme, the flag pre-.
sentation was to take place at point two and
half miles from the town, near the Kings
Mountain gold mine, and in full view OF the
pinnacle of the mountain. The booming OF
cannon which had been posted on the noun
tain, was the signal for the vast throng to com:
mence moving in that direction, all manner of
vehicles being brought into requisition, while
the larger number who could not procure this
mode of transportation, made their way on
foot. preceded by the Dallas brass band, the
! Hornets Nest Rifles, Capt. II. Watts, of Char
lotte: the Jenkins Rifles, Capt. r. H. Glenn,
of Yorkville and the corps of cadets OF Kings
Mountain High School.
A salute of thirty-eight guns was fired by
gun detachment of Light Battery F, United
States Artillery, and after music by the band,
an impressive prayer was offered by Rev. +:
E. Boyce when Col. A. Coward introduced
the orator of the day, Col. Thomas Hardeman,
of Georgia. In the discharge OF tins pleasing
duty, said Col. Coward, it was to him matter
of pride that he met on this occasion, almost
under the shadow Of the historic mountain,
SO many of his countrymen who had assembled
on this occasion to do honor to the Father OF
his Country and to inaugurate the ceremonies
attending a proper celebration of the impOr-
tant engagement near that spot, which turned
the tide of affairs in the struggle OF our fathers
for freedom: and he felt that the hearts of all
in his presence throbbed with equal pride. l
have the honor to introduce to you to-day COL
Thomas Hardeman, the silvery tongued ora
tor of Georgia, who will address those who
represent the sons of Cleveland, Campbell,
Shelby, Hambright and other heroes OF that
brilliant victory.
Col. Hardeman then stepped forward and
delivered his address, which for want OF space
here, we print on the first page.
At the conclusion Of the address, almost
every sentence of which was applauded, and
which at it's close elected an outburst of pa
triotic feeling from all within sound of the
distinguished speakers voice, salvO of artil-
lery was fired, which was followed by inspr
iting music by the band, when Col. w. j.
Houston, general passenger and ticket agent
of the Atlanta and Charlotte Airline Rail
way. with magnificent United States flag in
his hands, stepped forward and said:
Executive Committee of the Kings Mountain
Centennial 4 association: GENTLEMEN-It is with
pleasing emotions that appear before you to-
day as a representative OF the great Iron Link
tracing the Piedmont belt Of this beautiful Sun
ny South, and uniting it directly to the great
commercial marts Of the East.
One hundred years ago, within the radius COW
cred by the sound of the whistles of the engines
of the Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line Railway
as they approach Rings Mountain, a memorable
event took place. Col. Buford. then of military
fame, met the enemy, but with sad results, such
as cast gloom over our entire colony, and
caused many to falter and join the ranks of the
British, thinking the cause of liberty lost.
Nearly one hundred years later we find anoth-
er Ruford approaching. with firm and steady
tread, the same historic grounds. and in his hand
plete this grand thoroughfare of iron. He was