Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-04-29
Brydone has told us great deal about a


tion of Mount Etna, but we have some
trees that deserve to be mentioned. At Mr..
Campbel's, near the little Catawba creek,
is sycamore (the platana occidentalis)
which, at, three feet from the ground, meas
ured % feet round, or 8 feet diameter. Like
Brydone's tree it has three forks, or prongs ;
each equal to high tree.
The fruit trees include several kinds of
apples, pears, peaches, cherries; besides
chestnuts, shell barks, walnuts, &c. The
season of Towering is in May.
The expenses of boarding in the country
are very moderate; from $50 to SlOO per
annum. In the village (at the public
houses,) it is from 81 to 50 per week. The
price of labor, for common field hands, is
from sS to $40 per month for mechanics,
per day, Sl.5O
This district experiences temperature of
air, both summer and winter, that places it
for residence in very favorable point of
view. The summer heats are not oppress-
i've; and the nights are cool and refreshing.
The winters are mild; and from the posi-
ton of the mountains it is much sheltered
vail at that season. The character of the
diseases here is of the chronic kind. In
termittent fevers prevail along the margins
of the streams. Several instances of long
evity occur; many whose ages exceed 10,
and one above 100.
The police is the same as that of the State
generally; the taverns are not very numer-
Gus, but respectable; the roads, bridges,
and ferries, are in passable order.
Domestic manufactures are much in vogue;
but there are no regular manufacturing
establishments in the district.
The price of transportation of produce to
market, now done by wagons is at the rate
81 per hundred to Columbia; from thence
it is sent by water to Charleston; for return
goods the price is at the rate of Is cents per
hundred pounds.
The inhabitants of this district are all
planters and farmers; except few profess
sional men and mechanics.
The population of the district when the
census was taken in 1920, was as follows:
10, ,251 whites, 800 slaves, and 95 free blacks
total 1896. This number has increased
considerably in 5 years, although emigra-
tions still take place.
AS agriculture is not yet reduced to sys-
tenn here, little attention is paid to the rails
ing of stock. The people depend upon
their more northern neighbors to supply
them with cattle, horses, and hogs.
The streams abound in fish Of various
kinds, such as the shad, (in season. trout,
red-horse, rock, &c. The birds are the par
fridge, dove, mocking-bird, crow, hawk,
owl, and many others; besides those that
visit us at certain seasons, as wild pigeons,
geese, ducks, and the whippoorwill.
For the support of the poor there is i'm
posed a tax of at least per cent. per an
mum of the general tax.
There are no distilleries in the district
except few small private stills for family
use.
Respectable academies for the education
of male and female youth are established
at the village. There are three other acad-
emies, besides schools in different parts OF
the district, independent of the free schools
established by the State, where the children
of the poor are educated gratis. Near
81 900 are annually disbursed for this pur-
pose; and near 200 children annually re-
reive the benefits of instruction.
The Presbyterians are the most numer-
Gus religious sect in the district. Next to
these are the Methodists; then the Baptists;
then the Episcopalians. There are five
churches within the Indian lands.
First among the eminent men are those
worthy patriots who devoted their lives and
fortunes in the defence of the State during
the eventful period Of the Revolutionary
war; Amongst these we find the names
of Lacy, Hill, Britton, Brannon, Ham,
wright, &C., all residents in and near the
district, and whose fame is recorded on the
page of history.
None of the Indian names Of places have
been preserved if we except that of the
Catawba.
Under this head, however, we may notice
those in the district famous in the history
of our revolution. The first in Importance
is Kings Mountain. The battle ground
lies n. 800 w. II miles from the court house.
The road leading to it is kind of byway,
and very hilly.
This fatal hill is Il long stony ridge, very
narrow at the top, and about one mile in
length. Along this ridge, in its whole eX-
tent, the British, under Major Ferguson,
and 500 tories were posted; the whole about
| 300 men. What could have induced Fer
guson to occupy such ground as this, is hard
to conjecture. 1t wasa stony spot on which
lines could not be thrown up; and so mar
row that man standing on it may be shot
from either side. 1t true there was plenty
of wood to form abatis; but Ferguson took
no precautions, and remained in perfect
security. The supply of water too was
inconvenient to procure; nor could the
country, wild as it then was, and indeed is
now, furnish any thing like regular sup
ply of provisions. Yet in this dreary and
unpromising place did Ferguson remain
three weeks, inactive and exposed.
The battle that ensued was fought with
no common energy; burnings, robberies,
and murders had reused the wings and
tories to deeds of mutual vengeance. There
was no quarter promised nor expected.
Three times did the Britons charge with
bayonet down the hill; as often did the
Americans retreat; and the moment the
Brtons turned their backs, the Americans
shot from behind every tree, and every
rock, and laid them PROSTATE.
I wasshown the path by which near 300 to-
res forced their way and escaped; it is pre-
sumed that the republicans did not know
where they were posted, and that part of the
camp was not to be attacked. The Ameri-