Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-04-29

ground CWO udyS dlIcT tlle DallIe, lllploilbS
a little water to cool their burning tongues
but they were left to perish here; and this
long hill was Whitened with their bones.
The vulture and the wolf divided their
carcasses between them and so audacious
had the latter grown that they in some
cases showed disposition to attack living
men. These miserable remains of humani-
ty lay promiscuously scattered on the noun
tain until 1916, when few good citizens
agreed to colet and bury them.
They selected a slab of the mountain, and
on one side cut the name of Ferguson; on
tributed to his fall.
Kings Mountain extends about 16 miles
from north to south, and its spurs spread
latterally in many directions. had view
of fthe highest peak through a good telescope
from a place 12 miles north, 800 west Of
York. The mountain pinnacle then bore
north, 200 east eight miles distant-that is
almost north from York. The view en-
abled me to form q correct idea of its real
form. From vast mountain base this
rocky tower rises mostperpendicular. On
the left, or western side, a huge mass pro-
jects over about 100 yards.
There is but one way by which this lofty
peak can be assembled; in every other di-
rection it bids defiance to the access of man
or beast. A few years since, the wolves be-
came very troublesome to the inhabitants;
and they, in consequence, turned out to ex-
tirpate them. There was but one pass; this
the hunters occupied. A herd Of deer were
hemmed in upon the summit of this cloud
capped rock and, urged by the hunters
and their dogs, they plunged from the lofty
precipice, and were all killed.
Allowing for the deception of vision, at
eight miles distance, should suppose this
rocky spire one thousand feet above the
mountain. Colonel Wainwright, who was
wounded in the knee at the battle, lives on
Kings's Mountain, and is now old and in
firm.
In rocks and stones this district is not at
all deficient Granite, compact limestone,
marble, soapstone, and ironstone are abun-
dant.
Kings Mountain abounds in limestone
and marble. The soapstone is found at Ca
tawba old nation ford. The granite is
widely seated over the country. Of iron
ore, there is enough to supply the world.
There is a mine near Hill's old iron-works
that is inexhaustible; it rises like noun
tain in the plain, and isquite isolated; from
the top of it you have commanding view
for about twenty miles round. The whole
is an entire mass Of iron ore, about two
miles in circuit.
.Hill's works were in operation about
thirty years, but the ore was not consider
ed productive enough, and work was dis
continued. During the Revolutionary war
Colonel Hill cast cannon and ball for the
wings, which so enraged the tories, that
they beset his house in the night and burn
ed his works. They were, however, re-
built, and used for many years afterwards.
The lime for fuxing the oar was brought
from Kings creek, near Broad River, call
ed Jackson's properly, Stroup's furnace.
Besides the soapstone, granite, and lime
stone, there is excellent clay for making
brick for building, and equal to any in the
State, both for durability and beauty. The
walls of the new court house are built OF
this material, and show the quality of the
brick. Lime is procured from Kings Noun
tain, and of an excellent kind; it was pur-
chased for the Court House at the kilns, for
twenty-five cents per bushel. The bricks
were furnished for the same at 81 per
thousand. Lumber averages $40 per thous-
and feet.
There are no waste lands, properly speak
ing, in the district; for those low lands,
subject to he overhowed by freshets, fur
nish fine pastures for cattle. The richness
of these low grounds is immense. The
highlands are yet so plenty and productive,
that the people do not think this worth the
trouble of banking in; but the time is not
remote when they will think and act diff
ferently on this subject.
In mparatively new county, like this,
Improvements in almost every department,
domestic and public, are wanting. But
this is the work of time, and we are in
duced to hope there is spirit for improve
ment in the citizens, which will eventually
place this district upon respectable foot
ing in its navigation, agriculture, education,
society and arts.
An agricultural society is proposed to be
established here, which, with the acade.
mics instituted, and the general system OF
instruction inculcated, will necessarily i'm
prove the State of the arts and literature.
This district pays into the treasury of the
State annually in taxes upwards of $4,000.
Kings Mountain gives birth to many
streams. 1t is the dividing ridge between
the waters of Broad and Catawba rivers
and indeed extends to the Ninety-nine is
lands in the former but in very many scat
tered spurs and knobs. Kings creek heads
in the main, lofty knob of Kings Noun
tain; and after running southwest course
of above l6 miles, empties into Broad
river, at the Cherokee ford, just below the
Ninety-nine islands. This high peak OF
Kings Mountain is named CroWder's knob,
and from its elevated precipice bursts Crow
der's creek of Catawba; which pursues a
southeast course upwards of IS miles, before
it falls into the Catawba, at Mason's ferry.
In this mountain also rises Clark's fork OF
Bullock's creek. Alison's creek heads in a
hill, called Henry's Knob, which lies lit
tie to the south of east of Kings Mountain,
and runs into the Catawba opposite Long
Island, at Thorn's ferry. Fishing creek
rises two miles north of the courthouse, and
empties into the Catawba, little above the
United States establishment. The heads
of Turkey creek are within one and three
miles northwest of the village; and it emp
ties into the Broad river at Loves ford,
below Lockhart's shoals.