The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-05-07
WINNSBORO, S. c.
Tuesday, May Z, ;: ; $3.50
TIE PICNIC AT ssTHE FALLS.n

THE PICNIC AT ssTHE FALLS.'
By common custom there isa picnic
at the Catawba Falls the first Saturday
in May every year. Every one is in
vited and every one goes whether in
vited or not. The trip is long one
from most any point you may select,
but distance is no obstruction to ''the
fellow and his girl" who wish to perch
upon me lofty rock towering above
the mad current which is sursing and
splashing below them. They enjoy
the wild romantic spot because they
are in love. The music of the waters
is sweet TO them because they are in
love; the shade is pleasant, the rocks
are as comfortable as spring cushions
the labor of climbing the almost mac
cesable heights is made easy, in fact
the occasion is one Of inexpressable
pleasure because-they are in love
They tell each other the old, old story
which never grows old. They take
for their text, "See that ye love one
another" and they try earnestly to be
consistaut,-to practice what they
preach.
Well, the reporter for this paper has
been all slong there and can say that
these same "Christians" would enjoy
themselves if seated on an ice covered
log in the dead of winter with the
thermometer registering way below
freezing point.
But newspaper man is expected to
tell the pablo what is going on and in
what manner. Consequently he found
himself slowly vending his way on
Friday evening toward the place Of
enjoyment. The roads must first be-
observed, and right here we must state
that they were far beyond our expec-
tation. With the exception of a
number Of holes we experienced no
great difficulty. But perhaps we are
used to bad roads, which may make a
difference.
The crops are very much behind; !;
cotton not up to stand yet and a
great deal of planting was in progress
as we passed along the road.
Night found the reporter at the
home Of Mr.. Strother Ford, where the
latch string has hung outward at all
times in the past aud still continues
to hang there Mr.. Ford and his
wife assured him Of hearty welcome
and made him feel at home. 1t was
with tiuge of sadness that we noted
this hale, hardy man, so blind that he
cannot go out or in the house without
the guidance Of a staff, and can only
find his way to the barn by means Of
rope suspended from the porch to
the stable. But the ruling passion is
strong, and three times day he fol-
lows the rope to his stable and d..
pesits the feed for his stock as has
been his custom for over sixty years.
The throng of pleasure seekers COM
menced to pass by as early as 7 O'Clock
in the morning, so we bade farewell
to these elderly friends and joined the
giddy gang bound for the falls. We
met friends from Lancaster, York,
Chester and Kershaw. We clirned
the rugged hills. we rested CD in the
shade, met old friends and made new
scquaintances. There is no resisting
the pressure Of custom and association,
90 We sat on those hard rocks with The
girls; we listened to the murnur (er
rather the roar) of the dancing, splash
ing water; watched the patient fisher
man, treated to lemonade {thereporter's
wife was at home,) and had a good
time generally
There was no special program,
"jast go-as-ycu-please" way of doing
things generally. The grea est pleasure
is in meeting so many old friends.
Every one present seemed to "have met
an old friend"
The place is renowned from the fact
that the Wet Point Military Academy
came near being located there--on|y one
vote behind. The water power is
about ninety thousand hor-e power.
There is large two story rine-c:ad
brick structure which was a United
States arsnel. The old canal locks
may be plainly seen; they were bnilt
by the State. The old stone house,
built for the keeper of the canal, is
there with the vines climbing over it.
There is natural cave in the rocks
Oh the far side of the river where the
fishermen we're cooking. The depth
Of it is .uficient to shelter them from
rain or storm.