The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-07-11
THE FoU RTu OF JULY PICNIC.

On tie second Of July al anxious
visitor had occasion to pass through
the Northeastern portion of ouI
coun y, AMI Judging from what coult
be seen from the road, il was tv;den
that something was wrong. 1t was Z
, dark gloomy day and the thirstins
crops were enjoying gentle shower
yet the faces of the young people seer
through the windows told the SAD
story that something was evidently
wrong. Every drop of water that
fell from tie roof seemed to them to
chime in gloomy accents, emo picnic,'
"no picnic" Yet it appears that
the gentle upid, touched with pity by
the fair m.iden's signs, was constrained
to intercede for them, and that evening
gentle breeze, blowing from the
West, dispersed the clouds and left to
our view the fair blue sky.
It is customary in this community
for each Sunday school, once year,
to give the children day in the woods,
and at the suggestion of Rev. Young
it was decided tina. all the churches
should unite and, Oh the fourth Of
July, give picnic on a grand scale at
the Catawba Falls. And this was the
occasion that was looked forward to
with so much anxiety.
Fairfield and Lancaster both lie in
the lower part of the Piedmont region,
but on the Waterec River; there is a
strip of alluvisl land ex ending up
small distance into Chester county,
and at the head of this is situated the
rapids of the Catawba-by amisnomer
called the "Catawba Falls" The
surrounding country is one Of the
granite regions Of our State, and the
numerous rocks in the river bed,
mas.ed together, prevents the further
wash Of the river.
The body Of water forming these
rapips is about mile in length, and
with roar that can be heard at a
distance of several miles, it rusheS
forward foaming and gushing az it is
repelled from rock to rock, until it
completes its descent Of about one
feet.
But this is only part of the scenery.
On both banks Of the river the hills
rise at an angle Of nearly forty de-
grees until they reach the level OF the
surrounding country. They are thickly
covered with houseiike masses of
granite, some of which rises almost
from the ed ge Of the
water to the height of twenty-five
feet, and these are shaded by original
forests Of oaks, hickory and pine.
The properties OF beauty and grandeur
thus united makes it worthy Of being
called the beauty spot of the counties
Of Chester, Fairfield and Lancaster.
But it was not the scenery that at
.racted so large crowd there on this
occasion. l mean not the natural
scenery of the place-for in fact a |
great many of the young people will
admit that they really forgot to OBJ
serve it. The whole crowd seemed !
intent upon having good time, and
al will admit that they succeeded.
The forenoon was spent in rambling
among the hills and climbing rocks to
he music of the Ft. Lava band. At |
dinner the baskets were all brought |
and the contents spread in a |
len>c shade. Here the correspondent |
forgot bimself and recovered only when
]e found that the table had been
,mp;ied.
Abou, four O'Clock the merry crowd |
,egan to disperse, all admitting that
he occasiou had been success, except |
h, pastor who says that its success |
u failure will depend wholly upon
he number Of fees that he collects |
IS a result of the visit to "Lover's
Retreat"
VISITOR