The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-10-04
RURAL CAMPAIGNING.
The Passing of Watson Over the Hills
of the Uwharrie.

A gubernatorial campaign in North
Carolina is attended by variety of in
cidents. encounters and experiences
that make it sometimes interesting,
sometimes amusing, and sometimes
exceedingly tedious and tiresome.
The campaign of Hon. Cy. Watson is
an exception. The past week has been
crowded with variety. MIR. Watson
spoke in Troy. Montgomery county on
Wednesday AT o'clock we started
for Albemarle, in Stanly county. There
were four of US in a substantial hack,
drawn by a span of lively and reliable
bays. Mr. j. r. Blair, the popular young
attorney sf Troy, and Mr.. Fry, another
popular young Montgomery lawyer,
handled the ribbons.
With apples and grapes and lunch,
with baggage and buoyaney, we turn
ed the horses in the direction of the
Uwharrie hills, and the steeds seemed
to realize that they were honored with
North Cardinals next Chief Executive,
and they sped away through the tow
ering pines of the Montgomery forest.
They left rapid foot prints in the sands
of the hilly highways that rounded
the Uwharrie peaks and slxirted the
beautiful woodland. At shutdown we
pulled up at Lawderis Ferry, at the
point where the waters of the majestic
YadlSin and the windingU wharrie riy-
ers flow together and form the Pee Dee.
The ferryman and the ferry boat were
over the river, and the f5rryman far
away. A few rings of the ferry bell
brought response from distant har-
vest field. The last rays of i departing
sun cast shadows across the mingling
rivers. From two miles above came the
never ceasing roar of the famous Yad-
kin falls. On either side of the two riv-
ers above us and below us stood the
Uwharrie mountain peaks, towering
monuments erected by Nature to the
memory of Chaos. Out in the
river, near the banks of tiny
island, was a batteau, in which sat
Squire Green, once p legislator from
Stanly, now the lone fisherman of the
Yadl1in, with his venerable wife, trying
to entice the fnny tribe to risk a nibble
at the tempting bait.
Across the river came the ferry,
manned by the Lawders, father and son.
Our horses aboard and ourselves
aboard, we ffoated out ON the beautiful
river. The mantle of night had fallen
on the opposite shore when we landed,
and the stars were being wrapped to
sleep behind the coverlets of gathering
clouds. The river was behind us, but
nine miles Of rough, rocky, rickety
road were in front of us. A road that
seemed at times to lose itself in the
wilderness and Hyeirdness of the tan
gled woods. A road that climbed hills
at an angle of about forty degrees,
and tumbled down thebrooks beyond
at about the same angle. a road that
seemed to take especial delight in
hiding itself in the darkness of
dreary night. "A road that played hide
and seek with the driver and
the driven. A road that had seemingly
broken its back in a dozen places in or
der that mountain streams might pass
over it. Tt was dark, distressingly dark,
so dark and dreary and gloomy that
waters moaned and the heavens wept.
1T was a gubernato7ial excursion, not
by moonlight, nor by star light, not
even by slylight, but in the blackness
of the blacklist of nights The faithful
steeds felt their way over the rocks
and brooks until they had reached the
summit of Mountain creek hill. The
creek was a quarter of mile beyond
dlIA bltC dCoNClIb CFCh III
day time, the reins were passed to Law
yer Fry, and the brake were intrusted
to me, while Lawyer Blair and Gov
ernor Watson dismounted and played
guide down the rugged hill.
Far below the silver standard shout
ed Mr.. Blair as he lifted aloft his snow
white 16 to 1 hat, while the Governor
struck match after match by the dim
hight of which the rugged cliffs on the
one side and the deep gorges on the
other were avoided.
We finally landed ait the foot of the
hill and with all aboard again we
headed for the little Stanly town.
We pulled up at AlbemaTle at 10
o'clock and were soon devouring late
supper at the Hotel Hearne. The beds
of This popular hostelry may not be
better than others, but they felt like
they were made of the softest down to
four weary campaigners on that event
ful night. Albemarle filled up with
people on Tuesday to greet and meet
the honored guest of the county. Mr..
Watson spoke to the crowd for two
hours, finishing just in time to get
back to the hotel before the storm
of Tuesday let loose its fury upon the
town. 1T was severe, but not disas-
srous, another night in Albenarle and
3hen another trip Of 40 miles across