The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-10-21
Two Mighty Bear Hunters.
THE WEST AND THE EAST EACH HAS ITS
CHAMPION AND FAvORITE.
big Tom" Wilson. of Yancey County
and Capt. Basnight. of Dare-The
First Named Has Killed ~ Bears,
While the Latter Claims Over 400.
News and ObSeryer.)

You cannot keep down the rivalry
between the East and the West,
Last week, in pride of his Eastern
birth. the editor of this paper, obtain
ed an interview with Capt. w. H.
Basnight, the famous bear hunter of
Roanoke Island. In his day, and he
is not an old man yet. he has killed
over four hundred bears averaging
four hundred pounds, besides deer,
panther, snakes, and other "varmin,"
lnnumerab!e.
This week, the Asheville Gazette, no,
willing for the East 10 beast the cham
plon hunter, says that '.Big Tom"
Wilson, Of Pensacola, Yancey county,
who walked thirty six miles TO attend
the circus in Ashevllle, is the cham
pion hunter of the State. Let Us see
about that: The GaSeWe claims that
"Big Tom" has killed ia black
bears; upwards OF forty deer; innum-
erable numbers of wild turkeys, coon
and wild cats; and has caught over
100 trout out Of the waters of the
Black Mountain.
He is the same "Big Tom" wilson
who found the body of DR.. Mitchell
in pool on Mt. Mitchell, and that
act will make him forever known in
history. His knowledge then of the
mountains and his activity in the
search endeared him to the whole
State. As far as the West goes, he is
great hunter and something of a
fisherman, but the West cannot COM
pare with Eastern North Carolina for
hunting and fishing. Why, Capt.
Basnight has many time caught sew
en- hundred fine fish at a haul.
1t would be great sight for these
two hunters, each bearing the pennant
Of his section, to tackle a grizzly in
"cahoot" on Roanoke Island.
If Bob Furman will back "Big
Tom" we will back Capt. Basnight.
Following is the article from the
Asheville GaSeNe:
Perhaps the most conspicuous figure
on the show grounds yesterday, was
that Oft D. Wilson, commonly known
as "Big Tom" Wilson, of Pensacola,
Yancey county. "Big Tom" Wilson
has a reputation not only in this State,
but abroad, as the finder Of the body
of Professor Mitchell in a pool in the
wilds Of Black ..Mountain in the month
of June, 1856. The body of Professor
Mitchell perhaps never would have
been discovered but for the efforts OF
this pioneer. Other searching parties
had given up in dispair, but the sturdy
mountaineer, at the peril of his life
pursued the search with a successful
result. This discovery has given Mr.
Wilson a reputation that will last for
years to come. The name Of "Big
Tom' is only an appellation given
him by his neighbors to distinguish
him from the other Wilson's living in
his vicinity. "Big Tom" is not only
the discoverer of the body of Professor
Mitchell, who made the first survey ot
the noted Mitchell's peak, the highes,
point east Of the Rockies, but is the
pioneer hunter in the wlds of Western
North Carolina mountains. Mr.. Vii.
son informed US yesterday that during
his life time-extending over period
of seventy-four years-he has captured
and killed ia Black bears, upwards
of forty deer, and innumerable mum
bers Of wild turkey, coons, wild cats
and other wild game that inhabi, The
wild woods of the Black Mountains
During the past year Mr.. VII
son says that he has caught out o
the waters Of the Black Mountain
over 100 trout, and that the streams
remain yet full. A few years ago the
ladies of the city held a fair at tn.
Farmers warehouse, and among tn,
most conspicuous objects of attraction
was an old-time log cabin, with "Bit
Tom" Wilson the occupant. Mr.
Wilson has raised family of clever
children all of whom are alive-lvinf
about in hailing distance of his ancien
home. He has thirtysix grand chill
dren and he himself is in good health
having walked the distance OF thirty
six miles to see the show yesterday
He has been a guide of travellers ant
hunters for several years and is char
acter we'll known throughout the coun
try.