Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-06-07
AT THE X. NJ. Nj. A.

exercises at the close
II the years work at the Kings Noun
ain Military academy last Wednesday.
The event, however was marked by In
.eresting and impressive ceremonies In
with the unveiling of the
:ablet erected to the memory of the
cadets who lost their lives by drown
ng a month ago.
The exercises Of the morning were
commenced at 1920 o'clock. There were
present about 200 people, mostly from
Yorkville and the surrounding country,
a few visitors from dis
lance. Colonel w. G. Stephenson pre-
sided, and the exercises were opened by
the singing Of q hymn followed by
prayer by Rev. w. G.. Neville, after
which Capt. Wolff, Of the faculty, ap-
peared on the platform with a hand
some sword, which he explained, be-
onged to the late Cadet Sergeant E. M.
Nichols, and which the parents OF Ca
det Nichols had requested him to pre-
sent to Lieutenant Morrow, the young
cadet who had done such courageous
work in recovering the bodies Of his
drowned comrades. The sword was
presented in a few well chosen words
and received by Lieutenant MORROW
with becoming modesty. Following this
Colonel Stephenson intro
auced Major James F. Hart, who de-
Iivered the following beautiful address
IN dedication Of the memorial tablet:
II "a a duty we owe to ourselves as
we'll as to those who come after US, 10
nark in some enduring form, the oc-
rurrence of events that have cast tneir
sha dows over us, as we'll as those which
hrine us gladness. And more appro-
nriate becomes the emblematic record
when costly lives are to be commemo-
rated. which were given In heroic sac
rifice for noble purposes. 1t IS tneh
that the shadows tighten, and the sor-
row more readily softens into reslgna-
tion to the will Of that Providence
which marks all events as Its own.
An event of this character mas again
come into the life of the Kings Noun
ain Military academy; and TO-DAY iove
ne hands, with sorrowing hearts, nave
erected a tablet that Will hold 1t ana all
that clings about it in enduring mem-
Dry. ,. a.. ufe "
For This old academy has had career
renlete with events. Founded IN 1893 oy
Micah acknowledgements brigaoler
general in the armies of the Conteue-
oto states-and his associate, Aspury
1t had, before 1861, trained
MANY scores of the youth OF the state
to upbuild her civilization and TO ue-
fend her when imperilled.
Tn 1851 -65 many Of those who were mere
trained in arms became leaders or men
IN defence of their homes and instltu-
lions, Many never returned. They NIL
,d soldiers graves on many distant pat
lie fields. He, whose name Is ever on the
Iins of South Carolina soldiers, the gen
lie but knightly Micah Jenkins gaVs
MIS- glorious life to the cause ne loveu
and for the people for whom ne 1ousnt'
others. battle-scarred and hopeiess' re-
turned to vacant firesides and iano VI
desolation. ,,-
ter. Colonel Asbury Coward, tne suro
yivor Of Jenkins, In 1850 gatneleu a.
a goodly number OF the youth VI 'ne .e
state and these halls again echoed 10
Ihe march of Youthful soldiers, training
For iife,s battle. From thence until
con the Kings Mountain Military acad-
NV quietly, steadily and efficiently per
its mission as one OF the tore-
most preparatory educational instltu-
ions OF the state. Then. Asbury cow
ard was called to the head OF the state 8
highest military and mental training
Citadel-and these halis
were again closed. 1t seemed Tor
lime as il taps" had sounded Tor us
!, orjc class rooms and that II had
gone to rest. ,.s
Another eleven years passed over lts
military life, when its third epoch came.
Colonel w. G.. Stephenson, the accom-
olished and courtly Virginian. with ms
,orps of trained helpers, again ralsea
ts flag to the masthead. and the olu
academy happily responded to the
-eyeille. Again its class-rooms were
occupied by earnest students, anu its
parade grounds felt the tread OF manly
Youths in the pursuit Of learning Oh
arts and Of arms. ,s
Kings Mountain! A name hallowed
IN every home in this broad lana OF
ours. AS you cadets march TO the TAP
IF the drum on your parade grouhu,
YOU are almost under the shadows Vi
hat historic ground where your grand
fathers, twelve decades gone py' Wrest,
I'd victory from Britain's soldlery' anu
lealt the first decisive blow tnat
their people deliverance anu
liberty. And there costly sacrlnce Oh
ife was made because duty demanoeu
I. Under the cold grey stones OF the
IL a.
riot dead. ,,,u
II was there that Colonel James VIII
Jams leading his Carolinians, fell In
battle he believed should have been
ought elsewhere against another Brit
sh force. But when duty called him
a action. It was not for him to choose
he ground, nor the force he was to en-
rage: but to fight the enemies OF his
,ountry whenever and wherever they
night be found. On the banks OF
Broad river, without stone to marx
his grave, where the ever ripping wa
ers are chanting their requiem, ana
he stars keep nightly vigil over MS
heroic dust, sleeps one Of Kings Noun
aims patriots.
But it may be that he and his BROTH
r. soldier dead, sleep not alone atter
heir century Of rest. Did they. on that
yoful afternoon of May Sd, 1902, In spir-
t awake in their graves on the noun
ain and exclaim, "Who are these
,oung soldiers in grey that come to JOIN
IS in our rest: And we answer. Pa
riots! these are they who, taught by
,our heroic example, we'll knew that
DUTY never reckoned with danger.
hough the duty be the rescue of
.omrade and the danger be death. 1t
vas not for them to be called like you,
O march in the cause Of liberty, and to