The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-04-02
Farewell to the Tarheels!

P1SEv1LLE, N. c., March 27.-With a
few more dots from the "Old North State
and this correspondence will end. Several
wears after the war the hand Of death was
laid on the beloved helpmate of Ex-Gover-
nor Vance. After few years OF widow
hood he again married in 1890 Mrs.
Martin, of Kentucky, who the chronlcler
of that day says was wealthy, attractive
and intellectual They selected place a
few miles north of Black Mountain on
the Western North Carolina Railroad and
there built charming summer home.
This eyrie among the hills was called
"Goonbroon," aud here beautiful gardens,
orchards and vineyards sprang up like
magic and drives and avenues extended
on all sides.
| This spot is not far from Biltmore, the
chateau of Geo. w. Vanderbilt with its
rs miles of driveways on both sides or the
winding Swannanoa-''nym OF Deau-
ty," reported to be the prettiest streamlet
i in our "Sunny Southern cline" When
en- route to Mitchells Peak in July, 1860,
twas on the banks of this little river
while angling for the speckled mountain
trout the writer picked up pieces of mica,
isinglass and crystal quartz CUBES gllsten-
ing like "unripe" diamonds as the East
Indiamen call them. While negotiating
for these lands Vanderbilt sent an agent
to an eX-slave who owned about ten acres
on the North side Of the stream, few
miles from Asheville, with instructions
to make liberal offer for the little plat
of land. But the old darky said he did
not want to dispose of his realty as he
had always made living on it and wished
to remain there specially since he learned
that Mr.. Vandy was good man and he
desired clever neighbors as we'll as other
people and besides he knew Mars Vandy
would not allow any of these shooters
and trespassers to be fooling around.
From last accounts uncle cuff was hold
ing his own and though circumbscribed
was getting on mighty fine" with his
multimillionaire "nabor."
1t is patent to the historical reader that
Mecklenburg county seeded from the
British crown in May, 1775, more than
wear before the rest of the State and the
other colonies. Lord Cornwallis says 1t
was "heady high-minded" county and
when he and Col. Ferguson rendezVoused
there in the winter Of 1870 twas not long
be.ore his lordship pronounced Charlotte
"t6e hornets nest" of North Carolina on
account of his foragers being constantly
ambushed by the scouts and rangers OF
the Whig army.
About mile below this town person
can stand on a rock in Sugar Creek at
low water and fish with pole and line
in two States and three countles-l ork
and Lancaster in South Carolina and
Mecklenburg in North Carolina. The
poll tax in the former is one dollar and
in the latter is $3.50 and has been as high
as $3.50. The taxpayers on this side OF
the line complain of the enormous per
capita tax but there seems to be NO way to
lower it at present.
But alas alas with all the pride, push
and progressiveness of this people
sombre cloud seems to hang like a pail
over their destinies. During the Revo-
luntionary War Toryism was the strong
est in the mountains of the State and in
the great Civil War Unionism fourished
there like a green bay tree and to-day is
the nucleus of Republicanism, the leaven
of which has crossed the Alleghanles and
is slowly but surely diffusing itself into
the cities and larger towns. Only last
fall numbers who entered the Democratic
primaries in Charlotte and contiguous
precints when the election came on in
November openly voted the opposite
ticket. Some good conservatives belleVe
that it will not be long ere North Caro-
lima will drop out of the Democratic
column. What blow to porty already
in the minority-tO lose 81 counties, 3OOO
cities. villages and post offices and a pop
ulation of nearly 1000, 600 souls.
S, o. JoURNER.