The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1908-07-16
ANOTHER TRIP UP The RIVER.
Poor Conrad Tells of Scenes and Days
In Years LONG Gone By.

COUNTY RECORD, Dear sir: l
have just returned from a cruise to
the upper waters of Black river. /
went up to the mouth of Pudding
swamp for load of shingles, and
had in tow the large fat boat belong
ing to Mr. P B Thorne. We left
the landing at Klngstree about 10
O'Clock on Friday, the 3rd of July,
and made the trip, distance of 25
miles, in seven hours, which | con.
lder very good time. We had to
tow large fat boat l3feet wide and
30 feet long. We were overtaken
by severe rain and thunder storm
with lightning very sharp, but We
had made preparations for it and
had put up the awning over the en-
gine and our baggage and provis-
ions. The boys all huddled under
the awning and [ had large um-
brells which kept over me and
steered the boat up the river through
the storm. The boys all managed
to keep dry. We had pretty fair
time. We stopped st a high sand
ridge about three miles below Mont.
gomery's lake, one OF my old and
favorite camping places in my young
days when | felt strong, and it gave
me so much JOY those days to float
down the river on a raft or fiat boat
for Georgetown with the ision
box packed with biscuits, ham, sau.
sage, potatoes, custards and good
coffee. That was the life for me
and l like to follow it still.
Well, as l said, we went up to the
mouth of Pudding swamp with both
boats and We pitched our tent there
on the bank of the river at the place
where have had many happy days.
] once owned that tract of land but
it belongs to Mr. Young at the pres
ent. Many have been the fish fries,
swimming and frolicking on that
famous old bank, and think of the
pretty girls that have spent their
pleasure moments with their sweet
hearts. 1 look away back now
through mist of memory and tears
and with a sigh of sadness as l stand
on the bank of the old river and
think of the ones l so often met
and ask of the winds of Robert
Epps, Samuel Burgess, Henry Nc
Elveen, Lon Mouzon, Peter War
sham, John Daniel, James Readon,
James Epps, Daniel Evans and
host of them, all of whom always
had kind word for Conrad: and l
am never more to behold them, never
hear their gentle voices again. I
alone am left to tell the tale.
stood there viewing the river as it
flows along like the stream of life
bearing on its way the pieces of
drift wood, some large, some small,
some heavy, some floating along
quietly, heavy, and soon will sink
out of sight, some light and whirl-
ing around, may drift for sometime
or may strike some obstruction and
20 to the bottom to rise no more.
Well, after our camp for the first
night at Pudding swamp We return
ed down the river toMouzon's bridge,
where the young folks had picnic
on Saturday. There were about
thirty young ladies, all quite pretty,
and several nice looking young men
some from Klngstree, and they
had nice dinner. The boys and
myself were invited to join them,
which we did with pleasure.
Mr. Young, who lives near Mou-
zon's bridge near the picnic ground,
heard US coming on our way up the
river Friday afternoon and met us
with some fine watermelons, which
were thankfully received and enjoy
ed very much. I visited my friend,
Mr. Wilson Mcintosh, and spent
Friday night with him and Satur-
day night ! spent with my old and