Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-10-08
tinguished men and women from both

INM @NN8
tinguished men and women from both
states.
No attempt to estimate the number
Of people on the grounds during the
day could be taken as much better
than a wild guess. At no time was
all the crowd together. There were
certainly from three to five thousand
people around the speakers stand dur
ing the carrying out Of the programme
Of the morning; but these were not
half Of those present. Even in the
midst Of the programme, thousands Of
people lined the cleared portion Of
the mountain for distance up to and
around the monument Of 1880, several
hundred yards away. and other
punches of hundreds were clustered
about the refreshment stands and
catch penny amusements. The whole
vicinity was alive with people for q
distance Of from half to three-quar-
|
the monument, and estimates Of the
total crowd Of men, women and chill
dren ran all the way to ten thousand.
There are five roads leading to the
battle-ground from as many different
directions, and during several hours,
buggies, wagons and pedestrians filled
each Of them in solid strings for
miles and miles, and although there
may be room for doubt as to just
how many people were in the whole
great throng, there Is certainly no
doubt Of the fact that such a large
one day gathering has never been seen
in such an out Of the way place in
this section before.
In all there were seven companies
Of the National Guard present-the
companies from Fort Mill, Rock Hill,
Yorkville, Cornwell, Spartanburg and
Columbia, 8. c., and Dallas, N. c. ALI
these companies marched from the
nearest railroad points, five Of them
from Yorkville, and the others from
points on the Charlotte and Atlanta
Air Line railway. They pitched their
camp on the east side Of the battle
ground about quarter Of q mile
away, and during Wednesday did
good service in policing the grounds
especially in keeping space necessary
for the crowds, clear of horses and
vehicles, etc.
Near the camp Of the militia there
was also pitched quite little village
of tents, which were occupied by peo-
pie Of Yorkville and other surrounding
towns, who went up on Wednesday and
spent two nights in camp. These In.
cluded members Of the d. A. R., who
were provided with all the require
ments for a comfortable outing, not
excepting Of course, cooking utensils
and plenty Of good things to cook
They kept open house for their guests
and their hospitality, Of course, was
without limit.
There were quite number Of res
freshment stands around the grounds
some within the limits Of the Centen-
NAL associations property, and others
without. Along with them were catch
penny devices sufficient in numbsr
and variety to do real good credit
to a pretty respectable fair, and most
of them did thriving business.
Although the exercises Of the day
were not scheduled to commence until
1890 o'clock, the inpouring Of people
had amounted to a tremendous crowd
long before that hour, and most Of the
visitors who were really interested In
the purpose Of the occasion spent the
time inspecting the monuments and
hunting out various spots Of the great
est historical interest. At the spot
where Ferguson is buried, there ia q
notice requesting every visitor to place
stone on the grave, and thousands
entered into the spirit Of the request
for during the day there was very
Iperceptible increase in the proportions
of the rockery little mound.
The speakers stand erected by the
Monument association Is quite a sub
stantial little structure. 1t ia built
pavilion style, open at the sides, floor
set on a strong foundation OF stone
pillars, comfortable seating capacity
for a hundred or more people, and q
corrugated iron hip roof overhead. II
Is within about thirty yards Of the
national monument, and Is calculated
not only to serve as an acceptable
shelter for future visitors; but will
answer for recurring celebrations sim
liar to the one Of yesterday and today.
Although a great multitude had
been assembled around the speaking
pavilion for quite while. it was near
ly II o'clock before the exercises COM
menced, the delay being occasioned by
the tardy arrival of distinguished par
ticipants, who had been able to make
but slow progress over the crowded
road from Kings Mountain; but very
shortly after the appearance Of Gov
ernor Ansel, the meeting was called to
order by Col. Asbury Coward, chair
man Of the executive committee Of the
Kings Mountain Monument associa-
ton, in a few brief, but singularly ap-
propriate remarks. Addressing the
ladies', men and children, he referred
to the unusually beautiful day "a
typical Of the event which had made
that anniversary one Of the most glori-
GUS In the annals of history. He re-
ferred to the battle Of one hundred
and twenty-nine years ago, told how
for nearly thirty years the place was
Stunned by man and left to the
wolves on account Of the human bones
that covered the hill; how in 1916 there
was a great gathering during which
the bones were buried; how in 1856
there was another celebration in rec
ognition Of the true meaning Of the
battle; how in 1880, the event was still
more fittingly commemorated, and how
now the people are gathering to show
their appreciation Of this splendid rec
ognition Of the national government,