Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-02-08

tnunQeTS QOWn, tuInpHhS oNci hoSs'
rocks and foaming from shore to shore
wheeling its large whirlpools ant
glancing from rock to rock with mad.
dening fury, not ceasing its troubled
waves until 1t has leaped over twent,
falls in the distance of two and hal
miles and precipitated from its height
to a depth Of ninety feet. Here below
Rocky Mount 1t begins to subside ant
spread over a channel three hundred
and eighteen (31S) yards wide, but i
is not composed. For miles below
rocks are scattered in its way, at times
irritating its waters and provoking thu
rapldity Of the stream"
AS early as 1882, there was trad.
ing post here which was maintained by
the British government until the be-
ginning Of the Revolutionary war. The
traders brought such goods as the In
dians desired from Charleston and ex.-
changed them for skins. To prevent
cheating all values were fixed, thus:
A gun was worth thirty-flve deer skins
or bear skins; pair Of scissors, one
skin; a yard of cloth, eight skins. These
skins were worth many times these
values in England. For many years
after the Revolution a warehouse was
here. The last keeper Of such was one
Farrow, whose management extended
some years into the last century. This
post was established some years prioi
to the first settlement Of the county
which was about 1745.
From the Revolution and probably
before 1t this had been celebrated
fishery. Shad, carp, as well as REQ
horse and hog nose and other kinds Of
suckers were caught in spear traps
fall traps and dipnets in great num-
bers until the early SOS. Since ther
the fishing has received little or no at
tention. There was ready sale on
the banks for the days catch at re-
munerative price.
For more than 100 years It has beer
the custom for many people Of thii
and surrounding counties to congre.
gate here on the first Saturday in May
At first fish were served in many ways
and in plenty, also music and dancing
formed part Of the days enjoyment
Now the crowd drink in the many
beauties Of nature and hold inter.
course with friends.
After all the necessary preliminar1es
by the government 1t was ordered thai
a permanent arsenal and magazine be
erected at this place for the conven.
ience Of the states Of North Carolina
South Carolina and Georgia.
In January, 1908, ELI Whitney, in
ventor of the cotton gin," was selected
to assist Col. Seuf in choosing the site
for the arsenal at Rocky Mount.
During the years 10000, the total
amount expended at Rocky Mount wal
fourteen thousand, four hundred and
forty (s14,440) dollars, being four timei
the amount expended on the arsenal
and magazine at West Point during
these years. OF this sum three thou
sand, one hundred and thirty eight
(s3,13S) dollars were for the purchase
(through Gen. Thomas Sumter) Of 9
tract Of land in South Carolina for an
arsenal. An armory, officers quarters
barracks for privates, and magazine
were erected. Gen. Henry Dearborn
secretary of war to Jefferson, laid the
cornerstone for the principal building
It was called Mount Dearborn fol
many years. 1t is said the last squad
left in 1917.
Mills writing in 1926 some time after
the enterprise was abandoned, says:
1.-The United States establishment near
Rocky Mount commands attention al
so, though now abandoned and In ruins
This circumstance only tends to make
it more interesting to the traveller.
The buildings erected were handsome
and extensive. The magazine "a conf
cal building) has entirely tumbleo
down. The arsenal Is a substantial
building erected close to the canal
constructed by the state, and Is the
only building of the whole that prom
ises to be really useful. The barracks
surround the square fronting the OFF,
GERS quarters, a large brick edif1ce, the
whole erected on promontory pro-
jecting into the river. Nature furnish
es few spots more variously romantic
than this, noble river rendered more
interesting by the rocks which impede
its course. the surrounding hills cover
ed with woods and towering above It,
all induce a wish that the project OF
military establishment here had sue
ceeded, and this fairy spot had been
the abode of refined society"
The local tradition Is that this place
came within one vote Of being the mil
itary academy Of the United States
Those so inclined may speculate as to
the effect on our history If great ma
tional military academy" with all the
attendant patronage and influence had
been established on the banks Of Ca
tawba like that on the Hudson.
This canal was cut to enable boats
to pass around the falls. Work began
in 1923 or "a and continued until II
was completed in the early 3O's. The
cost to the state was about three hun
dred thousand (sSOO.OOO) dollars, and
only two boats ever passed through 1t
The locks are Of stone and nearly
eighty years of weathering have effect
ed but little change in their appearance
or strength.
Capt. Daniel Mccullough Of Fairfield
completed a cotton factory and began
to operate 1t in 1S49. This was tile
first in the up-country. 1t only spun
and the operatives were slaves. II
paid very well. This was a great help
during the war. People from a dis