The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-02
NOTCHES
 STILL PRESERVED The Historic Romance of an
 Alabama Hamlet "OLE HICKORY" LOST And He Notched the First Tree of an Unbeaten Path to Pensacola.
 How Notches Were
 Preserved
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS

To an Alabama historical romance Three Notch is entitled to the honor of contributing.
 Three Notch Is a little hamlet in Bul lock county, less than 15 miles from Union Springs. and on the outskirts of the comparatively populous com munity of Midway.
 It derived It's unique name from three notches cut in an oak tree many years ago by Andrew Jackson. Since the time the tree, then sprout, felt the tooth of the ax, 1t has grown into one of the giants of the forests. But the notches still exist.
 To prevent the growth of the tree obliterating the Jackson notches, the natives, not later than 50 years ago. wrapped gigantic chains through each The chains have been covered by the flesh of the tree and their links snapped. But the presence or the chains reveals the identity Of the notches.
 Andrew Jackson's tree is as familiar to the people of Bullock county as IS the courthouse at Union Springs. It IS almost one of the household gods of that county. It is firmly fixed in the affection of the people. and the custom is so general that many of the present residents of Bullock plighted their troths beneath its shade.
 "Yes," the shy maiden Is wont to exclaim, T love you, John. but l can not tell you save under Jacksons s oak" And hand in hand the happy pair wander to the giant of the forest, and with it waving a benediction. they tell the story of stories.
 Some say that the angry grating of the chain foretells the approach of storms. Others affirm that no ghost can wander within hearing distance of it's harsh Jingle.
 However all this may be. the tree is there, and Andrew Jackson notched 1t, years and years ago.
 It all occurred in that period when the Indians of Alabama were on the warpath. The Red Men of Alabama were more powerful. 1t seems, than those of neigh boring states, and so bitter had been their conflicts and so narrowing were the stories of their brutality that cries were sent abroad for "Ole Hickory" And Jackson en- tered Alabama from the north. conquer ing as he came.
 It finally happened that all the tribes in Alabama were subdued save those which were striking terror into the hearts of settlers in what is now Mobile. Baldwin and Escambia coun ties. Jackson, to quell these uprisings. started a journey on foot with his forces, his objective point being Pen- sacola. He finally became lost in the wilds of what was once Barbour and what is now Bullock county. At the place now known as Three Notch the forests became almost impenetrable, and Jackson determined on halt. He pitched his camp and calling his scouts under his tent told them he was lost. He instructed them to cut path to Pensacola and in order that there should be no trouble in following it he instructed the men to put three notches in frees a quarter of mile distant from each other He then carried them in front of the camp. and swinging the ax himself dug deep into the body of a strong young sapling. He repeated his blows until three notches were made, big, gaping notches that could be seen from distance of 100 yards
 This done he ordered the axmen to proceed. What remains belongs to his- tory. But starting three days later Jackson led his army through the wilderness to Pensacola. defeating en route many tribes From Pensacola he turned northward again and completely put down the Indian uprisings in Ala bama. Then settlers returned and Ala bama grew into its own.
 Just why settlers selected the spot which Is now known as Three Notch is not clear. But it so occurred. And Jacksons tree became an immediate favorite. But soon 1t was evident that the growth of the oak would obliterate the notches of Jackson. And chains were stretched through each and united about the trunk of the tree. Continued growth of the oak broke the chains, but wrapped them so tightly that they still remain, dangling, as 1t were, in three streams from either .side.s And these chains hold intact the impression of the blade of Jacksons ax.
 And these are the chains which rattle in the wind, forete1ing the approach of storms, and which send ghosts scurry- ing again into the graves which yawn at the midnight hour.