The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-07-29

nave come ana gone over II;
Modes of travel have progressed
until the trip of four To six weeks
i'm a covered wagon has become
the ride Of five OF six hours by
car.
SECTION Ill
From the beginning OF the I"ih
century, duclImg MAS common III
America. Watcher 1t was approx
ca. it Was pract ccd, one OF the
most notable duets being that pc
tween Aaron Burr and Alexander
Hamilton.
Men of North Carolina have
usually settled their personal dit
ferenccs by the good old skull and
list method, and duelling has al
WAYS been frowncd on by the
common people of this part of the
state. In 1902. North Carolina
passed law forbidding the send
ing of challenge, or the fighting
of a duel. or aiding and abcttng
in doing either. No duel was ever
fought within the state, and no
effort was ever made to punish
anv principal. second or partici-
pant in such conflict,-On the
ground that the law of this state
had not been violated unless the
duel was actually fought on It's
soil
TWO DUELS RECALLED
The few known combatS have
been confined strictly to Il small
class of politicians and profession
al men. Among those who desired
to settle their scores on the "fleld
of honor" and still respect the
laws of the state, the difficulty
has been solved by sending the
challenge from a point outside
the state, OF by crossing over INTO
Tennessee or South Carolina.
The state line at the SaIuda
Gan on the old Buncombc Turn
pike has offered strategic point
for two of the few known ducIS
between North Carolina combat
ants. One Of these was the duel
between DR.. Robert Franks Vance
of Runcombc, and Honorable
Samuel =. Carson of Burke, in
1927. Davy Crockett, who mad
married Miss Patton of Swan
uanOa. WAS present as a friend OF
Carson. This duel was the out
growth of Il bitter campaign for
election To congress between the
two principals, in which Vance
was wounded, and died the next
dav, at the nearby home of Colo
mel John Davis. where he was car
ricd after the conflict had ended.
Thirty years later, a political
ouarrcl between Major Marcus
Erwin and Judge John HaNtcr
was settled in a duel at this same
spot. Their conflict grew out OF
am editorial written by Major En-
win. who was publishing ii paper
in AShcvile at the time, and re-
ply from Judge Baxter, ii lawcr
of HcnderSorvillc, over the QucS-
ton of states rights, and but lit
tie damage was inflicted.
No mention can ever be made
of this State road without pauS-
ing TO pay tribute 10 the man who
did so much to bring it to the
highest state Of perfection in his
day, - Joel Roberts Poin$rtt.
South Carolinian though he WAS,
and one of the greatest public
bcnefaCtOrS that state ever pro
duced. Western North Carolina
has profited by the services he
rendered even more than his own
home place
BORN IN CHARLESTON
Poinsett was born IN Charles
ton and after being trained IN
some Of tho best educational CEN
tcrS Of Europe. returned 20 Amer
lea to spend the rest Of his life
working tor the good of the en-
tire United States. While prcsi-
dent of the state board of public
works in South Carolina. he spent
much Of his efforts on improving
general conditions. He travelled
70 the upper part of the state and
through the Saluda mountain re-
zion. aSCcrtainin~ the needs OF