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

formed, and in an effort TO at
tract buyers FOR the immense
boundaries, of land acquired by Ii,
4 nationwide advertising cam
paign was launched, setting forth
i'm cXtraya2ant terms all the adj
vantageS Of owning homes in
, Western North Carolina. With
this added impetus, South Caro-
lima voted fund to continue the
road from Columbia on up the
mountains through Saluda gap,
and North Carolina issued bonds
20 complete the turnpike within
her bounds.
GOLD LURED MANY
When the state road was OPEN
ed for travel, it brought con-
stantly increasing number who
came by wagon and carriage.
Some Of these were attracted to
the mountains in search Of Il home
and others were lured to the Blue
Ridge by news Of the gold to be
found here. Every little trail had
its group Of prOSpectOrS seeking
the precious metal Most of them
brought pick, shovel and Scant
food, drawn by the will-o-the-wisp
that has eyer urged men on to
face adventure. Many spot in
the mountains is the unmarked
grave of one of these pilgrims OF
fortune, and numerous stories are
told of restless ghosts that are Oc-
casionally seen haunting the
places where their treasure still
lies buried
In those days, Charleston, Co.
lumbia and Augusta were the
chief markets for all surplus stuff
grown in the mountains. What
ever promised q cash return was
taken there, and such few neceS-
Sities as the wagonerS could at
ford to- purchase were hauled
back. The stout, covered Cones
toga wagon with its four or six
horses, was loaded with bacon,
hams, lard, corn meal, dried fruit,
apples, CheStnutS and sometimes
wool and hides, and made ready
tor the long trip down country to
market.
Over the bow frames Of these
wagons was drawn q heavy canvas
sheet 10 afford protection from
= sun and rain OH the months trip
along the road 4 provision box
was built on the back end Of the
wagon bed, and this held rationS
for the trip. Beside the box hung
the frying pan and coffee pot A
quilt or two furnished protection
for the load by day and bedding
for the driver at night. Corn for
the horses was in sacks. and on
top OF the load was heaped bun
dies of fodder and hay.
For those who wished to pre-
sent a really good appearance, the
front pair of horses wore set Of
bells on their harness, and the
merry jingle Of these helped to
relieve the mOnotony Of the long
hours.
ARMED WITH WHIPS
The drivers of these large
wagons We're armed with whips
commonly known a. "blacksnake
whips" made of piece of leath-
cr securely fastened around i
stick or piece Of rope which form
ed the part held in the hand. The
leather tapered off for about six
feet and came to sharp point at
the end Along the roads, the
horses had to exert themselves in
pulling the heavily loaded wagons,
and the driver was continually
cracking and Swapping his whip
over their heads. This custom was
50 we'll known wherever the
mountain men went with their
wagons and teams that the driv-
erS were called country crack
erS."
When the days distance had
been covered, the camper would
select q favorable spot beside the
road where water could be had
for the teams and his cooking.
Here the animals were fed and
safely tied up for the night. Over
the camp fire, meal was prepar-
ed, the corn cob or clay pipe filled
with tobacco cut from q home
made twist, and after it was
smoked, a tired driver crawled
under the wagon cover and soon
deep sleep had claimed him.
If the traveller had chosen a
prOpitiOus time, he might meet up
with other wagoners going to the
same place, and several would
camp together at night and jour
ney along in group from day to
day. As years went along, regu-
lar camp sites were sought along
the road at the end of each day,
and MANY lifelong ties grew up
around the Pickering camp fires.
Market reached and the loads
disposed Of, the mountain men
carefully chose the goods for
families backbone, - sugar, cof-
fee. molaSSeS, nails, rice. a box or
two of dry g0Ods,-and the Dreci-
Gus and yitallv necessary salt.