The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-06-29

"a nationwide advertising cam
paign was launched, setting fofth
i'm extravagant terms all the ad-
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
to complete the turnpike within
her bounds.
When the state road was open
ed for travel. it brought a con-
stantly increasing number who
came by wagon and carriage.
Some of these were attracted to-:
the mountains in search of home
and others were lured to the Blue
Ridge by news of the gold to be
found here. Every little trail had
it's 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 a cash return was
taken there, and such few neces-
sites 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
for the long trip down country to
market.
Over the bow frames of these
wagons was drawn a heavy canvas
sheet to afford protection from
sun and rain on the months trip
along the road. A 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 bum
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.
The drivers of these large
wagons were armed with whips
commonly known as "blacksnake
whips" made of piece of leath-
er securely fastened around
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 a 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
ever their heads. This custom was
so 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 a favorable spot beside the
road where water could be had
for the teams and his cooking.
Here the animals were fed and
i safely tied up for the night. Over
the camp fire, a meal was prepar-
ed, the corn cob or clay pipe filled
with tobacco cut from a home
made, twist, and after it was
smoked, a tired driver crawled
uIlucI tuS "dSOH SoNSi oiie oOOAi
deep sleep had claimed him.
] If the traveller had chosen a
proDitious 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
J day. As years went along, regu-
lar camp sites were sought along
the road at the end of each day,
L. and manv lifelong ties grew ur
: around the Pickering camp fires
Market reached and the loads
! disposed of. the mountain mer
: carefully chose the goods fol
: families backbone, - sugar, cot
fee. moIasses, nails, rice, a box O,
\ two of dry ooods,-and the preci
n 7eas and vitality necessary salt.
IL