The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-07-29
TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPED
SLOWLY As PEOPLE FROM THE
LOWLANDS SETTLED REGION

CCOn. from Page I. Section Two)
Ruucombe Turnpike through Sa-
luda Gap. where travellers might
seek rcfreShmcnt and a night
lodging. Meals at these inns were
prepared before blazing log fires
on wide hcarthS that frequently en-
tended half way across the kItch-
en-.
Stage coaches were operated on
the Buncombc Turnpike until Scv-
eral years after the war, and mail
was carried over the routes from
Grccnville-t o-Grecnevillc, by men
who had contracts from the gov
eminent after bids had been sub
mitted. This form of travel was
used over some of the other roads
also. the one from Old Fort t"
Ashcvillc operating for several
years after the railroad had been
built part Of the way on that
route.
Travel over these routes was
not lacking in excitement; in the
very last days of the Civil war.
the Greenville coach was captur-
ed by Kinks men, not far below
Saluda Gap. Sometimes, robbers
would barricade mountain pass
and hold up the passenger and
mail carriers. and there are sew
eral places along the road now
which have traditional tales OF
robber bands in hiding there.
CONSTRUCTED OF PLANKS
The State road, sometimes cali
cd Saluda Gap road. and known
even TODAY as the Buncombe
Turnpike. from ASheville down to
the foot of the mountain IN
GrcCnville county. was construct
cd of plankS about two inches
thick. As the coaches bowled
along over these. their approach
was known for some distance
ahead of them.
One of the most graphic de-
scriptionS of these Stagecoach
trips is the vivid memory an
elderly man still has of an excit-
ing experience ne had as a child.
On the stretch of road leading
out to Flat Rock, the family par
~ was rolling along in their car
rage on a peaceful Sunday after
noon. The read was not very wide
and bitches extended along on
both sides. so the vehicle was
keeping to the center OF the
cauSeway. Suddenly, the loud
thud. thud of horses feet and the
rumble of the coach burst on their
ears, with every indication that
they were coming at terrific
speed. I'm a few minutes. the
horses appeared around a curve.
with the coach Carcening from
side To side as its runaway team
dashed wildly along. A collision
between the two vehicles seemed
inevitable. for with all his saw
ing and pulling the driver eXerclS-
cd little control over the madden
ed horses.
The driver Of the carriage
srrang out. grabbed the rciuS of
his horses. and with his right
hand. he graSped the long black
snake whip LaShing out with 1t,
stroke after stroke. he kept the
wild team of the Stagecoach on
it's side of the road With this
pointed direction. they managed
to pass by in safety, and went on
toward town somewhat checked in
their mad speed. but leaving the
family too shaken to enjoy their
afternoons outing.
FORTIFICATIONS AT SALUDA
In the dying days of the Civil
war. when Western North Caro-
lima between the Tennessee line
and the South Carolina border was
the siege ground for Federal
troops under Kirby and Gillian
against forces Of the Carolinas I'M
der General Martin. Notifications
were thrown up at Saluda Gap
TO prevent the cncmy's ENTERING.
Traces of these old trenches and
hreaStworkS are still to he seen,
by turning aside from the present
highway and going down the Old
road.
During the time this section
was suffering at the hands of
Stoncman'S men ON the south and
Kinks on the north, Porter's Bat
terry WAS defeated on the old
Turnpike.
The old State road has meant
more in the development of the
western part Of North Carolina