The Gaffney Ledger from Gaffney, South Carolina • Page 5

a little above the mouth of Buffalo creek on (change your course took the what was long known as the Fondren, then the! hint 'from the gentle Mercury, and returned old Carruth place, now belonging to Captain P. S. COURTNEY FUNERAL DIRECTOR AND EMBALMEK Office, 603 Granard St. Fhon 87X-J Residence. 663 W.

Robinaoq St, Phone 673-J GAFFNEY. S. C. J. B.

Mintz. Having performed this touch HSOME KINGS ML COMMANDERS" COLONEL JAMES WILLIAMS By EEV. J. D. BAILEY.

ing service, and fired a parting volley over the newly made grave of one of the noted heroes of the war of independence, the army, late in the day, renewed the line of march apparently up Broad river." The tired and hungry victors were prompted to early preparations for two reasons one was to get away as quickly as possible in order to secure a much needed supply of food; the other In a foot-note, Draper further says, "Colonel Logan (John adds that he learned from Captain Mintz that a tradition had been handed to get beyond the reach of Tarleton, for it was rumored in the camp that he was not far away, down that Colonel Williams was buried in tha few years ago the D. A. had the bones disinterred; placed in an iron chest, removed to Gaffney, and deposited in the yard of the public library. A granite marker was placed over the deposit, which is surmounted by two small cannon, and some cannon balls. His Personal Appearance.

Colonel Williams was five feet, nine inches high, and quite corpulent. His complexion was very dark, his hair and eyes were black; his nose uncommonly large, turned up, and round at the end. His nostrils, when distended by passion or excitement, were so large as to give rise to the coarse jest gotten og by one his militiamen as an excuse for his tardiness at muster. "The boys," he said, "had been hunting and had treed a possum in the Colonel's nose," and hence he was not in attendance. Anecdotes of Colonel Williams.

The following amusing incidents in the life of Williams were culled, principally, from Johnson's Traditions of The American Revolution: In 1778, Colonel Williams was a candidate for State Senate from his district. His opponent was Robert Cunningham, a noted Loyalist. and would make an effort to release the prison era. A goodly number were engaged in pre C. H.

ROBBINS Vatariaary Sargaa Day Fkona 128 Niftt Pkoaa 131 DR. G. C. TUGGLE EYE, EAR, NOSE AND THROAT Specialist. Fitting Claisei Specialty.

Room 25 27, Imurance Trmt Bldff. TRESPASS NOTICE. Notice is hereby given that all persons trespassing upon my lands or lands under my control, without permission for any purpose whatsoever will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. L. R.

ROSS. June 20, 28; July 4. neighborhood, and no little pains had been taken to identify the grave by various people, and even by some of Colonel Williams' descendants; but home. That night he carried his meal to the American camp. "Silas Randall, who recently died at the age of ninety, gave Mr.

Camp the following information: He was with Colonel Williams at A. Hardin's; raised his head and gave him a drink, when he immediately went to sleep his soul passed quietly away, so that it scarcely seemed like death. Mr. Randall, also asserted that he (Colonel Williams) was carried on to the camp, and buried as above stated. No man ever possessed a fairer character than the last witness, and therefore his evidence is conclusive.

"The grave itself appears to be a fitting abode for the hero of King's Mountain. It is situated on the side of a hill, in full view of the blue mountain top, so that at the resurrection morn his eye will rest, first on the scene of his glory and earthly immortality. Was it the native taste of the rude mountaineers, or the directing hand of that Providence, which shapes our ends which we call chance that selected this site and this position, ere in the haste of retreat, they left the hero alone in his glory The Grave of Colonel Williams Re-Discovered. Feeling that the grave of such a noted hero paring horse litters for the conveyance of the wounded. These litters consisted of blankets, without success.

At length Captain Mintz em or pieces of tent cloth, to which poles were at ployed some men to shrub off a field, long overgrown, and requested them to watch for the tached on each side, and the poles fastened to iong-forgotten grave, and sure enough they found a grave, with a headstone and foot stone composed of a different kind of rock from those abounding there, and well overgrown with grape vines. Though there was no inscription on the headstone, there is no doubt but that it is th grave of 'Old King's Mountain At this time the Whigs and Tories had become The following letter, originally published in che Yorkville Enquirer, many years ago, throws additional light on, and corroborates quite a should be definitely located, if possible, this number of the foregoing statements writer set about, more than a quarter of a century ago, to vmake some interrogations. Ac "Thursday, November 19, 1857. "It is well known that Colonel Williams cordingly, on the morning, of April the 25th, the hero of King's Mountain fell mortally wounded in the moment of victory. With a 1898, in company with iriends, we visited the supposed place of Colonel Williams' sepul vow that he would silence the whistle of Fer ture.

It answered Draper description exactly. guson, whose shrill, clarion notes rang out above the din of battle, and brought again the waver He says that on leaving the battle-ground, tho army marched "on the route towards Deer's Ferry on Broad River, and marching sonify twelve miles from the battle-ground, they en-- ing Red Coats to the charge, he rushed upon a couple of horses that stood side by side, and ie disabled soldiers were placed on the cloth suspended between them. With these litters, they could travel with more ease, and make greater speed over a rough and broken coun-Iry than they could with wagons. Of these they had none of their own, and not caring to be encumbered with any of the seventeen which belonged to Ferguson, they were pulled over the camp-fires and burned. About ten o'clock the army took up its line of march, and though encumbered by so large a number of prisoners, they were strongly guarded, and at the same time the tenderest possible care was bestowed upon the wounded.

None received more attention than the heroic Colonel Williams; for, notwithstanding several reports to the contrary, he did not die on the battle-hill. The army moved in the direction of what was then called Deer's Ferry on Broad River, this ferry was near the present Dravo Power Dam and for several miles traveled the same road over which they had journeyed the day before. Early in the afternoon they again reached Jacob Randall's place, where they had made a brief halt the previous evening. At this place, on the road-side, stood a large chestnut tree with wide spreading branches, which produced a most inviting shade. Reaching that spot, the little party having.

Colonel Williams in charge, seeing that he was rapidly sinking, halted under this tree, where he quietly breathed his last. As a writer has expressed it, "The spirit of the gallant Williams quit forever the fields of carnage and blood below, for realms of peace and life above." Such was the earthly end of this brave, unflinching and "marty hero" of the Revolution. irreconcilable, and were bitter toward each other. In this campaign, or some other occasion, Wiliams was about to deliver a public address but before he began to speak he noticed Cunningham standing at his elbow. "You stand loo near me," said Williams.

Without changing his position, Cunningham coolly replied, "I stand very well where I am." A blow from Williams followed the reply, and a fight ensued, during which time Mrs. Williams, with the devotion of a true woman, took part with her hus-feand, seizing Cunningham by his cue. She was gently disengaged by a gentleman present, and the rencounter terminated in Cunningham's favor. Colonel Williams was represented to have been rough and rash, but at the same time of remarkably good disposition. That he was free in his intercourse, even with the most humble, the following incident will show.

At one dme, with an old, and favorite, negro, he was engaged in clearing up his store-house after dark. The Colonel was holding a torch. In one corner of the foe, and fell just as the enemy was giving ITCH KILLED IN MwffinB SIf ICIDE for 50c by Druggists 55c by mail quick by Siticide Commerce, Ca At Peoples Drug Store NOTICE OF OPENING OF BOOKS OF REGISTRATION. To the Quaiifiedl Rectors of the City of Gaffney, S. C.

Whereas, The City Council of the City of Gaffney, did on the 1st day of July, A. 1925, pass a certain ordinance ordering a special election on the question of issuing certain bonds to be held on the 28th day of July, A. 1925, which ordinance is on file in the office of the City Clerk of Gaffney, providing for an election to be held on the question of issuing ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND ($100,000.00) DOLLARS of bonds, for the purpose of improving Streets and Sidewalks in City. Now, therefore, notice is hereby given, That the books of Registration for the City of Gaffney will open at Whisonant's store on the 6th day of July, A. 1925, and there be kept open from 8 o'clock A.

M. to 4 o'clock P. each day for a period of ten days. All persons qualified under the law to be registered, shaJJ have an opportunity to do so at said time and place. All persons who registered for the last regular city election, held in the City of Gaffney, do not have to reregister for the aforesaid special election.

BOYCE WHISONANT, Supervisor of Registration. July 2, 4. away just as the whistle ceased to ring just camped that night near the eastern bank of Broad River, and a little north of Buffalo Creek." At this point a large hill rises toward as. the shouts of the victors were going up from the 'Grand Old It was a fit requiem for the gallant soldier, the music which sounded the west, 'and about midway between its bottom so sweetly in the ear of Wolfe on the plains of Abraham. But it is not generally known that 1 .4 and top, on the eastern slope, is where llid grave was found.

A little higher up, running almost exactly east and west, the road to Deer's Ferry passed. Signs of that road were then visible. the spot of each, where sleeps the hero can lie distinctly identified. The tread of pilgrim feet have echoed through the ravines of the mountain baptized in the blood of heroes; but The grave was just ninety yards to the south of that ancient highway. Standing there facing the south-east, the river is about a quarter of a patriotism has never sought out, nor love and veneration consecrated that little mound the narrow house' of the big-hearted Williams.

mile to the right, and Buffalo about a half mile in front both river and creek being in plain view. We have seen that tradition also pointed Two rude stones mark that sacred spot, and oral and traditionary evidence have alone given it a 'local habitation and a to that locality as the burial place of Colonel Williams, though the exact spot was long lost sight of; that when Captain Mintz cleared a the building was a large pile of unbroken flax, and as the negro was removing some stands, a large rat sprang by the Colonel, and as it plunged into the flax, he stuck his torch to it, exclaiming, "I'll swinge you In an instant the house was in a blaze, and in spite of everything that could be done, it was burned up. The Colonel patiently submitted to the rebukes of the old negro, who cursed him for all the fools that he could think of. Major Thomas Young relates the following: "But the chain of testimony by which it is THE WAV identified, has recently been traced out, link by particular field, command was given that search Moore than twenty-five years ago, the latei link, by William C. Black, Esq.

From him we be made, the result of which was the finding Ira Hardin of Blacksburg, informed the writer I gather the following evidence, which he has of a lone grave, etc. Mr. D. D. Gaston, a son-in-law of Captain Mintz, informed the writer that he had often heard his father-in-law say that when he first taken the trouble to collect: 'William Camp, a highly respectable citizen of this district, now upwards of seventy years of age, who has resided in the immediate neighborhood for the last fifty-eight years, says that tradition, and the oldest contemporaries of the battle of King's Mountain, have uniformly desig came to the place, an old negro woman told him that this tree stood near the edge of his father's yard; and though it was dead at the time, when a boy, he had often shot birds while perched upon The tree has long since disappeared, but Mr.

Hardin kindly located the spot for us, end upon our request, Mr. F. H. Dover, who at that time owned the place, set up a large rough stone, with these words chiseled upon 7 (Mr. Mintz) that Colonel Williams was buried "The first personal acquaintance I ever had with him (Williams) occurred under the fol-i lowing circumstances.

Some two hundred of us I were in North Carolina, probably in Lincoln county. The first time I ever was on I heard a horse walking. I hailed, but the beast walked on I fired and the horse fell. The i H'ct frmrd was greatly alarmed, and one of I SAVE- on that hill, the one where the grave was found for she, when a girl, went with her mistress to the newly made grave. Hence, search was made in that particular place, with nated a grave on the plantation of Mr.

John Mintz, as the final resting place of Colonel Wil the results already mentioned. So history and liams. The plantation of Mr. Mintz lies between Buffalo and Broad River, and was point tradition agree exactly, and both point to ed out to him forty-odd years ago by Mrs. fired in the air.

An examination was had and the hor.c was found dead. I was greatly troubled the occurrence. The next day Colo- single grave on the hill as that of Colonel James David Quinn, the daughter of Anthony Morgan, Williams "Old King's Mountain Jim." who resided within forty rods of the grave As we went up the hill from the river toward the grave, one of the party picked up a large round lead ball, just such as have been found IF THRIFTY you should join our Building and Loan organization and properly, reap the benefit of your thrift. We enable you, and help you, to build a home of your own, advancing you money for the purpose. Buy shares in our association and begin to pave the road to independence.

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Littlejohn, President R. A. Dobson, Secty. and 1 jas. Watch This Space Weekly when Colonel Williams was buried.

She was a full-grown lady at the time. The American army, on the night after the battle, camped near on the King's Mountain and Cowpens battle iel Williams sent ft and inquired if I was tlu litth lad that horse last night? I answccJ in the affirmative. said he, 'my little son, you did and from that time, to the time of his death, he treated me with great kindness. His conduct towards the soldiers was always kind and paternal, and he was greatly beloved by them." her father's spring, and early next morning, grounds. We were informed that balls of that their dead commander was This evidence accords with the well-known facts that kind had been picked up there, occasionally, for thirty years previous.

No doubt but that they were discharged when the parting volley was by the Patriots over the newly-made grave the army retreated immediately after the battle, for fear of Cornwallis; that Colonel Williams died under a chestnut tree, which we have (Continued in next Saturday's issue of The Ledger.) of their beloved, but fallen leader. often seen, which until recently, stood near the Arriving at the spot, we found a black-oak growing on, or near the grave. Captain Mint. had this tree left when the field was cleared, for PAINS ALL OVER Lady Says She Took CarJul and Never Saw Such Improve- the purpose of marking it. Armed with ax, it: "Where Colonel Williams Died." During the short halt made at Randall's, John Rainey, a young private from Georgia, who had been mortally wounded, also expired; and his remains were carried a short distance to the southwest of the Randall residence and buried on the slope overlooking the little stream which passes below.

The death of Colonel Williams was a matter of sincere regret to the whole army. His friends resolved at first to convey his body to his home at Mt. Pleasant, in Laurens District; so carrying his remains with them, the army resumed its march towards Deer's Ferry. Passing over, or near the site of the present town of Blacksburg, they proceeded until they came to according to Benjamin Sharp "a large deserted Tory plantation," about twelve miles from the battleground. Here they found a good camping ground, with plenty of dry rails and poles for making fires, and, luckily, a sweet potato patch, sufficiently large to supply the whole army.

"This," says Sharp, "was most fortunate, for not one in fifty of us had tasted food for the last two days and nights since we left the Cowpens." Later in the evening, they were rejoined by Colonel Campbell and the party who had been left behind to bury the dead; also the footmen arrived who had been left at the ford on Green River, three days before. The location of this camp which will be more fully described later has long been known as the Mintz place. The next morning, for want of suitable conveyance, and not thinking it wise to go in the direction of Cdlonel Williams' home, it was decided to bury his remains without further delay. "They were," says Draper, "accordingly interred with the honors of war, between the camp and the river, pick and shovel, we began the work of excava tion on the south side of the tree, but without ment Was So Weak A Couldn't Stand. success.

Beginning on the north side, we soon had reasons to believe that we had struck the grave, and sure enough we had. Going down about three feet, a rib bone was found, and then the entire skeleton, which was in a fair of The skull was perfect from the base to the eye-sockets. All the bones removed were put back at once, except the skull, which was kept out long enough to be photographed, when it, too, was replaced. No military relic was found but when we reached residence of A. Hardin, Esq.

that the army, then in full retreat, did not stop to bury him, but carried him along with them. "The statement of Mrs. Quinn was confirmed by Peter Morgan, her brother. Mr. Collins, who lived in a mile of the encampment at the time, likewise attested the same.

A quixotic adventure brought him to the American camp. He was a quiet, harmless person, whose sole amblition was to live and let live; and a few days previous to the battle, a neighbor, a violent Tory, told him that the British had possession of the entire country, and that he would bo 'hung, drawn and if he did not carry immediately to their camp a supply of provisions. He was credulous enough like the witless Cornwallis to believe that the country-was conquered, so he posted off with a bag of meal for the British. This was the very day of the battle. In the meantime, the mountaineers, like eagles from their aeries, had swooped down upon the confident Ferguson.

Before the meal, intended for the Tories, could reach them, many of them had lost their appetites forever. The pliable Collins was met by a neighbor, who, discovering his intention, told him the result of the battle in the following unique language: 'Ferguson has been in hell three hours, and the Whigs will send you after him if you do not Want Something? Advertise in the Ledger Every year scores of lost articles are restored to their rightful owners, numerous farms and homes are rented or sold through advertising in The Ledger. Try A "Want Ad and Get Results the skeleton, the dirt contained a good deal of "Weathersby, Miss. Mrs. James M.

Hall, of this place, writes that sha was "getting weaker all the time" when Cardui, the woman's tonic, was first brought to her attention. After she had taken Cardui a while, she writes that she "never did sea puch an improvement." "I suffered all the time and had ains all over," says Mrs. Hall. "I was so weak I could not stand. My pkin was cold and flabby.

I did not have any color. I had always teen a very active woman used to outdoor exercise, walking and going where I pleased, and to get down, not able to get myself a drink, was indeed a hardship. "Nothing seemed to help me, till I began on Cardui. The first bottla seemed to strengthen me, and I 6ent for five more. By the time I had taken these, I was on my feet, going around, doing my work, gained in health and strength.

"I took two more bottles, and I em well and strong. Can work my garden. I haven't had any more Bickness." Auk your druggist NC-1G5 short hair, which looked like cow hair; and we believe that it was indicative of the shroud in which he was buried a cow hide. With this vast array of facts, we have no doubt about finding the grave of, and handling the bones of James Williams "a martyr hero" of the Revo lution. The Bones of Colonel Williams Removed.

Having located the grave of Williams beyond dispute, we set about to enlist his descendants, The British Lieutenant Allaire says that the name nt this Tory was Waldron; but Silais McBee, one of the King's Mountain heroes, remembered it to be Fondren. Colonel John R. Logan says, that it was Matthew Fondren, and that he was related to the Quinns of that region. Fondren wa subsequently thrown from a chair or gig, and killed. Colonel Logan obtained his from Mrs.

Margaret Roberts, nee Quinn, who was bom only about ten years after these events transpired and who was reared in that locality. and any others who would, in the erection of a suitable monument to mark his grave, and Thi3 was written -some fifty years ago. Author. perpetuate his memory; but did not succeed. A.