State

Selling Ihc Iroc Applying piCMure The finished product ENOUGH! I'll is firm iloesii'l n.int any того business; itas bail it. By L F. AMBURIV, JR. Splitting Ihc log MUTINY ( Continued from page 15) lows and placed on ihc drop, after prayer, the Englishman first and then the American addressed the surround¬ ing thousands, and gave a brief sketch of their sinful lives. Their narratives were very much alike and exhibited nothing new in the progress of destruc¬ tion. Both had religious parents by whom they were taught to fear God and to pray; both were drawn aside and en¬ ticed by wicked boys to profane the Sabbath and disobey their parents — profane swearing, cockfighting, gam¬ ing, drinking, stealing and strumpeting formed the black catalogue of their crimes, according to a newspaper ac¬ count of the incident published in 1793. The Frenchmen spoke English im¬ perfectly and had little to say. All professed religion, and the 1793 news reporter covering the day of the hang¬ ing wrote: “These solemn scenes con¬ tinued until 1 o'clock. The prisoners I had yet another hour to live. After closing their addresses to the sur¬ rounding thousands, naming in particu¬ lar the terrific consequences of Sab¬ bath breaking and disobedience to parents, they shook hands, kissed each other, and bid adieu for a few mo¬ ments. to meet again beyond the grave. They told Marshall West (the hang¬ man) they were done with life, and bid him do his duty. The rope was cut — the drop fell! They died without a struggle as their ransomed souls as¬ cended to paradise." "The immense assembly gathered to witness the hanging, felt the awful presence of God," the reporter con¬ cluded. Statesville’s newest "industry" doesn’t want any orders. An official of the three-man firm relates that the work is just too diffi¬ cult for mass production. Therefore, when the existing order is filled he will go out of business. The operation is located on a hillside on Pump Station Road, overlooking Statesville Arts and Science Museum. And if you have never seen shingles made, you are welcome to tour the site. J. O. Gaines, Route 8. Statesville, is head of the organization that deals in an unusual product — shingles. Gaines and his two sons, J. O. Gaines, Jr., and Raymond, are in the process of making 2,000 shingles to cover a pioneer cabin for the museum. "It's the darndest job I ever got involved in." Gaines said while search¬ ing for a spot of shade. Coming from him, that is more than sufficient warn¬ ing for those who might think splitting out shingles is a snap. Gaines was the first person to tackle the renovation job at the abandoned city pumping station which now pro¬ vides handsome headquarters for the thriving cultural center. Pointing to the beautiful white struc¬ ture across the creek from the cabin site, Gaines said: "I struck the first lick in that building and have done most of the major remodeling." There is a definite tone of pride as he speaks. "That place (the museum) has really been something," he adds. However, when L. B. Grier, mu¬ seum president and Gaines’s employer, mentioned the cabin project. Gaines wasn’t too receptive. Gaines relates that Grier said the shingles would have to be handmade in order for the pioneer structure to be authentic. "I told him that if they would be made from wood I could make them." the general handyman said. In the past few days Gaines and his sons have been turning out the three-eighths inch red oak shingles at the rate of about 250 per day. Using wedges, a sledge hammer, a mallet and a free, the men go about their work splitting two and one-half foot logs into small shingles. The shingle-maker, who had never seen this work done until he tackled the museum project, said the output is slower than it would be if good red oak could be found in this area. "We have tried everywhere anil just can’t find the kind of trees that would allow us to get more shingles for less work." he says. The cabin is being restored and will be furnished by pioneer furniture which is now being collected. It will then be maintained as a tourist at¬ traction. THE STATE. AUGUST 19. 1961 17