This Summer
YOU have the fun
do the work
Carolina Motor Club travel counse¬
lors are trained to tell you where
to go ... in the nicest way. Whether
it’s a business or pleasure trip, they
will plan it step-by-step, give you
regional maps and Tour Books list¬
ing approved accommodations, res¬
taurants, and points of interest
along the way. And, if it's a camping
trip, they will arrange that, too. You
have the fun!
Should you have a change of plans,
you’ll find 840 clubs and offices in
the United States and Canada ready
to serve you— because when you be¬
long here, you belong everywhere.
In addition, the Club’s membership
package includes Personal Accident
Insurance, guaranteed rates at ho¬
tels and motels, $100 Trip Guarantee
Reimbursement. Bail Bond Protec¬
tion, Legal Defense Reimbursement.
Emergency Road Service, and other
benefits.
So, this summer, go the AAA way —
the carefree way!
CAROLINA MOTOR CLUB
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Bo. 60. Cbariomt. N. C. 2*201
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the Caiollna Motor Club and
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l 6
The
Mary
Slocumb
Gourd
"Did you know North Carolina has
an important gourd in her history —
the Mary Slocumb gourd, used by her
when she ministered to the wounded
soldiers at the Battle of Moore's Creek
Bridge? And that the very same gourd
is on display in Raleigh?"
A member of the Cary Gourd Club
was asking the questions, and making
no secret of her intention to drum up
some publicity for this year's renewal
of the Cary Gourd Festival, which an¬
nually attracts sizable crowds from
afar, and which is to be held on Sep¬
tember 9-10 in Cary.
The gourd allegedly used by Mary
Slocumb is pictured above. The story
of Mary Slocumb. the legendary Tar
Heel counterpart of legendary Molly
Pitcher, of Revolutionary fame, has
been recorded in John H. Wheeler’s
Historical Sketches of North Caro¬
lina and in Mrs. Hddie W. Wilson’s
book The Gourd In Folk Literature.
which brief account is related here.
—ED.
In 1776 Ezekiel Slocumb married
Mary Hooks. Their honeymoon was
disturbed by the ravages of the Revo¬
lutionary War. Ezekiel Slocumb joined
a light horse brigade and with com¬
rades from the area near Dudley, where
the Slocumbs lived, rode off to fight
for freedom. To Mary was left the task
of taking entire charge of the farm.
One night, after a particularly hard
day, while lying sleepless, she had a
dream, or what perhaps might more
nearly be described as a vision, for it
seemed she saw a body wrapped in her
husband's bloody cloak lying on the
Thi» oncient gourd, dnploycd or Ihc Uvuum of
Hiitory in Rolcigh, is identified os "Gourd used
in 1776 of Revolutionary tome"; and although the
link moy be tenuous, some folks hove held it to
be the one used by
Могу
Slocumb in the story
reloted below. "The Slocumb Gourd" wos donated
in the eorly port of this century by Mrs. R. C.
Bell, of Foyelteville,
о
descendant of
Могу
Slocumb.
ground. Other bodies of soldiers were
lying nearby.
She felt that she must go to Ezekiel,
and not waiting for sunrise, quickly
saddled her horse and went riding
down the road at full speed, following
the trail made by the soldiers. At
about nine o'clock she heard sounds
like thunder, which were made by can¬
nons being fired. At once she realized
that Ezekiel could not have been dead
when she saw the vision, for the battle
was just beginning.
She continued on the trail, which
took her to the Wilmington Road lead¬
ing to Moore's Creek Bridge. The scene
fronting her was familiar, for she had
seen it in her vision. About twenty men
were lying on the ground, one of whom
was wrapped in Ezekiel's cloak. Un¬
covering his head, she found his face
warm, and an unknown voice begged
for water. A camp kettle and a gourd
dipper were nearby. From a stream
she dipped water, washed the man’s
face and gave him a drink. The man’s
name was Frank Codgcll.
Hurriedly she went to the other sol¬
diers. ministered to them and gave
them water; however, she could not
find her husband. Just then Col. Cas¬
well rode up and she asked where
Ezekiel was. The reply was: “Where he
ought to be. Madam, in pursuit of the
enemy.”
Soon Ezekiel appeared, bloody and
covered with mud. His company had
forded the creek, gone through the
swamp in pursuit of the British. This
violent onslaught determined the fate
of the day.
Mary Slocumb died March 6, 1836
and Ezekiel a few years later.
THE STATE, AUGUST 15, 1972
