State

March 27, 1937 THE STATE Page Three Andrews’ Geyser IT is one of Western North Caro¬ lina's best known beauty spots and is a memorial to Colonel A. B. Andrews, who ditl so much for North Carolina during his lifetime. Ky MAJEI, IVEY SEAY A SCENIC effect that ij the praiso of traveler* from all pan* of the nation may 1«- found down in the valley between Heartbreak Ridge and Bernard Mountain, 1,500 feet above кл level. Thi. Ц Andrew*’ Geyser, which is truly a thing of beauty and which may be seen four time, from the train a* it climb» the mountain* between Old Fort and Ridgecrest. Thi* great geyser commemorate* the mem¬ ory of (Lionel Д. B. Andrew*, of Ra¬ leigh, one of the greatest men who ever lived in the State of North Carolina. The upkeep and development of this gey *er i« at the expense of George F. Baker, of New York, ns a testimonial of hi* appreciation of the great service rendered by Colonel Andrew», of whom he wa* a cloie friend. Off the Main Highway The geyser i- fed by a full head of water. The old highway run- under the spray of the fountain but the new atate highway mitt** it. The land¬ scaper in charge of it adds a new touch of beauty to it each sraion. A smooth- ly-trimmcd hedge encircle* the basin, and nearby is я small park in which there ia a monument to Andrew»’ memory. Intimately connected with the hi*- tory of Andrews' Geyser is that of Mud Cut, a locality where the moun¬ tains used to persist in sliding down the railroad track, causing the railroad men of earlier days to tear their hair in desperation. If the landslide did not cover the track, it would get under¬ neath and cause the rails to bulge up. It was as a result of a happy thought of Captain Bunch McBce, who wa* as¬ signed to conquer Mud Cut, that the trouble was overcome. When he first started his operation* there, he sent this famous message to headquarters: “Nothing happened in last fifteen min¬ utes." Captnin McKee built a basin 1,000 feet above Mnd Cut, laid out n four- inch pipe down to the scene of the trouble and by a hydraulic proce**, literally washed Mud Cut out of exist¬ ence. Extending the pipe down the valley, he materialized the geyser, which was named in honor of Colonel An¬ drew», who rendered such great service in the development of Western North Carolina. Born in Franklinton Colonel Andrews wa» lorn near Franklinton, in Franklin County, July ИЗ, 1841. He wa* educated at the Henderson Male Academy. He was then employed at a clerk by his uncle, who had a large contract on the Blue Ridge Railroad. After six month* as clerk, he was mode superintendent and purchasing agent, which position he held until 18fi0. In the spring of Ш1, lie enlisted a- a Confederate soldier and was made First Lieutenant. He soon locame noted for hi* bravery, go -I judgment, patience and strict perform¬ ance of duty. In one skirmish, he had his horse killed under him. Hr, himself, was shot through the lung and wa* first given up a* hopelessly wounded. Л correspondent on the FaytlUeUlt Ob¬ server wrote at the time: “No braver or better man has fallen during the war." But fortunately for the State of North Carolina, he did not die though be was unable to perform his duty as Captain, to which rank he had been promoted. He was retired in the fall of 1SS4, returning home with only two horses and two silver dollar». As his property had been swept away and sev¬ eral younger brothers and sisters were dependent on him, he saw the necessity of entering upon immediate employ¬ ment, in spite of the fact that hemor¬ rhage» from hi* wound still continued. His first employment consisted of directing the work of transferring freight, mail, baggage and pas-engers across the Roanoke River at Gaston, which idea he hud formulated. From then on, he climbed steadily up in the railroad bu*ine«. It is doubtful whether any one man in the United States has ever been connected with so many railroad companies in so many prominent о dices. His highest posi¬ tion, probably, wa* as President of the Southern Railway. His most notable service in connec¬ tion with railroad work was the build¬ ing of the road from Old Fort to Mur¬ phy. The construction of thi* road wa* fraught with many political nnd finan¬ cial trouble* but under Colonel An¬ drews’ wise and energetic guidance the important road was completed and became of inestimable worth to North Carolina. In 1873, Colonel Andrews moved to Italeigb, where he became a prominent civic, social and political leader and where he lived until hi* death.