Page 6 - Robeson Living Summer 2019

Dark Waters of the

Lumber River

Preserved in Poems

By
Blake Tyner

The McNeill family in front of Ellerslie. McNeill is posed with his dog

It doesn’t matter if you call it Drowning Creek, Lumber River or and Joy” was marketed as a collection of songs that are like a
the Old Lumbee the dark waters that wind through Moore, Scot- breath of spring from out Southland. William was referred to as
land and Robeson Counties draws you in almost hypnotizing you. the poet laurate of the North Carolina Press Association Editor of
In the early years of the county the river served as a highway for “Our Fatherless one” the newsletter of Barium Springs Presbyte-
commerce. Trees harvested in the county were rafted down the rian Orphanage. He died in November 1921 at the age of 86 and
river to the Little Pee Dee and on to Georgetown, SC. is buried in the Centre Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Maxton,
When I think of the Lumber River, I think of the first lines of Lord NC. His poem Old Lumber River was printed in the January 16,
Byron’s poem “She Walks in Beauty” 1908 issue of The Charlotte Observer.

She walks in beauty, like the night Old Lumber River
Of cloudless climes and starry skies; Yes, thou art old. and generations past.
And all that’s best of dark and bright The Red man’s home was in thy forest’s vast.
Meet in her aspect and her eyes Along thy current shot his swift canoe –
He knew each cove, and vapid-swamp and slough.
Over the years pen has been put to paper to capture the river in
poetry the most notable from the first four decades of the 1900s And in thy swamps, did he the wild game chase.
are William Laurie Hill, Woodberry Lennon, Clara Johnson Mar- And in thy swamp, did he the wild game chase.
ley and John Charles McNeill. Arts of the finny tribe, he wisely knew –
And many well rewarded casts he threw.
Dr. William Laurie Hill
Hill was born March 29, 1835 in Maxton, NC to William R. Hill Alone with nature dwelt these Redman there –
and Sarah Simmons Hill. He was brother of Rev. Halbert G. Hill, Hunting their game, the ‘possum, deer and bear –
long time pastor of the Maxton Presbyterian and Center Presby- While for some fancied cause, in vengeful wrath.
terian Churches. The brothers’ book “Blue Bird Songs of Hope Their council held; they strike the dread war-path.
Page 6 Robeson Living ~ Summer 2019