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Fayetteville State University
The Great
Escape
STORY BY JAMES JOHNSON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAT THEW WONDERLY
HIS NAME WAS WILLIAM B.
Gould. He was a soldier, a Shakespeare
enthusiast, a world traveler, a hero
and, until the age of 24, a slave. But the
title that stuck, according to his great-
grandson, was that of a "fighter." In
his years as a soldier, Gould partook in
plenty of battles, but the fight he may be
remembered most for didn't take place
on any battlefield, and it happened long
before he put on his uniform. at fight
took place on the Cape Fear River, on
September 21, 1862, the day Gould took
off his chains and made his great escape.
"People have no idea how much
history they pass by every day in their
cars, riding alongside that river," said
Captain Freddie Mims. "People rather
play with their iPads than look at the
world around them."
Mims, like Gould, owes a great debt
to the Cape Fear River. e 62-year-old
fisherman has been giving tours of the
river for nearly 30 years as owner of
Cape Fear River Boat Cruises, wherein
he regales passengers with stories like
that of Gould's, that helped cement the
river as an important part of American
history. Mims is licensed by the United
States Coast Guard to captain a boat,
and takes the job seriously.
On any day of the week, he takes
groups of at least six or up to 16, on
rides that last as short as two-hours or
as long as an entire day. Prices range
between $30 per person to $110 per
person, depending on the length of the
trip, with children 12 and under riding
for free. e daylong trips take riders
all the way from Campbellton Landing,
