Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-06-04
STONE MOUNTAINS.

STONE MOUNTAINS.
Inc Following is an extract from n letter fur
"'s"eo ny correspondent of the Macon Tele
sraPh' IN which he describes one of tho princi
PAL mountains in the state of Georgia,
Inc Stone Mountain or Rock Mountain. 40
II Is inadvertently called, is huge solitary pealk
oil solid rock, three thousand feet in height as 10
| supposed, and six or seven miles i'm circumfer-
| ehce. IL lies or stands in the country of De-
ha'o' ana state of Georgia, about nine miles
from the town or village of Decatur, in tho
same country, and some fifteen or twenty miles
from the river Chatahoochy.
The top ofthe Stone Mountain nreseptson
uneven surface, nearly, fiat, of an oval sb,ne
Two Oh three hundred yards IN width. and aAan,
twice tat in length. Many hoIlows are obs.r.
Vaoie' IN the winter and spring filled with wa.
ter, and occasionally little patches of so;i uhor,
various shrubs and herbs are luxuria,;no no,,,
In full bloom. Among othors, I observea ,ho
gooseberry bush, SO common in the Now r.
gland States, and which have seen M ,,ha-o
else at the south. On the eastern side. Soma
distance from tho top, is remarkable U,tI,
s'0o' I''ou inc Eagles nest Adjoining it,
no"S t''e broken fragments: are 4 number of
irightiul caverns, called the Lon's den IN.
Panthers hole, ect ect
"' tne summit, you may ramble down the
"'ei III any direction for several hundred ya1ds
Without danger but be careful how you an
Proach Too near the brow, on the northern. eas.
'eih ana southern sides for i must be horne i,
"''"o' that IN all elevated stations, peoples heads
are apt to be turned, and very often thew are not
aware OF their danger until too late. In LOOKING
8 ao"n from so great height the objects below
iD.,. N
G appear meNowea in the distance, the air aroupa
, you seems one vast sea ofliqud ether-you en-
certain strange idea that you can float securelv
on It's surface, and feel an unac countable Iona.
ing to embark on its bosom.
pathetic story is told of a couple of hounds
mat Il year or two ago, followed their ownsrs to
the top OF the mountains, and in performino
theiF gambos round the edge of the precipice.
haa got LOO Tar down to be able to get back
o"e si'd immediately over, and was dashed To
: pieces on the rocks below, not whole bone
oeihg lett In his skin the other held to the
focA ior Two days, bowling piteously, but at
f last became exhausted, fell and shared the fate
= OF his companion.
IL seldom happens that the second view of an
object, however curious makes the same i'm.
preston upon our minds as did the first. The
Idea OF novelty is lost-some recollection 10 nr.-
served of its appearance, and we do not suffer
: our imaginations to become so much excited as
{ at hTst. The first time ever visited the noun
tain' which was about six years ago, it produced
much greater excitement than now shall ne
, yer forget the feelings / experienced at that
.i'h"' was then alone, and had approached
> II on It's southern side Not knowing the way,
attempted to ascend in that direction.-I had
, gone on some 3 OF 400 yards, when finding it
s became more steep and difficult, | took off nv
SHOES, and was making my way on my hands and
ieet, hardly being able to hold to it in this man.
! ner, there not being the sign of a bush or Gre
vice to assist me. had proceeded thus far
without daring to look back, or scarcely LOOKING
. up. But had now gone as FAR as ! could po.
and was brought TO stand. Ia raising INV
head to look upwards, I saw nothing but tho
Q bare perpendicular rocks frownng in forbidden {,
: awiulnoss over my head, for hundreds, of feet.
I and 1T almost threw from my balance and
a sent me Keeling 90 the bottom To have at
tempted to proceed further would have becn
] vain and in casting my eyes down to ascer
Q tain the probability Of getting safo back, the
I steepness of the rock, the height had claimed
< and sudden thought of my inevitable fate
sould make the least misstep, came over me
with such chilling influence made nv head
dizzy, and my knees trembled under me. A
cold sweat was distilling itself from my fore
head, and felt such a weakness in every Joint
that it seemed the slightest breath of wind was
sufficient to tippc me from my perlous situation.
A mist came over my sight-the mountains
seemed TO totter under me, and gave myself un,
for lost. Meantime the buzsards, which filled
the air, came sailing so near me, as almost To
flap me with their wings, fastening on me their
hateful eyes, as if meditatpg on tearing nv
flesh. How long remained in that fearful con-
dtion do not recolIect-nor indeed how got
down but as find my neck sound yet, pre-
sumo it was not broken then.
a gentleman who wos not ovcrstocked with
ntellect,while reading the doings Of our state le
qlslature, remarked that he shouid not much