Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-07-01
LETTERS FROM THE ALLEGHANY MOUNTAINS.

QuALLArowS, On. CO. Mar IL, Is4s.
In coming from Franklin to this place, distance Of thirty
miles, travelled wild, mountainous and thny settled
country, where panied to witness the evil effects Of in
temperance and made happy by following the winnings Of
beautiful river Having been overaken by thunderstorm,
found shelter in rude and comoress cabin, which
occupied by and his wife and eight children. Every
member Of the family bsrefootea and two Of the
children almos'deauie Of clothing of the children
though Of them full grown girls could read
single word the mother sirky and haggad in her APP
pearance and Of the little boys told that be had
eaten hearty meal for days. subsequently learned
that the head of this household miserable d,unkad.
The river which alluded is the Tucka-se ja which
emptes into the Tennessee 1t is very rapid stream and
washes the base many mountains which wild they
were century ago. Wherever there any interval
land the soil very rich, and such spots usually occupied
The mountains all covered with Forest where wild game
is found in abundance. The fact is the people Of This whole
region devote Of their time hunting than they do to
agriculture which fact for their poverbia poverty
You can hardly pass single cabin without being howed at
by half dozen hounds and have become well edu-
Gated in guessing the wealth Of mounaneer that fix
his condition by asceaning the number Of his dogs rich
seldom has than dog, while very poor man
will keep from ten Dozen And this remark with regard
dogs strange may seem, is equally applicable to the
children of the mountanee The poorest man, without any
exceptions whom have in this REGION lives in log
bin with rooms and is the father of aneteen children,
and the keeper Of SIC hounds.
On my arrival in this place, which is the home of large
number Of Cherokee Indians (ef whom shall have much
say in future eter) became the guest Of Mr. WILLIAM H.
Thomas, who is the "gude, counsellor, and friend" Of the
Indians well their business agent While conversing
with this gentleman be excited my curiosity with regard
certain mountain in his vicinity and, having settled in his
mind that should spend week two with him and his
Indians, proposed first excusing himself of bu
siness engagement that should tie mountain
pany with gentleman in his employ surveyor The pro-
posed arrangement carried out, and thus it that
visited Smoky Mountaia
This mountain the loest Of large brotherhood, which
lie crowded together upon the dividing line between North
Carolina and Tennessee. Its height be less than five
thousand feet above the level Of the sea- for the road leading
from its base its summit and half miles long The
general character Of the mountain similar that already
given Of other Southern mountains and all that say Of
its panorama is that can conceive Of nothing grand
aud imposing Il gives birth to pair Of glorious streams,
the Pigeon of Tennessee and the Oooo iy Of North
Carolina and derives its from the that its
summit is always enveoped, Of its height in
blue or smoky atmosphere.
But The chief attraction Of Smoky Mountain is singular
cliff known throughout this region the Alum Cane In
reaching this spot which the Tennessee side you have
leave your horses the top Of the mountain and perform
pedestrian pilgrimage of about six miles up and down. very
far up and far down, and every thing in the way
of rocks and ruined vegetation which Mature could possibly
devise, until you a mounaindc, which is only two
miles from your starting place the peak. Roaring along
the bsse Of the moun,ainside alluded is small stream,
from the margin of which you have to climb precpice. in
east tuvo xhen
you find yourself level spot of pulvezed stone, with
rocky roof extending your head distance fifty sixty
feet The length Of this hollow in the mountain "cave,
called hundred feet and from the brow Of
the bung precpce the level below the distance perhaps
hundred and fifty feet The top Of the cliff is covered
with variety Of and curious plants and directly its
tickes little ofwater which forms tiny pool
like fountain in front Of spacious piszza The principal
ingredients Of the rock composing this whitsh cliff alum
epson SALTS salpetre magne and coppeas, and the water
which bereom is distinguished for its strong medicinal
qualities This strange and almost inaccessible but unques
tonsby very valuable belongs to company Of neigh
boring Csronans who have already made money out
of the alum but have yet accomplished much in the way
purifying and exporting the various products in which
abounds
The scenery upon which this looks down, however,
interested quite much the itself From the
comprehensive OF TWO descenu
rupy into kind OF amphthcate, where the the right
terminates in very and ragged ridge, which is with
particle Of vegetation while far beyond directly in front
Of the cave rises lofty and pointed mountain, backed by
three four Of inferior magnitude. The ridge which
have mentioned self very high, but yet the looks
down upon il, and is fantastic in its appearance that from
different points Of view you may discover holes leading like
windows entirely through it. while from other places you
might fancy that you looked upon ruined CASTLE decayed
baement or the shattered Of old cathedral To
gaze upon this prospect at the sunset hour when the
tains Hinged with rosy hue, and the immense hollow
before filled with purple atmosphere and could
the rocky ledge baskng in the sunlight like huge
s'er the placid bosom Of lake, 10 Of the most
remarkable and impressive that winesscd and
then remember, too that Looked upn this wonderful pros
pecs from framework Of solid rock composed the STOPPING
cliff was glorious picture, indeed and would have
ply repaid one for pilgrimage from the remotes corner Of the
earth.
The ordinary time required visit the Alum Cave is two
days but owing to bad weather. my friend and myself oc
cuped the most OF four days performing the same trip To
give minute account Of all that met with would occupy
TOO much time, and will therefore, only record in this place
the incidents which made the deepest impression on INV own
mind.
Our first night from home spent 10 the cabin Of man
who treated us with the kindness and would not r..
ceive penny for his pains So much for mountain hosp
AL nj Rand ;u,.