Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-05-20


dd to nine hundred feet while the mountains which back
the cliffs reach elevation Of perhaps fifteen hundred feet
Many Of the pools very large and very deep and the
walls and rocks in their immediate vicinity always green
with the most laxuran Of The vegetation Of the
whole chasm in fact particularly rich and varied for you
may mere IND not only the pine but specimens variety
OF the more tender together with chen and vines and
howes which would keep the boanist employed for half
century Up the present time only four paths have been
discovered leading to the margin Of the water and make
either Of these descsns requires much Of the and
age Of the Through this immense gorge
strong wind is blowing the sunlight never fails
the caaracs without forming beautiful rainbows which con-
strangely with the surrounding gloom and horror and
the Of the waterfalls eernay ascending the sky
to the like the voice Of God calling upon wonder
and admire.
OF the peculiar features which Ihave with the
Tauah chasm the following the only which have
yet been chrstened. viz the Devils Pulpit the Devils
Dwelling, the Eagles Nest, the Deer Leap, Hawthorn's
Pool and Hanck's Sliding Place.
The DerPs Pulpit is double-headed and exceedingly
ragged cliff which actually hangs the vne and estma-
ted be hundred feet high While standing upon
the brow Of this precpice number Of buzzads sitting
upon the rocks below and appearing like flock Of black birds
While looking at them the thought came into my mind that
would stao them from their fancied security BY throwing
stone among them. did throw the stone and with all my
might too but instead of going the vine, sup
posed would it fell out Of my sight, and apparently the
very base Of the cliff upon which standing. This little
incident gave realizing Of the immense width and
depth of the chasm While upon this cliff also with my
clssped around small pine tree eagle sailing up
the chasm in mid air. and, he cast his eye upward my
insignificant form, he uttered loud shrek if in anger at
my temery, and continued his way, swoopng above the
spray of the waterfalls.
The DepiPs D,ceuiag is of some twenty feet in
DEPTH which occupies conspicuous place the
precipce overlooking the Honcon Fall Near its outlet is
singular rock which resembles om the opposite side
the gorge) the figure Of in sitting POSTURE who
said to be the wife betterha OF the devil not beve
this story and therefore endorse the prevailing opinion
The Eagles Nest is rock which projects from the brow Of
cliff repued be hundred feet high and perpendcu
lar The finest view Of this point is from the margin of the
waer, where it is grand beyond compare To describe it
with the pen utterly impossible, but it just such
would have delighted the lamened CoLE and by
kindred genius alone be placed the
The Deer Leap the highest cliff in the whole chasm<
measuring about nine hundred feet and differs from its fell
lows particulars. From summit bottom is almost
without assure evergreen and remarkably smooth
and it, in the beautiful imaginable, tumbles
tiny stream, which scates upon the rocks below with inf
mite prodigay the puest of diamonds and pearls appearing
be wreahs Of foam. It obtained from
he that deer pursued this point by
hound and in its terror cleared pathway through the air.
and persisted in the depths below.
Ha,cthorn's Pool derives from the fact that in its
apparently soundess waters young and accomplished Eng
sh clergyman lost his life while bathing and Hancks Sd
ding Place is called because native of this region
slipped of of the rock into sheet Of foam but by the kind
of Providence he rescued from his pcrous situation
not much injured, but immensely frightened.
But Of all the which have been privileged enjoy
in the Tauah chasm, the glorious and superb wit
messed in the night time For several days previous to my
coming here the woods had been fire, and constantly
the watch for night picture of burning forest. On
one OCCASION about retiring light in the d.
econ of the Falls and concluded that would walk
to the Devils Pulpit, which distant from my tanyng
place hundred and City yards Soon reached there
felt convinced that the fire would be in plain view for
the side Of the gorge, and the wind was
blowing from the eastward. In very few my an
cpaions realized for the fame licking up the
dead leaves which covered the ground and also stealing up
the trunk Of every dry in its path current Of
waited to my cheek BY the breeze, and discov-
cred with intense satisfaction that immense dead pine which
hung the opposite pecpice and whose dark form had
noticed distinctly pictured against the crimson back ground)
had been reached by The fame and in another
entirely in blaze. The excitement which took posses
sion Of my mind absolutely painful; and, / threw
my around small tree and peered into the horrible
chasm, my whole frame shook with ndescnbabe emotion.
The magnificent torch directly in front Of did
have any effect upon the surrounding darkness but threw
rudy and deahlke glow upon every object the bottom of
the gorge flock Of vutures which roosng far down
in the ravne frightened Of their Sleep and in their
dsmsy they attempted 70 rise, few against the cliffs and
amongst the trees until they finally disappeared and
Der Of bats and other winged wnnowng their
way in every direction. The deep black pools beneath
enveloped in intense backncss, while the foam and
spray Of neiehboring fall made thousand fold
beautiful than before The vines and Gchens and
seemed TO cling closely than usual TO their rocks
and when occasional ember fell from its great height far
down, and still further down into the abyss below il made
dizzy and reiterated from my commanding position. In less
than twenty from that time the fire exhausted,
and the pail Of night had settled upon the lately brilliant
chssm and no vesge the truly marvellous scene remained
but an wreath Of smoke fading away into the up
per air.
During my stay the Falls Of Talush made every effort
obtain Indian legend connected with them and
my good fortune hear which never yet been
printed Ii originally obtained by the white who
fr discovered the Falls from the Cherokees who in this
region at the time is in substance follows Many gene
ratons happened that several famous hunters who