Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-23

The Blue Ridge looking in the direction OF the Caawba IL
wilderness of mountains whose foundations could not
ahomed by the eye, while in the distance towering above
Che peaks the singular and fantastic form OF the Table
4nfan. Not sign Of the breathing human world could
been in any direcion and the only living creature which
afared to my view solitary eagle, wheeling to and
/ far up towards the zenith Of the sky.
rom the top of the Blue Ridge descended winding ra-
VI four miles in length, where the road, even at midday
ideep shadow and then emerged into the North Cove
~ charming valley is twelve miles long, from half to
VIE mile in width completely surrounded with mountains,
hily cultivated watered by the Caawba, and inhabited by
irligent and worthy farmers. At certain house where
taed dine my way up the valley, treated in
that would have put TO the blush people Tar greater
tnsons and, what made deep impression my mind,
wshe fact that waited upon by sisters, about ten
yas Of age who were remarkably beautiful and sprghty
oil Of them had faxen hair and blue ss and tie other
de black hair and eyes. Familiar haa been for weeks
paswh the puny and ungany inhabitants Of he mountain
two human flowers filled my heart with delight
fuf sesation May the lives Of these two dainss be as
peaceful nd beautiful the upon which they live
The promaent pictorial feature Of the North Cove Is
mounan called the Hauks Bill, account OF Its resm-
blancs to the bk Of mammoth bird, the length OF the ill
being about fea hundred feet. II is visible from neary
every part OF the Wiley, and to my fancy is more picft
rescue object than the Table Mountain, which too regular
at the and top satisfy the eye The table part Of this
mountaii, however, is twenty-five hundred feet high, and
therefore worthy of its fame.
The dbn where am stopping at the present time is oca
ed at th extreme upper end of the North Cove II is the
residence of the best guide the country, and the mo
yenien lodging place for those who would visit the Hawks
Bill AID Table Mountains, already mentioned, as well as the
Lndfle Pinnacle the Catawba Gave, the Cake Mountain
the Lindvlle Falls, and the Roam Mountain.
The LindriHe Pinnacle is mountain peak, surmoun,ed
ape Of rocks upon which you may rechne your ease
and look down upon complete series of and gorgeous
scenes. On side is precpce which to descend
the very bowels Of the earth; in another direction you
have full view Of Mmt-o6 Mountain, only about mile
d. which perpendicular precpice several thousand feet
igh and the abrupt termination of long range Of
aims in another direction still the eye falls upon brother
iood of mountain peaks which particularly ragged and
antasc in their formaon-now shooting forward, If 10
lock down into the valleys, and looming 10 the sky
pierce it with their pointed SUBMITS and in another d.
rection you look what We valley from eighty
hundred miles wide which is bounded by range Of
mountains that TO sweep across the world as with tn
umphal march.
The CatcCbd Care situated the Catawba river Is
tered by fssure the base Of mountain, and is pued
to be mile in length. II has great variety Of chambers,
which vary in height from six 10 twenty feet; lis walls are
chiefly composed Of porous limestone, through which the
Ter is continually dripping and along the entire length flows
cold and clear stream, which varies from five to fifteen inches
in depth This cave il indeed curious affair." though the
trouble and fatigue attending thorough exploration far out
weigh the satisfaction which Affords Bot there
of the which has been explored and admirsb
opportunity is therefore offered for the adventurous to max
themselves famous by revealing some Of the hidden wonder
Of nature.
The Ginger Cake Mountain derives its very poetica nam
from singular pile Of rocks occupying is extreme summit
The pile composed Of two Of rock Of different
eals and form, which arranged stand remark
ably small base. The lower section is composed Of rougl
slate stone and its form is that Of inverted pyramid bu
upper section Of the pile consists of obng slab Of
lid granite which surmoun,s the lower section in horizon
tai position, presenting the appearance Of work Of art
The lower section is thirty feet in altitude while the uppe
thywo feet in length, eighteen in breadth, and near
" two feet in thickness The appearance Of this rocky
der is exceedingly totesh AMI though may be
that has stood upon tina, emnence perhaps for thousand
years. yet is impossible larry within its shadow without
feeling Of insecurity. The individual who gave the Gnge
Cake Mountain its ouandish hermit named Wat
son. who resided the foot Of the about fifty year
entirely alone. His history mystery to every one bu
himself and though remarkably eccentric, he noted 70
his smiabty. He had given up the world, Ike his bothe
hermit Of the Bald Mountain, account Of dslppont
in love, and the utter contempt which he after
wards manifested for the genter SEX Of his most
gular traits Of character Whenever party OF ladies' pai
him visit which frequently the case, he invariably
cd them politely but would speak them he eve
far in expressing his dislike for FIRE
WOOD after the ladies gone, the topmost rail Of his yard
fence, which they had been compelled pass be
wsy into his cabin That old Watson Jared sump,uous
every day could not be dened but whence the
hai supported him could divine. He seldom modest
ed the wild animals Of the mountain where he lived and h
chief empoymens seemed to be the raising " peacos
the making Of garments for his use which all ee
ganty trimmed of with the feathers Of his fayorte bird Tn
feshery suit in which he kept himself constantly ansycd
designated his cgee he meaning Of which word eoul
be sscertsned and long after the deuded being hs
passed away from among the living he was spoken Of
culgee Watson, and is remembered TO this day.
| come now to speak Of the LindriHe Falls, which al
situated the LindYille nyer tributary Of the beauft
Caawba They literally embosomed among mountains
md long before seeing them do you hear their musical
The scenery about them wild il hundred veal
tgo-no pathway has yet been made to guide III
our into the supsndous gorge where they reign supreme
At the point in question the Lindve is sbou, one hunde
and fifty feet broad and though its waters have come dow
heir parent mountains most furious speed they her
make desperate plunge than they dared aemE