Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-12-24
ORIGINAL PAPERS.
For the Spirit Of the Age.
SKETCHEs OF TRAVEL.


For the Spirit Of the Age.
KETCHES OF TRAVEL.
BY A RANGER.
Tuesday 24th.-That morning was quite |
cool, and some of the Rangers said they
saw frost. After pursuing our way down
the creek short distance, We left the
stream, and bad not gone far before our
wagon broke, but fortunately blacksmith
shop was near, where We easily got it re-
paired. While heye we took dinner-a
perfect feast of good things-rich butter,
not such as would hardly make a grease
spot,-milk, just from the spring-house
where the thermometer stood $50. Some
OF the Rangers asked, who would be king?
Alexander scarcely enjoyed "the royal
-&sSs. ttar Persia won" more than we did
our rustic repast, on she green grass be-
meath the uide-spreading oaks. We we're
happy company. Some wrestling, some
sleeping, some cleaning their guns, some
deeply engaged 10 favorite book some as
deeply engaged in game Of whist, and the
rest in the equally congenial and unprof-
table employment of helping one another
to do nothing.
After dinner VIC came to beautiful
stream, and pa sing down some distance,
through some fine lands aud beautiful little
farms, VIC left the stream, and after travell-
ing few miles we came to New River, one
Of the tributaries of the Kanawha. As the
day was warm aud we were iatigued, and
the water looked soinviting, we dofFed our
habilimenss and plunged into its crystal
waves. This is a pleasure that persons in
the low country know nothingof Following
the course Of this romantic strcam-passing
6oe little farms, We came to Dobbius' store,
at the mouth of ''iIk Creek" Leaving
tho river aud passing up tho creek to a
school bousc we campcd
Again we sent Oft our wagon to shop,
and secured the country i'll quest of some,
thing TO eat, for although this is one of the
bealthiest coun tries in tho world, yet w
found that the bracing atmosphere anC
magnificent scenery were insufficient to sat
isfy all our wants. Ii is surprising wha
keen edge will be given to the appetite
after travelling few days in this mouA
famous country. We could cat the fattes
bacon, and indeed almost anything TIA
was eatable, with the keeucst relish
Atihis place we met with sad misfortune
Having obtained some rich, yellow butter
"Mr. Short placed it in cool little strear
hard by, when suddenly the alarm wa
sounded through camp that an idle porke
was "wilfully and maliciously' trying
choke himself with it, and in all probabil
~ would have succeeded, or have swallow
ed it 10 the attempt, had we not rather III
tremendously informed him that he di
not belong to our company and consequent
was not entitled to any such privileges.
Friday 25h.-Aftcr an early breaksa
We prepared to ascend the big Bald an
HElk Knob" mountains. The Bald is
Ashe Co, four miles from camp-this v
asccnded first. On arriving at Mr.. Do
bias, we met with couple Of friends wi
were travelling through the mountain
whom we had met on "Flat Top" and pr
yiously at Hibriten they had visited Il
mountains the day previous, but kind
offered to accompany US.
The first ascent is steep, and some of Il
Rangers came very near "caving in
After the 6st long steep, the rest of t
way is gently ascending.
After long and fatiguiDg walk we a
rived at the summit, which as the nan
4 indicates, is barren, with the exception
few stunted shrubs The South Ia
side is gently sloping, and owing to 4
cold breezcs that blow upon it, nothil
grows on it +; tho opposite side is preciI
tous aod covered with trees of a stunt
- r. ,Nf tlo ton,
The celcbrated "Whitc Top" in Va, a
also mountains in Kentucky and Tennesst
are plainly visible. In the N. L. t
NEGRO and "PhGnix" and other mog
taips Of notoriety are plainly seen. In
South tho ELK Knob, apparently witt
bow shot, although four miles distant, raj
up It's sharp peak, kissing the clouds. AT
remaining here for some time we. start
for the Elk kpeb, in Watauga co.
The trail lay through dense forests
pine and fr-here aud there springs g
out and run off babbling down the bill
After ascending some distance we came
a copper mine, and saw some GDe specim
OF ore. We understood tAese was anot
mine on the mountain, prodCcing rich {
About q quarter Of mile from the 81
5 init, clear cold spring gushes out Fl
the mountain, forming branch Of cons
cradle size, thosourc Of Long Hope Cree
Here we took dinner, and drank of
clear, cold water. From the spring to
. top is by far the steepest part of the asc'
and in some places precipitous. On
irving at the summit one ofthe most IN
ni6cent views was spread out before US I
We had ever seen not that gloomy g
aepr that Oils the mind with awe,