Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-12-30
Ihe Staqaas6,


,s,es, Ihs Standard. 5a,,5
F5sas yaa For the Standard.
DR. MITCHELL. MR.. CLINGMAN AND THE
BLACK MOUNTAIN.
MEssRs. ED1roRs: On the 18th of last September
the Hon. 7. L. Clingman addressed letter to the
Rev T w. Atkin, Editor oi the Ashevfe News,
wherein he Sou: ses the claims Of the late DIR.
Mitchell to b. considered rs the dscoverer and meas
urer Of the highest peak of the Black Mountain
This letter was copied into your widely circulated
and influential paper and as it's statements ana IN
ferences are calculated "to produce on the Puonc
mind an impression which iserroneous. thereby ask
vour permission to lay before the public some extracts
from evidence in nav possession which hope wllds-
nela that Impression and settle the point in
DISPUTE forever hope ere long to collect al the
evidence that exists on this subject, and publish it
in permanent form, where it may be OF easy refer
ence Thea all who are interested will be cheerful
IL Invited to decide for themselves whether or no
NV present statements and differences are fair.
To this vindication of DR.. Mitchell's claim to be
the dsceverer and FIRST measurer of the highest land
east Of the Rocky Mountains, and of his right to
have it called Mt Mitchell, it has been called for
the last twenty two years, am melted by general
desire that truth and righteousness shall always pre-
vail, snspite Of the shifting representations Of fa!s'
bio asn.-ty q sympathy with DR.. Mitchell in his
efforts to widely extend and permanently secure the
true honor OF North Carolina and its University,
and Ay.v sincere esteem and affection for lehsAed
andpsteat guide in scientific investigations, affirm
and energetic associate in collegiate labors, ana
wise aud constant friend from childhoods earliest
years 1t has been represented too, that there has
been a needless revival of controversy that was
settled at the time of DR.. Mitchelfs death. But
the only settlement respecting it that have known
was firm persuasion of DR.. Mitchells mind when
I parted from him, that on his return from Yancey
County he would so set forth the general and sub.
stantal yerity of his main assertions that Mr..
Cljngman would not contest them again. Having
the means of establishing that he had good grounds
for this persuasion, deem it my duty to use them
for the benefit of my honored preceptor.
Before doing so, however, it may be proper to al
Jude to the contradictions and variations that DIR.
Mitchell may have made in describing his labors
among the peaks OF the Black Mountain. l 90
not feel it necessary to examine them in de-
tail-for many of them are important only from the
plausible commentaries Of an acute special peader.
Nevertheless, for one willing to allow them all,
and then to use them set.os aga INST similar mis-
takes and Misrepresentation on MIR. Chngmans
part If, for instance, DR.. Mitchell was mistaken in
supposing that he was not on the highest peak in
1Ss5-Mr Clingman is so too If DR.. Mitchell miss
ed the height of Yeates' Knob in 1885 by IS feet
Mr. Clingman missed that of the highest peak in
1856 by $50 feet If Mr.. Clngman is RICH: and Dr..
Mitchell is wrong IS to whether Mt. Gibbes stands
on the edge of the Caney river basin, Dr. Mitchell
is right and Mr. Clingman is wrong as to whether
there is prairie or. gladly place the northwest
side of the highest peak. Mr.. Clingman represents
DR.. Mitchell s"persevering in positive assertions
that he was not the highest peak in 1885 for
tscenty years. But herein he is much Mistaken
Any such assertion by Dr. Mitchell previous to 1874
has vet to be printed. In 1885 DR.. Mitchell des-
cribed land that most truly the highest peak y-
ing between the north and middle forks Of Caney
river" "But," says Mr.. Clingman, the north fork
of Caney river is the Catta," and this interpre1a-
ton he repeats after indignant remonstrances from
DR.. Mitchell and assurances that he ddlnot mean the
Cat-;ail fork But in this Interpretation Mr. Cling
man is again much mistaken; for men who were
born and raised the Cat-tail will tell him, that
they have never heard it called "north fork" In
deed, Mr. Clingman uses DR.. Mitchelrs testimo-
nv as q football which he unceremOniously kicks
into any position that may suit him. For In
stance William Wilson is not to be believed As to
the visit of 1885 because Dr.. Mitchell contrad,cts
him. But DR.. Mitchell is not to be believed IS to
the visit of 1874 because William Riddle contradicts
him. So then, according TO Mr.. Clingman, the Or
der of credibilty, in ascending scale, is William
Wilson, DR.. Mitchell and supremely, William Riddle.
Mr.. Riddle may be, for all know, q worthy man.
But whether his word and opinions can thus over
ride William Wilson's, willingly leave to their
common neighbors to decide.
Complaint is also made that change of the issue
has been made-that DR.. Mitchell abandoned his
claim to the visit of 1885 and urged for that Of
1874; but his friends abandon that of 1874 and
urge that of 1885. Herein they exercise evident
right Dr. Ntchells vindication of his rights might
be conducted in one way, while that by his friends
may proceed from very different position; and still
both may be successful. The issue he made is one
thng-the issue they make may be very different
thing. The claim by both is that Dr. Mitchell first
discovered, visited, and measured the highest peak
Of the Black Mountain. He said at this time-they
say at that too. The claim to the visit of 1874 is
not abandoned is now only not prosecuted, it
might have been by DR.. Mitchell, and that success
fully. DR.. Mitchelrs friends are certain that the
claim, SO FAR as it is common to him and to them,
can be established, beyond peradventure, without
pursuing his own investigation any farther, and that
without injuring any mans feelings good name.
This will be done by evidence which, although part
ly known to Mr.. Gingman, was at that time forgot
ten and overlooked by Dr. Mitchell. He was on
visit to the Wilson's when he persisted. Had he de.
scended the Black Mountain safely, and conversed
with those gentlemen and their neghbors, his men,
DRY would have been refreshed several points eth.
er forgotten or c,nfounded, and so he might have
been SIT on the line Of vndicaton which now pur-
sue, baud passi6us paribus. Nor should Mr.. Cling.
mans friends complain of Dr.. Mitchells friends ia
king this position. They strive to correct Dr. Mitch.
ell to both of bis visits that of 1886 and that of
1874. The others wish to correct him only as to
his visit of 1885, and to his hardly
honors for one who heartily and unweariedly devo.
ted the fiveest energies of long life and large
heart to the best interests of North. Carolina.
Dr.. Mitchell claimed, and he persisted in vindica-
ting when denied, that he Or. NJ first discovered,
visited and measured the highest peak of the Black
Mountain. This claim, in which DR.. Mitchell never
faltered for one moment his friends now reiterate
and they farther claim what DR.. Mitchell did NOT
claim, viz: that this highest peak should still be. az
it hitherto has been, called Mt. Mitchell
Dr.. Mitchell discocered the highest peak Of The
Black Mountain in 1885.
That he did sois evident on comparing DR.. MITCHELL,
description Of the horizon formed by the Black Noun
tain as seen from Yeates' Knob in 1885, with the
profile drawn by Prof Guyot at the same place IN