The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-09-22
LrNv1LLE RIVER.
From he Ashetisle Spectator.

| traveller and known Intimately only by the
intrepid mountain hunter. Thus these Gu
riosities remain unnoted, while yearly thou
sands of our citizens go Northwards in
search of health and pleasure. Among such
may be classed the Falls of the Linville
River in Burke county. We doubt not but
numbers of persons in Burke county never
heard of them. They are to be found il
the North West corner of that county, wear
to that famous tree upon which the feul
/ counties of Burke, Watauga. Yancey AM
Mcdowell corner, and about nine miles
| from the Piedmont Springs. The facilities
for getting to them are as yet about no ia
cilities at all, an idea may be formed from
our experience: .s .
| Leaving Childsville on the morning oi
Tuesday, in company with Col Chiids, we
rode within three miles of the Falls. and
then leaving our buggy we went on horse
| back to the house of Mr. David Franklin,
one mile from the Falls. Mr. Franklin con-
| sented to become our guide ard after a
short rest we moved on to the Falls. Hav-
mounted and proceeded on foot, being una
BILE to ride on account of fallen trees. We
| soon reached the river, the din of the water
fall having for some time been roaring in
our ears, we then crossed it, to do so being
compelled to put certain portions of our per-
son in state of nature. Having crossed
we proceeded down the eastern bank
through a wild and irregular growth of ivy,
laurel and whortleberry bushes. 1t is rath-
er singular that on the west bank of the
Linvile, the soil is rich and covered with
a most luxuriant growth of trees, while on
the east bank, just here, for some distance
out, nothing of any worth grows. The
river where we crossed it has as clear,
smooth, an appearance as any mountain
stream; it soon becomes agitated by slight
rapids until suddenly it is divided by huge
rock and dashes over fall of about twenty
feet, it then boils and surges in a most ter
rifle manner for about two hundred yards,
tho--~hile falling threo several times. twist
ing and turning in every shape that human
imagination can fancy.
Following our guide we seated ourself on
the top of rock around the base of which
the river rushes in its wild career. About
forty feet below us on one side dashed the
troubled waters of the Linville, on the other
these same waters having forced themselves
through passage not more than ten feet
wide made their descent over the last and
highest fall. Here the mist was rising, and
the rays of the sun as it shone through
caused the peculiar view which resembles
so much the sulphurous flames, which Bun
yam so well describes as arising from q GER
tain dark abode, that it gives the cavern
under the lower fall the name of the Devils
Hole. Our position was a commanding one
but not such as person with weak nerves
should seek. AS we gazed far down the
course of the river we could see the stream
again assume its comparatively placid ap-
pearance, but now instead of banks almost
even with its bed it was locked in by an
mass Of chimney rocks, which
continue for miles down its course, rising in
the most majestic grandeur to a height of
one, two and three hundred feet and in some |
places near thousand. At one point we |
are informed herocks close over the river |
and it is easy for person to jump from one
bank to the other.
The grand sublimity of the scenery which |
is hereabouts presented to the eye cannot
be surpassed by any in the world. Lam
guage fails to describe it and the pencil of
the artist can give but faint conception of
its beauty and magnificent grandeur. Here |
it is that man feels his insgnifcance and |
kneels with awe and fear. We |
have seen Niagara in all its artistic splen-
dor, and we have seen what was called |
grand scenery but never, never have we |
seen anything to equal the scenery of Lin
Vile Falls, nor do we ever expect to see the |
like again until we revisit them.
Ere long the pencil of the artist will |
trace the rarest beauties and give them |
to the worlds view. Ere long the spirit |
Of enterprise will make good roads, and |
build good House, at which visitors may
stop. No place can present the same at
asa watering place that Linvilie
can. Its beautiful scenery-that never has
been fully explored-its healthful climate,
the excellent water of the Rattlesnake
Spring, the fertility of the soil, and last,
put far from least in the pleasure seekers
EYE, the large quantity of game which is to
Do found thereabouts. Having spent the |
afternoon at Linyille we returned to Mr.. |
Franklin's House and there rested for
he night, The next day we visited the
5ingercake Rock. This Rock is a curious
formation resting On ridge between the
Hawks Bill and the Gingercake mountain,
gery near to the latter. 1t is high rock
,onical in shape. between fifty and seventy
FEET in height, about six feet through at tie
oase and rising to a thickness oftwenty- five
,r thirty feet. This rock is fiat on top and
covered with grey moss. On one end ofits
.op there lays a rock about fifteen feet long
and four or five feet wide with thickness
I..4 f,,r faat Tbis rock ic fo ell mr. |