Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-01-27
81 81 For the standard.
efHR BI.ACK MOUNTAIN. AGAIN.

e 81 FOR the Standard
/, s THE BLACK MOUNTAIN AGAIN. {
MEssRs. EDrroRs: Mr.. Clingman, by : criticism
of Dr. Mitches description Of his visit e the Black
Mountain in 1874, and BY the help Of William Rid
dies testimony concludes that Dr. Mitchell not
on the highest peak in 1874. Why, then, should
he complain when Dr. Mitchel's friends, by criti-
cism of what he wrote in 1885, and by the help Of
William Wilson's testimony, conclude that he was
on the highest peak in 1882 AT most they but
follow his example in correcting the impressions on
DR.. Mitchells own mind. Mr.. Clingman does not
pretend that he +" stutifes" DR.. u. by his course
WHY is that course not as respectful in them? In
1885 Dr. Mitchell selected as the highest peak of the
Black Mt one that lies between double knob on
its north and long low place with knob in it on
its SOUTH. Does any deny that the highest peak
was SO situated in 1855? He then induced Adoni-
ram Allen and William Wilson to take him to that
peak which William Wilson saw him select as the
highest. Does any one testify that William Wilson
did not know the way to that place? or that he is
man capable of guiding stranger in his country to
place while he professed to guide him to anoth
err? He testified to MIR. Cingman last Spring, when
neither Mr.. Broyles nor any other counsel was
present Why does not Mr.. Clingman tell us what
Mr.. Wilson insisted on then in Mr.. Cs own pres
ence? Can Mr. Clingman prove that he was on Mt.
Mitchell the elder in 1856, by any better testimony
than is to be had for Dr. Mitchells visit in 1885 p
Was not then DIR. Mitchell judicous in his mode of
selecting, and in his plan for ascending the highest
peak in 1886? Now, was he successful in his plan?
At first he said he was and he described the place
he visited in the only my then known to his guides,
viz as peak lying between the north and middle
forks of Caney River. William Wilson says he has
never heard any call the Catail the North fork
Does William Wilson speak the truth? Afterwards
Dr. Mitchell said he failed in his first visit. When
was he right in 1885 or in 1874? Mr. Clingman
insists that it will not do to take Dr. Mtches word
as to where he has been. Adoniram Allen, and Will
liam Wilson, and Thomas Wilson, and Samuel Aus
tin, and Nathaniel Allen men raised in and near the
valley of Caney River, say that DR.. Mitchell was
right in 1886. Dr. Mitchell, who was in that coun-
try at only two or three hurried trips said he was
right in 1874. Had Dr. Ms standard barometer hung
at Morganton in 1874 it did in 1885 we would never
have heard of the suspicious he seems to have INDUCED
in the interim. The discrepancy between 6476 and
6672, and want of consultation with his guides of
1885 were the true reasons for the variations in his
conclusions If Mr.. Clingman is so anxious that
DR.. Mitchell shall be believed to his later state
ments about the visit of 1885 why does he not ad-
vocae credence for him also in his declaration, made
in 1856 p" stood upon it 0he highest peak some
days since, and could there distinguish the ridges
over which my guide, William Riddle, taking as near
ly as he could straight or it happened, dag.
onar direction across them from the neghborhood of
the Green Ponds, led me directly to the peak We
in search Of" If Mr.. Clingman loves the truth
so disinterestedy as to be unable to let this state
ment stand and to be able to upset it by testimony
entirely independent of Dr. Mitchell's why may not
others correct of DR.. Mitcheirs reports by an
other of his own and still be free from stutif
cation" of the learned and deeply deplored Profess
sor as is Mr.. Cingman?
AS to the discrepancies between DR.. Mtchels va
rious measurements, and Mr.. Clingman's inference
that one of them is worthy of credence, those
who know about such things will be very little affec
ted by all that is 2araded this point. Let any
one turn into any we'll furnished bookstore and he
will find 1926, 1924, 642s, and 1920 given by differ
of Mt Washington, Mt Mitchell's great rival. Sci
ent6c observers never publish the results of
observation when they make several and get the
mean among them. DR.. Mitchell seldom had time
for more than observation at the peaks he visit
ed in 1886 Some of such observations may be YER
flied by subsequent researches. Others may be es-
tabshed. Dr. Mitchell's height for Mt Mitchell is
one of the latter. Longs Peak, in the Rocky Noun
tains, is reported to be 10000 feet high. When
more careful measurements hereafter show this num-
Der to be 200 800 feet out Of the way, 60
ing to change the name of the peak denounce Long
as a sciolist in science bunger in measures?
AS to the application of the quotation from Dr..
Mtchells letter Of 1914 in which Mr.. G. elegant
ly gives the choice of being either liar fool,
few words will suffice. l wanted to establish that
DR.. Mitchell! heard the highest peak of the Black
Mt. called Mr. Mitchell in 1874. To this end cited
his words, viz: II shall probably now reach the
highest summit did not think that the name of
Mitchell which some had affixed to it would adhere;
but now begin to think it will, &c. If any one of
MIR. Lovejoy's boys will say that the "it" of this
second sentence does not refer to the "hghest
nit" of the first he ought to be trounced on the
spot. DR.. Mitchell knew that the highest summit"
had been named Mt. Mitchell a: least early
1889. That he should hear it SO called in 1874
therefore occasioned no surprise Had DR.. Mitchell
gone with the +" young fellow to the "neighboring
ho mir not havo he
lying between the double knob" and the "long
low place." Nevertheless, the "young fellow " be-
lieved that he could show it, and DR.. Mitchell be.
lieved so too This is all l need to establish my
point. Now for another proof that my interpreta:
ton Of this letter is not that of fool yet that of
LARA proof that has come to my hands since my
letter of Dec 18th. have now before me a fac
smile of the map of survey made by N. Black
stocks in 1e45 for President Swain and others. Of
the surveying party, Squire Blackstocks, his son,
and j. Hardy were from Buncombe, and Messrs.
Westall and Augee were from Yancey. The line
they ran passed over the "double knob the knob
in the "long low place and the famous interve-
ming highest peak. Mr.. Blackstocks in 1916 knew
this peak as 'Mtchell's highest point" and SO he
Gibbs, he marked Mtchel's knob, level found"
and what is the southern Mt. Mitchell is this map
"Party knob" The date before me is June I'd,
l845 Whether Mr.. Clingman has ever seen this
map, and how long since, it is for him to say. A
Buncombe man then gives us here good evidence as
to the right of the young fellow at Solomon Car
ters to call the 'hghest summit" of the Black "Mt.
Mitchell" Mr. Blackstocks name of Mitchell's
knob" did not "adhere" Still this name this
map shows that the writer in the Raleigh Register
of Sept. 3D. of whom Mr.. Clingman complained in
his letter of Sept. 10, had old well good au-
thority for declaring that there two Mt Mitchels
on the Black Mt Did Squire Blackstocks put down
"Mitchell's knob" because of the "level found?"
As to Mr.. Cngman's protecting Mr.. Cooke from
my threatened interference with the sale of his map,