Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-08-29
sunbeam that might fortunately find rs way through
the dark and dense foliage that shaded its lovely

. - .-.. y -
sunbeam that might fortunately find lbs way through
the dark and dense foliage that shaded its lovely
face. -
The whole surface Of the mountain for four miles
is one unbroken carpet of moss, from four to eight
inches in thick ness, as soft and plant as the silky
down upon the Cygnets breast The last half mile
of our ascent was comparatively easy, slide way
having been opened on the Buncombe side OF the
mountain for the purpose Of transporting the last
place upon the highest point Of land in the Atlantic
States, East Of the Rocky Mountains, upon the
Mort American continent
Arrived at the apex of the mountain, the termin-
alton of our tolls, our first impulse was to pay
tribute of respect to departed worth, and drop
tear of sorrow upon the grave of son of Science,
who had sacrificed his life in giving celebrity to the
geographical chart of bis adopted State Whilst
looking down upon the lone resting place OF the
unhonored dead we could but express our sincere
regret that some more lasting memorial than the
rude frame work Of Fir had not been erected over
his remains to point out the spot that will ever be
hallowed by the bones Of a martyr to his PROBES
sonal pursuits.
Having discharged this melancholy and mournfnl
duty, we proceeded to set Mariners compass upon
the nearest practical spot for staff to be adjusted,
and taking the meridian as a base line, found that
the North point to the extent of our vision cut the
Eastern extremity of the Roam Mountain whilst the
South touched the Saluda between North and South
Carolina, 40 deg West of South, Mount Pisgah
doomed up in the distance like cloud, whilst
the White Mountains of Virginia appeared in the
opposite quarter of the grand circular panorama,
! that delighted the eye, and intoxicated the fancy
At an angle of about 10 deg. E. Of NJ the Pilot and
Table Rock and their opposite. the Unaquois, with
the intervening ranges. About 8 deg W. of N,
the Cumberland Cap between Virginia and Ken
lucky, and the whole chain stretching in south
wardly direction plainly in view. Nearly East from
our stand point lies Morganton and the South
Mountains E. by S.. the Broad River and Kings
Mountain deg. W. of S., the Nantahala and
Nix, the same line the celebrated peaks OF Quot,
Hairy Bear Cat Tail, Deer Mount and Bolin's Pyra-
mid About II deg W. of N, is the first OF the
Black Mountain range, W. Of the Base line called
Yates Knob; S. Of W. Big Piny; South. Black
Knob; E. of s. Gibbs; E.. Hanback,, in a line
with Morganton; E., Mitchells; North, our stand
point with the Black Mountains first named. At
our stand point the thermometer at o'clock T. NJ,
stood at G2 deg Farenhet at the cave, at daylight,
at 81 deg; the water at the spring at SO deg; at
the base of the mountain at sunrise at 60 deg.
We have thus given succinct, though very i'm
perfect sketch of the hasty visit, and still more
hasty observations and incidents Of our trip to the
Black Mountains You will observe that we have
avoided giving to the highest point of the Black
Mountains any specific name; for very plain and
obvious reason. With men Of science, the honor
of discovering is ever cheerfully surrendered to
whom the honor is due. In the range of tie
Black there is Mount Mitchell, known for rs years,
and is still called by that name, and has long ap
peared upon our geographical charts, with an esti-
mated height of 6,476 feet A gentleman of high
standing and talents claims the honor Of discovering
still higher peak of the same range, the estimated
height of which exceeds the other 235 feet If this
be the fact it does not diminish the reputation Of
Professor MITCHELL nor in any wise detract from his
merit The truth of history should always be vim
dicated, no matter who may claim the presidency.
There is at least one fact undisputed that the
point of land upon which rest the remains Of an
estimable and scientific gentleman, known as Prof
MITCHELL of the University of North Carolina, is the
highest point of land East of the Rocky Mountains,
within the limits of the United States; and that
no human event can ever disturb the repose Of the
dead
Let US hope that his friends and admirers will
unite and erect to his memory monument that
will protect his isolated grave from dissertation, and
tell to pilgrim strangers the story Of his death !;
and thus in some measure consecrate his memory to
after ages mournful event to be forever Insepa-
rably connected with the future history Of North
Carolina. H. n. S.
August 18th, 1860.