Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-08-27
SrATEsvILLE, Aug. 10. 1869.

SrATEsyILLE, Aug. 10, 1869.
liossrs. Elit0rs:-Being somewhat a
rover, and desiring to revisit our Noun
tain region, and learning from a friend
that Mountain party from StatesvilIe was
in contemplation. and acting on the adage
that a setting hen gets no fatter fast, I
hastily gathered up my effects, and on the
LIST instant found myself rafting under
arches and Whistling through bridges, and
after a ride Of day and night, with the
usual delay in Goldsboro and Salisbury.
reached my destination. After kind greet
ingg by acquaintance, the conversation
naturally led to the aforesaid party. They
only wanted one man more to complete
the programme and l was that person,
that had to go and no excuse was adj
missabe. OF course I was at their service,
and preparation began instanter. My pur-
pose is to tell of the counties passed
through, what was seen, and how I, or
rather we, enjoyed the tour.
Our wagons covered. packed, and the
bevy of the fairest in trust, the word was
given and the journey began, anticipating
one of the gayest of gay times. A supply
of provisions for two weeks vas on board
and we supposed abundant at that, but
we found that the nearer the mountains we
| drew, the better our appetites grew, and
in few days we had to replenish our
! stock.
! We crossed the Brushy mountains in
Alexander county, through Kilby's Cap
At this point we thought the view splen-
| did, but on our return did not deem it
such, having witnessed SO many magnii-
cent sights. We passed through Taylors-
vile, the county seat of Alexander, an un
slightly place, and on the third day arrived
at Wilkesboro', in Wilkes county. This
place appears to be very old and in a di-
| lapidated condition.
Leaving Wilkesboro' we camped on the
banks of Reddis river, beautiful noun
tain stream; it being Saturday night and
man and beast somewhat fatigued, we
rested till Monday, when we moved on
ward. During the day we crossed the
Blue Ridge through Re6dis River Gap--a
very good view is to be had from this
point-the Pilot mountain was plainly Wis.,
IDLE. Again descended, we found our
selves in Ashe. Here the weather was
very different from that experienced on
former days-frOSt three mornings success
sively-the corn blades, green, bordered
with brownish hue, gave evidence of
the damage done. From AS he we jour-
neye1 into Watauga, thence to Caldwell.
Jefferson, county seat of Ashe, and Boon,
of Watauga, and Lenoir, of Caldwell, were
visited. We were much pleased with JEFF
ferson and Lenoir-the latter is beauti-
full town. While at Jefferson we visited
Negro Mountain" at whose base the
town is situated. The name is derived
from the fact, that years gone by several
negroes absconded, and when
comfortably living in a natural stone
house on this mountain The road up this
mountain is rugged and steep, and we were
compelled to rest before reaching the pin
nacle, from which mountains in Virginia
can be seen. Two fourishing schools,
male and female, are at ienoir. The fe-
male college is a fine structure and the
campus is beautiful.
| Before reaching Lenoir we again cross
the Blue Ridge through Watauga gap
| On the top of the Ridge we saw one of
Kinks strongholds. The fort consisted of
log hut surrounded by stockade, with
openings for rifles. He and his raiders
might have been easily captured by cutting
y
from this fort is perfect curiosity called
''Blowing Rock" This rock hangs over
| precipicc several hundred feet above the
! tops of tho trees A current of air is con-
stantly blowing upwards. SO that you may
cast your hat downwards and the current
returns it to you promptly. 1t is on the
line between Caldwell and Watauga coun-
ties. Fair View" is indeed fair view,
from it you can see. as it were, ''all the
kingdoms of the world" Table Rock,
near MorgantOn, the Black Mountains, and
Grand Father Mountain are visible, be-
sides other peaks of less notoriety.
During the entire trip milk and honey
flowed, the former without price, both
butter and sweet milk, and when called
for was served out by the bucket full. Nice
sweet butter at twenty cents per pound.
Cheese was plentiful, and the inner man
Jared sumptuously.
The prevailing drought extends through
all the country visited. One man said
| but two light showers, insufficient to lay
the dust, bad fallen since the planting of
corn. The farmers are engaged in hay
curing, and we noticed some of them en-
ploy machinery for moving.
The great novelty of this age was on ex-
hibition during our trip, and we were for
tunate in having a good position to OBJ.
!
surrounded by mountains. the sight was
grand, but I shall not attempt descrip-
ton. The eclipse was total, and so dark
the stars peeped out to witness the scene,
and the frogs, too, were fooled for once,
and set up noisy serenade. Our negro
driver wanted to know if the sun did that
way every day in the mountains.
| Well, after thirteen days Of unalloyed
pleasure, about 8 o'clock in the evening,
we reentered Statesyille at rapid pace,
with Joy in our hearts and songs in our
mouths, set of seedy individuals, as to
the boys, our wardrobes in pitiable con-
dition. Clambering over rocks and through
brushwood, had proved too much for,
"Oh, no, I never mention them," and
many a sad rent told the tale of departed
pleasure.
| ROVER.
The appearance of q drunken Indian
with very ugly looking tomahawk, was
the excitement in st. Louis recently.