The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-02-18

and step out upon the broad vernal plat
form. Where the forest of this singular
and beautiful growth is Dense there is nc
underground, the trees limbless to the
height of 40 or so feet, the tops meeting
and forming canopy the sun can scarcely
| penetrate, and the earth covered with a
carpeting of lichen moss, which feels to
the tread as soft and elastic as a sponge
During the summer months, these trees are
literally alive with snow birds, the little
creatures congregating here in millions to
build their habitations and rear their
| young. .' g.
Notwithstanding the wild and romantic
beauty of this grand elevation, and the ex-
hilarating effects of the highly rarifed at
mosphere upon the system, hundreds and
thousands Of people have lived and died
within the sight of it, without ever having
paid it visit. The reason for this has
been, the difficulty of access, want of &C
commodations in the vicinity, and the
mere cattle-paths by which it is approached
through deep and intricate gorges and al
most impenetrable laurel jungles, some
times infested by bears, wolves, wildcats
and rattle-snakes. There are but few of
these "varmints" there now, except the lat
ter, the Hermit having nearly exterminated
them. Rattle-snakes, however, are still as
plenty as there is any use for, as saw with
my own eyes pile of sixty-nine few
summers ago, all of which had been killed
by one man in one day, and that, as he said
not a very good day for snakes
The view from the summit of White Top
is grand beyond description or even con-
ception. Looking toward the south you
have within the scope of vision, stretching
away from East to West, that grand range
of mountains known as the Blue Ridge,
which, in the dim distance, looks like an
azure band bordering the horizon, with
here and there tall peak hiding its head
in the clouds. To the east, mountain piled
upon mountain meets the view, their gentler
slopes in places dotted with "clearings,"
and aa column of smoke here and there as
cending or laying in long lines along the
mountain-side, denoting the rude habita-
ton Of the ruder "squatter." Looking to-
wards the north, you have the grand old
Cumberland range, the line that divides
the Ozark and Bloody Ground" from the
Old Dominion, as if swelling up from an
ocean of green, and struggling to lift itself
above the vapor that hangs lazily upon
its sides. To the west, the view, though
less imposing, is not less beautiful. You
have before you the broad Valley of Holston
which, although diversified with hill and
dale, bold promontories and pine-clad
ridges, still, from the altitude from which
you look out upon it, it has the appearance
of vast sea dotted with picturesque
islands In the distance, the spires and
tin roofs of the town of Abingdon glisten
III the sunlight, large plantations look like
blankets spread out in the forest, and at
intervals, as it dashes out from behind a
promontory, or winds its way through a
green meadow, may the Laurel Fork of
Holston be seen, like serpentine thread
of silver its clear bright waters sparkling
like diamonds in the rays of the sun.
i have enjoyed the luxury of many a
magnificent scene in my wanderings. but
never have seen that from the summit of
White Top eXcelled, or even equalled, l
was there on one occasion when storm
came riding on the blast more than thous-
and feet below where company ofus were
standing. The whole valley was shrouded
as with pail. The deep-toned thunder
reverberated far below us, followed by bril-
liant flashes of lightning, frightening up
the dark bosom of the cloud The scene
was awfully grand, and so far transcends
the power Of mortal description, that l
would not dare attempt it.
1t was near the base of this mountain
near forty years ago, in an obscure gorge,
where the light of the sun is partially shut
out by the dense foliage of grove ofgiant
sugar-trees, that Wilburn Waters, then
about twenty years Of age, pitched his
lonely tent. He chose this spot for several
reasons, which heard from his own lips
at his own campfire. First because the
foot of man had never polluted the virgin
soil second because it was the covert of
wild animals in cold and stormy weather,
and third, because light and bubbling
spring of pure cold water leaps from the
cliffs, and dashes off singing, its wild lul-
laby among the gorgeous flowers and
the songs of birds of strange and brilliant
plumage.
Wilburn is " halfbred Cat&wba Indian
For some reason he has neve, given, OK
cept his fondness for solitude and hunting
he sought and settled the wild spot in
which he has resided so many years, and
still thinks he would he crowded to suf
location, were family to settle within
sight or hearing of him. sought him out
soon after first heard of him, now more
than twenty years ago, When first ap-
preached him l found him eating his morn
ing meal upon a log-which consisted Of
corn-cake, bear-meat and wild honey, and
water from the spring-his two ravage
bear-dogs meanwhile standing sentinel
awaiting his word for action. The ride
through the mountains having given me
keen appetite, l broke bread with him
and from that moment a friendship spranq
up between us that has never abated, and
if have friend ON this green earth on
whom could rely in any and every en-
Urgency, that friend is Wilbur Waters
tho great hermit-huntcr of White Tor
Mountain.
Although some sixty years of age, he is
still active and athletic, still devoted to
hunting, still unerring in his aim, and is al
this moment on wolfhunt in the Black
Mountain of North Carolina, where he had
succeeded in killing eleven the last time
heard from him. Whenever he finds the
''sign" of bear, wolf or any other an
imal, he never loses the trail, although he
may have to follow it from mountain tc
mountain for days together, and to great
distances, and is just as sure of his game
as if he had it. He is very pious, and will
have no intercourse with u swearer or sab
bath breaker
have spent many days and nights with