Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-06-01
The ssBackwocdsmen" Visit the "Whitt
SettlementS.1
ATHENS, May 20, 1871.

ATHENS, May 20, 1871.
EDITORS CHRONICLE: To-day COM
mences notable week for Athens. The
town is well supplied with singular look
ing class of strangers yet no doubt they
are honest, well-disposed men-at least as
much so as could be expected of those, who
have possessed so few privileges and are
domiciled so remote from places OF public
and general information. To explain /:
During the sitting of the Legislature of
this State in 1901, some of the members,
looking ever the reports of the State Geol-
ogist, learned the fact, that in the neigh
borhood of Madisonville, Sweetwater and
Philadelphia there was a wild section OF
mountain waste grounds, to some extent
inhabited ; and over which the State had
a right to exercise jurisdiction. Mr..
Owens, the nearest member to that locali-
ty, was sworn and gave oral proof of
the fact that such q meek OF woods"
actually existed; and upon his motion a
law was enacted for the purpose of civiliz-
ing the inhabitants thereof The effort
was designed to be merely experimental.
I" Il Ctancery Court was organized at this
place fAthens,) for the trial of all ques-
lions of equity and good conscience that
might arise or exist among the natives OF
the backwoods of Monroe-especially the
inhabited parts in and around Sweetwater
and jacksonville. Athens was selected as
the seat of equitable juitice because OF It's
convenience, being not more than from
hundred to hundred and twenty-five
miles away. Well, to-day the first town
of specially special and peculiarly pecu-
liar court opened, presided over by Chan
cellor Key. The Chancellor coming by
rail all the way from sRoss' Landing
reached here before breakfast, although,
in fact, he took q late start, but notwith-
standing most of the satitors are sup
posed to have started soon after the
middle of last week, they: did Enot
commence arriving until away up in the
day; and those who were compelled to
come on foot, or whose mules were poor
or slow travellers. commenced reaching
the place late in the evening. 1t is not
known whether they will continue COM
ing in during the night or not. Among
the earlier arrivals, are men reporting the
following names: Mr.. Heiskel1, Mr.. Ram
sey, Mr.. J. Owens, DIR. Gregory and Mr..
Yearwood. 1t is supposed that Mr.. Wood
ward, Mr.. Vaughn, and many others, will
arrive sometime during the night.
They are a very plain looking people
respectfully dressed for backwoods noun
taineers; but have but little to say to any
body. Those that rode, brought chain
halters along, expecting to tie their mules
out. One of them, after looking around
awhile, said he wanted to see "Burch
Cookn right away, as he was going mile
and half out of town to stay all night.
They all seem to be struck with the fash
ionable and civilized appearance of the
town-the merchants signs, weighing
scales, pumps attached to the wells, and
the cupola of the court house, are notice
able features of curiosity with them.
BY the time all get in, Athens will have
rare time. Most likely these denizens
of the wild mountains will amuse the
lookers-on with foot races, or other aborig-
inal amusements, about the time court
closes. OBSERVER.