Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1873-01-21
FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE.
Wa BALL MOUNTAIN VII
The Mont Blanc Of America,
NO. XCIII.
LoNGMIRE's Posi- OFFICE,

4 NO. XCIII.
/ LoNGMIRE's Posi- OFFICE,
|. Washington County, Jan. 10, 1878.
= EDITORS CHRONICLE: Having attended
the closing services of the school at Flag
Pond in this county, last week, and also
having visited Bald Mountain, the Mont
Blanc of America, before my return, 1
send you brief account of my trip which
may perhaps interest some of your readers.
| I did not hear the examination of any
classes except those in the higher nlathe-
MATES. The examination evinced a thor
| oughness and familiarity with the princi-.
Piles of the respective branches, that
reflects the highest credit on Prof. Sans
as an instructor, and on the diligence and
perseverance of the students. The clos
ing exercises in the afternoon of Friday,
the Sd inst, consisted of speeches and
! declarations by the boys and young men
of the school. A large and attentive
audience manifested deep interest in all
the exercises. These people are in earnest
in the cause Of eddcation. 5%sz-f@a
On Friday evening small party Of us
conceived the idea of going to Bald Noun
tain the next day, if the weather should
morning two of our party, MIR. J. NJ. Err
win and Mr.. w. S. Erwin, came to Rev.
Mr.. Carter's, where your correspondent
had been most Hospitality entertained, and
without much delay the party, consisting
II. Carter and myself were soon on our
way to the far-famed "Bald Ground.n
The morning was beautiful-not cloud
was to be seen. AS we began the ascent
from the lower slopes of the ridges, we
could see the adjacent hills and mountains
bathed in the clear light of the morning
sun, and could feel no sensation of chilli
ness from the pure, soft air. 1t seemed
more like all April morning than the 4th
Of January; Some, however, assured us
that the cold would b. intense on the eX-
treme summit; but we were most agreea-
bly, disappointed in this respect. We re-
NAMED a-Iittle over two hours ON the sum-
nit, and, for the greater part Of the time,
did not have occasion to put on our shawls
or overcoats. 1t is impossible to give any,
thing like an adequate idea of The truly
sublime emotions experienced by an OBJ
server on his first visit to this mountain.
AS many tourists have, from time to
time, written more accurate descriptions
hope to give, I shall merely give the re-
suit of my observations of different objects
of interest as noted them on the spot
The first time we halted was at Lookout
Point. This is cliff, from which very
good view can be taken. For considerable
distance from the base the sun never
shines in winter.
Thesnext object which engaged our at
tention was the DEVILS Stairs, a rugged
mass of rocks, with nothing peculiar about
| them, except the difficulty of getting over
them.
The next object of interest is the Bal
ance Lock. This is truly wonder. 1t is
situated about fifty yards to the right of
| the path, and is poised on another 80
evenly that it can be easily moved up and
down like pair of common scales. 1t is
very regular in its outline, and is about
| twenty-five feet long, eight i'll height,wit
contains at least sixteen hundred cubic
| feet. -.stsetEs'f..t ~rI
The timber from this point gradually
| decreases in height. Some distance high
er up the mountain is a narrow belt OF
| high trees, running i'll a horizontal line
along the ridges that slope off from the
summit. .l eaesfgieE sra -rsFs7
Beyond these is u corresponding belt of
| low, sCrubby beeches, standing so thickly
upon the ground, and their trunks SO
overgrwn with moss that they at once
suggest feeling of loneliness. Still be-
yond these are, scattered in irregular
groups great numbers of hawthorn bushes,
which extend to the limits of the Bald
Ground, on the North ern side. The soil
appears to be extremely rich, and is cover
ed at present with a close, thick-set turf
equal to the finest meadows in the cOun-
try. Not far from where you first pass,
beyond the limit of the timber, is still to
be seen a ditch, though in places it can
hardly be discovered. We found upon in
quiry that this had been dug by q man
named Greer, who led here sort of her
NIT life, raising potatoes, rye, &c.
| On tho uoctorp Sido of tho Snpoplit and
ijust in the, edge of the timber, is Greer's
Rock where the hermit is said to have
lived. The upper side of the rosk projects
several feet over the base thus forming a
roof sufficient to protect him from the rain
but which certainly afforded little security
[against the cold winds, which sweep with
fresistless fury through these mountain gor-
ges. -s-..
On the South at the lower extremity OF
the open ground, Rock Spring is situated.
A path here leads around the base of a per-
i pendicular cliff perhaps thirty or forty feet
I'm height. About five feet from the base
there is a small crevice in the rock,
through which stream of pure cold water
is forced out horizontally and falls into a
natural, cayitygin the rock just below,
forming a fountain of surprising beauty:
The distant landscape as seen from the
extreme hight is a scene of sublime gran
| Qeuf. But before attempting 10 give ue'
scription of this scene / must relate an in.
cident concerning what I, at first view
thought was a great natural curiosity
}. The descent on the South is tolerabiy
steep and is broken by series of terraces
almost as regular as if formed by the hand
of art While 'congratulating ourselves on
the discovery of this wonderful freak OF
nature the illusion was dispelled by learn.
ing that these steps were formed by stock
as they were grazing around the sides OF
the mountain. $40 .f''-f Phf.*
Toward the east and south the view was
not obscured by the least sign of cloud OF
mist; and not only was the bold outline
|, of the Roane, the Blue Ridge and Black
Mountains clearly visible, but their high
t est peaks and all their prominent irregu
larities, as they stood in towering sublim
+ ity, were clearly defined against the back
ground of blue sky beyond. This wa:
particularly true of the Table Rock OF
Blue Ridge, Clingman's and Mitchell.