Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-09-10

sheep were brought here to Craze this sum-
mer. IF il were not for the wolves it
would certainly be a fine place to keep
them. Only few nights before our arri-
val, the wolves killed thirty-two sheep in
one night.
Around this bald space and for some dis
lance down the mountain on the south
and east, the timber is low and well adapt
ed to withstanding the terrible, storms
which sometimes visit this locality.
1t is principally beech and birch,
and trees which appear as if
they might be century old, are not over
fifteen feet high. There are vast thickets
of balsam fir and spruce, the most beau
tiful, evergreen. We selected for our camp
a point about mile from the summit,
where there is bold running spring of
beautiful water, clear as crystal and nearly
as cold as ice. But most of the afternoon
we spent upon the summit, where one
never tires of looking. The picture was
not monotonous but ever changing. The
clouds, the shadows, the sunshine, were
constantly presenting new wonders and
new beauties. Now, for few minutes,
the mist would settle in the valleys far
below US, appearing like lakes, then it
would blow away and the sun 81 inc out re-
splendently all over the landscape. Once u
cloud came rapidly down from the north
east, and soon we saw thunder shower,
watering country several thousand feet
below us. We could see its entire extent,
and watch all its movements. We repair
ed to the highest point to see the sun set,
and were amply repaid. 1t looked like a
vast ball of fire as it set in bank of
clouds. We could see Abingdon very dis
tinctly, about 20 miles away.
NIGHT ON WHITE TOP.
In very few minutes after sunset it
was dark and we were on our way to
camps. We built up a large fire, and but
for the smoke would have slept comforta-
bly, enough. The wind blew all night as
zation was heard to disturb our slumbers.
No neighing of horses, or barking of dogs,
or Growing of chickens or lowing of kline,
or caterwauling of cats, or humming of
Mosquitoes. Nothing except the granting
of hog of the razor back species, which
was looking for the crumbs that fell
from our tables, reminded us of civiliza-
ton.
Before daylight next morning we arose
and after hasty toilet we proceeded with
out delay to the top of the mountain for q
sunrise view The clouds were gathering,
and occasionally we found ourselves enYel-
oped in one, but after all we were favored
with fair view. At this TIM, the entire
valley north OF the p''5untain was covered
o. 3veL WIZ heavy mist, only few of the
sneso peas being visible. The appear
auce was like large inland sea or lake,
WIZ. here and there beautiful green is
10 I'D, the peaks of the mountains making
up the latter part of the picture. After
enjoying this scene we went back to camps,
where Mr.. Ogden made coffee, and we had
breakfast of cold corn "dodger,n butter
and coffee. Before it was too late, howev-
er, the guide arrived with our horses and
about fifty mountain trout well prepared
for eating. We relished them. Mr.. San
ford ate within one of two dozen, which
was twenty-five.
We mounted our horses, took a farewell
view of the summit, and theugh loath TO
leave, hastened down the mountain. We
then pushed on for Taylorsville, stopping
with mine host Debusk for dinner and
reaching the former place about shutdown.
Here we met with Hon. r. r. Butler, who
extended to us courtesies which were ap-
preciated. We passed over some wild
country to-day and some as fine as there
is in the State. The former is noted prin-
cipally for its rattlesnakes. We passed a
cabin where we called for drink of water.
The stuffed skin of large rattlesnake
hung on the side of the rude cabin, and we
inquired of the man of the house if there
were many of them about. "Oh, no."
said he, mot many. l killed that one a
day or two ago. My wife killed one here
in the yard yesterday as large as thai.
was up in the field yesterday evening and
found little devil. He went under a log
and l thought his head was 'tother way
but as l went to turn it over he tipped out
and liked to bit me. He scratched me
here with his tooth" He held out his
hand which was badly swollen and ex-
hibited the Scratch" We thought they
must be tolerably plenty and one of our
marty suVpested that il the gentleman
would turn his hogs in the lot they might
keep the snakes away. Eyes responded a
little white haired urchin "but they would
eat up the co,Ucum6erS." We gave it up,
w. r.