Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-07-12


The shaky politicians of the North
west, are trying hard to identify them
selvee with the farmers movement.
but we hope they will not be given an
opportunity to hetray this good cause.
E.zzEE.o@.zzzH
LETTER FROM ASHLAND CITY.
EDITORS. CHRONICLE: Rising Sun
Bluff, well known landmark on the
Cumberland, is situated about two and
a half miles above Ashland City, on
the left bank, ascending. 1t rises al
most perpendicularly to hight of
about two hundred and fifty feet above
low water mark. Perhaps there may
be some legend connected with this
object that would be interesting and
entertaining, but if there is we have
not been advised On that subject. 1t
takes its name from rough painting
in red color, intended to represent the
god of day just rising above the hori-
zon. This is thought by some to have
been done by Indians when this was a
trackless wilderness, but the oldest in
habitants know this to be mistake, as
many of them well remember the err
ratio genius whose daring, and we
might add foolhardy, feat gave name
and notoriety to an object that might
have remained comparatively unno-
ticed. The painting originally con-
sisted of the Sun, and the initials of
the artist, "R. R." the letters being
about two feet long, done in lampblack.
More recently, some other adventurer
has painted pale Luna, and Pleiades,
together with his initials, I'D. w"
The painting is executed in recess in
the apparently perpendicular front,
about --- feet from the top of
the cliff, which is about thirty feet
from floor to ceiling, extending back
some three or four feet, and laterally
twelve or fifteen feet. There are two
modes of approach-one by climbing
down cedar tree that grows out of
the side of the bluff near the floor of
the recess. 1t is said by those who
have tried it that it requires a strong
nerve and clear head to accomplish
the feat, as he feels well assured that
one false step, or the breaking of a
limb, would precipitate him distance
of near two hundred feet, on the rocks
that have been accumulating at the
foot of the precipice for ages. The
other is through a crevice or assure in
the rock, extending from the apex of
the bluff to the bottom of the recess.
This latter approach can not be used
by any one of aldermanic proportions,
as the fissure will barely admit of the
passage of those who belong to the
class denominated ''lank leanness. long
drawn out
The initials 'R. r." are those of
Randle Robertson, one of the earliest
settlers of the City of Rocks, who in
process of time became one of the
successful Nimrods of the period, wan
dering up and down hill and dale in
pursuit of his favorite pastime, hunt
ing not only the wild animals of the
forest, but also the scarce less wild red
man who then held undisputed sway
over this part of the heritage of man.
1t is said of him, when he once got on
the track of one of the antlered mon
archs of the forest no obstacle was suf-
ficient to deter him from the pursuit
If he scaled the rugged and sky pierre
ing hill, or meandered along the banks
or across the smaller streams, or even
swan the Cumberland rendered swol-
len and turbulent by reason of recent
rains or melting snow. 1t was all one
to the intrepid hunter. With undated
ardor, he still pursued his object
Lashing his gun to his back he would
plunge into its silrging waves, with as
little thought of consequences as
school boy wades the swollen spring
branch that intervenes between him
and home, never considering his ain
accomplished until he returned to his
camp with the pelt and choicest parts
of the object of his pursuit
When the country became more
densely populated and as consequence
game grew scarce, he sought out 10.
cality more congenial to his pursuits
and went south where he would spend
the fall and winter, hunting and trap.
ping, returning in the spring, taking
up his quarters at Harris Sulphur
Spring, which is not far from "Risine
Sun Bluff" when he would spend the
spring and summer, fishing in Marrow
bone and the Cumberland, and by way
of variety, sometimes practicing the
healing art, for Notwithstanding he
lived this wild, rowing, unsettled life
he was man of fine culture, having
received both literary and medical
education. He at one time conceived
the idea of having him suit of clothes
made entirely of mole skins, and fol
some years this was the absorbing
hobby of his mind. He made him q
great many traps and set them in al.
most every field and garden in his vi.
entity and watched over them with the
same solicitude that a fond mother
watches the sleeping hours of her frs
born. He never succeeded, however
in collecting skins enough to make the
coveted suit, Finally in sorrow he
abandoned his long cherished enter
prise, and when the time for his do
parture south arrived he destroyed al
that he had collected, packed his XII
and departed with the promise to re-
turn in the spring. But when spring
came, when snow and frost gave plac,