The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-04-02
DEVILS Canon and Geyser Peak.

There is n deep gorge just north Of Gey-
ser Peak known rs DEVILS Canon. The
Hogs Back Range is its southern bonn
dairy, and high mountain separating Biz
SULPHUR Creek from the canon forms III
northern wall The stream which runs
through the gorge tumbles over = rocky
bed % houlderS hurled in wild dis
order from the adjacent mountains. LittLe
Sulphur Creek comics i'm from the south
east, sweeping round the foot OF Gey>er
Mountain forming Il hIlt-Circle' ana Il
foined by the water from Devils Canon.
I'm the fork of the two streams rises GeySer
TcBi,, $40 feet above the sea level. bold
landmark, familiar TO all residents OF tins
and Russian f.iTer Valley. The old Fc>}
trail TO the GevSef SPRINGS wound round
its crest, from which thousands OF travel
erS from all parts of the WOt'h have looked
down into the gloomy depths Of Devils
Canon. the scene Of the adventures We are
about 70 relate.
Years ago, wien Santa Rosa was Il
scattering hamlet. when only here and
there a fspce ObstrUcted travel in any dl-
rection over the broad untitled plains.a
weIl-knOwn pioneer citizen. still 4 resident
Of this township. started 10 visit sheep
ranch on Big Sulphur Greek. Just beyond
the section first described. He WRs dressed
i'm the half-SDaRish. halt-AmericaH style
peculiar to the railChetS Ofthat day. Hrs
horse was 1.-THE, musCtlar and high-Splrli-
ed. capariSOned after the California style
a head-StalI of hair OrnamentCd with col
cred tasSels, a bride with hcayGJ-plated
Spanish BIT and flstenings. About the
horn Of the saddle was coiled raVi'lue
riata.
Iea-iug the site OF the present town ct
Healdsbur@. the rider took an obscure trdii
leading northeastcrlF in the direction 0I
his sheep-camp, which he expected To reacil
before shutdown. The trait led over spur
after spur iutting out from the main range
of the Mavacamas Mountains. Before the
traveller realized the fact the lofty hills
above and around him were clothed in the
purple hucs Of a midsummer sunset. W hen
winding around the barrow Trail on the
eastern eree Of Geyscr IeGi, thc sun sank
beneath the horizon. The C;fnon beneath
him looked dark and Uuinviting-veClg
shaped. like a valley turned CdgeWise ln
the hills. Between him and his de-tiuJ-
ton Devils Canon and the ridge dViHln@
it from Biz Sulphur Creek still interviewed,
He commenced the descent on q trail HoJ
followed without care even by the broad
LIGHT of the sun. Urging his horse, be was
soon amid grove If lofty pines. whose
crcsts. first below the level OF vision, soon
after formed a dark bulwark behind hilu.
He reached and crossed safely the rocky
bed Of the stream. and commenced to as
crnd the opposite side. which was prpcip-
itOus and bare. II was now quite dark.
He trusted solely TO the instinct Of his
horse. which struggled mp the steep ascent
-ure-foOted and strong Of wind. His dog,
a constant companion, kept close beside
him.
After some time he reached placc which
afforded sufficient stdndinT-ToOm 10 rest
his faded horse. Supposin@ he was near
the summit, he forced the horse, which
manifested a strong desire to 20 in q con-
trary direction, along q way which seemed
tothe rider more smooth and direct. Pass
ing over the level space, he perceived they
had commenced to descend dnd supposed
that he had crossed the summit Of the erid@c,
when he f.It that his horse was slipping,
IFS fOre-f.et were extended and haUUcEcS
down. Faster and faster they went
Realizing the danger n they came beneath
the branches Of Il stUuted OAK, the rider
sprang from the saddle, holding i'm his
hand the riata. to which he ciun% with me
instinct of despair one end was about the
horses neck, and the bght caught rothI
the oak on the opposite side OF when Ilie
rider had fallen.
Hand over hand. by the stout raw-hide.
ne CllillDtu uJ INT Nlt' y ei-''iL' 49,
@rasped the tree. The RATA. relieved Of ITS
heavy strain, ratified around it; there was
humping sound as the horse cudeavOrcd
to hold his footing. crash and breaking
of brush, wild, halfhuman shrek. an III
slant Of appalling stiffness. and then Il
crushing thud, Terrified at his narrow
escape. the traveller remained he knows not
how long. clingin@ to the friendly oak
cold beads of sweat rolling down his fore
head. He groped his way up the hill.
cImging to the underground. cutting, ~
occasion required, Il tOOthold with DIS
knife. reaching the summit in sllety.
The light of a waning moon. which rose
above the horizon. enabled him to find his
way down the mountain TO Big Sulphur
Creek. which he followed up to his sheep
camp. located near the place where the
Cloverdale and Geyser Springs Ioll-hotse
now stands.
Next morning he returned to the scene
of his frightful adventure. and found where
he had left the trail. and turned TO the di-
rectiOn Of the precipicc. Below the ~tunted
but firmlv-rOOtcG oak u track was broken
through the chaparra. Descending TIE
base Of the prCcipice, he found, wedged in
the laws of Devils Canon. the body Of his
gallant stccd, crushed tOa jelly. fhc doc
had found and apparently remained DE- ile
the dead horse through the night. Niih1
mingled expression of pity and pleasure It
crOuched and iawned about the feet Of It's
master.