Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-08-07
dNaa.iltgto1r yontnal.
WILMINGTON, N. @.
'RIDAY. AUGUST z, 1874.
Western North Carolina.

IA --sss sg7es-.. July ~, 1874.
DeDr Journal:-Of the many noun
tains it has been our good fortune to
visit during our Western travel, we
know Of none that surpssses Jump On,
located four miles from Henderson
VILE. This, we affirm, not by reason
Of auy partiality, but from personal
knowledge of its beauties, and charm
ina scenery. in comparison with 9th
ers. Though not steep, yet wooded to
IL summit, it presents wild and TO-
mantic appearance. Here you view
iii the high mountains OF note for fifty
miles around: Tryon, Pisgah, (ne1t IN
height to Black mountian) Bald Noun
fsi1. (next in height to PisgaD the
Blue Ridge, Sa1uda Mountain, Stone
Mountain, Cmsar's Head, and (Black5
Mountain, with it's potato ridges, and
Nichell's Peak;) also the mountains
which divide Tennessee from North
Carolina. the Swananoa and Pink
Bead Mountains, with a charming
view of the valley below for twenty
miles, and the French Broad
River. We've now arrived at the
charming summer resort IN western
North Carolina, viz: the Warm Springs,
which are situated about five miles
from the Tennessee line, on the banks
of the French Broad river, in the midst
of ranges of mountains, about twelve
hundred feet above the sea level. The
hotel is at the foot of the mountains,
surrounded on three sides by rapid
mountain streams, the most beautiful
being the French Broad. 1t is large
and imposing brick building, to which
have been added this season two new
ellis, each 1875 feet long and two stories
high, large, wide piazzas and with
yerandahs on each story extending en-
tirelv around three sides of the build
ing, making altogether about three
Thousand feet of new covered prone
made. About one hundred yards dis
tant is the new ballroom, where the
"votaries of Terpischore, by the in
spiring strains of the music every
evening, trip the light fantastic. At
the margin of the French Broad are
the bath houses, wherein are pools, IN
the midst of which bubble up with
considerable force and unlimited
quantity, of clear, mineral and cleo
trio water, with temperature of about
100 degrees Fahrenheit. Near the warm
spring, used for drinking purposes, IS
a cold sulphur spring with strong odor
The ground used for pleasure and III
nocent amusements, contains from Is
to 90 acres. Here, having enjoyed a
good degree of the internal and ex-
ternal sources of comfort and pleas
ure, we say adieu, as we up stream
along the banks of the dashing splash
ing rock bedded French Broad, and
ERE we lose sight of the bridge span
ming the river i'll front OF the Hotel,
-
hanging rock (perhaps $50 feet high
known in Evolutionary story as the
point from which q love-sick Indian
leaped into the angry waters below,
hence the name of Lovers Leap"
Vending our way at the rapid rate of
three miles per hour, We had ample
time of course to "see u view" and
sometimes in miniature to view a SEES
'ris the musical notes of pack of
deer hounds. Here he comes, a swift
footed double rugged mountain buck,
bounding over rock and chasms-one
grand leap sets his bucksh;p across the
narrow road, and as if to elude his
yelling pursuers he plunged into the
roaring current, seeming to say
Farewell old hound 1on't bother me,
L y
Along this route, mauy points Of
river and mountain scenery must
be seen to Us appreciated, such rs
rocks and the many impending rocks.
Along the margin OF the river the
pathway for the iron horse has already
been marked out and partially graded,
also clock fence" made of crossties, a
decaying monument, erected to the
never to be forgotten disappointment
inflicted by Swepson, Littlefield & Co
And, by the way, we would suggest,
Company, are not supplied with cross
ties, here is chance for material al
ready for the road bed as doubtless, sale
may be made on accommodating terms.
especially with some of these old
mountaineers who have not yet quit
cursing "little."
Marshall, Is miles above the Springs.
Here is the county seat of Madison.
This little town has limited appear
ance, not much chance to spread. as
as the rocky steps on one side, and
''thus far and no farther" except over
six acres, on which stand church
building and few private residences.
Farther up stream we come to the
well known resting place, ten miles
from Asheville, where Mr.. Alexander
still serves his guests with the best
on the market. From here to Ashe-
vile the traveller get somewhat tired
of scenery; sufficiently amused with
mountains on one side, river on the
other, and narrow road between, he
has a desire to look out of this grand
laundering defile-to gets up above
the thanking ranges and see beyond.
Whatever may have been the modesty
of these monuments of solemn gran
deur in all the past, and whether their
granite bases are ever shaken by the
passing locomotive or not. one thing is
certain, the less aspiring hills are pre-
pairing for pug, at either end of
good cigar.
At Asheville we are greeted by the
polite hotelist (of the Eagle house,; re-
freshments are enjoyed, and we con-
tinue our drive down the Swannanoa
valley-with the river on one side and
chains of mountains on the other.
The overhanging clouds soon darken
the rays of the sun and the vivid fash
OF lightning followed by the almost
perpetual roar of thunder, with peal
upon peal, soon gave information that
we are out in a mountain storm. The
gentle. placid stream of the beautiful
Swananoa, "nymph of beauty" now
dashing madly along it's banks, with
its waters impregnated with mountain
clay, would have you believe that
we've listened with credulity to the
whispers of fancy, in calling it beauti-
full. From small quiet stream we
now behold dashing, rapid river.
Leaving the valley, we reached the
mountain, first fog, then heavy
mist, when on the top of the Swananoa
mountain we wash our hands in the
clouds, cross the Blue Ridge, and with
a farewell to eye mountains of North
Carolina, journey towards Old Fort.
Once more in sight of White Sulphur
Springs sour muscles not being ac-
quainted" with mountain roads, here |
we expect the "health restoring prop
ties" of the blue, white and chaIy- |
beate, will restore Eye invalid"
More amor, Der