Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-08-16

oeen generally we'll managed and its fund,
honestly disbursed.
For tho Keowco Courier
Trip to JOCassee Valley and white
Water Falls. /.
on ~, tl,e morning Of tho 9th party Of ton left
our little mountain town 10 pay visit to The
above named places. About 10 O'Clock, on tha
never to-be.forgotton morning, our party was
fairly on their way. Our conveyance consisted
OF handsome blue chariot, drawn by pair Of
dashing steeds, or as VIC should soy In this un-
rehned age, two.horse wagon, drawn by q
morse and mule; and If they wcre not dashinp
they know how to got along, and that at pretty
iively rate, too. Some Of tho party went on
horseback, prefcrring that mode Of travelling.
AT first tho face Of tho country was pretty,
but not distinguished for boldness or grandeur
iherc wore mountains, but they could only be
seen in tho distance, lifting their blue submits
against the Western sky. They gave, however,
fno finish to the panorama Of green fields,
heavy forests, pretty wales and gentle accliyitics
th9t met the eye in every quarter.
Ere long wo arrived Mt the Oconco Tanncry:
but MS there are few persons who have not
visited that locality, md rs we did not take
time to alight, boing in hurry to proceed, we
viii not say anything regarding it, except that it
looked to b. in n prosperous condition and is
situated in q beautiful part of the country.
We next reached Lays lanyard, and tsero wo
rested under the shade of the trees and dned
After dinner some Of our party visited tho mill
and lanyard, while tho rest remained behind to
look after our provindcr, chat, Sc. While seated
on largo rock in n dreamy imaginative mind,
admiring the beauties of our surroundings and
listening to the murmur Of tho stream hard by,
ono of tho party, on looking at their hnnd,
found it covered with some dear looking little
creatures that ran and gambolcd about in great
delight. On asking what they were wo were
told, (oh! borrow of horrows!) that they were
seed-tioks We got up instantly md begged 10
bc excused; that it was timo to be going; but all
to no purpose. The tick family said they could
not think of parting with uo SO scon, and if we
company us. Wo finally had to resort to
strategy at last to get rid Of them.
We next stopped ut the wonderful cavo and
whilo thero VIC were interviewed by q high
land moccasin His snakcship behaved ia n
very gentlemanly manner, did not appear
hostile at oil. and was quite willing to give
us n history Of tho cave, until one of the
party mentioned something about newspapers
and we suppose his snakeship fenred there
was n devil in the crowd, for he immcdi-
ately gavc ono leap and vanished instantly
from view.
The rond was now one of those winding
paths so common in the country, where refcr
ence was had rather 70 tho convenience of
those who first traced it than to the dreotness
of tho route, which, by the way. is tho very
sort of q road to bo in unison with nature.
Soon wo reached Little River. The waters
Of this river aro rs clear rs crystal After
tordlng this stream we commenced entering
the valley. AS We advanced the vnlley opened,
and ts savage features gradually softcnod.
Tho sun was now setting, its last light
cleaned upon tho waters of White Water
River, which lay to our left, while on other
hand rose towering mountains, one nbnve
another. Wo are unable to describe the
beauty and sublimity of tho scene A hush
fell upon our party asi if each and every one
was lost in tho grandeur OF their surround-
ings. Then one of the party unconsciously
chantcd q few bars Of that sweet song, "Listcn
to the Mocking Bird" and several others
Joined in; yet in such low, sweet, subdued
tone that it only added to tho melancholy
beauty of the picture. We travelled on, snnk
in that thoughtful melancholy with which
twilight and solitude mpross tho mind. w.:
were Mt longth reused by the somYn,1n of horn
TINT made tho valley ring. W. stopnol md
listened; Dat the noise was not repeated
rresenstsYi;,"'how y, however, wo heard rnstIinc
C..miong the brakes and soon we saw yonn~
man spring from the bushes into tho road
followed by his two dogs Tho stranger was
in hunters drcss; his gun was sluna across @
bis shoulders; tho hunters horn hung from
his belt, and in his hand was q small pkc,
which, as no held it, added to the manly
grace Of his figure. We waited till he came
up, that wo might inquire concerning the
house wc were in search Of. The stranger
informed as that it was only g short distance
further on, and that. rs ho was going there
himself, he would readily show Us the way.
Wo now crossed White Water River, and tben
Fisher, whore we wero received with oyory
courtesy by MIR. L. and wife. After partak.
ing OF hearty supper, consisting of all tho
good things OF tho season, we retired to rest
and to recruit our strength for tho following
day.
Next morning we arose enrly to catch n
glimpse OF tho sun, rs he rOso over the tons
of the surrounding mountains, and although
wo were not carried away with tho Wow, yet it
was q.ni,o pretty, Mr.. Fisher has most
beautiful place and ia completely surrounded
by mountains. We found that wo wcrc con, :,
plctely hommcd in by high elevations of earth,
and that there was only one outlet throush
tho valley.
We next commenced our ascent of Tho
mountain to reach the head of tho Falls.
For three miles We kept going up until we MI
thought we would mover reach our destination
Now sc turned to tho left and by littlo foot
path We descended for about half mile,
when 10! what a glorious sight meets our
vision. There tho waters of White Water
River comes dashing over on immense ex
panse of rocka. We now made q descent to
the foot of tho Falls. About midway we
stopped at tho Rock House. grand freak OF
nature. consisting of n tremendous extent OF
rock rising ont of the earth forming COM
pletc roof and wall. Here we estcd dincd,
and, no doubt, somo of tho party talked OF
love, for from tho sweet glances, happy faces
and soft nothings that woro said, T thin.
Cupid was not far distant. Tho c:sen eyoj
monster. Jealousy, might aiso iayo been
present, but as ho did not trouble us wo will