The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-06-20
Illicit Traffic i'll WhIskey, and Out.
RACES by United States Revenue
officials.
An Invitation to HLIght," which our
Correspondent Declined to Accept.
A Delightful Ride With n Charming
Young Lady.--Tourist a "Goner,"

can appreciate the beauty of fertile val
leys, and the grandeur of cloud-caped
submits, are indescribable. History has
pictured to us tho sublimity of Alpine
heights, and bards have chanted their
lays upon the banks of the "blue Dan
ube," yet how few ere aware, that some
Of tho grandest scenery of nature, lies
within the wild and beautiful highlands
of our own Carolinas. The climate OF
these mountain regions, embracing as il
does, the medium temperature of the
Southern States, is balmy and %invigora-
ting and unsurpassed on the Continent
ccnce of scenery, Caesars Head, which is
a peak of the Blue Ridge, and about 5000
feet above the oceans level, is probably
most frequonted by tourists. Standing
upon tho cliff, and looking downward we
behold an almost fathomless depth, GOV
cred with a carpet of verdent foliage,
through which can be traced, by the ris-
ing fog, the streams which flow from the
mountain side, meandering through the
plains below. To the west, our vision
is lost in the distance where earth and
sky seem to blend into an azure hue.
Near by are the Saluda Falls, which burst
from the mountain side at q height OF
eight hundred feet, and fall in frantic
wildness into depths below. The mag
nificence Of the scene, Is best appreciated,
when the sun first gilds tho lofty sum-
mits dispelling the thick fog which en-.
velops the surrounding country, and
faints in bold relief the sides of Table
Rock, and glittsring spires and towers of
distant villages.
This section ID sparsely inhabited,
though it's sturdy settlers reflect the glow
of health and breath the spiritof content
ment. While the great Southern Staple,
great mountain chains, the Blue Ridge
on the eastern boundary, and the
"Great Smoky OH the western,-a dis
lance of two hundred and fifty miles in
length, and fifty in breadth, yet its val
leys, Of which we shall speak hereafter,
are unsurpassed in their beautiful fields
of corn, yielding from fifty to one hun
dred bushels per acre.
Fora few years past, q large amount Of
corn has been distilled in this section and
notwithstanding tho rigidness Of revenue
laws, there arc some adventurous spirits,
who still persist in this illicit traffic.
While we TO not approve of the violation
of the laws of the country, we do
confess a sympathy for tho above class of
our citizenship, when we consider, that
corr is their only product for s]ustenance
of life. "s we'll as the source of revenue
for tx. Many Of them reared in the de-
files Of the mou.t"ins, too poor to have
transportation for their crop to market
and ignorant of the penalties Of violating
the law, resort to the above means to pay
their tax, and to relieve their own neces-
stiles. We are pleased to know petitions
are being sent to the President, asking
for clemcncy toward these unfortunate
victims, and begging the removal Of the
revenue officers, who in many instances
have from moro expensive than prOfita-
BILE to the Government. The i'll conduct
Of these officers in abusing the families
and destroying the property of suspected
distillers, and acting more lawlesly than
the parties arrested, has produced a bitter
luminosity against them. AS an instance
of this feeling, we will relate al occur-
NEE which happened to the writer al
though it was previously agreed not to
tell tales out of school.
4 revenue officer, accompanied by band
of troops had made a raid across the
mountains, and succeeded in capturing q
few distillcrs. Travelling along afew days
after, I Glanced to pass q group Of noun
taineers who doubtless, were discussing
the fate of their companions, and greeted
them with the salute of "Hurrah for
Hayes and the revenue" when no sooner
one of the number with enraged counte-
nance, challenged US to eight out Of that
thar buggy, and I'll knock hi out of
you" OF ourse we did not Eight"
From Cesar's Head, we directed our
tour across the "Blue Ridge into the
mountain regions Of North Carolina-a
section which abounds in scenery of the
most romantic description and wild mag
niticence. Descending the Western
slope of this range, we reached the ia
nous valley Of the "French Broad in
Transatlantic county. As a description
of this favored county of nature, I refer
you to the following sketch from the pen
of Miss Fisher, who has contributed so
largely to American literature.
There is no spot which wears the crown
fair county. Other counties may boast
mountains rs high, and atmosphere as
pure, but no other has in its aspect such a
mingling of the pastoral and the grand,
no other possesses such graceful alterna-
tons of landscape, which, with the
strong effect Of contrast charm tho be-
holder Mt once. 1t is a thrill of positive
rapture that one secs for the first time
the matchless valley of the "French
Broad'-serone with golden plenty, and
held in the soft embrace OF circling
mountains. This queen of mountain
valleys lies twenty-five hundred feet
above the sea, and has at this boint an av-
erage width OF over two miles. The
three forks of the French Broad-two of
which, rise in the Balsam, and one in the
Blue R~idge-meet at its upper end, and
the united stream flows, with many q
winding curve, down the emerald plain.
Framing the broad fields and grassy
meadows are forest clad heights, and yet
beyond rises the Blue majesty of the
grandest peaks in Western Carolina"
From the top of Dunn's Rock, wc fully
appreciate the writer's power of descrip-
ton. In the distance could be seen the
bold summit OF the Chimney Top, Hog
Back, and Pisgah, whose range extended
on until its azure beauty melted into blue
infinity. For fifteen miles, the pastoral
valley lies spread in smiling beauty, with
every curve of the river plainly to be
traced throughout that length. Besides
mountain heights, the scenery of this
county IS enhanced by the lovely falls of
Conester, of LICKING Glass and Glen Cam
non.
Aflor an hours drive from the rock, we
rCaCIcu Tie Qulct NlllaPo VI hlcSdIu,
where we were welcomed with that hos
pitality, so characteristic Of this noun
tain region. Though in its infancy it has
q large soul, and its citizens are unsur-
passed in refinement and morality. It's
unrivaled advantages Of both soil and eli
mate are attracting a rapid flow of immi-
grafton. During my s~ojourn III this viii
lage I visited several places Of interest in
the surrounding community, though
none impressed me more favorably than
the celebrated Brooks Farm located a
few miles distant, upon a Lofty eminent
overlooking the valley Of the French
Broad, and around whose base winds tho
in silent majesty. The pleasure
of this tour vas doubly appreciated by
the writer in being accompanied by the
accomplished Miss, who added much
to my enjoyment while in Brevard. In
fact, association only enhanced my appre-
cation of that most cstimable virtue,
known as Hume-ility. Many returns OF
this occasion.
Mr.. Editor, having noted some of the
beauties of nature which characterize
this section, I will next speak Of its ag-
ricultural advantages and mineral re-
sources, which justly entitle it tho Edo
RADIO Of the South. TOURIST.