The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-06-13
Our Trin to Ducktown.

Our TIP to DuCktOWD.
On Thursday last at d~ay-break in
company with Mr.. w. IL. Tonkin, we
left this burg for the mine city Of the
mountains. At 9 O'Clock a. IN. we
crossed the Ocoec River-noted for be-
ing so swift and as clear as Il crystal.
| While in the middle of the wild waters
the buggy bed dipping-the horse
~slipping-we thought seriously of
home, then Of religion, But as luck
would have it we landed safely on the
"other shore" The next thing to do
then was to use the ''hurrying-pole''
on old Doc. for that was the name of
our faithful old grey,) and rush him
over Sand mountain. This being done
we found ourselves in the city of
Parksyille at 10 o'clock safe and sound
as a Mexican dollar.
The trip from Parksyille beclm me in
teresting-Mr. TOnkin pointed out
many places of interest to us, and rela-
ted many interesting incidents that oc-
Cured during the war. At II o'clock
n. m. We found ourselves seated at a
well-supplied table at the "llalf-Way
House, kept by Mr.. Peck and lady.
After placing ourself on the outside Of
about two dollars worth of Methodist
chicken, green peas, eggs, &c.,-and
old Doe. having dcvoured a half wagon
load of corn and fOhder-we were in
formed that oar bill was only 30 cents;
oh how happy. True it took all the
money we had, but suppose it had been
more? the boat would have left us, and
our shoes would have been levied on.
Wouldn't old man Peck looked nice
wearing II pair Of number ones?-one
whole side. of leather, VT mean. Oh,
hush. After begging a cigar from
friend TOnkin we touched it OFF, and
heard the landlady remark that there
was a ''firc at one end and a fool at the
other" We at once ordered old Doc.
to he put in position to land us III
Ducktown as shortly az possible if not
sooner. This being done we struck out
on a twenty-milc stretch up the river
not expecting to see a single living hu-
man being. But about ten miles this
side of DucktOwu we cast our wishful
eye to the left, and there beheli Il fell
low sitting strAldle of a pine log with
a fiddle playing "rhe Devils Dream"
We hailed him with, ''say. pard, got any
thing to drink" With his head he nod
ed toward the river but kept on playing.
''Don't want river water" says we. "Do
you take me for a saloon" says he
but he kept on jerking the bow. Seeing
that he didn't think we needed any wa
ter we drove on till We found spring
that nature undoubtedly fixed there for
we at once took a halt and partook Of
the refreshing. The scenery at this
point was grand. The mountains soar
ed above the c~louds-and there covered
only by the high canopy of heaven;
enshrouded with the green leaves of
the forest, and looking out on the roll
ing ripping waters of the wild Ocoee,
we imagined ourselves lord of all we
surveyed. But then why gush over
a few hills and a river-it has been told
n thousand times in eloquent tones.
Aftor resting ut this place a short time
we started on our journey to the city of
the mountains. We arrived at the
KCtChcrsid House In Ducktowlf at 6
O'Clock p. m. There we met up with
many old friends and acquaintanccs
and formed many new ones. On Fri
day we visited the Isabella relping
works and hadFeXplaiEed to us and ex-
amincd the process Of making copper.
We then visited the East Tennessee
mines. This mine works about seven
ty-iiye men, with III young friend
Bob Tonkin as head boss. The depth
of this mine is 700 feet. They use u
steam elevator and consequently have
but little trouble in getting ore to the
top Of the ground. These mines are
larger than the Mary mines but don't
work more than half the hands the
Mary does-this is on account Of the
supply Of machinery they have there
to do the work. At the "Mary" the
ore is brought out by a rope with a
mule at one end of 1t. We spent al
most the entire day among the differ
ent mines, smelters and refining works,
then returned to the hotel at night
feeling somewhat worsted.
oh Saturday We yisitel the picnic.