New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-26

iFRON srtFP cORRFsPoSDFNr OF rHK rKiHUNE-i
ROBIIN's TuNNFr, Scott Co.. Tenn. Dec. l3.-ln
writing an account OF the rough experiences en-
CONFERRED while irayersing the CumherIa. d Noun
tain Wilderness do not expect that the adventures
OF themselves viii possess any interest bur they seem
worth recording a. throwing some light on the
question OF the value of this region for Northern
settlement ard as giving an idea of the difficulties
overcome IN constructing the Cincinnati Southern
Railway. Some giimpses will be- afforded. too, OF
the rule life of the mOuntaineers IN ug this Pecu-
liar people, identical throughout all the mountain
districts ia the South has been so well described DIV
Rebecca Harding DAVIS in her novels and her letters
10 he TRIBUNE that | cannot expect to ind any
thing new to tell about them.
/ lef, Somerset ky., before daylight on the morn
ing of the 18th, in the cab of an engine hauling
construction train. For travelling companions l
had an Americanzed EEglshmaH from New-fork.
the chief engineer of the road, Mr.. Bouscaren, ut
Cincinnati. and two young ass slant engineers.
The whole party could not squeez, into the cab, so
we took turns standing out the coal In the ten
der-a situation not particularly agreeable IN the
raw December air. Soon after daybreak We
stopped an hour to clear landslide from the track.
A few niles further on n big rock fallen from
cutting taxed the strength of working force for
half an hour before it pred off the rails The
country grew wilder we advanced. and the road
soon became a series Of deep cuts. heavy MI ngs.
high viaducts and long tunnels. Emerging from
the longest of these tunnels we came ont immedI-
ately upon gOssamer-lOoking iron bridge spanning
the Cumberland River elevation OF over 200 feet
The sudden transition from black hole IN the solid
limestone to this eddy height produced startling
effect the mind. For an instant the locomotive
seemed to be dying through the air across the vast
chasm. Behind Us the tunnels mouth looked like
small cavern in the side Of the perpendicular cliff
Below ran the narrow river like a muddy canal,
boriered on the further side by little strip Of bot
tom land where a solitary farmhouse stood. In
front was the marvellously light structure of iron,
so slender that it seemed incapable of supporting
the track alone, and narrow that it was invisible
below Us looking down from the engine.
Alter getting over the Cumberland we were fairly
in the Wilderness. All settlements ceased save, at
long intervals the cabin of a mountaineer in some
creek bottom, across which sped on dizzy
trestle. At noon we reached the limit OF the en-
gine's run The place was called Pine Knob. There
were four OF five tents in the woods. Inhabited by
gang of workmen with their boss, and in one Of the
tents three slatternly women prepared US dinner
of bread. ham and potatoes, and a weak brown
wash called coffee by courtesy. Another engine came
MP from the South, and boarding 1t we made good
progress for two hours along high rdge-tne nrst
bit Of tolerabv level road seen since leaving the
Blue Grass region of Kentucky-as far as Chltwood
Up to this point the road follows the line
surveyed by General Burnside's engineers
during the war for a military railroad
from Somerset to Knoxville. At Chitwood
the encine left Us TO 20 back and unload ballast
There was log house in sight without windows,
whose open door looked hOspItable but q smaller
structure closer at hand. which proved to be both
store and dwelling. offered n nearer refuge. The
Gfor a Il structure
fifteen feet by twenty, and the merchants family
lived IN single leaD-to room adjoining. be stock
of goods, though limited IN size, was of infinite
variety and comprised everything required by the
simple habits OF the mOuntalneers. written sign
on tne rough hard counter announced III these
words the principle upon which the business was
conducted Terms cash TO both saint and sinner.
now aud forever" The merchant had been bothered
by people COL gregatng in hs door to get
a look at passing locomotives sight most
Of them never saw until two weeks ago
and he had posted up a placard on the be
double hle That's the locomotives great big thing
on wheels. There she goes You have looked the
engineer ont OF countenance and away he goes with
his little brass wagon" This humorous st0rekeeper
said that whlskeY the curse OF the neighboring
country. "A number Of them that makes 10 have
been penItentared lately and Pm glad OF II. II fhe
people would stop drinking whiskey and go 70 WORK
some thing might be made Ofhs country" Hall doZ
en- mOuntaIneers cOngregated in the store One came
TO trade few eggs FOR little coffee. the Others haG
no errand but 10 satisfy their curiosity by staring
at the strangers. They were slOvenly thin-vlsaged
fellows clad IN coarse, hOmespun jeans OF blue or
bufternut color and tue expression or thelr faces
was one Of nofensive stupidity. They seemed 10
have nothing 10 DO and nothing TO talk about
Towards nlChr the en- zine returned and we made
a successful run Of twelve miles. Then there was
stop the darkness. to examine bridge over
roaring stream, which was Thought to be unsafe.
Torches and lanterns soon gilmmered down the
ravine and over the trostle. When they came back
the verdict OF the engineers was that 10 would be
dangerous to venture on the bridge with the loco
motive. hand-eaT was unlOaded from platform
car and half an hours work at the levers brought
the party % New River Camp. thoroughly chilled
with the December vi ght air. The only accOmmO-
datiOns TO be found We're IN n rude shanty boarding
house where the bridge hands stay ed. Fifteen or
them sat around a little stove on benches telling
stories by the light Of sputterlng tallOw candle.
All fifteen slept IN the other room and there
weIe iwO spare beds, into which my companion and
crawied without fhecoremony OF undressing, aiter
n supper OF pork ana pOtatoes eaten III nreiess
room. Beds. did l say They were nothing but
boxes on legs with dreadtully thln straw mex,
In each and "A few old drry quilts for bedding.
A brokcn window md the snoring OF the wOrkmen
aggravated the situation. In the morning the day
ligut revealed deep, narrow valley, rushing river,
"A high bridge, a few shantles and tents, and the
steep encirclIng mountains. The chief engineer,
who my reliance for gettiB over the road,
had left me IN the lurch ana gone of or the only
engine on the section. How to get on was the ques-
ton. Were there any wagon roadsf Yes, terribly
rough ones but the fords were impassabie There
rot a bridge within hIty miles, save those on
the railroad. Hemmed in by the floods and
the broken roads. | studied the map and cast
about tor means of escape. lumber wagon
was found IN the settlement. Could we
not cross the mountains eastward and strike
a branch railway running 20 knOxylllef No;
because Buffalo Creek across the road, and
would toss us on its horns. Could we not walk
the New River trestle get a wagon on the other
side, and GO southwest to R0ckwOodf No; be-
cause Black Wolf creek would devour us. To 20
on seemed impossible; 20 stay IN the wretcned
sh3nty uncomfortable. In this dilemma we heard of
"A man named Robbins living tour miles away,
who had a reputation for hospitality. la company
with my New-iork friend, who going 70 tho
Cumberland Plateau look for lands. and followed
by negro carrying our satchels. l crossed New
River the South Fork oil the Cumberlandl On the
ties of an iron bridge $50 feet high, climbed over
mountain and came at last TO RObbins's place. 1t
proved a vrrltable hdrbor of refuge.