The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-26
A Summer Tour in the Mountains
OF North Carolina.
Asheville and It's Neighborhood =
saTalking for Buncombe"-The
French Broad and
Swannanoa.
A Visit to beavers Springs Mount Beau
catcher and Oonly's View.
by FRANK McdLOIN.

In preceding article gave the particulars
of journey by stage to Asheville. and OF my
arrival at tho Swannanoa Hotel, OF that city.
late at night, utter an adventurous journey
by stage.
An early hour next morning found me
awake, but this WAS OF no practical benefit, for
the bootbiack had captured my shoes and
disappeared, thus making me prisoner In
my room. In n very few moments after he
finally accorded me my liberty / was out re-
connoltering the surroundings. The Swan
nanoa knew to be the largest hotel In
Asheville and not long built, and its commo-
dious. fresh and clenn appearance was OK
pected. It Is, however, In some respects n
dangerous building, by reason Of the inade-
quacy Of Its facilities for escape In case OF
coni1agration. The higher floors are reached
by successive flights OF steps. ono Just above the
other, about the centre OF the edltlce. From
the fourth story these stairs constitute the
only avenue OF escape. Should fire take below 1t
would mount speedily through the stalr-well
| from foundation to roof, consigning to cor
tain destruction the occupants OF the upper
| stories. Considering the lack OF training on
tho part Of servants In such places, there can
| be but little doubt that In the event OF the
burning OF such q building when filled with
guests, many would BIO awakened only by the
| flames US they burst In upon them. SINH
lar state of affairs unfortunately, eonfronts
us Ia almost all the larger hotels In the noun
famous regions.
One OF the first objects to attract my atten-
tion as l left the room, was the primitive
character Of tile appliances fer calling the
L IL H.N.ss ,wd
nothing more than small-sized bells sus-
pended with twine from the ceilings at each
| stair-head, with cards attached giving notice
| OF their purpose and directions for uae.
The city of Ashevlleis tho seat OF Buncombe
county; 80 named after ex-Gov. Samuel Ashe,
| one OF North Carolina's distinguished citizens
and heroes Of the past. The county OF which
| 1t Is the seat derives its name from certain
| Col. Edward Buncombe, who commanded the
| Fifth Regiment OF North Carolina troops In
| the Continental Army. lie was native OF
the West Indies, but an early settler in these
mountains. A man OF great energy and cour-
age, and of many virtues, he was desirable
| acquisition to tho State. Prominent among
his qualities was an unbounded hospitality.
Conspicuously above the entrance gate OF his
maLlSlOu WAS Jub ulllpcIbhi iuNlLStiOH.
Welcome all
| To Buncombe Hail."
Throughout the length and breadth OF the
| land the name is familiar. but not by reason
OF the gallant deeds or estimable qualities oil
| tho Carolina patriot. 1t has become word
OF the language, expressive OF declarations
which are made without care or hope OF
their being either believed or considered.
This notorlety and Specification are derived
from congressional episode OF many years
ago A certain Congressman from the dis
| trict of which Buneombe county formed q
part was addressing the House upon q meas
ure OF interest only to the people Of that coun,
ty. The hall was being rapidly deserted, wher
the speaker graclously informed those re-
manning that they, too might az we'll depart
as he was speaking only for Bunconbe.'
The city Of Asheville is rather q thriving
place, Its main street being thanked by we'll
appointed stores OF various branches Of trade
1t sets upon number Of hills In the elevated
valley OF the French Broad and Swannanos
rivers. The houses are scattering, but gen
orally neat and we'll kept; pleasing to thu
eve, although few OF them are large or In ap
pearance very striking. Riding through
Patton Avenue, towards the open country
the road lay before me, straight and extend
ing to the distance .pf q hue peculiar ant
pleasing, furnishing an agreeable picture a
1t stretches away like q broad and yellowisi
band, itself laced In varied and somewha
regular shades by wagon ruts and hors
tracks. AS / rode on the houses gave plac
, to such glorious hills that the sight was Ell
chanted. Never mad 1t before been my goo
fortune to contemplate hills more rich In al
| the attributes Of beauty. Bold enough the
were, and separated by little valleys, shar
, and well defined. There were about theL
: but little of that abruptness, or OF Irregular
ties usually characterizing such elevations
} other sections. No unsightly knobs marre
the elegance of circumference; no broke
hollows or yawning guliies impaired tn
symmetry OF their outlines. They stood on
with all the roundness OF the hemisphere O
the graceful sweep OF the ellpse. Most (
them had been cultivated and thereby free
y from the weeds and underground and roughe
2 grasses. TO these had succeeded softe
: herbage, delicate and tender, lying glossy |
: the sunlight, like roses OF richest velve
Through the blades Of this beautiful gras
! was caught Just the slightest glimpse OF th
q yellow soil beneath, whereby the loneliness Q
these hills was inestimably heightened. Th
characteristic last mentioned was highly sut
, gestive OF the tender and velvety coat OF til
J. well groomed and high-bred racer, throug
: which distinctly shows the delicate and tel
: . der skin that lies beneath.
= Riding for some distance through scener
SO charming, the river came at last In sigh
Z. A foundry lies upon its bank just where I'll
5. ? hills slope abruptly to the water. The Q!
! the inaccessibility of the country Beyon
q the refuse and scrap iron brought in by coul
Z try wagons on their road to town, the mat'
9 used comes all the way from Richmond, Va
!, and the coal is received from Charleston,
. G. In either case the distance must excae
: two hundred and fifty miles, of which all b.
q q aenty-two are by rail. This last name
4 distance must be trayersed In wagons, ov'
- rough and difficult mountain roads, consun
! ing whole Gay in the journey.
e The French Broad river at this point is
wide but shallow stream with rapid curren
for water seems to abhor high elevations 6
thoroughly as nature ahhors a vacuum. L.
d rough but substantial bridge hung over tt
4 aielai l.s .iI,<ik xa