Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-10-13
AN OPENING.

If some enterprising Yankee would
open aud grade the road from Dunn's,
in the valley, to Spence's cabin, which
is on beautiful open plateau, build
hotel here and open some drives, this
would become one of the famous re-
sorts of the whole country and would
attract sight-seers and invalids from
the North as well as the South. Good
springs are within easy reach. The
air is so pure and exhilarating that no
one ever takes cold here, even from
sleeping on the ground. 1t is a posi-
tive antidote for malaria and hay
fever. Perhaps very few people know
that we have a mountain in Tennessee
6366 feet above the level of the sea
and over 5000 feet above and opposite
Knoxville.
BREAKFAST
consisted of bread warmed over on the
Goals, hot coffee and bacon broiled on
a stick, each guest of the Cabin de
Spence doing his own broiling, as well
as sweetening his coffee. 1t was as
sweet and delicious a meal to us as
ever was set on princes table, for we
had appetites. At 10 o'clock we
mounted and left, accompanied by our
mountain hunter, following the line of
the two States as near as possible 60
ing west. 1t is not even a cattle path.
In four hours we had gone about six
miles and were at
EQUINEETLEE GAP,
probably 500 feet lower than Thunder
Head. The gap is covered with dense
underground and very heavily tim
bered. A little to one side is spring
and an old pull-down of cabin with
out chimney or floor, except a few
puncheons to afford shelter for rattle
snakes. Here we dined and fed, ther
started in search of the other party
which was several hours overdue
Half mile out we met them face t
face coming up narrow defile, where
it was almost impossible for them tt
pass or us to turn round, but this wai
accomplished without the loss of {
man or a gun. There we're five O.
them now and five of us, six horses
and some hounds. They had recruited
another hunter,
JULIE GREGG,
who is noted among the mountaineer,
for his successes. When we got bacI
to the cabin and rested, the delayed
hunters recited the cause of their late
appearance at the front. They reached
Cades Cove the evening before, stale
all night, left their wagon and extri
baggage at the hospitable mansion o
Mr.. Cabell, and undertook to reacl
the gap by near cut. The distanc,
was only about five miles, but was
continual ascent and part of the wa.
over a route never before travelled b,
a horse. At best it was barely bridl
way. The horses were packed an,
some Of them had to be led most 0
the way. Williamson and Quigle,
walked every step, carrying their gun
and other baggage. At Minerva
Butte they found that they slippe,
back faster than they went up, an,
had to take off their shoes befor
they could make any progress. Ono
in camp they fell down like soldiers a
the end Of a forced march.
MULTUM IN PARvUM.
We remained at Equineetlee Ga
three days to hunt, but the party sool
; dwindled down to FIVE men. w
hunted in daytime from sunrise unit
dark; at night cooked and eat ou
game, told stories to keep the wolye
! and owls of, and slept on the ground
: At the end of a week we struck camI
and let ourselves down into the GOV
by an almost unbroken way, where
7 goat could scarcely walk, and emerge
I once more upon the plains, where tn
1 sound of the ak might be heard an
' the smoke of human habitations /
! seen. The veterans of the trip, wit
, scalps in their belts, expect to try
again. j. II. NJ.