The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-06-23
ONE or M ruRE,s woNDERs.
A visit to Flat Rock, in Fairfield County
One OF tho Greatest Wonders Of tho State.

;; A Visit to Flat Rock, in Fairfield County.
One OF tho Greatest Wonders Of tho State.
! CEDAR GROVE, June 16, 1851
Yesterday, in company with Capt.
Thos. Anderson and Mr.. Silas Ruff.
had the pleasure Of visiting one Of the
curiositics Of South Carolina, in noth-
/ ing less than Flat Rock, on Mill creek,
in Fairfield county. have seen the
far-fanicd rocky lodges and bluffs
along the Susquehamna and Potomac
! rivers, and tho wonderful freaks Of
: nature among the Allegheny and Blue
Ridge mountains, aud in comparison
with these, Flat Rock deserves place
Of note, which it unfortunately seems
not to hold-t'rom the simple fact of
being, to considerable extent, un-
/ known. 1t is grand and wonderful
| rock, and well worthy of Il visit from
any one who has any appreciation at
all for the vast and sublime in Nature.
Flat Rock is on the lands OF Capt.
Thos. Anderson, and near The road
leading from Winnsboro to Monticello
or Alston. In extent it covers more
!! than ten acres Of land, and in quality
has been pronounced excellent granite.
Coming to the surface Of the ground
near the top of a ridge on the western
side OF Mill creek, it extends, with q
gradual slope, to the banks of the
creek, IN appearance presenting a dark,
dull color. Various seams or veins
traverse the rock in different dircc-
tions, sometimes running in one dircc-
zion and then suddenly turning in an
! other. In other places strcaks Of flint
one or two inches wide divide tile
huge piece Of granite into various
shapes. One Of the greatest curiosi-
ties about it is that names which were
chisclcd upon its surface in q hollow
place about thirty years ago have been
covered by a layer of strata, which
presents much the appearance of
muddy or soilcd ice. This curious
freak has caused much comment by
persons who have seen it, and puzzled,
t" no small extent, the geologic knowl-
edge Of educated persons.
Flat Rock is beautiful and pictur-
csquc to an eminent degree. Very
! near its centre Il little hollow OF all
acre or SO has been filled with earth,
and tromS Sthc scanty soil cc,l..rs and
other trees arc growing, their rustic
trunks being lwincd round with jas
mine and other vines. In other places
upon i, aic little clunps of cctlars,
Which give. it Il rustic and extremely
pTk-ikr appearances.
ike all picturesque spots Flat Rock,
ol course. has its "Lov.r rs l., ap," for
it is supposed that such places are
peculiarly adapted to love making,
and that if there is "jilt" or II "tlis-
appointment in amy way, no other
place is more fit for an exit from the
scenes of failure than near the spot
where fate WAS slakcd and lost. There
fore, Nature prepares "Lovcr's Leaps"
near all picturesque localities Tor the
accommodation OF those who lose in
loves conqucst,'and who, having lost
in that, care not to live Tor ANYTHING
else. Flat Rocks "Lover's Leap" is Il
very good onc--down in the woods on
the north side where the silent shade
of the forest trees wells the spot with
fitting gloom. 1t is rather low, and
! might not Kill OH the first leap. but
then the experiment could be repeated
until successful leap is made.
One cannot fail to experience train
Of grave yet pleasing reflections by a
| visit to Flat Rock. Its size purtcntls
something of vastllcss, and To the med
iIafivu mind an idea Of the sublime.
Years ago the wild deer stood upon it's
bluffs and rested under The trees
around its edges unmolcstcd aud um-
scared by busy white mans tread. and
the savage red man seated upon the
boulders at its base drew from the
then sluggish waters of Mill creek a
scaly meal for his wiYwarm board.
Now both representatives cf the forest
are gone, and we carclcssIy pick up
the broken arrows and remark, "This
was u weapon Of the unfortunate III
dian"
Reader, if YOU have not seen this
wonder, which nature has placed So
near you in your own county you
! would certainly lose nothing by pay
ing it a visit. There are many desira-
bic features about it which make it Il
plcasa place for a summer resort.
md certainly delightful for picliic par
ties. The pictureSquencSs Of the SUI
rounding country, the uncQuallcd SIC
Of the rock, the little creek which
sweeps around its base, and the nu-
m r,us varieties of moss and wild
flowers make it truly lovely spot,
and one, when once seen, long 10 be
remembered.
HARRY T.. UARMAN.