The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-09-28
A Four Hundred Miles Walk by Six
Girls.

They are all well and in good spirits,
and, though much sunbuIned, are as
comely set of lady pedestrians as ever
| undertook long tramp. They started
| in the neighborhood Of Hendcrsonville
nearly month ago upon what was re-
| garded by their friends as n foolish
scheme to walk over North Carolina
and see the principal points Of interest
in the State, and to pay special attention
| to the mountains. Three of the girls
were at school when the project was
| hrst agreed upon, and the other three
who agreed to join them were friends.
Ihey made all their arrangements for
the proposed journey as quietly as pos
slblc, for they knew attempts would be
made to dissuade them from the under
taking. Their friends were taken COM
Pletely, by surprise when they we're told
but day or two before the commence
ment OF the walk of the intention to
tramp over the State without any es-
cort. 10 the suggestions that going
alone and with no one to protect thcm
they would subject themselves to insult.
they replied that they were willing to
make tho attempt, and they averred to-
day that from first to last thcy had
never received one rude word or rough
jest from any one, their only grievances
Delng that once or twice some persons
OF their Sex attempted to prevent them
from continuing their walk by charac-
torlzlng such an undertaking as immod-
est and unladylike. One old lady Of
tered to be their chaperone if they per-
sisted in their purpose, but the would
be chapcrone wanted to go in buggy,
and when she learned that they expect
cd TO tramp over mountains where there
were no roads, she backed out, al
though they mischicvously gave her
an invitation to Join. On the first
week of their trip they suffered much
from exhaustion, and the youngest and
iraIlest of the party, Miss Murdock,
had TO stop and rest by reason Of
severcly-blistercd feet. 1t was feared
that she would have to abandon the
trip, but she pushed on nohlv, and after
the eighth day she began to gain
strength, and is now one of the health
lest or the fair tramps. Her weight
when she started was but ninaty-two
pounds, and she turned the scales to-
day at lob pounds. All save two of tho
walkers fattened after the first week,
while two who were inclined to obesity
were pulled down twelve and eighteen
pounds. Their record shows that they
made 42O miles. They started out with
inc expectation of making between 500
and 600: Each walker wore pair of
red-lcather walking-shocs and wore
short Walking-dresses. and carried
strong stalls in their hands and knaD.
sacks upon their shoulders, in which
were packed hammocks and othcl
necessary articles. They also wore
very broad-brimmed hats, which, how.
ever, do not seem to have protect ed
their compilations, for they are nil
| burned brown. Two Of the parties
carried pistols to protect them from ac-
cidental incursions of wildcats and
bears. Much of the time they slept in
the open air in their hanlmocks under
canvas covcrlcts, which we're used to
shlcld them from heavy dews and rain.
One night, ten days ago, apprchcnding
n severe storm. they campcd in Il grave,
yard and slept between the graves.
Another night, in the mountains, they
were thrown into CONSERVATION by the
appearance of q bear, but the beast be-
ing as frightened as they were, fled
without Offering to molest them
In the mountains they were
in great terror of rattle-snakes,
but did not encounter any of
the reptiles. Along their route thev
pitable farmers entertaining them, but
they stunned notoricty and avoided all
the towns and villages, frequently going
some distance out of their way rather
than meet crowds. A novel feature OF
their undertaking was the keeping OF
what they callca their log-book In
this the record of their impressions and
adventures were kept, each taking her
turn. The book contains l, ,246 closely
written pages Although frequently
offered vehicles, they always declined,
saying that they started with the deter
mination of walking. They spent three
days in exploring the celebrated Bald
Mountains whose mysterious rumblings
some years ago created SO much excite
ment. They not only made the difficult
ascent to the top, but went into one Of
the creVices, which they examined mi
nutely, with the aim of discovering
what caused the strange sounds in the
interior. The novel Trip of the six
young ladies has been much talked
about, but as they had avoided the
crowded thoroughfarcs they were igno-
rant OF the interest taken in them, and
were much astonishcd and slightly in
suited when they learned that bots had
been made by certain sporting men
that they would not make four hundred
miles in the month. The parties are
modest and shun notoricty. They aver
they end the trip now because three of
their number will begin their school
days early in September, but they assert
their determination TO walk over the
uncXplored portion of the State next
summer. They leave to morrow by rail
for their homes, near Hendersonvilie.- -
Monroe (N c. Cor. ChGcaQo Times.
Honest, But not Reliable.
Not long since lady called on Nose
Schaumburg, to find out if a colored
woman, who had formerly been servant
at his house, was honest, she having
given him as q reference.
"She vas honest, too honest to suit
me, put she vas not reliable"
Chow in the world can that be?"
"Vell, YOU day leaves q five tollar
pill on de floor, and I dells Matildy to
sweep dot room out. shoost want to
see if she keep dot pill"
"Well, did she keep the bill?"
"No, she brings me dot pill pack"
"That looks very much as if she Il.
u. 4.