The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-08-26
WHITETOP.
ANOTHER JAUNT TO THIS
FAMOUS MOUNTAIN.
Points OF Interest Discussed by n
Memphis TOurist-A Re-
liable Fish story.
consequences OF TUE APPEAL

lCORRkbPONDENOE OF TUE APfEAL.I
SALTvILLR, VA, August 22.-When
Mr.. Fred Nelson's party were leaving
Abingdon for the trip to Whitetop
m6nntain, Of which gave an account
in former letters, friend said TO DR..
Jones, "it is trip one wishes to make
once, but never second time" He
alluded, Of course, TO the distance, the
rough roads, the primitive accommo-
datiOns TO be had there, and the IA
tigue indispensable from such four
ney; but these very objections made
the charm OF the Whitetop trip to me.
Thackery has said somewhere, eve
travel no more--we only arrive at
places" / like to travel, am never in
better heart than when in the saddle
or afoot on the nights, sleeping in the
open air and breathing the halsam
laden atmosphere OF the mountains. /
would make good tramp. II did not
need persuasion therefore, bpt only
opportunity for me TO 90 to White
top again; and the opportunity was
given, found among the guests at
that charming little resort, the Wash
ington Springs, gentleman from
Natchez, Miss, Maj, Il. X. Thomp.
son, who was very anxious to
20 TO Whitetop, and at once agreed.
On the former trip, my chum was
DR.. Jones, major in the Confederate
service, who went in at the fret roll
OF the drum and laid down his arms
at Appomatox. Thompson, my COM
panion on this iaunt, was soldier
under Burnside; rose from the ranks
TO be a major Of cavalry, "skedadled"
with the rest at Bull Run, came back
and stuck II out Ike a man, then
made it all up by marrying a
Southern girl, and settling in Missis-
sippi. He weighs nearly 200, is short
Of stature, fat, might have been in
Ce.ar's bodyguard, Sleeps we'll o
nights" did not enore, saw every
thing and was jolly good fellow 10
have along on such trip. We left
the hotel at - o'clock, amid the wav-
ing OF hats and haudkerchiefs, well
mounted and ready for anything. An
hours ride brought us TO the Holston
river, where it flows through the fine
rlblbhOln idilh VI NlIs JAllth blhIb.
TWAS swollen by the heavy rains Of
the few days previous, and instead OF
che limpid stream ripping over its
rocky bed, we found swift and turbid
current OF unknown depth. | confess
hesitated to enter strange ford at
q time OF high water, for l make no
boast of courage; but Whitetop Yves
beyond, and was bound TO go to
Whitetop, so in ! plunged. Thomp-
son followed. II was deep, but we
made the opposite shore in safety and
pushed on. When we reached the
South Fork, a much swiiter stream,
We fortunately met a mountaineer,
who, for an extra quarter,
guided us safely across. a few hours
brought as into the deep jungle that
skirts the base Of the Iron Mountain,
and the road began to wind tediously
upward. The views obtained by this
route are far better than by the Abipg-
don route. Each sharp curve of our
winding road disclosed a magnificent
birdseye view oil the Iolston valley,
with its rivers and woods and farms
and villages, sweeping away up 10 the
Oinch Mountains on the North, The
scenery is simply ravishing in its
beauty. We passed under beetlinG
cliffs of wrinkled and rugged rocks
that had deiied a thousand storms
and by dizzy piocipices from whose
basis far belo W rose the wild music Of
unseen waters laundering down the
gorge. We passed many a romantic
dell and shady glen and many q limpid
rivulet that Iippled across our way
sparkling for q moment in the sun
light, then gliding out Of sight under
the dense laurel. The day was per,
feet, and the impressions OF the hour
never TO De forgotten. Thompson
vowed we The climbing old White
top himselt--m allusion coon dis
relied, for we went down, down
down, into SIS wild aud dark a wilder
ness IS one cares TO thread. do not
remember ever 10 have seen such
pines as we saw there--an lmpenetra
bic Jungle OF laurel and pineP, wher
The roar OF the mountain torrents wal
desieniDg. This wGs the hunting
ground OF Wilbon Waters, famous
character in this region, OF whom the
natives never tire oil talking
Here be had many q des
psrste encounter with wolves
and bears and wild animals, the mar
ra.iye Of which heroic tradition
makes ones lair Iiee and the BLOOD
curdle in the veins. The prospect o
having 70 spend the night in this fear
ful place mads me nervous, for dal
WAS fast closiGg; we could not tell how
long The wilde ness would last, aud /
seemed endless Imagine orr relic
N reaching ''the settlement How
welcome that cabin in the valley, hos
chaarf,l The rio fire how foofheofni