Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-07-03
DOWN TURNER'S POINT.

your right, when the train gets through
the cut, you will have fine view of the
Grand Chasm," says the polite conduc
tor, lifting his gilt-lettered cap.
THANK you very much," returns the
quiet little lady in dark blue, quickly
raising her eyes from the pages of her
guide book.
ooh, Aunt Tina," says shrill, ex-
cited voice, at her elbow, "let me 90 out
on the platform, do! I'll be Just as care
full and hold on to the break as Tight"
''Don't think of such thing for a
moment!" in quick, decided tones, while
her alert eyes are upon each movement of
the restless bit OF humanity at her side.
She is a quiet looking little lady no
longer.
The train is approaching Tallulah, Tai
aulah the Terrible, Georgia's greatest and
most famous Wonder, and the pas engers
are in fever of impatience to catch the
first glimpse of the tremendous canyon
along the dizzy elgcs of which the rail-
road makes its way. None more so than
the wide-awakc bit of humanity referred
to, who, boylikc cannot understand why
1T is that his twelve years of life do not
entitle him to greater show of privi-
lcges, like that, for instance, of standing
on the platform as the other men are
doing.
He thinks his auntie unnecessarily
cautious and particular, yet he doesn't
get ugly about it at all. He has never
been very headstrong, nor very dis
obedlent boy, only somewhat willful at
times, with strange ideas of his own, the
expression of which, after fashion
peculiar to himself has gained for him
among his mates the title of 'the queer
fellow"
There is nothing in the lare sides of
the cut through which they are now
passing, nor in the m notonous stretches
of pine barrens left behind to give even
a hint of the grandeur of the scene that
now bursts upon their vision.
Down through a gore 1900 feet in
depth, and over 1000 feet in width at
its narrowest point, dashes the Tallulah
river, over rug9edly massed boulders, in
foam tossed cascades that throw their
spray in air nearly hundred feet.
On either side rise sheer walls of solid
granite, worn smooth as polished silver
in many places by the floods of centuries,
and like silver glittering in the SUMS
rays.
''That S Turner's Point, ;" said the con-
ductor, pointing Just to the right OF them
to stup2ndous mass of rugged granite
shelves, soil covered in many places that
Juts out more prominently than the
others into the dizzy gorge. "With but
one exception, continued the conductor,
"it is the highest point on the chasm.
and is full nine hundred feet above the
bed of the river
ga tremendous fall that" cxclaims a
nervous little gentleman behind him,
provided any one wanted to try it,"
shouldn't think they'd particularly
want to try it," returns the conductor
dryly, "yet some of them do"
''Good gracious" cries the nervous
little gentleman again, "you don't mean
to say that some one has fallen down
there.''
ooh, no, not that; only that some of
the more adventurous have tiled to climb
down by means of the clumps of stunted
verdure you sec."
"And did they succced?"
"Only so far MS apartial descent; about
one-third of the way, believe
Arrived at loung's Hotel about the
first person whose acquaintance is sou ght
by our restless bit of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Aunt Tlnas nephew, Swain Connor-is
Monk, the veteran guide
81 say, Mr.. Monk" Swain breaks forth
Immediately that he has that worthy Sc
curely penned in an out of the-way corner
of the veranda, 81 want you to take me
down Turner's Point"
''Phew" whistles Monk, thinking this
the queerest one he has had to deal with
yet. Then, apparently determining to
treat it all as huge joke:
''Yes, certainly, and isn't there some
thing else on the same order that YOU
would like, pleasure ride, for instance,
over the Hurricane?"
''Yes, if you please"
but, good gracious! don't please %
cries the excitlble little guide, losing con-
troll of himself at once. "The thing either
way is not to be thought of for mo-
ment, unless You are extremely anxious
to leve tn s world for another"
But the conductor said some of 'em
went down Turner's Point"
''Some ole or two fool hardy ones
have, to CERTAIN distance, but they
were glad enough to get back, can tell
you. AS to going down that way to the
bottom of the gorge-well, if yol are
extremely ANXIOUS to get rid of yourself,
the quickest way would be to try the
Hurricane. :"
"The very 'terror-spot' of the whole
river" says Mr.. Monk, the next morning
when exhibiting the awe-inspiring spec
taclc, known as Hurricane Falls, to Aunt
Tina and her attendant Swain.
They have been afraid to leave the
hotel at first because of the threatening
appearance of the sky, but as Aunt Tina's
time is limited, she had finally decided
to venture. After that, luck seems to
favor her, for, with the except on of the
few drops while at the Indian Arrow
Rapids, there has been no further fall of
rain. Indeed, the clouds are now fast
clearing away, while already the bright
rays of the sun are struggling forth.
80, what beautiful little rainbow"
cried Swain, as from the rock on which
they are now standing he catches sight
of the exquisite arch, whose prismatc
hues sparkle brilliantly between him and
the dashing foam of the cascade.
''Yes, but yonder Is a much more
beautiful one, says Mr.. Monk, pointing
down the gorge t. where magnificent
bow, intensely vivid in its coloring, spans
the rugged walls of the canyon.
"1'hat is, indeed a beauty" exclaims
Aunt Tina. as she turns round the better
to admire it. Il don't know when have