The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-20

A few seasons ago the rope walker, de
Leon, walked on rope stretched across the
chasm from Lovers Leap TO Point Inspira-
ton. The event had been advertised and
excursion trains arrived from every direc-
ton and landed thousands of persons who
were anxious to witness the feat
The rope was stretched, and the necks
OF the hungry spectators were stretched
for some hours before they were re-
warded with a $ ght of de Leon in his gor
geous tights and spangles Out on the rope
ventured the fearless walker. The great
crowds held in u vast quantity of breath.
The rope was crossed in safety, and the
crowds cheered Justify. De Leon had agreed
to return on the rope. and the crowds again
prepared to hold in breath. The walker,
after brief rest again faced the chasm,
but he was pale and unhappy. The balanc-
ing pole was humbly rendered him by
proud mental who had enjoyed the honor of
holding it during the artists rest. A local
magnate bowed to the walker and said:
"Will the great de Leon begin his return
march nowN The walker shook his head
and said: mo, thank you, please" Then
he added II believe there is bridge
little way up the riverF
"Oh, yes" replied a dozen voices.
"Well, said the great De Leon, II guess
that bridge is good enough for me-"
Council Bluffs was the identical spot
where the Cherokee warriors sat in council
in the days before their lands were sac
quired" by the State of Georgia. There is
an Indian legend connected with the Lovers
Leap, and from this the brink referred to
was named In the days of the Indians an
old Cherokee chief had a snug little wigwam
few hundred yards from Council Bluffs.
In front of his wagwam the old chief
would sit for hours at time smoking
and hungering after the scalps of
his enemies. Like all old chiefs
he had a lovely daughter. The lovely
daughter was in the habit of dressing her
self up afternoons and doing" the falls.
One afternoon she returned from the falls
in company with a strange young chief,
whom she introduced to her father, and
said: ooh, papa, please thank this young
gentleman for being awfully kind to me.
He came along as | was climbing up the
side of one of the cliffs. | fell and would
have hurt myself if he had not caught me
in his arms. Oh. papa, want yon to load
him with presents. and ask him to call
again"
But the old chief did not look at the thing
In That light. He loaded the young stranger
with curses instead of presents, and threw
tomahawks and other handy sundries at
him. The young man fled, and the Indian
maiden was warned to avoid making
strange acquaintance i'll future. Some
time afterward, however. the strange young
chief was found in her company and was
apprehended. He was tried at Council
Bluffs by a sage council of warriors, pre-
sided over by the old chief. The maiden
pleaded for her lover, who she explained
had again met her by chance while doing"
the falls
Then" cried her father, she shall do
the falls till the crack Of dooml"
The young chief was dragged to the brink
of the precipice, followed by the shrieking
maiden. Her piteous cries were of no avail.
Her lovers struggles were as vain, and an
instant later he was pushed over the preci
pice. The maiden crawled to the brink and
and looked in horror down into the abyss
Then springing up with a wild cry she
leaped after her lover, whose body was
found near hers at the bottom of the gorge
In some places the sides of the cliffs are
colored as if by Indian paint At one point
a dark figure somewhat resembling moon,
is seen on the rocky wall. This is described
as the shadow of the last Indian who turned
his back on his native cliffs, and with the
roar of the Tallulah gorge still IN his ears
followed his elected brethren in the direc-
ton OF the setting sun.
Land is cheap in this neighborhood. But
little of it is cultivated, although it is not
poorly adapted for ordinary farming. Stock
ranches would do well here and grapes
would grow in profusion; but the people
have no capital. An Atlanta company is
building large fashionable hotel on a
neighborlng mountain top. The views
from the mountains which surround this
valley are grand in the extreme From
them the entire country appears to be COW
cred by vast forest, which is beautiful
even when the wintry gales howl through
it and drown the wild roar of the ever fall
ing Tallulah.