The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-11-21
SW ELTERISG GLooh'

On foot next Tor w u"H
one unbroken forest.
swELrEElNG GLOOM
..Tbe gloom is so great YOU can ch's
comnare it to the twilight OF evening;
Won see the LEAKAGE rising up black anu
arcen Uncomfortable clumps Of trees, some
or them rising TO the hcighth OF two nun
drcd and fifty feet There is no symhetr y,
Grace or softtncss. but all is wild, uncouth
and awful. At every step YOU see mass,
If bewildcring undergrowthS, a wonueriu''
variety of plants. There is the absence
If any sense of decay. but rather the
sense of the general hcalthiuineSs ol mo
plants. an enduring youth eNi""s'''''
wonders.
There is no longer any energy among
Ms. We behold everlasting grcehh'vSs'
eternal vitality and fertility. Above all IS
protecting. impenetrablc canopy. 9acl''
trees with cafy crowns tower above us'
African mahogany, the unyicldlng IRON
wood tbe buttcrnut tree and other varic-
tics TOO numerous to mention all united
in closest embrace, darkcning the HE nc
low till it is suggestive OF mystery anu
awe.
AS we march silently, slowly and pam
fully on the forest changes its aspect ana
we note the labors of forgotten tribes ana
come to swampy grounds one uay our
march is very slow through masses o'
forest wildncSS. On the next day we go
through more open section on tue ioi
lowing dav through frowning depths ana
over ground Strcwn with dead leaves
wormeaten trunks or dried branches.
But always and above AL tower the prime
val woods, the deep shadows nnbrokeh
save bv the flashes OF lightning.
ION some DAYS the march had to he
prolonged bcyond the usual hour for halt
ing that had been fixed upon because OF
the difficulty OF choosing ground nj Tor
camp. For We bear with III tons OF per-
jshablc goods that have to be protected
from the flood, of rain
But at last II suitable spot is found.
The whistle is sounded and the loaded
files come up. and one by one they deposit
their burdens in due order. Then when
the tents were erected the camp rcSounded
with the sound OF voices. Some men with
axes. trim the poles OF the tents or cut
fuel. Some with knives peel the saplings
to utilize the bark for bedding Some dig
holes in the ground for the tent poles.
FOREST GIANTS.
in couple of hours Il little town
would be seen and hundreds Of fires would
blaze and hundred pots would be send
ing up clouds OF >avory steam. The camp
was animated and rcsounded with chatter.
and il was all the louder because confined
by the four sides OF our forest home.
After the guards were set around the
camp We felt safe from the surprise of the
cannibals and those who wished were free
to wander away At such Il time | have
been sensible of the utter poverty of
words to describe my surroundings. 1t
WAS not time for poetic brocdng. but one
after another the senses yielded to the
charm of secluson. Then bchcld
magnificent forest in listening attitude.
great gloom. trees eloquent OF antiquity
and of venerable brotherhood.
During one year We noted 800 hours of
rain. cqualing one hour Of rain in every
fifteen OF dry weather. 1t seems to Us TO
be only one hour of sunny brightness to
one OF rain and gloom. We could observe
in the forest that the sun was out only by
its effect In the forks OF the trees are
Conservatives of iirhcns and othcr plants.
The stems are wound around with para
sites twisting about like immense ana
condl>. Then there are myriad> of living
parasites. There is not >aplins or a
tree from the infant of one year tn the
hoary patriarch OF 100 wears but i III
tested with innumcrahlc parasites. There
are thousands OF thrcadlikc flamcnts
around them.
But when the Storm King rises over
head and the blast howls through their
tops every tree seems to start into mood
of wailing and groaning rs il it were
some lost soul During the hours Of day.
light, even then these sounds arc awful; but
heard at night they are incXprcsSihly ter
rible. AT times the whole camp is ablazc.
but it is far more comfortable than when
the rain pourS over the desolatc scene in
drowning showers.
you can understand now what was in
the minds of our people, who knew not
where those endless marchings were lead
ing them and no soul could cnlightcn
them as to the future Add 10 this sick
ness and depression, rs they tossed their
dead companions into the dark river
Their feet were SCARED a. they marched
along, ulcers appeared and bad water in
famed their bowels and their blood be-
came corrupted. Then the savages set on
those who tccbly crcpt after the caravan.
Or the sayagcs lay in wait and shot their
harhcd arrows into the weary. In num-
hcrlcss ways they cut OF cur people, with
lingering torture Or sudden a the light
ming strikes.
THE JOYFUL LIGHT.