Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-27
TO HICK0RYNUT GAP.
ATRlp az RAIL AND STAGE FROM RAJ
LEIGH TO eSHEvtLtE.
Rsv,v>l of tho OId-Time StaEc-riotu-
rcsqae Scenery Through the Gap
Esnn eraida's Cabin.
,corr.,nooa.,ce Of Tho K,camona pIspA,cA.l

fCorrespondence Of tho Richmond Diapatcn'l
R.trrou, N. g., June 24.--Ths morning
your correspondent returned here from
trip 10 the mountains, which for genuine
Measure and interest cannot be surpassed
II WAS to tho famous Hickorynut Gap,
which easily wins the honors IN all that
srsnd mountain region OF presenting III
small space tho finest scenery and phe-
nomena. A party Of newspaper men ana
railway officials made the tour rs the spe-
cal cnests Of Mr.. Thomas D.. Anderson,
general passenger agent OF the sea
board Airline, and OF MI. Johh ).
Patrick. who will operate a stage-lne
between kutherfordton, pretty noun
tan town at = the western end OF
the Soaboard Airline. and Asheviile.
The stage has for many years been ohiy
a memory In Western North Carollna' ana
this feature Of summer travel, thus re.
yiyed. will no doubt cause thousands OF
persons TO turn aside from tho beaten
track 10 Asheville and pass through TINS
wonderful gorge. No language can doplct
the grandeur IF the scenery along tho
rou,e. THIS is the most accessible gap III
all the mountains. and at one TIME IL
WINS thought the Western North aroma
railway would pass through IT, tyentuallY
thoro will be either steam or electric
road.
MOST TMPosINo.
The entrance tothe gap from the Ruther-
fordton end of the route Is most imposing
The mountains sweep, amphitheatre-like'
left and right. and the walls OF the pass
rise ID solid masses o. stone l,6OO 10 l,sOO
feet above the road and only mile apart.
The vast cliffs are of all colors-black'
red. brown. and blue mingiing WITH inc
more usual tint OF the gray granite. Along
SIDE tho turnpike runs the Broad rlVcr,
certainly ~ picturesque as the ianou
Syannanoa and larger and much more
turbulent. Its banks are bordered BY
rhododendrops. now in oil thor beauty
OF bloom. The mountains spring III
rectly from the river on either mana.
trec-covered to height OF LOW ieet'
while all above Is stone. awiul IN us size
and formation. Thore are attractive houses
along the road and several hotels AZ ono
of these. logan's. Mrs. Burnett wrote her
novel "Fsmeralda' and Just above, IN
sohd stone 800 feet above the road. - the
singular formation just Ike log CAP, n
named In her honor Esmeraidas Cabin.
Further mp the gap IS LsmeTalia Inn,
quite new designed, butt. and owned Nv
Sir. Thomas turner. and very attractive
place. Tins was tne party's headquarters
while IN TIE gap.
AZ ExTENsIyE VIEW.
The first tour was 10 Silver talls,'
go feet high, half mule from the hotel
thespcond 70 Chimney Rock all almost
circular mass Of stone rising l,l5i feet
above the river. From tins q grand Wow
l. obtained, extending III one direction
INTO South Carolina and IN another direct
D. up the pass until Pisgat Mountain shuts
out Inc WOW. Across the great chasn are
the battlements OF stone. ami these reach
f.r miles. below \ The raging and roaring
TIVer, and N the amphlthcatre are fertile
gram fields. The trees below are OF i'm.
mense size, aud there Is d crown OF gold
upon them duo TO the bursting chestnut
blossoms So IN ono view there IS not
mi sing element of the most prlzed noun
t,ln scenery. l. is all set before the eye
Ike picture gallery.
2Esr OF DtNGrE.
At great labor and considerable cost
way has been cut 10 the top OF Chimney
l..ck. Part OF the way down what IS
called the Appiau war' begins. IL Is so
unmed not because Il Is Ike the famous
l.oman highway. but because II is Just the
opposite. II is pathway midway OF the
icctnn. chI a.on- lo1g" three quarters
O.. mile ~ length, with new views at
every turn. st some point, the stone
Ilses 500 feet above and d"scenIs 500 feet
fellow. There - thu Zc8t OF Danger at
every step, and u il wonderful that even
such "a mere pathway could be found.
Al turn where the mas II tone above
overhauCs Nanny yards and appears about
t. fall n superb view Of tnn highest water
fail east ~ the Rocky Mountains il OBJ
tanned. This IS Hlckounnt tail; now
named the " Appalachian Fall" Is do
scent is IN one stream YGJ feet over d
irowu-biack wal of rolid stone 300 feet
wide. The appearance is precisely that ot
"a rauidly-mov,ng SILVER ribbon. The most
daring members OF the party wont 10 the
head If the fail and found pictures lue
mountain mill above II.
TIKI BAT cayr.
Above the EsmorMda Inn only half q
mile Is the Bat Cavr' wi,h an opening
80 feet hlgh and 100 wide and Of great
depth. Below, two mile. distant, are SIN
guar cayrrns ia shaking Bald Noun
tam Ibis is the mountain winch WAS
thought in 1874 to be IN eruption. II was
unqucstlonably the scene Of disturbances
felt III this section IN four or i've coun-
ties, but these perhaps owing TO chemical
action. Two mile. below the inn Is an
other freak of nature. the Pools
pellucIl creek rushos ia three cascades
into like number Of pools worn III the
solid granite. those pools are very
deep a1c have the appearance of wells.
Near Bat Cave there projects from the very
crest of vast Cliff perfect representa-
ton of house and near It the bow Of a
great side-wheel steamer Is clearly seen.
There Is a succession OF grand views all
tho way for SIX miles 10 the top OF the
gap. There a new vista opens and there
Is fine road TO Asheville.
REGULAR TRITs.
The stages will begin regular trips July
1st. and the Seabosrd Air-Line, whose fine
and fast passeDger-traln service is doing
50 much in binding Richmond to al the
sections along that line, will put on tickets
TO Asheville vid Raleigh, Charlotte. kuther-
fordton, and tho HickOrynut-Gap stage