The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-06-29
HICKORY NUT GAP.
Western North Carolina and the
Beauties Of our Mountainous
Wonderland.

b6auLl0S OF our INFAMOUS
Wonderland.
Mr.. J A. Harrell, who accompanied
the Seab0ard Air Line excursion party
Of journalists ana railroad officials to
Hickory Nut GAP and other points in
Western North Carolina last week,
writes the following account Of his trip
for the GOLD LEAF:
Said Lord Byron to q typical Ameri-
can, travelling in Europe, g Tell me some
thing about your Niagara whereupon
this same typical gentleman was forced
to confess he had never seen them. " You
are fool, sir, said Byron, "and | will
have no more to say to you.' Said
Chief Justice Hoar to q well informed
and good meaning Carolinan, whileupon
the highest peak OF the White Mountains
Of Vermont, "Describe to me. if you
please, your Nantahalas and Appa-
lachian ranges Of the Blue Ridge" and
the reply comes, Il have never been
there" Stentorian and commanding in
donations came from the lips OF Hoar,
$50 home, young man go home"
MIR. Editor, | am trying to fix some
way to tell You about Western North
Carolina, the Appalachian mountains
and Hickory Nut Gap inparticular. How
to do it or where to begin, is Il puzzle
fool.
Hickory Nut Gap is a pass much OF the
way along Broad River, between Ruth
crfOrdtOn, Rutherford county, and Ashe-
Vile, BuncOmbe county, n. c., distance
forty-two miles by stage-twenty-one
miles from Ruthorfordton and the
same distance from Asheville. At the
Inn Esmeralda, with Mrs \. Ferguson as
Il hostess, is where | write. Grandeur,
sublimity, beauty, in the very hands OF
extravaganza, and the hotel, though a
new house (hardly finished), partakes of
the nature OF its environments and is eX-
trayagant in It's hospitality to its guests.
Famed Chimney Rock, cataracted
Broad river, Appalachian falls, historic
| Esmeralda cottage, the trio of pools in
ders and attractions of this immediate
section, all within the radius of a mile.
Chimney Rock is perhaps four thous-
and feet above sea level and then upon
the top Of this it has an apex or dome,
five hundred feet high, standing separate
and alone from every other peak. This
peak is famed in the books, and many
beautiful lines have been written in its
praise. 1t is solid rock except at its top,
which is in Il high state Of yegetatiOn
Strangers get to the top by wooden
poles, steps and energy. Up to three
years ago no person had ever been to
| the top OF this rock, though many have
claimed to have performed this feat be-
fore.
Broad river and its cascades, what q
soul stirring sight. just a few miles Off,
! on the top OF mountain, may be seen
q puddle Of water OOZing from the
ground. An OK can drink it dry, but
when let alone it comes trickling along
down the hills and by the rocks, while
other little streams take it in their
bosom. They together come down by
the side OF the mountain, Il bubbing,
rushing, noisy cascade. Other streams
continue to come and pour their crystal
contents at the feet Of the Broad until a
mighty stream is in sight. Here the
spectacular begins at the very door of
Esmeralda Inn. Here the surging, rush
/ ing, affrighted waters from a hundred riv-
| ulet5 III their mad efforts at a rapid hur-
ing below stone and bastinadO them
selves against Obduratcd rocks and i'm
movable banks OF the river. Millions of
molecules from this catastrophe of wa
ters, rocks and banks, leap high in the
air and their mystical calculations build
the ram bow volatile, to the delight of
the excited beholder. The Swannanoa
river is beautiful. The French Broad
river is beautiful, but don't compare
these rivers with the Broad. \ volume
might be written about each OF the fol-
lowing scenes OF grandeur: The Appa-
lachian falls, Esmeralda cottage, the
Three Pools (Nature's perfect wonders),
Old Bald Mountain, Silver Falls, Bat
Cave, Cathedral Cavern, Hickory Nut
Falls, Rumbiing Cave, and listen. All
| thee places are within radius of one
mile from thermal EsmeraIda Inn.
Some one has said the more one sees
OF our majestic half world-our CONT
| mental American republic, the less pa
thence he must have with those absurd
creatures who every year flock by tens
Of thousands to other lands, while they
have seen nothing and know nothing of
their own. Earth has no other land like
ours. Among all the nationalties and
| realms OF the globe columbia, the Gem
OF the Ocean, is peerless, unrivaled and
unrlyaiabIe, unapprOached and unap-
prOachabe. "a land whose stones are
iron, and out Of whose hills thou mayest
dig brass, ''-Deut. viii, 8. But | hear
you ask, how may reach this wonder
Jul Wonderland" Why, easy enough
from New York, Philadelphia, Washing
ton, Baltimore, Norfolk, Wilmington,
Charleston, Savannah, in fact, from the
entire seabOard. Just get on the cars or
boats, connecting with the great Sea-
board Airline, talk with the conductor,
your friend, or look out at the passing
beauties until you get to Butherfordton,
Rutherford county, Western North Caro-
| lima, which will be about twilight, stop
ALI night or day Or two at the Isother-
mai Hotel, ". S. Guthrie as landlord
Then get on q stage, ride twenty-one
miles to Esmcralda Inn. The drive is so
entertaining you will think the Journey
very short This is one Of the best,
cheapest and most beautiful routes for
reaching Ashcyillc also, from anywhere
east, round trip tickets by Seaboard
Airline. J. \. HARRELL.
just think Of it--a Watch and Clock