The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-25
THE LAND OF THE SKY.
xnISTS RETKL IN THE GRAN
NArURE's HANDIHoRh.
aboard Air Line Tenders n Splendid
Tip Through w'.'er" N0r'" '"''"""'
sketches Prom the Scenes.

,,o6some private car which left
Ian over Che seaboord Air Line last
morning with a party Of Journal
.,a,e for C.dmncy Rock, Ruther-
..,,y. y. c.. reached IFS destination
1850 ..t,rn last evening al O'Clock.
grim was o. most delightful one in
n,rI.u.ar. and was given com
...-g to thc quin-drivers from sew
....,s in Virginia and North Caro-
tbe scaboard Air Line people.
r. immediate guidance OF Mr.. 7.
.....r thc genial. enterprising gen
s' ....reer agent Of that road.
e- following composed t-e party: A.
r ol Norfolk. ". Y. n. Williams,
.....ih. Major vs.. +. Irvine rep
.. one Norfolk Nirglnian; sewell
N southern Pines. William Mon
......rI.le ulrut Carolina Central
@..lolrI Air Line. Wade Harris.
Charlotte Ncws, r. G.. Hidden,
% richmond Times. H. j. Hale. OF
" ....,l.I. observer, John l.. Weber.
'-' ....r.eslou News and Courier. j.
... ~ Weldon. j. II. Patrick. of
.r Pines. a. Willard. supcrinten-
........n. sumter and Northen rail-
...n. b. s.. Odds of the Raleigh
N 49,. West OF Raleigh; & a.
of he Raleigh News and OBJ
IS d. chambers Of Charlotte,
. u. James. of the Wilmington
s. Banks. OF The Charlotte
u,r
.A.r meu,cr party never got to-
..r AND soc i have not single jag
.d rs host Mr. Anderson has
..s and u0 supcriors. lie over
.h.ug for the comfort and pleas
...t Ills guests. and the resolutions of
.... .Y 1r Anderson 90 the Seaboard
..IlHe. oaI 90 Mr.. j.. 4. Patrick, who
..rl.l che party from Southern
U.sto hickory Nut Gap. came straight
.m ORE hearts of every one in the party
HI ~ the crowd was Mr.. j. a.
unU NJ Weldon Ills great big soul
I..It over with the choicest humor
..lIs jokes were as fresh and sparkling
na morning dew. lie is AN applicant
Or He IH. zion OF United States Public
Il ali his popularity is vouched
fle 1850 Endorsements sent 90 Mr..
Cleveland from AN over the United States
srl.IIs chances for the honor are
DID, ll means slim. The contest seems
gu 4aFe narrowed down 10 himself and
al applicant from the state OF New York.
colonel j.. A. Olds, OF Raleigh. was
ts ttIl4 company AS one cares 10 meet
ID. s original. bright and altogether re-
rlrs The entire parry became al
most ass warmly attached 10 him as to
- hose himself. who makes friends
..ryahere and holds up his end of the
rla in an official capacity as few rail-
..4 men / have ever known.
~.
tl were Mr.. William Moncure. who
really couldn't do enough for the pleasure
H Tue party. i verify believe he would
base rendered the newspaper men the use
f.e whole Carolina Central railroad
hl 40 been necessary TO add 10 our
pleasure and comfort. Then there was
Haor Irvine, OF Norfolk, who knows a
good joke when he hears #. and under
stands "the boys from start TO finish.
Nrrs Mnlari. Camp. Williamson fact
they were all a hale. whole-souled crowd,
ana they made Western North Carolina
lively for "a few days.
Passing Sketches.
Down through Henderson and Raleigh
or special train sped over the road to
Charlotte. and thence 90 Rutherfordton.
peaceful, smiling little town only n
Ridge Mountains. where the party was
net by half "a dozen carriages and con-
f.yed % the hotel 10 partake of a splen-
so dinner. At 9 O'Clock In the afternoon
the procession of vehicles was well on
its way TO Hickory Nut Gap. perhaps
the most picturesque section of country
t1 De found throughout the Appalachian
chain. The Broad river. n restless. crys-
tAl stream, divides the great gorge, lcav-
is towering. rugged height on either
side. ON the right of the road going
towards Esmeralda Inn is Bald Mountain.
al oval height reaching some 25o0 feet
above the sea level on the south side
W this, about half way 20 the summit, is
rock which nature has moulded I'm the
shape of am humble cabin. From the
g. a distance Of about one and one-half
miles, the resemblance is so perfect that
sporting man would not hesitate 10
laI1ie on tho workmanship being that
.r Fl m0mtainecr This natural freak is
iI.l "Esmcralda Cabin" and was the
..ae az Christian l.eld's famous story.
About eighteen years ago Bald Noun
.'l took notion % split i'm twain. which
mei am immense cave some three or
r hundred feet from the top. which
.fe as still n point of interest 20 the
numerous tourists passing through this
r.-ton. At the time Of the great rupture
re sound was distinctly heard I'm Ruther-
Ton. "a distance of eighteen miles. and
many OF the natives Of that town and
re surrounding country at once Joined
u church in consequence.
T. ihe left Of the road a limpid rivulet
'H.I.s over three large rocks mt the foot
I Chimney Rock Mountain. forming one
No tte most beautiful cascades in North
. &c D.. q 81,
E IS pool OF some twenty feet square.
OH. nnp.- one Of these is sixty feet deep.
OH. 'oW0r one eighty feet and the depth
no fr. middle pool has never beeh ascer-
.aei It IS believed by some that II
-.. rn ln the hundreds Of feet.
I short drive brought us 10 Esmeralda
|. pretty haven of rest. kept by Mr.
Tomas. "a genial Scotchman, who never
refuses refreshments known as the Hot !
tuch" one would be surprised 10 see |
.a that mountain air can make a pill /
H.m eat We were all ravenous at sup /
la- and Colonel Odds suggested that the |
walters would bring in the kitchen 10 |
~'t trouble.
The next morning. after climb OF /
e ana a half. the members OF the /
lary were Vieing with each other IN /
'Hr uses ~ adiectives over the glorious /
-ape that greeted them from the
.f Chimney Rock Dome. This Is
r-e rock shaped like chimney
i'.t high. and about % feet In diane
iy means OF steps the view can
secured from the top. where grand
mine Of Nature, comprising nun
-s " rugged peaks. reaching away up
VI DE clouds frOwn from either side upon
sweeping valley, kept ever fresh by
'.Ial stream. whose sparkling rippleS |
use each other over rocks and rugged
,ices A man without a soul could
ol, drink I'm the beauty and gran
nj DID, amah q. eaavn n, atfav,yf 10