The herald., 1896-07-08
MOUNT SAN JAC|NTO ABLAZE


How many of the readers of The Her
aid have ever seen forest on fire, and
how few have witnessed the awe-inSpir-
ing spectacle of grand old mountain,
with its hoary peak towering 1000 feet
above the level of the sea, enveloped in
mantle of white, vaporous smoke, as
though volcano on its piercing
summit was in active eruption, while
from the deep, heavily wooded, canyons
that seam it's rock-ribbed sides, immense
volumes of black resinous smoke and
fiery tongues of red flames, that dart
upwards from the cone-covered top of
some monarch of the forest, completes
the Illusion? About two weeks ago some
careless campers" were responsible for
the starting of fire on the eastern slope
of the above mountain; camp fire. per-
haps, made for the sole purpose of pre-
pairing cup of coffee, and left without
the proper precautions, silently creep
ing along among the dry leaves and pine
needles till, reaching the heavily wooded
slopes above, it burst forth into a de-
structive conflagration that has since
Travelled some twelve miles of heavily
wooded country, sweeping onward in it's
resistless course around the eastern and
northern slopes, until favorable north
wind set in, in fiery charge, bowling
over the timber-covered crest and down
the southern and western sides, but still
five or six thousand feet above the heads
VI thS sOJoui iCi III quicl, pedCelul, Oedu-
tiful Strawberry valley, who, in the
knowledge of perfect security, enjoy the
grand spectacle, even as the residents
of Chattanooga, in their peaceful homes
watched the onward, upward course,
amid pillows of smoke and flame, of 1.-The
battle above the Clouds" And, truth to
tell, in all but the rattle of musketry
and roar Of artillery, this is a grand
representative of that famous battle of
Lookout mountain. The long irregular
lines of flames, as they eat their way
through the dense underground, now cir
cling the base of some solitary peak, and
now charging up its precipitous sides or
over wooded crest, strangely resembles
the sheets of flames from the rifles of the
long lines of the boys in blue
as they fought their way up
wards to victory; while thousands of
feet above the thick, grey-black smoke
from the burning pines envelopes the
higher peaks, as did the powder smoke
that belched from the muzZles of con-
federate batteries as the Vave boys in
grey fought as never men fought be-
fore in a vain effort to defeat their gal
liant foemen.
A mile to the south of San Jacinto
peak, and connected by saddle shaped,
precipitous, unbroken chain of almost
bare rocks, lies Mt. Tarquezt, whose
pointed peak rises to almost as great an
elevation as that of it's grander neighbor.
Indian legend tells us that Mt. Tarquezt
is the home or workshop of his Satanic
majesty, and that those who climb its
precipttouS sides and scale its rocky
heights can hear the heavy blows of his
hammer as he YIELDS and forges the
chains that forever bind his unfortunate
victims in his power Be that as it may,
it will be devil Of long time before the
writer undertakes to invade the old boys
private domain-the road is too rocky"
Tn the shadow Of q q
mountains. 5000 feet above sea level and
surrounded on all sides except the west
by pine and oak covered hills, lies lovely
Strawberry valley. Four miles In length,
with an average width of half mile,
with a mountain stream of pure crystal
water boiling over granite boulders or
placidly flowing under beautiful shade
trees, with an infinite variety of wild
flowers, and with a climate cool, dry and
invigorating, and Incompatible for those
with weak lungs, it would be hard to
find more ideal spot for few weeks
rest and recreation, or an entire sum-
mer's outing, providing you are content
ed to leave your 'fnery'' at home and go
prepared to trough it, The modern ho-
tel has not as yet invaded this restful
spot. Society leaves it's fashionable
gowns at the seaside or in the city, and
in sensible mountain attire rides, drives
and walks. or reads, sleeps and eats.
without thought of what shall /
wear"
The camp" Is under the control of
Mrs. j. M. Keen, who receives her guests
with the true Kentucky hospitality.
ushers you into your cottage or tent or
suite of rooms-that are kept neat and
clean--with "the grace of blud grass
BELLE" and seats you at her table, with
its spotless linen, to enjoy delicious
meal, such as mother used to cook"
We have dined at the Grand in Paris,
we have supped at the Victoria in Lon
don, we have breakfasted at the Waldorf
in New York and lunched at the Palace
in Frisco. but we have never partaken
or such delicious Kentucky corn bread
as we have devoured-no other word ex-
presses it--at the hospitable table of the
Keen house. The mail arrives three
times per week and The Herald keeps us
In touch with the outer world.
JOHN +. FRANCIS.