The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1896-02-10
THE LEGEND
q TALKING ROCK
80 r .vEoN OF the Oracle of the Cherokee
-~~N~~~~~~~~~~ nedcne Men,
ECIcO

Rome, Ga, February s.-(Special Cor
respondence. I'm crotch of the Cohutlah
mountains. with Bald Knob springing aloft
to height of 500 feet above the valley
on one side and Grassy mountain on the
other, rises a crystal stream that sprawis
over a wide area Of shoals, ana winding
along the gorge finally plunges over q NIFTY
foot precipce to the narrow valley, shaa
owed by dark rock, pines and thcKets OF
laurel and rhode dendron.
In summer il is one of the most romantic
and enchanting spots in all this picturesque
region. the ideal hiding place for the wary
moonshiner of the hills.
on account of its isolation from the high
ways of common travel. IL is spot sci
dom visited. and strangers are more or
less chary of entering these mountain fast
nesses. even when lured by the presence
of the specked trout in the deep transpa-
rent pools and the bron2ed gobbler in the
neighboring thicket.
There is another reason which IS rather
hard to explain 20 those unfamiliar with
the habits ana superstitions of the noun
taineers, but TO those acquainted with their
peculiar traits of character the explanation
is easy.
The place is haunted In the hillside.
back of the falls, Is the entrance 70 cav
ern, which is famed in legendary lore rs
the Talking Rock the oracle OF the
Cherokee medicine men and prophets IN
DAYS OF old.
The peculiar formation of this cavern
gaze rise to the strange superstition con-
corning it. The acoustics are such that an
exclamation in an ordinary tone OF voice
awakcus myriad echoes that startIe the
car with their wild clamor, repeating theIn-
selves over and over again unut the last
sound dies away with a melancholy sign,
in ~ MD
terranean labyrinth.
Near the entrance Of the cave is q 81
gantic stalasnite which bears a fuae re-
Sc alblance to the form Of a human being,
and to this rock the medicine men ana
prophets of the Cherokees imputed mystic
rious powers, and ii became their oracle,
which was consulted on all occasions OF
deep personal or public import.
II drought psstileuoe or famine fcil upon
the land. the medicine men Of the tribe
assembled together ana often INDUCING
in solemn HASTINGS, faGcilauons ana the
most elaborate preparations, tneN ulafehru
ia silence TO the Talking Rock. Coo-ee-
TcuclIce. as they called it.. and the medicine
men and seers of lower degree, hating at
the foot OF the falls. the chief medicine
man passed behind the wan Of water and
entered the portal or the mystic cavern TO
confer with the oracle.
Meanwhile the remainder Of the tribe
awaited the return OF the medicine I'e''
with suspense in the valley below daa Kept
NJ their savage lamentations prop.aahhS
the oracle 70 return a favorable answer
A. last I'm the dusk Of tho evening, the
medicine mon returned. headed by their
chief. ana In the council Of chiefs and
warriors the reply was communicated. 81
il were favorable. taen there WAS teastinE
and rejoicing. ard If tine question lhVo'Ve1
were one OF war, they BEGAN preparing
themselves for hattie with paint and plume
ana ga,.aoe war dance
If ne answer y.er. lagavorabie there was
sr.-,o,, ana consfer..9tf3n among the peo-
H. ma fr,,. rad - Isl. mountain to avoid
Ill. ta,fr18jns- d..,rlr not ven. 4rng torth
,,,,t,i III, ,n..a,,e was past.
4, III, ta.,,,a ,,tns III rral<ina Rock one
-, tt.,flll,,,, tragcaies ever enacted
- -, ,,,...r,.,l,le neoplo occurred
aui"iiy '''-' e ~ a. s5,h,4et ~ tho
dutihI lh@ "E''t ,tt, y, ~ v,,.t