Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-09-11
"THE LAND OF THE SKY"

correspondence Oh Tue AleSauuTld OaLctlc
BLACK MOUNTAIN, N. O., Sept. T.
Probably the laissez faire which seems
to come upon most visitors to h.
mountains during summer has had
something to do with the long interval
which has elapsed since our last letter
from the rather indefinable region call
ed "The Land of the Sky" Before
leaving Brevard, among the numerous
trips still left in store for US, we chose
the ascent of Rich mountain, from
which one of grandest views in that
neighborhood is presented to tue tour
ist. Rich mountain is about seven miles
from Brevsrd, but it takes drive OF
fifteen miles to get TO the top. Que OF
the reasons why this trip is 80 popular
is that the ascent can be made all the
way in carriages. Those who prefer to
20 on horseback take the seven mile
drive. Rich mountain has acquired a
melancholy interest on account of the
death of Miss TIllman aud the Rev.
Mr.. Lee by lightning near its top last
summer, which all readers of the GA
zErTE will remember. The awful
accident occurred about balf
mile from the summit. Our
party passed right by the place. There
was the stricken poplar, and right under
it lies markers close together showing
where the unfortunate ones fell side by
side. The bright party of pleasure
seekers was formed into mouruful
procession as they followed the old
wagon, procured from mountaineer's
house little lower down the noun
tain, containing the two bodies on ills
solemn journey of fifteen miles to
Brevard, through night of rain aud
Sto,m
A vast circle of mountains meets the
eve from the summit of Rich Mouu-
ain. which is 8, 800 feet above the sea,
200 feet higher than the Peaks of Ouer,
the highest point in Virginia. Peaks III
North and South Carolina and Georgia
are distinctly visible and on cl,ar
day the Great Smoky range dividing
North Carolins from Tennessee can De-
seen. While enjoying this magnificent
panorama yoar correspondent and th1
rest of the party could not foreeo the
claim of bountiful lunch which was
served on the highest tables male OF
solid rock, at which we ever sat.
Ten days passed away very pleas.
,ntly at Brevard, when we determin-
ed to move eastward again. A
few hours were spent at Asheville,
which is beautifully situated among the
mountains at the confluence OF the
Swannanoa and French Broad rivers.
This health resort is 30 we'll known that
we not further describe it, especially as
we we're seeking the repose of the coun-
tv and not the stir of the town. 30 we
went on to the Mount Mitchell Hotel,
Black Mountain, sixteen miles east OF
Asheville, right on the line of the
Southern road. This pleasant summer
hostelry, under the hospitable maraee
ment of our genial host, Mr.. w. d.
Sprague, STANDS $500 feet above the
ses. in the heart of the mountains, and
furnishes a delightful retreat among
magnificent scenery. Three miles east
is the Swanpauoa Gap, where the rail
road crosses the Blue Ridge through
the Swanuanoa Gap tunnel, 1900 feet
long Here is the "Divide" between
the streams falling into the Atlantic
through the Cstawba river, and those
running into the Mississippi through
the French Broad and Tennessee
From a peak just above the ga }, easily
accessible by carriage, we obtained
snlendid view of Mount Mitchell 10 the
blob Mountain. the higest peak
sast of the Rockies sscertained
by recent United States geological !
surveys to be GIL feet above the ieVel
of the sea. 1t receives Its name from
Prof. Mitchell, who lost his life there IN
1857 on trip to determine its alti.uo
His body lies buried on Its SUNNI
Of course one of the sights for tne EEK eH
pectant visitor in this region Is olll.