The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-06
LOVELY LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.
Glenn r.. Matchan, of the Four
teenth, Tells of Its Beauties.

So many of the boys at Camp Thomas have
referred to their visits to Lookout mountain
that a description of the historic spot Will
be doubtless a subject of interest to many
readers of The G o b at this time. Glenn
R. Matchan, hospital steward of the Four
teenth regiment, after a recent trip to the
mountain, describes it's beauties in a letter
under date Of June %, written to his mother.
Mrs; G. L.. Matchan, 2109 Lyndale avenue
south. MINNEAPOLIS. 1t is as follows:
drill | will employ the time in writing YOU
Notwithstanding there is a mild breeze blow
Ing it is excessively hot In camp. Last Sun
day l spent on a trip to Lookout m mountain
enjoying the day exceedingly, it being the
first opportunity l have had for day off:
/ Will try to give you meager account Of
my visit to this famous historical spot.
After resolving my pass l left the park
In company with Paul Clarkson, the adjutant's
m, where we enjoyed an elegant dinner and
short run about town. We purchased our
elckets for the ascent on the incline railway
q little narrow gauge road, running up the
side Of the mountain and operated By the car
coming down pulling the ascending up
The ride up is fine, beyond description. 1t
road runs directly through the battle field, go
bellion.
Arriving at tie summit we visited Look
out inn where we enjoyed the fresh air and
beautiful scenery, so magnificent as it appears
from the western Porch OF the hou:e. From
",
ley, including the city of Chattanooga and
the ''Moccasin" formed in the Tennessee
river, formed by turn in the stream and imi-
impressive sight. All about the mountain
are lowlands or flats. created in beautiful
green and dotted here and there with plan
tations or farm lands, the sight CT which
recalled eur beautiful Minnesota fields as they
appear at this season of the year.
leaving the hotel we rode around the
rock. This is a mammoth mass of stone
hanging over the mountains edge. At its
highest point where the view Of the setting
sun is obtained, it is grand beyond he power
Of human to describe And this Is why it is
called Sunset rcck. How much l win that
OF such such a scene as | enjoyed today. Next
charged cents admission. Inside you find
an army of little negroes anxious to act as
guides, from which You make your selection
and d., start on your journey of sight seeing.
The first thing. we were shown YVES The
40 feet, high. shaped like mans head, on
one side of which is perfect imitation of
a human face From this we crossed the
underneath It. The bridge is mass of solid
rock IS feet long, Is feet high and so feet
I'VE had look at what is called The Fat
Mans Squeeze at a point where the pass
age between the walls OF the canycn is onlv
sufficiently wide to admit the passage OF
a thin skinny man, but altogether too mar
row OF lad of my girth. 1 wonder how
father would look trying the squeeze!
AT the end Of this passage is what is
known as Telephone Rock Near its base
is large hole extending upwards about
twenty five feet, where it again comes TO rhe
outside OF wall Of rock and TWO persons.
the other side CT this rock you are shown
the Devils Fire Place natural fire plsce
by the devil. Thence we turned to the
bridge l have mentioned, recrossiAg 1t and
passing down the mountain and up again
over incline No. 2. The grade up this in
cline is 6S per cent, and the car almost stands
on end 1t is ride for your life. and would
like to take it again, so much did enjoy it.
AT the top of incline No. there is a
large and elegantly appointed summer hotel
similar in appearance to the once famous
Lafayette hotel ct Lake Minnetoaka. 1t il
very small place. The spot s cool and
| the swells of the South spend the hot sum
| mer months and there is every evidence that
| they know how to appreciate their oppo.-tu-
| nifty. In front of the house Is Il PARK laid
out beautifully and sloping down to rocky
cliff, whence you may enjoy :, magn ihcent
| panorama of nature, here and thera changed
| for miles and miles. Leaving this place on
| our return we stopped off at he old battle
| field, viewing many /nts Of interest and
| picking up here and there q mamento of
the fierce struggle which took place so long
| ago between the brave boys of rhe Blue and
| the Gray, who our now fighting side by
side under Old Glory for the liberty of our
| Cuban brothers. 1 shall try to visit OLD
Lookout again before leaving Camp Thomas,
and 1 wish very much that you could be
| here to go with me.
There is little camp news that I cen
write you other than that you real In The
! G | be. I receive the home PAGERS regu-
| lary and while reading the locals l feel
| as If 1 were at the dear old omesead, where
we have all enjoyed SO much of real home
| life and comfort which, of course. we sadly
miss now. But, then, we snail soon be
home again. and shall enjoy home the mere
| for having been without it's comforts. Re-
member me kindly to our many friends and
| neighbors, and write me as Often as you
may find time to do so."