Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-08-31

companions Mr.. G.. A. Stock, of Charles
tons and Mr.. J. A. Stock, tho Junior
momber of tho COURIER firm. "Jake''
was the faithful driver, who hold Che
reins securely over q pair Of Alexandar's
blacks. Jocassoe and Whitewater were
our first objective points. =
| Nightfall found us at the hospitable
homo of Mr.. M. Nicholson, who is well
known to our readers, as ho has served
two torms as County Commissioner, and
is esteemed ono of Oconee's best citi-
IONS Hero wo enjoyed few hours of
| 4efreshing rest and started cut early Fri
d,y morning for tramp through Jocas-
sec Valley, accompanied by Mr.. D. Il.
| Nicholson. This valley has long been
noted for its beautiful scenery. The
limpid waters of Whitewater river flow
through it in Southeasterly direction.
About two miles apart arc tho upper and
lower falls. In beauty they arc scarcely
surpassed by any in the Piedmont Sec
tion, ovon though they are spoken of
less frequently. Wo must confess that
wo wei" fgrccably surprised to find such
magnificent scenery within five hours
rido oi Walhalla. We had mover before
boon impressed with tho fact that right
hero i'll Oconce county-almost at our
very door-eXist mountains and valleys,
rivcrs aud watcr falls, all combining and
constituting as tino scenery as tho eye
need to behold. While viewing the sceno
and recalling how littlo wo have over
heard or sccn writton about the varied
natural attractions of this beautiful val
Icy, wo were again rominded: ''Tis dis
tanco that lends onchantment to tho
vicw." Certain it is that both persons
and things sometimes fail of recognition
and proper appreciation by reason
of close proximity. "a prophet is
not without honor save in his own
country and among his own poo
plc." In like manner tho works of
nature arc not esteemed by us because
of their ncarncss and Familiarity. There
is iittlo doubt that there are thousands
of persons in distant cities who would
gladly spend tho summers in this valley
If they only know of its attractions.
But wc think tn, timo is not far distant
when it will DO sought out and its varied
natural resources laid under tribute to
the health and happiness of man rs never
dreamed Of heretofore.
Friday afternoon and night were spont
with Con. w. L. Erwin at his summer
home on tho banks Of tho Whitewater
river midway between tho falls. Here wo
found jolly company of young mon
from Grccnvillo, S. c., and LaCross, Ga.
They had spent wcok and were loud in
sounding tho praises of their host and
tho pleasures they had enjoyed. In tho
afternoon we joined them in n ground
hog chase. For an hour excitement ran
high as ''Now York" and "Jako" doftly
handled tho spade in digging tho hog
out of his hole in tho ground. Finally
their work was rewarded and the hog
located. The climax was reached ,vhon
tho faithful dogs "Bilp' and "Joe" we're
lot into tho hole, and such a dog -and-hog
fight as thon onsucd is rarely scon. But
tho hog got the worst of it, and ho was
soon lying limp and lifclcss on the bank
o. his homo, which ho had doubtless
hitherto regarded as secure from tho
assaults of man or boast. Tho reader
has doubtless often heard of "the ground
hog case ?'' After this chase wc caught
ancw the force of the expression and it's
fitness for portraying dead sure thing.
Refreshing sleep Friday night renewed
our strength for tho activities of tho
now day Bright and early we started
on squirrel hunt. We had gone about
a quarter up the valley when we were
recalled by the repeated cries of "Jalxo"
on the bank of the river at tho watering
place below tho bridge: "Iiero horcl!
como here! como here! quick % 1t was
evident that he was in high state of
excitement. Just fow moments before
we had left him attending to his mules
as calm and contonted as darkey on a
mountain jaunt could be. But if he had
been set upon by band of outlaws and
demand mado for his mules or his life,
he could not have screamed moro yo-
cifcrouly. We rushed to his rescue as
speedily as possible and whom we got in
calling distance "Jako" mot us with
both hands up and eyes as big as sau-
ccrs, crying, "Buck! buck!! Did You
sec him? [ had watcred do mules, and
don was stoopin down washin my face
and hans, when, all at once, | hcarcd
somin splasin down do riber, ohooel
choog! looks up, and what's you
rocin A great big buck with horns dis
wido (oxtcnding his arms and hands
nearly three fccD jis cum hopin down
&c middle of the ribcr. IIo cum i'm ten
steps nv me, and / s,nanl<s my hans
and no turns and runs back up dc riber
peace and out cross do fold dis way"
At first VIC woro rather skcptical and
thought "Jako's" eyes must bo In eclipso
or else ho was playing n hugo joke on
us. But tho dogs wero called and soon
put on tho track, and lively chase was
had for few miles. His track was plain
ly seen along tho banks of tho rivor, but
ho succeeded in making safe his escape
after soaring "Jako" out of years
growth.
JAKE AND TIE BUCK
parted company, but thoy will always bo
recalled as an interesting Incident of our
visit to Whitewater.
SAPPHIRE, n. 6.
At nine O'Clock on Saturday mornino
-.
u tired woman, j"st aa much "a n sicI,
and ailing one, moods DR.. Porcos Favor