The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-07
Leadsa North Carolina Dailiesim Newsstand Circulation

tl0n. llCkSIOnP bdlu, anu SUN IuTLHST
on was Rocky Knob Bend"
Then we came up to the backbone or
ridge between the mountains, and the
sign board said: "Oak Ridge-Stop and
Look!" From this point we could see
both ways-the direction whence we came
also the valley beyond the mountains.
Next came "Delwood and Jonathan's
Creek" Here was beautiful view of
the valley along which wound Jonathan's
Creek like piece of white ribbon.
Other signs read consecutively "Heav-
ems Vista" and Sunny Cliff" and then
as we neared the top we came suddenly
upon board which announced Mountain
Spring-The Coolest Water in Western
N. c." few yards below the spring a
hydraulic ram was clanking away indus
trously. Indeed we had heard it for
some time before we reached this point,
1t was conveying water to Eagles Nest
the hotel on top of the mountain. OF
course we had to get out and try some
of the water whether we were thirsty or
not. little headed girl about six
year old, with bare head and bare feet
came running down the hill from a mod
est hut bringing us a glass. She handed
it to US timidly and stood off shyly to one
side. My! wasn't that water cold, sure
enough? 1t seemed to me it must have
been cold as ice. We handed the glass
back to the little girl and dropped a
nickle in it. You ought to have seen her
FACET was a study. She bit her lower
lip tightly while a pleased expression lit
up her face, clasped the glass with both
hands behind her, walked with dignity
few steps, and then broke into run
for the house, her yellow hair flying in
the wind.
short distance now and the top was
reached. We emerged into a beautiful
grove of trees and mountain shrubbery,
part of which had been culled out to i'm
prove the view. The top Of the mountain
is covered with a luxuriant growth of
blue grass. We came to the top Of the
ridge where the road forked-one leading
around abruptly to the left to South
Eagle View where was the hotel in plain
sight, and the other leading off to the
right to the very tip top, 100 feet higher,
known as "North Eagle View" The
height of this point above the sea is
800 feet, or $3.50 feet higher than Ashe
vile and 1900 feet above the town of
Waynesville. We first drove to the left to
the hotel. The hotel is built on ledge
of rock at the extreme Southern point.
with piazzas on two sides looking down
almost perpendicular precpices The
other two sides look out across the beauti-
full lawn. The first feeling was one OF
giddiness The next was that we were
above everything and never before in all
our lives could see so much. Indeed as
we stood in the hotel piazza it was said
we saw mountains in four different States.
To the left right below lay Waynesville
like mass of little dots on the landscape.
Right beneath us, SO we had to step up
to the railing to see ran Richland creek
and it's inseparable partner the railroad.
up the Valley toward the Balsam Top and
was lost behind the hills. At that great
height the stream looked like a thread
of silver In every direction the noun
tains seemed to climb behind each other
in tiers like people scattered about over
the seats of an amphitheatre. Out to the
right, close by, the great Balsam noun
tains stood guard beside us and seemed to
Join in looking out upon the beautiful pict-
ure. The crest of these mountains were
fringed with balsam trees, whose heavy
dark color made them easily distinguished
from the lighter colored leaves. (The
Balsam grows only at great height, and
the traveller may spend weeks in the
mountains, but, unless he does some peak
scaling he may probably never see bal
sam tree) The effect of the cloud shad-
ows on the foliage added greatly to the
picturesqueness of the scene.
The following peaks were pointed out
to us: "Mt. MITCHELL Clingman's Dome,
Pisgah. Great Divide.
When a person starts up mountain he
is not satisfied until he reaches the very
top, so we did not tarry long at South
View before we were ready to go up
higher. A few short steep winds and
tacks brought us to North Eagle View.
Some think this the best view but don't
think it compares with the South View.
However, sitting in the carriage or perch
ed upon the rail fence the view is grand,
Overlooking the quaint little valley of
Jonathan's Creek" In full view the long
range of the Smoky marks the boundary
line of Tennessee, and in the distance to
the east are some prominent peaks of the
Black Mountains. Away below us some
small clouds were forming 1t was strange
to see mountain sticking up through
cloud. and even stranger to feel that we
ourselves were above the clouds
We soon returned to the hotel where
we were invited to look through The
hotel is a handsome and unique structure.
1t is lighted by gas from the gas house
and has waterworks with pressure from
the tank into which water is conveyed
from the spring as already stated 1t has
4S rooms, and the whole finished in native
pine with oil. The huge arched fireplaces,
six or eight feet wide, built OF rough
faced granite is a striking feature. The
large dining room and office are adorn-
ed with handsome pictures and grotesque
Indian figures and relics. Over one of The
fireplaces hangs frying pan clock. Ina
CINE a long handled frying-pan hanging
upon the wall with it's bottom to the
front. On this bottom are the hour marks
in large gilt letters. Two large gilt hands
point the hour. The clock-work is on the
inside of the pan next the wall Every
thing about the hotel has an air of the
unique, the rustic. and comfort. Tele-
phonic communication with the world be-
low, daily mails and every convenience
that could be asked.
The view from the balcony on top of the
hotel is superb. 1t is claimed b. he own