The Indianapolis journal., 1902-01-19

hard road TO traNel on account OF tue ~
Vulnerable stones with which it is infest-
ed. But few Of the streams are spanned
by bridges. the creeks and rivers being
generally fordable, except at high tide.
The views obtained from many points
are fne-the constant shifting of position
presenting a panorama of great beauty.
My host had chosen an elevated spot for
his dwelling, which afforded a view for
many miles in every direction. At the foot
of the hill a creek murmured and chat
tered as 1t dashed over the stones and
glided behind a huge rock and finally
plunged into the brimming Holston. The
stream is known as Fall creek and its
playful disposition suggested a stanza from
Tennyson's Brook"
II chattered over stony ways,
In little sharps and trebles,
l bubble into eddying bays,
1 babble on the pebbles
From the summit of the hill my friend
pointed out a number of fine views. To
the north and far away stretched the Vir-
ginia foothills, which lie in the shadow of
the Cumberland mountains. Turning to-
wards the southwest he pointed out
Bays mountain, which ends in steep
cliff. Tradition has it that at an early
day beautiful wild bay stallion roamed
this mountain and that party Of hunt
ers determined to capture him. They drove
him to the edge of the cliff. where es-
cape was impossible. Rather than sur
render his wild freedom the horse jumped
over the cliff and was killed. The legend
is suggestive of ''The Pacing Mustang in
Ernest Seton-Thompson's wild Animals
Have Known" Near the base of the
] ,T~,s,.
er was a stanch Union man during the civil
war The greater part of his stock. was
taken by the Confederates early in the
struggle. But there was one of his horses
that seemed peculiarly endowed with
hard ''horse sense" since he soon learned
to distinguish an enemy at sight On sew
eral occasions, while grazing in the pas
ture, he saw the grey coats approaching,
and, taking to his heels, galloped to the
house, down several stone steps and into
a small brick building used as a milk
] house. Some member of the family would
! close the door and thus he escaped cap
ture.
This region was also famous for many
of the adventures of Dan Ellis. noted
Union scout. He would make trips on foot
over the mountains to Knoxville, 125 miles
distant, and return with load Of sup
plies for the suffering people. Many at
tempts were made to capture him, but
without success. All the mountains of this
section are covered with vegetation and
many are cultivated almost to their sum-
mits. Viewed from a distance, most of
! them seem to be enveloped in a haze. was
! once gazing at one of these haze-enveloped
mountains in company with an old East
! Tennesseean and asked him his opinion
! OF the cause Of this dreamy appearance
II do not know he replied quite prompt
! ly, unless
! 'Tis distance lends enchantment to the
view
And robes the mountain in its azure hue"
! Some of these low-lying mountains are
| favorite places for camp meetings, or
+ rather, once were favorite places, since the
/ camp meeting is now nearly obsolete At
/ one of these gatherings an eccentric in
! dividual noticing that there was an in
sufficient amount of straw upon the ground
near the altar (straw being used TO cover
/ the ground and to kneel upon, shouted to
a friend in the rear, More straw Fetch
more straw, quick. Souls are perishing
/ for want of straw" 1t was in East Ten
nessee that the Jerks" a peculiar nervous
/ affection, first originated. At a certain
/ camp meeting where the Jerks" was very
common, an old fellow came with barrel
! of ''moonshine" in his wagon to dispense to
/ the bibulously- y-inclined. He made his boast
| that he was ''jerkproof," but he had scarce
/ ly loosed his horses from the wagon when
/ he began to jerk and so violently did he
shake that a neighbor had to help the old
sinner into his wagon and take him and his
booze" home. Through this region Francis
/ Asbury always passed on his tours to the
South and North and several log churches
are still standing where the people of the
! past generation gathered to hear from him
! glad tidings of great joy"
AS is we'll known, what is now the State
of Tennessee was once claimed by the State
Of North Carolina, but the pioneers. with
true American spirit, determined TO set up
for themselves. AS result Of their "ob-
streperousness" the old North State con-
cluded to chastise them, and a pitched bat
| tie ensued between the contending factions
This encounter took place not far from the
! Watauga river and it was near this spot
] that John Sewer crossed the Watauga with
! his company of trough riders on their
way to join in the attack on Kings noun
! tain. Sewer was at a dance on NOlichucky
river when the news came Of the intended
march, and very quickly the revelry and
feasting ceased. there was mounting in
hot haste and the daring riders soon gave
tangible evidence that they enjoyed a fight
as well as a frolic. At Jonesboro. the old
est town in the State, and the first capital,
Andrew Jackson began the real battle OF
| life, and from this place he led a party
through a hostile Indian country to the
new settlement Of Nashville. few miles
below Jonesboro is Limestone, which gave
the world one of it's most unique characters
Davy Crockett. In this same region Daniel
Boone used TO roam in search Of bear. and
on a beech tree in Washington county may
still be read an old inscription to this ef-
feet: I'd. Boone cyld bar on this tree"
At Greenville Andrew Johnson lived and
worked at the tailor's trade 1t was here
also that John Morgan lost his life at the
hands of East Tennesseeans after he had
returned from his tour Of invasion in In
diana and his experience of prison life in
Ohio.
great change Is coming over this part
of the country. The extension OF various
railroad systems and the opening OF mines,
as well as the establishment OF manufac-
turing industries at many points. has given