The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-07-01
&oE. HAT part OF the great Ap-
4 4 palachian range which runs
6 @ through Western North
I n Carolina, Eastern Tennes-
NHnN COO and Southwestern Nir-

i - Carolina, e Eastern TenTes- mes
ginia is often designated the Switzer-
land Of America. No section Of the
eastern half of North America can sur
pass it in picturesqueness, beauty and
grandeur.
And in all that broad expanse there
is no spot excelling Grayson County,
Virginia, in those qualities. 1t is trav-
ersed from southwest to northeast by
the swiftly flowing current Of New or
Kanawha River, fed by numberless
crystal mountain streams from the
mountains on either side, while the
country rapidly rises from the river
valley by rugged and abrupt elevations
to the summit Of the Great Balsam, or
Mt. Rogers, in the west, to height of
5719 feet above sea level, thus COM
pletely exploring the ancient claim that
the famous Peaks of the Otter, with an
elevation of only 1000 feet, are the
highest points within the borders of the
Old Dominion. AS may be supposed
wild animals in abundance and the
streams were filed with speckled
trout. Three-fourths Of century ago
hunting and fishing were not only ex-
citing sports, but business Of the
hardy mountaineer. And while they
we're a community Of hunters no one
had a better record in that respect than
John Anderson. Many hairbreadth
escape had he. and the life of many a
deer, bear, wolf and wildcat. besides
smaller game, came to sudden enc
when a home-molded bullet sped from
his unerring flintlock rife.
One beautiful spring morning about
the year 1920, having the day previous
finished planting his crop of corn,
armed with his trusty rife and hunting
knife, John started alone for stealthy
wolf hunt. For weeks prior. during
the night, he had heard the howl of
the gray wolf in the dense forest that
covered the Big Knob, some five miles
north Of his dwelling. He suspected
that somewhere in this wilderness he
could find a litter Of wolf cubs. And
as wolf scalpS bore a premium of So
each he would make profitable day
of it financially and besides have the
enjoyment Of genuine hunters pleas
ure and excitement
On he went without an unusual incl
dent until deep in the forest. Present
IT, y Sc hnn0n m win
steep sides of Big Knob. about the
northern base of which. in almost i'm
penetrable thickets of ivy and laurel,
were the huge cliffs of rocks where he
expected to find the wolf den. He now
began to travel more slowly and eau
tiously. carefully picking his way
through the tangled underground. AS
he began to approach the rocks he
found numerous we'll worn paths, all
converging in the direction Of the
cliffs. the beetling hrows Of which now
loomed up silent and gloomy over the
tops Of the underground. He was
elated by the thought that the wolves
were surely there. These paths to his
practiced eye betokened the presence
of large game. Still more cautiously
and slowly he moved forward until
within some twenty yards Of the near
est cliff. Having crossed small open
ing in the underground and just as he
was entering on the other side nearest
the cliff he heard the faint snap of a
twig in his rear. Turning in his tracks
imagine his feeling when on the oppo'
site side of the path and within six
PAGES of him he beheld an enormous
panther. With eyes glowing like balls