Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1903-05-29
FAMOUS SITE IN
SUNNY TENNESSEE
Mel ain Rock an Old and
Historic Point.

ITO lOt ~ I O'IN.
The writer of this, with Rev. In.
Lett, n good and true man, pastor of
the NJ. Z. Church at Well Spring,
Tenn, was invited to spend the
uigbt of May IA, 1903, with w. NJ.
Ellison, one of the leading citizens
of Powells Valley, where we were
most kindly entertained by him aud
his excellent lady, On the next
morning we concluded TO visit the
McLsin Rock, about two miles dis
tant, on top of the Cumberland
mountain. The direction of the
mountain here is nearly east and
west. The McLain rock is IA perpen-
dicular cliff more than one hundred
feet high across the top of the noun
tsin from North to South. AS we
stood facing North at n point where
our path crossed the mountain top,
the McLain rock rose to towering
height immediately on our left. Ia
front Of US but a short distance
away flowed a spring of most excel
lent water from the foot OF this rock.
Not far away was Vein OF coal from
which fuel was procured for those in
the valley.
But ou- objective point was the
top Of the rock, and after walking
some distance ne came 10 q place
where there was break in the rock.
through which we elm bed and made
our way beck 10 where The southern
face OF this rock rose perpendicular
y to great he ght, from which you
could look far below into the tons
of the tall trees that grew AT it's
base, and also have an unobstructed
view as far as your eyes can reach
In every direction. You could see
into Kentucky, Virginia, and / know
not how far west, but away I'm the
Southeast could be seen the outline
Of the great Smoky Mountains OF
North Caroline, and ut your feet for
more than forty miles extended one
OF the. prettiest Wallets the eyes of
man ever beheld.
U. S. Typographical Engineers
were stationed here for long time
and left in the solid rock lasting
proof Of their sojourn. Many per-
sons, also, have left their names or
Initials-some many years ago. The
rock takes it's name from Thomas
McLaIn, pioneer, who came when
the Indians were here. He brought
with him pony, two bear skins, and
gun. Sometimes he, and his wife
and ch ldren had to hide in the rocks
on the mountain, hence the name.
We also visited the Alum cave,
located north, nearly half a mile
away. We reached it by walking
along the foot of the cliff. 1t is made
by an abrupt change in the direction
Of the upright walls Of glass sand
stone, Is in the shape of great tri-
angle, with its open side facing the
north. Has an enormous roof Of
solid rock imbeded with beautiful
pebbles. From the center of this
roof, about equally distant from each
wall, there falls beautiful stream
of clear water into pool in front #
this cavern. We supposed the place
in the rock from which the water
fell was at least one hundred feet
above the pool into which it descen
dcd. Going some distance We climb
ed TO the roof, walked along the
stream, came TO the place where the
water went over, looked into the
fearful depths, but We did nor look
long as it made us nervous. We
returned to Mr.. Ellisons to dinner,
exceedingly well paid for our tire
some journey on foot.
This Thomas McLain at first lived
IN stockads, but 90 years ago he
built n stono house in which Mr.
Ellison now lives. This house ia As
feet long, "a feet wide, 4 stoiie,
high IN the rear, 3 stories in the
5 front. The Walls Of the first stor,
are 3 feet thick, of the second stor,
| p feet thick and Of the third stor,
2 feet thick. And now after stand
ing all these years there is neithe
flaw nor crack in either wall. TIL
old man surely built for the future
The house looks as if it would We
stand thousand years.
j. w. b.
VA MIL 1t DIV IMCHIEII-rr-