Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-07-01
|HQU|s|1VEHEss IS RESENTED
Closely Guard Their Illicit Stills
Temperate as Rule, But Some.
times Drink Moonshine Whisky,
Which Is Obtained by Placing Coin
on Stump.
Especial to the Daily press.)

NO portion OF the United States Of
Iers greater attractions i'm the way of
wild anu beautiful scenery than the
southern part of the Appalachian
mountains This great range. extend
Ing from New York across PcnnsyI-
vania. Virginia and North Carolina.
into Georgia, and spreading like an
overflow into southern Kentucky and
eastern Tennessee, presents an I'M
mense area of beautiful scenery.
The Rockies arc grande: and some
respects more impressive, but far less
beautiful
Under different local names of Ale.
ghany mountains. Blue Ridge. Cum
berland mountains. Great Smoky
mountains. etc, they present the
same general features, increasing in
.wildness and holiness as they extend
South. until they eliminate in the
great complicated and interlocliin,,
ranges of North Carolina and Tonnes
see. where mountains rise OH noun.
ta1ns and many of the peaks reach an
altitude OF several thousand feet
Many have enjoyed the beautiful
scenery in the Carolinas. but perhaps
IT has not occurred to them that the
same ranges Of mountains stretch for
hundreds of miles west into eastern
tennessee. including hundreds Of
thousands of acres that have never
been trodden by the foot of white
man, and numerous peaks and gorEes
that probably never were explored CIV.
en- by Indians.
Where Fishing is Fine.
Parts of this region can he reached
by rail within twenty.four hours from
indianapolis. but to explore its depths
would require many DAYS of mountain
climbing by rough trails on horse or
mule back. This could be done only
by party with camping outfit. IN
DONG. 1t one would find mountain
streams with original STOCKS of trout
and bass-streams that have never
been dynamited or scined. and where
hungry game fish wait patiently, sea.
son after season, for some adventur.
Gus angler to lure them with fly or
spoon. Not long ago the writer met
two men who. together. took 200
trout In one of these streams In two
days fishing.
In the depths of the mountains nj.
So there are many deer and wild tur.
Keys are plenty. Portions of this ex-
tenslVe mountain region are almost
uninhabited. Where Il little valley is
found 1t Is fertile and beautiful, but
the mountain tops and sides afford lit
tie subsistence for man or beast
Many counties in western North
Carolina and eastern Tennessee CON
tain less than 10000 inhabitants. and
some less than 5000 The inlabi.
tants are typical mountainecrs. They
are for the most part urcbloodntl
Americans. yet totally unlike any 9th
er class of people to be found In the
United States. Their ancestors prob
!: ably CAME from, North Caroipa CT
Virginia at very early day; follow
ing the trails blazed by bone, Upton.
Gevier and other pioneers who had
the instincts OF emigrants and empire
builders.
Some Of these pioneers helped 10
found the state of Franklin. which. If.
ter seeding from North Carolina.
maintained it's independence for sew
Teral years before 1t was merged again
with North Carolina to become, few
years later, the new state of Tenncs-
see.
Why any of their descendants
should have cast their lot permanent
ly on these mountain tops and sides
where rocks, white pine and ferns
are the principal products, and where
even the patient and abstemious mule
can hardly make living for his own
er and himself is past finding out.
Moonshine Whiskey.
Perhaps the mountain scenery and
the pure air and spring water held
them to the spot, though some If
them have learned to convert the
spring water into "moonshine whis-
key More likely. however, their
minds, shut in by the mountains, and
undisturbed by books or newspapers
took no note Of the rest of the world.
or of the fact that away beyond tie
visual horizon that girt them round
there were thousands Of broad, fertile
acres awaiting emigrants and settlers
where man and mule could raise
more stuff in one year than he could
on mountain side in twenty.
Anyhow. they have chung to the
mountain sides generation after GER
GRAFTON. the result being a race of
mountaineers as peculiar and distinc-
tive as those to be found in any for
eign country. Uncouth, illiterate, mar
row-minded, suspicious Of strangers.
quick to resent an insult o. an mag-
mary impertinence. they are at the
same time kind.hearted. generous and
bospitable. But they have to lie han
uien carefully ana ruDpen tue tiSnt
way" One must not try to got too
near them on short acquaintance, nor
put on any airs.
= The Tennessee mountaineers of the
present day are strong and we'll devel-
oped, as might be expected from their
normal lives In heal.hf;l climate
men are wiry and muscular. without
any superabundant flesh. When
speaking, they look you squarely in