The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-01
The Civilian Leaders IT, Tie CSnfsdgscy.
Sometime Member Of the Confederate Congress q The
Secession Convention 81 the Congress Of the United State. and
President Of the Virginia Constitutional Convention Of 9Ol2
fusing renewed hope and confidence
among the sixty.flve regiments Of
North Carolina, which constituted q
|part OF the Army OF Northern Virginia

J
among the sixty-nve regiments Of
North Carolina, which constituted q
part OF the Army Of Northern Virginia
He Foraxed Abroad. 81
Ono OF the most Important acts Of
Governor vance's administration u.
Governor was the selection OF u stats
agent to go abroad for the purpose oil
purchasing supplies for the NORTH
Caroline troops. In due time the
steamer Lloyd Clyde, afterwards called
the Aivance. arrived safely ut VIII.
mington with tho needed supplies, ani
the result WAS that no troops In the
army were SO we'll provided with FOOD
ana clothing as were those from NORTH
Carolina. sSi,.f
While prncticing his profession In
early ltfo Governor Vance found
time and opportunity towrite series
OF articles descriptive OF North Caro-
lima scenery, which have ever since
been regarded as perfect gems OF APP
priateness and beauty. Among other
things .lie wrote the following: wrhe
Era OF Discovery" "Tlie Picture Pre-
scented to tho Discoverers.'' ..rhe Race
OF Settlers" Character OF Colonists
Physical Aspect OF the State" "Edu-
cation" University OF North Carolina
Sketch OF d. L. SWAIN Sketch OF
OASoSUC INdlHWDa Valley,
Mountain Scenery" "Roanc Noun
tain.'' Causes OF the SLOW Growth Of
the State" etc. 1t would DO inpos-
sible In the limits OF this article to re-
publish selections from all these
sketches, but take the liberty OF
copying a portion OF that descriptive
of the untimely end OF Professor
Mitchell: 81
Such was the region in which the
lost professor was to be sought. AT
least 900 men were engaged In the
search. Well and faithfully did they
labor. From Friday morning until
Tuesday their efforts were frnitless
No trace Whatever could be found, and
Mt every mcment the task grew more
and more hopeless. The faint expec-
tntlon OF finding him alive and suKer-
ing gradually went out OF all mems
minds. and then came the moro sober
desire to find his lifeless body. Al
last. on Tuesday. came n melancholy
confirmation OF his disputed assertion
that he had been on the very highest
peak in 1874. An old hunter and ex-
perienced mountaineer by the name of
Wilson was present from Yancey coun-
| ty. who had guided the professor on
his former visit. He said he believed
he could retrace the very route BY
| which they had assembled thirteen
years before. and expressed the opin-
lon that the professor had himself I'M
dertaken to descend into the valley OF
caney River by that way. The result
proved this opinion to be correct.
A Trail to Death.
"a careful and minute search In the
edge OF beautiful little prairie near
the highest summit discovered the
trail Of human footsteps.
So faint was 1t that an impractical
eye could not have distinguished 1,
from the mark left by some wild an
imal; but these Nlmrods with tina,
wonderful sagacity which Is the result
OF close; observation and almost In
stinctiye reason, recognized it ut a
glance. An incredulous town-man pro-
cent desired to know how they could
tell it to be the impress of q mans
| foot.
Come here.'ssaid the hunter, point
ing to a spot on a fallen tree trunk.
where the rank moss had bcen disturb
ed, 'knccl down and look ut that close
49, s. d
What do you see?'
Nothing, was tho reply.
Look closer yet, and carefully
Now what do you see?'
Marks OF the tracks IN a shoe
heel said the astonished and enlight-
cned town-pnn.
Tho effect OF this discovery was
almost electrical. With rapid steps
and eyes as keen and true KS the seen,
| of we'll trained sleuth hounds off
bounded the hunters upon the trail
and soon were lost In the rugged and
fearful wilds below. A large number
feeling that they could be of no assis-
lance In following that delicate trace,
remained upon the heights. whilst the
Others swept downward upon the search,
AS the ground became rou CHER, and the
way more difficult the traces left by
the wanderer became more plain and
unmistakable. Soon the trail left the
sharp crest of the ridge down which,
It had started. and came to the edge
of splashinE stream. And down this
they followed 1t without difficulty for
about four miles, when they came to q
cataract with sheer fall OF forty feet
On tile dizzy edge of this they found q
broken laurel branch overhead and
torn moss under foot. Cautiously de-
lscending, they found the dead body OF
him they sought. The spot was most
romantic and peculiar. Pouring over
this precipice this mountain torrent
had originally struck upon solid rock
below, but the attrition OF It's waters
for untold centuries had worn out q
smooth, circular basin, about fourteen
feet 5dceptnnd as many in q iameter.
Where Mitchell Lay.
''This was filled with cold, pure and
perfectly slirnpid water, IN which lay
the body calmly, perfectly preserved.
In the very midst Of that nature which
he had loved so we'll. and whose lnyster-
les he, had studied SO diligently. the
great devotee had lain him down to
die. HerSutmost charms were lhyished
uron his obsequies. The pure waters
enveloped him In their winding sheet
OF crystal; the leaplng cataract sang
his requiem In that wondrous and eter-
nal song OF which old ocean furnishes
1.-The grand. all-conlprehensiv e key.
Cream and golden Wild flowers
flaked tho billoWy thiclets Of dark
green laurel, and tall. conical frs and
|delicately tapering spruces interlocket
their weeping branches from shore tc
shore. IS u
NO trace OF man, save the broken
laurel branch and the uptorn moss on
the rock above, was to be seen. no al
seeming 8, that virgin spot had seen nc
human face before the noble one which
q ~ f.fE ~ n ~