Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-10-09
PCTURE
OF LAND OF THE SKY
Talented Visitor Tells News and cou-
rier Readers Something About This
Much Heralded Region Of Delight.
(By J. |, W., in Charleston News and
Courier.1

only a days journey removes him
from the sound of the mighty ocean. so
eaure4y different is the enc atmos-
pnere and general SURROUNDINGS. One
cay we stand upon the seashore. the
ra1ghty waves breaking at our feet orr
eyes searching over it's endless snace
0 something to relieve it's monotony
d next We are lifting our eyes un-
ward to the towering mountains which
rear their lofty heads above the clouds.
An interesting drive of sixteen miles
from Hendersonrille, through an ever
changing succession of scenery. brings
rs to'a lovely valley in which nestles
Fdney Inn, where we are to spend
three weeks of sweet rest and enioy-
ment. We have in our Journey out
crossed the Ridge" which divides the
waters: on one side the streams find
their way to the Gulf of Mexico. Near
the top Of the Ridge are w springs
within a few yards of each other, one
OF which flows to the ocean and the
other to the Gulf.
Our valley is most lovely spot, fill
ed with fields of waving corn, around
1t tower most beautiful and lofty noun
ta1ns, their SLOPES clothed with'werdure
CT many hues, from bottom to top, from
out of which here and there crop bare
Gags and mighty bOuldeHS. Through
IL rushes a noisy mountain stream,
dashing over the rocks and making
1 sweet music as it hurries by on is
mad course to Join Broad River. a
nile beyond.
One of the chief charms of this place
LIZ its nearness to SO many places (6f
interest to those who are fond OF
tramping in search of mountain seem
cry Within three IN les over. the
mountains IS that most wonderful and
inspiring of, all, the celebrated Chin
hey Rock, 10 reach which We must
lass owe the "Appian Way This is
I narrow trail which runs along the
tfsce of a huge CT #; in some places it is
Lot Over a foot in width. Above tower
the huge bare cliffs of Chimney Rock
Mountain and below a. drop of 500 feet
Or more. Great care has to be taken,
for a slip or stumble and you are
hurled into space, ard yet\the expert
o@"n g so thrilling that you never re-
gret it rs
ca dtiful flowers spring from the
crevices of the\rock, soft MOSES cling
heer and there, but in most places the
naked rock shows cold and pitiless. On
one part of the cliffs are the picture
rocks" from a distance the imagina-
ton a trace ever-changing pictures
in the red~and gray rocks. The most
wonderful is the Swiss village, with its
cottages, chape1s and streets. The
burning ship, and the black horse, with
many more can be seen.
Three-quarters of a mile yer the
"Appian Way and we come to the
| Chimney Rock, a most wonderful for
nation which juts out from the side Of
the mountain, resembling a huge
chimney. So near is the resemblance
that from the valley below one en-
6owed with Imagination can picture a
huge workshop o fthe Titans, in which
those giants Of old forged their mighty
weapons, and almost expect it belch
forth a volume of smoke and flame.
The Rock is 260 feet from base to top,
and about 20 feet square on top. From
it can be had a lovely view of the
mountains around the valley below,
known asst he Hickory Nut Gap"
through which flows like a silver rib
bon the Broad River.
Near Chimney Rock are pools"
three in number, and said to be SO
deep that. the bottom has not been
found. From a cliff in the Appian
Way a small waterfall leaps into space,
it's foaming water showing against the
gray rocks like a scarf Of lace.
Opposite towers the mighty bulk of
Bald Mountain, the cold Badly" where
dwelt Esmeralda, and in n part of
which are the Rambling Caves, in
which su-bterraneans noises could once
be heard. Thetrail up Bald is known
as the "Wild Cat" and well merits the
name. 1t leads up to the Eagles
from where can be had a most extern
siYe view of the near and distant
mountains.
On one SIDE Sugar Loaf" a its
mighty head on the other Bear wal
low" (the highest peak of the nearer
mountains) and Little P,isgah;" Its
neaked head resembling much an ex-
tinct volcano, points upward to the
sky. Beyond are seen many ranges,
and on clear days Mount Mitchell, for
ty miles distant.
On the side of one of the mountains
is "Bat Cave" a huge opening which
extends back quite a d1stanceI In
summer he atmosphere is SO colo as
tn render a sudden entrance uncom-
Portable. Lower down on the same
mountain are the Blowing Rocks"
CT eyices in the rocks through which
: there is always pouring a blast OF icy
cold air. -
The Cascades are a succession OF
the most beautiful waterfalls, many IN
number, all located in the same stream
which come tumbling down from the
foD of Bald Mountain. Here, dash1ng
over the great rock with numbering
noise to a pool below, or else gllolng
soft1v down a sloping percipice, its
eaters flashing in the sunlight, or
aeain dashing in a succession of noisy
cataracts over the rocks, its waters
churned into foam, until at length the
SRI cam Joins the Broad River on It's
way to the ocean.
Beauty everywhere, to which is add
ed the charm of hearing tales OF tHt
olden time from tbs Q,