The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-09-04
LAKELAND BOY NEIHER OF
MOUNTAIN COMPANY PARTY

Mr. William Emerson, who is
yisi.i1 Mrs. George Lee, at Ridge
Crest, y. c., sends the following in
teresti1g account Of camping par
ty il the mountains. of which he
was a member:
4 merry party composed Of TWEEN
ty-six, mostly FloridIals, assembled
in front Of the Blue Mont Inn.
There awaited US two wagons laden
to the brim with hay Into these
we packed our provisions AID bed
ding.
At $3.50 the word was given and
we started on our ffty-mile trip.
For exercise, one of our party
walked to Black mountain, dis
lance OF three miles. From that
point we rode and walked; the
women riding and the men walk
Ing. About two and one half miles
from Black Mountain we visited
Spanish castle; there, wandering at
will through the grounds, viewing
the artificial lake surrounded by
myriads OF flowers, the old mill-the
brick kiln@amous in that 1t turns
out brick that 90 together without
mortar; the quaint old house sur
rounded by shrubs, hedges and flow
ers.
A mile further on we passed
through Lakye's Gap, from which
point we could see Black mountain
and the trail we had traversed.
At noon, feeling the pangs OF hun
ger, we spread our lunch beside
picturesque farm house and on the
banks OF the French Broad river,
which furnished US music during
the meal. From the mountaineer
we purchased two gallons OF butter
milk, which added to our feast OF
beans, ham, olives, cookies, bread
and coffee. During the afternoon
we followed the river over the
mountains-a more beautiful road
could not have been found Outlines
the river studded with boulders
would be on our left, while high
rocky cliffs would rise on our right
About dark We entered the lit
tie VILLAGE OF Bat Cave. Then after
going three miles further on, fol
lowing the river, we reached or
destination There among stately
BIZ ~ that stood like sentine,s in the
twilight We pitched orr camp Th"
mon built the camp fire ard pitched
the tents, while the women did the
cooking, save that one, our able
chararon, who cooked the corn
bread that would have done justice
to q French chef.
Supper was called, and there
amidst the pines we did Justice to q
hcarty meal, after which the girls
toasted marsh mallows around the
camp fire. At a late hour taps were
sounded and we retired to our re-
spoctive tents, there to be lulled to
sleep by the river. At an early
hour we arose, made our toilet at
a spi,1g and cooked breakfast. At
ter ea.. lg twenty OF us started UP
Chimney Rock. We followed a wind
ing trail that seemed endless and
reminded one Of the climbing
steep and slippery roof. At last we
reached the base of Chimney Rock.
winded and tired. After resting and
regaining our breath, we climbed
three Is Of steep stairs which
landed us on top of Chimney Rock.
A grander view no one would wish
to see: On our right stretched fer
tile valley, nourished by the Broad
river that looked like a tiny silver
thread amid an emerald setting. We
could see far down the valley
white cloud that looked like a
winged spectre OF the morning, how
ering there between earth and sky
On our left stretched peak after
peak. purple in the morning light,
while in front the sun sparkled and
shone on rocky cliffs and caverns.
The descent was not difficult; we
walked, rolled and slid to the base.
"On returning, camp was broken !
and our homeward trip was started
At Bat Cave We halted ard had din
ner, after which, accompanied by a
guide we explored Bat Cave and the
Blowing Rock.
On entering Bat Cave Egyptian
darkness enveloped us and only by /
the aid of the lantern could we pro-
coed. After squeezing through mar :
row passages, climbing over bould-
ers and fighting bats, we decided
that we had gone far enough. On
reaching the entrance we went to
the Blowing Rock. There we passed