The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-05-11

Chimney Rock.
Breakfast over, down the road we
started, skirting the Broad River for
two miles or more. Below us was
the fOaming stream; on each side of
us the mountains, their rocky sides
rising a sheer two thousand feet above
the river; and over our heads the
warm blue Sky. AS we went we
ate plentifully-tOO plentifully-Of the
raspberries and blueberries hat lineo
the roadside. On we went till we
came to the bridge that led across the
river to the trail to Chimney Rock.
Here there was a house, where we
paid our admission fee to the rock,
and also-for we were very thirsty
drank freely of the cold buttermilk
they offered us.
Bridge Responsible For Collapse.
1t may nave been the buttermilk,.
but l shall always hold hat bridge
responsible for my subsequent col
lapse. 1t vas a fiimSy wire affair,
that swung and waved and jolted at
every step, creating a too realistic imi-
tation of a ship in a violent storm.
However. we at last got across with
out upSetting anything more than our
peace of mind. BY this time we could
see the Rock plainly lone pillar
Of stone, leaning slightly outwards
from the cliff, far up on the mountain
ahead.
Straight up the m~Ountainside the
| trail led us, at first through a tangle
Of berry bushes, then through a dense
forest of oak and pine. After nearly
an hour of climbing we came out at
the foot of Chimney Rock itself. Right
over our heads it rose, $50 feet high,
the upper part leaning SO hat we
were almost afraid of it's falling on US
It's top seemed absolutely inaccessible
But the path led aroun it's base and
up the cliff behind it; along a narrow
ledge, up a flight of wooden steps
riveted to the rock, through a narrow
opening into a crevice of the cliff, uI
5 through a hidden passage way alons
a steep stairway of rock, GU to the
. face Of the cliff and on to a ledge
where rested the foot of a ladder in.
visible from the other side, tina
, bridged the chasm between the cliff
and the top of the Chimney.
! Near Snake Experience.
While we were on the rock stair
case we had a near-snake experienc,
: that was an introduction to our rea
! adventure-and a warning, too, ha,
n we but needed it. When about half
way up. George Harper, who wa
ahead, jumped back, almost falling O.
e me and nearly d%eafening me with
most uncivilized yell.
"Rattle-Snake!." he fairly screamed
, didn't you hear it,"
I NO." said I, for 1 had heard moth
ing and expected to meet nothing Q
the sort. But he was sure he ha
heard one whirr-Whirr-Snake Woul
> be a better name than rattle-snake-
y and could hardly be tempted to sti
another foot forward. 1t is strang
K the effect fear has on some people
# morals. Harper was a really goo
v bOy-I a never heard him say any
thing stronger than darn" even Whe
a very angry; but for at least three mir
utes he stood there and swore like
20 m~ule-driver. I didn't know it was i
h him. l was so interested-for he ha
!. several birthstone OmbinatiOn thu
were new to me-that | fairly forge
et about the snake. Finally, his vocal
- ulary being exhausted and no turtle
w sound or sight of snake being ev
If dent, we went cautiously on till "
n reached the bridge-ladder. 1t was
10 feeble-looking structure, and with tf
20 greatest politeneSS we each urged tt
n other to try it first. Finally, Geors
being the smaller, he went ginger
~ across it ahead of me. The ladd'
holding firm. I followed him, to fiji
% myself on the very summit of Gimme
az Rock.
&c Didn't See Beauty.
As The view was magnificent-there
no doubt of that, for I heard Geor;
ed say so. 1 could not begin to desert