The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-02-13
TENNESSEE MOUNTAINS

The editor was delighted to receive
the following descriptive letter from
Miss Verna Lembach. who, in company
with Mrs. John Taylor, is visiting
friends in Jellico. Tenn.
Jellico, Tennessee,
Feb. 6, 1919.
To the Editor:
1t just came to mind that perhaps
description of trip through the noun
tains as experienced by Mrs. John Tay-
lor and myself yesterday, might interest
at least few of your readers.
We left Jellico at eight o'clock, in
company with our host, Mr.. Zickgraf,
manager of the Zickgraf-Jensen Lumb-
er Co., to visit the logging camp.
After a twenty-three mile ride on the
Southern railway. during which we rode
Through fourteen tunnels through the
mountains, we came to place called
Pioneer, where the mountains are the
highest in Tennessee. Here we board
ed little train made especially for
this Company and used by them in
hauling the cars of logs down the noun
tain. AS there was no day coach. for
tourists, we had quite comfortable
seat in the cabin of the engine. On
this train we rode seven miles in and
out and around these monstrous hills.
Each hundred feet we went the tracks
are elevated five feet until we reached
the top. Half way up we left off an
empty coal car to be filled that day at
the coal mine operated by the same
company. This little railway had to
be built at terrible expense to the
company. When we were at the high
est point in the mountains the back
wheels Of the engine ran off the track.
confess failed at making believe l
was brave. We were informed this is
quite common occurrence, due to the
roughness of the track. After two
hours of this, we arrived at the top of
the incline. Here we mounted a small
fiat car to be let down this incline.
which is SO of a mile long and as near
perpendicular as can be, by means of
strong cable operated by steam eng
me. This is worse than any roller
coaster at Lake Side, and here | almost
lost my breath. But it was soon over
and we were at the foot of the noun
tain with all sorts of numbering appar-
atus. Here is large hydraulic pump
(which forces water to the engine at
The top of the incline. Here We ate our
lunch, which we had carried with us.
Then Mrs. Taylor and started out for
walk. We stopped at the camp board
ing house. 1t seemed quite remarkable
to us that the lady cook, although mar
ried and the mother of two children,
had never been out of these. mountains.
The families are miles apart. Here
the logs which have been cut and the
bark pealed are loaded on these small
Aflat cars and drawn up this incline by
Imeans of this engine and cable. On
our way back from the boarding house
we were surprised to hear woman
call, Wont you all come in and rest
bit? | reckon you all are tired" This
happened to be the foreman's wife and
the only Americanized lady in these
parts. She had called us because she
was lonesome and seldom saw modern
woman. Here we had very pleasant
time until three o'clock. when the logs
land cars of bark were loaded and we
must start for home. Here l will say
that no trees are felled when the sap is
low in March, April and May. The
bark peeled off is loaded on cars and
sold to the tanneries. The ride up the
incline was just as frightful to me as
going down, but my partner seemed
quite composed. Aside from another
car of the track. our trip down the
mountain and home was uneventful.
We have also been to Morley and
High Cliff and the trip here is beautiful |
while you are half way up the noun
tain, riding on narrow road cut from
rock IN the side of the mountains, you
can look far below and see Cumberland
river dashing against the rocks, one of
which is called Hay Stack Rock, and it
il larger than great many hay stacks
in Michigan. Well. not claiming to be
a journalist, will close this narrative.
Yours truly,
Verna Lembach.
P. s. The most important thing
left out, and that is the wonderful at
mosphere you breathe while on top of
d. mountains. 1t must be q real
6ealthy place and wish might bottle
On some of the pure air and bring 1t