THE MOUlfrAlW TRAIL
SEPTEIviBER 1, 1939
iraiTE.SIDE CA^/E
Whitoside cave, narrow passage into
the depths of ViHiiteside IJountain, is- one
of the most dangerous places to reach in
all of the rugged mountains and cliffs
in Ifecon County,
Although hundreds of people go to the
of the town, was an unbroken wilderness,
Scribner ^s lidagazine gave recognition to
this section, Edward King^^ reporter and
traveler, wrote the articles which help
ed put old ^-^hiteside on the map.
-Sarah Hines Bailey
SPECIAL
LABOR. DAY DANCE
rj£L£M'S S/\RM
MONDAY SEPT. 4--
REGULAR DANCES, MON.. .T'ED. .. FRI.. ,SAT..
p
ll
TERRACE
TOP OF THE TOWN
i
top of the mountain each year, only a few
dare venture? down 300 feet to the hidden
cavern on the sheer side, and very few
white men have seen its interior. The
cave, believed to have been the abode of '
an Indian Medicine Man many years ago,is
reached by leaving the main trail up the
peak from the camping ground, climbing
down the steep side through a tangle of
rhododendron and laurel (the trail is
overgrown because so few use it) for about
a quarter of a mile to a small pine which
marks the ascent up the cliff, ;
The way up the precipice is smooth ex
cept for a fifteen yard line of rough
rock, and ropes are necessary to get up,
A slip, and a drop of 900 feet would be
the resultj therefore the hardy climbers
v/ho make the grade must be very cautious,
THIS ARTICLE IS NOT WITTEIT TVITH THE IN
TENT TO LTJRE ANYONE TO THIS CA^Ti;, CER
TAINLY NOT WITHOUT EXPERIENCED MOTJNTAIN
GUIDES, for the view from it is no better
than the view from the comparatively safe
summit of TVhiteside,
The cave itself is a dark and damp cav
ity about fifteen feet wide extending far
back into the mountain and ending in a
narrow passage* This passage which has
never been explored, is believed to have
been the den of mountain bears. Bits of
mica, feldspar, quartz, beryl, and other
minerals, gleam from the walls of the
cavern.
Charles N, Jenks, explorer and miner,
who has spent several summers in High
lands in the past few years, is credited
with being the first white man to onter
the cavo. ^Ir, Jenks found remains of a
ceremonial fire on the floor of the cav
ern on his first visit. In 1873, .before
the town of Highlands v/as laid out, Mr.
Jenks set a bear trap in the cave and
v/ent over the precipice twice a week to
visit it.
The grandeur and scenery of the TtThite-
side Mountain area has been known for
more than fifty years. As long ago as
1874 when Highlands, or rather the site
and Mrs, A. 6* Holmes have sold their
summer home on Mirror Lake to J, Harvey
^rice, and have returned to Clemson Col
lege, Their Highlands friends were soi^
to hear they were selling their lake c|
tage, but have been assured by both Mrt_
and ^Vs, Holmes that they intend to sp^
at least a part of their vacation each
year in Highlands.
51-
3orrj
I
>en
*
JEss Ifergaret Wiley returned Monday from
Greenwood, S,C,, where she has been visit
ing her uncle and aunt, Mr.-and IVIrs, Luth
er Wiley, for the past two weeks.
SEE - THE IVOMEN - Monday-Tuesday
YOU ARE INVITED TO VISIT
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