Morgan County Democrat

IN VICINITY OF ROCKY BRANCH OF DUCK CREEK
(By Silas Thorla)

It was through the kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Dickinson and son Byron that ye scribe and the Mrs. had the pleasure of making a visit recently at the home of F. O. Moore and family of Cumberland, route 1. They live on a farm and this took us in the vicinity of a rocky branch of Duck creek, between Hiramsburg and Ava.

After we had gotten outside of a sumptuous dinner, it was suggested that we visit some of the rocks and caves for which region is noted. We first went to the home of Jasper Fulton who lives on a farm near by, to get some information, and he expressed himself as only too glad to accompany us and act as guide. The first place we visited was Pine cave which is on Mr. Fulton's farm. This is more of a small canyon than a cave, something similar to the rocks back of Malta. It shows how the action of the water in the course of time cuts its way through the rock. Tall pine trees more than a foot in diameter grow around this place.

From here we went across the narrow valley to the opposite side, to a large perpendicular rock where only a few months ago a man lost his life. He had been dead several days when the discovery was made. He evidently had fallen over the rock, a distance of perhaps more than 30 feet. How he came to be there and just how he met his tragic fate, will never be known.

We next went to what is called Bat cave. This is a cavernous rock with coarse honey-combed indentation overhead which they say used to be filled with bats from which it took its name. The ruggedness of this place caused by the rocks falling from above, makes it look dangerous and rather difficult to get through.

From here we went to Bull cave. This far exceeds them all. It is formed by a huge rock spanning the head of a ravine and it received its "elegant" name many years ago, by a bull falling over the precipice and losing its life. From the top of the rock to the bottom of the ravine looks to be nearly a hundred feet.

Under this rock you can imagine yourself in a vast amphitheater. The woods is now cleared away which robs this of much of its original romantic appearance. To approach this cavernous rock from below, when the ravine was darkened by the dense growth of timber, it struck the beholder with awe and astonishment on account of its appalling size. It is to be regretted that this place could not have been left to the wilds of nature and some kind of a road made to it, as it would have been quite a resort. This rock exceeds anything at Perry's Den which is not far away, but the latter gained its notoriety by the history which is connected with it.

Of course to one who has visited the Rocky mountain scenery in Colorado, these places we have described would seem very insignificant and commonplace, but even at that they are out of the ordinary, as we do not know of any other such rocky region in this part of the country.