July-November 1897, Botany Trip with Sargent and Canby Image 10

along the Yadkin, tremendous flood, greatest in 30 yrs or ever known, washed away bridges, all footlogs, some mills; scores of cornfields, stalks bent to ground or burned, most of heads gone, etc. Hot at Lenoir waiting for train. Walked in graveyard, fine oaks, black, scarlet, red and Spanish. Negro gazing up to heaven by highway, guide to moonshine whisky; drunkedness common. Fine ride evening to Hickory. Take train at 10, arrive at Ashville 1:30 A.M. and go to the Banbury Park Hotel, a big showy concern. Grand mtn view of finely sculptured modulated hills and dales and mtns. Mt. Pisgah the highest and most mtn - like, a cone. [Sept 27]. Sleep a few hrs and take carriage for Biltmore Herbarium. Saw nursery, plants, etc. Launched at Mr. Brooks? Nice place; long drive down the Broad River; dinner at Dr. Skenk’s, a fine affair. [Sept 28]. All day riding, looking at plantations, etc. and correcting proof of animals. [Sept 29] Finish proof in Herbarium; dined with Mr. Beadle, nice house, no children. [Sept 30] Had Dr. Skenk and Mr. Beadle at lunch at our hotel. At 3:20 start for Knoxville, arrive at 7:30. Fine trip down the French broad canon., narrow and rocky, hills forming walls or bluffs covered with small tress, oaks, elms, birches, pines, 3 sp, etc. The small flats very barren, smalles corn over saw, land exhausted; a few cliffs, scenry fine, but not up to fame. Celebrated Hot Springs on this stream. Stop at Imperial Hotel, a rather showy poorish place.https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmj-all/3543/thumbnail.jp