This is an old revision of this page, as edited by OlEnglish (talk | contribs) at 08:29, 28 June 2008 (some copy-editing, sentence re-structure for clarity.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 08:29, 28 June 2008 by OlEnglish (talk | contribs) (some copy-editing, sentence re-structure for clarity.)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. You can assist by editing it. (July 2007) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Whiteside Mountain | |
|---|---|
Whiteside Mountain is a mountain in Jackson County, North Carolina between Cashiers and Highlands, North Carolina and the Georgia border. Whiteside Mountain is claimed to have the highest cliffs in Eastern North America. It also has a feature called Devil's Courthouse, which may be confused with the Devil's Courthouse that is 20 miles away in Transylvania County, NC.
There is a road to the top. A foot trail leads off the road to the Courthouse at the top of the mountain. Since the 1980s, the park service has tried to restrict access to the Courthouse and has allowed the foot trail to grow over because of dangers such as strong winds which could cause someone to be blown off of it. They also did not want accidents from paragliding and similar activities taking place from the mountain top or from the Courthouse. From the mountain top itself, one can view several States. There is also an overhang, a small platform less than 7 feet diameter, connected to Whiteside as if it were a cantilever. Similar overhangs can be found on the Appalachian Trail.
History
The Cherokee name for Whiteside mountain is Sanigilâ'gĭ.
Legend of Spear Finger
Cherokee myth says that Spear-finger, the powerful woman monster, built a bridge from the Hiwassee River to Whiteside Mountain.
Legend of De Soto
The overhang edge has a message carved into it. It reads that Hernando de Soto was there and that it was carved by his men who allegedly threw over their sick, crippled horses there. Also mentioned was someone who was giving De Soto trouble so De Soto held Court and determined that the man should be executed by being thrown off what is today called Devil's Courthouse.
It is dangerous to try to read the carved letters which are less than an inch from the drop-off point of the bottom letters. Only a small child can even get close to the letters without falling off. The letters can be safely viewed upside down with a mirror or a small video camera attached to a long pole or some sort of robot. The best way to see the letters is by helicopter but even then they are difficult to see. Rattlesnake trails have also been seen here adding to the danger.
A legend about the carving by De Soto has persisted for many years and even got into some otherwise reputable history texts used in Schools; however, it was proven a hoax and was carved by some boys sometime in 1926 when there was probably much more of the overhang than there is today (2007). This terrain is just too rough for men and horses to get through. It would involve climbing straight up sheer walls and over mountains and is especially difficult when one considers the almost vertical walls of the Blue Ridge escarpment and the Gorge in this area. For De Soto to have come through here at a time when there were no roads or pathways is unlikely. De Soto's most likely route took him through the Cumberland Gap from South Carolina.
External links
Template:Geolinks-US-cityscale
References
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Whiteside Mountain
- "H1271 [Edition 2]". Retrieved 2007-07-11.
- "An Inventory of the Significant Natural Areas of Jackson County, North Carolina" (pdf). Retrieved 2007-07-11.
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Devil's Courthouse Tunnel
- Ellison, George; Mooney, James E. (1992). James Mooney's history, myths, and sacred formulas of the Cherokees: containing the full texts of Myths of the Cherokee (1900) and The sacred formulas of the Cherokees (1891) as published by the Bureau of American Ethnology: with a new biographical introduction, James Mooney and the eastern Cherokees. Asheville, NC: Bright Mountain Books (Historical Images). ISBN 0-914875-19-1.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) p467 - ^ Setzer, Lynn (October 31, 1999), "Once upon a time ...", The Raleigh News & Observer, pp. 316, 444, 467
{{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) Full text - Ellison, George; Mooney, James E. (1992). James Mooney's history, myths, and sacred formulas of the Cherokees: containing the full texts of Myths of the Cherokee (1900) and The sacred formulas of the Cherokees (1891) as published by the Bureau of American Ethnology: with a new biographical introduction, James Mooney and the eastern Cherokees. Asheville, NC: Bright Mountain Books (Historical Images). ISBN 0-914875-19-1.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) p 316 and also 444 & 467