Submitted by Lynn Greene
Radical, Lee County, Kentucky
Jan 20th, 1887
Mr. Lyman C. Draper, Sir:
I wrote you a year or two ago (forget date because I kept no copy) giving you a guess at the Dimensions of Boone's Rock 1 mile above Beattyville. Since then I have moved to this neighborhood and Mr. Wm. Smyth asked me to come and measure a pinnacle near his house. It has been very bad weather since Dec 3rd last and I have been unwell; so much as an apology, I am here today, have just finished measuring and am writing where I can the pinnacle from my window, with your letter of May 29, 1886 before me addressed to Wm. Smyth. This pinnacle is a little S. C. of Billy's Fork of Millers Creek and distant from the creek, (-- Fork) 825 feet, or 50 poles, and is about 1 mile from the head of S- Fork, and about 2 miles from Ash Cave. Mr. Smyth has lived here 41 years, or since March 10, 1846, he says he never saw Boone's name on the rock, but has always understood it was there. I myself have been on the top of this rock diverse times first in 1853 I then saw a great many letters cut on the rocks with dates, I distinctly remember of calling attention of others to the letters B. L. don't know the date but I think it was 1784 or perhaps 1788 I then thought and still think it was the initials of Benjamin Logan. These letters are on the top of the rock, which I find to be a sheer precipice (95) ninety five feet high, solid sandstone, with a descent to the creek of 161 feet more. It is 825 from creek to foot of rock with an elevation of 161 feet, then the rock is 95 feet more making a total elevation of 256 feet in a distance of 825 feet to fully realize the descent one must be on top of the rock and look down.
This pinnacle as it is called is in Lee County by 50 poles. Billy's Fork being the line between Lee and Estill Counties. I do not know the dates on the rock nor does Mr. Smyth remember them, but there are a lot of names and dates there they are on the top exposed to the weather, therefore they become moss grown and worn away. I believe I have answered all your inquiries to the best of my ability, hope it may be satisfactory.
Yours respectfully E. R. W. Cox ---- for Wm. Smyth
Our P. O. is now Radical Lee County, KY. Cox and Smyth
Draper Manuscripts, Boone Papers, p. 45, 45 (1)
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