The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1845-09-05
From The Lynchburg V,rgini0n.
Ascent OF rnE NATURAL BEiDor, rnr SECOND
pEEILOUS ADVENTURES


TINS.
Ii will be recollected that, many Years
ago, the Natural Bridge was assembled by
Col. James II. Piper, then student at
Washington college, and now member Of
the State Senate. A graphic account of
this hazardous exploit, from the pen Of
DR.. Caru,hers, has been long before the
world. Nevertheless, many persons who
have visited the bridge, have regarded the
story as fabulous, deening the achieve.
menl absolutely impossible. Ii will be
seen, however, by the following brief mar.
ratiye, with which we have been kindly
furnished from an authentic source, that
the ascent has been second time success.
fully achieved. Certainly be must have
steady nerves aud indomitabe self reli.
ance who puts life and limb in such immi.
nent peril
Remarkable Feat.-On Saturday, tho
Goth Of July, there being, besides myself,
several guests at the tavern Of Mr.. Luster
at the Natural Bridge. we concluded 10
walk up and view that stnpendous prodigy
of nature, with which "nought made BY
human hands can vie !" and, accordingly,
several Of us repaired thiiher, and, after
being lost in enchantment for some con.
siderable time IN gazing upon the far
famed attractions, We returned 10 a small
house on the road side, between the bridge
and the tavern where we were favored
with an old paper containing an account Of
the ascension Of the bridge BY Mr.. Piper,
Al N
ruthers. While some Of US, entirely in.
credulous, we're warmly discussing It's little
TO credblIlly, we were suddenly Interrupt
ted by the cry, Some one is climbing
the bridge - With the ayidiiy Of men
anxious TO maintain their opinion, until
convinced Of its lnlslty by occular demon.
siraton, we Immediately rushed in N
mdsse, to the top Of the bridge, still in.
wardly doubling the possibility Of what the
next moment met our nslonIshed sight
the ascension Of the bridge When We
+ arrived there, We found Two gentlemen on
the bridge, who pointed US to Mr.. Shaver,
the hero Of the occasion, standing at the
distance Of 10 feet from the ground, on a
+ bench las il is lermcd) apparently too mar.
From the testimony Of the gentlemen pre-.
sent, we learned that Mr.. Shaver, passing
, by there in the morning, concluded 10 at.
tempt the ascension, merely Il suppose) 10
, crafty his own curiosity or thai Of others.
Without amy preparation, he Immediately
/ commenced climbing directly under the
wellknown cedar stump, about ten or
fifteen PAGES higher up The steam iban tho
place from whence Mr.. Piper Is SAID 10
i have started, and within much more d,i-
hcult place 10 ascend, as any one may as
/, certain by examination. After going per.
I pehdteuiar about 30 feet, be came TO
!, clump Of bushes, where he rested little,
and proceeded on 10 another ledge protrd.
!, ding little from the main body Of rock /;
thence directly up the steep and rugged
!. ridge lying between the deep rayines on
each side OF the cedar stump, until he
:, came to the beneh, where first saw hun.
While upon that bench which ~ about
forty feet from the top of the bridge. lie
I, then advanced up the stream, along The
r very edge Of the awful preoipice that over
hangs the raylne, until be came around on
. the opposite side OF the stump from whence
he started. lie then came TO the last as.
4 cent Of any danger and It was truly awful
. to see man attempting 10 climb an over.
:, hanging cliff at tho distance Of $50 feet
from the bottom Of the dreadful abyss that
yawned beneath him, while IN ascending
his back was ln some measure downward,
!. and he had moreover frequently to remo,o
,. loose stones, IN order TO secure hold for
~ bis hand. In making tho FIRST effort, CT.
. thcr his strength or resolution failed him
p. and be returned 10 tho bench and rested.
!. My feelings NJ this moment we're truly IN
=. descfbnblc. To see u fellow being poised,
- as 1t were, bciwec he heaven and earth
. with barely possibility OF ascent or de-
scent cIlnging to tho preea rious shrubbe
n fy on the side Of lofty pfecipice, at the
base Of which lex ected every moment il
q see HIM dashed TO atoms, produced sen
!. salon cannot describe. Some Of the
a most cautious and prudent of the company
, proposed sending for ropes by which 10
n draw him up which was hardly possible
% under The circumstances, ms perhaps none
70 Of US had courage sufficient To venture down
70 the ravine far enough 10 sre him on tho
~ side where he then was. We we're ieariul
/, even to speak 10 him. Nevertheless, /.
.e ter dlyesting himself Of bis boots, anl
n swinging them around his neck with
70 handkerchief he made the second etIor
I. in which he happily succeeded amid OF
;. hnppies, congratulations. He was vert
e pale and in perfect ,remor when he al
20 rived al the top, from which be had Md
:. entirely recovered before took my lcavel
g The gentlemen present were MessrsI
Benjamin A. Holmes, James Campbell
John G. Jefferson. Capt. James A. Glib
son, Capt. Joel Lakeland, Claudius TomP1
- kns, John Luser, Albert II. Lusler, II
9 Ii. Luster, and s. II. Carier-any one y
l. whom will corrobora,e the statement II
: have made, ifapplled 10.
y AN EYE WITNESS.