Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1845-08-14

II. Natural Bridge IL Virginia, the wonder
and sdmirasion Of al Who have behsid y, nas
been sscendsd for The second time, ~ MI.
shaver, on The Rs,h Of jay lat Many years
ago, il uss assembled By Col James y. PlPel' -
ptesent . member Of The Virginia Stats senate,
which was graphically described a the time ~
Ir. csr1.hers, Sus 50 immine1,ly perilons vas
such feat considered, ina. the story vas trea'ec
Is being fabolous,s
h: The Lyichbuge virginian contains narrative
81 ne adventure, By az Eyewitness. who
names half.a-dozen Of gentlemen as references,
who were present At the ascent. We make an
exrae, from The sccopnt d the Perilous adsen-
without any preparation. be immediately
commenced climbing directly undef the well
knoMn cedar stump, about ten or fifteen PAGES
higher up The stream than the place from whence
MI. Piper is said 10 have started, and withai .
much more difficult place to ascend, IS any one
NAV ascertain by examinaliou. After going per-
pendculatiy about thirty feet, be came 70
/ Chimp Of bushes, where he rested little, and
Enfoceeded on 10 another ledge protruding lutte
tffom the main body Of the rock ;thence directly
4 up The steep and rugged ridge lying besweenthe
rayines on each side of the cedar stump, until he
came 10 the bench, where first saw him.
WhIle upon that bench, which e about forty
fee, from thetop, Mr.. Shaver inscribed his name
in ysry5lspible characters, which may Be seen
by a3,y one from The top of The B;idge. He then
j advanced us The stream, along the very edge Of
the awful precipiee that ogerhangs the ravine,
unlifhe came around on the opposite side OF the
stump from where be started. He then came 70
4 the last ascent of any dangers and II vas iiuly
Il awful 10 see man attempting 70 climb Inc over
lhanging cltG al the distance Of $50 feet from the
bo.tom Of The dreadful abyss that yaWned be-
meath him, while il ascending, his back was ~
some measure downward, and be had moreover
frequently tosmove lose stones,sin order TO So
lcure a hold for. bis hand. In making he mrs
effort, either his strength or fesoiutlenialied him
and be returned 70 the bench and rested. MY
feelings al this moment were truly understandable
Tosee fellow being poised; as il were, between
heaven and earth, with barely possibility o
ascent orSSdesceni, clinging 10 the precafIou
lshfubbery on The side Of lofty precipice at h'
basefof which expected every moment to Sc
him dashed 10 atoms, produced a sensation
Cannot describe Some Of the more eau
tious ahdprudent ofthe company proposed send
ing for ropes BY which TO draw him up, which
was hardly possible under the circumstances, y
none or us had courage sufficient 10 venture dow
1.-The, ragins far enough 70 see him on the sid
vhsre he then was. we were fearful even |.
speak 10 him. Nevertheless, after dives,in
himself Of his boots, and swinging them aroun
bis neck with handkerchief, he made The sec
dsefort, in which be happily succeeded, ami
our happiest congratulations. ,He was very pal
} and in a perfect tremor when he arrived al u
top, from which he bad not entirely recovere
|, before took my leave.
1 x st- IS
: The Lexington Gazette states that tro ascel
! sions oflihe Bridge have been made since TIL
! by Col Piper--so that the one above detailed
! probably the third,