The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1845-09-27
PERTLOUS ADVENTURE.

i ASCENT OF THE NATURAL BRIDGE THE SEC
oND TINE 1t will be recollected that many
years ago, the Natural Bridge was assembled BY
Col. James H. Piper, then student at Washing
ten College, and now member Of the State
senate. A graphic account ofihis hazardous ex
plot, from the pen of DR.. Caruthers, has beer
long before the world. Nevertheless, many per
sons who have visited the bridge, have regar
ded the story as fabulous, deeming the achieve
ment ABSOLUTELY impossible. II will be seen
however, by the following brief narrative, with
which we have been kindly furnished from an
authentic source. that the ascent has been
second time successfully achieved. Certainly
ne must have steady nerves and indomitable
sef-reliance, who puts life and limb in such m
m'nent per'l.-Lynchdurg Virginian.
Remarkable Feat On Sunday, the 26.h July,
there being, besides myself several guests at
the tavern Of Mr. Luster, at the Natural Bridge,
we concluded TO walk up and view that stipend
Gus prodigy OF nature, with which "naught made
by human hands can vie:" and accordingly
several of US repaired thther, and, after beng
lost in enchantment for some considerable lime
in gazing upon the far.famed attractions, we re.
turned 10 small house on the road side, be. |
tween the bridge and tavern, where we were
favored with an old paper, containing an &C.
count of the ascension Of the bridge by Mr..
Piper, many years ago, from the pen Of DR.. |
Caruthers. While some of US, entirely ncrcd.
ulous, we're warmly discussing its title to credi.
bity, we were suddenly interrupted by the cry
"Some one is climbing the bridg-!" Withihe
avldity Of men anxious to maintain their opin
ion, until convinced of it's falsty by occular de.
monstration. we Immediately rushed, en- masse,
to the top Of the bridge, still inwardIy doubling
the possibility of what the next moment met our
astonishing sight-the ascension Of the bridge!
When we arrived there we found two gentle
men of the bridge, who pointed to US Mr.. Sha-
yer, the hero Of the occasion, standing at the
distance Of ITO feet from the ground, on bench, !
Gas it is termedl apparently too narrow to stand
upon even without motion. From The test, |
mony ofthe gentlemen present,we learned that
Guided 10 attempt the ascension, merely Il SUD. |
pose) TO crafty his own curiosity OF that Of 9th.
ere. Without any preparation, he Immediately
commenced climbing directly under The we'll |
known cedar stump, about ten or fifteen PAGES
higher up the streamthanthe place from whence
Mr.. Piper is said to have started, and withal
much more difficult place to ascend, y any one
may ascertain by examination. ARer going
about 30 feet, he came to q
clump of bushes, where he rested little, and
on to another ledge protruding T.. /
tie fromithe main body Of the rock; then.e d. i
rec.ly up the steep and rugged ridge wing be.
tween the deep ravines on each sid.s Of the cedar
stump, until he came to the Der. ch. where FIRST
saw him. Whilesupon tina. bench, wh,cl, is
bout forty feet from me top Mr. Shaver in.
scribed his name "a very legible characters,
which may be seen BY any one from The top Of
the bridge. He then advanced up the stream,
along tie very edge Of the awful preciDice that
ovesnangs the ravine until he came around on
the opposite side flhe stump from where he
started. He then came to the last ascent OF
any danger, and il was truly awful to see man
attempting to climb an overhanging cliff at the
distance Of $50 feet from the bottom Of the
dreadful abyss that yawned beneath him, while |.
ia ascending his back was in some measure
downward, and he had, moreover, frequently to
remove loose stones. in order to secure q. hold
for his hand Ia making the first effort either
his strength or resolution faiIedhim, and be re-.
turned to the bench and rested. Ny feelings
at this moment were truly indescribabIe. To