Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-02
LETTER FROM THE ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS

LETTER FROM THE ALLEGHANY MOUNTAINS
Had not the following letter been mislad BY the
writer, i, would have been published some time
ago. As il concludes the series to which it be.
longs, however, it may not be unacceptable to our
readers, even at this late day:
i HARPERs FERRY, JUNE, lS43.
Since the date of my last letter. have been travelling
through very beautiful but thicky-seled portion Of the
Allegheny country, whose natural curoses are as familiar
TO the world hrce-told tale For this reason therefore
shall be exceedingly brief in describing what have seen in
the Valley of Virginia Tha, portion Of the "Ancent Do
mnion known by the above is about two hundred
miles long, ranging in width from thirty to forty miles. is
bounded the north by the Potomac, the east by the
Blue Ridge, the west by spur of the Aeghanies called
the North Mountains, and the south by the New River
or kanawha should be called It's principal streams are
the Shenandoah, the James River and the Cacapon which
every way worthy of their parent country In ascend
ing the NORTH was tempted perform pilgrimage down
the kanawha but my map told that could see the
whole of its valley without travelling least two hundred
miles, and therefore concluded that its charming scenery
its famous salt works, and the still celebrated White
Sulphur springs should remain undescrbed by my pen In
fact to visit all the interesting objects among the ALLEGHENY
Mountains would occupy number Of summers and there
fore, in making single tour, have found important to
discriminate as passed along But it is time that shoulc
turn my attention to the prominent attractions Of the great
Virginia valley They follows and shall speak Of
them in the order in which visited them, the Peaks OF
Otter the Natural Bridge, Wyers Cave, Cycopean Tow.
ers, the Shenandoah, and Harper's Ferry.
The Peaks Of Otter situated upon the line which sepa
rates the counties of Bedford and Boteour and are the two
highest mountains the Blue Ridge range and therefore
the highest in Virginia They derive their name from the
fact that at very early period in the history of country
the otter found in great abundance the smaller streams
at their base In appearance they resemble pair regular
y formed haysacks and reach elevation of about five
thousand feet above the level of the ocean, Owing TO the
circumstance that the country side nearly level and
that the surrounding mountains comparatively low their
appearance exceedingly imposing The SUBMITS of these
watch,owers destitute of vegetation, but crowned with i'm
rocks which have been scattered about in the most
ncomprehensible confusion. And hereby hangs story
About year ago. number Of persons assembled the high
est peak question, and having discovered immense rock
which appeared to be in toesh POSITION they took into
their heads give start down the mountain side and
what would be the result They accomplished their pur
pose and something more for happened that the rock
travelled much further than they expected and having fallen
into very large spring at the foot Of the mountain caused it
disappear from the face of the earth. The owner of the
spring felt himself injured by this circumstance went to law
about it, and the offending paie have been informed
were compelled to pay heavy bill Of damages That the
sunrise and prospects from the Peaks Of Otter are u
peb may readily be imagined Those which present them
selves the NORTH west and SOUTH comprise the
entire Appalachian chain OF mountains, but the oceanward
panorama Is unique and particularly impressive In this d.
ecsion the whole eastern portion Of Virginia resembles
boundes plain where the most plantations
appear larger than the squares upon and
that have employed that figure, strikes as par
tculay appropriate; for where is there the face Of
the earth who not playing game for the attainment of
happiness From their position, the Peaks Of Otter look
down upon all the ogs and yapos born of the breezes
and by those who have frequently behed their fantastic evo
utons, am told that they surpass the widest flights OF
poetry Few mountains in this country have been visited by
many distinguished the Peaks of Otter and il is
said that while standing upon their ofest pinnacle that
John Randolph first had realizing Of the and
the power Of God. To minds mountain peak may De
thousandod eloquent than the voice of man and
when think OF the highly moral condition Of the people in
Central Virginia, am constrained to award mite Of praise
10 the Peaks OF Otter for their happy influences
thousand years ago, and mighty caravan OF man.
moths travelling the American continent Mid
way between two ranges Of mountains they to great
ravine which they could find passage and they
in despair. The Great Spirit took pity upon the ami
mails and, having brought deep sleep upon them threw
of solid rock completely the rayne and So &C
cordng almost forgotten Indian legend came into exist
the Natural Bridge Of Virginia The chasm over which
this magnificent limestone arch has been formed varies from
sixty ninety feet width the surrounding precipces are
nearly hundred and fifty feet high and perpendicular and
the lower line OF the arch itself two hundred feet
above the which passes through the gorge The bridge
and It's clke abuments all crowned with uSuriant da
dem Of trees which lends them understandable charm and
directly the north side Of the former stands an exceedingly
picturesque gallery parapet Of solid rock which seems TO
have been formed BY Nature for the especial purpose Of az
foding the most imposing Prospectino the dell From every
elevated point OF view the eye falls into abyss which one
might easily fancy to be the birthplace Of all the shadows il
the world, the gray and green gloom Deep 50 purely
heautlu and refreshing, the hour Of noon but
from every point the bottom Of the dell the stupe
Gous arch, writer has finely said, "eems TO offer
passage TO the SKIES and the massive masonry OF Nature
stands boldly against the blue heavens thereby producing
most unique ard poetcsl But the location Of this
bridge less beautiful than i structure Il il complete
y surrounded with hills, which seem to cluster around the
spectacle to protect from sscrege and from the
hills question the eye every where delighted with noun.
tain landscapes Of uncommon oveiness.
Wyss Cave is ia Augusta county, and the entrance 10
is from the side Of limestone hill which commands very
charming prospect OF the highly cultivated valley Of the She
nandoah was originally discovered by Bernard Wyer
in the year 1904, whose fortune capture bear with
in lew PAGES OF ts entrance s entire length Is not far
from thousand yards, that its is not TO be wonder
ed at but when you come speak Of beauty variety
number, and imposing appearance Of its apartments the nov
city OF It's concretons It's fantastic projections comparative
freedom from dampness and the whieness Of its walls SUD-
pose must be considered as unsurpassed by any thing Of the