American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-08-04
AMERICA TELEGRAPH
Js[correspa of the American Tslegraph.]
"A. Capon Springs.

~N'"-se, WV NSo"goSy t1t~ "'e +SV"fNehJ- &It.3
10 The Editors of tie 2Anaerican TelegsdpAl et2t .
' aI !. CApoS SpRIsas, August 2, 1851,
GENrLEMEN: We, left Washington for this
place, in the cars for, Baltimore, on the 25th
ultimo, when the thermometer had run up to
93o at my house on the Avenue When the
train was in motion, the air seemed as the
breath from d furnace, and when at rest we
we're almost overcome with the heat; but just
as we entered Mount Clare Depot, q threatening
storm began to display the most brilliant light
ming ever beheld the odashing storm that
soon followed, nearly deluging the city, refresh
ing the air greatly, my tagging spirits bracing
up under its influence, I,tg esit .g...,',
10 Next morning at eight o'clock, on our way
for Harpers Ferry, near Sykesville, we come
upon some twenty or more small mountains, in
an area Of about three miles. During the tran
sit Of the train Of cars through the valley Of
these hills, i stood upon the platform Of our car,
watching the locomotive, and the serpentiAe
form of our very long train, as it threaded its
way in obedience to the will Of the iron horse,
that was lodging right and left to avoid direct
contact with these hills; now winding its way
round to the right, in the next moment shearing
off to the left and entirely hiding itself from our
view; and SO on, round and about, right and
left, until we shot off in q straight Line, leaving
these mounds in our rear. 1t was to me the
most fearful and exciting five minutes of my
life; for i had, when boy at school, some ex-
.perience in o train of thirty or more boys run.
ming hand-in-hand, when suddenly the leader
turns short round, that motion gives slight
shock to his next neighbor, which increases as
it runs out to the end of the train of boys,
where, the poor little fellow having nothing to
check him, is thrown out into the air from the
train, like the threads from q coach-whip when
it is cracked and l expected to see the last car
thrown off in this way from the same cause
AT one o'clock we arrived at Harper's Ferry,
where we remained until the next day-the
wise Virginians, in their Legislative councils,
having determined that there shall be no public
travelling in her borders on the Sabbath day;
and ! must say that the majesty of the scenery
on every hand here is in every way calculated
to bring men to pause, before they transgress
that law of the Decalogue which declares,
g Thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath day. and
all others Of the ten commandments also.
Twill not attempt to describe what wonders
of nature and art saw at Harper's Ferry.
That has been often done by ADLER pens Twill
only remark what struck my mind very for
chilly: that there are here two great anita
gonistical principles at work, the one build
ing up the place, and the other pulling it down
their great water-power and their great rum
powerl Their grave-yards tell dismal story
of runs doings here | But by the late move-
ments of the temperance army-aided by the
wholesome regulation and restraint Of Major
Synington, who dismisses every drinking man
out of his force of five hundred hands employed
at this time in the United States Armory here
for the manufacture of rifles and muskets-it
is admitted that rum is surrendering. From
the neat little houses going up around the hills
here belonging to the mechanics in the Armory,
we may infer the proof Major Symington is
to leave this post on the 5th, think was in
formed of this present month. He has been
stationed at Harper's Ferry for about ten years.
1t is to be hoped that his successor Huger, the
person on the trial of Talcott whom the Presi-
dent handled SO severely will keep up this
regulation. There is very general regret at
Harper's Ferry that the Major is to leave this
place.
On Monday, attwelve o'clock, we were again
off for Winchester, thirty-two miles further on,
accompanied by q party of friends, who had
come down on the Cumberland train from the
Bedford Springs, where they left 400 visiters.
Between Harper's Ferry and Winchester there
is a most beautiful country, interspersed with
some splendid farms. Their corn looked finely
indeed, which surprised US, considering the
dryness of the season. And as we dwelt upon
these immense fields of this great staple Of our
country, standing erect in the fields like so
many soldiers in green, with spreading tassels
above, like so many open extending hands, as
though in token that they were for oil mankind,
we regretted that this provision should be pros
tituted to the Stit, to produce monster to curse
and kill those whom it was sent to bless and
nourish. s t#
Arriving at Winchester, we took dinner, and
off over the mountains to the Springs, twenty
three miles distant, in coaches-fne teams,
excellent coaches, and careful drivers. With
these we reached the Springs at about eleven
o'clock at night, hands in our pockets, as
though it were November! We went to bed,
and called for more blankets. Early in the
morning we sailed forth to take look around,
rather surprised at appearances. The buildings
were more extensive than we had expected,
and much grander. We learned that seven
hundred persons were here. We went to break
fast at half-past eight o'clock, and from the
thinness at the table we thought seven hundred
an over estimate but at dinner every plate
had representative they were not up for
breakfast .m.M
Of the Ddter we cannot say much. 1t is taste
less, plain, simple water to my palate; and
from my experience and observation, its very
great qualities are hard to find out. But it is
universally admitted, all round, that this water
is great. Go to the Springs with half dozen
friends, taste, shake your head, look wise, de-
clare it excellent, and then drink six tumblers;
and then back to the house and talk about the
water, and they will look grave, and tell you
to bring horse affected with the bots, they
will show you what it can do. ..
But the mountain air will almost lift you from
your feet, it is 50 very bracing and pure
have not had dull feeling since have been
here. go to bed at twelve to rise at five, and
run foot-races in the mountains before break
fast; then ten-pins till eleven, when we 60 out
on the mountain road to meet the coaches, and
get the Washington Telegraph, Baltimore Sun,
&c. We are all on the qIi piue about the