The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1853-12-15


bers Of others which are there entirely un-
AT the same time you may see
kinds Of pine aud cedar, interspers-
ed with oak, elm, beech, gun, walnut, hick-
DRY, &C., &c, and upon the hill sides acres
of the smaller shrubs which are. known in
other localities, each possessing a tint pecu-
liar to itself at this season, and altogether
presenting a matchless array OF colors per-
fectly bewildering, and to an artist almost
discouraging.
At about ten O'Clock, after a beautiful
drive, we arrived 10 the vicinity OF the
bridge, and leaving our equipages at a farm
house, proceeded the balance Of the way on
foot.
The approach is down a%ravine, which, in
the rainy season, is the bed Of a stream,
which is precipitated over a if,which forms
a part of the bridge, or rather from which
the bridge has been separated by the action
Of the water. One coming upon il from this
direction is sensible of a feeling Of disap-
pointment. as it gives no promise of the
grandeur of the view from the bed of the
stream below, from which point alone can
be obtained any satisfactory view Of this
wonderful freak of nature. Imagine a prec-
ipice over which the water has leaped and
plunged for centuries, and by its ceaseless
action worn a passage through n crevice In
the cliff, which has gradually widened and
widened until this huge arch Of white stone,
Of some sixty or seventy feet in height, and
having a span, by actual measurement, OF
one hundred and sixty-ive feet, is left sus-
pended in mid air, entirely detached from
the main cliff, except where it abuts upon
the rocks at the side of the ravine.
This wonderful arch, commencing at these
abutments with a thickness of about twenty
or twenty-five feet, and having a gradual
taper to the centre, where it is not more
than three OF. four feet thick, spans the ell
tire ravine. Under the whole cliff and
bridge an awful chasm has been worn out OF
the solid rock, under which one can walk to
a distance ofthirty or forty feet. From this
position looking out, q grand scene OF the
arch is presente /, as well as the cavity,
which has been worn out between 1t and the
main ledge. From u point below, some
yards in the bed of the stream, the bridge
and cliff present the appearance oil THE mouth
of Il yawning cavern, which one might east
ly imagine gave entrance to the very bowels
of the earth; and one would not suspect the
existance Of q bridge, until a nearer APP
proach revealed the aperture which has
been worn, as stated, by the action Of the
water from above. Large masses of rock,
which have by some means been separated
from the cliffs above, have rolled down into
the bed of the stream, and covered, as they
are, with trees, shrubs, and moss, add much
to the wild character OF the scene.
We took our lunch ut a spring a short
distance from the bridge; after which we
!, visited another curiosity upon the same farm
and but n short distance from the other
!, called Improperly the "Cave. "Itis simply
/ a projecting cliff, leaving ayawning chasm
worn underneath by another stream, which
!. discharges itself through a ravine similar tC
, the one where we found the bridge. Here
during wet weather, is a beautiful cascade
the water taking a leap of some thirty OF
forty feet, and from Il short distance below
; must present Il beautiful appearance, as i
> plunges among the massive piles Of rock be
/ meath. At both of these places there is
wild and luxurious growth of shrubbery ant
, forest trees which make "sketching" a verl
, difficult matter indeed; but as it is the inten
ton Of the proprietor to Gull out all the un
, dergrowth which impedes a fine view o
these objects from below, this trouble viii
soon be removed; and IL affords me greu
| pleasure to assure the lovers Of the gran,
and beautiful. that the gentle men who own
4 the farm upon which these wonders are sit
I uated is a gentleman Of refined cultivate'
. taste, and nothing will be done to detrac
from tho picturesqueness of the place, o
I disgust one with the lame efforts OF art Il
, improve nature.
| must now draw my letter to a close, Blu
. before doing so, ! cannot but again express
, my establishment that the beauty and grand
! eur Of the scenery of this valley should be
comparatively, so little known, and bein,
/. knot0n, ! shall be much more surprised il !
does not become a %favorite place of summe
f reset, and shall expect in a few years Il
see these beautiful hills covered with thu
n residences of those who, tired or satisfied
: with the hustle Of city life, have retired t.
end their days surrounded by the soothin!
influences which are ever to BIO enjoyed b.
: n refined mind which can appreciate thu
o beautiful every Where. As ever, yours,
"GUY."