Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-09-16

CSlilE sPuLt NJ pISSS tS
slow aud difficult descent. After turn
ing here and there, passing around this
that and the other Greg OF frowning
rocks, we found ourselves at length at
the bottom of this tremendous moun-
tain gorge. We seemed 10 be engulfed
in stupendohs bason, with a narrow
outlet down the mountain, thro' which
flowed winding brook, that just below
empties itself into couple of lakes so
called; or what we should call small
ponds, of perhaps 20 or 80 rods in dl'
ametor. !.
One of these lakes i. SO situated, as
to be constantly covered by the dark
shadows of the mountain gorge. which
gives its waters dark repulsive appear
ance, and on this account it is called the
+" Black Lake." The other which is
but short distance off, is SO situated as
to receive the reflection of the light, as
to give to its water bright, clear, lin
pid appearance; and is called the
"Whito Lake" Save this outlet, we
are surrounded with almost perpendic.
ular walls to the height of500 feet. 0,
to look up is startling! To one at the
top of the precipice, we appear like the
merest infants. Indeed we feel that we
are but specks in the heart of the gi-
gantic mountain. And yet more i'm
posing scene of wildness, beauty, gran
deur, sublimi,y, all combined, was new
er looked upon by human eyes. The
view was worth lifetime! Several
brooks, taking their rise far up the
mountain, met just above the brow of
the ravine, and following the different
channels to its verge, they became sep.
arated into ten thousand little streams
spreading themselves out TO the width
Of some 300 o, 400 feet as they leaped
into the abyss below; some streams
falling ten, twenty, forty and others fifty,
one hundred, two hundred feet without
touching crag, to impede their descent
and then only to scatter their spray IN
all directions, enhancing greatly the
beauty of the scene; and under the
beams ofthe rising sun, which then pen
etrated the gorge, they appeared fash
ing streams s Of molten silver. The
whole scene was one Of exceeding beau
ty aud wildness. When we were able
to look about ourselves little, we found
those million-of s,reemswhich'fei from
the various points of tho precipice. all
collected together, forming q single
brook, flowing downward to the lakes
before referred to. This is called the
+" brook Of a thousand streams"
At,he right, as you look up the noun
tain, the circular forth OF the basin is
somewhat broken, by sudden turn
which forms almost righ. angle. This
is formed by brook which at that point
falls a hundred feet, dashing upon the
crags and rocks below. During the
winter, there accumulated in this corn
or an immense bank of snow. perhaps
hundreds of feet deep; part of which
still remains; the brook dashing down
from, above has so worn its way under
uoath as TO form beautiful arch, per-
haps forty feet long, and large enough
to admit span of horses. We were
very anxious to pass through the arch,
but to do so. must cost US an effort for
the bank ut the bottom Of the ravine
had wholly disappeared and what re-
mained was situated far up yonder o.
mong the rocks and crags Of the gorge
But we were resolved to go through it,
so up climbed all hands Of US, ladies
and gentlemen, and clambering up The
channel OF the brook, we soon found
ourselves moored within the arch,
masses of hard icy snow being above
US aud resting their gigantic sides upon
the projecting crags on either hand ol
us. We walked several times through
it, though did not remain long under
it, for | must confess the danger Of do
ing SO seemed 10 me absolutely fright
ful. Being upon the upper entrance o!
the arch; we walked our way around
upon its side so as to overlook it. Hero
we ate our lunch, congra,ulating our
selves on the success Of our enterprise
and the ladies were merry over the fact
that they were the frs. Of their sex who
had ever visited the ravine. Having
consumed our lunch, we started for oul
return. BY passing corner of the
snow bank, we could greatly abridge oul
tedious ascent. One gentleman passed
over, another planting his feet firmly as
he thought in the snow bank, passed
safely Que of the ladies over, theothel
then stepped upon the bank, missed The
hand Of the gentleman, aud her feet
slipping ut the same moment she Went
down that terrible bank, to be hurled
upen the rocks below. The gentleman
in bis efforts to save her. lost his foot
hold and down the bank he started
The terror Of the moment was awful, q
screach of agony leapel from every
tongue. A moment only, was sutficienl
to decide tue fate of the victims. Il
seemed impossible that either shoult
escape with life. But thanks to gra
cions Providence. both escaped; the la