New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-04-20
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d A JUNE JAuNT."


tmore and Ohio Railroad, by party Of gentlemen. Of
whom the historian Bancroft was one and Brantz
Mayer another. The narrative is from the forcible
pen Of the last named gentleman, and the accom-
panying illustrations are from his equally graphic
pencil The road traverses country rich in all that
can please the traveller and delight the enthusiastic
lover of nature and it is in successful operation
and in high favor with the travelling public, ac-
count of it, as derived from Brantz Mayors descrip
ton may prove of interest to readers, many of
whom will doubtless pass over the road during the
coming summer.
The accommodations for the party on leaving Bal
tinore, were decidedly cosy for railroad travelling.
Mr.. Mayer says: e. 81. ~.
.'The engine was one of the best on the line, and
the engineers and conductors selected for their
experienced skill After the engine followed car,
fitted up partly as kitchen and partly as dining
ROOM where fifteen twenty could take their meals
as comfortably as in the cabin of packet; then
came two cars with readng-rooms, writing. tables,
books instruments and everything requisite Tor the
accommodating party, while portions were ntted up
with state rooms for accommodation at night and,
last of ALL followed car with convenient seats and
abundant room for observation"
The final luxury corps of the best walters
that Baltimore could furnish. The " Relay House"
was the first place stopped at delicious hreakastng
place. where the Injuries of spring chickens and soft
crabs prevailed and the beauty o. the trip commenced
The Washington Junction vaduct over the Patapsco,
is described as an imposing structure of granite, OF
eight arches each sixty feet high and sixty broad in
the midst Of charming cultivated landscape. As
the precarousness of railroad travelling generally
lies in the bridges the strength and sodity of those
on the Baltimore and Ohio road were attentivey OBJ
served by Mr.. Mayer who doutess felt, as all other
admirers of nature must feel that of safety is
the basis of all enjoyment of the contemplative kind
| The road follows the Patapsco from the Relay
Honse to Eicotts Mills, and thence to Elysville
where the stream grows very childish and noisy in its
rocky cradle. AT Elysville the road passes over an
iron bridge of peculiar structure and great beauty the
very perfection of strength and safety. Five miles
beyond at the fork of the Patapsco the road turns
off and passes through the Marriottsville quarrics,
crosses another iron bridge through tunnel Of
| four hundred feet follows crooked gorge through
the Sykesville mining region, and trayerses rough
level country to PARIS Ridge, which divides the val
eys of the Patapsco and the Monocacy and Potomac,
| and affords most magnificent prospect of the most
| yariegated scenery. Crossing the Monocacy, the
road strikes ont across level limestone country to
the Potomac which stream if greets near the Point
of Rocks, wild rugged place, and pursues to that
scene of world renowned beauty, Harpers Ferry The
National Armory and the stupendous curving bridge
are the chief works here which the art OF man has
put in contrast with the wild sublimity of nature Mr..
Mayors description of this place is very fine:
| It was noon when we left the Arnory and climbed
to the gment of Jefersons Rock which affords the
best coup dGa of this celebrated scenery 1t was a
| fatiguing tramp under midday sum- but we found a
| breeze singing down the gorge OF the Shenandoah
when we rested under the old pinetree among the
cliffs The rock itself is Of very little interest, except
for its association with Mr.. Jeifersons name and its
| remarkable poise on massive base. From the gap
| between the fragments the prospect combines the
grand and beautiful in a wonderful degree. Beyond
the brow of the hill very little of the town is seen to
dsgure the original features of the prospect so that
the wilderness of mountain, forest, and water may
still be as freshly enjoyed as they were by the earliest
travellers. Indeed it is impossible for language to
sketch the spirit OF the spot more wildly than is done
in the bold penciling Of Jefferson. g You stand"
says he, =" on a very high point of land; on your
| right comes up the Shenandoah, having ranged the
foot of the mountain hundred miles to seek vent !;
on your left approaches the Potomac in quest of a
passage also. In the moment Of their junction they
rush together against the mountain rend it asunder,
and pass off to the sea-" In few distinct words of
outline we have the geology and geography of the
spot before US; but when the sun is lower and the
shadows broader than at the time OF VISIT to
impart variety of tone and effect to the scene it is
difficult to conceive wilder prospect than the noun
tains forming the gap, or a more placid landscape
than that which waves away beyond it, till hill, forest
contrast between the roughness Of the foreground and
the pastoral quiet of the distance that the very
landscape seems to teach the need and harmony OF
repose after struggle.
Martinsburg and the ruins of Fort Frederick are
the next points of interest the latter melancholy
heap of Wondering walls, overgrown with weeds but
rich in historic interest. Sir Johns Run is place
where travellers may leave the cars and so by short
drive to the celebrated Berkey Springs, watering
place which has been honored by the patronage of
Washington, and held in high favor since by the
| Marylanders and Virgnians. From Sir Johns Run
the road winds along the romantic valley OF the Poto-
mac to Cumberland, passing many points of great ma
tura beauty and of deep interest to the patriot from
their associations with the events Of bye gone days
| Cumberland is described as charming, quiet city,
teeming with hospitality whistler the excursion
lists made divergent trip to the Eckhart Coal Region
The scenery on the road is wild and picturesque, and
the Eckhart Mines and the Mount Savage Iron Works
are replete with interest. The Iron Works is colony
of nearly thousand Woodworking people, secluded
from the world ina wild mountain gorge. This, how.
ever, is but one of many mining settlements i'll that
part of Maryland Returning to Cumberland, the
excursionss stirred up the historic lore of the place
visited the site of the old FORT of which traces
main save hole in the ground which was once a
WE'LL inspected same qalnt OLD buildings SAID 10 nave
been built by Braddock, and had fine time of it gen
orally.
Leaving Cumberland the great railroad crosses
Wills Creek by magnificent stone vaduct of four
teen arches, and winds along the north branch of thu
Potomac, over "a gradually ascending level to
ward Piedmont. Here the real grandeur Of the tril
begins the road is confronted and frowned upon b,
the Allegheny Mountains-but the road triumphs
Mr. Mayer thus describes the feat, after mentioning
Piedmont as a village which has sprung up in soil
tude at the steep base of the Aeghanies, sort
breathing place, where the iron horse is to pause
grid up slons, and renew his strength fora struggl
with the giants that stand before him in deiian
grandeur"
"As you pass forward from Piedmont, the imprey
: sion is that you about to run tilt against tn
mountain flank with blind and amless impulse !; bu
graceful curve winds the train out of harm, an
you move securely into the primeval forest, feeiin
the engine beginning to tug the sleeps it strike
the edge of Savage River, which bos down the wes
ern shoulder of Savage Mountain. The transit fror
i the world to the wilderness is instantaneous. NJ
v Bancroft and mounted the engine at this spot
to enjoy an unobstruced view of the scenery lutn
the ascent and although gust began to growl owe
II the mountains, with frequent flashes of ghtnin