Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-09-28
visit to Eiliot,s Knob.

made their way to its summit, however, not
content with their elevation far above all other
objects in the reach of vision, and aspiring to
still higher attachments, have constructed a tow
er of stone upon the highest point of the knob,
the top of which tower is pronounced by one
enthusiastic gentleman, the very pinnacle OF
the world"
Our party assembled at Buffalo Gap on Tuesday
morning, some coming from the East and some
from the West of the Mountain. We had gone
out to the Gap the evening previous, trusting to
luck for horse to put US through, and we are
happy to say that luck did not abuse our conf
dence. Our friend Newman had sorrel mare
in his stable, taken up as an estray and not yet
called for, which he kindly rendered us tor the
trip. We have 10 doubt the mare knew that
we would be on hand and strsyed off for our es-
pecial benefit. Had the animal not been SO con-
siderate, however, we should have induced Mr..
Newman to leoy on somebody's horse, and given
him an indemnifying bond to secure him against
risk. When the mare is advertised she may De
safely described as a sure-footed beast OF excel
lent qualities, walks like regular mountaineer,
lopes like deer, and trots maryellouslY well
for dyspepsia The sorrel mare put US through
in more ways than one. No one who rides her
three miles alongside Of girl raised in the
mountains, will ever need another dose OF Hoof
lands German Bitters.
About O'Clock, all the necessary prelimina'
ries having been arranged, the party mounted
their nags, and started for "Ellett," as the
"Knob" is generally termed C'for shorty by
persons who reside in the neighborhood.-
1.-TWO Forty" is considered tolerably fast riding
on plank road, we believe, but for the first
two miles, our party rode like five and forty on
road McAdamized with huge boulders which
had probably rolled down from the side OF the
mountain. AS for ourselves, we travelled far
Their and faster than any of the party. Weweni
ahead on the sorrel like FIVE and forty and ur
and down like twice ive-and-forty, so that we
must have travelled just double distance
Our rapid riding was soon brought to q halt
however, by the first serious adventure of the
day-the cold-blooded murder of an enormou:
snake of the copper-head species, the most ven
omous and courageous of all the snakes found
| in the mountains Several of the gentlemen dis
mounted promptly when they saw the reptile
summing himself in the road, drew their five
shooters and approached with admirable cool
ness and deliberaton 1t took only fifteen shots
| 10 dispatch him, after which we made our ap'
pearance fully determined to trample him in the
dust with the heel of our boot, which had been
set with ten-penny nails especially to kill snakes
We should most certainly have done so but that
we were forcibly held back by one of the young
ladies, who did not wish to see US rashly endan'
ger our life. Moreover the surgeon OF the party
had pronounced the snake dead before we ar
rived on the spot, and at the earnest solicitation
of numerous friends We desisted from any fur
Their attempt to extinguish its vitality.
After this incident the party proceeded more
leisurely, until they reached the deep cut known
as the Summit" on the Central Railroad. Al
this point, about three miles from Buffalo Gap
we left the road and commenced ascending the
mountain. For few hundred yards there is nc
path, but from the main ridge there is well
defined and tolerably smooth foot-path to thu
top of the mountain. The grade is for the mos
part easy, and with little labor the road nigh
be made entirely safe and agreeable for horse
back travel. On we went in single file and fine
spirits for considerable distance, when sudden
ly the horses of those in the van pricked tbeil
ears, stopped and stood trembling in their tracks
Another moment and the unmistakable warning
of the rattle-snake was heard. Some little dis,
lance in the rear we did not hear the rattle, and
understood those in front to say "wild turkeys
We had double-bsrreled gun-we dismounted
we hurried up to the spot-but finding it was
a rattle,snake, suddenly remembered that the
gun was not loaded, hurried back to our horse
and remounted as expeditiously as possible. II
must not be supposed, however, that we were at
all afraid of the snake for it had been killed be-
fore we reached the scene of action. We went
after turkeys and had no idea of wasting our
ammunition upon mere creeping reptiles. The
snake was a very large one, and shook ten rat
ties very vigorously before he shufiled off bis
Scoil"
One hour and twenty minutes from the time
we left the road brought the party to spring,
distant about two hundred yards from the sum-
nit of the mountain. Here we dismounted,
though we are satisfied that even the ladies might
have ridden considerable distance further with
entire safety. at this point we found an album
dance of excellent water, and the ladies insisted
on refreshments before proceeding on foot to the
top of the Knob. In very short time the pro.
visions were spread by their fair hands
chicken fxins" and other meats, "pies an
things"-cakes, candies and other CONNECTION
eries-all of which were disposed of with great
relish A few bottles of wine were also fur
nished by the ladies which were quite currant
around the circle. The only drawback to the en-
joyment of this pleasant picnic was the heat of
the sun, one small tree affording the only pro-
lection from its scorching rays to be found at
this point.
After disposing of the edibles the party pro-
ceeded on foot, and in a short time reached the
Knob without much difficulty. Upon the top of
the mountain there is level plateau of several
acres, covered with whortleberry bushes and
other shrubs, the heavy growth having been
destroyed by fire. The view East and West is
most extensive and beautiful. Unfortunately
the atmosphere was hazy, which obscured many
objects in the far distance that might otherwise
have been distinctly seen, but as it was the