Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-08

THE HAWKS NEST.
CAVITY BRIDGE, DEC. 18th, 1e1'.

u
Nessrs. Editors:-I am stopping here lew nsys
AMI ak. ;his op -ortunity 10 "'"' "" '''
for your interesting paper: ~ ,,o
viii, two companions, LEFT Hlgh'aha county on lne
9th Of October, by way OF Monterey ana oheh %
river On tho latter river mere are sotiie % W.
So or.,;ng lands that we have ever seen. q
the Allegheny mountains into Pocahontas Tine
county nf white pnes) where we also saw hne graz
ing land Passing through Hunter6Vie inc couil,
w san of Pocahontas on the evening OF Inc sec"hu
Sor u,a reached the Marlinbottom and Lewsourg
tnrnn:ke where spent the night. The next day We
ase through Gresnhrer, which is arch,W wild couii'
iry fine for grain and grazing and also timely Wstered'
We now crossed into Nicholas county, whinh
we found 10 be very high with thin soil and colo
climate. While passing through the dreary wllds OF
tho Ksnawha mountains, We discovered large
shelving rock which had evidently been used IN
years gone by camp, for the remains OF their hre
could be- seen under the rock. The SINAI! timber was
sill cut off on top Of the clh aud two locuet posts
stood in front OF tile rock, but for what they were
used we cannot say. We next passed through Sum.
merville, and crossed the Ganley river at McFey 3
ferry.
We now found ourselves in Fayetle county. Running
our pony over rough roads, we in short time reach
ed the Charleston aud Warm Spring turnpike, on
which we travelled until near sundown when we
learned that We wers near the celebrated Hawk g
Nest or Marshs's Pillar, and leaving our faded
horses at the hotel, passed on foot to see IT, From
the hotel we followed the road about halt mne'
w
ing this short distance The whole scene burst upon
our view. The rock projects out only sufficiently 10
give standing to some half dozen persons. on lts
head is an old picturesque cedar, which Is nearly
DESTROYED by the numerous names which have been
carved on its body, shaved q small space with my
knife and left my name with the others. The rock
here breaks eft abruptly in perpendicular lines OF
more than thousand feet. The scenery here Is
grand and sublime beyond desert ,tion The forest
rises above and around you beneath and before you
-, and
gdes peacefully down it, rejecting like mirror all
the lights Of heaven washing the foot of the Cliff on
which you are standing, aud then winding away III
another valley at your right. Beyond This valley the
cliffs riss in high and broken ridges and seem to look
down with frown on the tall trees below, which look
more like the picture of trees than trees them
selves After remaining wrapt in thought I'LL Ozark,
we plucked bunch of cedar, fired our pistols from
the cddy heights and returned to the hotel
of Col. Hamton's excellent fare. Since that time
have spent my time in Fayette and kanawhs
counties and have visited the Camel coal bank ana
grea. oil factory where they are working about MY
hands, and make 500 gallons of oil per day, which
they ship to Maysve, Kentucky, where ihey clarity
il and sell il at an average Of 81 So per gallon.
There il a good deal Of excitement here now on ac'
count of the failure Of the Old Dominion Coal Bank
and Gsu,ey River Lumber Companies which have
left number Of their debts unpaid
About a week before Christmas saw about 5o ne
groes lhapds who had been at work at one Oh the
coal bnnks Oh their way to Eastern Virginia, TO take
their holidays. When they passed my boarding
house they all took off their hate. making polite
how TO u.s. willie they rent the air with their shouts of
Joy, which they continued as long as they We're in
hearing. II was cheerful sight and, think, would
have done some Of Northern freedom shriekers
good 70 have seen it. These hands, as was told by
their overseer. after Flushing their tasks, made from
81 TO 81 per week for themselves. also saw about
the same number who were free, going to Ohio, brt
they were ragged, dirty ard degraded in appearance
We have = i n fine Christmas here. J have been
20 four social parties during the ast week. given by
the liberal citizens at the Bridge all OF which passed
ufr very pleasantly and TO tho satisfaction Of all pre-
sent On Christmas day saw large deer 10 over
the great falls of Kanawha, and it was never seen
ags.. Respectfully, 'AIo"'