The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-08-19
/ ii E ID SPA Tt H
THE NEW RIVER COUNTRY-No q

As W MA v I'm SOUN TAf-N y.
The Scenery at Ee.o Rirer WAits-A eaao,er ON Fys,
saJ-7he Caxs IN The Ne;ghboyhoci--Tad -Tadepes,-
asaoe LAY "a one q Mes, dc, dc.
NEW RIVER WaIrE SULPHUR SPRINGS
August 14th. 1858.
There 10 now large aud very agreeable conpa
ay AZ this Watering place, including some Of the
most respectable of our lowlasders and ctizsns Of
ihe southern Ssafes. They are enjoying them
selves very much with tue various objects Of inter
est hereatouts: the grand scenery OF the New
River, the view from the Bald Knob aud the Meuu-
tain Lake. Those who have passion for troutiug
have their qualification in that line, while for tho
hunter the game Is abundant. 4 man came IN
this week with eight pheassnts he had shot that
day. beer are said TO be plenty in the neighbor
log mountains. A party went ont few days
aimee with pack Of hounds; but we're unfortunate
One or more stays were aroused by the dogs; but
none we're doomed that day to die. The master of
the dogs was aot In company and either they deter
mined not TO bring in the game rightly for that
reason, or because they apprehended that the
Tuckahoes at the stands would not shoot It. " thsy
did. So it was, they left the ground before the
gunners, who returned quite forlorn, after hot
days ride, with no bucks tail for a trophy Those
gaiaDis who were in pursuit Of the "pretty dears"
at the Springs had much more agreeable time
than their confseres, who went to the mountains
sod were disposed to make game of them upon
their return.
The cave, whose dark mouth opens upon the
high hill on New River, about two miles above
tutS ptdCc, 10 Interesting OBJECT 10 the
visitor here Many go into 1t and bring away
stylsctites a. meneHtos OF their expedition into
the bowels Of the earth. The views and curiosi-
ties Of mountain, lake and river hereabouts fill all
with admiration, aud have never heard one
speak OF them but to say that he was amply com.
pensated by his journey to see them. however long
that bad been. The visitor is struck with delight
upon suddenly emerging from the mountain road
at this place aod behod,ng the pretty lawn of the
nea, aud unpretend,ng Hotel, the noble river aud
the gigantic cliffs, which tower 295 feet above it,
This first and favorable impression ia but strensth
sned by ieisnrely examination Of the scenery, for
which the visitor is sure to be 10 the best frame of
mind, alter little rest in comfortable quarters,
with good fare and the kindly attentions of the
~hole-souied landlord, who is withal polite ard
obiigipg gentleman.
With all my admiration ofNew River, am, as
fisherman, compelled to Acknowledge that IL il
sadly delinquent in one particular. There il no
sport in IFS waters for the angler. This is most
strange. More beautiful fishing waters, both in
eddy and in rapid, never looked upon and when
one for the rsr time looks at it, he is almost sure
to exciaim, Nv hat fine river for fisbing." Yet
when you drop a line to its inhabitants you find
your sad disappointment, that they are all CATS
aud that there are very few OF them disposed to
bite. You may angle all day and not see a scale -
Indeed. except few minuows aud sucker,
caught at long intervals the people say they new
er see anything but catfish. These they most pa
tieutly and perseveringly en6eayor to ensnare 10
their most approved modes, the chief Of which is
the trct line. This is line which is anchored
across the river, having many hooks appended to
t. which are baited geLer lily with live mnnows
Ii is set In the evening and taken up in the
morning: and is often very successful. Some OF
.he cats caught here are perfect monsters, weigh
ing from twenty to fifty pounds! 1 have seen
them weighing thirty. Now to hook such a fish
ud be ind. Ell great sfort TO the angler; but You
can only aecoDE iish it with the trot line some
other contrivsnce for which the true disciple Of
Walton has no taste. Gigging is mach followed
at particular seasons. Nhle at the mouth of Iu-
dian creek recently, saw both the river ana
creek illuminated with the torches of the sears
men who wading in the shallow waters in
pursuit OF the cats. The scene presented WAS siu-
gularly wild and animated The zeal aud activity
with which the men pursued their game was re-
markable. All their movements csud be distinct.
~ seen, and the rapid manner in which they gave
chase in the zigzag style Of a fish endeavoring to
escape. was very amusing. After a brief struggle
In this fashion, you could clearly hear the irou
shod spear strike ther cky bed OF the river, and
to one but the man who threw it, mediately eie
vated in the urid light of bis pine torch very
large cat.
There are three varieties of cats, viz blue cats,
mud cats, and channel cats. They are distinguish
ed by the complexion of their skins. The blue
cats are very blue, the channel cats have lighter
color and the mud cats not easily distinguish
ed from mud like it is their hue They all differ
in shape I. ON our i0wland cats-their heads being
natter. and their tails being longer from the dor
sal fin aud much more flat and oar like in shape
This difference adapts them finely to the navigation
of the falls of the New River, which they stem
with great activity. In passing along the river,
freQutn ly amused myself by seriously asking q
fisher man what kind of 1sh he caught. He would
reply. "WeII, all kinds, a'mest." ''But what are
theyl" "Wetl, blue cats, mud cats, channel cats,
and so forth
So much for cats. which may interest some of
my fisher friends 1t is due to the CATS to add that
they are really very good; much better than ours.
The table here is we'll supplied with them and they
are very much liked by the visitors. chowder OF
ca' is hard TO beat.
The curious will ask low is it that there are not
other fish in New Rivery The question is not easily
answered conjecture that the cats eat up ali
Others But then cats don't eat up all the fish
elsewhere; nevertheless, they may be more vora
cious in New River than in other ~aters 1t this
does not account for this remarkable fact, what
doest
The company here has been very happily consti.
.uted tor enjoy ment. The ball room has been quite
lively, with gay and graceful CANCERS, to the music
Of Slaue ehter's band, Of Petersburg, which makes
most capital and aDimating music for the dance
visited. recently, the Mountain Lake ID Knob
for the third time, with no dimiBution vi interest
l staid all night at the Lake Hotel, aud got up 10
time TO zee the sun rise from the knob. IL was the
grandest sight ever beheid and is 30 lar above
any mans genius describe, that it would be idle
to undertake such task. An old, and not very
pious gentleman, with party, not long ago saw
the rise from the Knob, and be was so Impress
ed with it's grandeur that he declared fEatsLe WAS
Just on the point of calling the whole party to
prayers, when he suddenly remembered that he
might be embarrassed for words, as his experience
la praying was not very great. After lookiog on
this scepe one la, Q much higher regard for those
South American AbJfiglues, who ~orshipped the
rising sun with such circumstance and devoti, n
have explored the cave, or enough Of 1t to sat
isfy me; for il is seven miles long The current OF
air that issues from the mouth IL chilling, after
cendIng the steep hill on hot day. placed my
gun inside the cave, while went In, anu upon re
turning took il In the open air, when it instantly
became covered with moisture, by copdensiDg the
air SO great was the difference between the tenn
perature inside and out. The stysctites and mui
inform CRYSTALS that abound through The cave, and
the faptasticai aud changing shape OF the cav
i,y we turned, interested us yer, much.
A friend has greatly amused me with the do
scriptiou of high day in the caye-a fourth OF july
orI.brstion-in which u number of Eastern ViIgi-
,i.n. and some mountain bricks participated
fbey got pretty joviai before setting out for the
cave and mountiug their horses, they struck bee
line FIR it, regardless OF sleeps ana forests iney
,,as.ed over ground which COW could traverse
With difHcuity aud yet without harm to any OF
them, The cave they facettousiy styled "Aaron's
hole" Emerging from hollow wnere no rider
had passed, they presented themselves 20 an oid
wumau who Was bewiidered At their appearance.
ana the leader very conseqaentialiy iaterrogated
her. sMadam will you tell Us the way to Aai on's
hoIesD Hesitstfng bif 10 collect herself the old
,.dv repIied. ..Aarons hole! I've lived here hese
seventy years aud nsyer yet beerd OF sieh
nlscs3 sy,oms on boys" said the captaia OF the
prasL reeks. ..let us find Aaron (who was indeed
he caterer Of the day. and then We shall knov
,hs w.v 10 the holeo They reached the cave and
nsd their cinner, demeaoing themselves after a
fashion that struck surprise. II not terror TO the
a.. ~ snndrr .nect ctators drawn to the cave by
81 cir arrange fantastic tricks. With an odd kind
Of ciyiity, ehickeDs pitched across the table
srasa thrown with excellent aim, aud every KIND
OF meat tossed aud caught f.om side to slde.-
walters we're discarded and ed.bies moved about
,st,hon, hid5tpg. Alter rioting 10 this way Tor y
good lime. the stout liquor, supplied By the cate
ser. got the upper hand. and scattered the eager
inauirers afrsr ..Aaron's hoe,D Each, sfter his
!. fancy, or according to his physicist capacity =.
,he time took his position upon styiactite,or iay
prone uoon the ground, While one sung by turns
Hail Columbia aud the Star Spanglsd BANNER, Keep.
ing time with sn empty bottle upon sonofous
stylActi,e. After iudnlging their rare orgies 20