Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-08-18
A Visit to tho Natural Bridge and the
Peaks Of Otter.
NATURAL. BRIDGE, Va,

Peaks OF Otter
NATURAL BRIDGE, Va,
Aug. 10Th, 1859.
Dear rrginian:ln company with old
friend md distant relative, Capt. Z*s"*** whom
had the good fortune to have ~ fellow traveller,
! loft Liberty. per stage, on Wednesday evening
tho 10 h inst, bound for the Peaks of Otter. Our
ride during portion Of the way quite pleas
ant; but when we got IN the neig hborhool f the
Peaks, and began 10 ascend the range If noun
tains ct which they f1fm u part, our expectations
Of jostlings aud joltings and jarrngs were more
than fully realized. But despite tho extreme
roughness of the road VIC Mt length arrived Mt
tho Peaks Hotel, which il a neat ard handsome
building, situated IN u beautiful valley, and sur
rounded by q range Of lofty and maies,u noun.
tnins. After partaking of an excellent supper,
wo determined to ascend tho Peaks that night, ~
ny to see the sun riso tho next morning. Accord
ingly. accompanied by our excellent host Mr.
Dobin. We commenced the difficult undertaking.
For nbout n mile tho ascent was quite easy but
farther than that tho almost perpendicularity Of
the way caused M to halt frequently for breath.
Doub,y tluguing was II ~ my companion, Cnpt.
H., who being somewhat past the meridian of life,
and altogether aGaeoastosle,l to tho Mountainous
regions, give serious Indications Of giving out be-
fire we had gone twn-thirds Of our way. But mt
length We reached the top, greatly to his relicf)
and not wishing tn mar the grandeur ct the
TINT awaited us IN the morning by taking moon
light view, we Immediately retired for tho night.
The ace ammodatians Mt the top IF the Peaks in
the way Of bedding which is MI that is needed
me ample. Within the last two or three years M
excellent house has been erected almost upon the
very summit, which is provided with number of
neui and comfortable beds. OF course all other
accommodations are only to be had ut the Hotel
below.
We arose n little before sunrise tho next NOR
ming, and making hasty toilet. soon stood upon
Al. r r.
hccnt ohservatories. Before and around us
was wild and almost boundless panorama of VIZ
rcgaied loneliness and beauty. On the one hand,
away towards Eastern Virginia, as far the eye
could reach was comparatively level tract of
country, intcrspersed with innumerable farms and
farm houses, with here and there stream of pol
lshe'i water, which received additional lustre from
the reflected hues of tue proud monarch of the
day as he arose as if from out of the ocean and
began his burning circuit through the heavens
On the other hand. were piles IL mountains fol-
lowing in successive ranges until thsy were lost
m the haze. Very near MS the storm battered
crngs IF the other Peak lowered in sombre males
~, docking like sullcn sentinel for its neigh
hor, and above and below were long lines Of tho
Blue Ridge and Alleghanics, which ever and mon
lifted their lofty peaks hcavenward and bathed
their hcnaa in the clouds.
In our rear was the nent and handsome village
OF Fincastic which was easily seen at q distance
OF not less than twenty Eve or thirty miles. BE.
fore us y the county of Bedford AMI the town OF
Liberty, and away towards sunrise could be seen
your own beautiful ''City of Hills" With our
glass we could distinguish many Of the more
prominent buildings npon the hills at Lynchburg,
conspicuous among which was Lynchburg College.
which stands the pride and ornament of your city.
had before visited Bedford, and had thought
myself pretty well acquainted with the geography
OF tho county; but from where stood distances
were seemingly So annihiiated, and appearances
o.changed, that could scarcely recognize any
thing at all Tho distance from Liberty appeared
to be not more than mile, and the splendid estate
Of fancey farm, just beneath. seemed to be nbout
the size could step ov>r. The scene and the
place we're well calculated to impress us with the
thought "What little creatures IRE are;" aud as
stood gazing with mingled emotions of admiration
and wonder, WAS forcibly reminded of the ex-
treme littleness with which these things of earth
must all appear when this "mortal coil" shall be
shaken of and we shall be able to look back aud
down upon them from another world
But must hasten on. Pleasant az it would be
to linger here, the length which this letter has al
ready assumed. bids me hurry on.
Leaving the Peaks early Thursday morning, a
little before uightIall Of the same day we arrived
at the Natural Bridge, after pleasant ride of
twenty-thrce miles through mountainous coun.
try. ab,sunding in scenery of the most romantic
character. regard the Bridge as greater nat
ura. curiosity than the Peaks, though a compar
son hardly he instituted between them. 1t is
on the head of beautiful limestone hill, and
to have been formed by some terrible con-
vulsion Of nature which rent asunder the hill and
lays open assure Of about ninety feet. Over
this the bridge runs, so needfu to the spot itself
and seemingly ST. unlikely to have survived the
great fracture, rs to appear the work of nature;
and yet 80 great, 80 grand. mighty, as to con-
vince you that it can only be the work of the Di-
vine Architect above.
I farbear description of this truly great piece
Of Natures workmanship. 1t beggars all descrip-
ton; aye its wild granduer and sublimity are be-
yond all conception. No human mind can con-
ceve Of anything so wild, so wonderful, 90 inspir-
ing, and at the ssme tune so grand. 80 sublime.
Oh! it Ii sublime-so strong and yet elegant
springing from earth and bathing its head in
heaven. But It Is not the sublimity of terror or
Of fear--it Is the sublime associated with the
pleasing and the beautiful. I stood and gazed
with mixed wonder and astonishment, and ms
gazel could but regret that quickly, aye too
quickly, must leave that delightful spot, and
perhaps forever; but the music of those waters.
the luxury of those shades. the form aud color of
those rocks. and that arch--that arch rising over