Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1859-08-25
= = = -
nAHPa ~ FERRV.

"A writer from Hsrpsrs-ferry TO the
Richmond Dispatch, believed TO be Mr..
Co~arden,) after noticing the passage Of tho
Potomac River through the Blue Ridge
and his idea that . gres, Lake once e1is.
ted above that Point, says
"Mr Jefferson 10 said to have write, his
original notes on the locality 1t the kfsss
boulder called JeGerson's Rock, which stands
on The side Of the high elsvs,ies behind the
town OF Hsrpsr's Ferry. This rock 10 near.
~ twelve feet square, and rests upoa bosld.
or of much larger dimensions, sustsius1.
however, BY two pieces Of slate rsek, which
lie between the too great stones, that are 90
small IS barely TO permit tho boulder to re-
main poised. One Of these supporters il
nearly erumblsd away. and the tune csnpot
be remote when the csp-stone will 70 ton.
phng down the precipice below II nav
carry with 1t tie great slab at the bottom Of
the pale, which has been broken Of from IL.
parent rock and moved several feet nearer
the precipiee, beyond tho edge Of which I.
part of It now projects. This great slab
was no doubt broken aud moved at the time
Jeherson's Rock was forced down, by some
means or other, upon it So that these
large bodies, 80 slenderly sustain ed, must
At some day, probably not remote, give way.
aod arouse the quiet villagers by . coucus.
sion which. II II does net shake the earth
20 ITS centre, will likely create no little com
motion IN Harper's Ferry. 1t is said that
On the csp>ston, OF tae present pile once
stood yet another rock, on which Mr.. Jsfer
son cut his name, but thatit was hurled from
Its place during tho political excitement of
i''e-v, by order Of Capt. Henry, who cor.
manded . body Of United States troop, then
stationed here.
Mr.. Jefferson followed the road dors tie
rirer TO Frederick. Nd, and there saw a
magnificent country hut no might have
seen huer one in his own State, had hs
gone up the Shenandoah in the country nov
occupied By the counte. Of Jefferson. Clarke.
Frederick, &c. a good portion Of tbi, mag
nlheent country. which ~ the garden spot
OF Virginia may be seen from what i. call.
cd "Pinnsele Rock " point in the noun.
tam just across the Potomac from HARPER.
Ferry This elevation is reached by n
roundabout mountain path Of easy Grade
and from 1t you view sccue that suggests
10 the behoider some ilea Of tho seductive
nature OF the ofier made by the devil 10 the
Saviour, when he took him up high noun
tain aud showed him some tempting places
on the earth Mr.. Jefferson, Of course
could not have behsld this scene, in its pre.
sent attrsctivencss, because the country "a.
then mostly in primitive forest After the
fatiguing walk to the Pisnscle, you may re.
fresh yourself in returning at the "Pinp..
clio Spring, where . stream Of purest "a.
ter, icy COOL gushes from the rock. Alb. IL
IS worth the walk, at least, to enjoy the de-
icious draught to DO had there
Harper's Ferry is . village at the foot Of
the hill, washed by the Potomac on ono sid.
aud tbs Shenandoah on the other. Itb.s.
narrow strip Of level land, the principal
part Of which is occupied by the U 5. Ar.
mory. For the want Of room the churche,
are built on the eide Of the hill, and have 70
DC reached 10y steep walks There they
stand, always IN view, firmly built on the
solid rock. Sweet sound the hollis up there
from their simple iurrc,s, and the high
places TO which they summon tho worshipers
must inspire them with some additional
elevation Of mind and heart rs they bend
before their altsrs
The railroad here crosses from the Ief,
bank Of the Potomac, by a Powerful bridge
TO the town. As i, energies from the bridg.
II takes its course mp the right bask of The
-oe6 buek
two tracks, aud is sustained by powerful,
timbers resting on iron and stone pillars.
covering part Of the Armory grounds and
extending for near six hundf ed yards. En-.
bankmeni could not be made, because the
Armory must necessarily eopmunicsts with
the river. which is easily done unde, tho
soperstrscture. On this broad platform
the Inhabitants take their evening promen-
AIDES, aud it ia great convenience TO them.
as there is little space here for locomotion
unless you ascend tho hills.
The town il chiefly sustained by the Ar.
mory works, which employ great many ar
tizans aud laborsrs Many of them live up
on The heights back Of tho town, where are
some very handsome residences, put up by
J government for the officers Of the Armory.
and beyond these in the pretty village Of
Bolivar. The entire population thus cou-
gregated hereabout is estimated at six thou
sand. There is one hotel, kept By Mr.
fouke, aud 1t Is but just to him 20 say that
better table than bis is seldom met With
lie aud his lady are kind aud attentive to
their guests.