Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-09-27
For the Spectator.
tut Etc DPo0VUVT'
A Trim To ElliOt,s Knob.

one OF O social party, composer VI iauios anu
gentlemen, who paid visit to Elliott's Knob on
the 1st inst On the evening OF the Slst OF au
gust our little party assembled at Buffalo Gap
Hotel. After partaking of a very excellent sup
per prepared by our kind hostess, we repaired 10
the Ten Pin Alley, where we enjoyed ourselves
very pleasantly for q considerable time. !ne
night being far spent in exercising upon the Al
ley, we retired. Having laid ourselves down, we
were very soon embraced IN the soft and placid
folds of sleep. Under divine protection we a.
woke much refreshed from the exercise OF the
previous evening Having partaken OF sumP-
tuous breakfast, such as fried chicken, warm
biscuit, nice honey, coffee, tea, &C., our party
began to make preparations to start upon theli
trip. As none of the party had ever been upon
Elliotts Knob, took the responsibility upon
myself to act as guide. Before leaving the Ho'
tel prepared myself with good shooting iron,
and plenty of ammunition, determined to clear
the way of everything that might, in any way,
hinder our progress. All things being ready we
started for the summit of Elliot precisely at 8
o'clock. A young gentlemen who was not for.
tunate enough to have q lady in charge, and
my elf being n front, we kept somewhat In ad
vance of the main party, eagerly watching to the
right and lett TOR an opportunity to try my
shooting iron, before we should take to the
mountain, but in this was doomed to be dis
appointed. All nature seemed to be inanimate,
the eye could rest upon nothing belonging to
the animal or feathered tribe upon which could
make display of my skill as marksman. NO
sound greeted the ear, save the rustllng OF the
morning breeze in the surrounding forest. Ar
irving at the turn of the waters, We left the
main road, and took to the mountain, which we
found to be more easy OF access than we had
anticipated, still keeping some distance IN ad-
vance of the company, hoping that an opportu-
nifty might present itself, in which could get q
shot at bear, rattlesEake, Or some other animal
or reptile. My hopes were soon gratfed. We
had not proceeded far, when, to my great graft !.
ication, some twenty yards in advance | beheld
lizard sticking to the side OF small pine tree.
| Pleased at having an opportunity (as Davy
Crockett would have said) Of trying what kind
| of killdevl our friend Herring keeps, as well as
trying my own skill as marksman, dismount-
ed at once, gave my horse in charge to the
young gentleman, who accompanied me, exam
ined my piece, found all right, then advanced q
step or two with my eyes fixed upon my victim,
| took deliberate aim and fired but to my painful
experience found that my gun was as severe in
the rear as in front, and in this instance little
more SO. heard the report echo 10 the distant
| forest, and when the smoke had cleared away, l
| found that had missed my aim, for the lizzard
was still sticking to the tree as If ia defiance OF
powder and ball. Being satisfied that had re.
ceived the worst end OF the battle | concluded
not to try him again in that way, but thought
| if he remained where lie was until came up l
would try him with stick, but just when got
in striking distance the fellow ran down and
took to the brush. Just at this time the com
pany came up, and finding that We had pro-
ceeded as tar as it was practicable to proceed
with buggies, we came TO halt. Those gen.
tlemen who bad been fortunate enough to pro-
cure side saddles for the ladies, proceeded at
once to unbarness, and to saddle the horses for
the ladies' The gentlemen were not all thus for
tunate in procuring saddles, consequently some
of the ladies had to walk. After a delay oil
some fifteen or twenty minutes, we again were
ON our way up the mountain, proceeding in In
dian file about Que mile, when we came tO halt,
dismounted, and sent the horses back for those
in the rear. The foremost party proceeded on
/ foot until Overtakeu by those in the rear. BY
this mode of procedure little party was, al
times strung out to at least holt mile in length
was all the time forcbly reminded of Bona
part crossing the Alps, and the narrow Way with
here and there a traveller. On, on, We pro-
ceeded until we, at length, arrived at the spring
(withiu few hundred yards OF the top) which
10 us was q welcome sight indeed. Being very
thirsty we dismounted and proceeded to quench
our thirst with as pure and cold water as ever
ran from the earth. After remaining at the
spring some fifteen minutes, we having hitched
our horses to tie surrounding brush, started or
foot for the summit, where we arrived ut II o.
clock. We were then upon the top of Elliott
Kuob, considered one of the, if not the, highest
peaks in Virginia. To look around upon all the
surrounding beauties of nature, how beautiful
how sublime! AS / stood upon the summit
and looked towards the East aud West, to the
North and South, bsholding this beautiful val
lev, fripged by the Blue Mountains whose tow
ering tops seemed to pierce the srched heavens
whose eastern horizon was tinged with the gol
den rays of the morning sun, could but gazt
and admire. After gazing until sight was los
in the distance aud the mind in reflection,
turned from the scene to gather a few pebbles
of which l foundta variety of shapes and sizes
s and to Gull wild flowers, of which | gathered
thirteen different kinds or varieties which
formed into boQuet to carry home as trophy
OF the trip. After remaining three quarters o
an hour upon the summit, We commenced t
descend, and arrived at the spring in safety
Finding our horses as fast as we had left them
4 and partaking freely of the water, we :ook ul
the line of march and soon arrived at the spo
where we had left the bugges in the morning
having made the trip in about four hours. UI
to this time nothing had occurred to mar tn,
pleasure of the social party. All had beel
pleasant, nothing but laughter and merrimen
seemed to pervade the whole company. l
could not have been otherwise for there was
venerable bachelor-ah! yes venerable bach
elor-whom shall, for sake of distinction, cal
!, Hinegsn, who kept up continued chain of wit
ty sayings which added much to the epjoymen
of the whole company. MAY his shadow new
or grow less" Aud as time is beginning t,
make its mark upon his brow, shall be happ,
to meet him upon more joyful occasion. Blu
it seemed, Messrs. Editors, that fate had destin
, ed that we were not to have al good luck, TO
when we arrived at the buggies we found that
, horse which had been left tied to tree wa
missing, whether he had loosed himself ant
strayed off or was stolen, cannot say, but an
inclined to the latter opinion, as have been in.
formed several horses have been missing re
Gently in the neighborhood. However, ther,
) we were, four miles from the Hotel, with lad
and gentleman having no conveyance to convey
them thither. There was buggy, it is true
and plenty Of horses, but no harness, to put OF
them. But plan was soon devised Two la
dies were placed in one of the buggies, wht
drove down to the main road, while TWO gentle
men took the empty buggy. Having arrived q
the road in safety the empty buggy was attach
ed to one of the others. After half an hour
drive all arrived in fine spiriSs at the Hotel, i
being 8 o'clock. Having spent the evening ant
night with our kind hostess we started for ou
!, respective homes, where we arrived in safety
more than compensated for their trip, With tn,
exception of the gentleman that lost his horse
In conclusion, Messrs. Editors, would advis
all lovers OF pleasure, who wish to spend few
days in pleasant quiet way to 60 to Butfal,