Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-07-08
TCOrrespondence of the Journal, I
correspondence a1.
MONTGOMERY WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, VA,

July lst, 1859
A week ago wrote you, and, if [ could write out
everything that has transpired around me, and a
description of everything have seen it would fill large
volume. | will not undertake it, but will give you a
sort of general idea of the whole.
The day after my former letter written, [ took
passage the stage for the Salt Sulphur Springs via
what is called the Salt Pond" The road is a new
Turnpike Just opened this season for the first time and
as had Travelled it and DESTROYS of seeing as
much of the country trip through it could possibly
be made to afford me, secured a seat the box by
the side of the driver eta very strong desire sever
al times to try my skill whip but, remembering
that even with ne drivers consent had no right to
jeOpardse otl lives than my own curbed the incli-
nation and to satisfaction in asking Jim if he thought
could drive team. He replied L" Yes, sir" and
satisfied, j." he ought to know. did.'C ask him,
however, whether he meant that could drive them to
pasture arlh the harness oft, or along the Turnpike as
they were.
The road affords some of the finest views have any
where seen in the mountains Of Virginia, and these
alone with other nducement, would repay the trip
It is customary, you know, in travelling by stage
through mountainous country, to do a good deal of
walking. In fact it has become sort of habit with
two-thrds Of those travellers, and they CW walk wheth
er it be necessary not while with Others it is equally
settled habit to Tdeeven when GCdklng would be Of
service to them, simply because they re paid their ac0y
for it, These latter remind me always of the little boy
who was met in the road riding hard trotting horse
bareback. The little fellow was crying violently and
on being asked the cause stated that the horses back
hurt him so bad. "Then,' said the other, you had
better get down and walk while and thus relieve and
rest yourself" " No l WON'T" said he, 81 its hired
horse, and I'll ride him if 1t kills me-"
In ascending mountains invariably walk until [
become atigued unless sick renders such course
imprudent But, of all my mountain walks, [ capped
the climax on my trip up to the Salt. [ footed it
from the base of Salt Pond Mountain to the summit
distance Of six miles by measurement and strange to
CYch tho al and tho
deghtfuness of the breeze that forgot entirely be-
come atigued and continued the stroll the entire dis
lance
The Salt Pond known too and more appropriately
the Mountain Lake" is beautiful sheet of water
mile long, quarter wide, and deep enough to float
half dozen such ships the old Pennsylvania, piled
one above the other In fact its depth has never been
determined AS have already mentioned that walk
ed six mile ascent to reach it, you will readily imagine
that is far above the tops OF many of the mountains
in the range, and yet those immediately surrounding it
rise half mile above its margin.
The water u.s. L think, the clearest | ever saw, and
very cold. The lake itself is fed from number of cod
sweet springs, gushing out from the mountain Sides and
the waters of these retain icy GOODNESS nearly all day.
even when taken out in buckets
| walked to the top of Bald Knob Mountain, some
half mile above the Lake. and the view there enjoyed
far surpassed anything had ever before SEEM
It was broad, boundless field of mountains and
valleys far away every sde far the vision could
IL was tuG OI nature
had ever beheld and so intensely wrapt in ad-
miration that could scarcely tear myself away from
the scene
| did so, however, and returning to the Hotel to
breakfast after took stage for Salt Sulphur Springs
some twenty miles farther This makes the entire
distance from the Montgomery White to the Sulphur
forty miles The road is good one, and does great
credit to the Engineer who located it, we'll to the
contractors who did the work. 1t will be, | have no
doubt the great horoughae of all the stage travellers
through the mountains. Daily stages now plying
between this place and the Salt Sulphur and extra
stages held in readiness to meet any demand from private
parties.
Every one who reads this letter will, if he follows nv
advice, thank for suggesting that if he travel the
road, at least day be spent at the Mountain Lake.
| The view from Peters Mountair some eight or ten
miles east of the Salt Sulphur very fine and very ez-
tensve, and the traveller should by pass by
unnoticed The best view is obtained fifty or one
hundred yards below the mountain summit on the Wes-
| tern side.
The Salt Sui hur Springs is sweet place, and pro-
pose to visit it again. and will then speak particu-
larly oft.
Here we are having gay times. AS l before wrote
enters largely into the enoymens of the visitors In
addition to this, we have a pleasant company fthe
stuckups not being here and one of the best pastry
cooks the whole country afford. It would do YOU
good just to eat of the rolls that are set before me
night and morning. But forget-it is unkind of me
to tantalize you Come up again say and let's enjoy
these good things and the delicious mountain air and
delightful sulphur water together
GINGER BLUE.
j. T. Headley, it is stated has been appointed by the
l ~