Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-10-15
A VIVID PICTURE,
[From the I.ynehburg Republican,
1T EDWARD A. POLLARD.


Scorr CoUSTY, SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.,
October 4, 1869.
TrAversing for some months past the Noun
taius Of Virginia t. collect materials for
book, descriptive Of the natural scenery,
curiopities, mineral springs, SC of Thu
grand State, we have repeatedly passed in
To soma obscure aud d I'll ault district,
where we have been surpr sed at the sbun-
dance and wealth of new fields for the
n AMERICAN tourist, yet hitherto so httle
known aud app eeiated. Bntiu NJ part "t
the State have we been more impressed
with such discoveries as 10 Southwest Viz
eiuii. Having designed to attempt in
pint more conspicuous than the newspaper
some account Ut the natural wonders Of
this con'ry, We can afford here but tb,
brieiest descriptions of u few OF them and,
inde' d, we do not suppose that the conve
hien - Of your columns would admit more
The NATURAL TtsSLI.
The Natural Tuan-l, IN Sc"tt COUNTY,
forty two miles west of Bristol, ito which
W. travelled through wild and beautiful
country, from wh'ch civiiz ,tion has not yet
entirely feed the envelope and color oi
primitive hf, must he esteemed the great
est Gu iosi,y of Virginia. A tributary oi
the Clinch River runs through II. Eater'
ing the western face of the TunneL We seem
TO be going iato huge subj crranenus cav
srn, or grotto, into which the stream disap
pc RS; a towering rock ri'ing here aboui
200 feet above the surface Of the stream,
and rude entrance gouged into II, varying
in width as far as tho eye can reach, iron
luOto i5O feet, and rising IN clear Vau"
from 10 Ia so feet above the h'"r. Z lie"
here terminates on the very bitekntss o.
darkness; It's broken on the hrst curve OF
81. ha Id
that of the prostrate letter D. IL Is on'A
when We have struggled through the a"lu''
cruel darkness, holding mp some Tee o'e
lights Ia IL, that we lind wo have traVeleu
nearly two hundred yards Tor say, more ex'
sctly 500 feet), through one solid rock, IN
which there is not an inch OF SOIL, not a
seam, not cleft, and which even hey 'nd
the debouchure OF the Tunnel, yet runs
ava, a hundred yards In a wall PROBABLY
liz hundred feet high, and as clean and
whstted as the work OF the mason
IL ID as we gain this latter scence, so inmi
nous aud m ,jssIic, as We lane into II from
the darkness, that our trembling eyes are
csptiyated, and our hearts hfted In uuuttei'
able NO, ship of the Creators works. IL i
the sheer wall Of rock where the arch anc
other side Of the Tunnel break away into
the mountain slope high wall slightly
impeudtDgs an amph,thraire extending one
hundred Yards OF awful precipiees; a clesI
battlemeut without joint In IL, ak hundred
ct hiah. And this splendid height ant
breadth OF stone that thousand storms
have polished, leaving not cleh OF soil II
n. this huge unjointed masonry raised
Araipst the sky, gray aud weeth. stained
with Rlitteripg patches Of light on II, Is ye
mart Of the same huge rock which lowered
OF the further end OF the inhne'' Au'
,,''s..d ,,ro hundred yards.
Whst will acconnt for this phenomenon
H., ;,nny,SSion of The scene-snd il is her,
uhere ia sublimity ia exampled --is not a
ar snme mighty force that has raised tn
crust of this earth, or that has rent the rock
ar ,yorn through IL, or delyed Ia II, but a
az some Mysterious Power winged with nj
the winds OF heaven, aud browed like tb
thupderbolt, that hes battered Its wa
throu IN the =, a rock, tearing away ever,
thing IN its path, strewing II With the hug
ahArn ratns that now chogo the stream, al
that has rushed through IL all, like Oh
kereaming, invisible bOay OF q storm whic
ucatters dlsmAy around, and leaves benin
n the yoicelsss. uninsc,ibel monuments I
a sublime and inscrutable W. n ier
The conception is terrible. The imagine
tion Is strained as We stamp within the Al
gust portals OF this scene, M, dltAt'ng
question which ever occurs, feeling lh'
shock which veTges on insan''y, sm'uu
the feeble mind II man whtneve he taxi
into his hspds the dark chAln OF c.usat o.
We let fall IN the strag' doorway Nn're
stand the links OF tn"ush. wa. 'n'", 70 y