Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-08-13
Io,,er cro,,, the Mountains.

rCo7respondence of the Alexandria Gazette J
MONTEREY, HIGHLAND Co., Va, Aug. 10.
II avail myself of an opportunity to write you
q few lines. | want to give you description
If our trip 50 far. but really | hardly Sno"
rbere to begin. We have seen 50 mani nat
ural curiosilies, and passed over and through
the gaps of so many mountains, that II "ou!I
la almost impossible to furnish an account OF
al The first, and perhaps the greatest was
he Lost River. On our trip back We came
across valley nine miles long, almost perfectly
s,roicht and leading UP to point on the west
S;1c Of the mountain, under which the Lost
R;vcr passes, 50 that 4 small cut would carry
the water of Lost River through 1t. Il Is
tnown as Thorn Bottom, and leads OUT from
he Devils Hole" over "M0lic : Hill, ~
tLe Devils Garden We have passed
through several gaps in the mountain, where
thc rocks rise perpcndicuIarly Tor several nun
Jred feet. Moorefeld is 4 very pretty town Oh
about 500 inhabitants. The houses are primer
naIiy OF brick, and covered With TIA. 1t ls de
riJcdlv the most thrifty place have Saen' 20
far. in the "outsidc world, it being hity NILE
from the railroad. The land: on the South
Branch are put in corn every year; a geh''e,,
man, whose ACQUAINTANCE formed, told me OF
= field that has been in corn Tor 100 years III
succession, and shows no signs OF wearing OUT
The Branch overilows every spring, ana leaves
deposit on the fields that cnrlcheS the"'
While at MooreGeld, we went to ilo"aru,
Lick Sprngs-thc resort OF the MooIe"T'u
people 1t is n sulphur water, and Is saiu TO Ut
equal to the Grcenbrier White sulphur HeSc
springs are fourteen miles from Mooreileld, on
tho head waters OF Lost River. Alter leaving
Moorefeld, the South Branch runs through q
gorge in the mountain for fifteen miles, with
u perpendicular rocks on both sides oil eaormo Us
height, while Just on the east side OF the noun
tain is Mill Creek, very pretty valley at the
upper end OF which 4 cut OF 10 ic@t would turn
the waters OF the river. Is mt 1t wonderful
that the river should have forced itself through
the mountain for that distance - miles, whcI
there was 4 natural route Tor 1t with cut OF
not more than ten feet? Where the branch
enters this mountain gorge there Is cave
which has been explored about mile, ana l.
said to be very grand inside should Ike tt
have visited it, but we did not have time
After leaving Moorelield, We staid at Mrs E. :
thirty-two miles up the branch. she mas
| splendid place, very retired, and romantlealS
situated on the west slope of the mountain
overlooking the valley OF the river. va ouu
| dav we went as far as Mr. johnson :, ten nhc'
| from Mrs. &. and one mile from franklin
On Monday We left Mr.. j. :, passing tIr"uSl
Franklin, dilapidated looking place an'
reached this place yesterday about o clock; -
| We stopped to feed Yesterday on the line be b;
a %' our horscs being fed IN Virginia, and onr
selves in West Virginia The pconlc are verJ
ANXIOUS tryu about a railroad Outside OF the town
We fare as well a Methodist preachers are >ale
to do, free of cost, aud ia the towna the best /
set before ~ Ny health l. excellent tut III!
| appetite Is not Us good a. would like Jour
| i've biscuits three glasses Of mix, and two cup
Of coffee. and proportional quantity OF trle'
| ham and eggs u all am able to cat at suppc
and breakfast: at dinner do MANAGE to eat
! few slices OF PET | am afraid We don't stol
long enough at the Mineral Springs, to Niv
| rs the iu,l benefit OF the waters! y.