Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-11-17
7 Z r NJ S:
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
The Natural Bridge i'll Virginia, etc.
Correspondence Of the \. 7. Evening Pos

Correspondence VI VIC ~. L INCuius l. ooI' !!
LEXINGTON, Va, Oct, 1871 1t is a curious
fact that the Natural Bridge seems to possess
more interest for European than Tor American
Travellers The former look upon this and Nj
aeara rs the wonders of the Western Continent
ana the most thorough examinations OF the
Natural Bridge, and the most elaborate and
scientific accounts written Of it, have been by
foreigners The questions which arrest them
all, and which science seems pnwerless to an
swcr, are what was the origin OF this wonderful
arch how and by what power was it produced?
Various theories of volcanic uphcaval and at
triton of water have been advanced, but these
arc all set aside in the report OF q French en-
cineero pre- eminent ability, sent by the Comtc
lie Rochambeau to examine and measure this
world famous curiosity. In his report, which
is exceedingly interesting as well rs thoroughly
scientific occurs this torcible sentence: The
rocks being Of q calcareous nature, exclude ev-
cry idea of volcano, which, besides, cannot be
reconciled with the.tom OF the bridge and It's
adjacent parts Hit be supposed that 1t is the
effect of current of water, we must suppose,
likewise, that this current had the force to break
down and carry to great distance mass o,
five thousand cubic tathOms, for there remains
not the slightest trace OF such al operation
A fact which must be noticed by the most cas-
'confusedly hurled around or below the arch,
which would witness to such Il convulson Of ra
turc The Frenchmau, in conclusion, asserts
that the Natural Bridge is The direct work of
the Creator" and in this opinion he IS sup
portcd BY numerous scientific men.
1t seems useless to attempt . description OF
the Natural Bridge for no words can give any
adcuuate idea Of its singular grandeur The
most impressive view is obtained from below.
On the tor, which is some sixty feet higher
than Niagara, the iecling-but for the fact Of
knowing that you stand on one OF the most
stupeudous works Of naturc-wo,lld differ little
from what is experienced at other grand clcva-
tious The widc-extcndel landscape spread out
before YOU distractS the atenl0I,;l!d the bridge
is simp a part Of it. But looking pirom be-
low we realize nothing save the mighty arch
springing up into the sky, and towering so lar
above us that the huge rocks on It's Suhlnlt
seem like pebbles tha, child might toss. and
the giant evergrecns that sentinel It's edge like
tufts Of fairy moss The rugged grandeur OF
the ouict loyencss Of the surrounding scenery.
Softly outlined mountains cnto!det IN dlm,
mrpe shadows, stretch away to the distance;
at their feet liz lair green fields, flooded with
amber iight and through these, an, beneath
the treat soleulu arch, flows with musical tlnk!e
4 sunny mountain stream, u;I whose narglr,
and on the face OF the rock wherever ,h2le Is
A crack to hold a particle Of earth, gloS sweet,
danty flowers, fit Tor Titana crown. The
fssurt is ahou, ninety cct wide Flon the
.uriace Of the water to the summit OF the
bride, is about two hundred and forty T. ct !;
~ the under side Of the arch about two hun
drtd feet. This. however, is the measure.
mcnt of only one side OF the arch, which Is not
entirely lrrlcct, the mountain being higher On
one sid. than on the other Few pcIsons
lave courage enough to stand on the edge OF
the summit and hook over into the abyss be
meath In the words OF Jcicr$on, You M
voluntarily fall on your hands and Knees, creep
to the plrapct and cautiously look over EVch
this becomes in Il moment uncndurabie. Many
of the trees on the summit are twisted INTO
most curious aud fantastic shapes, probably hy
the force of the wind, which here III Winter
must hold high carnival. High up on the
face Of the rock, carved by his own hand, IS the
name Of George Washington.
Many attempts have been made to reach
the summit by climbing the side Of the arch
but none have been successful. The person
who most nearly accomplished this feat, the
ouly one, believe, who has ever reached 4
higher point than that where Washington in
scribed his name, was Mr. James Piper, at
terwards member of the Virginia Lcgisla-
turc, but at the time of this adventure 4 stu
dent of Washington College, Lexington.
Years ago, in some Of the school reading
books, was found the account Of Washington j
attempt to ascend the Natural Bridge, and IN
connection with it, story of still more rcck-
less daring, the heroine of which was l lady,
Miss Randolph celebrated Virginia belle.
With party Of friends she visited the Natu-
raj Bridge They reached the summit, but
few Of them had courage to approach the edge
and look over into the abyss below. From the
side Of the bride had once grown Il tree, which
was broken off in storm, so that now only
the stump remained, projecting over the abyss,
With nuite a broad chasm between it and the
bridge A gentleman of the party, pointing
to it, said that he did not believe there lived a
person of sufficient nerve to step out on that
st1,mp and stand there Scarcely had he ut
tered the words when Miss Randolph sprang
from the bridge to the stump, where, on 4
point 50 narrow that it scarcely afforded loot
hold she stood a moment suspended, rs It
seemed, in mid-air then with another spring
returned to the bridge, and dared the gentle
men to do the same. We are told that in the
age of chivalry loyal knights dared even create,
dangers than this for the sake OIL pair OF bngh
eyes, but nineteenth century prudence declined
Besides the Natural Bridge, Virginia boasts
three great natural wonders, either OF Whlcl
would, with railroad facilities for reaching them
become as celebrated and as popular places
resort as Niagara or the White Mountains
Hawks Nest, on the New river, nine mile:
from the White Sulphur Springs, where there
isa perpendicular ,ciff, Of one thousand fee
above the river, declared by Miss Martineau t,
have produced a greater effect on her & mln' m
than Niagara itself: Weir's Cave, near Staun
ton two thousand five hundred feet benestl
the earth and hung with sparking staactites
and the Peaks of Otter. short distance south
of the Natural Bridge, spoken of by jefferson
as affording one Of the grandest views in on
country The summit is four thousand two hun
dred and sixty feet above the ocean level, an'
the view from the east side embraces the who'
country to the shores of the Atlantic EQUAL.
wonderful and Interesting is the Natural Tun
mel, through which stream Of water paS:e
under IN arch cf seventy feet in elevation, Will