The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-06-14

we began the
MOUNTAINOUS ASCENT,
Where in seventeen miles an eleva
ton of l, 700 feet is overcome. An
extra engine is harnessed to the train
and the toilsome ascent begins.
Now we swing around sharp curve
to the right, and then away we go to
the left Now we glide along hug
ging the hillside, and now we trem-
bic over a frightful chasm upon
whose very brink the track is laid,
supported in its place by a stone
wall OF heavy masonry, erected to
guard against land slides. As one
looks out of the window down the
steep declivity whose depth can only
be seen by glimpses between the
foliage, an involuntary shudder at
what 'might happen" passes over
him, to be supplanted by a feeling OF
admiration at the wonderful enp;-
neering skill, the energy, the perse.
verence, evidenced in the accomplish
of the great work, and of wonder at
the foresight and confidence which
must have inspired the projectors
when they hazarded the immense
outlay which must have been re-
quired to overcome almost insupera-
BILE difficulties.
The day had opened beautifully
the sun shone forth in its splendor,
and the atmosphere began to grow
oppressive. But after leaving Graf
ton the clouds began to gather, and
we were soon among the mountain
storms. At times the rain fell heaV-
lily, then again the mists began to
fly, and the sun shone out quite
brightly; and then the changes we're
repeated Thus until VIC crossed
the summit and on until we reached
Piedmont, when the storm ceased,
and we were treated to alternate
clouds and sunshine.
FROM PIEDMONT TO CUMBERLAND,
most of the country presents the ap-
pearance of worn out lands-once
under cultivation, but now grown up
to brushes, and mostly a dreary
waste. But as you approach the lat
ter city, the scenery improves, and
the country puts on a more thrifty
appearance. 1t is the largest city in
Maryland after Baltimore, and is
handsomely located in natural
amphitheater surrounded by hills.
1t has some very fine buildings, and
and very spacious and handsome
hotel building is now being finished.
Here the steel rail works of the com
pany are located, and employs a
large force ofmen. Here we dined;
and the band attracted much atten-
tiOn by its excellent playing.
Just after leaving Cumberland
we got the first view of the Blue
Ridge, to the right through gap
in The hills known as Cumberland
Gap. The country on both sides of
the road is very fine looking and ap-
parently productive, for many miles,
and then we begin to skirt. the base
of the hills again, and only on the
left appears any land, susceptible of
being farmed. From the point
where the road begins to skirt the
hills, their appearance changes
from those previously passed, and |
the indications are that they are the
result of upheavals. The rocks ap-
pear to lie in seams perpendicularly, |
cropping out SO as to be plainly Wis
ible, at intervals, until we reach Har-
per's Ferry. We stopped at
NARTJNSRT-RGu
early in the evening. During the
war no town in Virginia suffered
more, or was held more frequently
by the different forces, than Martins
burgh. To-day it shows no traces
Of the ravages Of war, and appears
TO be growing steadily. Here
bridal party came aboard the train
merry as a marriage bell" We
HARPER's FERRY,
ust as the shades of night began to
lose round us, and as our attention
vas called to the various points of
interest, could hardly wonder that
he "boys" denounced the surrender
If Maryland Hights by Miles and
Foid as outrageous, merely because
he ''rebs" were taking position on
1Oudon Hights, and "might shell
hem out" Here are the ruins of
be old arsenal where John Brown
nd his handful of men frightened
laveholding Virginia to its very cen
er, and made Governor Wise storm
nth fury. AS the "boys" recount I
d the story, the cars moved of, and t
lively chorus resounded through .
he gap, the burden of which was '
John Browns body, "and the refrain c
glory, glory, halIeluja."
Tired with the days travel, all the i
arty, except few who were bound '
D have some stewed CLAIMS, at Balti-
lore, retired to their couches and v
ere soon locked in the fetters of re-
Ose. The "few'' remained up, and =
ad their clans, and something else, p
erhaps. We did not hear anything t,
their adventures that night, but $
/ the morning while waiting at the )