Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-11
SUMNER WANDERINGS.
A Nashvillian in the Mountains
of West Virginia.

Notes En- ROute-knOzyIlle's CasfeDas
hs,se-Ihe Old 1tOmestead-Lyneh.
burx-Greenbrier white Sulphur
Springs Red-sPeek1ed Trout Fish.
InS. -.
Ing g0ssipy notes Of a summer 'jaunt
through the mountains Of West Virginia,
from our fellow-townsman, Geo. T. Akers,
ESQ.,, TO friend in this city:
NEW RIVER WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS,
Va. July I, IST4-My Dear Friendi If
had not promised to let you hear from me
in detail, concerning my trip through Vir-
ginia, would now be enjoying the rich
scerery which surrounds this place, with
the many squads of visitors climbing over
the cliffs, instead of writing to you; how
ever, L have seen enough and desire rest.
After leaving you in Nashville, on the
evening Ct the I'd of Jure, had pleasant
Journey to Knoxville, where L stopped 6vef
a dav and took general view of the city.
The only noticeable building is the custom
house, put up at a cost of over one million
dollars, in an out of the way part of the
city, to snit the fancy ard peeqniary inter
est OF BrOwnioh aid Maynard, Who Urged
the appropriation through. L wish
Nashville had some such wire-workers for
lamentations in Congress, so as to secure
a million custOmhouse for Nashville.
My next stopping place was Christians
burg and Central Depot, on the Virginia
and Tennessee Railroad, After few DAYS
delay. for business and pleasure, hurried
on TO Lynchbufs, the City OF Hills. N6
changes were noticeable here, save that the
old markethOuse, which stood for near
ly hundred years, has been removed from
Bridge street and is allotted special place
on the east side of the lower end of Main
street. The change improves the general
appearance Of the old site. From here l
went te AppoinattOS oottiity, where | was
born, and took general stroll around the
Old homestead and play ground Of my
youthful days, twenty-five years ago. But
few of my old companions and playmateS
were found to welcome me back. The old
dwellings are fast decayIng, the old oak
trees remain, the hills look smaller, a few
of the old family servants are still living,
bowed down with the weight of years,
making a scanty living on the poor lands
now neatly exhausted from continual use,
but the cool refreshing water of the "Old
Gum Spring" is still the same. The pres
ent generation will never recover from the
terrible results of the late war, and although
poverty seems everywhere, yet the people
manage to live, and what they do have is
Of that cold Virginia" style Characteristic OF
by-gOne times.
Brother Pete Joined me here. Remem-
herring the '.happy days when we were boys
together" and, barefOoted, with one Sus-
pender, no coat, a pin hook and cotton line,
went fishing in the branch down the Ct, en-
meadows, catching ''hOrny-heads,' we con-
Guided to renew the sport and did 50 with
considerable success, catching lS3 after
dinner.
Returning to Lynchburg, we were Joined
by our tlrce riecrs and took the cars for
Charlottesville, where we spent pleasant
day visiting the University and other places
of interest, and hurried on TO Stanton.
After a days rambling and 4 pleasant
evening, we took the next morning train,
over the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad,
for the celebrated Green Brier White
Sulphur Springs. If l had never passed
over this line of railroad, from Staunton TO
| its terminus, would certainly do so, even
at the cost of several hundred miles out Of
my way. As the road passes through the
very heart of the highest ranges of the Al
! legheny Mountains and requires the most
| elaborate skill eyerdisplayed by al American
| engineer. one cannot feel that perfect safety
| enjoyed by travellers in level countries.
You are here whirled around the shortest
| curves, through the deepest cuts, over tie
| Hottest treStles, now running around the
side of the mountain overlooking valley
below and then into a dark tunnel, the
| largest "Big Bend" being six thousand
four hundred feet long. Every turn of The
| rUad presents new features of interest and
scenery of sublime order.
Arriving at the Greenbrier White Sui
phur Springs We were assigned pleasant
/ quarters. The location Of this celebrated
watering place is one Of the most beautiful
| in America, situated as it is on the con
| fines of the Valley Of Virginia and the
main ridges of the Allegheny Mountains,
| in Greenbrier county, West Virginia, nine
miles from Lewisburg, the county seat.
! The curative properties Of the water have
| been known since 1112. The present joint
| stock company have unlimited means, and
| have erected the largest buildings in the
| Southern country. The different rows Of
cabins are appropriately laid off in streets
| and properly named. 4 beautiful driving
park or read fronting each row of cabins
is tastefully graded and grayelled for the
accommodation of guests. The largest
building is Of brick, four hundred feet long
| by a corresponding width and covering a
little over an acre of ground. This build
ing includes the reception room, parlo-,
ball room, dining room, bar room, etc. The
! dining room exceeds three hundred feet in
| length, and will conveniently seat over one
thousand persons at a time. Quite num-
| Der of visitors are here, but the whole place
Snacks too much OF shOddy to suit South
! ernerS. Should you visit the ''Old White,
line every pocket with greenbacks, or you
will be found wanting.
Becoming tired of rattan-cane, kid gloyed
shOddyism, We concluded TO strike out
across the mountains by private convey
ance. Securing a twO-horse coach and a
wagon to carry our baggage at Fort Spring,
a station on the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
road, we drove to Union, Monroe county,
West Virginia, a beautiful little town OF
about three hundred inhabitants, surround
ed by mountains. We found at the Henry
( House a cosy hotel we'll kept, having
every desired convenience. Trout fishing
WdS the ulSt SuSSeStlOl DN the Si'oItS VI 1iiS
/ town, which ''fit me like 4 musket.'
was ready, so was Peter, aud being pre-
/ pared with tackle, We drove out eight miles
/ to the base of Peters Mountain, and the
head waters of Turkey Creek, 4 tributary
of New River. Climbing up the rugged
| side of the mountain, We soon reached a
| large, beautiful stream Of clear, fresh cold
water gushing from the mountain side
running wildly over the rough cliffs, form.
| ing beautiful little cascades in its rapid
| descent. Surrounded by a thick under,
| --,,,-tI, Of -, o,,1 Iaryra moss covered