The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-12-04
LETTER FROM WEST VIRGINIA,

N'bOcI 4, 1919.
EDITOR WING Thinking few items
from Virginia and West Virginia might
prove interesting to your readers, l will
endeavor to give you brief account of nv
recent trip to the Natural Bridge, Virginia.
Leaving Huntington, West Virginia, via
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad in twelve
hours ride find myself at Goshen Depot,
Virginia, a distance of two hundred and
fifty-three miles east of Huntington and
one hundred and sixty-eight miles west of
Richmond, Virginia. From this depot a
daily stage is run via Rockb ridge Baths to
Lexington, Virginia.
Lexington, situated in the Valley of Vir-
ginia, is very old town. with a popula-
ton of about 1000, and reminds me very
much of Port Deposit, Main street being
mile and half in length and the only
street of any Importance in the town. A
branch of the James River Canal runs I'D
to the town; this is the only navigation.
The grading of the Virginia Valley Rail-
road, a branch of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad running from Staunton to Salem,
Virginia, has been nearly completed. The
work stopped nearly year ago, owing to
the financial crisis. The Washington and
Lee University and Virginia Military In
stitute are located here. Lexington is
noted as being the birth place of Robert Z.
Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Commodore Maury
and other prominent men Of the South.
The remains of Lee and Jackson are in
TERED in the cemeteries at this place. The
remains of Commodore Marry were also
buried there during the Winter of 1871,
but in the Spring of 1872, at his request,
were taken up and carried through Goshen
Pass while the laurels were in bloom, this
request being made before his death. His
remains were taken to Richmond Virginia.
Goshen Pass is very noted place to the
people of Virginia and the South. This
Pass is situated in the North Mountains,
commencing four miles from Goshen and
extending four miles towards Rockbridge
Baths. In tins Pass is a rock known as
Anchor Rock on which was placed very
large anchor just before the body of Com
modore Maury was taken through. The
scenery in this Pass is grand. The bed of
the North river is in this Pass; at places
there is scarcely room for the stage to get
along. Some beautiful streams of excel
lent water gush out from the cliffs here.
In going from Goshen to Rockbridge
Baths very fine view of the North and
Blue Ridge Mountain chain, House Noun
tains and the noted Jump Mountain is
obtained Many years ago two Indian
tribes at war, having met at the foot of
cliff on this mountain, it is said that an
Indian squaw jumped from the top of this
cliff on seeing her lover fall in battle be-
low, thus ending her life with his. Since
that it has always been known by the name
of Jump Mountain. am told to this date
there are many of the Indians weapons of
war on that battle ground. 1t is said to be
one of the finest views in the State of Vir-
looking the Blue Ridge and North Noun
tains and the Valley of Virginia.
Rockbridge Baths is one of the many
noted Summer resorts of Virginia. These
springs, known as the Bath Alum, are
owned by Charles Jourdan, of Lexington,
but are under the supervision of DR.. Nor
rison, a noted physician of Rockbridge
county. They have been known to Sum-
mer visitors for more than thirty years.
The water is of magnesia and other min
erals The temperature is sufficiently warm
for Winter bathing. The springs are kept
open this Winter, and Female School is
being taught.
Leaving Rockbridge, eleven miles south
west we come to Lexington, which is four
teen miles from the Natural Bridge, on the
stage line from Lexington to Bonsacks a
station on the Atlantic, Mississippi and
Ohio Railroad Many passengers in going
over this line, pass over the Natural Bridge
and never know it, as there is nothing I'M
usual to be seen, being fenced on both
sides. The top of the bridge over which
the road passes is nearly one hundred and
eighty feet wide. The bridge forms per-
feet arch, about two hundred and thirty
feet high, and is covered with solid rock
nearly thirty feet. Passengers can get out
VI Lue 80 uD"H SuOit ulSlduCe
below, where they can see under the arch;
but the property on each sde was pur-
chased by w. G. Hartman, of Staunton,
Virginia. during the war for a large sum
of money" Confederate script He is
now exchanging that for greenbacks, by
charging the exorbitant price of one dollar
for each person who goes down an old path
unsafe for man or beast, to see this natural
curiosity. a hotel is kept near the bridge
for the accommodation of those stopping
there. 1t is owned by W. G. Hartman.
Some days there are hundreds of people to
see this bridge. Nearly twenty students
from Roanoke College, Salem, Virginia,
were there the day | visited the brdg e
They started from Salem GA foot across the
country, distance of forty miles. Some of
them being accustomed to city life and not
use to country walks, were rery glad to see
the bridge, and wished to adorn my views
with their presence, that they might, at
some future day, look through the stereo-
scope and behold form that they knew
had seen the Natural Bridge.
G. w. X.