The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-14
CANOEING Nv ITRGTNIf.
Exploring the Waters Of the Ancrhnnics I, q
Little Floating uox.


low the mouth Of the Cowpasturc we made our
longest run during the Virginia cruise. cnnn
was broken carly and we were of with tho stn
before whose steady heat the mountain mists
melted away before he was an hour high. Onr
river pathway was here at its best; II had coma
to an average width OF about twenty-five vnrla
The quiet pools were low md short hiit .von
they had n helpful current The most livc, AMI
beautiful rapids in all the James wore within
this days journey. so that we went at n bound.
ing pace. The water distance we covered that
day must have been sixty miles for our whole
course was exceedingly crooked. and alwnv.
swift. More than that we had done with play.
and settled down TO steady. swinging stroke
through pools and rapids aliIs'. that sometimes
hours at stretch. What lvmry Of '9 Hld ,%2
brain, and Drawn there is in su IN work-iho
water deep and blue; the mountains high and
green the rocks grand in size ana pictir. -uile
In confusion the air full of vigor and etintt-
liant the canoe shooting ahead a good iathon
under each full easy stroke; mankind Ott ~
sight; no railroads; no tolegrnnhs; no worry,
or fret, or struggle. or noise-hut nature. broad
and wild and beautiful all without and iroo-
dom, health. and accumulated vigor within.
Early in the day we came upon two large and
beautiful islands, which in stream So small.
made the divided channels each very narrow
and dcep. We chose the one b. the left which
rushed quietly down ,undcr the cool shadc Of n
than "a mile either n greut precipitoua rock
overhanging the river. or bold. perpendicular
mountain, close against ana under which tho
swift water had worn a deep channel For
long distance 1t averages not over thirty feet IN
width. and tho water PUSHES in deep. quiet.
an hour The absolute dnicou-ness of run
like this-hats aside. paddle laid abross the
gunwalcs. cool shade overhead the blue rocks,
ileckcd with ferns. at the left. the heavy foliage
OF the island at the right, the deep. clear. cool
water under the boat. and amidst all this loveli-
ness the canoe darling along in its own way,
out Of this iclightiui run we sw@p, aronnd n
ia "a IN nj tt.at ltta
southward course, having in distant pros poet u
nigh and apparently pnbroken mountain range,
TO rise higher and higher directly across our
path. and TO entirely block the rivers progress.
Tho range WIS Patterson's Mountain. Il con-
tinuation OF the North Mountains. ali OF which
are part OF the great Alleghanys system.
oralgs creek comes winding its labyrinthine
way down through the mountains to our right.
and ~ we passed its mouth our way through
the barrier was revealed in u vast. perpcndicu-
Jar gap, whose walls are Mt least ] 900 feet
nigh and rival in rugged grandeur III" scenery
at larpers Ferry or the Delaware Water Gap,
As we entered this deep pass Il peculiar freak
of nature WIS seen ON the western shore. About
Gus opening in the vast rock. conicnl i'm form.
some fifteen feet high and two-thirds as wide,
the entrance 10 what we We're told il quito
extensive cave Flowing from this cave il a
down over high rock in the shape Of an
inverted saucer sharply inclined TO The river,
projecting over the river'- surface. The water
, a grcnt spring-spreads in thin sheet over
lll' CONVEX rock. ana IiAllS from II INTO the river
In thin. broken veil. as white and meshy No
snowy lace. The whole picture is one of striking
beauty, and We pulled toward It with all speed.
not more Tor It's scenic aira tiycness than for
ne cool water that our parching thirst craved.
coming nearer, ,pNuriunt growth of mint
the laughing water and toasted eyes and hot
ihronts from u fountain whose purity and
beauty cannot Ice surpassed in ali the world,
We had sugar in our locker. ice-cod water from
me cave. and mint under the dripping rock hut
alas alas we had not that without which tho
fAKg mi llIa Al
coursing to biz Vlrginnn about this beautiful
picture. W were answered. Yes that thars
At Catawba creek. n narrow. deep stream
fiowing out into the James undcr overhanging
fashioned bntteauX. the craft by which years
'igo. all the produce of the region was carried
Town To- market Ih.y are rude but graceful
ppnis about sixty feet long, six feet wide. round
6oitomcd, and sharp at each end. They arc
driven down stream 10y the current. and pushed
Al ca@Wba y r e@fF y wear rng heavy y 9@d r
from bed 10 furnace. and made a picturesque
figure dashing through tn rnnids and tortuons
channels. guided bya stalwart negro AT bow and
stern 10y means OF long sweeps extending for-
A along the river from Clifton Forge to
bucnanah inc grh!ing ~ a new railroad, to
connect me canal with The Che@npeake and OHIO
iiailroad-mule and tidewnter With engine and
iron raj lis being pushed with yigOr bv gangs
q ccnylcts from the Richmond penitcntiary.
iitlle village of solid log cabins. iron grated,
bolted and barred with Kitchens guards shan.
AZ. neatly whitewushed. Three hundred and
hity negro conVlcts are engaged on the work,
Sladl in blue and white cotton stripes. Their
drills and picks are 10 be- seen and Heard every
lew minut"s, ana their heavy cannonadina
Keeps AL the valley in a roar We often went
ashore 10 sec their work more closely and hive
Il chat with the guards and th"ir captivcs They
were always delighted H. the M. le canoes came
e. their sight and their resonant shouts ol
laughter and establishment. let rs hope. ch.crod
toll. They seemed To- vastly prefer dis "nt.of.
a. flta
they. are the best poss iblc hands for such work,
rarely < wing trouble. and. working rs cheer.
them are TRUSTEES. allowed IL 20 on errnnd-. oui
OF sight and herring of the guards. asHcd a
whom met on the opposite side Of the river
from his gang, why he didn't run of. His an.
SWrr came prOmptly
Don't want to, SIR
Why"
Cause I'm comfortable here. and likes ia
How long have they, got you for2'
Two years and a half. sir"
How long have you got To- serve? ?"
than IN old richmond"
met another brawny fellow. ~ magninccn,
physique sweating along with powder ktg On
each shoulder. walking close i6 IN" river. |
ran in close behind him. unobserycd and
Hello. uncle. what are you doing hcre2o
"A. Iayin Ter my sins sab us' n7hed. but moi
We'll, why don't you light ont -
70 &C. L. a. san. dey -" 10 c9teh mo; don
\. guard t,h me tint. -6 far a- ne knew. mono
mud yet ",'wrcd and for w. 49, they Ind Icon
G,1mpc.cd u fir, mon rg' ~ man. Thcy ara
fun of A-ri. uliuuu and mineral wcutl Hcrr1
lesson from the Old Dominion 20 Ola kan-
tuck let h'r u-c her criminals in chenply and
Lat this saturday alt"ri.,Di We ran through
The crno&elcst pla,ron thr Jancs. pnidling iIii
'lShlr'n miles, and really advancing in n
straight line not oyer nVcmil... h ono bond
W. r"1S,il me mouth Of new tunnel padl"