The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-24

CORRESPONDENCE of the washington star.l {.
A Pedestrian Trip to the Natural
's" Bridge.
e''''. ,'''. DAGGER's SPRINGS, )
" BoT2ToURT COUNTY, Va. s..
-... '-~ August Il. 1877. =,
Pedestrianizing, is found rather slow fun
by most Americans. !. 4 quicker mode OF
travelling than the walk is in better accord
With our national hurry. Nevertheless, the
number OF those who scour the country ON,
foot: during the summer for health and
amusement Is increasing every year, and.
thc White Mountains and the Adirondacks
are wei" aeqliainted with the blue-shirted
Individual who tolls up their cliffs. But
the noble army Of gentlemen tramps,"
with its access OF fresh recruits each cam
paion. has not yet invaded in earnest the
springs region OF Virginia. The. tread OF
the pedestrian is not heard in the land. The
heat OF southern sun, and perhaps the
fear of. rattlesnakes, unite to drive him
farther north, and cause him to neglect all
'of7the beautiful and striking and marvel
lows in nature with which this region IL so
richly gifted. In in our excursions we
have met with but four fellow" walkists,"
all OF whom, to the credit OF our city be it
said, were Washingtonians.
The turnpike road between Dagger's
Springs and the Natural Bridge, passing
over Garden Mountain, is fair specimen
OF that prevalent style OF Virginia road
which has long been the greatest drawback
to the development and prosperity OF this
section OF the State. 1t is probable that the
superfuous wear and tear caused to vehl-
cles by the unsightly ruts and rocks over
which they jolt would, il expressed in
money, be sufficient to construct for the
whole distance Il smooth and broad tho
roughiare, the great adjunct to the railroad
in the development OF States resources.
The wise driver then will go from Dagger's
to the Natural Bridge by way Of Buchanan;
but the mountain road has no terrors for
the pedestrian, and the walk OF nineteen
miles over it'was most pleasant. ..---------------
AN INTERVIEW WITH RArTLESSAKE.
Garden Mountain is the highest peak in
the range that runs past the hotel Mt Dag
gers, and is crossed by the road directly be-
meath its highest cliff. At this point in our
tramp we two ex-college students) left the
turnpike, and made our way up the side OF
the mountain, breaking through under
brush, scrambling over rocks, and at times
pulling ourselves UP by means OF young
trees. The tedious ascent was enliyened
by an encounter with a rattlesnake which
lay coiIed on a rotten log. He eyed us
at first IN silence, with head moving
gently backwards and forwards, and tongue
projecting: but when he felt the violent
conclusion OF a mountain staff against
his head he gave vent to few strong
eiaculatory remarks in the rattlesnake
tongue that sounded like the angry buzz OF
an Immense hive Of bees, only ten times
louder, higher, and more intense. The ma
tives are not inclined to dread the rattle
snake much, considering him rather an open
and gentlemanly fellow rs compared with
the copperhead, who is quite as venomous
and strikes without warning. With his
snakeship'S rattlcs as trophy, we renewed
our breathless scramble and at last reached
the summit. \ fine view lay spread before
us. On every side the mountains stretched,
range beyond range, to the horizon, and
through the valleys, checked with cultira-
ted fields and friuged with forests. spark
ling threads OF water forced their way. TO
the southeast
TIE PEAKS OF OTTER
might be seen standing boldly out against
the sky. In this connection it may be we'll
to announce to Washingtonians desiring to
settle in high and healthy locality that the
Peaks Of Otter are for sale.
Descending again to the road, we lunched
luxuriantly by the side OF a large spring
which trickled with refreshing GOODNESS
from the side Of the mountain.
'sASG-nUNT.
Here we were overtaken by an inquirins
native on horseback, who, being buried in
the mountains away from newspapers, dis
played great curiosity on the subject Of
g strike" news, and, by way OF return for
information furnished, gave us descrip-
ton OF "'sang hunt" as practiced by
some OF the mountaineerS, whose one
roomed cabins we had stumbled upon in
some OF the most out-of-the-way places. \
"sang" hunt is not an especially exciting
or bloodthirsty recreation. HSang," or
ginseng, is Il root which the mighty hunters
capture with picks and spades. 1t is bought
from them for almost nothing and exported
to China, where it commands high price.
AN ACCOMMODATION HOUSE.
At the post which marks four and three
quarter miles from the Natural Bridge one
OF our party "struck" for something to
eat, and refused to go any further, or to
allow his companion to proceed, until his
wants were satisfied. To this triflng cir
cumstance we owed an acquaintance with
an Accommodation House" " whose like we
never expect to see again. We were pro-
Yided with toilet commodations-viz., a
towel, tin basin, and bucket OF water on
bench in the front yard; were offered re-
past consisting Of one blackberry-pie,
three fourths OF an apple-pie, one glass
Of molasseS, one. fourth pound OF Dut-
ter. saucerful Of some suspicious sub
stance resembling mixture OF yellow
paint and a1le-grease, one pitcher OF
.butttermiIk, and one-haf pitcher OF sweet
milk. We drank all the sweet milk, nearly
demolished both pies, drank five glasses OF
spring-watcr, sat for two hours on the porch
waiting for the air to get cool, and taking
mild satisfaction in the unsuccessful efforts
OF German peddler topersuade our amlable
and accommodating hostess in purchasing
something from his varied assortment; and
all this for the ridiculous sum Of ten cents
apiece! We have a lingering suspicion
that our landlady took us for some curious
species OF the genus 8" tramp" pitled our
dusty and iorlorn appearance, and regulated
her charges accordingly. II we may Judge
OF the regular prices by our experience on
this occasion we shall take great pleasure
in recommending this as an " Acconmoda-
ton House" without rival So.
THE NATURAL BRIDGE.
As the Natural Bridge is broad and the
top layer Of earth supports numerous trees
Il IL