Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-10-15
ECHOES FROM THE SPRINGS.


ECHOES FROM THE SPRINGS.
AN HISTORICAL sKETCH--AN INDIAl
LEGEND-oLDEsT WATERING PLACl
IN NAMERICA-CHAMPAG BATHS
LYNCHBURG ''DUcK" OF A SWIMMER
SPORTS OF THE BATHS-GIRLS BATH
ING-A EINp OF A ''DpcEING"-GEN
I EARLY TAKES A "DIPn-sUBLIMI
sCENERY-Two BOSTON GIRLS TAXI
1T IN-FAsCINATED-A SPRINGS RO
MANCE-AND A SUMMER IDYL.
WARM SPRINGS. VA,
September ~, 1878.
Special Correspondence Lynchburg News.
always try hard to keep my prom
ises, and in accordance with promise
made some days ago, 1 brace up the shat
tered fragments that remain of me fol
the task for task it is, and goes very
much against the grain to write prosy
epistles at a place like this, where one
feels SO much like giving himself up to
the dGlce. far gie;afe. It ia good and
beneficial in its place, as any intelligent
physician will tell you--but what USE
less, shiftless life it would be? an utter
wasting of ones energies and of the feet
ing moments, of that which we so often
trif1e with and only can call our own
the ever-feeting present. But, presto !
this is not enligh, ening you upon
Sweet Auburn, loveliest village Of the plan.'
and the charming summer resort that it
is-the Warm Springs.
! When Isay that this place is as ''o!d
as the hills'' it will be in the eternal
keeping of things; for imagine when
the Master Hand made the mountain
peaks which kiss the clouds hereabouts
within full view of the enraptured eye,
he also caused these health giving
Springs to bubble forth out of the recess
ses of the earth. Their discovery is trace
able to mystical tradition of the dark
ages of the noble red men, the gentle
men without hats and one religion, It
is related that an unfortunate closely
pursued Shawnee, who had been caught
straggling, being pursued by his red
enemy, when tired out and stiff in the
joints. with incessant travel and racing
for his life, sought refuge in the quiet of
its concealing bushes. Here he rested
his weary limbs for the night. On the
morning he arose, refreshed by its
warmth and feeling like another or new
Indian, sped on his way towards the
rising sun but not before marking and
| "spotting" the place. Ever afterwards
it became favorite camping ground for
the Indians while on the hunt or pursuit
of warning tribes; and, subsequently, for
mountain wagoners on their rIourneyings
to and fro, from Eastern and Western
| Virginia. The first mention of these
Springs is to be found in the letters of
George Mason, the famous author of the
"Yirginia Bill of Rights" who mentions
of coming here in 1857. in his own car
riage. with the aid of an ak. What a
time George must have had in those
days in getting here in carriage! I
sIppose one Of his necessary auxiliaries
in his journey was noble listed Vulcan
| to mend up "break- k-downs. The
! Springs was surrounded by rude log
cabins erected by those who came here
to use its sparkling waters Among the
elegant gentlemen of leisure" here
then, mingling business witt, pleasure,
were numerous cOterfe Ofgamblers who
did a thriving business in fleeing the
innocent lambs who frequented their
tents to get scratched, but got ''feeced, !"
IS usual, i'll such places when they at
tempt to beard the lion in his den. -
For some years past the "tiger" has not
been on exhibition here, not being fast
place, although q very lively watering
resort for all. A gentleman now at the
Warm tells me Of one of his grand un-
cles speaking of the Springs as having
been watering resort for officers after
the Revolutionary war. So they may
be set down as being the oldest fand one
of the best,) watering places in America,
Saratoga not excepted. The Springs first
belonged to Gen. Andrew Lewis. as the
ground on which they are situated came
within the bounds of the patent of his
grant. The land was purchased from
Gen. Lewis heirs in 1915, by DR.. John
BrockenbrOugh, President of the Bank
of Virginia. Hon. John M. Patton, of
Richmond, and George Taylor, the legal
luminary of Chesterfield county. DIR.
B. subsequently purchased both of his
partners interests and died sole proprie-
tor of the Warm Springs, in 1852. The
Springs had been rented to Mr. John
Fry for some twenty five years previous
to the demise of DR.. Brockenbr brough, for
I find by the letters of Miss Caroline nj.
Sedgwich, the noted novelist, that she
paid visit to these Springs in the sum-
mer of 1888, and gives glowing account
of Mrs. Fry's excellent house wifery
and cookery, and an account of her trip
and the surprising grandeur and beauty
of the scenery along the route. In 1S4S
Mr.. George Mayse, of Bath county, pur-
chased the Springs for the sum of $50 600;
but it may be well to state that the
buildings on the place were not SO num-
erous as on the property now. Mr..
| Mayse kept the Springs until 1871. when
he disposed Of them to Messrs, Eubank.
Reynolds & Co., who conducted them
Jointly, with Col. John L. Eubank as
managing proprietor, until 1874, when
the property was sold at auction under
decree of the court. and was purchas-
ed by Col. Euhank for $50, 900 cash, or
its equivalent. The Colonel has con-
Quoted and managed these Springs to
the satisfaction and commentator of
the public, as the crowd of visitors to the
Warm annually will bear testimony to.
He is widely known in your section OF
the country, and particularly in Lynch
burg and Richmond as legislator, mer-
chant and Springs manager. He is ably
aided in the management of the Warm
by his right add left bowers, e. N. and
III. Carter Eubank, his brother and son
while his sister, Mrs. M. +. Lee, oi
Lynchburg, performs the agreeable du-
~ vi experimenting Tue QOneSClC de-
partment of the hotel and matronizine
the young ladies; and, in fact, keeping
as all straight. A first glance at the face
of Mrs. Lee takes one away back in
fancy to past days of the nice and prim
young old ladies, we are won't to read
about-of the silvery hair done up in
puffs, and the starchy cap, ofimmaculate
whlteness ;of the kind, benevolent and
sympathetic matrons in the better daye
of the republic, to whom one would &c
for sympathy when in affiiction, and fol
advice when in trouble, feeling sure OF
receiving both, and that confidence
once reposed in her would never be
abused. She is one of the features of the
Springs, and the admiration of all ths
visitors. The "City of Hills" may wei
be proud of her.
imagine few persons who ever have
taken dip in the Warm Springs baths
4 will ever forget the luxurious pleasure
should they live to be hundred year.
old. When once in you never care t,
come out, and entirely forget the flight o
old time, and its corroding cares ant
troubles, were it not for the watchfuInes!
I<F