The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-07
CURIOSITIES OF VIRGINIA.
Cares Near Pennington's Gap Primitive
Character Of the People.
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detroit Free Press.

detroit Free Press.l
The following letter from a Detrotter, en-
pIoyed with the corps Of scientists and pupils
Of Harvard University, now On summer
school expedition in the Cumberland Noun
tains, relates facts concerning region which
is, ia measure, quite isolated from the sur
rounding world:
. PENNIseroN's Gar. Va, Aug 5..Prof
ShaIer and most Of the party have broken
Camp and gone ont. We break camp in u day
or two for two weeks trip still further into
the mountains northeast OF hereto Harlan
In the "Pocket Country" Ws may be turned
back BY s'nopnsbiners," as we are suspected
even here IT being sent out IS government
spies.
The last week or ten days I have devoted
mainly to examining caves. There are nu-
nervous small ami q few large cHverns in tho
limestone Mills about here, but none OF them
have any true cave beetles In one cave J
descended into a pit by means of rope, and
from this pit into second pit, In which
found the floor StrsWn with bones 81 cave bear,
cave men, and five or six other animals, MI ~
Whish got ont and packed for tue survey.
The largest cavern | have examined is only
two ml-s from camp. / have spent three
entire days in exploring 1T, Cf course return
ing to camp eacn night. Oh three passages
examined, reached the end OF but one. ]
walked for four honrs through one series Of
chambers which constantly increased in size
as went on, and was obliged to turn back
without finding any end, simply because J.
could not carry in mind the many landmarks
that had To be- remembered On the return.
This cave contains the most exquisite chal-
cite and gypsits formations. One large cham
Der ID lined for half mile with delicate FROST
work Of crystal as white rs snow. The walls
seemed tn be hrapfd with folds of erInlne
puffed with lunches Of ostrich plunes. In
other places ars sloping banks covered with
an apparently vegetable growth Of fungi,
moss and ferns, but All formed OF chaiclte
needles or punches Of white, brown, rose pink
rtHIf Ih1I4r
masses. like Gouches OF elder down, inviting
the tired explorer 10 Tepose but singing Ike
nettles the hand that brushes, no matter how
lightly, against their bristling points. There
are lodges, like this shelves Of museum,
stored with branching coral. This part Of the
cave exhibits the perfection OF this Kind Of
cave characterization, and was said ~ mem
bers Of the survey to be- unusual ia It's extent
and beauty. Other parts contain curious
stalacite and stalagmitic formations, such as
one sees ia many other caves, halls " statu-
airy, giant collins, waterfalls, organs and IN
expected limitations OF natural and artificial
objects. AS q "rnoonshiner expressed it.
"they hain't nary thing that crowd but
what you'd find hit In them air caves, Sirg,
Very few Of tho caves in this region have
been disturbed by visitors; some Of them
have certainly never been entered, AMI this
lends an added charm to their exploration
One feels n thrill of peculiar pleasure in look
ing upon any wonders never before seen by
the eye OF man. | would be glad to spend
several months longer tn this part Of Viz
ginia in order to become acquainted with the
people here. The Virginia line here makes q
loop into Kentucky, including q pocket in the
mountains. Penningtons Gap IL the only
wagon pass into this country from any side
Owing to It's peculiar position it is particu-
larry favorable spot for small Illicit diStiIleT-
les, and for fugitives from justice, who can,
on short notice, make their escape into either
Kentucky or Tennessee, through mountain
passes over which u horse eau with difficulty
be led. Moreover, there exists race vi Ger
man parentage, the descendants ~ the first
were originally imported by - great land
company that owned large tracts in the
Carolinas. They were collected in the
low countries Of Germany and sent over
in ship loads, the company paying q certain
amount per head for every ernigrant that
passed over the gang plank. From North
Carolina the remnants OF them have spread
over portions Of Kentucky, Tennessee and
Virginia, and form to-day the lowest type OF
the population II these mountains Ihey are
not vicious people, but are simply brutality
ignorant, and live the most primitive 81 tlves,
knowing scarcely an ything OF the civilization
by which they are surrounded. In their cabins
you will not find a single article OF furniture,
except a kettle and one or two pots and dishes.
The true Virginians who form the bulk Of the
people are, however, usually fine class OF
men, very hosptabIe, and iaw-abidlug, except
In a few bad districts. Therr are ~ negroes
in these mountains, and the women and chill
dren run from black man as they would
from a wild animal.
The laws here are enforced In very sum
mary and primitive fashion, and punishment
follows almost immediately on the cofnmis-
sion of d crime. The Squire administers jus
tice Ia almost all cases without troubling
higher courts. For all criminal cases 81 the
lesser sort, and for thetts under five dollars, a
sound thrashing Is administered. Yesterday
We witnessed the whipping Of three men for
stealing corn. Our storekeeper, Ny. Kelly,
Is the magistrate here. The fellows were
brought before him and tried they con-
fessed and were each sentenced to seven cuts.
Squire Kelly himself went into the woods and
cut three stout hickory sticks, constable was
sworn on the spot. the prisoners were taken
out 10 front OF the store, tied up and whipped