The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-09-09

They have hard task. We sincerely Wish,
however, that the trade was entirely IN the
hands Of such men.
VIRGlNIA,s WONDERS.
Curious Caves near Penuinston's Cap
Primitive People.
A young man connected with the Harvard
University corps of scientists and pupils,
now on an expedition to the Cumberland
mountains, writes from Pennington Gap,
Va, some interesting facts regarding That
region. He says: ;..... =.
The last week or ten days / have devoted
mainly to examining caves. There are
numerous small and few large cayerns
in the limestone hills about here, but none
OF them have any true cave-beetles.- In
one cave 7 descended into pit by means OF
rope, and from this pit into second pit,
in which T found the floor strew.n with
bones OF cave-bear, cave-men, and five or
six other animals, all Of which l got out
and packed for the survey. The largest
cavern have examined is only two miles
from camp. have spent three entire days
| in exploring it, of course returning to camp
each night. OF three passages examined, !
reached the end Of but one. / walked for
four hours through one series OF chambers,
which constantly increased in size as l
went on. and was obliged to turn back
without finding any eEd, simply because L
could not carry in mind the many land
marks that had to be remembered on the
| return.
This cave contains the most exquisite
chalcite and gypsite formations. One
large chamber is lined for half mile with
delicate frost.work Of crystal as white as
snow. The walls seemed to be draped with
folds OF ermine puffed with punches OF
ostrich pInmes. In other places are slopiDg
banks covered with an apparently vegeta-
BILE growth of fungi, moss, and ferns, but
all formed of chalcite needles or bunchcs
of white, broWn, rose-pink, and crystal
clear gypsite. There are piIlowy masses,
like cOuches Of elder down, inviting the
tired explorer to repose, but singing like
nettles the hand that brushes, no matter
how lightly, against their bristling points.
There are lodges, like the shelves OF mu-
scum, stored with branching coral. This
part Of the cave exhibits the perfection OF
this kind OF cave ornamentation, and was
said by members of the survey to be unu.
sual in its extent and beauty. Other parts
contain curious stalactite and stalagmitic
formations such as one sees in many other
caves, halls ofstatuary, giant cothns, water
falls, organs; and unexpected limitations OF
natural and artificial objects. As a I" moon
sinner" expressed 1t, "they hain't nary
thing that crowd but what you'd find hid
in them air caves, SIR" .
1 Very few OF the caves in this region have
been disturbed by visitors; some OF them
have certainly never been entered, and
this lends an added charm to their eE-
ploration. One feels thrill OF peculiar
pleasure in looking upon any wonders
would be glad to spend several months long
er in this part of Virginia in order to be-
come acquainted with: the people here.
The Virginia line here makes a loop into
Kentucky, including pocket in the noun
tains. Penpington's gap is the only wagon
pass into this country from any side. Owing
TO its peeuliar- position 1t l. Il particularly
favorable spot for small illicit stileries and
for frgitives from Justice, who can on short
notice make their escape into either Ken
ltucky or Tennessee, through mountain
passes over which borse can with difficulty
be led. Moreover, there exists race, OF Ger
man parentage, the descendants OF the first
colonists of North Carolina. These people
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 pay
ing a certain amount per head for
. every emigrant that passed over the
gang.plank. From North Carolina the
tious of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Vir.
ginia, and form to-day the lowest type oil
the population in these mountains. They
are not vicious people, but are simply bru.
tally ignorant, and live the most primitive
OF lives, knowing scarcely anything of the
civilization BY which they are surrounded
In their cabins you will not find single
article Of furniture, except Kettle and one
or two pots and dishes. The true Virgin.
ians, who form the bulk of the people, are,
however, usually fine class OF men, very
hospitabe and law.abiding, except in a few
bad districts. There are no negroes in these
mountains, and the women and children run
from black man as they would from wild
animal.
The laws here are enforced in very sum.
mary and primitive fashion, and punish
u.ent follows almost Immediately on the
|eemmission OF crime. The squire admin.
listers justice in almost all cases without
troubling higher courts. For all criminal
eases Of the lessor sort, and Tor thefts under
five dollars, sound thrashlng is admins
tered. Yesterday we witnessed the whip
ping of three men for stealing corn. Our
storekeeper, Mr.. Kelley, is the magistrate
here. The fellows were brought before
him and tried; they confessed, and were
each sentenced to seven cuts. Squire Kel'
lev himself went into the woods and cut
three stout hickory sticks, constable was
sworn on the spot, the prisoners were taken
out in front of the store, tied up, and whip
ped.
John Doyle, q youth OF seventeen, while
swimming ia the East river few days
since, had his leg pierced by a sword.fsh,
ma king q yornd so serious that he was con.
,haro hn rrol qavprn