The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-19
ORKNEY SPRINGS, VA.

THE LEGEND OF THE WOUNDED BEAR-A HEAL
ING POOL IN THE MoUNTAlNs--NEw WORKERS
AT ORKNEY.
ORKNEY SPRINGS August 16, 1870.
wounded bear crawling to mountain pool to
lave and heal his hurt the origin of Orkney
Springs The astonished hunters watched the
creatures movements and soon learned the secret
Of the water the medicinal virtues of which had
been already detected by the keen instinct of the
brute creation. This years ago, when America
but infant among nations. when Virginia
was the Dominion" and while George Washington
lived. Where the bear had wallowed to
soothe and his injuries to
profit by the knowledge which Bruin had uncon-
sciously impaired to him. The bear driven
away by ball and powder and man possessed himself
the pool. boxed and covered it and converted it
into the now famous Bear wallow Spring. The vir-
tues OF the water subsequently discovered by
somebody more adventurous than the man who first
the oyster to be more efcacious inwardly than
externally. Gradually the interests of the several
farmers and landhoders adjoining the spring
combined and capitalized. and out OF this conjunc-
ton of interests the Orkney Springs Company
and the present elaborate establishment.
A TALL four story hotel, the Virginia House. holds
the site. and outlying it number of large
two aud three story cottages designated respectively
the Maryland. Delaware. Pennsylvania and California
houses and line Of smaller buildings designed for
individual families. known as Jersey row. The visitor
agreeably surprised find that they fail to do JUS
The reality better than tho promise of these
advertising devices. Indeed it is hazarding nothing
to say that more systematically and intelligently
contrived pleasure resort is not to be found in this
region.
For instance. amusement is made an art at Orkney.
The guests suffered to idle away hali their
stay In discovering each other and getting ac-
ana ted.
committed to gentleman especially engaged for the
yen-whose Terpsichorean renown is there brill
liant that of his astronomical namesake. Profess
sor LOOMS is. SO to speak; the leader IN social
cry and lays out the croquet by day. He plans the
tournament weekly and the mock trial He conducts
the hops and germans at night His business is to
contrive games and amusement, and he succeeds.
The day is a round of pleasure from the time the
ladies begin rolling tenpins in the morning to the
moment the last billiard ball clicks the billiard
hall Those who prefer the rest of repose find
it on the lawns, porches and verandas. The lawn
is in grove of great oaks, with benches
encircling their feet as inviting as ottomans The
verandas are two-storied. stretching around from
house to house. Spanning the roadways are bridges
connecting the vcrandas, and the bridges aud YER
andas covered with parti-colored awnings like
excursion steam boats giving them an aerai and cool
appearance. A tour OF ali the buildings may DO
made by following the course Of these connecting
bridges and verantas AID Ia quite a bit of pedes-
TRAN exercise On the lawns the sward is ntersccted
by board footwaks leading to the springs and to the
by dininutive enccs making tho great enclosure u
series of little parks. suitable tor croque and arch
cry. Tho turnpike to Mount Jackson il the only
level road carriage riding; but after this the
amusement most in vogue. i'll which horscfiesh
comes into play. is the ascent OF the North
road by toilsome climb OF about six milcs.
Once accomplished this trip is repaid for all its
fatigue by the magnicence OF the scene from the
summit OF the mountain. At the very crest of the
ridge there is an upheaved ledge OF rock on which
other 9th IN Vest virginia at the same moment Tho
wldness of the spot, which is the home of deer.
bears and rattlesakes impresscs the bcholder with
Orkney is situated 1900 feet above tho level.
at which elevation cool nights are perpetual, Tho
DAYS are fairly warm about two o'clock in tho
afternoon. but the highest point reached this
summer by the thermometer IN the hotel Office was
ouhty-one degrees. The Bear Wallow Spring, which
tx served by an ancient colorcd man reared in tho
uciph orhood known ''Uncle George" is tonic
water whose chief ingredients sulphate of mag
ncsia and sulphate of iron. Indeed, the visitor ~
tempted to commit imprudences of diet. so certain
Is he that between tho air and water he may defy
indigestion. The ancient method OF using tho
water is not ignored or dcspised and
the visitor may enjoy the relaxation o,
or in the tub For those who wish to unite the
virtues of sulphur iron or both there is an adj
jacent chalybeate spring and short ride away
spring of undiluted blue sulphur. The valley teens
with mineral springs of all Kinds but the Bear Wal.
low IL the one which, by the testimony of man and
beast, is most remedial for most ailments
VISITORS.
The visitors have not been as numerous this year
rs last. The thing liz reported OF all the Vir-
ginia mountain resorts. Tho reason Is said to be
popular rush this summer to the seaside. But the
has been prosperous, Notwithstanding.
Among the more prominent guests here are the fol-
lowing;-
From New York-wilson Macdonald. sculptor OF
the Custer statue at West Point, accompanied by his
wife and two daughters; Mrs. G. +. simpson aud
family Mrs. NJ H. Woodward, Mrs. W. Webb, Mr.
Is. L. Arnold aud Mr. w. II. Barksialc.
Brooklyn-Misses Annie and Mary Lucas.
Baltimore--Congressman u. j. Henkle and family.
Mrs. i. l.. Dobbns. l. II heitz and wife, Miss Kirk
and Messrs. Clagctt from Prince Georges county.
Washingon--A. Erumdi the frcsco artist of the
Capitol and son; ii. o. Whitney, OF the United states
Treasury, and family; i. \. Luttrcll, A. j. Green
lees and Il. 4. Miller and their families; Miss Mamie
Johnson b. f. Burguyn aud Lieutenant Tyrrel,
United States Navy.
Mississppi-Mrs. General Chalmers and family
Norfolk--Marshall Parks, president Of the Abe