The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-22

Of the Wlssahickon, stream wn'cn
a "a strongly resembles Ia the char.
.as,ar az is scenery that 1 cried. out
m mr. compsptons: This - the WIS
sahIckoa exaggerated OF course the
scenery on this river Is on much grandei
.csIe. being. in fact, the passage OF Q tor
rem, through q gorge In the mountains.
EsnecislIy did one point closely resemble
The character 81 the scenery on The VISA
hlekon. below the Red Bridge, even to the
mill which YOU well remember used 70
stand tbere). About o'clock, while sun
Ia the Lilile-river gorges, we hauled UP
under some trees, looscncd the earrings OF
our horses. fed them, and lunched our
selves. While we were enjoying our resi-,
suddenly We heard the rumbliDg OF mum
der. the clouds being concealed by Tue
mountains, but soon they passed over the
SUBMITS and reminded us by lively
shaver that the rumbling was no
mere threat. This was the commence
ment OF that wet spell which has not
left us yet.A We took shelter in nut
close by, Inhibited by very simple bui kind
peoplc, with scarcely comfort at their com
mand, aud who, had there been rise OF tbe
stream or any accident, could not pave
afforded us any protection beyond mere
cover. 0;5er houses we passed were pet
ter than .his, but none containing the COM
forts OF the plainest Cbester.couDty farm
house. You must imagine us all TINS tiiBe
travelling by the side Of a dashIng, ioamlng
mountain stream. constantly tossing over
rocks and In many places forming sIopiDg
falls OF great beauty. and IN one case WIN u
descent of perhaps 40 feet within hye yards
OF the roadside. This was increased TO ra-
4 Tlf \
DAYS after, by the deIuge OF rain that had
fallen in the interval. | never saw iailing
water that interested me more excepting
Nlagars) especially where u resemDied Tue
Red Bridge on the WissabickoD.
WONDERFUL ABYSS.
Finailv. at about $3.50, we reached the
I" Head" The rain, which had accompanied
-us since our lunch, ceased, giving US iDree
hours 10 contemplate this wonderful abyss
before sunset, which. unfortunately Tor US,
occurred under cloud. We approach the
ABYSS as we used TO do Table Rock. Niagara,
and took sheer down perpendicular 1000
feet, according 10 the lowest calculation.
The natives claim 1900 feet. but the whole
height above the sea is but 1898 1eet, ana
that is enough for any one that Is al oil
timid, for you have no railing or Darrlef
OF any kind, and at the point named not
even "A shrub TO grasp. We look down
INTO an immense gorge, perhaps mile
wide, covered with forest trees seemingly
very small from our elevation, but OF the
ordinary size. Directly opposite 10 the
" Head" is a cliff OF perpendicular rocks
about 800 feet high, called here Table
Rocks" but | should rather name them
:. The Palisades" The effect is increased
A. 4. nj Of
invisible from the Head" and about three
miles distant. The noise was at this time
particularly loud, owing to the recent heavy
rains. The stream that forms the falls Is
only branch Of the Saluda few yards IN
width, bu: greatly concentrated, ana leap
Ing 700 feet at one bound. One OF our
party VITO visited ii was entirely sa,iSned
with its grandeur, but it Is difficult oil ac'
cess. The q" Head" has not perfectly per-
pendicuIar descent, tested by the pumb'D ne
Humboldt says they searched in VAN, I'D
Europe for perfect perpendicuiarity OF
fifteen hundred feei), but IT appears 50 10
the eye. Dr.. Elliott, Professor OF Chemis-
try in Louisiana University, and VINO Is
examining this whole region geologicaliy,
tells me The greatest effect is produced by
going 10 the cliffs above referred TO ana
looking at The Head " in front, as it were.
The Doctor, in his geological researches,
crossed the bed OF the gorge 10 "Table
Rock" regardless OF ratlesnakes and dense
laurel bushes. It Is difficult to describe
emotions in words, and always thought
Fanny KemUle's description OF Niagara, in
that respect, good one-"Oh, God, and
is this Niagara" For myself, as always
when in tue presence OF the sublime in ma
lure, my feelings were a.mixture OF awe,
reverence, and perhaps slight degree OF
terror. Always in such presences my
fancy takes wings, and INDUCES IN flights
into tie infinite. Ny thoughts went
back 10 the terrific period when
these great objects were ushercd from be.
low, perhaps amidst volcanic eruptions and
a general confusion OF all matter. The
thought is il this small portion OF Gods
works on this little earth so oyerwhelms the
mind, what must intinitude do il we are
ever permitted 10 behold it, as Adds On
thought we would be allowed to do II
faithful here, furnis ned with faculties capa-
bic of eOmprehending it? Though | was
IN no respect disappointed in the magnl-
tude OF this wonder, yet | have always tue
longing for something greater-a proof to
me OF The immortality OF the soul, showing
that nothing here can ever completely sat-
i>fy it. ] told my companions it made me
long 10 stand on the verge OF inhnity ana
behold all with eyes anointed by omnlpo-
lence. flAToR.