The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-15

the Mouutatu 90 enc Yea.
. v.r.sIxr TRIP OVER THE McHxoSD AND
.rIeouAxY gAuRoAD-MAGE
sorxrxy--scEXes AND INCIDENTS GREAT
MINERAL DEPOSITS WHAT ~ GONG TO BE
OPENED Up TO RICHMOND TRADE-A GRAND
Ann BgAUrrrur. ROUTE FOR sCMxER TKAVhio
&C., &C.
v..,, s,,sc,a, Correspondent OF Che New Yors
wcrid
p,cuxo>p. Va, April 27.-Our parry
,os, tss fhe.speake and Ohio railroad nj the
"sstern hase OF the Aiieghsuies late on
Saturday, evening. and mouated horses TOT
rim ,broush the heart OF Virginia along
Che hanks OF the James river, upon TIC
rou,e Of the Richmond and Ailegnshy
railroad from the mountains to the sea.
We had seen the State In other JOURNEYS;
We had crossed on the Chesapeake anu
OHIO the plains, mountains, ana Vane,'
We had crossed the long desert stretch IRON
Alexandria TO Weldon and Danvii'e. ne
: had ridden from Norfolk to Bristol over
a weary stretch OF 200 miles OF dusty p'ains
.rd the other 200 mites OF green neios.
we had ridden along the Piedmont, WIN
&c fertile slopes, and through TO the great
.r.o,, ,imestone waves Of the SHENANDOAH
Valley. Bnt the Valley of the James river
= nlace full OF story and tradition, region
where the pride OF the Old Dominion hso
fouud most assurance. where one-tnird OF
all her wealth and OF all her people ana "ne
half Of all her slaves had been, ana wneTe
for nm hundred years she dreameo OF anu
tried TO build highway OF the wof'd-"c
had never seen.
WONDERFUL PASSAGE.
The Chesapeake and Ohio railway driveh
against the North Mountain ranges turns 10
the left and climbs the great long ascen.s'
while Jackson's river, turning TO toe rign',
breaks through aud on the other side louns
the Cowpasiure and forms the James. we
turned our horses through the gorge at
Clifton Forge.
narrow like a mighty assure. Crags threat.
on a thousand feet above the folded ana
exposed strata that stand out In bold rellei.
mighty and perfect arches with bases SUI
feei broad and keystones 400 feet high sup
nor, the mountain with Its crest of pines
and its sides ell red, SCARED with the
miners work.
The river leaps the White Falls ana
rushes through TO the east, while the pent
winds from hot plain and valley eternaily
sweep through to the cool forests OF the
west. -,
As the last rays OF the setting sun fell
upon pines and mists in stiffness unDroken
save by the sound OF wind aud water we
passed through the great portal into valley
that is walled IN for 200 miles by lifted bills
and plains, and slept by the river that we
were TO follow until ii IS lost in the sea.
OBJECTS OF SPECIAL INTEREST.
The obiec:s Of special interest during the
morning ride were Clifton Springs, where
waters of great medicisal powers are found;
Daggers Springs, already popular resort
Roaring Run, a stream that burst forth 600
feet above the valley, and after single
fall OF 200 feet and a succession OF cascades,
rusbes half river and bali cloud into the
quiet plain and recently discovered and
unnamed cave at Eagle Crag, where the
river turns sharp 10 the left and breaks
through Patteson Mountain. This cave is
little visited, for as the guide says, ''You
must dive to find it," According to the
height OF the water, you must either wade
or swim to get under the low roof OF this
cave, but within 1t Is spacious and extends
for quarter Of mile TO the farther open
ing, 1t is not hike Meyers Cave, with level
floors, but with succession OF rising steps
and plains down which clear stream
udSutSs IlClC aiC eiNut h"iio ohN P~AAN~S
arcbes-staIactites and staagmities in be-
wilderipg confusion, and in the red light OF
the torches all the wonderful work Of water
and limestone on roof and wall and floor.
BEAUTIES OF EAGLE CRAG.
At Eagle Crag are repeated the great
folds we saw at Clifton Forge; but the
arches and craes are lower. Near this point
we heard wagon rafting over the rocky
road, and suddenly came upon, States
prison convict, with cropped head and
striped suit, driving pair OF sleek mules
with load OF -four and bacon. He was not
stealing, them--he was not guarded. He
was bringing provisions and the mail from
canal. boat twenty miles below, and
seemed as happy as freedman. We dined
at Convict Camp. Men in striped suits
took our horses, cooked our dinner, waited
at table, brushed our clothes, and received
our silver In the Quietest manner possible.
These men are hired from the State aud
guarded after fashion. We learned that
the penalty Of an escape Is fine OF 800
upon the contractor, and that there were
no escapes. Such consideration OF the
rights OF capital was beyond our compre-
hension, and we were SO amused and
amazed at the whole affair that we forgot
to ask II they were expected "to earn the
respect OF their employers"
MAN WHO wOULDS'T RIDE AROUND ON Sun
DAY.
After dinner we had serious debate. 1t
was Sunday, and, through delay caused by
an accident, we had been forced to break
the day TO meet the appointment at Blu
chanan. One OF our party rebelled. lie
would not be seen riding rouad the country
on horseback on Sunday, and insisted that
we should take batteau and float. 1t was
dangerous river, and we had no good
boatmen: but the one Sabbalh-keeper per-
sistently outvoted the other twelve, and we
reluctantly turned our horses back and cast
our fortunes with the river, thai also had to
go to Buchanan, notwithstanding it was
Sunday. The pilot was black aud old---so
old that his commands came through his
toothless Jaws in unntelligible "a unds. The
crew consisted Of two terrified yellow boys,
who came on board crying ard took tse
long oar. The river was la fitful mood;
sometimes 1t spread Out In popdsR eddies
and acted as ii it wanted 10 go back vita
the horses; sometimes il dashed madly OF
while the boat trembied as the waves lashed
II or broke over It's sides. Twice we were
driven upon the rocks, and our eoDscien-
tious friend was once In imminent danger
OF being made into Sunday-sehool book.
However, we that night slept safely on
shore.
BEAUTIES or TIE NATURAL BKlnGI.
have no space In which to give the whole
adventures Of these two days. 10 tell how
our friend from the riding-school. with
cheer. startled the party by suddenly dash
fsso he xx,stI tse,<I hxel