The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-07-16
miscellaneous.
Doubling Gap Springs.
l. EwIsBURG, Pa, July Gtl

Ia tie Edit0r Of Tile .EgtS'
Whenever man goes abroad nowadays he
is expected to write an account of his obscrva-
tons for the general weal-or woe. Loyal to
this custom, proceed to report myself to YOU
the recorder Of passing events. The special
point of my present remarks shall be that
which will most interest your readers, viz: a
visit to the White Sulphur Springs at Doub
ling Gap, in the beautiful Cumberland Valley.
Feeling the need of some pure mountain air
to brace up nerves which had grown somewhat
weary, turned my eyes towards this old re-
sort, which is near Carlisle, Pa, where was
making a short visit So off | went for
week in the mountains-and now feel like
wishing that everybody could go and do like
wise. Doubling Gap is formed by II peculiar
S-likc bend in the Kittatiny or North noun
tain. The mountain douJtcS ON itself; hence
the name Doubling Gap. The Springs are
situated pretty far up III the Gap, between the
two sides of the aforesaid curve of the noun
tains. Whichever way you look, YOU see
nothing but mountains. Those who are fond
of this kind of scenery could not finda better
place whcreat to crafty their taste. 1t just
suits me, for, having always been accustomed
to mountains, | miss them greatly in Hartford
When get back where they stretch their blue
lines along the borders of the valley, feel
like taking off my hat as to an old friend whom
| have not seen for many day. There is
peculiar sublimity about the mountains-a
freshness and beauty which is not found in Il
country where they are not. But many who
admire the mountains at n distance do not
feel drawn to close inspection Of them. Such
persons do not relish stay among them. To
such Doubling Gap orany similar place would
be only a place of voluntary Imprisonment
PINT In thnsn who hnSiInc na1
in the wild surroundings, make quiet rest,
downright comfort, and healM their object,
Doubling will be a fountain of bliss.
There is Il large hotel at the Springs over
which Capt. j. w. Wheeler presides. 1t is
his aim to make every one comfortable. He
is obliging and courteous. The place is very
old. At first the water was carried away
when its curative powers became known
Then house was built then q hotel for the
accommodation of visitors--so that it has n
long history. Visitors are Just beginning to
come in-many having first gone TO the sea
shore. During the height of the season there
is quite a throng. The grounds are tastcfully
laid out. They strongly tempt II person to
take walk. There is n Sulphur Spring
very short distance from the hotel, which is
the principal spring there. There is also
chalybeate spring near by and an iron spring
about a mile away. Tie air is most delight
fully cool; even on the hottest day one can
somewhere find n cool spot. Last week while
in the cities people were almost painting for
breath we were being delighted with the
weather. and while elsewhere people were
mailing with Joy the rains which came tenn
porarily to cool the. atmosphere, we were by
made to think of and wish for the heavy
clothes at home. 1t became so cool, that, in
the evening especially, it was by no means
comfortable to sit on the porch One gentlc-
man, wiser than Others, had brought his heavy
overcoat and professcd to be very comfortable
in it.
The objects of special and peculiar interest
to the visitor are Lewes's cave and Flat Rock
The former was the hiding place of famous
rObbcr who was the terror of the ncighbor-
hood from 1916 to 1920. In those primitive
times that section was less popular than now
ami daring robber could do more mischief
without detection. Lewes claimed to be an
equalizer, l. G. to take from the rich and give
to the poor. He is reputed by local tradition
to have been a man ofvery generous impulses
and was not the enemy of the poor. lie only
held and practised peculiar notions on the re-
lative rights of labor and capital and though
il was rough and unpopular mode of "strik
Ing" yet it did not disturb the public equanim-
ity so much as the modern mode of that
upOi1ihdDlC ItNtb WIS OH HOOU
terms with most of the inhabitants of the Gap
and especially with the inmates Of the hotel
Tradition says that when there were no sus
picious characters about the premises, the
landlord would hang out signal from the up
per part of the house and when Lewes saw
this from his rocky retreat nearly halfway up
the mountain, he would come down and treat
aparcel ofboon companions to night f"jolly
good time" But whenever n stranger or Il
public official was around, Lewes kept himself
non est. His cave is now nearly closed-little
more of it being seen than the entrance.
About two-and-a-half miles from Doubling
there is a famous rock which commands view
of avery large portion of the valley of Cum
berand. Flat Rock is 400 feet above sea
level. The ascent to it leads over two noun
tains and calls for two things of very pro-
nounced equine character, viz; good muscle
and good aoSad. The path is at times very up
pish. One finds out that his body has more
ayoirdupois than he thought when he comes
to raise it with such continuous lift. How
ever, :" the end crowns the way"-for when
the rock is reached, view of bewildering
beauty bursts upon the eye, Cumberland