Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-05-11

| 'N~' eH'ei PIleihg anu We'll known citizen
| WIN. Spear. Prices were low and fare
EXCELLENT We were now at Clinch riv-
er, where considerable bridge will be
! required. Sunday morning was bright
and dewy. Pause, until tell you that
adewless morning is never pleasant
one. Note that. If you are in as much
as half health l will promise that you
enjoy every morning that brings with 1t
heavy dew. We had the dew and of
course II cloudless day, aud took an early
start for the Natural Tunnel.
Our route lay Tor some ten miles up
Clinch to the mouth OF Stock creek, up
which We turned to the left and after
pleasant ride over gravelly roads and
across shallow fords We soon reached the
vicinity OF
| Tm TUNNEL.
Meeting with Mr.. James II. Edwards. a
Young gentleman OF the vicinity, be
kindly agreed 70 accompany us AZ
guide. We found him OF great value to
US. Stock creek runs nearly due south
and. as Ia uai.al with streams in this
country, between two ridges. At the
point where the tunnel In these two
ridges are connected by a cross ridge,
uniting them after the manner Of the let
ter Il. Their SUBMITS are less than v
fourth Of a mile part, and this Siamese
bond between them is an abrupt, bold,
and picturesqe connection, rome 400 feet
wide ut its center, spreading out wider
at itB two ends. The eastern end of this
cross ridge is considerably higher than
the western one, which affords depres-
sion by which the Stock creek road pass
cs up over it's west end and reaches the
creek again, thus thanking the tunnel.
The entire summit Of this cross ridge is
covered with fine forest u timber and
a ncighborhood road passes over It 40
that an uniformed traveller would little
suspect the wonderful work Of nature
beneath him. Passing by the road to
the left Of the tunnel We rode back down
the creek and hit"hed our horses ut the
upper end Of 1t and Eat down IN one Of
the coolest shades and most picturesque
spots on this continent, TO view the
grandest portion Of Gods handiwork,
We have found beneath the stars. Ba-
rometers and anproids and tape lines we
had none. Figures would be frigid and
unwelcome on any first visit. Immense
masses Of broken stone lie beneath The
arch, from which they have been
brought down by the forces of nature,
and over them the bold crystal stream
fosms and bellows unil It is lost in the
twilight of the tunnel. Over head aud
to the right and left the great wall Of
magnetism limestone stretches beneath
moses and vines until II Is LOST TO sight
from overhanging soil with its growth
Of beautiful forest. Standing on the
greatest elevations afforded by the rocks
It WAS with difficulty either of us could
throw stone to the arch. The stream
is very rough through the tunnel and
We had TO wade 1t three times. OH
went shoes and boots and up went pants
As we hobbled and squirmed with ten.
der feet through the dashng stream,
with long sticks tor our support in the
roar and gloom and loneliness Of the
, cavern imagination brought mp visions
OF the dark valley OF the shadow Of
death. The path of the tunnel is slight
ly s shaped and very little side cutting
/ at one point would he needed 10 accom-.
, modate the N. G. II. r, Al the lower
| end of we ant awhile In mute wonder
at the stupendons scene. Sketch tive
, could not. Words would be tame VI
description. Over 400 feet above on
heads stretched the unbroken wall built
+ by Jehovah and far down the two banks
Of the stream Il swept IN mathemat.
, ical curves until lost to sight IN the leafy
! timbers that environ t.. Such lofty ant
symmetrical natural masonry We hnC
t never seen, and doubt II Il bc found or
! our planet. Just over the arch the wal
/ At its summit hangs little over perpen
dicular and from Il there came slowly
, trooping down through the sunshine n
the shaded rocks W lis base n ceueelep'
; cascade Of water drops. II was Sabbath
morning and we obeyed an irresistabl,
impulse 10 step beneath Il and receive II
, that empowering presence on barred
: heads the holy baptism OF Him who 90
old didst lay the foundation OF III,
, earth"
= The lower end OF tho tunnel Ia n horse
> shoc shaped wall, the western aide belnj
! unbroken, OF wonderful symmetry, grca
height, and mounted with dark cedars
The opposite side has suffered In age
past'A erumblng Of tia wall ut twC
9 points, separated nv Table Rock, III
t dsbris falling toward tho creek, making
: slope Of 81 degrees from the base line
( On this has grown bushes and sapllngt
3 no that II WIS possible for Mr. James AM
\ myself 70 climb It. We did climb Il
= aud Col, Piper climbed the Nalura
> Bridge. doubt which became sickes
F. Of the undertaking. Piper would hsv'
b turned back " he could, and We were
I TOO proud 10 try Il. but We did wish
b we had never started and we shall novei
= dolt again. This side Of the gorge Il
o n,nrh hIoher though tsaa avmn,etripa