Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-06-01
AN ADVENTURE IN VIRGINIA.

oeVeIa1 years ago was compelled by
business to visit the thriving town Of
s., situated in southwestern Virginia.
IN the heart of that wonderful region
where nature has so lavishly DISPLAYED
her work in rearing the lofty mountains,
beautiful valleys, mysterious caves. and
giving to mankind those perennial foun-
tains whence the very essence of ma
lures great restoratives well up with
every ripple of the health giving waters.
1t was the latter part of the month of
May, that beautiful season when earth
assumes its fairest garb, and the crude
freshness of spring is giving place to the
profound splendor of approaching sum-
mer.
Having transacted my business, I de-
termined to make pedestrian excursion
to the beautiful village of NJ, stu
ated about twelve miles southwest of
D.; the road passed over and around
a mountain, and the scenery along the
rent was said to be the most beautiful of
all the surrounding region.
started about four o'clock on bril-
Liant afternoon, giving every indications
Of delightful evening, calculating I
would reach the summit of the mountain
half way between s. and NJ by
eight o'clock, and from thence the way
being descent, that I would arrive in
NJ by ten o'clock, and thus have the
double advantage of beholding sunset
and moon rise in the Blue Ridge.
1 continued my way and gradually be-
came obivious to everything but the
magnificent panorama, which was now
open to my view. I even forgot the ex-
IRENE ruggedness of thepath, as I gazed
enraptured upon each successive scene
which was 80 grandly, so beautifully re-
vealed to me.
The time thus passed unheeded, until
the sun had nearly touched the western
horizon, and remembering one of the
chief objects of my tour, I determined
to behold it in the most advantageous
manner possible.
About one hundred yards to the west
of the road there was peak, or rather
an immense rock, which stretched up
ward almost perpendicularly, to the
height of nearly two hundred feet above
the mountain upon which I stood, and of
which 1t seemed part, but was in real
lty mass, detached, perhaps, by some
awful throe of nature, resting upon it's
own distinct base, which extended down
into the deep, dark valley, far beyond
the reach OF vision; it was connected
with the mountain by spur jutting out
from the side of the mountain, which
was here vast precipice and rock shelv-
ing out from the peak, each apparently
firmly joined to their respective princi-
pals. The spur and shelving rock par-
rowed gradually from both sides towards
the center, where they were connected
by an immense boulder, perhaps eight
feet in diameter, being wedged between,
thus forminga somewhat precarious look
ing causeway. Although the position of
the boulder was such as to give it the
appearance of being ever in the act of
falling, yet argued that having stood
the commissions of nature and the might
OF the tempests thus long, no puny effort
Of mine could dislodge it from the posi-
ton where it had endured for ages; and
as the summit of the peak was above
everything which 1 could observe sur
rounding, and the view from that point
would be totally unobst1ucted, I deter
mined to risk crossing.
passed over with great caution, and
a1ter rough and exhaustlng effort,
reached the summit. I here found a
nearly level space about fifty feet in
diameter, perfectly hard and smooth,
and totally devoid Of vegetation. I OBJ
served my position was far above any of
the neighboring peaks, and the view,
which was grand in the extreme, extend
ed over miles of the most chaotic scenery
the eye ever gazed upon. The edge Of
the sun was now just dipping behind the
western hills, and the light emanating
from its bosom, crowned every prominent
onlect with soft, golden radiance, which
was made more distinct by the broad,
deep shadows cast to the eastward, whilst
mere and there some rock or boulder.
Pohshed by centuries of sunshine and
tempest, reflected the light like bril-