The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-09

4
more properly roaring spring, the water
! from which Is very cool, Sud It comes down
/ into caye-like bssia WITH a rpar which
mar be heard at a considerable distance
This cave has been explored about one
hundred feet. There IL, too, on the creek
cave OF very respectable Dimensions
| formed, as 10 the mouth az least. by
great curved assure in the limestone
wall. Its atmosphere Is almost Icy cold,
There has been, as far as / know, 90
thorough exploration OF It's extent. Who
knows that Nature has not provided here
another wonder 10 extend the fame OF this
properly7 Farther on arc the falls or cas-
cades OF the Cedar creek, soon, trust, 10
be well known to the world through the
sketches of the Chicago artists who are now
here, with an almost exhausiless field be-
fore them, and which they cultivate with a
zeal neither burning suns nor rocky paths
can subdue.
What ! regardSas
QUITE CURIOSITY
Is on the walk from the hotel to the Bridge
an drbor uitg tfat.cedar) tree fourteen feet
In circumference nearly five feet In diane
ter There are cedars al many varieties
and all sizes about here, but this seems TO
be king. Between the hotd and the mills,
on the roadside, Is sassasfras tree more
than three feet in diameter
This must have been q fnely-timbered
country Judging from the original growth
remaining. The aXeman has done some
thing 10 mar the loneliness OF the hlllsides,
but enough yet remains, particularly along
Cedar creek, to make, as the company IN
tend, one OF the finest parks in the land.
Fitted up according to projected plans, the
Natural Bridge will make summer resort
in every respect worthy Of public patron
age. Thousands Of people going TO the
White Sulphur and the other springs by the
Allegheny railroad will stop here going or
coming, and others will come TO spend the
whole summer.
Nearly every American boy has read some
account OF
PIPER's GRAND BUT FOOLHARDY FEAT
in climbing up the rocky wall from the
stream to the top OF the Bridge. Nearly
every visitor asks TO have the course OF bis
ascent pointed out. How in climbing to
such dizzy height, upon such slight foot
holds, he was able to maintain balance In
head and body, is MOI easy to understand.
An old gentleman whom | met here told me
that he knew Mr.. Piper when the latter was
somewhat advanced in age, and that Mr..
Piper would not talk about 1t, being, as my
informant said. ashamed Of the feat, which
all the same will keep his name travelling
down the corridors Of time as long as tour
lists come TO the Bridge.
One OF the best "Sells" Of the age was
gotten up about the Bridge. II was the
production OF a student, and published In
college paper at Lexington, and repre-
sented the destruction OF the Bridge by
Il. l.v, in OH q
| There were scientific terms OF laundering
sound" alleged explanations by learned
professors, and all the paraphernaia OF q
true story. The job was so well done that
many people were deceived, and we'll
known Virginian, whose post-predicuons
were notorious, said, upon reading 1t, re.
produced in a daily paper: CD it;
told you So"
TIE INITIALS
OF hundreds Of persons are cut into the
walls OF the Bridge. &C. w." said tt
have been the production OF the Father Of
his Country, is very in0istinct. There are
others high above 1t.
Living in q section OF country where ter
rapiDs are to be found any day with sc
W." marked on their backs, and knowing
that Washington's body servant dies every
1 L
the authenticity Of these initials. A lady
from Chicago-a member OF the art school
painted her initials and those OF a gentle
man upon the wall some thirty feet above
the stream a few days agO-a feat, / sup
pose, heretofore unequalIed by one OF he
gentle sex, though the story OF a younl
lady posing herself upon a stump wbicl
stood upon one OF the outermOst lodges o
the bridge top is well authenticated.
When the present company acquired pos
session the hotel accommodations were in
desperate condition. The building is
poor one at best, and not properly located
BY next season there will be large one OF
better site, where 1t will receive TIT
breezes, come from what direction they
may, and from which imposing views ma!
be had. But for the present the old hote
has been remodelled and added 70, and tht
rooms provided with very comfortable fur
niture. Charlie Euker, formerly Of Rich
mond, is the hote-manager, and spreads I
table OF exceptional excellence. No ont
who wishes to see the Bridge need hesitate
about comingnow; but next season visitors
will come not to stay days but weeks.
CHESTER.