Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-19
THE GARDEN OF VIRGINIA.
Bright Description of Interesting Region
Historic Localities-White Top Mountain
Mysterious Mountain Pictures.
Special Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR.

Bright Description of Interesting Region
Historic Localities-White Top Mountain
Mysterious Mountain Pictures.
Special Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR.
LOVES MILLS, WASHINGTON COUNTY, VA.,l
August Ill.,
We left Washington on the 81 inst, when the
thermometer was up 10 90 in the shade. We
brought With us white wrappers and lawn dresses,
but they lie unm0lested in our trunks. We are
sleeping under blankets and sitting by wood fires
instead OF swelterIng in the heat, while instead of
chattering spaTrows at our windows, the trees
near the house are filled with innumerable song
birds. who seem to enjoy the climate immensely,
to judge by the music poured forth from their tiny
thTOats.
We Travelled on the Virginia Midland railroad as
far as Lynchburg, passing over the now classic
Dattle-fieldS OF Bull Run. Manassas and Culpeper.
The rivers over which we crossed were the Kappa
hammock, the Rapidan and others whose names
were burned into our memories by the tragicaI in
cidents OF the war At Charlottesville we were
shown the location OF Monticello the home and
grave Of jefferson, and also the direction OF the
sembed near the train numbers OF
REAL OLD VIRGINIA COOKS
with fried chicken and short cake boiled eggs and
coffee, TO which the passengers did ample justice;
though our party were not so fortunate as to get
the coffee, that strengthening beverage having
been exhausted before we were aware o; its
vicinity All along the route we saw brilliant
which were the scarlet me1dOw-nly and trumpet
mower. the orange milkweed or pleurlsy flower,
who-e fields OF will white cOnv0lyuluS golden
rod5 and aster5, with columbiaes, when we
reached the cliffs OF LynChpurg, with few
daShes OF the cardinal flower and many wild
mountain pinkS
We met upon the train ex-Mayor ana Mrs.
Emery with their pretty young daughter the two
latter coming OD TO Allegheny Springs In south
western Virginia. where the son and Miss Juliet
had already passed some time; and Mr.. Emery
taking another train at Charlottesville for the
Warm Springs
This Is
TRULY HISTORIC REGION.
Almost every family in the county Is descended
from the early settlers, and hundreds of the farm
ers Sill possess lands granted to their pioneer
great grand-fatheTS. Mr.. Sampson Cole, with
whom we are stopping, has in his possession the
original parchment grant, signed by Gov. Din
widdie, which gave To Henry st. Clair an English
man, and the very first settler upon the lands OF
the HOlSOn river, tract OF one thousand acres
This farm Is portion OF said grant. ST. Clair
came among the Indians about the year 1855. and
won their good Will His cabin was erected in st.
SlArS Bottom, on the south branch OF the HOl-
st0n river, In what is Smyth county. The
next settlers were the Messrs. Patton, Buchanan
and Campbell, and afterward the PreStonS
FlOyds, Burks, B0wens and others. A party was
MAZE up for a trip to the
WHITE TOP MOUNTAIN
on Tuesday, but owing to the rainy weather was
deferred This IS most famous and wonderful
mOuntain, and the show place OF the country,
longs TO the Appalachian range, and is near the
point where Virginia, Tennessee, and North Caro-
lima unite at q common corner. The summit OF
the mountain is bart, being what is known here us
the "O!d Fields" IN the winter the vast plain OF
snow which lies upon IL gives il the name OF White
TOP Around the field is a growth OF trees known
as the L3shOrEe, which we found in no other
Region They are species OF the spruce pine, the
top being almost fat, and so interlaced when
growing near each other that they can ably be
walE"J upon. One OF these especially has been
~
init, the trunk being surrounded with straight
hmOS which make an excellent Indian ladder
Wlen cut on loot or two from the tree. An aDer-
ture has been made through the upper branches
Where pIeaSure-StekerS pass through; when by
spreading blankets over the fiat branches q dozen
or more may walk at ease on the spreading La
ShOTna tree, from whence superb view is obtained
over the valleys andmountainS OF the three states
Sute Il ar the summit or the mountain guSheS
very cool spring, which affords most acceptable
retreat for visitors, who always bring their pro-
visions with them.
SaItviIle or -t.
TIE SALT WORKS OF SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA
are l6 miles northeast or Abingdon and miles
from Glade Springs A branch road from this
place, which is situated On the Norfolk and West
ern railroad, takes the visitor to these picturesque
WORKS, giving him time for good view OF all the
natural beauties and the working of the wells in
good season 10 return TO the railroad for dinner.
Almost or quite a hundred years ago VIM. King.
an lisa gentleman OF intelligence, purchased q
piece % Ilnd here (Where the AbOrigines had made
LICK }, ana. being convinced that subterranean
stream OF salt uoYysde beneath proceeded to dig
Ior sat water He succeeded beyond his most
ssnSulne expectations, and never has the supply
or water weakened from that day TO this. While
~ taxes 90 gallons OF the Kanawha brine, and 40
OF me Onandaigul, it requires only 20 gallons
from the King wells 10 make one busheI OF salt
The valley has undoubtedly been a lake, and the
scenery around III IS quite unique as well as pic
rescue During The construction OF the railroad
10 the SAT- works, in 1856, many bones were found
OF an animal much larger than those OF the ele-
plant.
- The farm OF the late Gen. Rees T. Bowen, In
1azeWe1l county, Is situated In valley called 1.-The
Cove, where the Genera. our late member of Con-
gresS rom this district owned 1850 acres OF land
The place was settled by his granjfa Their in 1885,
anu II Is here. upon the mountain cliffs half way
UP the race OF the mountain, that those
MYSTERIOUS COLoRED PAINTINGS
were found in that early day which SUN battle the
curiosity OF all who examine them The face of
the mountain IS one thousand feet high, and con-
sequently the paintings are five hundred feet
above the valley. They consist of horses elk
der, wolves, bows and arrows. eagles Indians
ami other symbols figures. Many other wonder
luI an beautiful things to be found in this
rlch and charming valley. But the master Is
Called from earth, and his friends viii no more
ENJOY his genial hospitality hear him tell with
pride OF the beauties OF his native valley Yet
while MS descendants still enjoy the home OF their
fathers. his spirit viii doubtless hover at times
above this beautiful garden OF Viryinia, 10th 10
"A nm N fs1.T0r