Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1882-10-20

On BOARD STEAMSHIP OLD DOMINION I
James River, Oct. l3, 'S2. !

II do not begin 10 write up this Won
deful trip, shall soon be 30 numbered up
with plethora Of material, that | shall not
have the courage to attack the subject at
all. 50 here goes, though now Il seems a
long way back to mention Catletisburg a.
the starting point. At that place on Tues-
day night, in Moores Opera House, we had
delightful reunion with old friends. 0
confessions for soul and 4 anointed for
healing would have we'll repaid us, had not
the pleasure Of meeting with so many dear
acquaintance Of past years made the occa.
sion one Of great ioy 10 us II was such a
good send of from Kentucky that 3x3 and
z, like a parting kiss Of love from HIS
lips whom we love 40 we'll, delight so much
TO serve. Our precious friends at Beech
more continued their unwearied hospitali-
ties to the last, and at "a. NJ. Wednesday.
accompanied US 10 the G. 4 o. train, speed
ing the parting guests with good wishes,
kisses and daintily filled lunch basket. In
ten minutes we were out OF dear old Ken
lucky. Il was 20 good in the LORD to
give ne this little trip through the State
and parting benediction at the mouth Of
Sandy. II wss meet that Eastern Ken
lucky should,have the last handmade, for
the Mountain rork Of the LORD through
us, will always be the association most
deeply cherished. | hold the title "Moun.
tain Evangelist" dearer than all Others.
We Lailed our old friend, AL Savage, at
the Big Sandy bridge where the c. & o.
crosses miles above Catlettsburg. He
is on contract for the repair OF the middle
pier, which has been undermined by the
treacherous river until 1t is unsafe. By
singular coincidence, my first acquaintance
with this ever dear friend was made at this
very pier years ago, where he was then en-
gagged in fishing out slaves which had been
set ailoat by a contractor. up the river. The
dear fellow got on the train and said good
bye at Huntington, IL miles further on.
Here the last lingering adisus were spoken
by our friends AL. and Lsbe Everett, and
then we made the plunge in earnest.
From that point no more familiar faces.
All as strange as il we were in another
planet. Our journey all day Wednesday,
lay up successive water courses, steady
up grade TO the crest Of the Allegheny
range miles beyond White Sulphur
Springs. First, up the Kanawha, to the
falls Of that river, a lovely ride, right
along the bank; slack water navigation TO
point 10 or 20 miles above Charleston. The
Kanawha is beauty among rivers, and al
though we saw very little farming land.
the valley is we'll settled by coal miners.
The clusters of one story cottages, painted
the orthodox dull red, or once in a while
breaking into white, gave life to the wild
scenery, pbove Charleston. The falls are
only heavy rapids like the Ohio falls at
Louisville, but very pretty and foaming:
just above them the name changes. The
Guyan and New rivers form the Kanawha.
The New is really the continuation OF the
Kanawha. Along its banks the coal mines
abound, and at intervals coke ovens dark
en- the valley with the smoke they raise.
Your readers are aware that coke is the
same residium from coal that Charcoal is
from wood and made in substantially the
same way, ovens scientifically construct
ed taking the place OF the rough kilns we
we have all seen. Coke ia simply coal
With tho l;ohfing ur;nosrla owt.aotoI II
the heating principle left. 1t is invalua-
BILE for smelling purposes and the trade in
it isa prodigious one. II there is love
lier little river on the continent than the |
New, all that l say is that have never
seen it, and have been over goodly por-
iion Of it. 1t is simply a succession Of
rapids for GO or 20 miles, with here and
there broad stretches Of deep, quiet water,
suggesting the finest fishing, and a very
paradise for speckled trout, IL only once |
stocked with that daintiest OF the fnny
tribe. Sometimes the rapids are 30 straight
across the river that one can hardly realize
that an artificial dam has not been con-
structed. Then they are oblique, and
again triangular, and then for half-a-mile
broad stretch Of no particular shape, each
boulder making thing OF beauty in the
way Of snow-white breaker. Water
that lovely green reflected from the hill
sides, contrasting perfectly with the pure
white crests OF foam. The hills are wood
ed to the top, with only here and there
naked rock-crag visible. The Autumn
tints are not yet well laid on, but two
weeks later the beauty Of the mountain
slopes will be Undesirable. Now only
here and there deep red tree top or a
crimson creeper, where old Winter, letting
hy his arrows at long range seems to have
smitten the mountains breast and drawn
blood. On New river just before we leave
I for the Greenbrier, are lovely falls pref
.ier than the Kanawha. but like. them. not
more than ten or fifteen feet high.
Two tunnels Of prodigious length before
eaehing White sulphur-one Of them
nile and a quarter through. We were s {
minutes passing ii, at very reduced speed.
wish every railway in the land was COM
'eiled by law to 60 through tunnels atsuch
rate that no harm to life could possibly ,
Oule from collision.
We reached White Sulphur at $50 P. I
g. and soon were enjoying delightful rest, @
he purchase Of the days fatigue. Thurs- a
lay mornings train was just an hour late, S
o we had over two hours after breakfast to 3
% the Springs in. The place is simply '