Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-08-02
CRAB TREE FALLS.
A Cataract in Virginia Nearly Two
Thousand Feet High.
One Of the Many Wonders Of Nature in the
Old 0ominion-A Grand Sight for
Travellers Heretofore In
known to the
WoH1.

ESCNIUS, Va, July DIV isltlng tOr
the second time the Valley ofthe Shen-
andoah | stopped at the Caverns Of
Luray, and thence travelled Southwark
10 the Natural Bridge. At the latter
place read an extended account Of the
Rittenhouse Falls, on the Crab Tree, by
Col J.. c. Shields IKE old editor of the
Richmond Wing, when its reputation
was national. | determined to visit
them, but with many misgiyinSs.
They were represented as being the
highest, most beautiful and grand of sill
the Cataracts of the known world. Get
ting Off the ears at Nesuvius, a little
village, built up since the completion OF
the Shenandoah Valley Railroad II
year ago, | assembled the mountains on
h~orseback-up a terrible grade, even
for a mountain road, for four miles.
the height at the summit-Wilkie's
Peak did not learn, but it must be
all OF 800 feet, as Vesuvius is l42O feet
above sea level. The ride was a very
peasant one. Beautiful views are to be
had at every stage Of the ascent, and
particularly along the turnpike near
The source of Campbelrs Run. Down
tie mountain rushes a little brOOklet,
employing into South River below
Nesuvius, and q series of rocky plunges
are before you, one of which is nearly
'or quite sixty feet. On and upward
the turnpike winds gracefully around
Wilkes Head-the valley st your feet
and scores of peaks to your left, while
Monticello lifts up her proud crest At
the distance. From this point you de-
scend to the falls, a distance of seven
miles, through a Ihickly wooded u
try, while lovely peaks, dome-shaped,
are constantly in view. Ivies, rhOdO-
dendrens and magpOlias are every
where, and ferns in countless numbers
and varieties. You pass to the left of
the divide between PinSy and Eye
Rivers, Gne the descent is gradual for u
mountainous country.
Climbing M Mountain.
| made inquiry and found that the
pruprietOrS We're both absent. HDY-
ever, | concluded to make the ascent
alone. Before you reach the falls, at
two or three points on the road eau be
seen views OF the f~allS-here and there
q mass of foam, apparently rushing out
Of the mountains side, or falling OFT
some rocky height above. When Col.
RittenhOuse came to the falls, in early
Spring, they were unknown, save
locally, and few had ever made the
ascent. y half-dOZen rugged noun
taineers living in the vicinity told
me that not a tenth Of the male pOpula-
ton within three miles of the falls had
ever been to the top. One can with dill
Guilty make up his mind which is the
prettier, the falls OF their surroundings,
the rOckey chasms, cliffs and bOulders,
covered with ferns, OF the waterfall as
il comes-apparently from the clouds
through the chasms, cliffs, ferns aud
mOoses, or the vale below, Some two
hundred yards from the pipe in adense
forest the fails cease and the water runs
rapidly to I've River at the mountains
base. At first the falls are vary and
abrupt in their course, winding down
the mountain side, a tOrtuouS IN It's
pathway as a serpent's trail-now high
er and straighter, and still more grand,
until you reach the Shields Cataract.
Here all must pause. The pOetical de-
scription of LOdOre came TO mind-yet
this is much the larger stream-this
giving you the impression ola little
river looked from a mountain top
amid crags and peaks, and like a mad
dening torrent that it is-it rushes and
mingles with with a larger stream be-
low. Having Colonel Shields descrip-
ton + was able to follow the heights
nearly as we'll as though | had had a
guide.
When first you compare the meas
ured heights with the fall you are view
ing your impressions are that they are
not as high IS stated. This is owing to
the
Great Height OF m Mountain.