The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-21
CRAB.TREE FALLS.
ncscriptiou or Virginia waterfall OF
Nearly 2.ooo Feet which Il Conn
narattycly Unknown.

.Caxtou,v a correspondent OF the Lex
iueton Gazette. gives the following descrlp-
fIon Of a picturesque waterfall on the Dor.
ders OF Rockbridge and In Amherst ana
Nelson counties which Is comparatively
unknown:
On the western side Of Tye river about
three miles below the source mountain
rises abruptly with broad granite iace 10
the morning sun. In ascending by the
roadway the stranger viii Involuntary
cast bis eye UP the steep. On the crest ne
will observe in contrast with the FOREST
trees and shrubbery bare, broad. sioping
rock di.hed TO The north. lie VIII not
suppose that quiet stream Is ma away up
there preparing for plunge down the ais.
lance OF near 1000 feet. The stream Just
here Is not visible-it Is under the
shrubbery at the lower end OF the
rock referred TO. Sounds OF falling
water break upon the ear, but they
do not come up from the river. but
sounds OF which are recognized as different
from those which seem to descend from
above. Intent will be the look, but there
Is nothing yet observed on the mountain
side which indicates the reality. Passing
on a little farther, and q rushing cataract in
full view, about midway up the side OF the
mountain, throws up its mist and Tails In
foam on the bench far below, yet this is not
the fourth OF il. Now, TO proceed as have
done. 90 TO the foot OF the falls and prepare
for tbe ascent. That accomplished, II will
be said that not before, II now, the half has
been told.
Commencing with the first slope where
the stream enters the river, the surface dis
lance Is 4S7 feet TO 80 perpendicular; the
next cascade As feet surface, 25 perpen-
dicular; then cataract 60 feet surface, 80
perpendicular; Calvin cataract 13j feet
surface on five benches, 103 perpendicular;
Rambling Cascade 235 feet surface. 103 per-
pendicular; Falls, rushing cat1-
ract almost perpendicular, with pot-holes
in the bench, 425 feet surface to 3S5 per-
pendicular. At the head OF this fall the
water passes under a bridge. The next is
cascade 400 feet surface to 60 per-
pendicular. Now come the grand
Canyon Falls, which pour down INTO
Diana's Bath with a plunge Of 200 feet.
Rocky Cataract Is next, 800 feet surface to
C2 feet perpendicular. Still upward the
eve catches the sight Of water as it pourS
through funncl-shaped rock in confined
volume, falling 40 feet almost perpendicu-
lar This fall has been christened Camp
bell Falls in honor OF Professor Campbell.
OF Washington and Lee University. Now
comes - Roaring Cascade, 342 feet in
lengf the fall $50 perpendicular. Fern
Caiara ( is'neXt, 100 feet surface to SO per-
pendcular. Grotto Falls, 80 feet, almost
perpendicular. Boulder Cataract, 40 feet
surface to 63 perpendicular. Then
comes the last and browning gran
deur. the Grant Waterfall, SO feet
almost perpendicular. Grottos and
other interesting formations along the
stream all the way up its course meet the
eve constantly. Moss and ferns and many
singular displays in the vegetable kingdom,
including the rhododendron, scatter their
richest designs along beside the rush.
ing, rearing waters. When the measure
ments are summoned up it will be OBJ
served that i'm a surface distance OF some
thing over 1900 feet the stream falls in per-
pendicular distance nearly 1000 feet. The
stream has worn the hard old rock V shaped
nearly the entire length Of the falls. At
several of the cascades the water spreads to
almost wafer thinness and silvered smooth
surface on the hard-iaced granite. Rain
bows often rest on the mountain side,
spanning the crystal stream. The suspen-
ded ice in the depths OF winter reminds
one Of reading terrible Arctic scenes. In
both summer and winter the reality is
often suddenly changed by the precipitous
floods which rainfals send roaring in awful
grandeur down and down the steep noun
tain side.
am not well informed in the history Of
ownership; never had access to the re-
cords, and there are but few without that
aid could trace it. The falls were included
in what Is known as the "Big Survey"
which conveyed grant TO Mr.. Cabell, the
first settler of that name in the colony.
His home, / think, was "UniOn HILL"
on James river. Skipping to fifty years
back from this time, it had through
negotiable transactions become the pro-
perry Of the branch OF the United
States Bank at Richmond. Attic termna-
ton OF the bank charter. 1881, it was sold
with other assets TO the late Captain John
Thompson, of Amherst, a leading lawyer
in his day, aud long member OF the Nir-
ginia Senate. Captain Thompson died
about twenty years since, with this and
other extensive boundaries Of land in the
Blue Ridge mountains among the accumu-
lations OF large estate. Mr. Henry Low
ing, Of Amherst, the representative Of the
estate, now disposes of it to the gentlemen
named.