Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-10-22
An Autumn Excursion-The Crab Tree
Falls.
For the SPEcTATop

, AS pam: olick says, we have had
'DloWul Time, for much of it was don
on the trip, and it is whispered not it'll
since our return. '-'',
Ihere were nine of us gathered at th
rendezvous, near Timber RIDGE. inst he
fore the brilliant sunrise of an antumr
morning. Don Quixote. ::on prancino steed
with watch-charm for shield and ciyarettt
for spur, charged gallantly on before cage
to fight windmill. The remaining eiSh
took seats in large hack drawn bv fou
spirited horses, that wee feeling so prou6
in their flags and trappings it was witt
difficulty they were kept in harness. Peo
pie thought we must be going to camp
meeting, but we were bound for Crab. tree
Falls, OF which we had heard and read 81
much. ~
Five miles and we ratified through the
peaceful streets of Fairfield. Five more
and we turned into the road to Vesuyius
we felt no fear, for was not Don O. In
front, ready to check any irruption what.
ever? Driving from necessity slowly around
one side, we soon began ascending a spnl
OF the Blue Ridge that stood between us
and our destination, We can confidently
recommend this road for torpidity of any
kind; it certainly was stimulating it.
Halt way up finding little mountain
spring, we halted for rest and lunch. Two
hours later, much refreshed, we iourneyed
on. Seeing man standing near house,
we asked who lived there and received the
answer, 81 do''-satisfying.
| Soon we crossed the level top and de-
sceEded the other side, only to resume the
Climb again up the wilder, sleeper side of
Little DePriest. Many were the glimpses
| c,,I I I
from its sides, too lovely for anything be-
ing in order. Nature on a mountain side
is never very orderly; there were trees,
springs, rocks, flowers, ferns, and moss,
mingled in widest though most beautiful
confusion.
| 1t was in the dusk of the evening when
we secured shelter near the falls under and
| near the roof of hospitable mountaineer
Nine of us, grouped for supper around a
board four feet long, looked in the eyes of
our poet quite aesthetic, but it needed not
that to give us appetites. We found the
similarity between the higher and lower
| order of animals developed here to a re-
markable degree, for it kept D. @. busy
keeping the dogs and cats from enjoying
| our supper with us. Next morning, to our
dismay, we found it had been raining during
the night, making the air cooler but the
underwood through which we must pass
was loaded with the raindrops; still down
we went through maze of laurel and ivy
to the head of the falls. The volume of
water is not large. tits the wild surround
| ings and their number-five-and great
height, that have gained for them so much
celebrity. Creeping to the edge of the
| first one, we looked over, holding our
breath from keen enjoyment of the beauty
of the scene below and a realization of the
danger of our position. The guides in
ducing us to return, we climbed down the
side to look up. The wide, thin sheet of
water falling over the high rock, the spray
rising around us, and the sun breaking
through over all, made up scene of ex-
quisite beauty. The rocks by the side
were lovely with their coverings of moss
and ferns, but climbing over them was not
easy, SO we rested in "Deserter's Cave"
1t looked as if nature had provided well
for those who from conscientious motives
felt disinelined to bear arms, for even a
fire escape was not forgotten.
| Shields's fall came next, and is even
prettier than the first, for projecting rocks
divide it and give the soft, white foamy look
which some one compares to lawn, folded,
| futed, fringed.
! A short distance below, the water runs
| through the Tunnel" which is not more
| than twelve inches wide. Near, we noticed
many deep circular cavities in the solid
rock. There are many theories; but what
really caused them?. "Dana's Pool'' is
below, and is surely cool and secluded
enough 10 be enjoyable. There are three
other falls, but of less height, and perhaps
less beauty, than the first, still we visit
them all. Starting back, we found that it
was more difficult to fall up ladder with
half the rundles out, than it was falling
down. The very rocks seemed slicker, for
several sat down very suddenly without
ever thinking of the rules for doing it
gracefully; perhaps they were tired, and a
fear of taking cold induced them to rise as
quickly as possible. One young gentle
man actually quoted poetry; perhaps he
thought it was spring, for indeed spring
flowers were blooming all around on the
cliffs.
A long look at the water, curling, froth-
ing, foaming over there, and we bade fare
well, thinking perhaps it might be for
years, Or perchance forever.
After dinner, and much needed rest, we
mounted to ascend Big DePriest for the
views. Some of the ladies were unaccus-
toned to riding, especially up mountain
so steep as this one, and the scene at times
was ludicrous in the extreme. The con-
versation consisted chiefly of the words,
'Hold tight" t"-useful, if not particularly
brilliant. One young lady must have
obeyed, for when her escort, all innocent
of the evil to come, took out his watch
after reaching the summit, we saw the
crystal was broken. How we laughed!
But soon the guides tell us to dismount,
| fol be ha
first view, in all its.grand beauty, burst up
on us. Not one said it was sstoo lovely;''
we had left that in the valley below, and
all felt subdued, standing there and looking
down in the valleys dotted with towns ard
villages. all banded with light and shadow:
"You should have seen that long hill-range,
With gaps OF brightness riven-
How through each pass snd hollow streamed
The purping lights of heaven
Rive's of gold mist flowing down
From far celestial fountains
The great sun flaming through the riffs
Beyond the wall of mountains"
The view from Prospect Place was wider
still. The whole of Piedmont Valley, six
l'counties, could be seen. 1t seemed in high
state of cultivation, and is watered BY
Pine and Tye rivers. We were so over
come, that we thought it necessary to eat
peaches and cake; and, confdentially, some
seemed to enjoy that almost as much as the
scenery.
Near the top of the mountain, we saw a
large fiat rock, and resting on it, though
seemingly separate, were two others, near
ly pyramidal in form, and the larger about
twenty fert high. The sun was setting so
reluctantly, we prepared for the descent,
finding it easier than the ascent, so we
soon reached our stopping place. The sur
roundings made us feel ghostly, so we in
dulged in mesmerism, but much to the dis
appointment Of one of the party, failed to
make the table talk.
Early next morning we started home
ward, Don Quixote, as before, leading the
way, but he must have been taken by a
giant-killer, as we haven't heard of him
since.
Returning, we felt like victors, only we
were certainly victims when our festive
driver galloped over wash-out, striking
our heads severely. None of US were look
ing like lilies of the valley when we dashed
up to the starting place, but we had most
enjoyable trip, and pleasant memories of it
will long linger with many of us. ONE.