Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-20
THE INDIAN LADDER.
A Fomous Part of the Ilelderbergs-An Old
Indian Traii-A Magnificent Scenc-Thc
Old Tory House.

| Famous Part of The IleIderbergs--An Old
Indian Traii-A Magnificent Scenc-Thc
| Old Tory House.
On the northeastern boundary Of the pic
turesquc and really wonderful Heidelberg
| mountains, removed from any popular
| highway, is series Of irregular, solid blue
limestone cliffs APPLY termed the Indian
ladder, writes correspondent OF the Al
bany Journal. The origin OF the name is
not difficult, but very interesting, to trace.
Before the beautiful valley below had been
transformed into green meadows and bios
| soming gardens, or before the settlers axe
| had demolished the primeval forests OF the
mountains above, the savages here chased
the bounding deer, and ia times OF war be-
tween the different tribes and nations
sought refuge in the mysterious grottos,
whose openings are In the cliffs and whose
| ends are unknown. There, also Ia later
times, or after whites had thinly settled
the fertile valley, the merciless savage fled
after committing his pundering dcnreda-
| lions and cruel murders. Pursued by his
mortal and immortal enemy. the white
| mm, he found safe retreat by climbing
| the almost perpendicular cliffs as only saw
ages can. and by mockingly wandering
away in the forests above. Enraged, mad
dened at sight OF bis burning cottage, and,
what Is horrible 10 relate, ofttimes at the
dead bodies of his helpless wife and inno-
cent children, the brave settler starts in
pursuit OF the fendish murderer. set upon
revenge or determined to perish himself.
Judge. then, OF his chagrin, when, having
reached the base OF the cliffs, the merciless
savage from the summit utters a mocking
yell of triumph and disappears in the woods
TO Join his tribe and exhibit the bloody
scalps Of the settlers dear ones. The cliffs
10 The white man are unscalable, and he re-
turns 10 the valley the victim Of broken
spirit. The walls we're scalable to the agile
red man, hence their peculiarly fitting aud
historic name, the Indian ladder.
Through the less precipitous part, with
great labor and at no little expense. public
highway has been constructed. Fortu-
nately il is thoroughfare little travelled,
because il is so narrow that teams pass each
other with great difficulty. At the right,
as we ascend this road, perpendicular cliffs
alternate with great O'erhanging rocks, and
seem ready TO fall upon US and crush us to
earth. Some Of these gigantic rocks have
fallen since the road has been constructed.
and TINS al travel has been stopped until
the mountains Of stone could be blown TO
decllyity stretches for q great distance TO
the valley below. Great masses of earth
and stone from the above crags and columns
have broken loose from their resting-place
aud rnvagingly swept down the hillside.
uprooiing trees and ploughing great fur
rows in the stony soil. Now and then a
farmers wagon, laden with the produce
from his not oyer-rich Heidelberg farm, is
seen slowly descending the mountain. This
road is the principal route over which the
farmers from parts Of Knox, Berne, and
New Scotland find their way TO the Albany
and Troy markets, Tourists, and they are
not few, leave their conyeyances either at
the base or at the summit OF the mountain,
depending, OF course, upon the direction
from which they approach the ladder, and
ramble about on foot.
Near the top OF the above described road,
branching off at right angles with ii, a
fOOtpath. little troddon, but unmistskably
u footpalh, is seen running horizontally
along the rough and ragged cliffs. We fol.
low it, believing that where man has trod-
den man may tread. Forgetiul Of all dam
ger incurred, filed with ineXpressibe
emotions at the scene below, with wonder
and amazement at sight OF the awful
gigantic rocks above, we pass breathlessly
on. The path gradually narrows, until it
is with difficulty we lind safe footing
upon which TO tread. A single mlsstep
would plunge us into the yawning ABYSS
below, while single CONFUSION OF nature
would pile rocks and mountains Of rocks
on us from above. Now we are Obliged
TO stoop, and now 10 crawl upon hands
and feet to pass some iutting crag,
which seems ready 10 fall upon us with
instant judgment for our rash adventure.
We have travelled, perhaps, quarter
Of mile, when the path disappears. mar
rows TO few inches, and nothing is left
10 retrace our steps. We find our way
back nearly the same as we found it here.
disappointed, 10 be cure, but feeling well
repaid for the task. Taking the much
travelled path nj the base OF the cliffs, we
renew our Journey to pass the ladder. We
pause now and then TO gaze, admire, aud
wonder, or, perchance, TO pick up rare and
beautiful fossils and petrifactiOns OF both
vegetable and animal kingdoms, or 10 clip
from the mountain-side iron pyrites or
miniature quartz CRYSTALS. very much IN.
tigued with our journey, when, presto
mysteriously bursting from the rocks at
our feet, we. discover q living spring Of
pure cold water. In q moment our drink
ing-cups are filled to the brim. and seating
ourselves upon the fragments OF detached
rocks. which seem Turkish 6vans to
our weary frame, we quaff unstintingly
Tie Kind nepenthe prepared by the Great
Physician. Refreshed in body and grateful
In spirit, we renew our ramble. Hundreds
and thousands OF tourists have travelled
tins path before us, and have left their
names painted or ehiselled upon the rocks
above. Were we given TO moralizing, which
we certainly are not, we should ask, Arc
these names all engraved upon the tablet
Of true and lasting famey Now passing,
almost trenblingly, huge columns Of rock |
and stone with wide gaping seams be- |
tween them aud their support, over |
hilloeks o'ergrown with tangled vines |
and shrubs, over deep gullics and mas.
si,e bouldeIs lately fallen, under others |
apparently ready 10 fall, under SPRAYS
OF cool water falling from the sum-
nit OF the cliffs, we finally reached the
place where a tree formerly served As the
final round upon which the Indian mount
cd 30 reach the summit. The tree is now
gone. and in Its place stands q ladder.
which, though not so rustic in appearance.
Is certainly more easily mounted. We
limb II, and as we near the top mud the
asst three rounds missing. What Is to be
ioney Shall We give up now, No. We
taLd upon the very last round, aud lust
ueceed in reaching the roo; OF sspling,
" which we draw ourselves up, and we
tand indeed upon tbe very highest round
{ The famous Indian ladder.
What q commanding position! Over o