Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-06-04

one thousand or twelve hundred
Yards. From it's western side il
may be lscended by man on foot
10 within about ninety or one hun
dred feet of its summit. From
thence the rock suddenly shoots
up something in the form Of
comb. which is about ninety or one
hundred feet IN length, eight or
ten feet in thickness, and runs
about north and south. On the
eastern face of the rock, from
where the comb is approached, a
very narrow undulating path is
formed, by pursuing which, active
persons can ascend to it's summit.
The author called on Mr.. John
Largent, from whom he received
much kindness and attentiOn,) and
requested Mr.. i. to be his pilot,
which request was readily acceded
to. Mr.. LIS residence IS less than
half mile from the spot. In his
company the author undertook to
ascend this awful precipice. Along
the path a few laurel shrubs have
grown out of the fissures of the
rock. With the aid Of the shrub
berry, the author succeeded in fol-
lowing Mr.. Largent until they
reached within twenty or twenty
five feet of the summit, where they
found flat table, four or five feet
square, on which pine tree OF five
or six inches diameter has grown
some ten or twelve feet high. This
afforded q convenient resting place.
BY supporting myself with one
arm around the body of the tree,
and cane in the other hand, |
ventured several times TO look
down the preclpice, butt produced
a disagreeable giddiness and pain
ful sensation Of the eyes. From
this elevated situation an extensive
view of what is called the white
mountain presents itself for con-
siderable distance, on the east side
of Capon river. The beautiful
whiteness of this mountain is pro-
duced by considerable jntermix-
ture of fine white sand with the
rocks, which almost exclusively
form the west side of Capon noun
tain for several miles.
Nine or ten miles below this
place, in a deep rugged glen three
or four miles east Of Capon, on the
west side of the mountain, the
"Tea table, IS to be seen, than
which nature in her most spOrhve
mood has seldom performed a more
beautiful work. This table presents
the form of a mans hat, with the
crown turned dOwnwards. The
stem (if it may be so termed) IS
about four feet in diameter and
about four feet high. An oval
brim, some seven or eight feet IN
diameter, and seven or eight inches
thick, is formed around the top of
the stem, through which circular
tube arises, twelve or fourteen
inches in diameter. Through this
tube a beautiful stream Of trans
parent water arises, and regularly
flows over the whole surface OF
this large brim, presenting to the
eve one OF the most beautiful
fountains in natures works.
This most extraordinary and
wonderful work of Gods creation
certainly deserves the highest rank
/ in the history of the natural Curl
osities of our country. The noun
tain is washed at its western base
by the North river, branch Of
the Capon. 1t is not more than
one quarter of mile north of the
residence of Christopher Heiskell,
ESQ, at North river mills, in the
county OF Hampshire, twenty'si1
miles northwest of Winchester.
The west side of this mountain, for
about one mile, is covered with
loose stone of various size, many Of
which are of diamond shape. 1t
is prof ably six or seven hundred
feet high, very steep, and presents
to the eye a most grand and sub
lime spectacle.
At the base of the mountain, on
the western side, for distance of
about one hundred yards, and as
cendlng some twenty-five or thirty
feet, on removing the loose stone,
which is easily done with small
prise, the most perfectly pure and
crystal looking ice, at all seasons OF
the year, is to be found, in blocks
of from one or two pounds to fifteen
or twenty in weight. al At the base
of this bed of ice a beautiful spring
of pure water is discharged, which
is by many degrees colder than any
natural spring water the author has
ever seen. 1t is believed that It's
natural temperature is not many
degrees above the freezing point.
Very near this spring the owner of
the property has removed the stone,
and erected a small log dairy, for
the preservation OF his milk, butter,
and fresh meats. When the author
saw this little building, which was
late in the month ofApril, the open
ings between the logs, ION the side
next the cavity from which the
stone had been taken out, for elgh'
teen inches or two feet from the
floor was completely filed with ice,
Al.