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

Here again the eye is presented
with another evidence Of the all
powerful arm OF God THIS river
heads in several small springs, on
high ridge of land near Brooks
Gap. which divides the waters Of
the North fork of the Shenandoah
from the waters of the Lost
River. This water course meanders
through beautiful valley of fine
alluvial land, a distance of about
twenty-five miles. On It's west
side, some ten or twelve miles be
low its head springs, is a cavern at
the eastern base of "LOst river
mountain which has been eX-
plOred about one hundred yards
(some say more) from its mouth.
Over the inlet is a handsomely
turned arch twelve or fourteen feet
wide, and six or seven high. From
this cavern is charged stream of
beautiful water, remarkable for its
degree Of cOldness. 1t is called
"the cold spring cave" The mouth
of this cave eflectually preserves
fresh meats of every kind from in
Jury in the hottest seasons. This
cave exhibits but few curiOsities.
Some ten or twelve miles further
down, the river comes in contact
with Lost river mountain, (Which
is of considerable magnitude has
cut its way through the mountain,
and about two miles further down
has to encounter a second noun
tain called Timber Ridge, through
which it has forced its way, and
one and half or two miles further
has to contend with Sandy Ridge,
a mountain of considerable height
and width. Here the water and
mountain appear to have a mighty
struggle for the ascendency. In
flood times, Mrs. River, despislng
all obstru ctions, forces her way
through a yawnng, frOwning
chasm. But at times of low water,
when her ladyShip is less power
full, his giantShip, the mountain
defes all her power to remove a
huge mass OF adamantlne rocks,
which obstructs her passage in the
gap; but to remedy this evil, Mrs.
River has adroitly and cunningly
undermined the mountain, formed
for herself subterraneOus pass
age, and generously supplied her
sister Capon with all the water she
has to spare. 1t is impossible for
the inquiSitive eye to view this
mighty work of nature without
being struck with the idea OF the
great obstruction and mighty dilli.
Guilty tins water had to contend
with in forcing a passage through
this huge mountain. The author
viewed this place with intense in
terest and curiosity. At the west
ern base Of the mountain, the
water has found various apcrtures,
one of when is under the point OF
a rock, of seven or eight feet wide,
which appears TO be the largest
inlet. For the distance of about a
quarter of mile from the sink,
not a drop OF water is to be seen III
times of drought. There are several
large springs which issue from the
mountain in the gap, forming Il
small stream, which always runs
through it. The water Of the river
has a subterraneOus passage OF
full three miles, and is discharged
in several very large springs at the
eastern base Of the mountain.
These several springs form the
great fountain head of Capon river.
An old man and his son, (their
names not recollected,) whose
dwelling is very near the sink, re-
lated very singular occurrence
which they represented as having
happened few days before the
authors visit to this place. They
stated that several dogs were in
pursuit Of deer on the mountain
that the deer ran to the brink OF
a rock, at least one hundred feet
high, which is very near the SINK,
and the poor animal being pretty
closely pursued, leaped from the
rock, and falling on a very rough,
stony surface, was terribly crushed
and bruised by the fall, and in-
stantly expired. They immedl-
ately ran to it and opened the
large veins in the neck, but little
blood was discharged. They took
off the skin and cut up the flesh (;
but most parts Of it were so much
bruised and mangled as to be unfit
for use.
Capon river exhibits several
great natural curiOsities. Near its
head waters is \ rock called "the
Alum rock" from which exudes
native alum. and forms a beautiful
ihcrustatiOn on It's face, which the
neighborlng people collect in small
quantities, but often sufficient for
their domestic purposes OF staining
their cloths.
About two miles above the forks
of this river is situated "Caudy's
CASTLE" a most stupendous work Of
nature. 1t IS SAID by tradition
that in the time of the wars be-
tween the white and red people, a
man by the name of James Candy,
more than once took shelter on the
rock from the pursuit of the In