The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-06
cession Of little cascades that leap and
purl among the rocks.


into number Of little jsts so that the fall
forms very delightful cold water shower
bath. Many persons who have used this
bath speak Of it in tho highest terms, as
invigorating and producing health,
strength and vitality. But It is when the
upper extremity OF the glen is reached that
the beholdsr is filed with Arrangement and
delight, Here the extremity oil the glen
Ia enclosed in q ssmi'GlrCe by the noun
tsins on each side approaching each
ether, until, at the point where they meet
1t seems that huge boulders have rushed
together from all 'sides and from
above and are wedged 10 by ono another
in such a manner that to remove one
must bring down the whole mountain
side. at the very top otthis pills OF hOul'
ders the water leaps over the rocks dis
lance OF seven or eight feet and then rushes
down gradually slipping and broken preC.
ipice distance OF perhaps forty feet. 1t
ia evident that even recently the course OF
the stream at this place has been changed
frequently, Here and there may be seen
the pOt.holes, which are curious round
Cauldron.shaped cavities with smooth
sides, aud are formed, as may be observed
when the water Is in flood by the grinding
action OF loose stones, which, caught iu
eddies OF the water are kept in rapid rota-
ton, so as gradually to exCavate the holes.
OF Coursi the stones are themselves re-
duGed to sand or fine gravel in the process,
but other stones are swept in to supply
their place, Many Of these pnt-holea may
be seen where the course OF the atream
once was. The greater number OF those
not now in the course Of the stream have
become almost filed up with sand and
psbbles. The deepest one is at the ton OF
the ledge OF bouIders, where the water
pnurs over, and Ia seven feet deep with q
diameter OF about eighteen inches,
There arc many points along the top OF
the river canon from which magnificent
views may be had scenery SO beautiful
and so sublime as to awaken the artistic
sense OF the beholder who appreciates tho
scenery OF nature. The finest view on the |
river Ia that known as Hanging Off, |
sometimes erronenusly called Buz29rd |
Rock or Raven Rock, It Is on the east
side Of the river about five miles above |
the mouth Of Quarry run, and almost op.
posite the mouth OF Lick run, n small |
stream that puts into the river from the
west side.
HANGING CLIFF.
Hanging Cliff View Is large cliff OF
rocks which stands out from tho extram.
ity Of an elongated spur OF the mountains |
which runs out from the main limo OF |
river hills, causing the shape OF tho noun
tain at this point TO conform, in the main, |
to the sharp curve Of the river far below
at Its base.
Never was thisview approached, but the |
beholder Ia impressed with the vast, |
grand and magnificent scene which fell
upon his vision as he stepped from the
dense growth OF wood which COVERS the
spur OF the mountain leading out to the
rock Into tho open space inside by the bar
rem aud rugged cliff as 1t reNrs its RuriaCe
above all around, except here and there
a little patch ofshrubbsry and huCkleber-
ny bushes that have found soil enough to
support existence.
Great fragments OF the cliff have baen
split of from the main portion, by the
disintegraling forces Of nature, more
smoothly andevonly than could have bsen
done, even on smaller scale, by the
wedge end sledgs Of the mason, and still
stand on their edge with assure, some.
times three or four feet at tho top, separa.
ting them from tho main stratum. Thtss
immense d9tached blocks OF cliff look as
II slight push would diaoIGe thOm aud
send them crashing down the mountain
side into the bed OF the stream llBO fsOt
below. Indeed, one or two fragments
seem, upon close observation, to h6in i'm.
mediate danger Of becoming detached;
but fortunately, they are go situated that
tourists are not likely to venture out on
them. Tho other detached portions are
easily accessible by stepping across q mar
row chasm. OF course only the holder
outs oil party venture ont into these
fragments, and the more timid ones draw
back with fear, when they look down into
the deep Chasms between the rocks, Few
care to 20 so near as to look fairly over the
over the outer edges Of the precipics.
From this point OF view, ficIng the
gulch Of Lick run, the upper end of that
broad and deep sheet Of water, contain.
ing from eight 10 ten acres OF surface,
known as Beaver Hole, may be seen on
the LEFT, Just short distance below the |
point on the river where the lima between |
the counties Of Monongalia and Preston
crosses II,
TIE CANON.
At Beaver Hole the river curves from
the north 10 the westward, and continues
In this main direction until the base OF
the mountain, directly beneath Hanging
Cliff Is reached, when 1t again turns in q
northerly direction, and continues In
this general course until 1t breaks through
the canon. For miles and miles the
stream, which, from our elevated point OF
/ Nyiau NJ ma ha no
winding its way through the canon, while
not sound Of Its rush and ripple may be
heard at the top Of the cliff. Far down
the canon to the north two or three little
islands may be seen in the stream, the
most beautiful Of which Is Grassy Island.
1t appears In the distance TO be a small
knoll, with q clump Of trees growing on
the summit, while the borders OF the
island seem covered with q denspr and
tmsllcr growth Of shrubbery.
From our point Of view the eye takes In
the horizon from the southeast to tho
north, with radius varying from % to 80
miles. Toward the southeast the course
Of the river may be seen, where II has cut
its way through the deep gorges OF Laurel
Hill and Briery mountain, as far up as the
vicinity Of RowleBburg, about 80 miles
distanti and where, on a clear day, II is
said, the white pufi5 Of ateam and smoke
from the engines on the Baltimore 4 Ohio
railroad may be distipcty seen, as the
trains pursue their way. along the steep
grades Of the Allegheniea near Terra Alta,
beyond which the gently arChing ridgea Of
the surrounding mountains loom up and
are outlined against tue sky in the blue
distance,
DRocE's VIEW.
Toward the west and north, in addition
to the long sweeping view through the
vista Of the canon, the eye has visw for
many miles Of tao hills diminishing In
heightRud ruggsdneVs until the fair fields
Of some Of the we'll kept and fertile farms
on the west side Of tho Monongahea ap.
pear In the distance, in humble contrast
with the mountainous scenery Of the
southeast.