The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-09
LONG TINE AGO.
INTERESTING CONTRIBUTION FROM
THE TINES ANTlQUARf.
GOVERNOR SPOTSWOoD AND HIS
KNIGHTLY TRAIN.
rrtx rur BlurnIDeE MOUNTAINS.
Inc >ource OF Eecknsh Hivcr-icnerson
and the uu,vcsssts OF virginia The
Great Wen of tong tgo-fhc
charlottesville Iitits.

Anticipated windows We are nov
looking is quite noicd one
aud sits at what was once th
most important pass or gateway be
tween the eastern and western divi
sions Of the State. II Is built of stone
held together by cement, and IFS wall
would have been considered thicb
enough for those of font IA The oltcI
time. More than hundred and twent,
years have past since its foundation
were laid. Its builder fist settled on q
hffa short distance IA the rear OF tins
venerable mansion. but found ne was
not only two far from water. but tha'
the winds and storms 81 Inc Top Oh q
mountain were Incompatible with Sc
urityand comfort. We are told IT was
his practice 10 stand at his front doOi
in the carly morning and shoot ih'
deer that came TO drink from the hn'
spring which now supplies the thirsty
with ITS delicious water.
AT thar time Indians were IN almost
full possession Of the Valley OF Nlr
ginia. and only about forty years had
passed since Governor Sp0tswoOd ana
ms kuightiy train had crossed the Blue
Ridge nj Swift Run Gap. Wild ana
mails must have been plentiful here
abOuis at that time. The panther the
wolf. the bear and the wild cal thei
lmksd among the rocks and dens OF tn'
noighboriug mountains. The el6. inc
buffalo and the deer rOamed over The
hills prey TO the former and TO the "a
tai arrow Of the hunting savage Niid
turkeys. uhcasanis and every variety oil
smaller game must have been Us com
mon as The feathered sOng,ters that
now. 90 this very time. are hlhng tht
air with their vernai songs. Cntil
lately we had thought tho knocking
bird. the varieties Of OriOic. and many
other waThlers never visited this hgn
and chilly region. But we und ihal
they not only do this, but cross the
mountain 10 raise their brOOds Of young
m the valley below. We were much
surprised also 20 hear the uurlvalled
notes Of the wood-iobin Gs they came
from out the depths Of the neighbor-
ing forests.
Later in the summer. from some
cause. most Of these birds disappear. To
be succeeded by the varieties Of fly
catchers. small buutins and the ram
crow. or American coocOO. whose mel
ancholly note is often recognized ln
the solitude of the mountain. he
raven and Che brown eagle is ifequen.
is seen. and in their season snipes ANA
the wOod-cOck TINS OH sione-house
is lust within the limits of Augusta
county. 4 few hundred yards east
ward from b. an imaginary Tine deiues
the watershed on the crest of the
mountain. This line separates the two
coanlics of Nelson and Augusta. About
one and half miles further down the
eastern slole of the Blue Ridge another
line divides Nelson from Alhemarle
county. These two narrow slips of coun-
ties cifubthe mountains together almost
side by side. to meet Augusta at spot
which was once pointed out 10 tlaF
cicfs as The point where the three
friends came together. At that time
our old house began lbs career as an inn,
where people were both lodged and fed.
1t was not mere tavern where food
only was supplied to passcrs-by. From
that day 60 this % has maintained an
euyiable reputation among the historic
inBs ihai once were 30 be found all
along this greet highway over Rockish
Gap. Since that time 1t has been fire.
Qucutiy enlarged and its capacities
for entertainment much IN
creased. Situated as IL Is, one
Is strongly reminded OF an Alpine Hos
picr, upon reaching the summit OF the
mountain and getting the FIST view Of
the eastern front. Safely ensconced
under surrounding hills. even so near
the top 0f The Blue Ridge. II presents
10 the traVeicrancXpression ~ security
and repo.e. Perhaps more travel and
traffic nave passed over this gap Than
any other iu the STATE. Up Go the time
of the construction of the Virginia
Central railway and the Blue Ridge
railway and tunnel ID was the great
thOrOughiaIc from tie East To the
West Ihcload from the lower country
t. The Ohio river sought tins crossing
10 tho valley. IL Ted 10 the region
where abouuded those fountains of
health SO long known 90 savage and CIV
ili2ed man. Here climbed the old fash
iOued stage coach. its slow ard
tedious way. cmptied Of ITS
passengers. whose delight 70 was
To walk up tine winding road,
taking i'm wholesome draughts of fresh
air, and catching 40 every turn new
views Of the somiug SUBMITS Of sur
rounding heights. One 10y one they
came fiei-htcd with passengers and
luggage until the numerous roadside
inn, were crowded 10 Overlooking. 1p
addition 20 these there were the private
conveyance of visitors TO the springs,
with their baggage wagons and out
riders. Then came those great land
SHIPS winch Transported the traffic
east and west over this gay. fncsc
were huge wagons covered with white
canvass. whose bright tops might
be seen al distance slowly creeping
up the mountain side. They were
drawn by ,ix large horses. bedccked
with bear-skn trimmed with red. and
decorated with bells whose linking die
cord gale signal Of their approach
along The steep and devious ways.
These features gave something oi 10.
nance to the otherwise rugged aud
practical details of mountain uaihc.
Although Swift Run Cap had been
discovered by Governor SpOt-w wood
long before tins was known, vet, as we
have said. this soon became the chief
crossing place on tine way TO The West.
IL was here doubtless that DR.. Walker
and b party of early explorers crossed
on their way go what d. now Tennessee.
by this route must have gone the Lew
ises and Christians and others on their
way 90 dive back the indians from the
valley Of the Uppor'Jame- and the Ka-
nawha. Here passed. no doubt, Merfi-
wcther Lewis with his band of eX
plorers, fresh from the presence Of him
under whose Inspiration that wonder
ful expedition 10 the head waters Of
the Columbia river was created aud
inally achieved. From these heights
they may he supposed to have taken
their parting look 40 the beautiful val
ley that lay behind them. IN hich they
bad been born, and which many OF
tnem were never look upon again.
Ga each side of long sioptug hill
near this place. come tuckhng down
from the rocky lace Of "a great noun
tain two small streams. soon uniting
10 form "a larger Olc. known as the
source Of kOCknSh uVcr. The river