Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-22
GOING TO THE SPRINGS.

~>-~~'-s
GOING TO THE SPRINGS.
Staging 1t Over the Tops of the ALLIE
gheny Mountains.
A PRIMITIVE JOURNEY THROUGH A WONDERLAND
AN HISTORIC ROAD AND GRAND PANORAMA
A HOTEL WHERE vIRaINIANs STOPPED A GEN.
TURY Aao-A RELIC OF THE WAN.
Correspondence Of TIE EVENING STAR.
WARM SULPHUR SPRINGS, VA, June 81.
We are in that rosy time of the year when all
the ills that flesh is heir to are marshaled
forth to accompany said ''Aesh" to the summer
resorts by the seashore, upon islands and in
mountain regions. Plenty Of people take the
annual summer holiday without q single all
ment to keep their countenance in so doing,
but the majority have a malady of their own or
q member of their household has weakness or
is in tender youth or advanced age, for which
change OF air and scene, sea or mineral baths
will be highly beneficial. The great northern
lakes, the northeastern sea coast and mountains,
Europe and Alaska do not get ali the sum-
mer tourists. Old Virginia, in the SOUTH has
natural attractions of mountain and valley that
crowd her hotels every year during the summer
and autumn months. A few hours ride by
rail from Washington in a southwesterly direc-
ton brings the traveller to the edge of the pic
turesque mountain region of Virginia. Enter
ing the hill country, the historical Shenandoah
valley is crossed, and then, plunging into the
higher peaks and after few hours more of
riding, the passenger for the Warm Springs is
set down at Milboro'. If it is in the evening
he stays over night at the hotel there and in
the morning takes the stage that connects this
happy valley of healing waters with the outer
world The stage also carries the United States
mall and the coachman handles the reins and
the mail-bags with equal care. The vehicle is
a modern three-seated light wagon, covered
with bowed frame of bent wood, over the top
of which is stretched black oilcloth, and cur
tains OF the same are rolled up at the sides and
back. The horses are pair Of handsome bays,
bred for their rugged staying qualities rather
than for 1.-THE beauty.
ON THE MoUNTAINs.
The distance between Millboro' and Warm
Springs is Is miles, and the stage travels it in
less than four hours. The road is probably the
finest piece Of mountain-road engineering in
the country. The road-bed is firm, smooth and
broad. and the ascent is pleasantly gradual. 1t
winds its circling route perched high I'D on the
mountain side. short distance from Mill
boro' and we come to the Miilboro' Spring
house, low, rambling, frame building, where
summer boarders are taken in and RECALLED from
mineral spring OF crystal clearness. Uncle
6oaiu iedtHeTu Dag Is mere OelvereQ AT the
door OF small cabin to pretty mountain girl,
who smiles at the driver from under the Stats of
bewilderingly becoming pink calico sunbonnet
in way that would have demoralized the edua-
nimity Of less stolid official After that the road
lay across hills, mountains and valleys, along
water courses, across brawlng streams, silvery
trucking rivulets, through raging fords swollen
by the rains, and by quaint old Presbyterian
church, with its pointed gable Of hundred
years ago, standing amidst its few NOISY
graves in one of the valleys. Ten miles from
the start is situated the famous Bath Alum
springs. The hotel and cottages are built of
red brick and have white painted wood trim
mings, and they form crescent about one side
Of park finely shaded with poplar trees The
place was without living representation, the
driver Juggling the mailbag into the house at a
side door and emerging unattended. Red
roses bloom profusely about the cottage DOORS
1t is told of this place that IL fell innocently
under the ban of public opinion a few years
ago, which accounts for its
PRESENT DESERTED ASPECT.
company of guests, so the story goes, stopped
for a night at the Bath Alum springs, and
among them were some very sick people.
They were on their way home from some other
resort, taking the journey in easy stages Soon
afterward the invalids died, and somehow the
fatality was charged most unjustly, all their
mountain neighbors testify to the sojourn at
the Bath Alum. And that is the reason the
pretty white porticos of the crescent are de-
serted. The mountain ascent is resumed and
always everywhere is seen the marvellous foil
age OF the forest, whether above on the sloping
peaks or deep below in the emerald valleys
The spicy pines throw out salubrious odors,
the towering grape vine adds ravishing per-
fume and all the lights blush with the sweet
rose color of the abundant laurel.
The four-mile ascent of the Warm Springs
mountain has now begun and when the ton
n0frh rpanhnd no 1rrN rotA -.
to rest the horses and refresh the passengers
with one of the finest views to be seen in this
or any other country. An Unreasonable ex-
tent OF waving green in countless valleys and
on cloud-plerclng peaks confronts the beholder,
THE VAST AMpHIrHEArER
of the rolling Alleghenies. The air is ineffably
inspiring, and it is averred by veracious per-
sons that on a clear day, with the aid of pow
erful glass, the ships may be seen sailing upon
the ocean 200 miles away! Glittering in the
sunshine at the foot Of the mountain
numerous outbuiIdings, all shining in
radiant Wilderness, and the grounds
are distinctly outlined by the whitewashed
palings that surround them. A descent OF IL
miles down the mountain road is made to reach
the retreat, and purling mountain stream is
crossed before the gates are entered. broad
drive, several hundred yards in length, leads
up to the Warm Sulphur springs hotel a build
Ing in the substantial style of architecture that
prevailed In the early colonial period of Vir-
ginia. 1t was hotel in the last century when
guests used to come over the heights ON horse
back to partake of its Inequalities, and when
the stage-ride was journey of many DAYS
length. Before the white man possessed the
land the Indians laved in the opaline waters of
the springs and gave the Great Spirit the thanks
for the physical benefits resulting.
The house stands at the head of n beautiful
and wonderful valley that is the great Ameri-
can Sloan, 20 miles in extent at an elevation
OF $500 feet above the level of the sea- and
whose limpid waters are for the healing of the
nations. Nearly opposite to this house rises
Flag Rock, LOCO feet above this vale. point of
the Warm Spring mountains. in which irregu-
lar elevation of land the Warm Springs have
their rise.
AN HISTORIC RELIC.
In the hotel Office hangs an interesting his
torical relic, copy Of the ordinance Of seces-
sion of the state Of Virginia in Richmond April
II, 1861. Col. John L. Eubank, late proprietor
Of the Warm Sulphur Springs hotel, signs the
instrument as secretary Of the convention. One
hundred and fifty others sign it, among whom
are Henry A Wise, Jno. Barbour, Eppa Hum
ton, Jubal A. Early, Jno. s. Bocock, Jno.
Baldwin, Alex. H. H. Stuart, Jno. NJ
Speed, John Tyler, Jno. r. Chamblis, Jno.
Goode, jr., and Williams C.. Wickham. Col.
Eubank, who was an ideaIhost of the old school,
died last year. He welcomed each guest to his
house personally and all felt for him the warmest
friendship. Among the well-known people who
have been patrons In past years are: Mr..
WV. Corcoran, ex-Secretary Bayard, the Post