Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-04-10

80 feet almost perpendicular. Builder q at
aract 40 perpendicular to 140 feet surface
comes next. But what means this foam
and misty spray which spreads out over our
heads and but little water visible below as
we stand near the channel ? We look up
and begin to solve the mystery. It is the
summit and the grandest of all, the Giant
of $40 feet almost perpendicular. All the
sections of the falls have been named, but
the writer cannot recall some Of the desig-
nations. The total surface height is three
thousand and the perpendicular one thou.
sand eight hundred and eighty feet.
Wearied and faint we rest on the sum.
NIT near nightfall where in the morning we
had taken leave of the quiet little stream.
1t is time to note observation and con EN-
plate the wonderful things our eyes here
witnessed.
Grottoes and other interesting formations
on the mountain side near the course of the
stream are observed. Moss and ferns and
the rhododendron scatter their richest beau
ties along the path hard to tread as if they
could rest the jaded form or relieve the
tired eye. Born in wild natures grandest
associations they are there to bless the
pilgrim at her shrine, and perhaps many
thousands more who will yet look upon
and caress them as they shall ascend or
trip merrlly down the hundred easy stages
of artificial steps and be seated on the rest
log places along that steep mountain side.
In many places the water has worn the
hard old rock V-shaped. At othets il
spreads out to er-thinness and silvers
smooth surface upon the face of the
granite it seems to adorn.
Changing from others to raipy or ntsr
season, the contrast is marked and woI dc .
full to view. During very heavy rain falls,
the sheds above collect great volumes OF
water. Roaring and dashing the wild floods
descend with mighty force regardless and
in contempt of the limitations allotted to
the journey when only the springs feed the
channel. RaDbows often rest On the noun
sain-s;des, harbinger of repose to the
elements. The water quickly subsidies, the
sun puts forth its rays and the passer-by
can repeat most feelipgly the words:-
morn amid the mountains lonely solitude.
Gushing reams and fountains murmur God
is good"
The change to cold icy winter view is
as great from the deluge as that was frem
the ordinary one when the elements were
at rest. Ice then forms along the whole
side of the mountain as far out as the wa
ter spreads, and collecting snow drifts,
when viewed from the front, present the ap
pearaDce of an ice. berg driven against an
Arctic mountain.
But we have bad enough for one day.
The sun is already below the "Little De-
priest" mountain, and we 60 up to MIR
| Hicht's, for the refreshments of night s
rest to prepare for the morrow when the
other view of the grand scenery of the loca-
ton is to be taken at sun rise.
A GRAND PANORAMA.
OF all the hours, illumed by the rays OF
the sun, for beholding distant scenery from
lofty elevations. give US that which first
greets the king Of day. From the two
highest elevations in the range of the Crab
Tree Falls, at the inner base of which the
waters collect, known respectively as the
big and little "Depriest," on the first espe-
cially. which is tho eastern point, are OBJ
tanned magnificent views that are difficult
| to portray. They never can be pictured to
the mind as they are except when the eye
can take them in by actual observation.
They excel in all their glories as the morn
| ing rays Of the SUI are thrown aslant from
| the eastern horiz'n away westward across
peak after peak and over Swallowed valleys
till sight is lost in the commingliug OF
mountain chains on the watershed OF the
New, the Roanoke, and the James Rivers.
The supposed sharp point of The elevation,
as it presents itself from a distance, ia a
round, slightly rolling surface of two acres
The trees there. as nature has held theu
growth in check, enabling the scenery to b.
the lofty oaks and chesnuts that stud the
sides. On the south eastern side and little
below the top is large spring of ice cold
water to refresh the pilgrim at the shrine
of grandeur. The view in ranging around
from the piedmont country towards the
Potomac river, and then extending away
down the James River valley, is obstrncted
in its further turn in catching a glimpse OF
the Peaks of Otter by the great "Moun,
Pleasant" in Amherst comfy. Contiuu
ing around the circle, the horizon south oil
the valley water. shed draws the line of Oh
servation as its passes through the western
depressious of the mountain. Looking
through the vista of Panther Gap, the dis
tance beyond resembles an open sea OF
water. The whole N'ith Mountain range
looms up aud e lIott's Knob perces the
clouds. D,wn the Valley, the view is
heightened in rnagnifiaepce in beholdip g
| the Massanutton mountain and valley farms
of Augusta and Rockingham Drawn, 2
the view to a closer rlnge, the scenery
along the valley of Tye river is equal tC
that more diatant. The river pushes its
way rapidly around the base of The Big
| Depriest,' aud then forms charming val
ley in its course 10 tho James. The large
farms of "Legel Greap,' 'tTyro," "Phar
sslia," and otter FARMS principally the
property of Massie families, present. every
attraction Of rural life aud comfort.
Though not 10 the group of the vie vi
| from the "Big Depr;est,' there is another
locality indissolub'y associated in all The
past and must, in any f'tnrs Of progressive
Improvement at the falls. occupy a similar
relation. II is the "Moutebelio" farm or
the pike seven miles from Vesuvius where
the road DIVORCES to reach the summit Of
the falls 1t was, when owned and cultivat
ed by the late Mr.. William Massie, an ex