The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-27

Virginia people would go hundreds
OF miles to see them. All old trav-
ctcrs unite in praise of 1.-The falls"
which, indeed, form one of the most
picturesque views on the Atlantic
slope.
Standing on the railroad bridge
across the James (Which is all that
tnost travellers of the present day can
give themselves time to dol, the view
which presents itself might we'll tempt
ahcm 70 tarry little. For some miles
the falls stretch i'll reverse curve
SlIcd with granite lodges and small
Islands covered with birch aud willows
OPP above is Belle Isle, where, during
Ei1e war, the federal prison used to
stand. Earthworlss, where the guns
stood ready to guard Richmond still
cover the top of the round hill, and the
Old Dominion iron works send up vol
zarncs of black smoke from it's base. On
Glte rivor bank up above on the Rich
n1ond side are the Tredegar iron works,
where the confederate cannons were
anadc, and higher up still beautiful
hollywood, where lie SO many thou
saBds OF those who have crossed over
enc river to rest under the trees. The
granite pyramid marks the resting
place of some fifteen thousand confed-
crate soldiers.
Sixteen thousand more lie at Oak
veood, on the other side of town The
only memorial of them is the register
deposited in the capitol, and the loving
remembrance treasured in the hearts
<af the southern people. They came at
tt1c call of their states, trooping from
1o,.tn &c Al
mansion of the large land and slave
owner; from the house of the small
proprietor, and from the cabin of the
poor white" all filed with Il divine
determination to stand to the death
Cor their mother states. 1t was sub
lime spectacle. The outside world
weighing the interests cannot under
stand it. Only the south, which knew
thc spirit, can, and she treasures the
memory of their deeds as IA mother
Chat of her sons who died for her, and,
dying, have brought glory to thcirrace.
To the left on its hill, rises the fine
Old capitol, surrounded by monuments
and memories, and away on Church
hill" peeps from the grove of old trees
the white spire of "Old st. Johns"
where Patrick Henry thrilled the grea t
Virginia convention, composed of
british subjects, with his liberty or
death"
1t is 81 great temptation to lingcr in
Richmond. TO the historical student
IL presents attractions only cqualcd
by those which it offers to the lover of
social life. John Smith, governor of
Virginia, planted a cross on the island
below the falls as early as 1907, and
from that time it has been notable. in
thc history of the country
1t was here that the massacre oc-
Cured which sent Nat. Bacon L. arms
and brought forth, perhaps, the most
picturesque part of American history.
--lIacon Quarter Branch still marks
she place where the young planter,
2ittic dreaming of his coming fame,
had his plantation Shoclloc Hill and
Greek preserve the name of one Of the
Indian tribes he fought the sole sur
viving memorial OF them. "iloody
Run" where the great battle took
s>lace, is only two or three miles further
down, its name dcnoting the terrible
rctrbution enacted.
Eut bloodicr battles than that which
bacon, the rebel, fought, have been
toughton the same ground. The swamps
tof the Chickahominy extend all along
Below the city, and just beyond them