Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-03-31
Highland CuriOs.

derS or DaIn county dPpedIeu III
recent issue of YOSfs Weekly and
from a man living near there we
learn that the Devils race path"
the "Bottomless Spring" and limp
Tree" belong to Highland. The
Weekly describes them thus:
"Another curious spring i'll the
same valley (Cowpasture) is the
"Bottomless Spring" whose depth
has never been fathomed, though
many attempts have been made to
do so. About 100 yards from this
place are two lodges of rock, ran
ming parallel up the mountain side,
with a narrow path between them.
The pathway is not more than ten
feet wide, and keeps this width from
the top to the bottom. about three
quarters of a mile. This path is
known as the Devils Race Path"
The scenery around it is grand and
picturesque. Lofty mountains, a
rushing river, precipices crowned
by giant pines, and the peaceful
valley lying far away III the dis
lance, blue and hazy. Not far from
the race-path is a strange freak of
nature. A hickory tree about a
foot in diameter is seen growing
upon the east bank Of the Mellow
ell and Williamsville road, and
plainly to be seen upon the bark is
this word, IMP, in white letters,
about 5 inches in height. The let
ters are formed of that white sub
stance seen frequently upon the
bark of the hickory. His Satanic
Majesty seems to have impressed
his personally upon natures hand
works, in this locality at least, in
the selection Of names-lmp tree,
as it is locally known, and Devils
Race-path."
In connection with these we will
mention others. About three and
a half miles south OF Monterey
stands Sounding Knob boldly Out
lined ageinst the sky, rising far
above the peaks around it. 1t
seems to stand alone, keeping grim
and silent vigil over the valley be-
low. To attempt the ascent Is an
arduous undertaking, but, the SUM
NIT reached, the fatigue Of the
long climb is forgotten. The
woodman's axe has long since laid
low the trees that once grew there
and now, when winters icy fetterS
are broken and the sun has stoop-
ed to kiss, a mantle Of green Is
thrown around the crest adding to
the beauty of the scene. The light
/ est football on this sward produces
: a deep, rumbling sound (hence the
| name). Throw heavy stone up
} on the ground and the earth seems
to vibrate, accompanied by the
same rumbling sound only more
violent than before. Listen, and
YOU will hear the echoes die away
seemingly far below, inspiring one
with the belief that they are stand
ing over yawning chasm. just
bevond the summit in a slight de.
preston is a bed of small moscow
cred rocks covering an area OF
half acre or less. which in winter il
always bare, the snow melting as
it falls. A yearly visit to this
+ place will reveal the fact that il
/ undergoes an annual change. This
E change is due to lightning which
is attracted by some unknown
. agency. Cone-shaped holes otter
e mark the place where the electric
y currents have spent their fury
while another may cause an up
( heaval filing a depression made BY
a former discharge: thus the chang
! goes or. On the North side. ant
: in the shadow of Sounding KnoI
what is known as the Hous'
h Rock. situated as it is in the bot
e tom of a mountain gorge and lift
f ing It's Jagged top above the sur
l.. rounding trees, while a noisy noun
Il tain stream washes its base. 1t
: indeed strange freak of nature
~ IL. toco ood 1Ool- in