The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-18

| Virginia people would go hundreds
of miles to see them. All old trav-
elers unite in praise Of 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
most travellers of the present day can
give themselves time to do, the view
which presents itself might well tempt
them 20 tarry little. For some miles
the falls stretch III reverse curve
filed with granite Lodges and small
islands covered with birch and willows.
Up above is Belle Isle, where, during
the war, the federal prison used to
stand Earthworks, 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
umeS Of black smoke from its base. On
the river bank up above on the Rich
rnond side are the Tredegar iron works,
where the confederate cannons were
made. and higher up still beautiful
Hollywood, where.l so many thou
sands of those who have crossed over
the 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
wood, on the other side of town. The
only memorial of them is the register
deposited in the.capitol, and the loving
,lN,-ar, no haa
of the southern people. They came at
the call Of their states, trooping from
every quarter OF the south, from the
mansion of the large land and slave
owner; from the house OF the small
proprietor, and from the cabin of 1.-The
poor whitef' all filed with a divine
determination I to stand to the death
for their mother states. IT was sub
lime spectacle. The outside world
weighing the interests cannot under
stand it. Only the south, which knew
the spirit, can. and she treasures the
memory of tt cir deeds as a mother
that of her sons who died for her and,
dying, have brought glory todheirrace.
To the left on. its hill, rises the fine
old capitol, surrounded bymonuments
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 great
Virginia convent ton, composed of
British subjects, with his 'sEberty or
death"
1t is a great temptation to linger in
Richmond. Toithe historical student
it presents attractions only equaled
by those which it offerssto 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 notablesin
the history of the country
It was here that the massacre. oc-
Cured which sent Nat. Bacon tCtarms
and brought forth. perhaps, the most
picturesque part of Am ericar his tory.
Bacon Quarter Branch stiR trnarks
the place where the young planter,
little dreaming of his coming fame,
had his plantation. Shoclloe H'll and
Creek preserve the name of one of the
Indian tribes he fought, the-soIe sur
viving memorial Of them. '2aoody
Rum" where the great batttoi took
place. is only two or three milesfnrther
down, its name dcnoting the EteTrible
enacted.
But bloodier battles than that which
Bacon, the rebel, fought. have been
fought on the same ground. TheaWaInps
of the CHI kahominy extend all, along
below the city, and just beyond them