West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-06-08
ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE.
A Visit TO Fishers Gap. Down In the
old Dominion.
written Specially Tor The Argus.

| pine trees in the rear OF a church
standing on the border OF the town of
Madison Court House. Va. Knowing
that long hard walk was before me.
l did not care 10 make any needless
effort and instead OF going back to
the village TO find a break fast, I began
the journey at once. l had gone two
miles, however, before found n farm
house close to the road The family
was very friendly and hospitable and
the man OF the house cautioned me to
push on that day until was clear
across the mountain, and not to ven
ture TO camp out on the heights.
There are some rough people mp
there" he remarked, They would
knock man in the head for ten cents.
you can make 1t by two o'clock IL you
walk right peart"
| The Blue Ridge was now too near to
view 1t to good effect. The day before
1T had doomed up, north and south. as
far as the eve could reach massive
rampant with ragged outline, the
slopes being partly timber-clad and
partly checkered by the shapeless fields
of the mountaineers. These fields
sometimes gave the appearance of IA
crazy quilt Wooded spurs ran far
down into the lowlands. The Virginia
mountains are in general beautifully
wooded and are more picturesque and
| pleasing 10 the eye than those of West
Virginia.
The country was hillY and fertile
and well farmed. The corn fields had
a very luxuriant growth.
AE hours walk from where ! took
breakfast, brought me 20 the Robinson
river. i saw no bridge and the stream
was rather broad. But noticing several
men riding through the ford. and no
ticing that the water scarcely came
above the fetlocks OF the horses. took
off my shoes and making two parcels
OF the little baggage carried, | waded
in. The bed OF the stream being
covered with round, Shiny stones, il
was difficulty to maintain an easy
footing. Soon after getting across. ]
found TO my disgust that some distance
above was u footlog
liNNlo luIluoT De1Onu was the
village of Crieglersv lille with a saw and
grist mill. The next i've miles of nv
course was up the river bottom. the
valley being fankcd on both sides
by heavy spurs from the Blue Ridge
Ihe colored people ia this valley often
had flower beds in front of their little
log houses, and this was something
had not noticed in lower Virginia.
Thus far tho grade of the road had
been very gentle. Now came the
climb All at once, the road left the
river, which hero had diminished to a
small. rapid stream, and began to- clint
the mountain in zig-zag fashion, like
the switch- back on the w. V.N II. r.
This continued doubling OF the road
upon itself makes an easy grade, bui
greatly increases the distance. From
one turn OF the pike" to another. "a,
the mountainsers call them, is a bride
path used by hOrsemen. / tried one OF
these cut offs but finding IL too much
like climbing stairway of indefinite
height, / thought IL economy oil
strength to keep tho road. The road
has been good pike in its day, and
was still very fair road.
A little above where left the river
and before had fairly begun to clint
the mountnin-were the two external
chimney stacks OF burned house
This house had been much larger than
the average mountain cabin. 1t wa,
said that an outbuildInR was used a,
the sleeping room OF man on Whose
head was an offered reward Of s7OO.
AS ascended the mountain. a log
cabin would every now and then come
into view. but not generally close u
the road. A roof would consist oi
about three courses OF slabs. The
fields were small, but there we're aIvvav,
apple trees near each house A large
share Of the fruit is made into apple
brandy stills are very common in
these mountains.
The unkle Of COW bells could nearly
always be heard, and the roar ot
mountain torrents, slways Az length
j paused 90 take deliberate view ot
the mountain scenery. Looking back.
ward ] noticed that only small
glimpse Of the plains country could he
bad. An elbow OF mountain spur
almost cut Oft the lower valIey from
view, and from where ] stood. II
seemed as though were looking down
into funnel shaped depression. In
all my mountain travel, ] have never
anywhere else eaer .r,tIt,,. H.. ID.