The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-16

49,, IN tcus prof sion grew the wild
foYrers Of field and forest against.thes
som bre back ground of foliage, which the
steep h1lls1dess gloWeds IN 81 the morning
s lishts as the rays OF the rising sun gi1ded
q he velvet carpet of rich grass and swift
streams swept past swollen with recent
rains. -
Aroused each morning by bugle call.
L gthevs rode forward; each day eniivened
by incidents and adventures of explora-
ton.
Some of the party encountered hornets,
for whose sting that extraordinary
variety.of liquors. was ample antidote.
Others were thrown from their horses,
and others killed ratlesnakes.
GOOD PASTURES.
Good nasturase for their beasts, and
venison in abundance for themselves,
which they roasted before the fire upon
wooden forks; and at night, after the
soothing pipeful of tobacco and good
liquor" Mr. F,ontaine never fails to add,
to rest upon fragrant sooushs OF trees
under their tents.
The adventures fingered in many
secluded vale They were often DELAYED
by an impetuous mountain torrent or an
Impossible precipice Occasionally there
was hindrance, sometimes little dam
age, owing to the roughness and novelty
Of the way, but always great deal of
diversion.
Their camps they named for gentlemen
of its party: a particularly fine spring.
being christened for Mr.. ontaine, where,
doubtless owing to the proximity Of the
fragrant mint, they celebrated, for he
says: I'VE dined and drank bowl Of
punch"
They were good churchman though,
these jolly gentlemen: for once they saw
a. bear running down a tree. but, it "be-
ing Sunday, we did not endeavor to kill
anything."
.rhirty-sx days after their departure
from williamsburg. on the 5th day of
September, and a Gear day, they tolled
to the sumit of the mountain, presumably
at the present Swift Run Gap, where
issued he very head spring of Kappa
hammock River, no bigger than a mans
arm, from under large stone. while but
a few roads distant rose another. which
flowed westward down the mountain.
I've drank King Georges health and
all the royal farnily's at the very top
of the Appalachian Mountains enthu-
siastically eXclalms the narrator.
How rapturously must these loyal gen
tlemen have viewed the boundless piano.
rama before theml
PICTURESQUE SCENE.
AT their feet the silVerys Shenandoah,
the Daughter of the Stars flowing swift
" northward. To right and left the misty
Blue Ridge, extending far. cut of sight.
clothed with oaks, pines and other forest
trees. while before them. across the val
ley, rose the long. waving line of the blue
AlleShanies-a boundless domain, promis-
ing ample support and a thousand homes
to coming genera tons!
The highest peak the explorers named
for their sovereign, Mount George; the
next, for their leader. Mount Spotswood.
DEFENDING to the Shenandoah, they
crossed. and marked here the extreme
point the Governor reached westward.
Drinking some healths, they re-crossed
and Mr.. Fontaine "catched dish of fish,
some perch, and a fish they called chio,
while others went hunting capturing
deer and turkeys. and the Governor buried
bottle containing a writing that he took
possession of this place for King George
1--WE had a good dinner, and, after it,
we got the men together, and loaded an
their arms, and we drank the Kings
health in champagne. and tired a volley;
the Princess health in Burgundy, and
fired volley, and all the rest of the
royal family in ciaret, and a volley. We
drank the Governors health, and fired
another volley. We had several sorts of
liquors viZ.-Virginia wine and white
wine, Irish usquebaugl,, brandy. shrub,
two sorts Of rum, champagne, canary,
punch CIDER, and Water!
Thus in Teasing and laughter they cele-
brated the first certain discovery of
feasible passage across those mountains,
and the breaking forever of the chain
that had so long kept the English from
extending their rule beyond the enchanted
barrier.
The return was quickly made, and
without incident save that one day. be-
ing very merry they ''eat part Of one OF
the bears, which tasted very well, and
would be good, and might pass for veal
if one did not know what it was
IN GREAT GLORY.
At Germanna the party dispersed, and
after an absence of about six weeks, the
Governor reached Williamsburg, where,
declares its historian. he returned with
a glory in those times little inferior to
that of Hannibal and received in the
Colony loud applause and warm adn'ira.
ton. The total distance he travelled.
forth and return, was reckoned at four
hundred and thirty-eight miles.
Because for this expedition over rocky
paths, many horseshoes were necessary,
His EXcelency presented to each of the
gentlemen who accompanied him minia-
ture golden horseshoes studded with bril-
liants, and inscribed: ''Sic juvat tran
ecendere montes,' (thus we swear to cross
the mountains), and instituted the Ira
montana Order of the knights of the
Golden Horseshoe. to encourage gentle
men of Virginia to venture across the
mountains and make settlements; and
all such being alligible to membership in
the Order, and entitled to wear the jew
elled emblem from a scarlet ribbon about
the neck. who could prove he had drank
His Maiestys health on Mount George
The English Sovereign, grateful to the
Governor but to the extent of comforting
a title of nobility, declined to pay for the
costly emblems, the Order n knghthooG
was soon forgotten. and It's only tradi-
lion now that can tell where in Virginia
bne may find the ieweled horseshoe and
the bit of scarlet ribbon
: His Gracious Majesty. Rex. is himself
descendant of one of the adventurous
cavaliers; It's meet, therefore, he should
revive his ancient Order, and doubtless
he will confer the insignia upon his fol-
Towers!
MATTHEW FoNTAINE INJURY.
Richmond, Va, May Is, 1900.