Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

ten talked over. But serious difficulties were in the way. In the meantime, the God whose providence had protected them thus far, was preparing the way for them.

-a first

The father of Martha Evans lived in the Walker's creek settlement, in the county of Giles. After the peace which followed Wayne's expedi-: tion, Thomas Evans, his son, determined to find and release his sister, or perish in the attempt. He was an active, athletic young manrate woodsman, cool, fearless and generous. He prepared for his expedition by furnishing himself with a good rifle, a full supply of ammunition, a suit of buckskin, and a sufficient sum of money in specie; and set out to seek his sister amongst the savages of the western wilderness. The enterprise was full of hazard, but nothing daunted him. After various perils and unsuccessful attempts to get any tidings of her, he at length heard that she was near Detroit, and made his way thither. In the early part of October, 1797, he set out on his return to Virginia with his sister and James and Polly Moore. The two Moores got a passage in a trading boat down the lakes, abont two hundred miles, to the Moravian towns.There Mr. Evans and his sister met them with three horses. Fortunately for them, a party of these friendly Indians were just starting on a winter hunt. With them they traversed the hunting ground of several tribes less friendly, and were protected in some situations which seemed full of danger. They reached the neighborhood of Pittsburg in the beginning of winter, and remained with an uncle of Thomas Evans until spring. the early part of spring they reached Rockbridge county, where the Moores met with their younger brother, Joseph, who at the time of the breaking up of his father's family was in Rockbridge, at his grandfather Poage's.

In

After some years, the Evans family moved to the west. James Moore resides on the tract of land owned by his father, Joseph resides in the same neighborhood. Each of them has raised a large family, and each has been for many years a professing Christian. Polly became a member of the church at an early period, and in 1798 was married to the Rev. Samuel Brown, for many years pastor of New Providence church. Few have lived more generally beloven by a large circle of acquaintances.She closed her eventful life in the month of April, 1824, in the joyful triumphs of christian faith. Her remains rest beside those of her husband in the grave-yard of New Providence church. She became the mother of elev en children; of these, one died in infancy and one in early youth. The nine who survive are all professors of religion. Of her seven sons, five are ministers of the gospel in the Presbyterian church; one is a farmer, and the youngest at this time (1837) is at college.-[Prepared for Kercheval's Hist. of the Val. by J. M. Brown.]

The author heard from Poage of Rockbridge county, a connection of the young prisoner, some additional circumstances in relation to the intended cruel treatment of the prisoner, by the savages. Soon after reaching their village, they held a council, and determined that James should run the gauntlet. They, as was their usual practice, placed themselves in two lines, with their scourges, and ordered the prisoner to run between. them. James started, and when the first one struck him, he wheeled a

round and made furious battle on the fellow. All of the Indians imme. diately gathered around him, patting and caressing him, and pronounced him a good warrior.

The Rev. Mr. Brown, the author of the foregoing narrative, stated to the author that he has no recollection of hearing this anecdote; but as Mr. Poage is a much older man than Mr. Brown, and a man of a highly respectable character, and could certainly have no motive to induce him. to misrepresent any of the facts connected with this interesting story, the author has thought proper to give it to the reader, without holding himself responsible for its truth.

WEYER'S CAVE, IN AUGUSTA COUNTY.

The reader will find a particular description of this grand work of nature in the appendix, written by a gentleman of scientific acquirements, and is a most graphic account of it. The author of it resides in StaunThe writer saw and explored this cave in the year 1836.

tɔn.

NATURAL BRIDGE, IN ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY.

Mr. Jefferson has given a most graphical and beautiful description of this stupendous work of nature.* The author deems it hardly necessary to attempt any additional description, except in one or two instances.The author saw this place for the first time in the month of June, 1819. He again called to see it in the month of August, 1836. When he first saw it, he was alone, and had crossed it before he knew he was near it. He inquired at a house very near to it, and was informed by one of the inmates that he had just crossed it, who then directed me the way to get to it. Descending into a deep glen, I had to dismount my horse and walk up the margin of a fine stream of beautiful clear water, until I approached within seventy or eighty yards of the arch, the view being obstructed by a point of rocks, until within that distance. Passing the rocks, the most grand, sublime, and I may add, awful sight that I had ever looked upon, burst suddenly in full view. It was a very clear day, the sun rather past meridian, and not a speck of cloud or anything to obstruct the sight. The author was so struck with the grandeur and majesty of the scene, as to become for several minutes, terrified and nailed to the spot, and incapable to move forward. After recovering in some degree from this, I may truly say, agonising mental state of excitement, the author approached the arch with trembling and trepidation.

After some moments, he became more composed, and wrote the following lines:

O! thou eternal architect Divine,

All beautiful thy works do shine!
Permit me thus to sing:

Who can this towering arch explore,
And not thy soverign power adore,
Eternal King?

* See Jefferson's notes on Virginia, pages 21 and 22, second edition.

[merged small][ocr errors]

My mind, howe'er, was soon on flame
To adore the great builder's name,
Viewing the heavenly smile.*

Did'st thou, O God! this arch uprear,
To make us trembling mortals stare,
And humbly own thy name?
Or did'st thou build it for thy pleasure,
To prove thy power without measure,
And spread eternal fame?

Whate'er the motive or the plan,
It far exceeds the art of man;.

The grandeur of the scheme
Shows that the builder lives on high,
Beyond that blue, ethereal sky,

And wields a hand supreme.

At the author's second visit to this place, he discovered on viewing the arch attentively, the image of a very large eagle, as if it was in full flight, with the image of a lion in chase of it. This sight is near the eastern edge of the arch. The author, however, had heard of those images before he saw them.

There is a story told in the neighborhood, in connection with this most wonderful work of nature, of a very extraordinary performance of one of the young students of Lexington college. Some years ago, several of the students rode out to view the bridge. One of them seeing the name of Washington inscribed in the face of the rock, observed to his companions that he would place his name above Washington's. He ascended the rock, and effected his object; when, looking at the yawning gulf beneath, he was afraid to attempt the descent, and requested Lis friends not to speak to him; then commenced climbing up the wall.-Some of the young men ran round on the bridge, and placed themselves in a posture to assist him, if he should get within their reach. The young man actually succeeded in getting so near them, that they seized him and drew him up ;† but the moment he was on the bridge, from the great bodily exertion, and extreme mental excitement, he fainted, and lay some moments before he recovered.

This individual, in the year 1836, was residing in the village at Wythe court hourse. The author intended to visit him and converse with him on the subject, but was told by a friend that he conversed on the subject with great reluctance. Of course, the author declined his intended visit.

*The view through the arch.

From the base to the the top of the arch, is two hundred feet perpendicular height.

SALT POND, IN GILES COUNTY.

This is a most beautiful work of nature. There are three mountains* of considerable magnitude, which meet at this place-the several mountains at their terminations forming a considerable chasm; this affords a receptacle for the water. It presents to the beholder the appearance of a miniature lake of pure transparent water, and is about one mile in length, and generally from one quarter to half a mile in width. From its head to its termination, it lies nearly a north-east course. It is obstructed at its termination with vast piles of huge rock, over which it is discharged.When this place was first known, the water found passage through the fissures of the rocks. In the year 1804, the remarkable wet spring and summer, which is doubtless recollected by every elderly person, it is supposed the vast quantity of leaves and other rubbish that washed into it, closed up the fissures in the rocks; immediately after which it commenced rising. An elderly gentleman residing, in 1836, on New river, a few miles from it,(Col. Snydow,) informed the author that it had risen fully twenty-five feet since the year 1804. It is said to produce but few fish, there having been a few fine trout caught in it; but vast numbers of the water lizard exist in it. Col. Snydow informed the writer that when this place was first known to the white people, vast numbers of buffaloes, elks and deers resorted to it, and drank freely of its waters; from which circumstance it acquired the name of "Salt Pond." The author tasted the water, but could not discover that it had any saltish flavor.

Col. Snydow also informed the writer, that previous to the rising of the water, a very large spring raised at the head, and supplied the lake with water; but since its rise, that spring has disappeared, and it is now fed by numerous small springs around its head.

The author recollects seeing, (in a description of this place, published in a northern Mgazine, some years ago,) the opinion expressed that this wonderful work of nature had been formed within the memory of man; but this is doubtless a mistake. Messrs. Snydow and Lybrook both stated to the writer that it existed when the country was first discovered. Col. Snydow particularly, stated that he could recollect it upwards of sixty years, and that it had not increased in length within that period, but had risen as above described.

Near this pool of water stands a wild cherry, which those gentlemen described to be ninety feet high to the first limb, perfectly straight, and not less than five feet in diameter.

THE ROYAL OAK.

This grand and majestic tree is within about one mile of Union, a very sprightly village, the seat of justice for Monroe county. It is of vast height, and is said to be eight feet in diameter. It has acquired the name from its immense size: towering over every other tree in the forest in that section of country.

*Peter's mountain, the Salt Pond mountain, and Baldknob mountain.

SOPIS KNOBS.

This is a part of the mountain contiguous to the village, Union; snd is the residence of Alexander Calder, Esq., who has erected a splen did brick dwelling house near the summit of the mountain. It is two miles from the village to Mr. Calder's house, a continued ascent from the village to his house, and considerably steep in places. Of course Mr. Calder's house stands on most elevated ground. Mr. Calder is a resident of Charleston, South Carolina, and has improved this place for his summer residence. The author rode to Mr. Calder's house for the purpose of viewing the splendid works of nature and art combined at this extraordinary place.

Col. Andrew Beirne, the representative in Congress, resides near Union, in Montgomery county, is said to be a man of great wealth, and has erected a splendid brick dwelling house and other fine improvements, on an extensive farm.

Col. Beirne informed the author that a tract of country for more than one hundred miles between Greenbrier county and the Kenawha, was inhabited; that it is very mountainous, but contains a large proportion of fertile lands.

This gentleman also expressed the opinion that it is one of the healthiest regions, both for man and beast, in all North Amèrica.

VALUABLE MINERALS:

Our mountain's abound in valuable minerals. We have three mangarese mines within about twenty miles of Winchester. The price of the article is, however, so much reduced of late years, that there is but little of it taken to market. The author is informed that a rich copper mine has lately been discovered, and a company formed for working it. It is said it yields well. Several lead mines are said to have been discovered, but as yet, they have not been very productive. There have been several coal mines opened, of the anthracite kind, one of which yields well. It is probable that on further research, sufficient quantities may be found to supply this section of country.

The people of our Valley have abundant cause to be humbly thankful to the Great Author of our existence for the blessings he has in his wisdom and benevolence provided for their happiness.

THE END.

« ПредишнаНапред »