Historical collections of Virginia containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c., relating to its history and antiquities, together with geographical and statistical descriptions : to which is appended, an historical and descriptive sketch of the District of Columbia : illustrated by over 100 engravings, giving views of the principal towns, seats of eminent men, public buildings, relics of antiquity, historic localities, natural scenery, etc., etc. |
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BATH. |
 | Historical collections of Virginia |  |
BATH.
Bath was formed in 1791, from Augusta, Bottetourt, and Greenbriar.
It is about 35 miles long and 25 broad. It is watered by
the head-branches of the James, Cow Pasture and Jackson Rivers.
Some of the valley lands are very fertile, but the greatest proportion
of the county is uncultivated, and covered with mountains.
Pop. 1830, 4,008; 1840, whites 3,170, slaves 347, free colored 83;
total 4,300.
Warm Springs, the county-seat, is 164 miles W. of Richmond,
and 40 miles N. E. of the White Sulphur Springs of Greenbriar.
of visiters at the springs, there are but a few dwellings.
The situation of the place is delightful, in a narrow and fertile
valley, between two high mountains, and offers numerous attractions
to its many visiters.
The tradition respecting the discovery of the springs is, that a party of Indians hunting,
spent a night in the valley. One of their number discovering the spring, bathed in
it, and being much fatigued, he was induced, by the delicious sensation and warmth
imparted by it, to remain all night. The next morning he was enabled to scale the mountain
before his companions. As the country became settled, the fame of the waters gradually
extended: and at first, visiters from the low country dwelt here in rude huts. For a
long time, both this and the Hot Spring were only surrounded by brush, and open at top.
The subjoined analysis of these waters was made by Prof. Rogers:
"The bath is an octagon, 38 feet in diameter, and 16 feet 9 inches inside—its area is
1163.77 feet. The ordinary depth of water being 5 feet, the cubic capacity is 5818.86
feet, or 43533.32 gallons. Notwithstanding the leaks, this quantity of water will flow into
the reservoir in one hour. The average temperature of the bath is 98 deg. Fahrenheit.
The gas which rises in the bath consists of nitrogen, with minute quantities of sulphuretted
hydrogen and carbonic acid.
"Besides this gas, each gallon of water contains 4.5 cubic inches of gas, consisting
of nitrogen, 3.25 cubic inches; sulphuretted hydrogen, 0.25 do.; carbonic acid, 1.00 do.
"The saline contents of one gallon of the water, are as follows: muriate of lime, 3.968;
sulphate of magnesia, 9.984; carbonate of lime, 4.288; sulphate of lime, 5.466; a trace
of soda, no doubt, in the state of muriate.
"While the Warm Springs afford the most luxurious bath in the world, they contain
neutral salts and various gases, which act as a gentle aperient, diuretic and sudorific, and
give tone and vigor to the human system. It is well ascertained in other countries, that
waters of a high temperature tend more to strengthen the digestive organs than those of
a low temperature; but it is found, by actual experiment, that the water at the Warm
Springs retains a considerable portion of its useful qualities when bottled in the spring,
and then cooled by immersing the bottles in cold water, or even ice; and this plan is
adopted by many of those who have a repugnance to the use of warm water."
The approach to the Warm Springs from the east, is over the
mountain of the same name. The road which leads across it is
five miles, four-fifths of which is on the east side of the ridge,
where to the traveller a succession of deep precipices and glens
present themselves, environed with gloomy woods and obscure
bottoms. From the summit of the mountain at the Warm Spring
Rock, which is much visited, there is a sublime view of parallel
ridges of mountains, extending for 40 or 50 miles, one behind the
other, as far as the eye can reach, "like a dark blue sea of giant
billows, instantly stricken solid by nature's magic wand." Some
70 years since, the principal route of emigration was across this
mountain, at which time there was no wagon-road over it. The
emigrants came in wagons to "the camping-ground," a level spot
near what is now Brinckley's tavern, at the eastern base of the
mountain. From thence they transported their baggage to the
west on pack-horses, while their wagons returned east loaded with
venison, hams, &c.
One mile west of the little village of Milboro' Spring, and 12
miles east of the Warm Springs, on the road between the two
places, in a high ledge on the bank of the Cow-Pasture River, is
the celebrated "blowing-cave," described in Jefferson's Notes. The
mouth of the cave is 20 or 30 feet above the road, in shape semicircular,
and in height about 4 feet. It has been explored for a
found his way out through some unknown passage. When the
internal and external atmosphere are the same, there is no perceptible
current issuing from it. In intense hot weather, the air comes
out with so much force as to prostrate the weeds at the entrance.
In a warm day in June, in 1843, as Dr. John Brockenbrough, the
principal proprietor of the Warm Springs, was passing in his
carriage, he sent a little child to the mouth of the cave, who let
go before it a handkerchief, which was blown by the current over
the horses' heads in the road, a distance of 30 or 40 feet. In intense
cold weather, the air draws in. There is a flowing and ebbing
spring on the same stream with the blowing-cave, which supplies
water-power for a grist-mill, a distillery, and a tan-yard. It
flows irregularly. When it commences, the water bursts out in
a body as if let loose from a dam.
Gen. Samuel Blackburn, who resided in this county, was born about the year 1758.
He was one of the most successful orators and criminal lawyers of his time in Virginia.
He was the father of the anti-duelling law of the state, which we believe was the first
passed in the country after the war of the revolution. Among other penalties, it prohibited
any one who had been engaged in a duel from holding offices of trust in the gift of
the state. Some years after, a gentleman who had challenged another was elected to the
legislature. When he came forward to take the customary oath, his violation of this
law was urged against him. Some, however, contended that the circumstances of the
case were so aggravating that its provisions ought to be disregarded, and fears were entertained
that this sentiment might prevail. Then it was that Gen. Blackburn, who was a
member, came forward with a speech of great power in opposition. The result was the
triumph of the law in the rejection of the member. Gen. B. died in 1835, aged about 77.
He was a man of much benevolence. At his death, he by will manumitted all his slaves,
and provided for their transportation to Liberia.
The Hot Springs are 5 miles from the Warm, in the same beautiful
valley with the latter. These springs stand high in public
favor. There are several baths here, called the Hot Spouts. Their
highest temperature is 106 degrees.
"The beneficial effects of hot spouts, topically applied, are so miraculous, in many
painful and obstinate complaints, that words cannot adequately describe them; therefore
the prisoners of pain are strongly recommended to expose their rheumatic joints, gouty
toes, and enlarged livers, to the comfortable outpourings of these healing steams. The
water of the Hot Springs contains nitrogen and carbonic acid, carbonate of lime, sulphate
of lime, sulphate of soda, sulphate of magnesia, muriate of soda, silica, and a trace of
oxide of iron. It may be taken internally with much advantage, particularly as a sure
and gentle diuretic.
"The effect of this bath on rheumatic and gouty affections, and on old deep-seated
and chronic complaints, that medicine does not seem to reach, is very beneficial. It
restores the surface to a good condition, and promotes the healthy action of the skin;
and every person who drinks the water of the various sulphur springs, should afterwards
stop here two or three weeks, and try the virtue of the boiler. There are, near the hotel,
a hot and cold spring issuing so near each other, that you can dip the thumb and forefinger
of the same hand into hot and cold water at the same time."
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