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ADALASKA, OR THE STRANGE AND MYSTERIOUS FAMILY OF THE CAVE OF GENREVA.
BYGEO. W. L. BICKLEY,
AUTHOR OF "TAZEWELL COUNTY," ETC., ETC.[The Cave and valley of Genreva are situated in Tazewell county, Virginia; and, though known by other names (See "History of Tazewell") for a long period, have only lately attracted attention, in consequence of their wonderful discovery and developments, which are now, for the first time, made public.—B.]
CINCINNATI:
PUBLISHED BY H. M. RULISON,
NO. 34 EAST THIRD STREET,
1853.Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by H. M. RULISON, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the District of Ohio.
TO JAMES L. WITTEN, ESQ.
MY DEAR SIR:Your character as a friend, a gentleman, and as a lover of literature is such that I am fain to express my feelings of respect by dedicating to you the following pages, founded upon a reminiscence of your adopted county.
In thus expressing my regard for you, I feel that I am only giving you a slight manifestation of the exalted estimation in which I hold your moral worth.
That you may long live to grace the circle of society in which you move AN ORNAMENT, is the sincere wish of
G. W. L. BICKLEY.
Jeffersonville, Va., 1852.PREFACE.
THIS volume has not been written as tales of its character usually are, viz: to enlist merely the baser passions of our natures—but it has been the aim of the author to give, in a plain, and, it is hoped, interesting style, a tale of real life, only too true to find its way into the world through such a channel.
Little attempt has been made at beauty of diction or great taste of language, as the author was well convinced that the more simplicity and plain narration that was wound around the tale, the more likely was it to convey to the mind of the reader the truthfulness of the picture which it holds up to view.
This is the first attempt of the author to throw the mysterious vail of fiction around an incident worthy of a place on the pages of history. He has thought proper to do so for two reasons: 1. This class of works falls much into the hands of those for whom it contains a lesson; and 2. Many of the characters are now alive, and hence force the adoption of fictitious names.
The scene has not been laid in the exact locality that might have been desired; but a wish to screen the parties from the public, will be a sufficient apology. At some future day the names and locality will alike be known. I would remark, however, that the major part of the geographical positions are correct; also a few of the proper names.
page: viii-19[View Page viii-19]If I shall have succeeded in conveying the lesson intended to be conveyed, and it have the salutary influences I sincerely hope for, I shall feel that I have not written in vain. Asking, that the reader may not pass judgment until he has read the last chapter, I introduce him at once to the locality from whence a knowledge of the incidents was derived. *
*Captain Bell, one of the characters introduced, had commenced this work, but eventually placed his manuscript in the author's hand, and so well has he told the tale that the first few chapters are allowed to remain as he wrote them.
G. W. L. B.
Jeffersonville, Va., June, 1852.