The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1853-12-24
Correspondence of the Cecil Wing.
Letters from the WeSl-NO, 2.
Ono RIVER, Dec. 18th '53.

The steamer "torest City, aboard OF
which we are is just leaving the wharf
at Ravenswood, in Jackson Co., Va,
about 125 miles below Wheeling. In
my last had intended to have given
you further sketch of the trip through
the mountains, the log cabins, etc. etc,
but will let that pass and tell you some
thing more about Wheeling and other
places along the river.
While lying at the city of Wheeling,
waiting for boat to take us on to Gin :
cinnati, from Saturday till Monday
evening, | strayed round and took a
view of that smoky town. Wheeling
is about ninety seven miles below Pitts
bnrgh, and stands on a high bank of the
Ohio river, surrounded by bold hills, in
which abundance of stone coal is found.
1t has large number of stores and COM
mission houses, and lnoice several new
ones that will be magnificent buildings
when completed. 1t has also fourteen
churches, two academies, two banks,
tour iron foundries, four steam engine
factories, eight glass houses, four wool
en- and cotton mills, two paper mills,
four saw mills, three white and sheet
lead and copperas factories, two daily,
one weekly, and one seml-month y pa
per.
The national road from this place to
Cumberland, a distance of one hundred
and thirty miles, is one of the greatest
thoroughfares in the United States.
The mouth of Wheeling Greek is cele-
bra,ed as having been the site Of Fort
Henry, which was besirged in Septem-
Der, 1777, by party of nearly five hun
dred Indians, led on by the notorious
Simon Girty. The place was heroicly
defended by only iorty-two men, OF
whom twenty-three were killed, and
the Indians after fighting all day were
compelled to retire with loss of from
sixty to one hundred.
Among the greatest objects of attrac
ton to the traveller at this place, is the
famous Wire Suspension Bridge, sIann-
ing the river from Wheeling to Bridge
port, in Belmont county, ONO. Its cost
was nearly $2OO.9O). I he span is the
longest i'll the world, being 10 feet.
1t is 90 #. above low water mark, . / #.
wide, and supported by - wire cables,
each 1880 #. long, and four inches IN
diameter, and each contains 512 strans
Of No. 10 wire. There is a carriage
way Of II IT,, and two foot paths, each
81 II. wide. The towers on the W hcel-
Ing side are 1917 1t. above low water
mark, and 60 it. above the abutmenI on
which it stands; Oh the other side they
are . II. lower.
Bridgeport is famous as being the
scene of murderous assault by the In
dams, in 1871, who attacked the cabin
OF Capt. Joseph klrkwood, in which
were the family of Capt. H., and four
teen soldiers. The Indians endravorrd
to effect an entrance into the cabin, but
being unsuccessful, piled brush around it
and set ii on fire. Seven Of the inmates
were wounded-one mortalIy.
Wheeling isa place of considerable
trade, and like thriving, dirty-faced
boy, would look all the better of being
washed. 1t is miserable dirty place
to live in, rivalIing Pittsburgh in that
respect, and we took leave of 1t on Mon
day evening without any reluctance.
BY the tune we arrived at Elizabeth
town, thirteen miles below. it was dark
The country on either shore of the Ohio
river is celebrated, and justly so, too
for its beautiful and magnificent scene
nv. The stream is the most beautiful
sheet of water, of the same extent, III
the world, being as smooth and placid
as mirror throughout its whole extent.
walked out on the deck after night, as
our steamer gIided down its CLASSY cur
rent, to enjoy the prospect. The moon
shone in all its splendor, bathing the
scene in a flood of tender light, that
rested like silver gauzs on the bold
bluffs, which reared their proud heads
in long ranges on either side Of the
stream, as far as the eye could reach
There is usually belt of bottom land
lying between those hllly ranges and the
river, cultivated in fine farms, and anon
as our boat glided by the sparkling ligh
like burning star, greeted us from the
windows of the m-houses. There
are numerous coal mines in the hill
sides along the river, from which rail
ways are constructed, in order to con.
vey the coal to the river, where it il
emptied into flat boats. At one place
where We stopped 10 take in coal, thu
golfers come out of their dark, subter
raneous abode, with a car load OF coal
having lamps sparkling in their caps
which told us of the gloomy mansion
whence they come. E. E.. E..