Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-06-06
HARRISBURG, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1855
4 short Trip to the Mountains.

tcate0 opponents, we last week IoOh
trip to Randolph county. We found both
the Circuit and County Courts in session.
The Circuit Court. Judge Camden presi
ding. had been sitting several days. and
was chiefly occupied in the trial Of land
suits.
Meeting with an old friend in Beverly,
we left on Tuesday evening for the head
waters of the Greenbrier river, TO regale
oursef upon venison and>trout, after the
labors Of the campaign. We (that is. our
friend and ourself arrived at late hour
that night at Whites on the top Of Cheat
mountain, terribly cold and frightfully
hungry. A cheerful FIRE and substantial
repast kindly furnished US by the host and
his ladies, put US in a comfortable Sleep
ing condition, which we very soon yielded
to. In the morning we were reminded
| that we had reached a wild country, by
seeing fresh bear skin nailed up on the
back side of the house. After breakfast,
We started for Dents cabin" about eight
miles from the Stanton Turnpike up the
valley of the Greenbrier, and near the
head Of that river.
The Greenbrier valley appears to have
particularly attracted the attention Of a
number Of enterprising men. The land in
it, we believe, is principally owned by J.
R. Slaven. Col. VIM. Hamilton and N.
Dent, jr., of this place. Mr.. SIaven has
a quantity of land "hacked" and partial~
ly cleared and cabin built, adjoining the
Staunton road. Col. Hamilton has 1ath-
er an extensive improvement four miles
from the pike. He has cleared up a con-
siderable quantity Of land and opened a
very passable road TO it. Mr.. Dent and
his father were, we believe, the pioneers
in the valley, having commenced an i'm
prOvement and built cabin. some seven
years ago. They are now actively en-
gagged in clearing up the land and intro
ducing settlers upon it. Farther up the
valley, and on the head waters Of the GIa-
dy Fork Of Cheat, Mr.. Henry Harper has
large body of land, and a small i'm
proVement made, to which he has opened
a path across Cheat and Shaver mountains
All these lands give evidences of great fer
tlity, lie very we'll. and must eventually.
and probably soon, make fine FARMS
Col. Hamilton has raised some fine crops
on his land, which is 70 better, that we
could see, than the balance The woods
now afford fine grazing for large num-
Der of slick, fat cattle, owned by Messrs.
Slaven, Hamilton. and Harper. There
can be no doubt but that country has a
bIi ght future.
We arrived at our destination a little
before noon, and made hearty dinner on
We nison steak, cut from fine buck killed
by +. D. DAWSON, on the day before.
In the afternoon we went down to the
Greenbrier and caught a mess of fine
trout, some Of which were ten inches long
We breakfasted on them the next morn
ing at half-past four, and started out to
watch deer lick. Arrived there in a CO.
Plous PersPiration. sat shivering behind
log for upwards three mortal hours, saw
nothing at the lick but one Of Harper's fat
steers, and started back, determined to be
avenged upon the stupid deer for not COM
ing to be shot, BY shooting every thing
that come in our way. Killed three "fer-
rydiddles" apiece. (God bless the brisk,
frollcsome. chattering little "ferrydid-
dies ~ and Dent shot the head slick and
clean off of pheasant, at about 80 yards.
Lounged about for the balance Of the day
and started next morning for home, BY
Harper's path. As we were travelling up
the valley to Harper's cabin, two deer lei.
surely crossed the path very close to US.
One of them might have been knocked
over very handily, but our rifles had been
left behind. A drizzling rain interspersed
with showers and short cessations, de.
scended upon us all day. After crossing
Shaver mountain we arrived at Cheat riv-
er, and again tried our hand at fishing.
Had little other than "fsherman's luck. p"
catching only two trout and few clubs,
which we returned to their native eIe.
ment' and prepared to satisfy the keen
demands Of an appetite sharpened by SCI
we're exercise and sharp mountain air
Drenched to the skin by the rain from
above and river fellow, we seated our
selves under a gigantic pine, and there
discussed the contents Of our wallet, con
slsting of Dents pheasant and a couple of
ferrydiddles nicely roasted, and half a do |
zen biscuits. which had been kindly pre-.
pared for us BY the wife Of the man occn.