Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-05-08

Il
\ The preparations fo- our hunting excursion
ibeing adjusted, at carly daybreak on the third
! of December, We mounted our horses with rifles
and hunting knives. aud set out for the hunting
/ grounds. followedh by four hounds On werode,
tup through long valley, through which flow
/ ed stream of some depth covered with ice.
! over which We had to cross several times. On
we rode at brisk GALLON, with piercing north
wind blowing in our faces, and shining iricles
cIingiug to the nostriis of our horses and snow
crunching under their hoofs 1t was intensely
cold and snow had fallen to considerable depth;
(, and the creek. fountain and streamlet were con-
geaIed with ice clear as crystal When we came
/ to the head of the stream, we assembled asteep
hin, which made our horses smoke through the
frost that chung to them
.Halt," said George, and let US agree upon
| some route load our rifles and be ready for ac-
ttion-" you, continued he, pointing to the
fright, twill follow the ridge road until you come
| to Moss Hill, then descend the south side, and
/ follow the creek until you reach the end of the
glen There the deerwill leap through the gap,
and you will be able to slay one or more. The
deer has a peculiar instinct; and it is known
fact, that when they are pressed by the hunter,
they travel with the wind. making it more diff
cult for the hounds to scent their trail and they
have also certain points, when pursued, to cross
hills, valleys and streams. Will strike for the
| Deer Creek, which is more than league south
Of this point, and there viii rouse the buck
| from his lair, and will meet you at Binehart's
cabin that stands at the back of the great preci
.pice. And now" continued he, "as our plans
are formed, and our hopes are high, let Us take
a drink from the goblet" at the instant taking
from his coat pocket bottle filed with brandy;
but stcadfastly refused, and tried, hut in vain,
to persuade him from tasting it.
"Wcn," responded he, somewhat sad, at
Hooks unfriendly to drink alone this cold morn
ing, but if it must be so, here is a bumper for
my modest friend" and he put the glass TO his
lips and took a deep draught, and another and
another; and turning his eye upon me, he gave
me the silly look so peculiar to the half inebri-
ted, and exclaimed, 'tAh. my friend, this is ex-
hiierating, and the most delicious nectar: it is a
beverage that never tasted so sweet before and
I must drink and get enough, for this is the last
day of indulgence, and tomorrow I viii turn
over new leaf and become sober, temperate
and better man; and you, my friend, may learn
by my experience never to touch the sparkling
wine cup, which may at first delight you, and
excite Sumo pleasing emotions but to win and
then destroy you. The certain effects ofintem-
perance is, decayed health, shattered consti-
tuition, depraved morals and disreputable char
acter. And there arc the longing hopes and
anxious prayers of my mother and sister, con-
tinually before me for my speedy reformation.
And must prayers and tears and long watchings
be in vain? No, here is the last drop that shall
ever touch my lips, and he swallowed one long
draught, and then added, as he threw the bottle
against the tree and shivered it in thousand
pieces, Go, spirit of misery, wrctchetlncss and
death, we part forever
Wenow separated for the points agreed upon
and while Georges recetEing form was passing
my view, could not but hope that he would be
truly reformed man. Before we had time to
travel quarter of mile from each other, l
heard the sharp report of his rifle, and III few
seconds a noble buck bounded across my path,
and fell few PAGES from me marked the spot
and hurried on to the gap. Just as | reached
there two fine looking deer, followed by the
hounds, had ran through opening in the for
est and were out of sight. l followed on
after at the top of my horses speed, and MS /
approached within few hundred yards of Rine-
harris cabin, distinctly heard him halIowing in
the most thrilling tones
'Ho! strike for the valley; the precipice is
before you. Ho! strike for the valley or you
arc lost"
a thrill of horror darted through ny brain,
us the thought struck me that George had
changcd his course, and was descending the hill
that leads to the top of the precipice, which
supposed was covered with glare of ice HID
from view by the recent fall of snow, and that
the warning voice was urging him to fly to-
wards the valley and escape destruction. But
he needed not the warning, and continued to
urge his horse on, and if by instinct, it dGscen-
ded inch by inch, down the glaring ice, and then
firmly sinking its tloofs deeper into the CLASSY
surface, it managed to bear the reeling form Of
George to less dangerous point; but he being
obliTious to danger or fear, urged with mpetu-
Gus violence, the frightened horse to turn back
to the precipice, and sinking his royyels deeper
into its bleeding sides, he forced it forward in
slow and cautious step. Again the poor horse
attempted to descend, and deeper were the row
els sunk into its sides; and then with quiveriag
flesh, Gistended eyeballs, and widespread nos
trils it sprans forward with fearful neigh, and
horse and rider fell with terrific crash down
among the rugged rocks, a distance of ninety or
hundred feet. With shrek of horror dar-
ted forward and hastcned to the foot of the fear
full precipice, and found crushed mass of flesh
and bones. Poor George Whitehiil, my soul
shuddcrs when remember that sad and sorrow
full scene. OH the curse of Alcohol, how ma
ny bright gems thou has destroyed, and how
often been the cause of brooding and heart
breaking sorrows for which life has no panacea
We will draw veil over the heart reudiag
grief of mother and sister, when they bcheld
the iisfgurcd remains of one whom few hours