The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-09-08
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an immense expense we have gathered
the following facts which the future
historian, some Abbott, perhaps, can
work up into history of the early days
of West Virginia, or some other dime
novel. Lest the Gentle Reader should
not knowwhat We are talking about after
having read this article, we whisper in
G. RS ear that this is correct account
of WheeliAg and its surroundings.
There has been good deal of contro-
versy as to how Wheeling came by its
name. Each old settler has different
story, but Bill Smith, who was well &C
quainted with Abbot's History of Ma
poleon, tells us that Wheeling took its
name from the fact that a great many
Wheeling stogies are made here.
Wheeling was settled by white men,
generally, though a few abolitionlsts
and reliable contrabands moved in dur
ing the war. There was some dispute
at first whether it should be built here
or at Fulton, the friends of Fulton had
a big thing in the argument by showing
the fiue place for picnics they had at
Walters grove, but the friends OF
Wheeling pointed proudly to the grow
ing city of Ritchietown and showed
how it could in few years be brought
under the municipal government OF
Wheeling. The chairman remarked,
"that settles it," And that's the way
Wheeling was settled.
One of the most noted places about
Wheeling is that known as McCol-
loch's Leap" Surprising that you know
nothing about the facts in the case, we
give them. Mac was bully boy in the
early days of this county, and had a
habit of going round pretty much as he
pleased. The original settlers here were
aboriginal, sort of native police force.
These objected to the way Mac had of
going for them every time he had an
opportunity, SO they determined to
whoop him up. They were as fond of
whoop, those fellows, as fashionable
young lady. They invented the war
whoop and the whooping cough. Well,
one fine day, Mac was taking quiet
canter over the hills for his health,
when party of them got after hin.
He looked at them for second or two,
and saw in the party the Big 1Djin in
front of Bob Ford's cigar store. Now,
Mac never liked that Ipjin. He was
sort of premium agriculturist and had q
habit of raising hair not at all pleasant
to close observer. He was, after Grants
election promoted to the revenue de-
partment and sent out on to the plains,
where he has been collecting a revenue
tax on hair ever since. His name was
Lo.
Mac saw they had a pretty sure thing
on him. On the one side there was
bluff, as steep as ever Henry Clay play
ed when he bet his thousand OH nary
pair, rising from the banks of the Ohio
On the other side Wheeling creek lies
as smooth as lottery circular. There
was but one thing for it, he must step
down out of that if he would avoid a
shed of blood, or rather bloodshed.
Squirting his foaming velocipede to the
brow of the bank, he shouted to the
chap that keeps the dollhouse there,
and gave utterance to this memorable
sentiment: eff any one hauls down
the American flag, bust him on the
snoot." He leaped over the bank and
landed in the waters of Wheeling creek,
three miles away. If anybody doubts
this, he can be shown the hole he made
in the water when he struck. Stopping
just long enough to telegraph to Com
missioner Delano, eve have met the en-
envy and have taken good deal of rev.
enue," he made his escape and brought
his velocipedo into Wheeling. Some
writer's think that Mac struck oil when
he jumped, and that accounts for his
slipping away from the 1ngins so easy.
In giving this history we have adher-
ed closely to Colfax. We have not
mentioned any of the losses, though
we have heard that Mac lost his voice
from getting such wetting.
We don't ask the formation of a
State Historical Society with our cleo
ton as President because of our efforts
in that direction, neither do we wish to
be presented with farm or purse of
ducats, for we have now lack of
rupees, but if there is vacant mission
with little to do and a good deal to get
why, of course we won't say we couldn't
be induced to accept it.