Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1870-03-12
A "Reminiscences.


Ms. EpIroR.-In The early settlement
OF Clarksbure the people were destitute Of
all mail facilities, bn' after long delay
route was established between Winches-
ter and Clark.burg. The contract wss
awarded TO citizen Of This county. and a
postmaster appointed and duly copmis-
stoned al Clarksburg. Tie contractor
secured the services, as neil carrier. Of a
man hy the name of Asa Davis. who was
The pioneer OF q settlement made neSr
where ihe town of New Salem now
stands. On tie ist DAY OF Mar, h. .srcord-
ing to previous understanding. Mr.. Davis
came 10 town mounted on poor Old
mare, and called a, the post Office Tor lie
mail. the msil was closed and delivered
TO Mr.. Davis. and many OF the cilizens
had assembled TO witness his departure.
Mr.. Davis, after severslly shaking hands
with the assembled crowd, started on his
long journey deeply impressed with heavy
and hitherto un;red responsibilities of
United SIsies mail cairie,-pursuing III,
long and tedious journey through an sl.
mosi unlnhsblted country, st The end OF
two weeks he found himself quietly Gu.
sconced under the hospitsbe roof Of
solitary farmer. on she crest OF Chcst
Mountain. After psrlsking Of an ample
repsst of bear meat and Indian pone, mine
host GIFTED him to bed where he enjoyed
during the night undis,urbed sleep. On
going 10 the stable next morning he
found bis old mare unfit Tor service, she
having for seversl days given synsems of
decline, the cause Of which will be 1ire-
after more fully explained. psrlski6g Of
a hearty hreakfas, which consisted ol
repetition OF The visndr upon which he
had fessied The night before. throwing the
mail bags scross his shoulder ho resumed
his journey on foot, leaving Lis ole mare
in charge Of mine host.
With ceriainty, il no, celeriiy, onward
he moved, nothing daunted by the scream
Of The Panther, the mouniains 10 be cross.
ed, or The deep waters TO be iorded, but
onward he moved, unul he should reach
the far off town Of Winche-,er,snd which
he did reach in jus! 81 days. On arriving
al the Post-Oilice the mail was duly de-
livered and relieved Of its vsIysble con-
tents, which consisted OF six precious liz.
,lc letters all sealed with Shoe msks6
wax and bearing BY their superscriPiibn
unmis,nk able evidence Of their importance
which in hose days was executed in
sbou, tho following unique style: "Sia,e
OF Virsiny, Winchester Post Offs, 10
Nancy Jane Jones, in haste"
BY carly dawn The next morning the
Rrestwesirrn mail was delivered 10 Mr..
Davis who turned his face homews srds
re,raced his steps day By day until 3, tho
end OF twenty days lie found himteli back
81 the farm house where he had left tho
old mare, which 10 his disappointment
was in q poorer condition, and had by
her side colt only two days olG Find.
ing il impossible 10 travel with thai celer-
ity which !be importance Of tho sorvicc
demanded ; he very properly concluded
to leave bis mare and colt in charge OF
,hr farmer and rely upon bis own muscle
for the completion Of the first trip ever
made with the United States mail from
Clarksburg 10 Winchester and back.
On the 18th day Of May. jus, sixty
five days from the time he started. the mo.
no,ony Of the Town was interrupted by the
sound Of iiJ trumpet, the pcnple Assem-
bled in the street, and casting their eyes
essiu ard vhonce the notes of the tfum'
pet proceeded. very readily determined
The cause, aud under intense excitement
cried aloud. ",be Dsil ,be mail :" Tho
Pos,n ss,er turned pale. the juveniles 81
the place ran 10 meet him o, the entrance
Of the town, and escorted him 10 the poet
office, where the postmaster with irsmu.
lous hands unlocked The mail beg, shd
10 ! and beholJ no, letter was in it.
The crowd dispersed. and sfier few
days rest Mr.. Davis returned 10 bis home.
where be lived 10 great age, being ever
after content with the humble pursuiw Of
private life.-Cor. CiorksJwg Tth-
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