The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-02-23
nest in seeking a southern connection,
twill be apt to contrive some means to
effect that object. %
From the Charleston Herald. ~
Meeting or tho West Virginia His
tOrfeal SOciety

The West Virginia Historical Society
held its second annual meeting IN the
House OF Delegates in the afternoon
and. evening of Friday last, D. H. Stro
Their (acting) President, DR.. A. E. Sum.
mers, of this city, Vice President, and
Hon. Mr.. Sturgis Secretary. The af'
ternoon session was taken upin explain
ing the objects OF the Society and the
receiving of members, of whom there
were quite number proposed and elect,
ed. In the evening paper was read
before the Society by Gen. D. II. Stro-
ther, on the history of the Berkeley
Springs, situated in Berkeley county:
West Virginia, in which many interest
ing facts were stated which are not gen
erslly known. These celebrated springs
were known "a early as 1870, being WIS.,
tied bv various tribes Of Indians, who,
no matter how bitter their hostility to
each other, always met in peace around
the springs, which they held as sacred
ground. These springs, which consist
Of five different heads, discharge 1000
gallons Of water per minute, which wa
ter ia perfectly clear, and issues at a
temperature OF "A degrees Fahrenheit
The springs form Sir Johns run,
which, running in northerly direction
q miles, mpties into the Potomac.
This run. at the point where it empties
into the Potomac, formed a small basin,
shut in by steep and rocky hills, and
was seldom visited by any one in early
DAYS. In 1850 Mr.. Rumsey, living
at the springs, invented an application Of
mechanical power to propel boats, using
the basin at the mouth Of Sir Johns run
to make his experiments. Being sat
isfied that his invention would work,
he invited General Washington to
witness a trial Of it, who gave him q
certificate of its value. He afterwards
made a trial at Sheppardstown, with
success-destroyed his model and went
to Europe, where he expected to obtain
help to utilize his invention on large
scale. While there, he speaks in his
letters Of meeting with young Amerl-
can by the name Of Robert Fulton, who
visited him and took great interest in
his invention. Mr. Rumsey was not as
successful as he expected, was taken
sick and died. Robert Fulton returned
to this country, and in 1907 gave us the
steamboat.
General Strother also gave many
other interesting facts and anecdotes
connected with the springs, all Of which
were given in very graphic and
pleasing manner, and being well and
distinctly delivered, was highly appre-
ciated by the audience.
10 the meetings of this society all are
cordially invited. The society has for
its object the collection Of all the ira
ditions and manuscripts relating to the
history of this State. There are many
old persons living yet who were ac-
ouainted in their younger days with old
hunters and Indian fighters, and many
interesting facts can be obtained, and
being properly collected and arranged,
will add materially in the formation
of history Of this State. The head
quarters OF the society are at present
in Morsantown, at which place is also
the museum. The society ask that all
interesting facts connected with the
history of this State in the possession
of any individual be communicated to
the Secretary; also, that all relics of
Indian workmanship shall be pre-
served. Those who wish to make dona-
tons to the society, Of curiosities or
manuscripts, may send them to DR.. A.
F. Summers, of this city, with the name
of the donor and the locality where
they were found.