Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-02-03
From the Orange On. j. Chronicle
Letter from Homecoming.
LoNACoNING. MARYLAND,
L fDNn


January Goth, 1879.
This very much jumbled up place is sit
uated on Georges Greek, at its junction
with another small creek, some miles from
the Potomac river. Homecoming is an la
dian name and signifies. 1.-The first meeting
of waters on the left 1t is in shis imnle-
date neighborhood that large mining ep-
erations are in progress during the greater
part of the year The miners here are
principally Scotch. There are, howes.s:, Il
number of Welsh, German, and Irish
also. There is a large congregation of
Scotch Presbyterians Rev Dr. Rankin. Of
Buffalo, being the pastor. The church ed
itice is convenient and comfortable frame
building. The Sunday School in connec
ton with this church is very nunierously
attended. ana has competent and jealous
teachers. There is also a German Luther
an church and Sunday School. The Welsh
Baptist congregation s not very large
one, and Their ...in:stcr, | am told, works
in the mine d'lring the week, and breaches
III Welsh on SUNDAYS, thus initiating St.
Paul, who said, A2>i When | vas present
with you, and ,;auted, | was chargeabl. to
TO man Ani in ell things l have kept
myself from being burdens0mc unto you.
and so will ] keep myself The Catholics
alsn have q cks17ch Ena school house, for
the be9era and instruction of those of that
faith At Lunsconing IL from its coal hill
surroundings 4 very compact place, the
passing to aud fro On Sundays, OF 80 many
families, gives il the appearance of Is bee
hive. Most Of &c miners houses are very
small, and plain in appearance, with few
cheerful surroundings. ln fsot, tie e&.
IRENE 'ruggednass 'ef tllc Hill sides on
~ ;x.t, !.
the cultivation of neat garden spots. The
for honesty. sobricty, and moral worth. in
great part derived from the good influence
of churches and schools There are no po-
liccmcn in Homecoming, and none are need.
ed only one magistrate. who has but little
to do in the way of enforcing the laws; no
lookup; no; even patent tin house" in
the place, and hut very little intemperance
exists, They seem to be, as people, liter
ally q" Il law unto themselves"
Visiting Homecoming number Of years
ago, before Georges Creek and Cumber-
land coal attained the reputation it now
enjoys, il was found necessary to stop over
night here The slowly moving cars ar
rived at this point nj dusk, and the au-
nouncement by the conductor of "Louaco-
ming" sounded most appropriately, TO I'M
familiar cara, as long-a-coming1 There
was ut that time only one store here, KEEP,
by Jnu. S. Combs, Esq. who has sine.
grown immensely rich, by the assistance
of his friends. the miners. There was. also
two or three houses, at one Of which, en-
tcrtainment for travellers was sometimes
provided. Approaching this abode. i, was
found to be log and frame house, one
and a-half stories high, with cow-pen ~
one end and a kitchen and eating room
combined at the other. Upon inquiring OF
tire assa NJ the door for supper and ludg-
ngs, Ire answered, Coon, in." and turning
to the bonayfscrd ~Sk: in ,he kitchen, he
said Molly, milk e coo, now, lass. Here.
a lad ill sup We us, and stop tn night.
Never having seen miners in their work
.ng rig and the cabin being lighted with
only one ,aliow candle, tie dropping in on
their way home from the mines, for dram.
of some half a dozen of these coal dust
begrimmed impcrsonations of the black
ness of darkness. with nothing to relieve
the duskincss OF their appearance but the
whites of their eyes and tie tlickcring Of
tie little oil lamps each had hooked into
the front of his closely-fittng skull caps.
did not tend TO ill strangers mind with
very pieasrut feelings of security As t.
purse or person, alsi slra remembrance OF
Beechcr's iavorte weapon. 1.-The revolver
in the travelling lraS gave n rcserred feeling
OF safety, Wi.en Lees guide wife had pre-
pofed the meal, IL WAS EsuBd To be a. sweet.
anu lis clearly. rs any e.er ea'.n; AMI ;ire
cheerful. good naturrG convrrsaIioR OF the
woman produced a feeling Of shame that
revolver had been thought o.. in 8 is9.,sc
where 30 kindl. aud SO good-hearte,i NO
man presided Wien the hour for rttii-
ing arrived. however. it was still will.
some little niss;vings that the lad followed
Jack LIE, and tie one teilOw Canilc--tlrst
WAS u I've brought away iinmed atriy, al
soon as The be-. MAS shown.--up 10 tn.
room shove. Upon reaching the topmost
step, The door OF the room was pusscd open.
the bearer O: the ,andl, stepped Jack eui-
denly. ami exclaimed, Beg Ia paEdIn,
mon" 10 !. rrostyate figure kneelins al the
bedside All coAardly fH,ling inatantl,
iie.,ar.ed fuc the sta,waIt ulan hefo;e liz.
ana whu VAS IL X one &C. :ne occnpsnts o.
Il r'.on! that nigl /. w"s g Scotch miner
o his kUves paying and Ind 'hns beis
s.C,sisc.i. Bttcii,rH w,apoD rcuajneA H.
III. tsa,rli...' 'nr; an.i the lfs rsapt se-s>'.e-
Il sol -e"un'.?, fof nothia2 was "a :
,.:l. -: 49,. p I."i.' =. 1.I.e'S