The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-11-23
OUR TRAVELLING CORRESPONDENT.
ALAMAGooZLUM CITY, !
Nov. 10th, 1872. {

to,on. AS yet I'm unable to appreciate for
eign society, perhaps too aristocratic 70
my education and taste. This society i
chiefly composed of the McGloins, MCGEE
hins, McMurtrus and lots of other Frencl
names omittedd tor the present, though
blood connexions. I've already writer
enough of this oil region to tire both you
and your readers perhaps: But this pic
turesque scenery is to me always interest
ing; hence am repeater. These valley
and mountains at this season are especial,
inviting and fascinating.
Leaving Cory, the mountains and land
scape seem to pass US in grand panorama,
succession and exhaustless variety. Every
second is presented to the wondering sense
of sight, portions of a new picture, painted
by natures Master Artist. Now the hill
tops tower in stately granduer; their side.
thickly studded with oaks and other trees
chiefly conspicuous among which is seer
the evergreen hemlock, their roots embedd
ed in crevices or assures; their tops over
hanging dangerous cliffs and ragged preci
pices, over which frequently rushes the
virgin streamlet Of centuries. Again, we
see a succession of hills rising higher
higher-plateau after plateau-till they
seem to kiss the blue canopy of heaven.-
On these hills is seen shrubbery, clothed in
its autumnal variegated beauty, arrayed in
oil IL a. no. ~, 81
est green to the mellowest orange. Now
onward we fly: huge centurious rocks stand
up perpendicularly, frownng veterans OF
time; then again, they hang themselves in
alarming equipoise over our flying IRON
horse, seemingly in their mute threaten
ings to say-man is mighty, steam is pow
erful, but were l to drop down on your
pathway your shrieking, putting engine
would go to smithereens in sixty seconds,
and man with all his boasted scientific and
mechanical training would go where the
woodbine twineth.
Now we come to and pass in quick sue
cession, houses and villages, looking down
on the ripping river, which is a continuous
winding of semi-circle and curves. Now
we pass green fields and fleeing kline, thus
adding the charm and variety of civiliza-
ton to natural wildness and sublimity. l
look again and 10 I'm instantly blind-we
dash into darkness intensified; in a mo-
ment we dart out,-the heart is relieved,
but the eye is momentarily distressed
Onward wef y to an abrupt curve. We
are going madly, recklessly toward the
river; but the iron-horse obeys the curva-
ture, and thanks to strong rails the curve
is safely rounded and we are grateful that
we are not compelled to take river bath,
nor to try the solidity Of that overhanging
ledge.
Something new attracts us; what is it :?
l ask. A dog churn, answers resident to
my left, working on the endless chain prin-
ciple. Simply a dog on tread mill doing
the churning for dairy for economy dog
sonlfed. So absorbed was in the dogss
misery, that for moment l forgot my
danger of life and limb, and in the anguish
Of my heart l cried: Poor old dog Tray,
kick loose and fly to Bergh away.
The engine shrieks, and GRACEFUL flying
up the steep bluff is seen the doe and her
spotted child. momentarily wish me down,
gun in hand; then l reason with myself,
and say, why spill the innocent blood of
mother and daughter with eyes so meek?
Then again 1 shudder when think scarce
ly half century since this valley and these
hills echoed the war whoop and blood
thirsty red handed red men sung the cap
tive's doxology and swung the murderous
Ratchet aloft. Imagine these cliffs covered
with panted-feathered savages, armed
with poisoned arrows, revengfully peering
down with blood thirsty cravings for our
scalps, and join me in prayer Of gratitude
that we live in later days of civilization
Where was seen once the terrors of war
dance and on that mound has been seated
many hopeless victims, whose toture min
istered to the pleasures of savage ferocity,
now is found beautiful homes standing,
monuments to the memory of the bold
hearted and energetic pioneer of days past.
Looming up, see the familiar Ito my
eye oil derrick, snuff. even afar off, the
peculiar fumes Of the refinery, and my ole
factories welcome the coflavitious essence,
as It's a preventive to the horse disease.
We pass thousands of wells squirting and
pumping in this Golconda of America,
wherein dwelleth millionares by dozens.
Parker's Landing is reached, the conduc-
tor sings out, II minutes for dinner. 1
didn't go in on no lit an unlucky num-
Der. l tried it once; paid a dollar for
ticket, got lots of paste-board, but only
half dinner-that dinner was a delusion.
After passing Freeport, the river is like
basin; not a murmur, not ripple is seen,
the water calm and placid as the surface of
a mirror, the banks overhung by the droop.
ing willow and sumac, their branches heav-
lily festooned in grape and other wild vines.
Looking down, we espy the raftsman hang
ing listlessly on his sluggish oar, having
long since passed the rapids, seemingly deaf
to the screeching of our express train. The
hills now become more gently sloplng; the
bottom-lands wider and greener; the land
scape less wild and romantic, gaining in
artificial beauty what they lose in wild sub
Unity. We dash on for an hour through
varied scenery, meeting fresh beauty in hill
and dale, flying past RATS, ducks, and at
tractive miniature islands silent, cosy
while bathing their sides in the Allegheny.
Rushing onward we are advised in the
foreshadowing of hands, faces and shirt
fronts, that we are approaching Pennsyl-
vania's great iron mart. Like the trained
war-horse, our engine seemingly thing of
life, quickens her pace as she seem to snuff
already the peculiar soot-lade atmosphere
of Pittsburg, city which in its apparent
ly sunken position among the hills, its
black, grinny looking streets, houses, cars,
horses and men, its eternal pail of dark
ness Obscuring the beauteous sunlight of
noon day as well as moon, the muff1ed noise
OF ponderous machinery, it's furnace fires
darling out in lurid glare, conveys to one