The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-11-12
Camping Out In Webster.


The editor OF the Weston Democrat,
Mr.. woFF1SDIN, has recently been on
hunt to Webster county, and treats
his readers to a spicy account OF his
camping out experience;
SWEAT l KNOW ABOUT CAMPING
OUr."-In accordance with our prom'
ise of last week, we propose 10 offer to
the reader a slight dissertation upon
this subject. 1t is true that our exPe-
rience is limited, being confined to the
record OF lone night only" bat that
was enough for us and would be plenty
for "sny other man." under like cir'
cumstances. To begin then: On the
oath of last month, after taking a
hearty dinner with Mifflin Lorentz,
Eco at Haymonds Mills, We STRUCK
oui." in company with young diacip!e
OF Esculapius, for the capital Of the
State of Webster. We have heretofore
spoken Of the reads" in that region !;
aud it ia sufficient 10 cay now that
the journey was rough one
just az the shades OF evening approach.
ea, we came near the Forks OF Kama
VIVA, one OF which we iorded without
much difficulty; but the other was
fearful. GThe reader may here note
that tritie over twcntg-eix inches OF
snow had fallen in the mon t3;rs, ard
it WAS melting. In crcssIus Il, the
water came tearing down 50 iurIousiy
thst our horse tell, and hut icr our
presence Of mind ard a big switch, toe
Democrat would last week have oceo
drsped in mourning, by reason
of The untimely end OF "Wefadam.
We finally got out OF the water, wet 10
the skin. Here the reader may a'so
rote that it was four miles to the near
est house, and to get to that basis, we
had to cross that terrible stream six
times more. Trusting that the next
fording would be better than the one
wherein we had had such q narrow
escape. we galloped to it; but alas it
WAS worae than the first. Rushing
back, we were horrifed to discover that
the water had raised go rapidly as to
put al cad 20 e.! thoughts OF recross-
ing; and while we gazed at the rush.
ing waters. the sable curtain OF night
fell upon us like a pail. What
were we TO do2 Enclosed on three
sides by an impetuous mountain tor.
rent, and on the fourth by a steep
mountain, and darkness upon us-we
concluded to do the b.st and only thing
we could under the circumstances-we
"camp.d out" After hitchipg and un-
saddllng our horses. we gathered up
leaves and brush, made a fire, and
stared into the blaze thereof for COM
fort. Stories of panther, besr, and wild
cat filled our brain; and at the slight
est noise, out jumped our navy" and
we would yell in manner that would
cause a Comanche Indian TO cut his
throat for envy. Occasionally, as
our horses would snort with fright
a, the distant howl Of some wild
cat, who seemsd to be calling his dull
cinea, we would rush short distance
from our camp" swinging a huge
torch; and with our hair straight on
end we would-weli, the LORD only
knows what we did do To make the
situation still more interesting, the rain
began 10 fall in torrents, and what
with the falling thereof on the leaves,
the sighing OF the winds, the
roar OF The stream as it dashed over
i,s rocky bed, the sputttering Of our sick
ly fire, the snort OF our terrified
horses, and the music OF the "vsrmint
hereto ore referred to, our condition was
one which must be experienced to be
appreciated ; and we suggest that before
too much laughing is done, some OF
our courageous friends, VINO do not fear
panther and all that sort OF thing, try
the experiment themselves. Well, that
night was little the longest we ever
experienced-and sleep was not thought |
Of; but finally, day did break. Then
we scOvered that the waters were still
too high to cross, and no alternative
was let us but to tackle the noun
tsins. This we proceeded to do
riding and leading our horses
along places that never mortal man
travelled before. The heavy fall Of
snow had broken down the timber in |
such a way that it WAS almost mira
Gle that we got through; but between
10 and | o'clock we gained the summit
of the mountain, came to house, and |
learned that our stauuch friend, Benz.
C. Conrad, Clerk OF the Circuit Court o (
Webster county, lived but a quarter OF
a mile distant. Thithsr we sped and
Benz amin and his amiabIe wife bestow-
ed upon US every attention. Alter dry
ing our clothes, eating an enormous
meal, and taking ten hours nap in a