Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-09-20
LETTER FROM WEST VIRGINIA.
BEVERLY, J
Randolph Co., w. Va.
September 9Th. 1873.

-hi' LuiIol-Ne lelI IOcanOntaS
few days ago, entered Randolph by
way otTrayellers Repose. This place
Is at the extreme end of Pocahontas, and
has its name from the fact, that the poor
wayworn traveller, by paying the small
sum OF 81, can, over night, repose him
self on hard beds,and satisfy his hunger
on poor grubb, These mountain Hotels
have queer names-such as these, Tray
eller's Retreat, Travellers Rest, Noun
tain Home, Entertainment, &c. At
Travellers Repose the Grecn5rier river
is only few feet wide. Within one
mile of this, is the Cheat Mountain. All
water falling on one side Of this, is car
ried into the Greenbrier, and from thence
into the James, while all on the other
passes into the Cheat River, and finally
reaches the Ohio.
On this mountain are immense guam
titles of blackberries, covering thousands
of acres. Whorteberries are nearly all
gone. The chestnut crop will be a large
one everywhere.
When we reached Travellers Repose
we concluded to tarry awhile, and so
turning our horses in good pasture and
we ourselves replenishing the inner
nanny partner says, ''Let's take deer
hunt" The Hotel proprietor, Mr.. 2.
ID. Yeager, very clever gentleman,
kindly furnished us with rifles, anmu-
milton and knives We started for a
click" reached it about four o'clock IL
the evening. After remaining quiet
for one hour, we heard q slight noise
near us, and soon saw fine buck, walk
ing directly for the click" lie looked
around him very cautiously, and feeling
that he was safe, commenced licking
the saline substance with head turned
toward us. My partner, the junior
member of the firm, fired and struck
him in the shoulder, at which he turned
but could not move very fast as he was
considerably disabled, and before he
had run twenty yards, an uncrring shot
from Mary Beau's rifle brought him
down. We then bled him with our
knives, hung him on tree, and left for
the Hotel feeling like young Nimrods.
For two days we RECALLED on venison.
The new railroad through Pocahon-
tas and Webster is causing considerable
excitement and speculation in regard to
land in these and adjoining counties.
Everybody wants to buy land and make
fortune. While at Travellers Repose,
we met a gentleman of Harrisonburg,
who had just returned from Webster,
Braxton and Clay counties, where he
had purchased eighty-three thousand
acres of coal and iron lands-for which
he paid from 20 cts. to S. per acre.
How foolish these people, to sell their
possessions for mere matterof nothing,
when they could by holding them a
short time, realize millions OF dollars.
Such is ignorance.
Here also we met an assessor who
told us that Webster county only holds
three hundred voters, has two school
houses and two churches, that the peo-
pie still wear moccasins, and that a
majority of them never saw wagon or
buegic. The sled is the only vehicle
they use Alas poor ignorant down
troddcn Webster.
We had delightful time crossing
Cheat Mountain, eating blackberrlcs
and killing rattlesnakcs. For twenty
seven miles there is only one dwelling
place Here lives Mr. White, who,
the people say,is a respectable highway
man. On the top Of this mountain is
the head or source of Cheat river.
We now enter Randolph, and in a
few hours ride reach Beverly. This is
the county seat and quite fourishing
little place.
Randolph is 4 very good county, but
seems to be retrograding very fast. Ev-
erywhere we see fields growing up with
bushes and briers, which does not har-
monte with enterprise. Yet VIC find
the people more intelligent and hospi-
able, the women more refined and cul-
tvated, and the young ladies prettier
tan in Pocahonlas.
A beautiful Valley extends through
tn county, in which some Of the land
vii sell for 800 per acre. These peo-
pie also expect q railroad. They say
thatthe route has been surveyed and
that he road is a sure thing. 1t is call
cd tn, West Va. Central II. II. There
is butlittle coal in this county, but iron
is in abundance. The chief boast OF
Randonh is the richness of her soil and
the qua,ty of her timber.
The fee schools of this county are in
healthy condition. The teachers are
very cflicont, and are well paid for their
services.
We see hat Timothy has gone to the
Springs. Trust that his health will re-
cover sufficient to enable him to resume
his duties,anl especially to continue his
letters to the Register, as we cannot
well do without them. He seems, how
ever, to have rival in the person OF
Sam Clover. Long may they bothwa
1t seems that Templar has a ''little
girl, and runner says he is, or is about
to be, married o, woman thou art a
dangerous creature. Wish you lots of
happiness, Templar.
Accept our congratulations, Mr.. Edl-
tor in regard to the future prospects of
your town, relative 10 her railroads, DC
Shepherdstown is destined to be quite
an important place. Her future is so
bright, that it makes Mary Beau feel
proud of her birthplace. More next
time. Yours forever,
MARY BEAU.