Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-08-07
RockBRIpGE. BATHs RocKBRIpGE

. o8k&NS ~ PA0NSo W " - VI NOa--OAeoeA
!. one, and then transcribe a few note
5 from my diary. 'a.''o'
1st. My outfit consisted Of larg
three-year-old colt, saddle, bride an
halter; pair Of saddle-bags, a lres
} suit, and a brown linen suit of clothes
(the latter to travel in), pair of heay.
! kip boots, made by your neighbo
Ridgebaugh of Marshalville, TO wal
over the stones in; large umbrella;
/. lhostier with revolver and plenty Of am
unition for the benefit of any gam
whether two or four-legged that nigh
attract me- and travellers gum drink
ing cup:.with which 1 obtained. many {
delicious dsanshtlfromithe cold spring
on the mountains. Stf
End. Farris' Tavern, Randolph Co,
West Va, Monday, July 18th, o'Cloei
tf.MSThismorning after . ride of tws
thours / reached Sage, Tpshew Co., my
Post-office where 1 received and read
my first batch Of letters from deal
friends in Ohio. Rode two miles up
Buckhannon River and then forded it
THE stream is about ten rods wide, has s
deep, rocky bed, and is as dear as the
air We breathe. 1t was through mar
row valley, which, with the heighbor-
ing hills, is densely timbered with wal
uns cherry, poplar, cucumber, mag
nolia, oak and chestnut, with broad
leaved laurel, now in full bloom, for
underground. Near the tops of the
highest hills lies bed of the finest BIZ
ItumintOus coal from three to five feet
thick. About hall way down to the
level of the river runs another bed of
the same quality, and nearly as thick.
just above the bed of the river at this
ford, and just below it at all points
south of this, lies deposite of coal Of
the same quality and from ten 70 tven-
ty feet in thickness. Aparadise of car
bon surely. - -
The soil is generally very rich, but in
many places it is too steep or too stony
for any use but grazing.
3. In all this region pretty good wagon
roads al e bsing made wherever needed.
Alter examining my late purchase, the
falls Of the river, came by very good
wagon road up 2 tributary. of the iiver,|
called Grassy Run, through thickly
settled country, over the dividing ridge
to Queens Mills, on the west branch of
Middle Fork River, clear rapid stream
three rods wide. Here, rain STOPPED
me for one hour and half. A mile
and half farther east 1 left the wagon
road and taking the bridle-path opened
by Uncle Sam for his mail-c:rrier,s 1 |
climbed over Middle Fork Mountain to
he Long Run, then over another ridge
Of the same mountain to my present |
odgings, without passing q single
rouse or farm in the last five miles.
Got in just in time; for it is raining
erribly. Bitter complaints because It
continues too wet to piow corn, which,
nevertheless, is waist high and looking
veil, even on the top of this mountain.
3rd. Huttonsville, Randolph Co. West
Va, Tuesday, July 18th, O'Clock P. NJ:
started from Mr.. F's. at six O'Clock this
and to my joy, found the east
'ranch of Middle Fork quite low, and
asy to ford. 1T is nearly twice as largej
8 the other branch, bnt in other re-
poets just like it. ~ VIZ
For miles from this river np. the west
ide Of Rich Mountain, the brush, wet
rom last'night's rain, hung thick over
he path and met me like aheayy show
r, asE rode aleng.-Atthe river the1
rood timber gave way to chestnut and
hack gum. On the top Of the noun
ain there is fiat a mile or two wide,
md in some places it becomes cram
'erry swamp. On reaching the eastern
ummit landscape OF great beauty
'pened 70 view. Here and there through
he foot hills one .catched .glimpses ofES
,ygerts' Valley, leyel as q table, with Z
be Valley river, bright As silver rib Z
on, winding its serpentiner course +
trough its length and breadth. Be-
ond to the east was Cheat Mountain
ifting its dark, yew-covered head fart 4
bOve the clouds, and stretching from u
orth to south farther than the eye can /
each. Warned by the muttering thun- @
er, l hastened down to the Pike, tlt
he edge of the valley, three miles be 5
wv this town. The whole country q
rom Mr.. F's. to the valley eight miles <
Tas an uninhabited wilderness. al h.
1t has ra.ned for two hours, but dim :
er is over, my tender-footed colt is
nod behind, and am ready for Cheat Z,
Ii
The Earrows, Pccahontas Co., West s
q, ruesday, snlx 1stfs 70 o'clock PM: :
aCH r. At~fby Tic CtdH-
"a Pfke, loraelf t,e river and inone r
opr xss cllnbing Cheat Mountain on 2
,oe, shadsi BY my hnsrelh. without !
pat or vest, and driving my horse be- c
,te me. 6 & EsYlE Es +
The smoother slopes have been clear .
], and thousands Of cattle were graz +
lg on them. By six O'Clock 1 reached
ne western summit, where Gen. Milroy
, long held in cheek the rebel Gen.
ohnston. Here, for the first time in
~ life, 1 regaled myself upon dead f
pe Serviceberries or Juneberries.
hey are not ripe when red, as ]. sup. : :
osed, now are they half grown. These =
'ere dark purple-very juicy and sweet. T
t sunset l was crossing the bridge
yer Cheat River, a stream four rods
tide, which runs in shallow trough in
le top of the mountain. Darkness Il
aught me crossing the eastern summit,
'hich is the line between this and Ran p
olph counties. Riding down the Y
fountain. nine miles, at "a sweeping ,
-of I 1lal v,axy unnpn frianh Sla- L.,