The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-14


1--we couIa ma, ma. huge rocks buried init
the side Of tho mountain, put neaf,y al
had this peculiar central hole. They
seemed to 10 q mixture Of various ores
iron, copper, zinc, autimony and Othel
minerals We're recognized. As we
neared the top We began to realize the
height Of the mountaiu. We found
ourselves high above all other noun.
tains Of note in West Virginia. The
Blue Ridge was plainly seen in the
dim distance; Droop Mountain was
nearer to us; the Saltpond Mountain,
in Monroe county, was also visible, and
Mr.. Barton thought he could discern
Point Lookout Mountain, near Chatta.
nooga, in Tennessee. II was a grand
sight, and We had forgotten our miner
ais, in contemplating the beautiful
scenery, when suddenly We heard d
rushing sound, like the passing Of a
shell through the air. II lasted but q
moment, and all was silent. Soon q
similar sound was heard. It was now
81 o'clock, November 18th. We had
reached the top, aud the exercise had
sharpened our appetites, and we ate
our luach and prepared to spend tho
night. After our repast we witnessed
the most gorgeous sunset | ever behcld
the sky was perfectly clear, tho at
mosphere perfectly transparent, and We
could notice it, lightness in our feel.
ings and breathing. Our vision was
perfect at great distances. The sun
seemed larger and more beautiful than
ever, and as be nenred the far of hOri-
zon 10 almost dropped down and dis.
appeared, and darkness, followed in
quick succession.
We were preparing to lie down when
we were startled by a brilliant meteoric
display, hundreds Of failing stars"
fitted across the heavens, and to our
horror We soon began TO SEQ many Of
them strike tho earth around US once
or twice we felt u hot singing sensa-
tion. evidently caused by an unburut
bu. igneous meteor coming in contact
with our bodies. This alarmed US
somewhat, but We we're still enchanted
at the magnificent and wonderful mo-
teoric display, hIrdly realizing our
danger, when we were sadly made
aware oft by a meteor as large as a
mans head falling within q hundred
yards Of US and exploding like q she'll.
Soon another fell near. then for the
first time II occurred to me tina. We
werc in tho midst ola mctcoric show
or. and they were solarge that unless
We could protect ourselves or get out
Of their reich our lives would be sac
ridced. | communicated my thoughts
rapidly to Mr.. Barton, when he OK.
claimed: "Wc arc in tho meteoric
belt that strikes our earth ut this time
every year, and this height cuts into
t. and said, "lOt'us at once leave
this terrible mountain" We Instant
y started, aud as We did SO VIC noticed
an evident increase Of tho number and
size Of the metOors. They seemed all
around US, cracking and bursting like
50 nuuy fire cracfers and shells. We
gained the brow Of tho pinnacle and
had started down Its side, when | no.
ticed Mr.. Barton fall heavily, l heard
q sound as IL a shell had burstOd at
our very side. l heardlh exclaim, "0h
my head" and be pitched forward
down the mountain. | at once knew
that he had been struck, and hurricdly
raised him on my back and ran as
fast as / could far down tho mountain,
until l could SEQ that l was getting bO-
low the line Of the meteoric storm.
Behind and above mo l could s,e and
hear the uuearthly fireworks. l has
tened on until l knew | must DO near
the base ofthc pinnacle. when my foot
touched n stream Of water. / laid Mr..
Barton down, and hastily washed his
face aud forced some brandy into his
mouth, when he cvinced some signtof
returning consciousness, gasped for
breath, and was no more. Istruck q
match and built n fire, and watched
over his remains until daylight when
| protected his body as best | could,
with logs and brush, after taking all
his yaluablcs, watch, &C., aud haston-
cd to Addison as fast as 1 could, after
tho terrible fright, and reached there
on the evening Of the 14th, aud re.
ported as hos. l could the fearful
night on the mountain, and the terri
bic death Of Mr.. Barton. | fear my
mind wandered and | must have given
contradictory statements, for soon 1
noticed that the crowd became iucrsd-
ulous and arrested me, aud after find.
Ing Mr.. Bartou's yaluables on my per-
son, they became further convinced Of
foul play. They asked me to lead
them to his body. ] at once signiiied
my willingness and started to do SO.
but unfortunately l was so excited TINT
Imissed my way and after leading
themall day, We had to return unsuc-
cessful. Next morning ] was inform
cd that hunter had found the body Of
a strange man on the opposite side Of
the mountain from which I in my cx-
cited state thought It to be. They
brought tho body in, and upon Oxami;