The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-02-18
A NIGHT IN The HAWKS NEST.
Written for the Chicago Tribune

Written for the Chicago Tritune.]
In 185-I was engaged on the con-
struction Of the Chesapeake & Ohio Rail-
road lit was then called the Chesapeake
& Charleston Railroad), having sub
contract in the building of its grade.
Though had large number of men and
carts, with foremen. in my employ. per-
sonally supervised the work, or IN charg-
ing and exploding blast of powder with
my own hands, working as hard as any Of
my men, and exposing myself to the
same danger they were; and the result
was, my work received the commentator
Of the contractors and directors of the
road for it's thoroughness in filling the
letter of my contract. This was a bene-
fit to me for, as soon as / finished ore
Job, another would be awaiting me at
good figures. But, in passing from one
piece of work to another, | was often
obliged to make a journey of several
miles with my men and carts over the
turnpike, through the then lonely and
wild Blue Ridge and Allegheny Noun
taihs.
remember once passing along this
turnpike with some twenty carts and a
score of men, and night found US, tired
and weary, at mountain-.avern. We
asked for a nights lodging. but the land
lord, cycling us suspiciously, refused it
with the plea that he had no feed for ou1
horses, and provisions or beds for ms
men, and directed us to his nearest neigh
Dor, four miles ahead. But our team.
were weary. and l refused to proceed
telling the man We had enough feed fol
our horses and plenty of blankets for tn,
men; and directed the men to unhitcl
and prepare to stay. The man growle,
out that he couldn't feed us, and that W
would be ssrry for hating there. / re
piled we had no fears on that point. How
it was We were invited to the supper tn
BILE, loaded down with the good things Q
the meuntain-chasc, the golden butter
and good, clear coffee and how it was W
were each given q splendid feather-be
to rest our weary limbs on,-I never ca
relate; but, the next morning, min
host smilingly invited me to PAL
take Of his choice peach brandy
and confessed he was afraid of us, bt
cause such large procession Of carts an
men had never passed along that roa
before in his time; and he took us for
OAHu VI eutSNbiS - kSA~S' y -
large number in my company. he reduce
his bill after the Wholesale style, an
ended by giving us jug Of his favorit
peach to imbibe along the way.
The time the adventure occurred tn:
am about to describe. l and one OF m
foremen, Bill Smith, were going to ne
piece Of work at Crowns Tavern,-now
station on that railroad. called Came
ton. We went day ahead of the ms
and teams. and were accompanied only
two horse-carts, that carried our bagga!
and tools. We were about three da,
following the turnpike As it crept alor
abreast the winiings Of the crooked 4
navha river. There being no villag
along the way, we put up, when We 4
like turning in for tie night, At the fir
log house, which. Of course. in this thin
settled land, proved to be tavern
\ house of entertainment; and must $
that. with the exception | am about
n relate, We were generally warmly.w
4 coined by the good people who kept tn
n houses, and ow wants were careaoiiy
tended to.
The sessnd day efor joaznay -