The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-07-06

tread of past generations mas ooch
tending during the cycle OF century
we are summoned 10 pause, and " lay
aside for thetime being the active indus-
tries and pursuits of life, and to turn
awsy from the familiar emplOyments OF
our daily routine, suffering our mechan-
zeal implements to lie idle, the hres 70
shoulder IN the forge, the noise OF the
steam driven machinery to cease and our
stores, shops and offices to remain closed
and unoccupied, that we may engage IN
spending brief period in taking retro.
spective survey from this Mount OF
Privilege of scenes and incidents, land
marks and persons. identified with the
early history, subsequent growth ana
present prosperity OF our city,
Tho strokes of the great clock OF lime
are even now tolling in measured
cadences the knell of departed century,
while the swing of its mighty pendulum
to and tro, constant rs ever, pauses n"' 70
mark its flight, and we are only made
aware of its passage by the indications OF
the mighty hand which points upon It's
dial-plate to the record of its centennial
revolution.
Waiting at the portals of new CEN
fury of national existence, ere we enter
let us for briei period turn and glance
backward at the recedlng form OF the old.
It's trailing garments have not yet dlsap-
peared from our view, as we cast our iare-
we'll look at it, standing, as we do, In the
yestibule of the new. The echoes OF Its
fast retreating footsteps are sounding on
our ears, as It's vanishing form Is
rapidly growing less as it quickly
disappears IN the distance, hasten
ing TO take its place, beside its fellows
who have preceded it in the dim corridors
of the gallery of the Past. The farewell
to the Old, and the greeting to the
New, are so simultaneous IN point OF
time, that the goodbye to the one, and
the welcome 10 the other, seem to mInSle
together, Just as in the sweetest strains
of music, there is always blended a
monotone of sadness.
As we bid then the old century adieu,
let us in the very briefest possible man
ner linger over some of its memories
which pertain to us a village, town and
city. j,
We are wont to dwell with deep and
earnest interest upon the deeds OF valor
and proves, with which history sbounds,
az having been enacted by the
mailed warrior on the battle field,
or the gallant knight to WIN the guerdon
of some "fair adye's" smile in the tour
news lists, and there is charm OF fascl-
mating power surrounding the names OF
such men as Richard CGur de Lion,
Peter the Hermit, Saladin, and Henry OF
Navarro as well rs others whose names
stand out in equal prominent consplcu-
ity with those we have mentioned. But
these men and their compeers were urged
to the accomplishment of their purposes,
in many instances, by the inspirltlnS re-
Election that the gaze OF an admIring
multitude rested upon them, the tendency
of which WAS to animate them with the
hope of glory and to Inspire them with
the promptings OF ambition.
But the pioneer of this western world
lacking these incentives, the promptinSS
of which TO the human heart prove them
selves to be SO strong and irresistible, nc
complished deeds and performed leafs
|
been recorded by the pen OF history IN
the TAR distant past. Their lonely SUI
ferinrs and unselfish sacrifices laid deep
and fasting the permanent foundations
Of mighty empire in these then western
wids which they ccmented with their
blood and hailowri by their acts.
Alone and unaided he penetrated the
intricate nazes of II labyrinthine forest,
his keen sight and acute hearing alone
proving his safest and surcst guides. At
night nc would pillow his head upon his
ouch on the green sward, BE-.
meath the overhanglng branches
of soma friendly forest tree, his
sole companion, his tried and lrusty
lhe, and the stars looking down upon
from their azure heights rs his solitary
sentinels. Far removed, not only from
all the comforts and conveniences OF
civilization, but severed also by wide eX
tended and far stretched wlldernesses
from the sympathy and companionshlp
sbf his fellow-man, his LIE was one OF
d faculties and trials--of constant sur
l.r .es and hair-breadth escapes.
From the very conditions encompass
i = his life, there WAS doubtless much
nat would have commanded the ad-
IN ration of the multitude and have
awakened the interest of his feliow-men,
that persisted with ITS birth never TO be
resurrected; and hence | take 1t that the
uuwritten and the LOST, abounded rs much,
and probably more, in the heroic and
sublime. as the little we have been able
To rescue from the waters OF oblivion.
Surrounded as they were by imminent
perils, and exposed TO the most trying
privations, they we're never disheartened
under the most discouraging clrcum-
stances, but with an untlagging spirit
and stern resolve aS well as reckless
courage, they pressed forward in the face
of ali difficulties and with a persistent
perseverance overcame all obstacles.
wish the keen edge of his ringing axe
he opened new clearlngs IN the hitherto
uncomfortable recesses of the wilderness,
he hunted over the same grounds, of
which the red man once held undisputed
sway, while the attention of the savage
was not unfrequently suddenly arrested,
AS he royed amid the secret
haunts of the forest, rs he saw the
white man with pole and chain sur
veying and setting apart some of the
richest portions of the land. Hence the
jealousy and vindictiveness Of the savage
was not only aroused, but intensified,
and these and similar things excited upon
their part an lmplscable hatred towards
the white man, which found vent in acts
of cruel bsrbarity aud revenge III con-
duct AS = consequence an anger as bit
ter and hostile was kindled in the heart
of the pioneer. 1t needed, therefore, but
a sight of each other, and they rushed To-
the fatal conflict and the death grappIe.
However. at the time of the settlement
of the site where now stands the city OF
Wheeling, comparative peace and quiet
prevailed along the western borders
This WAS the result of treaty
which had been entered into at
Fort Pitt between Coione! Bosquet
and the savages, effected BY military
....>>l;,;on lod hy Inl RnSnuat IN the