The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-11-16
AN INTERFERING LETTER.

seeking health and recreation,
AN INTERESTING LETTER.
GRAFTON, W. Va, Nov. Is, 1877.
EiItur1 IntellIsencer
Two hundred and twenty-five pounds
Of humanity mounted on 800 pounds Of
horse lesh, Is not just ones idea Of the
eternal fitness Of things, but my little
pony did not seem over burdened and
cantered OF gayly. A short ride north.
west from Grafton brought me to the
mountains. The day was beautiful and
the trees and mountains never looked |
more lovely.
am not going 10 write Of Majestic |
mountains" Ssylvan soiitudes," or "nut
brown waters" fear do not possess
enough Of the "soul OF poetry" to fully |
appreciate these things. To me a noun.
tain 10 nothing but mountain wherever
seen. Leaves and roses and flowers arc
alike everywhere. They only interest
me when they have associated with them |
some important event. "The proper
study Of mankind is man." not green
grass and flowers and moon.light,"1i
~ But as stood up in the mountain about
fVeutles from Grafton, did stop to look |
at large beech tree standing on the op.
poSite hill, for on this tree Acre Rog-
ers hanged himself, about ten years
ago. Mr.. Rogers was found hanging to |
a limb Of this tree. HeWent TO the corn.
field one morning to husk-corn, as he
said. Not returning, at the appointed
time, search was made for him by his
family, without avail. His continued
absence alarmed his friends, and search
was made throughout the neighborhood,
but no traces could be found, nor any.
thing to indicate, in any manner, his
whereabouts. This was in the month
Of October or November. For about
three months his fate remained pro.
found mystery. at length some hunters
found his body hanging to limb Of this
tree, about 40 feet from the ground, He
seems TO have climbed up the tree, fast
ened rope to a limb and around his
neck, and then 10 have swung his body
from the tree. The weather was cold, the
body froze, and when found was in per.
feet state notwithstanding it had re-
NAMED on the tree for more than three
months. No cause for this most unnat.
ural act has ever been assigned. He was
about As years OF age, and Of jovial and
happy temperament, and was almost the
last person'iu that community who would
have been suspected Of thus shutting of
this mortal coil" HI, left wife and
large and very respectable family Of chill.
dren,
PRlDE's RIDGE.
Pursuing my Journey a few miles
>beouSht me 10 Pride's Ridge. This is a |
ble&A barren, rough mountain, abound.
Ing chieGX in snakes and "huckleberries."
There are SONG good people living here,
but why in theSsame OF common sense
they attempt 10 cultivate, this poor, bar.
reu land, when good land>is SO cheap in
our State, Is mystery to me.>They pay
more for this land than they would>have |
to pay for good land in some OF our iRteN
rior counties.
WHITE DAY CREEK.
Passing over the mountain, l came TO
While Day Creek, beautiful stream Of
Slen4i pun WateEl oHu uutueu IoE BOOu /
old Indian chief. Here | observed the
site Of two old distilIeriss, once owned
by ReEiu Malott. In the days OF "ald |
lang syne" and Democratic liberty,
mountain dew" was abundant tere. The |
Federal Government did not impose any |
tax whatever, but the State law required |
license when one carried on the bust.
ness for more than four months at time
in one county. White Day ia the line
between Marion and Monongalia coun-
ties here, and TO evade taxation Rein
built q distillery on both sides Of the
creek and carried on business in one
county four months then stepped across
the creek into the other county and con.
tinued four months longer. He was an
advanced thinker and somewhat inclined |
TO Mormonism. With his apple jack,
maple sugar, women and hounds, he lived
Joyous ToIicking life, "o'er all the ills
Of Lie victorious"
RICHARD FAST.
Two miles below MaIott's stands the
reSidence Of the late Hon. Richard Fast.
Mr.. Fat was for many years local pol.
itician OF considerable celebrity. He
was man Of good native sense and some
culture, but was strong partisan. I'm.
I'll the Democratic party eSpoused the
cause Of secession, he was staunch Dem.
ocrat, but he declined to follow his party
into rebellion. He loved his country
better than his party. He took an active
part at the outbreak Of the rebellion in
counteracting the pernicious influences
OF Neeson, Thompson Kidwell, the Hay
monds and that whole memorable nest OF
secesaioniSts, In and about Fairmont, who
did 10 much 10 inAame the public mind,
and who were 40 brave and full Of eight
before the conflict began, and so meek
while II waS going on. 1t has been said
THAI "the brains OF West Virginia went
into the rebellion" Be this az Il may
Ut true it ia sad commentary upon
brRinE) 1t Ia certain that the recognized
party leaders went into It, and that new
leaders, Strong, brave and true, like Mr..
Fsst arose all over the country and saved
this part Of Virginia 10 the Union. The
people rallied round these men and reject.
ed their former leaders, and disbAnded
court house cliques. Mr.. Fast repre-.
SSnted Marion county In the FIRST LegiR.
turs under the restored government Of
Virginia. He died during the war
sHrTHTowN VILLAGE.
Three miles below Fmrs, on White
Day, stands the quiet old village Of
smi!h,own. This old town Is supposed
10 have been founded by the frat member
Of The ancient family OF Smiths, who have
since become "A numerous AZ the sands Of
the ssa. BY some 1t ia supposed to have
ApFe.AdAmic existence, at least the mem.
DRY Of the oldest inhAbltani runneLh not
To the contrary. II ia not altogether i'm.
probable that is the Beat Of ancient SO.
dom. Re that AZ il may, Il is quite Ger.
tain that forty years ago il rivAlCd that
place in wicEednesV. 50 notoriously
wicked was It that whenever anything
bad was to be donO In the community il
wha always 10 take plAcs al smithtown.
II two men quurrelled during the week,
they fought 1t out tho next Saturday al
smIthtoWn, Every horse race, game Of