The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-04-15
OUR KINGwOOD LETTER.
Interesting Gossip About Preston
County and Some Of its People.
K1NGwooD, April 10, 1878.

In the eastern portion of the county,
amid the spurs OF Briery mountain, Is
wins: is known as "PIney Swamp Settle.
ment." Climbing the mountain from
Cheat river, we have tiresome Journey
but the air is refreshing, crystal water is
frequently bursting from the roadside,
pouring down over clean grave! beds pro-
vided by nature. and while we stop and
ouench our thir:t therefrom, we gaze
toward the golden sunset and see the last
rays of to days sun gliding the lofty
spires and coy homes of that ancient,
but dear to every Prestonian), old town
of Kingwood.
Having reached the settlement and
Toasted on that delicious Preston fare,
"buckWheat cakes and honey" we are of
to Wilson's Greek, which is stream OF
dark coored water. and, though 1t IS
only from five to seven feet wide and
from two to tour feet deep, yet it abounds
with some very beautiful trout. They
are not large, rarely found over eight
inches IN length, but the sport OF catching
them is made delightful by the vigorous
manner in which they "bite." The
creek is quite thickly hemmed in by
brush, so that when fish grabs the hook
so rashly that one is apt to think rod and
line gone, he is most sure to Gland" the
trout in tle tops Of the bushes so en-
tangled that while heis tryingto loose him
from the bushes the trout very frequent
" looses himself from the hook and tails
into the water TO bite no more.
A persevering person may capture
from fifty to one hundred or more OF
these in day. Northeast Of this is Hays
creek which has still more fish in, but
they are smaller. The water is very
clear and flows over a besuti!ul bed OF
white gravel and sand. The stream Is
quite small and brushy, but almost any
one can catch some fish in this stream.
They are so eager to bite.
On the bank of this creek resides the
daring Leonard Sines. He is noted ,or
his exploits in fishing and hunting, He
at one time caught trout Of medium
size, and, while it was yet alive, swallow
ed it with perfect calmGess. He is also
said to have swallowed medium sized
green snake while il vas yet alive.
Although quite advanced in years and
having been subjected TO many hard
ships, he works daily on his farm. When
we saw him he was out on a four foot
log making the chips fly in lively man
ner. He owns fine little farm.
Most of the surrounding country Is IN
settled, though much of 1t is good grain
and grazing land. Following this stream
for several miles we find ourselves in
Garret county, Maryland, where this
creek antics with several others and emp
ties INTO what is known AS "Browning's
Dam, this being the headwaters OF the
"Yough" river. Here fishing is delight
full. Trout from six 10 fifteen inches in
length are easily caught with hook and
line during the months of April, May,
June and July, otler than these being
forbidden by law.
Near this dam lives Thomss Brown
ing, Cson of the noted hunter, Meshac
Browning, whose photograph adorns his
psrlorl whose family is ever ready 10
supply fishing tackle and give sll Hcces-
sary instructions, so That when tired and
hungry we enjoys dinner just such as
the Misses Browning are able and willing
to set forth. For polteness, soclabiIity
and generosity Mr.. B. and family are,
worthy OF much respect. The location is
beautiful, beng situated in valley sur
rounded by lofty hills covered with vari-
Gus evergreen trees that rear their lofty
heads above the surrounding country.
rnti,nN s.uaral cpruaa w inn
are l25 feet high and not more than Is
inches IN diameter at the stump. They
are indeed remarkable and could never
stand the storms outside of the dense for
est. After few hours fishing and a
bountiiul dinner at Mr.. BIS, whose cooks
know just how 20 serve up the "speckled
beauties" we start up Shaggy Mountain.
After climbing for q mile and half
around the mountain side in order TO
reach the summit, we find ourselves 81
what is called the "Stem Rock" This
rock stands upon the highest part of the
theresbout, and towers above
the remainder of the cliff 1t is so
called because of its resemblance
to a stem-glass or goblet. It's base is al
most circular, having diameter OF TWEEN
ty-fve feet; this continues of this size
for about eight feet, where 1t tapers for
four feet more. There its diameter is not
more than eight feet, and it continues
this size tor twelve feet, when it bulges
suddenly and extends upward ten feet
more.
At the top its diameter is fifteen feet,
and followed out like goblet, mskIngs
space sufficient tor q dozen persons to sit
in circle and be hidden from view on
the ground This place would be diff.
cult TO gain were it not that at enc side
there is an opening serving as a door.
From this top a truly grand view OF the
surrounding country may be had. Look |
ing eastward We see Little and Great
Backbone mountains, extending around
until, st the south, they are broken, so as
10 allow fine view of the Al. |
leghsny mountains, west of Win .
chester, Virginia, being distant T.
fifty or sixty miles. Then facing about |.
we look past the famous pine Swamp /.
Knob" and see the Laurel Ridge be. !
You'd Brandonsville, where the line passes |
between Preston and Fayette county, /
Ps, distant thirty-fve miles. All around /.
.he scenery Is extremely graud. We .
stand and gaze till we are wesrled. Near .
his rock resides "Dsvy" Summers, who .
has reached his "three score and ten |
years snd Is still sprightly and oblig- ,
ng herdsmsn, he having followed herd |
ng for more than forty years. He fess,s :
IN trout, game and wooden sIrup.'
For any person wishing to enjoy the .
mountain air, scenery, and sports, no tet-
er place can be found in the county, and
think | may ssy in West Virgins or
Maryland. The country is productive,
md might be made valuable - grazing
IS well as grsin country.
" D..