The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-11-25
some Recolrccrions of Wheeling Islan'

WHEELING, NONcMUer -, 1000
Editors IntellIsenCer:
That "Let us wait till the next trip has
been longer vacation than was expected.
But memories grasp their own periods,
and it only remains for us TO listen, like
the telegraph operator, its instrumental
click, and write its message for the waiting
friend. .an.-u a..I
In these days OF thought and research,
it is not well to listlessIy follow, even in
the footsteps of those whom nature gave
IT'S ms our guide. And although 'livcd as
his father lived, and died as he died" may
have been the poets ideal OF duty, and
happiness: yet his times were not as ours
are, nor were his ideas OF responsibility,
commensurate with our era Of thought, SO
looking before we so in memory OF the
Island Of nearly forty years ago, let us
notice its contour, speculate upon the
causes which produced it. And the more
reasonable, or logical the evidence adduC-
ed, the greater will be the enlightenment,
aIttthe closer the approach 10 that rGligi-
GUS and moral status, which enables the
believer to give convincing reason, for
the faith that is in him.
At the period contemplated, the east
side Of the Island, as well as the west, was
bordered by forest trees and the rivers
edge, when, at the foot Of the shore
banks, was hundreds OF feet eastward Of
its now ordinary place; and the Fosters
farm" as the Island bars are sometimes
called, was overtOpped by q rich alluvium,
n taxable domain, prospective lots in
THE TOWN or COLUMBIA. .t
scene from the memories Of that day
depicts the gardeners roadway up the
easterly side OF the Island, as 1t divcrged
from the National, or stage road, at the
first bench above the ferry landing. 1t
then continued nor;hwardly on tho first
fiat, over the ground now occupied BY the
bridge approach, the contemplated Water
street of the Zanc's Island addition; and
gone other territory which has since de.
welcomed incontestable evidence Of ma
lures forces. Some Of ii, perhaps, Is now
among the distractions which Captain
Fads' genius seeks TO distribute over some
more remote fields, and which will proba.
6iy constitute a home or plantation for
some Of our descendants in the tenth or
twelfth generation. i,
BE that as 1t may, natures !croders and
mans graspings have long since scarcely
icit trace Of the old track, which exists
only among memories; and even then,
linked perhaps with somc sud fate, or BOr.
Toyiul rccollections, for
TT. thus the iaOm'rIeso Il Tho dead arc yrOwn
Along IIis's path, and natures own
Most keen TGInindars hold their sway
hid Gy'Ty path, DER cV'Ty Way'.
DImmd vision, made by falling tears
ATakpns hops IubiurS our fears ..
And II We Srek 10 draw The Neil,
Tho shadows hee the mom'rl1 TALL
There was, no doubtn long.gohc time,
when the waves carried the ground, or
drift deposit OF the Beaver uplanhs, and
The beach deposits, which now exist ut
heights from 80 10 100 feet above the pres.
emf river bed; and nearly every locality on
the Upper Ohio, on either the one side or
the other thereof, shows asttoIig probabi.
lily that an arm Of the ocean more than
once exercised iS power over the greater
part Of this valley.
And, by and By, when the oceans waters
had Tecclcd the mountain torrents by al
most lcaping towards II, cut away the for