The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-07-31
For the VIRGINIAN.
From Staunton to Parkersburg.

In company with two legal friends, YOU
correspondent left Staunton, on the 4th O
July, for a trip through the mountains o
West Virginia-Parkersburg being our OBJ
jective point. A light spring wagon
drawn by two faithful horses, carried pas
sengers and baggage. The latter consisted
among other things, ola tent, fishing tackle
household and kitchen furniture. We trav
eled from twenty-five to thirty miles day
and only halted in time to pitch oul
tent, feed and get supper before dark. With
an eye to this end, we were on the qui usre.
as the shadows heightened across cur path
way, for grassy plot convenient to water
We first passed through Highland county,
enjoying to the fullest extent the grand
scenery from the top of Shenandoah. which
is one beautiful succession of mountain
ranges as far as the eye can reach, dotted
| mere ana there with small cultivated patches.
Five miles beyond Monterey we came into
the noted Grab Bottom Valley, with its rich
| fields of grass, fine cattle and maple groves.
one of which, we were Uniformed, Welded
l,500 pounds OF sugar last season. 1t is in
this valley that the Potomac and James
both have their sources, and barn at High
town emptles the water from one side into
the James. While the other side gives its wa
ter to the Potomac. Nor far from this barn T
slaked my thirst at spring which is said to
be the very source of the Potomac.
The second day of our journey being Sat-
urday, we pitched our tent on the Ton Of
Allegheny, at Thomas Galford's, the famous
huntsman OF Pocahontas county. Here we
remained until Tuesday; enjoyed trout fish.
ing. and, not less, the bear stories of old Gal
ford, who never grows weary Of rehearsinp
his adventures. The following occurrence
well illustrates the GOODNESS of this hunter
One day while out fishing, the writer, who
was some hfty or seventy-five yards in ad-
vance of the rest of the party, came upon
beautiful fawn. 1 Immediately drew nv re-
volver and fired several shots in quick sue
cession. This greatly alarmed my compan-
ion who was with Galford, and he set up
loud yells to know what I was after, when
Galford, who was busy angling for trout,
and was no doubt afraid that the repea ted
yel.s OF my friend would destroy his sport,
quietly remarked that he reckoned it was
''nothing but a bear or deer %
Top of Allegheny at this point is some
1000 feet above the level of the sea the air
is cool, fresh and invigoratng. Just in sight
OF our tent stood the bristling Notifications
OF the 52nd Virginia Regiment, where Col,
Baldwin and other Stauntonians were sta
toned during the war. These Notifications.
made, and the houseless chimneys of our |
soldiers winter. quarters, admonish us that
this mountain, now as silent as the tomb, |
save when its deep silence is broken by the |
song OF bird or the merry sound of cow
bell, was once the theatre of wars fierce |
conflict. Game, such as fish, turkeys, pheas.
ants, deer and rattle snakes, are found in
great abundance. In hunting season a
sportsman could find no better field for
sport than the Top of Allegheny and no
more jovial soul than Thomas Galford who
is huntsman to the manor born.
tuesday, the Sth ofJuly, we made an ear
~ start ON our journey. and one of our par
ty having great musical talent, made Allie
ghany resound with Pinafore and hundred
other songs. AS my friend would throw his
whole soul into these songs and look SUBJ
timely happy, could but sigh at my misfor.
tune in not being able to join him in sim
gle song out of his vast and varied co !lec-
ion.
A few hours drive thus beguiled by mu- :
'lc.brought US to the foot of Allegheny Noun >
AIN, where we strike the South Fork of the
dreenbrler. Between this and the north :
branch there is small valley. Traversino
his valley we at once begin the ascent of
cheat Mountain, which is eighteen miles '
lcross, and is probably 5000 feet above the t
evel OF the sea. A large portion of the road
SO densely arched by the arms of the /
rees reaching out on either side-thickened !,
lere and there with grape vines-that scarce d
ray OF sunlight can penetrate it. Our L
ourney over this mountain on our west y
Vard trip was gloomy enough, for it was t
aiming IN torrents,s so that we could scarcely v
ee our road ten feet ahead. I confess
bat my heart sank at the prospect of tray-
ling eighteen miles across this huge noun
ain in drenching rain where houses were
lmost a curiosity,
NY companions, however, got into the
lgnest glee that they reached during the
vhole trip. The harder it rained, the freer
helr spirits flowed, and my musical friend \
ould be heard above thunder and rain. il
fortunately, just as we reached Cheat :
lver, on the top of this mountain, the rain ~
,as over, and ere we had made the descent :,
this monster mountain, the clouds had il
lspersed and the sun was shining. Just as
he sun was setting we halted on the banks II
i Tygart Valley River. We endeavored to a
earn from the natives how this mountain 9
anne by its name, but they could not en-
ghten us. Our surmise was that the weary c
raveier is so frequently cheated in tile belle .
nat ne has reached the summit, when, in Q
act, he has only more difficult ascent Z
head, and can hardly tell when he has Il
aimed the top of the mountain. fee
1t was with feeling of relief that we pur-
ued our route down Tygar5 Valley,as it was
ne 1lrst level road that we had passed over
I travelling ninety miles. This little valley.
twenty-five miles in length and from mile A
two miles in width, derived its name from
ne Tygart, who was one of the earliest set.
ers in that section. At that time the In :
ians were making such fearful havoc among I
ne whites that Tygart left this valley to
len OF stouter hearts, not, however, until he
ad given it name.
AT Beverly we lett, for the first time, the h
arkersharg turnpike and went directly to
leDster. Leaving our team here we took +,
re express train from Grafton to Parkers-
lrg, and enjoyed making forty miles ner A
our, instead of twenty. five or thirty a day. d
cry much. N
Parkersburg is a very pretty city of .,
,me eight or ten thousand. The streets are Ii
lde, stores large and handsome, while you -.
ould hardly find another city of the same u u
re with so many attractive private resi-.
ences. The most strik ing buildings that m
wv were the Post Office and the new Epis- ~
pal Church. The Post Office building is u
lie OF the finest that almost ever saw, and la
ere are thousands of cities double and | an
rible as large as Parkersburg which have ia1
such building as this. The second story
'ntains the offices and couTt-rooms of the
nlted States District Court. The top of
e post office commands a splendid view
the Ohio and Blennerhassetts island tn
list opposite this building are the Episcopal e
nurch and Rectory, both very handsome. SO
ne church is built of granite from Cincin.
I'll; the style of architecture is Gothic and
eaks well for the taste of those who di- =
cted it. The day we spent in Parkers. I
lrg was excessively warm, but we LETT with L
ry pleasant impressions OF the place and =
build not regret if chance should direct our tai
Fps there again. We returned home over sh
e same route. much improved by the fine AZ