Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-12-01
The Tragedy of Cheat Noun
tain.

Where the Staunton and Parkersburg
turnpike crosses Cheat mountain the
traveller will pass over a distance o.
eighteen miles, through an unbroken
wilderness, finding no dwellers, on the
roadside excep. those in one little
cabin which stands near the Cheat
river. On either side of the road stand
majestic hemlocks aDd few stately pines,
lending the appearance Of gloom
aud loneliness to the route. II the
traveller should be alone the mysterious
silence Of the gloomy road will give his
mind ample opportunity to conjure
thoughts Of robbery, murder and all
these evils which befall people passing
through such lonely territory, and when
he unexpectedly comes upon the log
cabin standing solitary 10 this dense
wilderness, the thought involuntarlly
comes that this must be the abode OF
SOME MOUNTAIN DEMON.
Here, for many years, an old man by
the name cf White lived, and while he
was doubtless an innocent old noun
taineer, with thought intent only upon
the deer, the bear and the panther,
which roamed these forests, and in the
Staying of which he spent most Of hIs
time, still people told strange stories OF
the old mans life. and many Legend
was told Of the missing, peddler who
started into the Cheat wilds and was
never heard ofany more. Indeed so
extravagantly did these stories grow
that il was rumored and told with bated
breath that a hunter 10 his rambles
through the Cheat mountains, once up
on time came upon hallow, a large
sunken place in the ground. which was
Uttered with saddles, supposed 10 have
belonged 10 horse back travellers who
fell victims to the avarice Of the MUIR
dsrous White. Notwithstanding the
wild stories of the old mans life he con-
tinued to move on life's way In the old
style until year or two ago death
came along and with one
swooP OF HIS scYTHE
cut him down. When he was dead
and gone people began to repent OF tie
suspicious they had entertained about
him, and when the Sheriff (the place
lies within the limits Of Randolph coun-
ty) came 10 administer on his little
assets, and no skeletons, skulls,
moldcring bones, or other evidences, oi
concealed victims were found about the
premises, popular opinion changed. and
men began to say that White had doubt
less lived harmless life.
His son moved in the old cabin after
the old mans death. Soon the cablu
was burnt. aud the son built new ono
little nearer the river. Here he and
bis wife (for they had no childrep) lived
pleasantly enough until few months
ago a shadow fell across the threshold
OF the mountain cabin. A stranger
was introduced into the family. 1t was
young woman By name Naomi Jack
son. Like the illustrlous Naomi Of old
she may have gone out full but she
came IN empty. Atall events she came
as mendicant seeking shelter. The
good natured wife OF Azariah White
had compassion on the forlorn girl and
took her in as q member Of the family.
But this Naomi, or Mary her name
should be. tor she dealt very bitterly
with the friend who gave her refuge,
suppanted Mrs. White IN the affections
OF Azariah. An Illicit intimacy sprung
up between the husband and the Jack
son girl, and the poor rejected.
SORROW STRICKEN WIFE
had all her grief 10 bear alone for there
IN that remote wilderness she had nc
one to whom she could unbosom hel
troubles, and day by day was compell'
ed to witness the amours of her husband
fand iElruding girl going on before her
eyes. At length the presence of the
despised wife became unbearable to the
adu,terous couple, and one of the foul
est crimes ever perpetrated was done
here IN this lovely hamlet on the l2tt
day of October, 1880.
On Tuesday (the day of the State
electiou) Azariah White went to Hut
louisville 10 attend the election. He
was observed to wear an unusual
troubled look. The same day about
noon the Jackson girl appeared at a
house on the other eide of the noun
tain Gin Pocahontas county, and told
that early that morning while she was
out milking the COW, and Mrs. White
was preparing breakfast the chimney
had suddenly fallen down aud buried
Mrs. White beneath iLs ruins. The
gentleman to whom the story was told
"A Mr.. Kerr, Immediately started back
with The girl to the cabin on the noun.
tain. When he reached the place be
found Mrs. White lying on the hearth
and number of large rocks piled upon
her, the rock evidently having
COME FROM THE CHIMNEY,
for there werethe places from which
they havd been removed. He at once
set to work to remove the stones from
the body, unsuspicieus OF any foul play;
until he reached the body, when he de-
tectcd the smell Of decomposition, which
was so strong vs to convince him that
she could not have died SO recent as
that morning. Turning the body over
he discovered an indented place in the
Il d.