The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-09
HuckIeberry-Picking.
HOW THE FRUIT Is GATHERED IN TIE MOOsN
MOUNTAINS.

| From the Philadelphia Press, july 81
The Moo.ic Highlands, which form a spur
| Of the AlleghanieS. and cover vast tract OF
country between Pittston and IIawley. are
now black with huckleberries, and attract
numerous huckleberry brigades," made
I'D Of women and children, who wander
| b1refooted along the mountain sides during
the day, aud return to scranton, Carbon
dale, or PIttstOn, a. the case may be, IN the
evening, carving psils and buckets over
| flowing with the fruit The berry-pickers,
who 20 by hundreds to the mountains. man
ace to secure ride on the gravity road Of the
PENNSYLVANIA Coal Company, clinging 20 the
sides OF the laden cOal-cars that are strung
together by the dozen, and in this way
women and children are whirled away
across the dizzy chasmS and through the
deep cuts that distinguish this rugged land
scape, until they frequently find themselves
aS much as twenty miles from home, trust
ing to chance for areturn ride. a "hucke-
berry" train is one OF the picturesque sights
OF the gravity road. The women and girls.
with sun-burned faces, cling to the side rails
Of the coa-cars With one hand aud hold
their heaped pals Of berries upon their
heads with the other. Frequently their
calling is fraught with peril, but lhey be-
come Injured to its hardships and learn to
love its gypsy.like character. They leave
for the mountains at the mornings
first light. and 20 in crowds OF
from twenty TO thirty. The greatest
terror of beginners In the business
are The rattle>nakes, which abound
among the berry bushes. After time,
however, they learn to fight and yanqush
the reptile. and it is no uncommon thing TO
hear veteran berry-pcker boast OF the
number OF rattlesnakeS which she Killed
during the season. The violent storms that
visit the mountains at this season OF The
wear are considered a source OF great dam
ger by the pickerS. About four years ago
several women were killed by lightning
while taking temporary refuge in noun
sin she'd. Their pals were filed with
berries, and they were ready to return.
when fierce rain-storm came up. SeNerai
women who were Fastening toward the
structure saw the bolt by which their COM
paniOus lost their lives, and fed III terror
TO the town. Wagons were sent out Tor
the bodies. aud the occurrence created
a great sensation in Scranton. Some tlme
ago Superintendent John b. Smith, OF
he PENNSYLVANIA Coal Company, issued an
order prohibiting the berrywomen from
riding over the gravity road, and there was
great tribuation in consequence. The or
der has been relaxed, however, and the
huckeberry train" is still an institution
OF the romantic route. The quality Of 6er-
ries this season is unusually large and ilne.
1t was feared some time ago that the forest
fires had swept away The berry bushes, but
the region where they most flourish was
scarcely touched by the flames, and The re-
cent rains have contributed largely to the
development Of the crop, which promises
10 yield abundantly. Berries are now sold
in the towns along the foot OF The noun
tain range at Q cents quart, but the prolific
Weld will bling down prices, and they VIII
sell for 5 cents before long. Some enter
prislng women, whose husbands have been
killed by accidents in and about the mines,
support large and feeble families by The sale
Of their berries during the huckleberry
season.