Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-09-09
POWHATAN POINT.
How She Did Herself Proud on
Saturday.
Wheeling Intelligencer, Monday

Wheeling Intelligencer, Monday
Saturday was memorable day for the
little town of Powhatan, in the extreme
southeast corner of Belmont county. A
Republican meeting for the purpose of
raising f1ag-pole and afterwards hear
ing the political issues discussed by Hon.
L. Danford, ex-member of Congress, had
been announced for that day. Early in
the forenoon people began to pour in
from the country in wagons and car
riages, on horseback, or on foot. Several
steamboats, also carried excursion par
ties, and by noon the town was literally
packed full of people. The street was
so jammed it was hard to navigate
through it.
The pole was successfully raised, and
it is a beauty. All present agreed in
pronouncing it the finest pole they had
ever seen. 1t is Of hickory, and stands
one hundred and seventy-two feet high
above the ground, as straight as an ar
row. 1t tapers uniformly all the way
up, and is surmounted by a large stream
er bearing the names of the Republican
candidates for President and Vice-Pres-
ident. The flag is large and handsome
one, the production of the fair fingers OF
Powhatan's fair daughters, who are nu-
merous enough to make the work light.
At o'clock the crowd gathered at a
stand erected for the speaking, in an
open space at the south end Of Main
street. This was tastefully construct
ed affair, charmingly decorated. Across
the front was banner bearing the in
spring names, GARFIELD and Arthur" !"
at the centre, several feet above, was
large portrait of General Garfield, and
beneath it one of the great Lincoln. AT
either side were smaller portraits OF
washington, the Father of his Country
and "Lincoln the Savior" while in the
background were sits preservers," Grant
Sherman and Sheridan. The uprights
were draped with flags, while two large
flags with staffs crossed floated above the
stand.
Mr.. w. C. Bergundthal, Deputy Collec
tor of Internal Revenue for Belmont
county, acted as President of the meet
ing, with Messrs. David Brown, james
Gates, Sr., James II. Cats and John
Habermehl as Vice Presidents. Mr.
Bergundthal briefly introduced Capt
Danford, who referred first to the loca
political outlook, saying he hoped tht
grand gathering was an indication or
the part of the voters of the township tC
redeem it from its old Democratic ma
jority. He briefly reviewed the currency
question, bringing to bear upon it infOr.
nation which was the result of his own
researches, and a number of Original
thoughts. He showed that the Democ
racy demanded just what the Republi
cans had given the country in spite Ol
the protests Of the former party, ant
just what they were still cursing the
Republicans for giving them.
OF Hancock he had nothing to say in
condemnation. But the Republican whe
thought of voting for him ought to lool
behind the candidate, at the principles
he represented as the candidate of the
Democratic party, and at the horde OF
hungry office holders for whom he il
used as figure-head. The whole mat
ter was tersely summed up by Genera
Grant when he said, General Hancock's
war record is good the entire record Of
the party who placed him in nomina
tion is bad"
The matter of frauds at the polls was
taken up, and the speaker directed his
main effort to the discussion of the
question: "Shall we hand the control OF
our Government over to the very mer
who attempted to destroy it?"
At night another meeting was held
and addressed briefly by Mr.. Habermehl
an intelligent and sprightly speaker, al
Allegheny attorney who formerly prac'
ticed law in this city. Before the even
ing meeting torch-ight parade Of very
cred1table proportions was given. Pow
hatan has Garfield and Arthur club il
good condition, and one hundred an(
fifty torches.
The whole days exercises were exceed
ingly pleasant, and reflected abundant
credit upon the enterprising little vii
lage.