Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-06-17
NOTES OF TRAVEL.
Eds. Independent.

For some time past circumstances
did not seem to require any COM
munication from me, through your
columns. las sc. f. L." has furnished
you with items of news from this
portion of the county. Besides, be-
ing charged with a considerable
pressure of business, it was, there
fore "a relief to me that &c. E. L." as
sumed the mantle of correspondent.
A little hymenial arrangement,
which occurred way off in the town
of Phillippi, recently, and Of which
we had the pleasure Of being par
ticipant, is the incentive to the
present communication, which may
be interesting to you, las well as many
of your readers; hence, we proceed
to give an account of some OF the in
cidents connected with the affair.
On Monday night May DIR. Il.
W. G., of our village, accompanied
by myself, boarded the train at Mar
tinsburg for Grafton, over the Is. u
O. r. R.. and it being late hour,
we found comfortable sleeping
apartments in the cars. We were
soon found wrapped in the arms or
Morpheus and consequently knew
but little of what was occurring
around us. Riding in the cars at
night had no extraordinary interest
for me, and similar proceedings, SO
far as matrimonial alliances, have
been gone through with twice in
nv short lifetime. But not so with
nv companion, who professed that
he enioyed not a moments repose
during the long journey, and next
morning we found him Jerking at
our elbow with the admonition of
"Wake up, Major, we are in sight
of Grafton" and in few minutes
the iron horse waited us pleasantly
and harmlessly into that beautiful
and prosperous mountain town.
The conductor called to US to change
cars for Webster, town on the
Parkersburg branch of the b. u o.,
which after a few minutes run and
for fifteen cents, we arrived safely
at that place. 1t being night time
we could see but very little of the
scenery of the country through
which we passed, and must, there
fore, defer an account of that, until
we made our homeward trip.
We stopped at the Adams House,
in the town of Webster, where we
obtained a breakfast of substantial
edibles. The balance of our jour
ney being by stage route we were
compelled to wait several hours for
the arrival and departure of the
stage plying between Webster and
Phillippi; a good opportunity pre-
sented itself to view the town and
country, which to some extent We
awaited ourselves of. Without ven
turing to give a minute description
of Webster save that it is flourish
ing village, situated on the b. u ..
r. r., in the county of Taylor,
amidst it's hills, which seems to be
fertile, bearing luxuriant growth of
grasses and with many evidences of
thrift among the people.
This delay on our route we en-
deavored to brook with as much
philosophy as possible. Not so
with our travelling companion, as
time seemed to roll heavily on with
him, as the object in the distance
drew nearer, the more anxiety was
manifested by the doctor to meet
his affianced.
About / o'clock, p. NJ, we mount.
ed the stage bound for Phllllppl, the
place of our destination. About 5
O'Clock in the evening, our stage
drew up before the Robinson House
in Phillippi, where we were met by
friends, who soon comfortably en-
tanned us The doctor stopped with
the landlord who administered to
his every want and deserves the
compliment Of q good and accOmmo-
dating host. He keeps a large and
commodious hotel and has recently
added a surperD structure to the one
already there, which is manifesto
tion that the hotel business there is
f some consequence.
Phillippi, we presume. derived its
name from the land spoken of in the
good book. Whether the country
surrounding it, is similar to that of
ancient Phillippi, or whether the
author of the name was devoted to
it by Bible inspiration, we are not
advised. Suffice is to say, that 1t is
a neatly built town, containing from
500 to 1000 inhabitants. 1t Is stu
ated in fertile valley, Immediately
on the Lygart Valley river, which
is spanned at this point by a double
bridge about 800 yards in length.
This town is noted as being the
place where the first general engage
ment took place between the Union
and Confederate forces, in our late
civil war. The Confederates being
under command of Col. Porterdeld,
and the Union forces under General
Kelley. The houses in Phillippl are
neatly and comfortably built, many
of them elegant mansions. LII beng
the county seat of Barbour, splen-
thnrn