West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-06-26
A SUNDAY BOAT RIDE.
THE EXPERIENCE THAT SEVER
AL KINGWooD BOYS HAD
ON CHEAT RIVER THIR
TEEN YEARS AGO
THIS SUMMER.

''N,yer scared, eh2 How about that
boat ride you fellows over Ia West Yir
gina experienced on the Cheat River me
years sgOY Tell us about that 2"
Well, ] don't Ike 10 say anything about
that because il happened on Sunday while
we ought 10 have been engaged in a better
business. But, since you fellows never
heard the particulars. III tell you how il
was for DONE suppose the parties to the
story wiz care now for they were all boys
then, and boys will be boys you know.
They are all men now and, have no idea
that on' of them would now 90 boat. rid
i"g on Sunday.
II was one Sunday afternoon in the
SUMMER OF 1872. The Cheat River was
very high and the roaring Of the water
could be distinctly heard in Kingwood.
although a mile and half away. Harry
Potter, John Klausey, Gay Hyde, Camden
Stone, Van Zevely and myself concluded
we would go down over hog hack to the
|
the river at point where an old gentle
man, MIR. Reuben Morris (known by the
boys rs Uncle Reuben) then lived, and
believe lac still lives there. Well, gentle
men. IL was grand sight to see that river
Ia front of us for about quarter of D
mile up and down the river the water was
smooth and to all appearances was calm
and harmless although it WAS running at
tho rate of eight miles an hour. just be-
low this Was a long narrow island con
tanning several acres, on either eide of
which are what are known az the ripples,
which extend from the upper point OF the
island TO some distance below the lower
| point. Down over the ripples IL where
tho water went tearing and sutglng Ia "A
fall Of many feet ~ the mile; and In dash
ing over and winding between the great
| boulders the water seemed maddened ia It's
rapid racing and deatening roaring, but
ii swept on and on Carrying a great white
foam on ito heavlng, restless bosom. The
sight was one which inspired awe Cvsn in
the breasts Of Sabbath breaking boys.
We feaeied our eyes on the graud sight
until we thought of the very thing that
brought US 10 grief : it wal boat fasten-
ed to a tree at the rivers edge, just oppo
site Unclc Rcuben's hJuRe. We though.
II would be good time for boating aud
concluded to appropriate the gse of Uaclo
! Roubcn's boat for an hour or so. But
when we found that the boat was secured
by look and chain Potter thought Il
wouldn't be- right to take the boat with
out the permission Of the ownes aud We
| Ill ipined lin in the honorable view he
/ had taken of the matter. Klauser Was ap-
| pointed a committee to wait on Uacle
| REUBEN Who, II was found, was uoi at al
/ fienC > 'Rihe idea of letting he boat %
ou Sunday, but We knew he would not
refuse sucn favor at any olh,r time.
/ X lLuscr argued that we were nearly ali
! apprentices >and three Of us were) and had
TO work from Monlay mornirg till S4lur-
day night and that he only opportunity
We had for little recreation was on Sun
diy. Jihn struck Uncle RJuben's gener-
osi,Y IN one Of its weak spots and be
handed ovOr the key, We unfastened the
boat-which bed bp; two oars, -snd all q
as got 10 and pulled for the other shore. Il
was hard work in such swift water, al
though the surface nj. apparently as
smooth as that Of a lane until it REACHED
the nipples, a considerable distance below
us. We landed on the other side In safety
but at q considerable distance down the
stream from where VIC started In.
While 90 the other side we interviewed
some apple trees, which we did not have
time to attend TO during the week, dis
Guessed politics and other important mat
tiers. During al this time could sec that
Stone aud velY we're not eui pyiug them
selves very ~sel and would nov and then
cast longing anxious, doubling glanccs
7 toward the opposite side Of the river.
/ could zee lhai Potter and Kauser had
their eye on ihe island as though they
would Ike 30 land on the upper polat.
I lis BE- wac viewing the old boat 10 rather
q suspicioul and inquiriDg manner, while
sat on large rock uk,Dg in the whole
I scene generally.
All ab,efd wss heard ard all got into the
boat % start for The other side Stone and
levely cnleted ibe boat as gravely 90
though ii was 90 boz their coGi5; HYDE
was not Is cool as usual Potter and
khuser entered Is as calmly and discnter-
esicdiy as though 30 had been an apple
orchard. snd f-i-didu't feel comfort
abic' thought something was going 10
haopen. ior che boat was rotten uiih acc.
ihe water high apd rl us.re. and IL woe
Sunday somehow ibat would keepcomirg
. up Boz my mind When We aol about The
mdr.e OF tno river Potter and Klauser,
7 fto were 10 the 0afs. taught the tdp
vsa'lht bo complete uolra We landed
uu Che GLAND. 4. Ill cd. ff.. .... ID. 49,. a..