Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-11-28

Tuesday at noon, accompanied by
Mr.. Hartzell and others, we boarded
the train for Meyersdale, Pa.
East of Connellsville an elderly gen
tleman in our hearing admired with
some enthusiasm the striking river
and mountain scenery along the road.
He had never traversed the far-famed
Rhine and Hudson valleys, but did not
believe either excelled the Hough-
iogheny, still unknown or unap-
preciated. He spoke of the upper
Missouri landscapes as grand beyond
the conception of strangers to the
unique features of that country. The
lofty mountains, and the clear, pure,
light air enabled views of great dis
lance and beauty. This induced us
to ask his name and residence.
William S. Evans, of Allegheny
city," said he.
Meanwhile Mr.. Hartzell came down
the aisle and rendered an introduction,
from which we learned further that
Mr.. Evans was a native of Allegany
county.
Taking up where Mr.. Hartzell left
off Mr.. Evans said he learned his
trade with Capt. Nelson Beall left
Frostburg in 1916, and for many years
boated on the Missouri river between
St. Louis and Fort Benton. He was
as late as 1883 at the latter place, and
is still connected with the "Coulson
Line of Steamers" He is prominent
also in several great business enter
prises in Pittsburg and Allegheny
cities, Pa, among them the Western
Insurance company of Pittsburg. He
is polite, affable gentleman of the
old school and delights in reminiscent
ces of scenes and persons contem-
porary with his youth. He spoke of
w. S. Porter. Douglas Percy, Peter
Payne, DR.. J. NJ. Porter, Jacob Con
rad, Mrs. Catharine Hamill, nee Frost,
Mrs. Ellen Casteel, nee Conrad, and
numerous others, living and dead, with
great interest, and relished informa-
ton concerning them with manifest
pleasure. He is evidently in comfort,
able circumstances, and having the
health, physique and disposition, enjoys
to the fullest the rewards of a busy
life.
In Meyersdale at the residence of
James j. Hobitzell, Of whom he is a
kinsman, we met him again, and we
left him under an obligation to visit
Frostburg and speak for himself.
Here also we saw Benjamin Thomas,
q recent sojourner among the Frost
burg colonists in Kansas city. from
whom many interesting notes of West
ern life and prosperity were CLEANED.
A swift midnight ride to Cumber-
land, thence to Frostburg, and here
we are again apparently out of
world of rush, push and luxury into
the old hapless drudgery of a struggle
in the woods for roots and berries.
Before closing this article we should
recall tour of Gusky's establishment
in Pittsburg. Several stories high
and occupying an entire square, it is
one of the most spacious stores in the
world. With q wilderness of goods
and an army of employees it is also
one of the busiest. Down in the base
ment a huge engine, driven by steam
generated by natural gas, propels the
electrical apparatus for lighting the
entire edifce. This was our only OPP
portunity to witness the latest wonder
of these wonderful times-the utiliza-
ton of an imponderabie fluid for pro-
polling the most powerful enginery.
Up from the depths of broken brick, a
fire, akin to that which we imagine
roars around the heart of the globe,
flames IN blue and white along the en-
tire surface of the boiler. 1t is easily
applied and easily cut off-no dirt, no
ashes no afterwork-to clean or re-
pair. So far as tested it has proven
to be the cheapest and most powerful
of all fuels. 1t remains to be seen,
however, whether its use will react as
a blessing to the toilers of the mine, or
whether the supply in any case is in
exhaustible.
Pubffcations.-John Habberton,
author of "Helen's Babies, What
Tommy Did, would be worthy of the
serious consideration of parents if it
were possible for any one to be other