The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-04

| PROBABLY TWO squares, varying, however
in width from narrow roadway to sew
eral blocks. The widest part lies along
Wheeling Greek. The State House is
located on very lowgground, having nei-
ther beauty nor architecture. 1t was
built in 1875; now used by the city gov
ernment. The design of the soldiers
monument, located near the State build
ing surpasses anything of the kind 1
have ever seen. Speaking of architect
ure, am reminded of the State House
at Columbus, o. Perhaps it surpasses
anything of the kind in the world. I
have often thought that the names of the
architect and the committee that accept
ed the plans should be preserved in al
cohol and placed in q dime museum.
teccup turned upside down on it.
| Wheeling is noted for being on the spot
where the last battle of the Revolution
was fought. 1t was during the battle
that the famous heroine, Elizabeth Zane
then only seventeen Gf my memory
| serves me right, carried the powder from
the blockhouse to the fort, under
deadly fire from the Tories and Indians.
L went over the ground carefully, and
concluded that IN her return to the fort
she must have run up hill. The fort was
built on the highest ground OF the plat
eau, and the ground descends in all di-
rections from it. The ravine in which
the Indians were concealed was between
the fort (Henry) and the hills. There is
very fine oil painting in the State
House of Elizabeth Zane's flight with
the powder. The artist takes his position
among the Indians and shows them off
In wonderful likenesses of nature. /
was 80 interested in the picture that re-
| turned the second time to gaze upon it.
A card on the picture says this attack
was the last battle OF the Revolution,
but this is mistake, for it was fought
September 27, 1777. The fort was COM
msnded by Col. Shepherd, while British,
Tories and Indians we're led by the noto-
rious Simon Gertz.
The Ohio River.
On the evening of July 10, boarded
| the good steamer 81. K. Bedford, bound
for Cincinnati, 400 miles distant Fort
unately for me- the river was low, which
reduced the speed of the boat to eight
miles an hour. The first night out we
made but four miles, which again was to
my advantage, for 1 was very anxious to
see the river between Wheeling and Par.
kersburg. shall attempt no description
OF the river. The French were certainly
correct in calling it ssI4a Bslle Ripieaa.''
have travelled by daylight 185 miles under
the bluffs of the Mississippi; have beer
up the Hudson and passed under the Pal
isades; have passed through the Thou
sand Islands and down the st. Lawrence
but never before have [ ever seen any.
thing equal to the Ohio. 1t is true we
have none of the grandeur and sublimity
of the bluffs of the Mississippi, but we are
relieved Of the fearful monotony of the
st. Lawrence. 1 had supposed there was
sameness in the scenery of the Ohio
but l was mistaken. Every bend in the
river presents something new. Its seen.
cry is rich, variegated, enhancing. Per.
haps in no place do the hills rise to a
height of over 700 feet. In some places
unable 70 see them from the pilot house
Our poets cross the ocean for subjects
and sing of the rivers of Europe, while
here We have a river worthy of the great
est effort from the greatest bard. 1t If
true that Mrs. Blennerhassett poured out
her soul in poetic rhythm on her "Island
Home," but it lacked the expression and
the poetic fire. The q are innumerable lie
subjects connected with the river foI
both the poet and the novelist. This re.
minds me of
"Elder Tr iptolemus Tubb,'
work combining good humor, wit, sar.
casm, irony, written by Rev. George Rog
ere. 1t is unique. Perhaps it would bt
impossible to surpass it. Rogers lays tn,
foundation for his tale twelve miles be
low Wheeling and one of the principa
characters is Shadrach Paddle, ghost
from the neither world. I made particu
lar inquiries if there were such tomb
stone and if there ever was such mas
sacre as that described by Rogers, for
had failed to find it in any history. From
childhood have been familiar with the
Indian tales of the West. The first books
l ever read, and the first L ever bought
related to Indians. 1 am just as fond o.
Indian adventure to day as 1 ever was
and read the same old tales with great
degree of pleasure. 1 was informed
while at st. Clairsville, that there was
such tombstone and such massacre
but the facts had never been published
The facts are here as / learned them
Shortly after Wheeling and MoundsvilIs
were settled, there was an attack by In
dians on the former place. News of the
attack were Immediately despatched &c
Moundsville. and succor solicited. Twen
ty men volunteered to go, and Capt
Smith was chosen leader. They had moi
proceeded far when a counsel was held
to decide whether they should go over
the hills or pass through the narrows
Seventeen decided to pass through the
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