Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-01
Ashhurn BasCombe's Mission.
a CAMPFIRE STORY
BY WILLIAM w. ARCHER.
lCopyrtg6tod. 1859.


While seated around comfortable log
ire after good days deer hunt, the Col
Onel, who had been acting AS guide as
well as our host during our ten days
stay In the mountains of West Virginia,
about six miles from the noted White Sui
phur Springs, followed the narrative of
the city man, and said;
In June. 1870, there was at the White
Sulphur Springs a gentleman known as
Ashburn Bascombe, although it was gem
orally believed that the name was as
sumed. He was well supplied with money,
and, while not lavish la spending 1t,
Joined literally in the expensive gayeties
of the place. He was a pleasant talker,
and mad the air OF man who had been
accustomed to the best society. None of
the company appeared able TO locate him,
although subsequent Developments in
dicated that he was from Texas, and that
he had been with Macmillan III Mexico,
but unlike that class Of men OF the South
who had left the dead COnfederacy and
cast their desperate fortunes with the
Emperor, he had Joined the forces OF the
republican faction which so soon tri-
poleOn. This much was known OF him,
and at first rendered him unpopular with
the gay company whose sympathies We're
with the defeated. Mir. BascOmbe, however,
did not intTude himself, and seemed willing
TO keep out Of the society Of such ladies'
as did not desire bis presence. He was
plainly no adventurer. He was uniformly
courteous, yet he possessed certain
amount Of reserve which cut of imperti-
-. .t.rv 4
the curiosity OF the circle to whom the
man was mystery. 1t was evident that
he was at the sulphur Syringe for some
purpose other than health or recreation,
since he dld not need the one and was
careless oil the other. Ii was the habit OF
Mr.. Bascombe to take long walks alone
about midday, at which time the springs
grounds are generally deserted. and from
meeting him on one OF these occasions |
dritted into an mountaineering which
resulted in my knowing MIN perhaps
more intimately than did any one else
hereabout. Five miles from toe hotel and
about one mile from my house there Is
what remains OF "a former mOuntaiueer's
homestead. II is simply pile Of rocks
and chimney, near VIII Oh there Is we'll
long siuce dry. 1t was to this lonely SPOT
that Bascombc's daily walks extended,
and here, while hunting, l stumbled upon
MINI a kUunutI HtOIu III btlnk
at The time, | invited him TO my house,
and from the time Of the visit became
deeply Interested In h,m. My perceptive
powers enabled me to gam the impression
that despite his seemingly equab,e tenn
permanent. he was troubled, and for the
very reason that liked Inn / determined
to ascertain the cause of his trouble. |
was not slow in experimenting that he
perlerred 10 take these midday walks
without company, and therefore my
principal intercourse with him was at the
syringe. lie evidently found my compan-
ionship acceptable, and we were much
together, bu1 after seeing him nearly
every day tor two weeks | was no better
acquainted than when | started. My
impression that he was troubled was
fortified by another that he was at the
springs TO kill time. He spent his money
literally, seemingly for this purpose. He
sent many ladies the choicest flowers
His livery bills were enormous, aud be
bought any trIle that was offered for sale.
| remember that upon one occasion, while
we We're walking across the lawn, A
mountain lad who Wa peddling maple
sugar and pbeasants assailed him with the
usual query, nice maple sugar, sir? Fine
DheasalLs ~