The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-08-08
Mt. Tory.

high, marks the spot where a hundred
years ago pig iron was made. The fur
mace was the old hot blast style and has
been worked from time to time, III til
about 10 years ago, when it Went out OF
blast, and has never been operated since.
1t is now in a very dilapidated condi-
ton, and will probably never be started
again unless under changed conditions.
An abundance of high grade ore is near
at hand, and just across the creek AIDE
post of speaular ore is conveniently To-
Gated. Once zoe hands were employed,
but now, where so much life and activity
existed, all is hushed into stiffness. Aunt
Sarah Morriss, an old colored woman
who has lived there for 90 years, works
the garden and cooks for the Messrs.
Wissler remains the sole representative
OF bygone days. She declared she loves
to live here. too, and she seemed to feel
all she said. The Messrs. Wissler enter
tanned the Reporter of the VIRGINIAN
and friend with genuine hospitality;
and as is their wont, after dinner gave
us some sweet music. Mr.. Jacob Wissler
proved himself an accomplished violin
list, and his son, Mr. Arthur Wissler,
played nicely on the guitar. Seated in
front of the old house which has echoed
to so many scenes of busy life, it was
one of the delightful surprises one meets
with along lifes Journey to hear such
delightful operas and sweet, quaint old
tunes, in the deep recesses of the noun
tains, where you would expect only the
music of nature and the harmony OF the
elements round about.
Mt. TORY is a SPLENDID property, and
it is hardly possible to tell its future
from its present condition. The old plan
of the furnace was slow and expensive
as to production. The ores had to be
hauled in wagons two miles and the pig
ten miles in wagons to get to a market.
With the advance of modern improve
ments, and the push and activity of this
age, a railroad may soon penetrate this
now deserted spot, restore it's busy life,
and open up for the use of man the val
liable deposits to be found in abundance
and of splendid quality. But the Mt.
Tory property, which is a large one,
covering many acres, bids fair, at no dis
tant day, to come into public notice,
from the existence OF another ore be-
he ath its surface, the presence of which
was not suspected even, when the old
furnace was worked. Over spur OF
the mountain, about two miles west of
the furnace site Mr.. Jacob Wissler has
been prospecting for manganese and has
met with wonderful success. The parts
of the new find" visited by the Re
porter of the VIRGINIAN, seemed to the
unprofessional eye to be rich in this val
liable mineral Mr.. Wissler who is both
a practical and scientific miner, and who
has had many years experience, is
working Systematically and obtaining
results highly satisfactory. Manganese,
rich in quality and abundant in guam
tity, has been found, and the indications
point to a splendid development of man
ganese, which will make Mt. Tory one
of the most valuable properties in this
country.
A company has been formed and
agents will soon offer the stock to the
public upon favorable terms. When the
company is in a position to carry out the
plans already outlined, its stock will be
very valuable and eagerly sought after
The Annual Catholic Picnic to be
held at Fishers Hill.
The annual Catholic picnic, for the
benefit Of the Winchester missions, usu-
ally held on the island at Harper's Ferry,
viii take place Saturday, August 18th,
at Fishers Hill picnic grounds, under
the directions Of Rev. Thomas j. Muir
ray, assistant at the rs. FL" Church in
Winchester, the Rev J. B. O'Reilly be-
ing absent on vacation at his home in
Ireland. Fishers Hill Park is a natural
pleasure ground, located on the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad, which on the
day of the picnic will run two excursion
trains, one from Staunton and the other
from Harper's Ferry, w. Va. These
trains stop on the edge of the picnic
grounds, and it takes only few minutes
walk to reach them. In the heart of the
beautiful grounds a cool, crystal brook
flows in hollow, dotted here and there,
in the most picturesque manner, with
great white rocks. Some of them are
covered with different colored moses,
and thick with brilliant wild flowers
The trees, some of them very huge and
bearing still the scars from shot and shell
of the late war, meet overhead. The
clear emerald water reflects the surround
ing shore, now so quiet and peaceful, in
shifting CLEANS of light and shadow. A
number of cool mountain streams bub-
bic up suddenly in the most impossible
places to quench the thirst, and the ia
bles will furnish all that can be desired
in the way of eatables. There will be
music and number of amusements,
and nothing left undone by those in
charge to contribute to the days enjoy
ment. A large number of persons are
expected, and it will be good oppor-
tunity for friends to meet and spend
some hours together.
Judge Quarles declines to accept the
nomination of the Prohibition State
Convention for Attorney General
Mr.. j. S. Morriss, of Atlanta, Ga,
special agent of the Equitable Life AS
surance Company of New York, is stop
ping at the Kalorama
Rev Dr.. Mcfarland, who has been
spending most of his vacation at Capon
Springs, W. Va, hasreturned to Staunton
and filled his pulpit last Sabbath.
We understand that the Farmers
Clubs of Augusta have awarded to j. w.
Todd, Esq, the contract for furnishing
fertilizers for this season. The quantity
will be about 1000 tons.
Ed, Burke, always in advance in afford
ing convenience and comfort to his Gus
toners and the public, has placed on the
streets a neat and stylish baggage wag-
on. 1t combines style and neatness with
great facility and ease in handling trunks
Or small baggage. 1t is a very city-like
get up, and is a handsome addition to
Ned's large outfit. If you want stvle.