Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-12-11

MCDowEL1CoUNTY, w. VA.
December 3. 1891

DeCeIuOer D, 1871.
EDITOR REGISTER do not think l
am lost. am only way down in the
mountains, about 30 miles from Elk
horn and about 40 from Pocahontas.
But we will soon be nearer civiliza-
ton, for on and after Sunday next
the passenger train will make regular
trips from Elkhorn down to the
mouth of Elkhorn river, which is only
10 miles from us. Then we Will be
able to get ont Of here in one day.
On a map of West Virginia we are -
miles from Jaeger, on the Big Sandy
river, in Mcdowell county. Our camp
consists of two log cabins-one for Of
flee and living and the other for cook
ing and eating. We are fairly com
Portable. As To living, we have no
great variety, as we are compelled TO
get our supplies from the outside
world and are somewhat restricted.
The track being still some distance
away, all supplies have TO be hauled
quite u distance.
On our work the grading is nearly
all completed. but considerable work
remains to be done in trimming up
the cuts. The masonry is nearly all
complete and ready for the iron work
The road is being built in a very sub
stautial manner. All bridges are Of
iron resting on heavy masonry.
This is a very rough country. The
mountain ridges are high aud quite
steep aud in this section there are no
fine views TO be had from the summit.
But | understand that there are some
fine stretches of bottom lands further
down the Big Sandy-places where
the valley spreads out to rs wide as
two miles In some OF these new
towns aud villages are springing up
aud some give fair promise OF making
line towns.
There is plenty of coal to be found
in THESE mountains, but about all OF
the big and paying veins have been
bought up. We have a vein about
10 inches thick within so feet OF our
door. Toe coal all burns easily and
makes good, not fires.
This section has been remarkably
quiet and free from fights for some
time past, but the monotony has at
last been broken. There are several
new settlements in this vicinity that
are pretty tough places. About the
tirst houses TO be built were bar
room and a tough resort. Last week
two bad women became too tough TO
suit Lewis Hall, of the famous Hall
Steele fight; SD what should he do
but get ON his horse. put tn.m III the
road in front of him aud march them
TO the river-ford, wnere his land ends.
There he made them take of their
shoes and stockings, pull up their
clothes and wade across. lie then
warned them never TO set foot on his
land again or he would use his big A
caiibre revolver on them.
On Wednesday,, Dec. I'd, hilburn
Hall, aged about 10, the son OF the ia
NOUS Lewis Hall, committed his first
act of violence by shooting Il stone
mason named McCarty. Hail, Nc
Carly and others had been drinking
together at hallsville, u new settle
ment at the mouth Of Davey creek,
and all We're pretty we'll under the iu-
dueuce Of liquor. McCarty was ell
yaxed in teasing one of the party
Jwno had fallen into u drunken sleep,
when Hall, becoming incensed there
at, drew his revolver aud shot Nc
Carly twice, once on the right side OF
the abdomen and once i'll the left
thigh. The wound in the right side
is serious one, aud McCarty may
die. Young Hall is still 81 large and
50 far nothing has been done towards
Furnishing him. f. w.