The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-22
SALYED HIS WIFE'S CORPSE
And Then Kept II in Ills House For Two
Weeks.
GRUESOHE VEST VIRGINIA STORY.
txiid R.uion of the State Inhabited by a
Rude and Partially Civitred
Set OF People.
Cincinnati EnQuirer.l


In that wild and rough country beyond the
Cheat river in West Virginia where forest.
mountain, valley and dale mingle in such
confusion as to make one marvel at the cres-
ton. there are singular goings-on. Not much
respect for civilization is found there. AMI
life ia held at small value and living very
poor. II may truly DO called rich wilder
ness. for here all things abound to make
future that will be weslthy beyond compare.
But now strange people, living far apart.
dwell here. and wild animals are AS abundant
as the fruits Of tho field will be few years
hence. when money and industry lay lner
hands up this country.
ii isap prime huntiDg-ground easier OF ac-
cess than the Adirondacks and more fruitful
in game Hence, lovers OF the sports OF the
woods are coming in and going out by the
score, and q little later, when the railroad
gets in more will come. Those VINO nave
been there and gone have had many severe
experiences every day. and those who come
will have. Tragedies as well as romances
are woven into the everyday life OF the Few
citizens who dwell there. and stores or them
are told in such rapid succession that when
the devotees OF the gun reach home they have
much that is exciting 10 tell their friends
besides their own experiences, when are orisA
enough. While every huntsman has poets
license to exaggerate the chase ana capture
few men can be found hardy enough 70
Joke about such serious matter as TINS mar
rative. So,
Yes. man. orr brute they call by that
name sailed his wifes body down after
death that it might keep until he went down
tho mountain to get help to bury IT,"
Mr. Ben Dorsey. OF this town, VINO went
down from here q little more than week
ago into Rand lph county, W. Va, TO hunt
deer, made this declaration to-day Just after
his return. He Is man OF integrity ana
good reputation. Tho party. when went out
fer sport into the wilderness, was composed
OF Thomas Axiom Matt Axiom and farmer
living over beyond the hills above the town.
The two Mr. Axtons are boat-builders at this
place and are men OF character, position ana
means whose words cannot be questioned.
They are easy of access at any time ana can
verify these statements without difficulty:
I'VE lett home something more thhn week
ago, taking the packet 10 Morgantown. thence
bv rail 10 Paramount, and thence to Grafton.
We went by the way Of beBltOn. they all
Joined in 10 say, ITO Elkins." a station on the
West VIRGINIA Central railroad, owned by
ex-senator Henry e.. Davis, stephen b. II
kns James c. Blaine and other DIG guns. we
drove TO Beverly. which this road Will soon
the country through as
WILD AND DEsOLArE REGION
as ever saw. Even huts are far apart and
living rude beyond anything that we had
ever before seen We finally fixed ourselves
at the home Of Isaac Kyle, IN the foot hill OF
Shsfer Mountain. on the border between
Randolph and Pocahontas counties.
The master Of the place Is a hunter, who
walks the forest and rocks like the game he
follows. The rude home he has IN { WOODS
- in perfect keeping with the wild lie ABOUT
him. The slight clearing about the apology
for a house bears little evidence OF having
been cultivated and there Is mighty little 20
eat there. exec what is killed IN the wo DIS.
Yet the sport We had was good, and as we
were out for rOughing II there was no COM
nlaint. In four days we took i've fine deer
and ONE wild turkeys. Mr.. Kyle caught an
immense black bear in his trap while We were
there. and we bad plenty OF sport Al night
we sat about the fire telling Of the experiences
of the day and hearing strange tales OF exist
ence in these wo DIS from our host. his wife
and Wilbert feeders. who was our guide. and,
like them. had lived there all his wears, joined
in tue chat and chat.
Yes said he one night as we were Cos
siping about people and incidents II that sec
ton. Herman Ortman dld
SALT DOWN THE BODY oF HIS DEAD WIFE,
as be would have the meat OF hog
"'Incredible as this may seem, 1t is but one
of the awful occurrences, either OF crime or
Ignorance which take place about these
mountains. true accounts Of which would
almost para we a person living in civilized
community. said friend Of ours with Us
who knows this country and It's people well
ION the mountain side away above the
lands over which we were hunting" lie went
on. lives strange and brutal people known
as 'snake-hunters' aud sang. diggers.' They
live by digging ginseng, blood root and other
medicinal herbs, and working a day now and