Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-27

tbs whole covering an area larger than any
game preserve in America. 1t has so long
been known as hunting ground that it is
marked and denominated as such in Bra
dey's Atlas OF the World
The mountains and valleys are studded
with 4 profuse growth of pine, beech, birch
and maple. The waters OF the Cheat flow
dowl the valley, which in many nlaces is
$50 miles wide. The mountains are the
divide, Crreenbrier river on the east side of
Shater's Mountain flowing south, while the
Cheat river flows north. Through the pre-
serve Tor a distance of so miles flows
Skaters fork, the main stem of the Cheat
river, grand beyond description IN its natu-
raj state, which, with its tributaries, gives
To- the association nearly 200 miles of good
1roulIE" water In MANY of the streams a
line has never been cast.
They Can Fish on Horseback,
In Skaters fork some of the finest trout
n the world are caught. The water is clear
and cold as a stream in a Rocky Mountain
canyon, and while flowing swiftly, is deep
and wide IN many places and almost free
rom Obstructlcns from mouth to source
There are no overhanging bushes to OBJ
strnct the way, and so clear are the banks
tHat club men frequently fish from horse
back, carrying their line as thev ride nm
stream. The banks of grass are kent
closely clipped by deer, thus making a
lawn On either side through which the
finest mountain water dashes its wav TO be
eventually mixed viii the mud OF the
Morongahela.
i lifetime ago Shafer's fork was the home
Of thc beaver, and where those hard-work-
IN, persevering animals constructed dams
for .heir homes there are now glades that
hayU become immense meadows for the
feeding of deer. The beaver cut the timber
near iJs dam and aiterward that was over
flowed sometimes for half-nile back All
the wood was cleared away The beavers
have since been driven out, their dams have
gone, and the glades, as tlrv and green as a
park, have become immense pasture fields
shat attract the deer fer hundreds of miles
around and give the hunter an opportunity
found no other place in the country The
stream runs through the entire length of
the club grounds. It is on the mountain
top, 4, 400 feet above the level of the sea,
fed by the lowering clouds themselves and
occasionally after heavy rains becomes q
rushing river.
4 Land of Pure Delight
There aer seldom any fogs in the valley
and the air is always crisp and cool. Snakes
are never found or the banks, not even in
the boats Of the hunters, and at no time in
summers past has the mosquito or kindred
EUisances discovered the delightful oppor-
tunitieg of life on the Cheat Mountain
One Of the most attractive things to peo-
pie who seek historic recollections is coy-
cred bridge near the club house, crossing
Shafer's Fork, which is claimed to have
been the only bridge left standing in Vir-
rinia during the war. 1t is old and moss
covered, bus still as solid and more endur-
Gag than the iron structures Of modern en-
ginecring. 1t is seldom used now. During
the war it was near the Union Notifications,
sHc irolc eud - enc. on every spot where
space could be Sound, can De seen the names
OF heroes who. while waiting an opportunity
u ,iacc ;heir names in history, carved them
ir me enduring wood of Virgira's loyal
section and with the names often
leit in rudclY constructed letters