Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-08-21

midst Of terrific mountain storm, so 1t
struck me at the time as rather monoto-
nous aud "hlt-a-rsining." Half the time
one would have 20 pause and say, mr..
Speaker, where was I at?"
Those who have never travelled by dill
igenee up the jones' Gap road In the
darkness and terror incident to noun
tain tempest and with no knowledge OF
the road, while on the left bottomless
canyon sends up snever ending thunder
from white ana angry torrent con-
cealed somewhere in its BOSOM, Will
agree with me that, clothed In outing
flannel which have caught the golden
sunset coloring of the red clay and been
soaked with the gummiest OF mud
searching for the right way, yet prone
10 wander into by and forbidden paths
or fall over a brink or chasm, II is SOL
emn moment.
We were told that in two miles we
would encounter a signbOard which
would tell Us the way, and there we
must turn TO the right. We were also
told that the signboard was eight miles
awav. and that we must turn TO the left.
One kind friend said ii was eleven miles
and that the main bridge was washed
away. He would keep US, however, II
we would put up with his humble fare
and rather pronounced views REGARDING
the existence Of Literary hell" Lit
eral hell was doubtless the term he de-
sired to use. We afterward learned
that he was not man Of his word.
The bridge was not in bad repair Also,
there is no bridge. The Jones Gap
road is a marvel Of engineering. 1t
was laid out by Solomon Jones, who is
still living. His method OF laying out
| a mountain road was to employ large
SOW in winter time which, by driving
gently down the hill, would naturally
select through the snow the gentlest
descent and the easiest grade. AS
result Of this method, the Jones Gap
road is well planned and the descent
| from Caesars Head as gradual as from
/ Queen Victoria TO the Prince.of Wales.
As the thunder doomed louder and
! the torrents Of rain beat in upon US and
injured our costly and beautiful cloth
/ Ing, a signboard Of some kind glimmer-
| ed In the uncertain fash OF lightning
| that split the drenched and inky world.
| Ii was then that l duplicated the ex-
/ perience Of MIR. Burdette years ago.
got out into the peltlng storm, and with
the icy torrent running down my trap
ped spine climbed the post and waited
for another flash. had tried to light
match, but the place where l generally
strike a match was all wet l gave up.
The lightning did not make any re-
marks for a long time, but remained
where IL was, looking rOguishly down on
me as chung trembling TO the guide
post, wiping my spectacles on the tall
! OF my coat. Finally q glare Of intense
light tore open the sOmber robes Of
night and lighted up the silent guide
post. II went on TO say: "Facial blem-
ishes, warts, eczema and superfuous
hair removed without publicity at your
own homes. Also, cash paid for hides,
pelts and furS."
We have now travelled some thirty
odd miles over two or three still odder
roads and "hit a-raining." My spirits
were greatly depressed and my outing
fannels were sight TO behold. Our
carriage has a fringe around a canopy
TOD, and even long after the rain ceased
this wet fringe, which had been full OF
dust, shed mud all over rs as the We
hicle iostled over the stony roads and
Jared the soiIed water in our ears and
down our spines.
Yet we were not cast down. think
that at such a time one should still be
gay, especially If on a picnic or excur-
sion. Before starting on picnic we
/ should have decided fully TO be merry
under the most adverse circumstances,
so as TO mislead spectators. Did you
ever see a group Of straw riders who
did not have tin horns and an air OF
| false gayety and assumed mirth?