South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-07-22
ACROSS Tux CONTINENT.

SChiouiiuE conciuueu 10 Wrlto =
letter To our entcrprising county
paper HE ISTELLIaENcER--
tell my friends what sights boy
can see from w. va. to Califorsiw.
Boarding tho train at South
Branch July sth. I was soou IN
Cumberland. "Five hours to wait.
was the answer whom asked for q
train to Chicego. This time wac
spont very pleasantly in company
with friends, seeing for the hum
dredth time the sights OF the Queen
City of Maryland. The only thing
Of interest was fire at o'clock
which raised quito IN excitement
FOR awhile. Nothing was destroy
cd, however. but stable loft maxi
ing one less place for tho meeting
OF Dakotas DISTINGUISHED Senators.
Soon the time OF waiting was
passed and the West bound express
pulled into tho station. "All a.
board" shouted tho man with the
blue coat and brass buttons and all
got aboard as quickly as possible
and soon We wcro speeding away
for the wild and woody Yves. Our
train was some 10 minutes late Il
the engineer seemed determined "a
make it up on the first FIVE miles.
So fast did we go that We felt as
sured aerial navigation had been
secured and we were travelling that
way. Soon VIC are in Keyser, then
in Piedmont. Here there had been
wreck a few minutes previous,
but as it was not on our track we,
were soon past. We learned that
the wreck was caused by one of our
colored brethren who persisted in
knowing more than his horse. I'M
luckily the baggage car was badly
wrecked and the negro escaped.
Now wc climb the Savage Mountain
grade and when the top is reached
the iron horse speeds away without
even pausing to take blow. In
short time We reach Mountain Lake
Park, tho national resort during
the hot months Of tho year; all
locked pleasant and az wc glided:
by, tho pretty little cottages nestl-
ed among the bushis as il they were
trying to hide away from the rude
gaze Of the passengers. Away We
speed and as wo 60 VIC pass through
some of the finest scenery In the
world. We are in the heart OF the
Alleg. Mts. and the Rocky Noun
tain side, the lofty peaks aud the
dreadful gulchcs arc all around us.
With 90 minutes for supper aud
80 minutes late it was dark when
we left Grafton. Shortly we are
nearing Fairmont. Many different
feelings came to us as We thought
OF the place OF our former school
days, and ruminatcd upon the many
pleasant associations connected
with it. But alas, fast trains cx-
perience no such emotions as these
and We are soon past tho town. A
short stop at Moun9syille-but as
it was so dark ! could not see and
not caring for a free hair cut, ! did
not get out. Soon in Benwood and
then across the Ohio river to Bel
lalre. Hero got out and took my
FIRST breath Of Ohio air which is
still free even il Mckinley does
govern the State. Away wo speed
again through tho Buckeye State
AS | saw the rocky side of my ma
tive state fade away in the soft sill
very moonlight, I thought Of the
words of our state song. aye West
Virginia Hills must bid you now
adieu, etc." In about an hour We
arc in Barnosville whore the clock
tells us it is ono Z. b., which is
earlier than whom we left Benwood.
This somewhat bewildercd us until
NO rccollected that not only does
time change everything but is even
changed itself. We had changed
from Eastern to Central time. Ia
parts of Ohio the crops, oats es-
pcciaIly looked we'll but in other
parts they were equally poor. Har-
vesting was at its rush. Much Of
the wheat was down and in bad
condition to cut. To An inexper-
fenced traveller tho part of Ohio
through which We passed looks very
loyel aud pretty while that OF In
diana is much more broken but tho
soil is richer. The Western part
Of this State as we'll as that OF IIli-
nois is well marked by the recent
heavy rains and OvcFnows. Here
for the first time / ssw what up
pearcd TO be huge frog ponds with
fences around them. IL the fences
were made to keep the frogs in they
must be- very weak frogs as tho wa
ter is almost over Che top OF tho
fences. / presume that instead
they we're pasture fields Bwampea
by tho heavy rains.
But while 1 have been looking Mt
this VIC are speeding on and arc
alongside Of Lake Michigan. Ia.
little while we arc at tho Grand
Central Depot in the Worlds Fair
City and get out to stop for two
days to take in the sights before
leaving for Che Golden Shore.
Well / have said great deal
simply TO tell you ] came 10 Chica.
60, butif 700 arc not TOO sleepy
may tell you what ] saw ia nay two
days stay in the ca ~.
III H. C,gfctrvr