Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1893-03-08
EST VIRGINIA, WEDNESDAY, MARCH s. 1898.

was rounding the base of the Massanut
ten Mountain, where il breaks as abrupt
ly down into the valley as it rises from
it at Strasburg The towering mass only
horriied the night Then OH through
McGaheysville aud across the South fork
of the Shenandoah t. Conrad's Store
Here, as | approached the Blue Ridge, |
felt almost helpless in the impenetrable
stormy night stopped to make some
inquiries and procure small hottie OF
whiskey for an Emergency. Then into
and up the black mountain. Vision was
hopeless, but fortunately the road vas
solid and good and my horse could keep
in it. could reach out and feel her
neck and ears, but could not see them.
Ny speed was necessarily slackened, not
only because horse cannot climb
mountain like goat, but safety required
some caution. At times | heard the wa
ter rushing under us and across the road
and tumble in torrents so far down below
that / knew we were travelling along per
ilous edges. The ascent seemed very
steep and very long At last We reached
the summit of Swift Run Gap. 1t was
from this summit and through this gap
that Governor Spotswo6d and his
Knights of the Golden Horseshoe, in
17l6. obtained the white mans first view
of the Valley of the Shenandoah. From
the same point of view did not parIake
of their epchantment
But lust here | met knight of a less
romantic order. He was a belated,
drowsy, bedraggled courier ploddng his
way from Ewell to Jackson. From him
| extracted some useful information as to
my route and in return gave him pull
at nv flask. 1t was vile stuff, but as he
seemed to like it | gave him the bottle
and left him on the summit.
The descent was quicker, and soon
went plunging into Stanardsville, having
done thirlysev miles on that blooded
mare. Here tried TO get another horse,
but failed. Ny efforts cost me half an
hour. then | moved on. Anxiety for
nv noble beast added another horror TO
the night. Just out of Stanardsville the
road forkcd in the middle of broad and
shallow stream, and of course, ! took the
wru,,v one. a nair mile Deyond arous'
cd the inmates of cabin and learned
nv mistake. Retracing my steps, /
found the right road, and was soon IN
front of a white farm house. A few
well-directed shouts brought an aston
ished masculine head out Of an upper
window. appealed to him for horse.
I fancied | saw him smile satirlcally as
he declined, but he politely urged me to
dismount and "come in out of the wet"
then knew l must play trumps and
said plaintively, my dear friend, | am
an officer of Stonewall Jackson's staff
carrying an important message, and
must have fresh horse"
"The devil!' was all the response
had and down went the window. But
Immediately heard again at the back
of the house, with rising Infection
"Saul, Saul, / say Saul-drat that sleepy
nigger-there you are-run you woolly
head. bring out the big, black mar, anC
be quick about it," He soon appeared
with Saul and the horse and lantern
and helped to exchange the saddle an'
4, bridle. As climbed from the fence oil
the mare and rode away he threw tn
light of the lantern OH my face, and said
, in a tender voice Good luck, for
e have boy, may be about your age, Will
4 Stonewall Jackson"
I Nv new beast was as tall as dromc
dary and as | steered her through tn
e deep mud she seemed to plow 1t like
gunboat and knew Just as little about
riding bride. Madison Court Hous
h was fifteen miles from Stanardsville an
f by the time we reached it she was wor
Y out. There, fortunately, was a courie
a station and | exchanged her for a littl
:. gray horse. Gathering through th
streets of that slumbering town wi
|. soon in the opening country and on al
# other deep mud road. Suddenly m
a horse slipped, gave grOan and wa
q down. and rolled off into the mire.
IT jumped up and asked him to do ii
n same. but he never moved and was al
e parently dead. Taking off the saddle
o stood by the road side in hopeless bewi
$ derment. looked about me and coul
| see no habitAtion, no light, nothing
IS Just then a little imp jumped into ii
e. road on the opposite side with Goo
II Lordy, whas dat? Explanations 70
lowed. He was on his way to town f
n the doctor "fer ole missus." He said