Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-02-02
The Cabin Hill Cornet Band in the
Mountains Of Pendleton,
West Virginia.
Mr.. EDITOR :

Our expedition took
place about the last of November. but
owing to your correspondent getting
somewhat disabled in the expedition it
has never been reported to you.
Bat as made myself responsible to
some of the good people of Rockingham
and Pendleton to have the particulars of
our trip published, and to furnish them
with copies of the same, l will now try
to make MY word good with Your kind
permission. Il was about the 2lst Of
November that the boys of the Cabin
Hill Cornet Band wished their wives and
sweethearts farewell and started on their
pleasure trip and to try their luck in
Pendleton.
Some of the boys felt blue about going,
as it commenced TO snow and rain about
the time we were ready. Some did not
like the idea of leaving friend Noah's
store fof a whole, long week, and IN fact
nothing would induce brothers Sam and
Charlie to 60 with rs, not even the In
Oginary deer and fish.
Finally We got started, having a good
team managed by our Efficient driver,
Robinson Cruso, jr., Butterfly, Sqnirly
and Yellow Stone Dick. We travelled
as far as Mr.. Thomas Fansler's at Cootcs'
store. After unpackng our instruments,
getting our team stabbed, shaking of the
snow and rain ard eating supper the boys
played several pieces when it was noised
around that there was a wedding 10 come
off several hundred yards from Mr.. Fan
sler's, and the boys buckley decided to
serenade them. Starting off we were met
in the road and invited in. After the
minister had tied the knot aud the bright
young couple were one, the boys proceed.
ed to give them some Of their best music,
and the couple were introduced to the
band By DR.. Cootes in an appropriate ad
dress thanking the baud for the respect
they had shown the fair yonng bride and
groom.
After the band had rendered their con-
CALCULATIONS they returned to Mr. Fan
sler's where preparations had been made
for grand social dance given by some Of
Rocking hams fair daughters, II was
kept up until the tired boys retired TO
rest to dream of Pendle:on's Wild game
and big fish.
On Wednesday mcruing, Nv. 23rd,
after Robinson Cruso had used several
fence rails and fifty or sixty ib' of mu-
steal dynamite, be got he boys up, and
after a sumptuous breakfast and several
gallons Of hot coffee, served by the hes
pitable faulty Of Bro. Fansler, we star;ed
for the Feudleton mountains under the
leadership Of Mr. John Will Hereinafter
spoken Of as Trapper Tom tie noted
guide, hunter and angler Of Rockingham.
We had gone about mile when we were
met by Mr Il. II. Stowalter who let his
latch string hang out about two yards,
and gave the boys something to keep up
animation and to ease them over the
rough laces.
Nothing of note occurred until we
came to the historic Brooks Gap, which
some Of the boys wanted to 60 around or
swim the river rather than pass under
those towering rocks. We all took a good
look al the chimney rock, also the pond
called the negro hole, where they say, in
the time of slavery darky jumped in
rather than be driven of. II is also
claimed that this pond has no bottom, or
at least none has been found OF course
none OF US cared ab)lt hunting for it or
the darkey iust then. Eagle-eye said lie
wouldn't mind invest ga,iog if be knew
be could come ont at Henry Showal:ers :
Mr. Flanery's.
Next We all 60. On az the famous spring
of Brooks Gap, known as the Family
spring the Only 1)w'ng spring in the
Gap.
Then we reached Sugar camp near
Folks store in the deyide east Of Custer
vile, taking the left hand road up Dry
River and crossed the mountain int
Pendleton. must say The man who laid
out this road should receive more credit
from the people who travel THAN Colum.
bus for discovering America. There are 9
number Of curves where, after travelling
halt mile, sou can throw a stone into
the turn you have passed over. Tie road
is an easy grade and smooth a. the Val.
ley pike. There is, however. but ont
track and DO place TO pass excepting a.
some of the turns, and when two team
T chance to meet one mist unload aad lay {
scaifJld from the road to the tops of thu
trees and the wagon run on 1t until the
other passes. II ever a wagon should
leave the road and ruh over the bank /
would be impossible to find all the pieces
in a month as it would never stop going
Just as we we're going along the MONT
ain top we hal the pleasure of seeing the
sun shed its last RAYS behiod the ALE
ghany mountains. We kept going down
turn after tsrn, until thinking our horses
tired and hungry, Trapper Tom ant
Pawnee Bill were sent olt to look 10 {
camping place for the night. They founc
only an old deserted sugar camp, after
wards named by Eagle eye, Camp Starya
ton, as We were running very short o
rations. Here we organized a wild West
and all the boys received appropriate
names. As rations had come down from
beat steak, miuce pie and top cake +
) onions and apple jack we began to fee
rather down in the mouth, and concludes
to retire for the night. When we came
J to look for our blankets, We found BITTER
0 4 had rolled himself in half dozen an,
: was snoring until the mountains yibratee
T How to get them was the question
rrapper Tom came to our rescue. II
built large fire around Butterfly an
soon heated him up until be jumped ri
: and commenced shakinr himself TO COG