Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-08-20
a Remarkable Occurrence.
RIrroN, W. va. August IL, 1s9;

RIPPoN, w. Vas. August ~, 1885.
Dear Mr., Hai,les: Old Nippon has been ns
quiet as the tombs of the dead for along time,
and willie we admit that the thermometer has
displayed a very conspicuous degree in the
last few days. yet we feel that 1t is time for
old Rippon to be heard from again. We do
not believe in snake stories, and propose to
confine this narrative to rock-bottom facts.
Some time ago Informed yon of two old hens
riding ON the perch-pole of Mr.. Jas. Fl. Row
la nd's carriage TO Rippon Station to meet a
minister who was said to be very fond OF
chicken; later on informed you OF guinea
which rode on the pilot of freight engine
from Nippon to VIII eatland on its own accord;
but now call your attention % one of the
most remarkable facts that has ever happened
in this vicinity, and one which will cause you
to think that O second Tom Pepper has been
resurrected. Some weeks past George, the
popular N. 81 W. station cleaner, having fin
ished his work and waiting for his train, was
sitting on the station platform with crowd of
MS near He said :. last week was coming
down the mountains back in Warren county
on q freight train at a lively rate. was back
in the pilot of the caboose with conductor
Wibberly, watching the long freight train
wind its way around the heavy curves, when
saw something moving about on the top of one
of the cars. Conductor Wibberly proposed
| thar we go and see what It was, and 10 and be-
4 hold it was 100-lb. hog" But where did it
come fromf George says it jumped out of the
man hole of the double deck stock car on top.
We argued with George that it might have
been a goat that might have fallen from one
of the hundred-foot cliffs that hang over the
track in that vicinity. George says the hog
had gone eight car lengths from where 1t had
gotten ont Well, when Geo rye told this story
| we were all surprised at him. We got our
ropes ready and made preparations to hang
| him, but he begged for time to prove his story,
but we concluded we had better hang him, a
man who would tell ouch miraculous story
! About this time freight train pulled into the
side track, and who should come from it but
conductor wibberly. We had George tried
| right there and he proved himself innocent
| Conductor Wibberly said yes sir, it was no
goat or one of the valley grain men, but a
genuine hog with the regular bristles on" We
| decided not to be so quick in hanging a man
after that. Mr., Saum was captain. Well 1
have this to say, that unless this hog had Wild
i cat claws to hold with 1t speaks well for
/ old man Tommie's road, which has had less
accidents than any we know of since its con-
struction, and too much praise cannot be said
of Mr.. Fitzgerald and supt. Cook. Mr.. W. O..
N. says if supt. Cook would only get pair of
pointed toed shoes like his he would be per-
feet man. Twas over the N. s. w. to Luray
Camp last Sunday to hear the Rev. 81. NJ.
Wharton preach, but instead heard the great
detective preacher Tod Hall preach, and con-
sidered it well worth my trip. Mr.. Hall told
us how he unh inged criminals jaw on one
occasion. He is very stout man, Weighing L
suppose over 200 pounds. think he would
be good man to have among our missionaries
in China at this time. Yours, &c.