Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-07-05
They Were from Staunton, Even
Though the Still House
was dry.
Editorial Correspondence of the Greenbrier
W, Va, independent. June %

Editorial Correspondence of the Greenbrier
w. Va, Independent, June PSI
Among the very pleasant incidents of this
trip to Pocahontas was few hours spent with
the Augusta Fishing Club in their camp on
the Greenbrier. The club is composed OF
Capt. James Bumgardner, Richard p Bell
and Fitzhugh Elder. of the Staunton bar, Col
Chas. l.. Cook, Prof. Webb, of the Episcopal
school at Staunton, and Mr.. Geo. BeaIl of
Maryland. This club, as thus composed has
spent from ten days to two weeks every sum-
mer for the last ten years or MORE fishing fol
trout in the upper waters of the Greenbrier,
and Col. Cook has kept careful record OF
the catch made by each member every season
during these ten years. After spending a
week in the vicinity of Travellers Repose,
the club broke camp there and came down to
Marlinton to fish for bass, reaching the coun-
ty seat Tuesday afternoon, the 18th, the first
day of court. Having pleasant acquaint-
ance with Capt. Bumgardner, Col. Cook and
Mr.. Bell (the last named gentleman having
been class-mate of ours in the law school
at the University OF Virginia) we received,
along with Col. r. s. Turk, who was attend
ing Court at Marlinton, a polite and very
cordial invitation to take supper with the
club that night in their camp about mile
below the town-an invitation we readily ac-
cepted, Capt Bumgardner assuring us that
we should have for supper as fine a trout as
was ever taken from the Greenbrier and which
he had caught at Travellers Repose the even
ing before. We found the tents of the club
pitched in beautiful, picturesque spot near
an old still house, the operations of which,
however, had been long since discontinued.
Col. Turk informed the party that the old
man who formerly owned the still always
insisted that he had natural and indisput
able right to grow his own apples and to dis
till the juice into brandy, and that. with this
right, the government could not interfere
without invading the natural and inalienable
right OF mana position Capt. Bumgardner
Insisted was we'll taken and founded in good
reason. Near the camp was an excellent
spring and also bold, clear mountain stream
so that both men and animals had an abun-
dant supply of Adams ale. The old still
house as we have said, was dry and unproduc~
tive and could therefore contribute nothing to
the hospitality of the occasion. But what of
that? these gentlemen came from Stanton,
they had provision wagon along with we'll
supplied commissariat, and Virginia hospital
ity suggested. if it did not require, for the oc-
casion, little somewhat in addition to the
supply Of Adams ale so abundant at the
spring. We need say nothing further on this
point but feel That our expression of appre-
citation of the clubs hospitality would not be
complete did we fail to testify to Prof Webb's
skill in the preparation of palatable bev-
erage with little lemon juice, little sugar,
etc., as the leading ingredients. This was
preliminary to an excellent supper prepared
by the professional cook who accompanied
the club, and whose skill in frying trout
Col. Turk and the writer will ever bear in
pleasing remembrance. After supper, cigars
were passed, and hilst enjoying the weed,
all sat round glowing camp fire whose
generous warmth contributed to the enjoy
ment of the thrilling fish stories with which
Capt. Bumgardner and other members of the
club RECALLED the party. At half past nine,
Col, Turk and the writer took their depar-
ture, leaving the campers to slumber in their
comfortable tent under thu bow,rs of the
with spreading oaks.