The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-05-25
Interesting Letter From Rev. McAuinch.


tonight, partly in compliance with |
promise, and partly to put in the time,
sit mo down to write you.
Our trip West last week was a mos
pleasant one in every respect. The trains
were all OR time, the weather was per
feet and we were we'll. Nothing could
have been added to our comfort an6
pleasure. Soon after leaving Tionests
the scenery began to change. The fruit
trees were fuller Of blossoms, the foliage
more advanced and fields were greensr
The atmosphere also changed, so that on
leaving Pittsburg it was almost uncom-
fortably warm in the car. A heavy rain
storm just as we were leaving st. Louis
the following evening cooled off the air
and gave refreshing sleep. Here it is
summer. The blossoms are gone, the
foliage almost full size, wheat about a
foot high, and corn, potatoes, peas,
beans, onions, lettuce, etc., putting out
of the ground. 1t has been extremely
wet here all spring which has hindered
| i"A hA'hSi bVe hoS given tho WhOio Aohu-
scape the appearance of hsalthful cleanli-
ness.
The country in this part of Missouri is
fine. 1t is sufficiently rolling to give
good drainage, some of the streams hsv-
ing very swift curr'nt, and the soil is
fertile. Everywhere beautiful we'll kept
| farms abound.
This is the famous fruit belt of the
State. Apples in particular are raised in
abundance. Apple orchards here are
like the corn fields of Kansas, or the
wheat fields of the Dakotas, covering the
face of the earth. The largest orcherds
have ever seen-whole forties, eighties or
one hundred and sixties regularly laid
out and planted with apple trees. All
other fruits, large and small, abound.
The farming here is more diversified
than in many places in the west,
oats, and winter wheel are grown. There
is also much timber.
understand that this is an exception
ally good locality, that further north and
east are the foothills of the Ozarlxs, where
the soil is not so fertile and smooth, and
where the sharp, flinty stone abounds in
great profusion.
They have their drawbacks here also.
The drouth frequently catches them us it
did last summer, burning up the ground
and injuring fruit and grass the follow
ing year. Another thing that is not
pleasant is the cyclone. One passed
through few miles south of Bolivar on
Sunday, May lst, that did considerable
damage and killed two persons. 1 saw
the Baptist church at fremont which
had been destroyed. Services were be-
ing held at the time, but the congrega-
tion got frightened and left the preacher
talking to the empty pews. The last
persons had scarcely got out till the roof
was raised up and dropped on top of the
walls which had been crushed in by the
storm. One lady was lifted from her
horse, and another lost her new spring
hat never again to find q thread nor
lculnoI vi IL. ~ loW OIHtr DullulpkS
were moved from their foundations but
not much injured. There was quite a
storm last night that for a while
looked threatening but it blew oyer or
away somewhere else. While the clouds
were blackest and the lightning flashing
some one put up balloon with a fire be-
meath which added somewhat to the ter
rife appearance of the heavens. Ner-
vous people, suppose, could not SEQ the
joke.
The war fever is as high here as in the
East and more enthusiasm is manifest.
Everybody is talking war, and volunteer
companies arc being organized. There
is no North, no East, no South, no West.
1t is oar country, the United States. In
st. Louis company marched into the
depot while l was there. A policeman,
pointing to middle aged man walking
with them said: "That is Frank James,
and that boy in the company is his son."
This statement did not send the cold
chills coursing over my frame as it
might have done few years ago when
the James brothers were the terrors of
the west. Frank is now Law. abiding,
respected citizen.
A fake telegram was received last
night that SIMPSONS fleet had met the
enemy and had suffered the loss of two
of his ships and that he had gone down
with one of them. This created consid-
erable excitement for while.
Springfield is city of about 5000 in
habitants, railroad center, and full of
business. The land is rapidly being
taken up and fenced in and improved.
The open country affords an excellent
place in which to get lost. l have had
experiences of this kind both in Iowa
and Missouri at night. This time 1 os-
capped, however, by staying in. The
rivers, which are all small here, rise
very suddenly and make fording dan
gerous. Only a few weeks ago two
horses with saddles and brides on were
seen floating on the Big Stock with no
clue to their riders. The Pom de Terre,
$50 named from the peculiar fruit grow
ing on its banks), swells from a stream
the size of Tionesta creek to a half mile
wide in few hours. The banks are low
and level.
After another days stay in Missouri,
expect to pull up at Winona where L
shall hear more and see less, Yours.
]. V. MoANINCH.
| GsIt il the Rest nm Rar,I, >,