The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-23
in A WILD COUNTRY.
Col. Shumway's Trip
in the Southern
Mountains.
TREATED WITH GREAT COURTESY.
The Colonel Suffered From
Two Chills That Almost
Frustrated Him.
TREATED WITH GREAT COURTESY.

Col. E. R. Shumway returned yester-
day from trip of three weeks through
the mountains of eastern Tennessee and
Kentucky. He was one of a party of
nine New England men, including DR..
H. w. Watkins of this city, who made
the hard trip, and although a business
motive wasn't entirely lacking, Col
Shumway would not have Joined the
party except for the recommendation of
his physician, who ordered a change
of air and scene.
The party went direct to Rugby
Crossroads, Tenn. There four double
teams were in waiting and the cara
van started on an eventful trip of 100
miles through a country seldom visited,
and where the stranger is looked upon
as a decided curiosity. Col. Shumway
is of the opinion that this particular
region is the widest section of the
country In these mountains was
fought the most bloody and persistent
guerilla warfare of the civil war.
Col. Shumway is of the opinion that
in no portion of the west was unpro-
voked killing so prevalent, even in the
palmiest days of the cowpuncher bully,
as in the section his party traversed,
80 miles from railroad connection.
A few years ago, according to the
guides that piloted the company, it was
the conventional method of conducting
an argument to shoot first and then
continue the discussion. A stalwart de-
putty sheriff beguiled the time by
pointing out points of interest and
every time he began little historic
sketch, he closed the narrative with,
"Thars where he FELL" or Here's
where Bill So-and-so shot Jim What's
his name" So prevalent did this kill
ing become that the state took a hand
in the game and imposed a fine of $50
for carrying revolver. OF this $25
goes to the informant and every man
in the region is out for the princely sum
so shooting has declined in popularity.
This same law put an end to one of
Col. Shumway's dreams of sport. When
he left Worcester he armed himself
with his army revolver, expecting a
rare good time with the wild turkeys,
gray squirrels and coons with which
the country is overrunning. He decid
ed to keep his revolver in his grip. 1t
was never discharged.
The trip of 100 miles was made
through the toughest of country over
roads that were no roads at ALL For
side trips of a prospecting nature the
wagons were abandoned and the jour
neys were in the saddle. At places the
descent was so steep that the wagons,
with fastened wheels, were slid down
rocky declines guided by a rope secured
to a handy tree. For four miles the
party travelled in the rocky bed of a
river with water to the aXles. There
were no bridges, and after a shower
the outfit came to halt for the swol-
len streams to recede.
The country Col. ShumwaX. said,
abounds in the finest of white oak that
stands straight as a reed, rs or 100
feet tall and of tremendous girth.
Black walnut into which an axe has
never struck, stands in virgin forests.
The timber is of the most valuable
known, but with the means of trans
portation at hand is absolutely I'M
available except along the river banks.
where it is fast disappearing.
During the entire trip the party was
treated with the utmost hospitality.
Concerts and receptions We're given in
honor of the visitors, and the finest
hoe cake and bacon, which is about
the limit of the bill of fare in the
mountains, were at their disposal. Dis
cussion of politics and kindred differ
ences among the residents of the wild
region, was carefully avoided and the
company of nine men passed over the
mountains in comparative comfort.
THE natives" said Col. Subway,
''exist by raising small crops and the
staple article of the region hogs. RAJ
zor backs are everywhere. They earn
their own food and grow fat in peace
until the roundup. Money is scarce,
but little is needed"
Every arrangement for the trip was
made before the company started, anc
there was no delay. Three weeks We're
necessary for the 100 mile trip to Oh
good, whence the party made visit 70
Mammoth cave and other points OF IN
terest in the south, returning by way
of washington Saturday night Col.
Shumway passed at the home of Clara
Barton, beautifully located seven miles
from Washington.
Col Shumway returned materially
improved in health. During the trip,
he suffered from two severe chills that
almost Frustrated him. The first of
these occurred on the train after the
mountain trip, and, incidental to it, Col
Shumway tells an amusing story of the
convenience of southern railroads. 1.-THE
chill came on me with great violence"
he said to The Spy man last night, and
one Of the party, in alarm at my condi-
ton. telegraphed ahead for a physician
With typical southern calmness, the
medical man thought nothing of being
some minutes late, and the train was
held for his arrival. He came saun-
tering up, and after an examination of
my condition, ventured the information
that he had not the proper remedy. A
boy was dispatched to a drug store, and
after some time, returned with the
proper dose, and meanwhile the train
and its passengers waited patiently
Apparently it was nothing unusual to
the natives. To me it was a convinc-
ing proof that the free-and-easy meth
DDS that have become proverbially con-
nected with southern railroads are more
fact than fiction"
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