The National tribune., 1899-09-07

'66, / determined to visit my old friend and
guide through the mountains, Mr.. James
Todd C'Uncle Jimmy'); and taking my
little son Charlie with me, with rod and gun,
went with MIR. Wehn, of Staunton, some
seven miles. to the house of another Union
man and friend, Maj. Anderson, and from
thence the next morning to the famous
White Oak Lick" the home of Mr. Todd:
my son Charlie riding with Mr. Anderson,
while rode another horse. We went on
horseback IN order that we might make
short cuts.
Upon reaching "Stribbling Springs" IA
miles from Staunton, we took a mountain
path directly over the Springs Mountain,
thence to its foot, crossing the pretty little
North River, then up the gentlest little
valley in that vicinity we entered, after an
eight-mile ride, a romantic gap" and passed
into the little settlement of white Oak
Lick, consisting. of only four families,
Roberts and Uncle Jimmy-the other two
names not remembered.
Resting in the shadow of the great North
Mountain, with Bald Mountain towering
far above all surroundings, before us was the
home OF the famous Union man, hunter,
scout, and guide, Uncle Jimmy TODD, who
approached us as we dismounted, grasped
our hands, and with honest native grace
welcomed us to White Oak Lick: he and
the female portion of the family all kindly
kissing my little boy and generally wei,
ScIuliiE5 "A lueTSOH ana he were
old and true friends. The Major soon re.
turned home. as it was dark forest most OF
| the way, and it was then late in the after
| noon. And there was the gentle Martha, who
supplied our wants and bade us "God
speed" near the house when we were going
| through the lines; and there was Sam, oul
assistant guide, brighter and cutter thar
| Virginia, Of Uncle Jimmy. His eIdes
daughter, with her two little BOYS. wert
also with him; and my little Charlie hac
lots Of fun, indeed, with her little boys
| once somewhat startling fun "a larg.
rattlesnake within 40 yards of the
| up these boys were stoning him vigorously
at long range, however. He looked like til,
| very monarch of the rattlesnakes, being
| nearly seven feet in length. The bows
having wounded him, he literally bit him
self many times. while in his rage He hat
throat and neck of gold, and he died fight
| ing to the last against superior forces. w,
| all looked on at the battle, and was forcibl,
reminded of the "furled banner" and the los
cause. Uncle Jimmy was much amused
when mentioned my reflections.
Rattlesnakes abound at White Oak Lick
l killed several with shotgun, one of which
| had ID rattles, which cut off and carried
trout hole in the North River, when large
rattler lay his full length across the road
approached him with very long pole anC
compelled him to flower his colors," al
| though he had coiled himself into a most
picturesque and artistic attitude and
| fought well.
pounded his head into Jelly, and then
placed him upon a rock, coiled, near the
| roadside; returning in an hour or so, saw
two men with sticks fighting that same
rattlesnake at the rock They had dis.
mounted from their horses, and lady sal
upon her horse interestedly looking on.
told them my story, and they said similar
| incidents had occurred in their own ex.
perience; but 1t was new to me. The rattle.
snake must have as many lives as a cat.
The beautiful little North River flowed
past Mr.. Todd's house-about so wards
away-and my little son and 1 and the
family spent many pleasant hours at this
spot, catching hundreds of trout. The
first time we went fishing, Sam caught 70
| trout, while |, though a novice at trout.
| fishing, caught some 30 or 40. Deer, bear
and pheasants abounded all around aboui
the Lick, and / went with Mr.. Todd one
night to watch at deer-lick, but the deel
base of Bald Mountain, back of his house
and would usually get one within an houl
or two.
The settlers owned several thousand
acres, and forbade hunting or fishing, ex.
cept by invited guests. and they We're few
| anu iioI d houuu WAS siHoWeu I'd run the deer
which was valuable source of income tr
the settlers. Pheasants were trapped gen
| orally, and bear was hunted at times-and
very good meat it is, somewhat resembling
pork in taste and flavor.
Uncle Jimmy laughed at my using q
shotgun; and one day while we were stand
ing near the bank of North River, / asked
him as favor to shoot a kingfisher, some
distance away. He raised his hair-trig
gered rifle and, firing, the kingfisher drop
ped with the head neatly severed from its
body. The distance, measured by long
steps, was found to be 80 yards.
| FIGHTING THE REBEL PROVOST.
| Upon request, Uncle Jimmy gave me the
following account Of his famous fight with
Stauntop, IN 1882 The guard was sent 1 to
take him, dead or alive" but a swift mes.
senger had carried the news to White Oak