The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-07-30

run on the Baltimore & Ohio. the
steamboats, also bringing excursions
from above and below the town OF
Moundsville. There are people here to-
day, that will remember the Sunday
following this rainstorm, when wearing
apparel and bed clothing were hung on
lines over the entire encampment. and
the grounds had the appearance OF
wash day.
When It Rained.
In those days rain only dampened the
ardor of the people temporarily. Raia
not only caused discomfort In the home
life, but no services could be held while
the, rain fell as there was no covexlns
over the Inside Circle" where preach
ing services were held. The four fire
stands at the four corners of the place,
where meeting was held. were 4 great
trouble after the rain. Fires had to be
rebuilt, which was no small Job. The
boys and girls on this ground to-day
can romp and play in any part of the
camp, by electric light. but the children
of earlier camps when outside OF the
reach OF the fire stands, were in total
darkness, and when darkness came they
were found in the tents or at meeting
with their PARENTS. the door OF each
tent there hung aslantern or candle.
The door consisted OF a muslin sheet,
folded and tackled to the boards at the
top of the opening left in front for the
door, Anybody could walk in and
through the tent, as there was nothing
to prevent it. But strange rs it may
seem, there were no robberias commit
ted. at least none reported.
These tents were in use for about ten
years when they gave way to one and
two story plain cottages with shinsle
roofs. When the first one was erected,
it was generally asserted that the family
building it were getting rather high
toned. putting on style. and yet that
house cost But $50. Verify. things have
changed. 5g&
On the first day of the meeting there
was sent out OF Wheeling on the Balti-
more &; Ohio railroad special train for
Moundsville. that conveyed the families
coming to the camp-ground. Upon the
arrival of the train. the first, sound
greeting your ears was Fright this way
for the camp ground" and you were be-
sleged on all sides, until you were
placed in two horse wagon. provided
with temporary seats on either side,
and to add to the ride of 4 mile. fire.
quently through dusty streets and dus-
tier roads, you would be crowded in
these wagons that would seat twelve or
fourteen people, with twenty or twenty
yard. could always find room for one
more. After the people were landed on
the grounds, the wagons would return
for the goods. and with their arrival
everybody went TO work, and when the
bell sounded at 1880 p. m. for service,
everybody was ready to so to launch
the "Old Ship Zion. At the close of
each service. the wagons would be in
waiting and then fright this way for
the train or AIoundsville." would gree,
the ear. The trip to the train was fire.
quently race for life. as each driver
would aim to make two or three trims
from the camp ground to the depot be-
fore the train started for Wheeling. ami
the horses would be driven under the
whip most of the time. or the men who
were engaged in this primitive mode Of
transportation, l can only recall few,
some of whom still reside In the town of
Moundsville. They are: John Edwards.
Jim Fountain, Jack Davis. Mike Ed
wards, Jack Mathews, VIII Catlett
and Jim Henrietta. The usual charge
was fifty cents for the round trip, but
In the later years OF this mode OF trans
portatlon. prices were cut, and the bust
ness was not SO profitable.
A Famous Prnvar