Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-08-04
w


for the South
Branch valley.
We arrived at Cumberland az $3.50 a.
m. and stopped at the Queen City
Hotel After breakfast We boarded the
way train, and got off at Green Spring
Run station, and from there we took
the branch road to Romney, distance
sixteen miles. We wired the haekman
to wait for our party to convey us to
MooIefeld We reached Romney at 8
a. m. and found the hacknan await
ing u.s. We had our baggage conveyed
10 the hack, it containing fishing
tackle guns, camera outfit q am a
member OF the Crank family on that
subject, wet groceries enough to last
our party for al least one month, and
some for our friends. After paying our
respects to Skip Keller, proprietor of
the Kellar House. lzaac r. Brady. DIR.
DALEY, julie Waddle, and some others
fthey had been informed we would be
on that train, We got into the hack
and started for our destination, distant
twenty-seyen miles. Our drivers name
was L.inthicum.
After arriving at the river and pro-
ceedng some distance We noticed
large crowd OF people collected together
on the bank, and learned that a child,
the only son OF John Ed. Taylor, had
few minutes before fallen into the river
and was drowned. William Taylor &c
Sons are the owners OF large tan
merry there As we could do nothing,
we proceeded on our journey and ar
rived at Mechanicsburg Gap, where
Mill creek flows through. We stopped
there to take photo OF the beautiful
scenery The mountains on both sides
of the creek come down almost perpen-
dieuar, leaving a gap as nature form
ed it. In this gap there were several
conflicts during the civil war. At the
upper end of the gap there were sew
erai embankments thrown up by the
Confederates to prevent the Union sol
diers from invading that section of
country, but they were oyerpowered and
driven out. Then first one side and
then the other occupied the pass.
While arranging for the view the hack
from ldoorefield to Romney hove in
sight, and among the passengers was
Hon B. l.. Butcher Ex-State Super
intendent of Schools.
After taking the photo and bidding
our friends adieu We proceeded on our
journey and arrived at the junction.
ing on we took the left hand road up
Mill creek, following the creek all the
way and passing through the Flats we
stopped to get drink at the noted
sulphur springs. Then, proceeding
some distance, we arrived at Reynolds
Gap. We passed an old saw mill just
entering the Gap that had not been
in use for a number OF years, but the
Old over-shot wheel and part OF the old
wooden race were still intact. Here in
this Gap during the civil war number
of Union soldiers were killed by the
Confederates. The road Is not over
twenty-five feet wide in places, and 1t
was a dangerous place during the war
for either side, being always guarded
by one force or the other as it was the
only means of gaining access into the
South Branch valley except by going
long distance around.
After proceeding a short distance
through the Gap we crossed a rustic
bridge over a small stream from one
side OF the Gap to the other. The
driver stopped on the bridge and Messrs.
Copp and Waterhouse got out and went
under the bridge for a picture. This
stream is very rough and rugged Large
boulders lay in the bed making it one
OF the very best rustic views we had
ever taken. After getting through with
our photo Zone of the most beautiful
views in the Gap is the overhanging
rock, which is noticeable by every per-
son passing) we again proceeded on our
journey. The road lay along the valley
for some three miles, until We arrived at
the Old Fields (Moorefeld Valley. We
passed up Moorefeld valley and across
the bridge over the river three miles
northwest of Moorefeld. Arriving at
Moorefield about p. M, we stopped
at the Mullen Hotel, kept by John Will
son, now Of the Randolph Hotel, at
Elkins. Old friends called to see US,
among them Jack and Joe Cunningham,
Captain Chipley, VIII Harness and some
others. After paying our respects to
the guests in Southern STYLE with a
smile" they departed. John Wilson
is quite a character He is always in
his shirt sleeves and stocking feet, and
generally has cup of coffee in mis- hand,
and always slipping it. He is doing
good business at Elkins, but don't wear
Shoes
Mr.. Waterhouse that evening went UP
to the graveyard, just beyond the town
on an elevation, to see the grave of his
Old friend Barney" Dolan, who was
killed short distance from Petersburg
by Union soldiers during the war. He
and two of his comrades undertook to
stop regiment of men. Dolan was
first lieutenant in McNeill's cavalry,
Joining the Confederate army at the
breaking out of the war. He formerly
resided in Ritchietown, now the Eighth
ward of Wheeling. Three brothers sur
vlve him, one living at Roney's Point
and the others in Benwood.
After remaining all night at the ho-
tel. After breakfast July 31st, We con-
Guided to drive up to Petersburg that
evening and have a fish in Petersburg
Gap. We had ordered boat built
here to convey us down the river to our
destination. Well, we lounged around
the village until p. m, when We hired
our team and started for Petersburg,
distance of fifteen miles. The drive is
along the river most all the way. 1t is
beautiful drive. After driving
through the Gap and short distance
heyond, we stopped at the Hotel Robin
son, Kept by a. colored gentleman. We
arrived there at $50 p. m. After get
ting our suppers we turned In for the
he to- II