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

Instructed Charley when I got opposite
the old mill to make the snap. Well. l
proceeded to the chute in the boat and
started down the. The current was
running at railroad speed just below
the dam, and the water was boiling up.
When almost half way through the
shute the end of the boat struck large
bowlder. which was covered by the wa
ter, and boiling over. and over | went.
losing my hat fortunately had cap,
which | wore afterwards) minnow
bucket, and one of the poles of the boat
hung on to the boat but got complete
ly wet. The nanorama occurred just be-
fore Charley WAS agout to make the snap
shot. After putting our baggage in the
boat we again proceeded down the riv-
er. We got interested in fishing and
didn't know 1t was so late in the day.
until we looked at the time. We In
tended to stop at Edward Washington's
Neither Charley nor | had ever been
there and didn't know his landing, as
his house was some distance from the
river. Welt. we went past his landing
Tt was getting dark and raining. We
'turn<I back and Rugged the left bank
of the river, as we knew that his place
was on the left coming up. or the right
going down. The branches OF the trees
overhung the river on both sides, which
made Ii very dark. Ii was still raining
and so dark you could hardly see your
hand before your face We had almost
made up our mind to pull the boat
ashore and remain in 1t all night. We
were lost and didn't know where we
were at. We kept rigging the shore,
which | could tell by the pole In my
hand At last we struck the end of q
boat and at once knew that somebody
lived In the vicinity. Here We landed
and pulled our boat ashore. Having
pocket lantern In my pocket, l took 1t
out and lit it, which enabled us to FIX
everything in the boat secure. We
started up the bank and the first thing
we ran against was a hedge fence, as
we could not find the path leading UP
the bank frou the boat. Our light was
very dim. How to get over this hedge
fence was a query. At last ] succeeded
an getting hold of a rail with which
pressed the hedge to one side, while
Charley got through and followed.
After proceeding some distance up In
the feld we saw a light straight ahead
of us, but some distance. 1t was still
raining. Upon arriving at the house. to
our surprise we had struck the right
place. We found here Sam Norton and
wife. Peter NJ. Rhodes, Frank Johnson,
Jim Matthews and Will Mcclure. At
ter getting supper we retired. 1t was
about nine D. IN. when we arrived here
Charley and / remained here two days.
took several photos, and on the morn
ing of the 11th, left for home In Wash
ington's wagon. Sam Norton drove
Charley and me to Springfield, where 1
took the train for home, Charley going
to Romney, where his mother and sister
were sojourning during the hot wealth
er. While he was there he took sick
from the effects of his trip and the
thoughts of that memorable night we
got lost on the river. He was there
some two weeks before he fully recov-
cred so as to come home. Robert and
Edward Washington are descendants OF
our first president, George Washington.
Robert Washington resides five miles
up the river Edward Washington died
a few months ago. Robert is still liv-
ing.
Our boat (the Little Charley was Ia
ken back to Parsons where 1t was used
by him for some time, and afterwards
destroyed by the ice. / arrived home
that evening at 1880 p. m. SO ended
this memorable trip.
T. NJ. DARRAH.