West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-01-30
KNGWOoD PRESTON COUNTY, THURSDAY JANUARY 30 1902

high, but Of course much higher before {
had become worn down by the s,ormS q
centuries Without doubt this nelosur,
was once par, Of the Mound Builders. Lon,
before The paleiaec appeared this side Of tn
/ Alcehoncs, the native had recognized IN,
suiablencss of this basin tor his primitiv,
/ agriculture. lie doubtless cleared out thi
bottom and built the ring To serve as IN,
Foundation of a sJockadc FOR defense. Anei
] diligcnt search, stone ha,ehct and a few
flint arrowheads were found
Rabbits, squirrels aud paruidgcs were
abundan, in this leafy retreat. \ wrirelnr
snake was encountered which had lately
shed his skin, aud his scales cleaned like
FURNISHED copper in the rays OF sunleh,
stealing through the leaves. The reptile
escaped capture 10y crawling into a mass Of
rocks. skinned aud stuffed, it would have
made fine mounted specimen, being fully
eight feet long.
AZ length the valley narrowed. Bcctmg
eings came mp,dy together. Bowlders
Thirty, forty, aud even sixty feet hiph
lowered above the heads of the party and
impaired a mountainous aspect 10 the view
Their crcyices were crowned with laurel and
on their SUBMITS were trees ovcrhanging
the cool shady ohasm below through which
rushed the waters ot the creek. a few
small trout were seen in pool among the
rocks.
The deep p-toucd murmw of a water fall
came to their ears, and suddenly they found
themselves gazing upon perpendcular
precipiee full seventy feet high over winch
thin sheet of water poured into the abyss
and the churning of the torrent below pro-
duced masses of foam. AZ the foot Of
the precipice is a thick vein of hematilc
iron ore
Just above was found an opening which
proved to be the entrance To cavern.
Owing to the want of suitable torches no
extended investigation could bc made, yet
the very rusty barrel OF nintlock rifle was
found 1t is more than probable this
cave was once an outlaws den, and before
his day it sheltered bears and other wild
animals that pteyed on the game once SO
plentiful in these mountains
ON clamheriug up to the top of the cliH
the party found traces OF a mill numc built
many years ago to supply power to saw
and grlst mill which has SO completely dis.
appeared that but few traces of IL remains
Ahoyc'thc head OF the valley was found
much cncumbcrcd with rotting logs and
tree tops. the large timber having been cut
out some years ago. Passing through the
tanglc. they came out ON the edge OF a field.
where it was but n minutes walk to the old
stone house az BrandonNllc built by
Harrison Ilagans a little farther away
thc creek now q small run. crosses the
Terra Alta pike, and near here is an old
log house which sheltered the FIST printing
press In Preston county. Brandonvlllc was
once the metropolis OF this region. and at
Bruceton the FIRST steam engine 10 the
County was set by Charles Eanmer
When railroad shall pass through the
valley of the Sandy. the picturesque valley
Of Conner Creek will we'll deserve so be
made pleasure ground Tor sighiscors.sThc
flower carpetcG basin. with las mineral
springs It's crumblng ruins ana its for.
gotten irrigation bitches. aud the connect.
ing romantic glen. with its wild scenery,
its beautiful cataract IT'S mammoth
powders, and It's yawnine cavern. viii
form rare combination of attractions
for the tourist r.c.L.