The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-01
md Ohio railroad company.

sun just clOSeu numerous 1Sllng
encampments from the adjoining
states were to be seen at favorite
points all along these streams, althou-
gh the weather has continued unfa-
vorable and the waters high, the
catch is remarkably fine. Swallow
Falls and Muddy Creek Falls are
probably the two most prominent
places, not only with the angler, but
large pleasure excursions from Deer
Park, and Mt. Lake Park and Oak
land who 60 to spend the day and
view the gorgeous and picturesque
scenery by which they are surround
ed.
Bass fishing, which will be in its
bloom during the month of October,
offers rare inducement to the expert
rodman, who to be successful must
wade the middle of the streams for
miles with the water often up to his
armpits and whilst the labor is some
what, he seldomed fails to be amply
remunerated. Many of the old fishe.-
men from the mountains wade during
the day and night; showing to appar-
ent fatigue.
cannot refrain from giving an i'm
perfect and short sketch of one of the
most spirited and unique fishing out
ings ever planned in this community,
1t was a reunion of the immediate
| relatives and friends of the Browning
family in weeks fishing and hunt
ing expedition on the banks of the
wild and historic Cheat River. The
Brownings, nine in number, eight
grand sons and one great-grand son of
Mechack Browning, the pioneer hun
ter and nimrod of Western Maryland
(whose autobiography, entitled,
Forty-four years of the life hun
ter has place of the choice shelf of
the libraries of those who are fond of
outdoor sports, all of whom inherit
ed his love for nature, the chase, hunt
and camp fires, and was never so
happy as when roaming over field
forest or along the streams. 1t was
my privilege to be in company with
this distingui he'd author and hunter
when his photograph was taken for
the frontispiece of his work, and as l
listened to some of his thrilling nara
tives of some of his desperate hand-to
hand encounters, the forty and odd
years spent in wilderness of solitude
and danger, then aged, bent and bat
tered by the storm of forty and odd
years, he reminded me of some mighty
giant taking a rest after the fury of a
prolonged and desperate battle.
The morning was bright and young
when large two-horse wagon was
loaded with provision, and six cover
ed wagons drawn by twelve handsome
horses, furnished transportation for
the merry crowd. The middle wagon
was well arranged seats and rolling
curtains, in which was the renowned
Browning Orchestra, six brothers
with their fine violins and who start
ed the march by playing Arkansas
Traveller" Six violins in the hands
of six brothers, as artistic players as
ever drew boo,
1t was 100 p. IN. when the point of
destination was reached. Here two
large tents were pitched, one music
and assembly hall and dining room,
much enjoyed by hungry but happy
company.
After dinner the large covered wag-
ons and the smaller tents were arang-
ed as sleeping apartments. All was
now done and the arrangements COM
pleted for a weeks stay. Soon the
evening sun began to sink behind the
gigantic mountains and THE evening
shadows stretched far and wide along
the beautiful little valley. The rip
pling waters of the old river seemed |
to babble welcome that was caught |
by all.
For whole week the camp fires |
burned and every evening around the |
blazing torches the six brothers with
their violins, from which came the
sweet music that swelled theybreezes
of the mountain crags and delighted |
the crowds of people that gathered in
from Rowlesburg, Aurora and the |
surrounding country. e On Thursday
evening the crowd was unusually |
large, when it was proposed that a
concert be given on the water. Ac- |
cording the boats were all filled and |
rowed to the middle of the river and |
anchored and the concert there lasted |
for an hour or more. On Friday
evening Stephen, John F. and Abel |,
Browning were rowed out to the mid
die of the river, where they played
kelly on the Lake" the pathetic
story of the history of the~~piece hav-
ing been told, prepared those seated
on the shore for its best appreciation
and made it hard for them to.restrain !
the tears that were wont to flow.
On Saturday morning Ethe tents
were folded and the party, like the
Arabs, "stole silently away Rest