The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-21
The Richmond That Poe Knew
BY PHILLIP ALEXANDER BRUCE.

sG In s. letter which Poe wrote 10 F.
n W. Thomas. one OF his friends, ne said:
81 am NirSinian; at least.I call my
Z self one, for have resided all my life,
X until she las, few years. in Richmond
What in Poe's youth. were some OF
the aspects. social and physical, of this
interesting and charming old city-we
say old. because with the exception OF
Charleston and Annapolis. 1t had been
In existence longer than the capitals OF
the other Southern States abutting
q upon the Central Atlantic wa .crs? IT
was here. on q granite islet securely
anchored at the foot of the foamlng
falls in James River, that Newport had
set up wooden cross on taking pos
session OF the surrounding wilderness
OF primeval forest; ii was here on a
high hill. casting its shadow across the
picturesque canon OF the roaring and
darting stream. that the first William
4 Byrd had built Z mansion. and II was
E here, in the damp hollow OF Shockoe
Creek. In n squat stone house still
standing. that he had exchanged red
and blue coats, parti- colored cloth,
and guns and powder with the Indians
for furs. AS the falls formed an in
sGrnlounta BILE barrier to the progress
h OF boats farther westwa I'd. ana as there
were no roads for carrying off BY wag-
II towards the mountains. the wave of
pioneers broke as ii We're against a
wall here. until the HuEuenots arrived
In 599 and sat down at Monacan Ii
E was UP 10 that event known as the
II Worlds End. BY the time the first
e shot of the Revolution was fired. the
lie outpost of the seventeenth century
had grown 10 be a small scattered town
clinging to hillside: and II was not
he ar IN
liansburs as the permanent capital
although, previous to 1900. its popu-
iation probably had not vel mounted
UP to- 5000. even counting the slaves
along with the freemen.
The year Mrs. David Poe. Edgar's
mother. died Gslp. Richmond vas the
most opulent city in the State. although
It had not even then swelled much
beyond the size Of Struggling coun-
Try town All the Influences OF the So
cia and economic system then pre-
vailing in Virginia were obstructive TO
the rapid growth of the existing ur-
ban population. The tastes Of the peo-
PIE as body, from the highest to the
lowest ranks. ali turned towards rural
pursuits and diversions as those af-
fordins them the highest satisfaction.
The towns-am them Richmond
we're not important even in an econo-
for the distribution or plantation sup-
piles, and as accessible MA rllets chief.
" for the sale of wheat. maize and
tobacco. At that day. not turnpike
entered the ca pital; and in winter af-
ter dTenchnE rains or heavy SHOWS.
the roads were almost impossible. al.
though. until the construction Of the
James River and kanawha Canal. these
remained the principal local arteries
OF trade.
49, ona of the sights most often falling
under the travellers eye as he rode
down these highways in autumn was
the hogshead Of tobacco dragged. like
5 great clodcrusher over stones and
mndholes. up and down hills until the
BErd Rockets, or Shockoc Warehouse
Was reached = wooden spike had been
+ driven intoi AT either end to support
thc rude axle and The sanlins shafts
by which the horse or8lnuie Mas able TO
pull it roue My along 10 the sound Of
She cracking WHIP and the encourag-
,SiaG shouts OF the negro perched upon a
narrow sea high above The ponderous
rcNolNinS calindcr. Many of these
hoEsheads were rolled lii this print
atiNe way !crta hundred miles or more !:
2 week was sometimes consumed in
the Journey. and in anticipation OF this.
me driver would carry along rations
Of bacon ard meal 10 be cooked al the
roadside when he went into camp at
noon or a, nightfall
The crops OF the james River Valley
we're, before the canal was dug; brought
down in long batteaux that held from
ten 10 twelve large hogsheads The
poata'An were always slaves and sew
eral days were ordinarily reuuired bv
Them for the voyage. the iedium or
which was only relieved by the music
of the far horne notes of their busies
which theN'hlew a the several landings
came in SIGHT.
One OF the commences, sounds OF ,hoss
Gays in the streets OF Richmond was
the cry of the tobacco seller. who. hav.
E Ing procureds.a receipt from the ware.
house where his iiogshcads had been
deposited, hawkcd il about untl a
buyer turned un on the curb.
aM Not less familiar ard far more must
cal was the hnEling OF The bells pend
ant 10 the harness Of the teams Of four
or SIN horses which drew TO the city
me heaFy, roomy. ranvas-covercd wag-
ons. laden with the produce or the
southwest, the Valley. and the Pied
mon; This produce consisted of -four.
butter, hemp. wax. taliow. ilaxseed
feathers. deer and bear skins. f,rs. ana
ginseng The wagons usually arr
3 rived in what was described as .'neets:''
and we're sometimes so strung out as
10 resemble the baggage train OF 4
small army The horses were alwavs
u o IA stout roous, breed. capa bic Of en-
during the fatigues of 10 hard a
journey. AS they drew near the civ,
they were halted BY their drivers. and
their withers decorated with bear skin
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