Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-12-31
Or. HUMPHREYS RELATES 4 STRANGE
ClvAl WAR APE STORY.

d.. Ii. d.. retired. tho yet residing
at the University Of Virginia. hav-
ing read the strange stories pub
liShed by the newspapers of this
part Of the State about the ape gor-
lila or whatever it may be, if any
thing, claimed to have been seen
by various persons in Monroe.
Grecnbricr and PocahontaS coun-
ties contributes 10 the Monroe
Waterman Il very remarkable story
which came to his knowledge just
about the close of the Civil War
while he and few other Confeder-
ate soldiers were stationed mt the
Narrow OF New River.
AS Introductory to DR.. Humph-
phreys' story our readers will be
interested in knowing something
Of the man who tells it. SO the Edi-
tor of this paper having been
classmate Of MIR. Humphreys at
Washington College during the pre-
sidency of General Lee and known
him we'll Since 1866. will state here
briefly something of his life and
career.
Milton Humphreys was born, and
reared until about ten or twelve
years of age, on Anthony's Greek,
Greenbrier county moving with his
father. Col. Humphreys, and family
to BraXton county, some years prior
to the Civil War. where he grew to
manhood. Having shown when
quite a youth remarkable aph-
tude for mathematics and an equal
ly remarkable facility in mastering
the contents of any book he could
Law his hands on, his father sent
him to a classical school in Char
lesion, taught, we believe, by Col.
David Ruifer, a man Of fine school
arship and intellectual attainment.
In this school Humphreys soon
caught up with young men far in
advance of him when he entered.
From this school he entered Wash
ington College prior to the Civil
War. When the war between the
States broke out in 1861 young
Humphreys volunteered serving i'll
Bryan's battery and came to be
recognized as one of the most skill
full gunncrS in the service. AS a
soldier he participated in many OF
the great battles of that gigantic
struggle. When the war closed
Humphreys returned to college,
where after year or two he grad
lratcd with great distinction taking
the Masters degree and easily lead
ing all his classes. He had the most
remarkable talent for mastering
subjects of all kinds of any man
we have ever known. Whether it
was languagc--ancicnt or modern,
literature, science or philosophy,
Humphreys was always AT the head
of the class and rarely failed to
make the maximum mark in all.
Some time after graduating from
college he entered one Of the most
noted of the German Universities
where he soon took tho PHI ID. de-
gree. Not satisfied with what he
learned in the schools Of this coun
try and Germany he later went TO
Greece where he studied the mod
crn Greek language. Returning to
America he accepted the chair of
Greek in Vanderbilt University. 60
ing later to theUnivesity Of Texas
where he continued to teach the
ancient languages. From Texas he
was invited to the University of
Virginia where he held the chair of
Greek for about twenty-five years
when he retired as beneficiary
Of the Carnegie foundation. He is
recognized to-day as among the
most eminent Of Latin and Greek
scholars living.
We have grcason for believing
that ii has long been matter of re-
gret with DR.. Humphreys that he
did not, instead Of devoting his
time and talent to the study and
teaching OF two deed languages. he
had not taken up the subject of
Astronomy in the study of. which
he might have made discoveries
which would have made his name
immortal
There is much else we might say
about DR.. Humphreys hut let this
suffice. 1t is enough to present him
10 or readers as the most diStin-
guished man Grccnbrier ever pro-
duccd.
Here is DR.. Humphreys story as
published in a recent number of the
Waterman:
without any desire to add to the
garilla scare or 10 be considered
believer in ghosts, if YOU will kind
~ give me some Of your valuable
space. should appreciate highly
The privilege of putting on record
an incident Of Civil War times Of
which | am reminded By the story
Of the gorilla on Flat Mountain and
your alluSion to the beast that rode
behind Squire George Anderson
about 80 years ago.