The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-10-16

that he had killed from 1890 to
1000 deer, from three to four hun
dred bears, about fifty panthers and
catamounts (quite as ferocious and
not much less in size than the pam
ther)' scores of wolves and wildcats,
and many wild turkeys l think this
record excels those of any of the
hunters mentioned in more preten-
tious later books.
1t is very interesting to notice by
the life story of this famous pioneer,
who was born in Frederick County,
Maryland, in 1881, that he as a small
boy heard of the Cove and Glade
country far beyond the mountains as
being the prettiest country in the
world, where he could stand in the
door and see deer sporting and play
ing in the glades. This he later found
actually to be true. His father,
Joshua Browning, who died when he
was only two weeks old, came o"er
this National Road when it was a
mere trail through the wilderness
and across the mountains as a subal-
tern soldier serving in Braddock's
and Washington's army.
During this time Negro Mountain
was so named because a scouting par
ty of Washington's army was sent
out to look for warning French and
Indians, when they ran into a scout
ing party of the enemy. A fight took
place in which three of Washington's
men were killed and negro, mortal
ly wounded, was left beside a big
rock on Negro Mountain groaning
and dying.
Meshac came up over the road in
a freight wagon from Baltimore
when he was ten or twelve years old,
and was much impressed by the
scenes over Sideling Hill as is every
tourist of this day. He says: eve
went on in good order until we reach
ed Sideling Hill, where the road was
very rough and rocky; by and by we
arrived at a very sideling place, with
considerable precipice on our left.
The wheels struck a rock on the
other side, and away went wagon,
horses and all down the hill, rolling
and smashing the barrels of rum,
hogsheads of sugar, sacks of salt,
boxes of dry-goods, all tumbling
through one another, and spilling
rum, molasses, sugar and all
"My frightened mother called out,
Where is Meshac,' knowing that l
was riding in the wagon when it
turned the dreadful somersault. All
was hustle and alarm, until at length
| was found under some straw and
rubbish, stunned breathless, mangled
and black with suffocation."
Cumberland was then, as he de-
scribes it after viewing it as they
came over the mountains, new scene
to him, in a valley of not more than
twenty or thirty houses, and mostly
cabins, surrounded by large corn
fields, containing heavy crops of corn.
He does not refer to the Cumberland
Narrows, but mentions that break
fast being over (evidently at Cumber-
land), they resumed the march "for
the new country before u.s."
"On we went" continues his nara
tive, "and in the evening we found
ourselves at the Little Crossings;
here we halted for the night" This
was a drive of twenty-five miles for
the day, for Little Crossings is where
the National Pike crosses the CasseI-
man river near Grantsville. Big
Crossings is Is miles further on
where the road crosses the Yough
river, bigger stream, where they
also went.
Supper being ready lat Little
Crossings) we partook with the
others of a welcome meal, made up
of buckwheat cakes, fresh, fine butter,
delicious honey-combs, venison
steaks and also some fine jerk and
sweet milk, of which we all took a
good share" Jerk is the fieshy part
of venison sliced thin, sailed and
dried over hot Goals till cured. Break
fast the next morning being over,
they bid goodbye to Little Crossings,
and took the road again for the
Blooming Rose" This place is a
large tract of land, so called in conse-
quence of the great variety of beauti-
full flowers that adorned the whole
tract. This part of Garrett county,
Maryland, then part of Allegany
county, is still known by that name
and is the Friendsville region.
Here they halted for a month or
two until home could be found in
the glades of the Buffalo marsh
where his uncle, who had adopted him
or rather lured him away from his
mother, told him he should see so
many beautiful sights. Buffalo marsh
was so named because a buffalo was
found here by the first white settlers.
Buffalo Marsh Hill, the big steep hill
that hnaloa ,,eoI b. o1;,D,I, b !