Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18

N Is so plentl1uI CnaL IL Is dIHlCcI
unnecessary to even stalk it
TODAY exists within few hours drive of the
Nations Capital
If YOU can vision such hunters paradise,
then you know what the Woodmont Gun Club
preserve is to Sc hunters, whose idea OF heaven
on earth has been transplanted into the rugged
forests of Western Maryland
These Sc men, most of them millionaires, put
aside the cares of business and of their pro-
LESSONS several times each year to come to this
hunters heaven overlooking the Potomac River,
there to hunt the wild deer, turkey and other
species of wild fowl,
This hunting paradise has been over half
century in the making, where until this year
these giants Of industry and OF finance came
to revel in the rugged life and its hardshlps
which they choose to endure in the quest OF
deer and game. The deer and the turkey are
lust as elusive as they were so years ago, but
a handsome hunting lodge completed a few
months ago, has removed these little inconven-
fences which before meant returning from the
hunt to cold rooms, cold baths and other dis
comforts which were considered part of any
hunting trip.
This hunting preserve of 5000 acres, part of
which is inclosed where four Presidents of the
United States and many other notables have
spent many a happy day, is rich in tradition.
IT is there that Garfield Arthur Benjamin
Harrison and Grover Cleveland followed the
trail Of the deer and have fished for the fight
ing small-mouth bass that inhabit the Potomac,
which forms the boundary on one side of the
preserve
1T was enc of the ranking naval officers of
this country-Rear Admiral Robley Eight
ing Bob Evans-who discovered" this hunting
paradise that has remained such over a
period of so years, for it was just threescore
years ago this Fall that the naval officer was
lured to Woodmont And therein lies a story
that perhaps for the first time has been re-
Vealed
Wcodmont may never have been discovered
had it not been for the Civil War. A l6-year-
old youth. Robert Lee Hill, who had been
brought up in the luxury of an aristocratic
Virginia home, dreaded war He was one Of
the Hills of Virginia, family whose forbears
had settled that State. But he was possessed
of a heart that did not yield to the call of the
Confederacy. He was afraid to go away with his
brothers and fight so one day he determined to
run away The next morning he was on his
way, striking out across country and driving
deep into the wilderness in Northern Virginia.
His wanderings finally brought him to remote
mountain settlement on Sideling Hill of West
tern Maryland, where he taken in by the
simple mountain folk and made one of their
own. He fell in love with mountain girl, mar
Tied her and settled down TO the primitive life.
And he loved 1t SO much that he soon had
forgotten the luxuries which he left behind in
Virginia
Hill never left the mountains until four
OVe years AFTER the civil war naO enueO, Wnen
he ventured out into civilization. In his boy
hood days he had always wanted to the
Capital of the Union, so one day in 1870 he
boarded the train at Hancock bound for Wash
ngton. At the station he entered a conveyance
TO take him up the Avenue Seated beside him
was a distinguished looking naval officer. A
conversation was struck up between the two,
and the officer, observing that Hill was attred
In the clothing of the mountaineer, asked him
whence he hailed. Hill told him and finally the
conversation drifted to hunting Hill informed
the officer that the mountains where he lived
were teenning in wild game of all kinds. Come
up some time and III show you some real
hunting" said Hill. The officer, who was none
other than Rear Admiral Evans, accepted the