Thursday, July 2, 1914
One of Kelley’s hoboes said that a certain one of the lieutenants, who was a southerner, had told him all along the weary way from the Pacific ocean to wait until he got South and he would experience southern hospitality. He said he had not seen anything but shot guns and brick bats since he had got to West Virginia.
An Italian laborer was killed in the big cut on Cheat Mountain by being too close to a blast when it was discharged.
A visitor to this burg having imbibed too freely became obsessed with delusions of power and commenced to take this town to pieces and pile it up. He first tackled the postoffice and in the absence of the police, Cashier Sydenstricker took him by the ear and led him off to jail. The next morning he settled with town authorities.
Last Tuesday night the church bells rang out in the middle watch and continued to ring from the first bell to the second bell, celebrating the passage of John Barleycorn. The commotion so unnerved the town drunkard that he was obliged to take a drink.
Sunday, July 5, 1914, at the Marlinton Methodist Church at 11 a.m., sermon by J. Herbert Bean, pastor. Subject: “Saloonless West Virginia.” Text:”Ye have not passed this way heretofore.”
A bad cutting scrape occurred on Laurel Creek last Sunday morning between two farmers over breachy hogs. J. A. Arbogast came to this county several years ago from Jackson county, and has taught several successful schools. He bought a small farm on the waters of Williams River and was improving it. His neighbor Divas Sharp had some hogs and Arbogast sent him a message. The men met last Sunday morning and agreed to settle it by combat and a fist fight ensued. During the course of the fight Arbogast produced a knife and cut Sharp in a fearful manner about the back, neck and head, so badly that sixty stitches were required to sew up the gashes. It seems to be a case of ungovernable temper on the part of Arbogast with a propensity to use a knife when overcome with rage. Arbogast came to town and surrendered himself to justice, but endeavored to give bail. He was refused by at least one man he approached and Sunday night he quietly left town and is now a fugitive.
HUNTERSVILLE
Huntersville farmers are still longing for some good crop growing showers.
Saturday night the inhabitants of our little town were much shocked upon hearing news to the effect that Sheriff Cochran had been seriously if not fatally wounded in an attempt to arrest an escaped prisoner, but later news informed us that the first message was a mistake. We are certainly glad that the first statement proved incorrect and that our sheriff is well and we trust, still able to arrest more characters detrimental to the peace.
The Fourth promises to be as interesting this year as formerly. The center of attraction seems to be at Marlinton. In the midst of our noisy celebrations we should pause and draw in our imaginations a picture of what our Fourths would be had not our forefathers years past struggled valiantly to protect our rights and to obtain for us our Independence.
Frank Kincaid had his ankle sprained Sunday by a horse falling on him.
Cecil Sheets has purchased a motorcycle.
The locusts have about all disappeared from this section.
GREENBANK
Dry and hot and grass burning. Hay will be scarcer than has ever been known in this part of the county. Corn is looking fine for this time in the season and if we have a few showers there will be a bumper crop. Oats are very short and wheat is fairly good.
John R. Gum has lost three fine yearling steers with blackleg in the last two weeks.
DUNMORE
A little cool and very dry.Maj. J. C. Price’s house caught fire Monday but was discovered in time, and by the prompt response of several farmers they saved the house though a considerable hole was burned in the kitchen roof.
The railroad is making good headway, and is up to the Zane Grimes farm.
Elmer McLaughlin wears a grin like a possum – it’s a girl.
Lawrence McLaughlin is treating his house to a coat of paint.
WANLESS
Hot and dry in this section; if the dry weather continues the hay crop will be a failure.
Roy McPaters was visiting his sister, Mrs. Elmer Morgan, at Piney Flats, Sunday.
Steven Barnett is slowly recovering from a long sick spell.
An effort is being made to get a mail route from Cass to Durbin. This would be a great benefit to the mountain people.
Editor’s note: As several of our observant readers pointed out, there is no way F. Hamed flew out of Dulles Airport in June 1914. That entry should have been in the Fifty-Years-Ago column last week, not in 100-Years-Ago.
I apologize for the confusion, and thank you for your comments.