Thursday, August 9, 1951
Edden Hammonds, the mountain music man, from off Grassy Creek in Webster County, was in town last Friday. He is holding his own well, in spite of years advancing toward the four-score mark. Two years ago, he lost an eye from a flying chip when chopping wood. Some years since, Mr. Hammonds was called to the university to record the many fiddle tunes he knows.
FIELD NOTES
The books keep on saying the timber rattlesnake of these Endless Mountains is limited to a length of four feet. I am still holding out that sometimes they go to five and even six feet. I am looking around for to measure a really big one. Rattlers are averaging a large size this season, but four feet had been the largest reported until the other day.
Some weeks since, Mrs. Dewey Hicks, of Mountain Grove, was driving over Back Creek Mountain. Ahead, across the road, stretched an immense snake. It was so big and black and long, it could be only the largest of black snakes.
The lady speeded up her car a bit and as the front wheels passed over the snake, she applied the brake to skid the rear wheels. This usually puts the finishing touches to the biggest of snakes. In this instance, the snake came out from under the sliding wheels fighting mad. He was the biggest of rattlers and too strong and tough to have his life ground out by any mere automobile. Trucks and bulldozers were his size. Mrs. Hicks finished the fighting rattler by hand – no stick, but plenty of stones. This rattlesnake was more than five feet long and big in proportion.
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Ernest White, Jr., of Minnehaha Springs, shot a red fox last Friday morning. It was a female with kits. Some weeks before, the dog fox was killed. The report is, there is little rabbit sign around the White farm – too many foxes.
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A big varmint has been seen in the Woodrow community by a number of the neighbors. Some say wolf and some say panther. Clyde Woods got a good look at the varmint in the light of his automobile. It was brindle in color. He says it looked like a wolf; he is sure it was not a dog. Deer are reported in unusual numbers around the fields. The presence of the varmint may have to do with deer coming out of the woods.
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Mrs. Daisy Ramsey answers the question about raising wild rabbits by hand. With proper care, it can be done. On the Ramsey farm, a mother rabbit was run over and killed. Her nest was known and her little ones taught to drink milk. The rabbits are growing rapidly and eat clover heartily.
BOY SCOUTS
Scout Master Robert Jones and Assistant Scout Master Allan Young have the following 29 Scouts at Camp Clifton McClintic this week: Eldridge, Lewis and Norval Waugh; Basil P. and John C. Sharp; Jimmy McComb, Danny Cooper, Eddie Seagraves, Johnny Shelton, Letcher O. Simmons, Gene and Roger Pryor; Larry, Fred and Tommy Burns; Steve Smith, John Young, Dan Harper, Mike Moses, Fred and Tom Biggs; Eddie Sparks, Kenneth Hamrick, Everett Ray Sharp, Kelly Mason, Bill Davis, Dwain Wilcox, Teddy McClure, Charles Johnson.
BIRTHDAY PARTY
Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Hansford honored their son, Denny Lee, with a birthday party at their home August 3, 1951.
Those attending were Benny Gay, Nicky Mc-Laughlin, Larry Davis, Dinah Astin, Cora Roman, Dale Hollandsworth, Wayne Liptrap, Brenda and Linda Dearing and Delores Jean Hansford. Mesdames Lee Liptrap and Jimmy McLaughlin also attended.
BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Campbell, of Renick, a son, Danny Gene.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Weatherholt, a son.
DEATHS
Mrs. Smily Jane Wells, of near Renick, aged 79 years; funeral held from Laurel Hill church with burial in the Falling Springs cemetery at Renick.
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Ernest E. Oldaker, aged 73 years, died at his home in Durbin. The funeral was held from the Durbin Methodist Church with burial in the Bartow Cemetery.
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Mrs. Annie Ella Loudermilk Johnson, 48 years; the funeral service was held from the Auto church with burial in Woodlawn Cemetery. The deceased was a former resident of Marlinton, a daughter of Mrs. Annie Loudermilk, and the late George Loudermilk.
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George Holly, aged 90, of Cass, a retired woodsman. Burial in Deer Creek cemetery with graveside service.
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Russell Kline Geyer, of Renick, aged 54 years; funeral held from Mt. Herman Methodist Church with burial in Morningside Cemetery. The deceased was a prominent citizen and stockman of Greenbrier County.
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Mrs. Myrtle Hayes Waugh, 67, of Seebert, widow of the late Edgar Waugh, died at her home; funeral from the Hillsboro Methodist Church with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery.
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Daniel Lorain Gum, aged 25, of Green Bank, died from injuries received in an automobile accident near Clifftop. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Merritt Gum. Funeral held from the Methodist church in Green Bank.
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Warwick Peyton Alderman, 65, of Huntersville, a son of the late William C. and Phoebe J. Alderman. Burial in Huntersville cemetery with services from Smith Funeral Home.
BACK HOME
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest N. Carr have been notified that the body of their son, Private Bernard E. Carr, will arrive in Marlinton August 8. The funeral will be held from the Clawson church Thursday afternoon. His body will be laid in Clawson Cemetery with military honors.
Bernard gave his life in defense of human liberty in battle in Korea Friday, September 1, 1950. Though only 18 years of age, he had been in the Army almost a year.
“How sleep the brave who sink to rest,
With all their country’s wishes blest.”
