submitted by Annette Damron, Robert Beverly, Rachel and Louise Vanover Vore VIRGINIA LETTER Dwale, Dickenson Co., Va., Sept. 95 Editor Free Press-- Within a few miles of Dwale there is a neighborhood of Dunkers, a religious sect, noted for their simple and Quakerish principles. For many years they have held an annual meeting in that neighborhood during the month of September, and the meeting for this year has just closed. Many of the young people of this neighborhood went down to take in the meeting. Their manner of worship is simplicity itself, and the oddness of it causes much remark among the up-to-date folks. They prepare a supper on Saturday night to be eaten at the place of worship. This supper consists mainly of light wheaten bread, fresh beef pickles, butter and coffee, which is partaken of by the worshippers first, while the outsiders stand off and look on, perhaps with watering mouths; and if these simple folks have not such a voracious stomach as to devour the whole of the food prepared, then whatever part remains after their appetites are satiated, is turned over to these spectators. Kissing is one of the ordinances of this sect, and it is performed just after partaking of the supper. The main objection to be urged against this feature is that the osculatory performance is in nowise a promiscuous affair, the sexes doing their kissing separately. Some of our young men who have amorous inclinations, signify their willingness to join the society, and become orderly walking members, as soon as they will change the kissing clause in their constitution and bylaws say as to read favorably; for they are assured that a number of eligible young women would at once connect themselves with it. But these young men would doubtless need some protection; for not a few of the sisters bear a strong resemblance to the Dame Leonarda, in Gil Blas. >> >>There was a slick tongued picture agent through here during the past >summer, >>carrying a >>large framed crayon portrait, in color, which he represented as a sample of >>work he was >>offering. He was to have one made equal to the sample in every respect, >and >>deliver it for >>$1.98, the party having the work done to advance the sum of 50 cents on >each >>order, but >>the time for delivery has passed, and he come not, neither has he been >heard >>from since he >>went away with their bright silver half-dollar and their good looking >>photographs. >> >>FIRE IN DICKENSON JAIL >> >>CLINTWOOD, VA., July 23 -(special)- A night or two since some unknown >person >>set >>fire to the jail here, and the fire was under considerable headway when it >>was discovered. >>Jailer Kiser gave the alarm and it was only through the heroic efforts of >>the parties who >>rushed to the scene that the building was saved from destruction. The fire >>had been set >>near the front door, and if it had burned the building, it would have been >>impossible to >>have rescued the prisoners, of whom there were several. It is said that >the >>authorities have >>some parties spotted. >> >>DICKENSON COUNTY >> >>DWALE, DICKENSON COUNTY, VA., January 30 -(special)- The Virginia >>Republican; which was suddenly launched forth at Clintwood, has as suddenly >>disappeared, after a brief existence of four weeks. It seems that the >>Republican patronage >>which Mr. Vanover anticipated, was not forthcoming, and so the enterprise >>was >>abandoned. >>The General Assembly will be asked this session to incorporate the >>Clintwood >>School sub-district, enlarging the boundaries, and empower the Board of >>Supervisors to >>levy a tax of 25 cents on the $100 of taxable property within these >>boundaries, to build a >>new house for the district. The General Assembly of 1893-94 passed an act >>authorizing >>the supervisors to levy a tax on the Clintwood Magisterial District from 15 >>to 20 cents on >>the $100, to build a new house for the Clintwood sub-district, but the >>measure was so >>unpopular that the district almost solidly asked for its repeal. There are >>quite a number of >>people included in the proposed district that are openly opposed to the >>measure. >> >>There is a man living near Clintwood, it is said, can hit the weather >>better than Hicks, the >>weather prophet. His names is James Yates, and he is an ordinary-looking >>man, of about >>30. He has a peculiar drawling accent, and is the last man one would >>suspect of being a >>weather prophet. He takes great pleasure in prognosticating the weather, >>and some >>people are beginning to consult him now upon this topic when the weather is >>any factor in >>their enterprises. >> >>DICKENSON COUNTY >> >>CLINTWOOD, VA., March 21 -(special)- A few evenings ago Mr. James Kilgore, >>an >>elderly and respected gentleman, of Ava, this county, passes away quietly >at >>his home, >>after a brief illness. He was nearly 80 years of age, and had been a >>citizen of this section >>for many years past. He leaves an aged wife and several children. All of >>his children live >>in other States, except one, and he is married, but still lives at the old >>homestead. >> >>Mrs. Sarah Mullins Fleming, of Dwale, died this week. She was a woman who >>had won >>the respect and esteem of all her neighbors, and was in the prime of life. >>She leaves a >>husband and several children. >> >>Some of our farmers are taking this fodder this week. Corn is unusually >>light this year. >> >>There has been plenty of rain lately, but little has fallen in the vicinity >>of Clintwood. Corn >>is injured to a considerable extent by the drought. >> >>COURT MATTERS >> >>County Court for the March term has just been adjourned. There was not a >>great deal of >>business transacted. It was expected that the case of the commonwealth >>against Herman >>Powers and Wade Kenady, charged with killing Dan Wells and Will Salyer on >>Big Ridge >>on last Christmas Day, would be heard, but upon some technical grounds the >>case was s >>continued. >> >>A special grand jury was empanelled for the term, and several indictments >>were returned. >>There were eighteen true bills returned against one retail liquor dealer in >>this place, and >>there were already some ten or more other indictments pending against him. >>Justice >>William J. Keel was indicted on the charge of collecting money fraudulently >>on fines >>imposed by him as justice, and failing to pay it over to the proper >>authorities. Mr. James >>McCravey, an elderly gentleman, was indicted for perjury. >> >>JAILED THEN BAILED >> >>William Fleming, who is nearly 80 years of age, was placed in jail here a >>few days ago, >>upon a warrant from the United States Commissioner, charging him with >>illegally selling >>spirituous liquors. He was bailed out of jail, and is now under bond for >>his appearance at >>the next term of Federal Court, at Abingdon, to answer an indictment, which >>is to be >>preferred against him. >> >>Several Deputy United States marshals from Wise are in Dickenson this week, >>looking >>after the interests of the moonshiners. Doubtless they will find a >number >>of illicit >>distilleries, and some of them of a rather unique pattern. The ingenious >>moonshiner is >>noted for his makeshift procivities. >> >>DICKENSON COUNTY >> >>CLINTWOOD, VA., April 18 -(special)- Wilbur Haynes, who lives near >Freeling, >>this >>county, found a large gray eagle, which had been caught in a steel-trap, >>hanging dead >>upon his gate, the trap still fastened upon one of its legs. Mr. Haynes >>made inquiries >>throughout the vicinity, and cannot hear of any ones having lost a trap, >so >>the bird must >>have been caught several miles away. >> >>Messrs. Thornburry & Rush, merchants of this place, are building a large >and >>commodious >>storehouse on Main Streete, and will have it ready for use by the 1st of >>May. The Johnson >>Hotel, on the opposite side of the same street, is nearing completion, and >>will be the best >>hotel property in town. >> >>There seems to be some counterfeit specle (?) in circulation here. Your >>correspondent >>was shown a dollar of the stuff by County-Clerk Counts, which some one had >>passed off >>on him by mixing it with other pieces, and tendering the whole for what he >>was due him. >> >>A DEPLORABLE CASE >> >>CLINTWOOD, VA., April 23 -(special)- Your correspondent learns of a >>deplorable >>circumstance near Tapron, this county, the particulars of the affair being, >>it is said, >>substantially as follows: A woman was found dead in bed at her home a day >or >>two ago. >>From the condition of the body when found by the neighbors she mush have >>been dead >>two or three days. It was learned that her husband and his brother went to >>a gathering >>never mentioning the death of the woman to any one. A child only three >>weeks old and >>two or three others, elder, were left with their dead mother, and as the >>family lives some >>distance from any of their neighbors, the matter was not immediately known >>by the latter. >>But at length some on had occasion to pass that way, and saw the older >>children trying to >>take care of the baby. Then it was learned..... >> >>FROM CLINTWOOD >> >>Your correspondent learns that J. D. Vaughan, of the upper end of this >>county, died of >>flux a few days ago. There is quite a number of cases of flux in this >>county. >> >>Crit Dawson, a young man of Clintwood and Attorney John C. Smith are very >>ill with >>fever. >> >>There is not a great deal being said about the campaign as yet; but seems >to >>be the general >>impression that Vanover will be elected. >> >>Widow Milvina Counts, near this place, is confined to her sick-room. She >>has been ill for >>some weeks. >> >>CLINTWOOD, VA., December 12 -(special)- Monday night Deputy United States >>Marshall Albert Hackney captured a moonshine distillery, which was being >>operated by >>Christopher Columbus Dulaney in an isolated place on Tarpon creek, in this >>county. >>Christopher Columbus and his partners had just made a run of whiskey >and >>left the >>premises when the Marshal and his guard found the distillery. As the >>moonshiners had >>carried all the liquor away, they could not tell whether they made good >>whiskey or not, >>though, as the said Christopher Columbus got into trouble a few days ago >>by helping to >>buy some corn for his distillery, as was noticed in this correspondence. >>Before he was >>able to shake the dust of that trouble from the soles of his feet he was >>arrested for >>moonshining and is now out on bail, in order to see that his interests do >>not suffer from >>want of attention. It seems that the way of the mountaineers is hard; but >>he will not let his >>business be neglected. If he has to go to jail or off to trial, he has his >>wife, sons, or >>someone else to attend to biz. >> >>Mrs. J. C. Kerr, of Ava, this county, is seriously ill. Dr. Phipps, of >this >>place, has been >>attending her, and reports her recovery a matter of uncertainty. Mrs. Kerr >>is >>comparatively a young woman, but has been totally blind for two or three >>years. >> >> >> >> >> > >