Bear Fork Hunting Club has finished its annual hunt. The trophy
was won by Charley Starcher, who bagged 84 squirrels. He was followed by Clay
McDonald, who had 81. In all, 288 squirrels were killed.
Homer Denning is now located at Spencer and we are glad to note
that he is prospering. He owns and operates a traction engine water well
drilling machine and is doing lots of work. He will be assisted, for a while at
least, by “Scrip” Hosey of this place.
Poor old Bird Bell is no more, having crossed the Great Divide
on Sunday afternoon. His death was due to dropsy. The remains were interred at
old Bethlehem.
J.T. Waldo returned last Friday from Clarksburg where he was
called by the sickness of his brother, G.A. Waldo, who is improving. J.T.
brought his brother back with him and he will remain for some time to recuperate
his health.
Minter J. Stump, the truant officer for Sherman District, was
interviewing Squire Minney of Russett to know if he could issue some kind of
“Habeas Corpus” papers for one J.M. Wilson to apprehend, squash and squeeze the
said Wilson to show cause why Wilson should not report someone for truancy, so
the said Minter J. could get a swipe at the $25 set apart by the Board of
Education for no attendance at school.
A quiet drama took place at Calhoun General Hospital this week.
Hour after hour, members of the nursing staff stayed at the bedside of one
woman, and did her breathing for her.
Ida Stutler of Creston was brought to the hospital Monday
evening at 8:30 suffering from what was apparently a stroke. Her breathing
stopped, her heart faltered. Artificial respiration was started and powerful
heart stimulants were given. All through the night and the next day, it was
necessary to have someone at her side, forcing life giving oxygen into her
lungs. When a nurse became exhausted with the constant squeezing of a rubber
bulb, another took over.
An iron lung was made available by Camden-Clark hospital,
Parkersburg, and was used for three hours until her death on Tuesday evening.
When hurricane Juan made landfall on the southern coast of the
U.S., it is doubtful that many residents of the local area gave the news much
thought. Other matters occupied the minds of those who, scant days later, would
be scrambling to remove family and possessions from the path of Little Kanawha
River floodwaters.
Throughout the weekend rains, generally gentle showers which
brought needed moisture to the area, no one considered flooding a possibility.
By Monday afternoon, thought turned more toward the river’s
sleeping fury. Worried eyes began studying the stream. Long-time residents began
to compare this rise with that of 1967. Some called friends and relatives in
hope of arranging moving-parties or lodging.
By 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Calhoun was, for all practical purposes,
isolated by the rising river. Paved roads and back roads were fast becoming
impassible. Only hours before, families in the Southside area of Grantsville had
been evacuated to area homes, churches, and the Senior Citizens Center.
River level was rising at the rate of six to seven inches per
hour, even though the rains had slackened somewhat. During the night, those
affected cast sometimes angry, sometimes hopeless glances at the steadily
advancing, dirty brown tide.
By daybreak Tuesday, it was apparent that more than just the
lowest areas were in danger. Water was approaching the 50 feet level. Still, the
waters rose. By afternoon, the rains, which had stopped in the morning hours,
returned intermittently.
Apparent good news arrived from upriver about noon, the rising
flood had slowed dramatically in Glenville, giving hope that the worst had
passed.
Still the waters crept up higher at Grantsville. Into the
afternoon on Tuesday, cars and trucks poured into the Grantsville area. Some
were sightseers bent on getting the best view of the flood; others were involved
in transportation and moving efforts, trying to beat the floodwaters. There was
no doubt that many homes and businesses along Court and Mill streets would
flood; low spots there had been filling with water since before dawn.