It was rumored that “Uncle” Daniel Huffman of Steer Creek was
dead, but this was proved to be untrue. The venerable man had suffered a sinking
spell, fell from a chair and was unconscious for some time. He is a brother of
Benjamin and Rev. L.J. Huffman, and is nearly 80. His host of friends hope that
he may soon recover from his present weakened condition and round out a full 100
years.
Nat Depue of Creston, who carries mail between that place and
Grantsville, had a very thrilling experience with a huge wild cat or some other
animal of a like nature. He had been delayed until late in the afternoon,
waiting for the mail sacks which were on the Harry W.
Consequently, it was dark when he crossed the Annamoriah flats,
and he noticed something following him, which he took to be a dog, but paid
little attention to it until it darted past the horse and ran up a tree that
leaned over the road. From there the cat sprang, landing on the horse’s neck
clawing and biting fiercely. It hung on for a considerable distance until Nattie
was enabled to kick it off.
The horse became frightened and ran away, but was soon checked
up, and the game little mail carrier got a light and went back to look for his
hat and the mail sacks which he had lost. Nattie is still carrying the mail, but
it is a safe bet that he will always try to get across Anna-moriah flats before
dark.
Howard Trippett had a very close call last Tuesday. He had been
complaining somewhat, and in taking a dose of medicine to improve his health,
got the wrong bottle, which proved to be carbolic acid. He is getting along very
well at this time.
Take a good look around Grantsville in the next few weeks, if
you want to remember the old look--because come Mar. 1 the town will have a
major face lifting operation. That is when work is expected to begin on the new
bridge across the Little Kanawha River, at a cost of over one-half million
dollars.
A number of business places and houses will have to be
demolished as work starts on the bridge project. The bridge will span the river
about 2,000 feet upstream from the present bridge, nearer to the property of
Calhoun High School.
Contracts have already been let by the State Road Commission for
the bridge and approaches. W.R. Orders and Son of Charleston will build the
bridge. Vecellio and Grogan of Beckley will do the approaches.