to the road that passed his house, the highway before referred to, and
was immediately greeted by a rough wagoner, who had stopped his team and
who wanted to know why the devil Livingstone had stretched a rope across
the highway and fastened it to a tree on either side, so as to impede
travel. Livingstone knew that there were trees, as the wagoner said, on
both sides of the road, but he saw no rope and wondered what the
apparently drunken teamster meant by accusing him of such an absurd
thing. The driver angrily demanded that the obstruction be removed at
once and Livingstone disdained to make any reply, the infuriated
teamster drew a knife and slashed at the rope, but the blade met with no
resistance and, while the obstruction was palpable to his eye, it was
but an airy nothing to his touch. It was now the wagoner's turn to be
amazed. He knew not whether to offer an apology or not and, while he was
still pondering the matter, another team arrived and its driver went
through the same performance as the other, with the same result. At
length, Livingstone mildly suggested that they should drive on,
regardless of the intangible rope and so they did and passed along
without difficulty, attributing their delusion, no doubt, to the bad
whiskey of the neighborhood. Soon, however, other teams arrived and
again the spectre rope was in the way and again were repeated the
perplexity and the profanity of the first encounter. Every new arrival
brought the luckless Livingstone a fresh cursing, and so it was kept up
for several weeks. In the course of time, the demon, now acknowledged to
be around the place, adopted a new method of annoyance. A sharp,
clipping noise, as if from a pair of invisible shears, was heard all
through and around the house and, worse yet, all the clothes of the
family, their table cloths and bed coverings were cut and gashed, the
slits being all in the shape of a crescent. Of course, the news of these
unearthly doings soon spread, and people from all directions crowded to
see and hear what was going on. There are still preserved in some
families pocket-handkerchiefs that were folded in the pockets of their
owners when they visited the place, but, yet, were cut and marked in his
peculiar way by the demon of the scissors that kept up his "clip-clip"
around them while they were condoling with the afflicted family. One
lady visitor was complimenting Mrs. Livingstone on a fine flock of ducks
that were waddling through her yard on their way, perhaps, to the
neighboring Opequon, when "clip-clip" went the uncanny and invisible
shears and one after another the ducks were all cleanly decapitated in
broad daylight before the very eyes of the ladies and many other
witnesses.
At that time there lived in Middleway a German tailor, who, though fully
imbued with the mysticism of his native country, yet regarded with
contempt all vulgar superstitions, or what he considered to be such. He
boasted that he would stay all night alone in the house supposed to be
haunted and that, if he had time enough to spare for the purpose, he
could expose the imposture of the wizard clipping. He had just finished
a suit of broad cloth for a neighboring planter and had made up the
clothes in a neat package, when on his way to deliver them he passed
Livingstone's house, grinning at the folly of his neighbors in believing
that the place was tenanted by an evil spirit. "Clip-clip" went the
terrible scissors around the ears of the German who, in the plenitude of
his incredulity, invited the author of the sounds to "go for damn." He
proceeded to the house of his employer, opened his bundle with
professional confidence and pride, to exhibit his model suit, when, lo!
and behold! he found the clothes full of the crescent shaped slits and
utterly ruined.
The excitement continued to spread and far and near extended the fame of
"Wizard Clip." One night a party of youngsters of both sexes assembled
at the house for a frolic, got up by the young men of the neighborhood,
who desired to show to the world and especially to their sweethearts
that =they= were not afraid, whoever else might be so, and curiosity led
many young ladies to the scene, in spite of the terrors of the place.
They were, perhaps, desirous to test the courage of their lovers, and
trusted for protection to the big crowd in attendance. One rough,
blustering fellow came all the way from Winchester, carrying his rifle.
He was courting a girl of the neighborhood of Livingstone's place, and
he determined to show off to the best possible advantage. Things
proceeded smoothly for awhile, and the young people were engaged in a
dance when, suddenly, "clip-clip" went the goblin shears, and the
Winchester hero felt something flap against the calves of his legs. He
reached down to investigate and found, to his consternation, that the
most important part of his nether garment had been cut loose from the
waist band and that there was nothing left for him to do but sit down
and keep on sitting 'till the festivities were over. His condition soon
became known to the others and, great as the terrors of the situation
were, nothing could prevent the company from tittering, until the
hapless hero found his plight so painful that he resolved to leave the
house, which, for the sake of delicacy, he was obliged to do by backing
to the door, while the ladies coyly looked in another direction.
Numberless are the tales related of the queer doings of the demon with
his invisible and diabolical scissors. Poor Livingstone lost heart and
even his wife's masculine courage gave way. The whole neighboring
country was, of course, intensely excited. One night Livingstone had a
dream. He thought he was at the foot of a hill on the top of which was a
man dressed in sacerdotal garments and appearing to be engaged in some
religious ceremony. While looking towards this strange man, the
afflicted dreamer became aware of the presence with him of some
disembodied spirit that whispered to him that the man in the priestly
garb could relieve him from his great trouble. He awoke and immediately
formed the resolution to appeal to some minister of the gospel to
exorcise his tormentor--the fiend of the "clip." He applied to his own
pastor, a Lutheran preacher who, of course, had heard of the affair, as
had everybody in the state. To please Livingstone, the reverend
gentleman visited the haunted house, but he experienced a reception so
hot that he concluded not to try issues any more with so potent a
spirit, and he left without accomplishing anything. Livingstone now
remembered that the minister of his vision wore priestly vestments and,
on the failure of his own pastor, he concluded that the party to help
him must be one who was usually arrayed with such adjuncts in the
performance of his rites. The Catholic, or perhaps the Protestant
Episcopal must, therefore, be the denomination for him to seek aid from,
and he found out from the Minghinis and the McSherrys that a certain
Father Cahill, who used robes such as he had seen in the dream, would,
on a certain day, be at Shepherdstown, about ten miles away, to hold
Catholic service. They promised Livingstone an introduction to the
priest, and on the day specified they accompanied their unhappy neighbor
to the church meeting. At the first sight, Livingstone recognized in
Father Cahill the minister he had seen in the dream, and falling on his
knees and with tears streaming down his cheeks, begged to be relieved
from the thralldom of the evil one. Having been questioned by the
priest, he gave the whole history, including the unkindness to the
stranger guest. Father Cahill, who was a jovial, big-fisted Irishman,
alive as the Lutheran minister had been, to the absurdity of the whole
affair, tried to convince the sufferer that he was merely the victim of
some malicious practical jokers of his neighborhood. It was all in vain,
however, to try to dispel Livingstone's fears, and for sheer pity and,
perhaps, Irishman-like, not being averse to a shindy even with the devil
himself, the good father consented to accompany Livingstone home, and do
all he could to relieve him. At that time a Catholic priest was
something heard of with awe and superstitious dread in Virginia, but
very rarely seen there, and it is likely that the perpetrators of the
outrage on the hapless family were themselves victims of an unreasonable
fear of something that was formidable only from its rarity and from
attributes that existed only in their own ignorant and untrained
imaginations. Anyway, it is recorded that never after the visit of
Father Cahill were the diabolical scissors heard, and from that time
peace again reigned in the Livingstone household, but the name of
"Wizard Clip" still clings to the village and, it is to be hoped, that
the legend will not be allowed to die out for, laugh as we may at those
old time tales, they have a charm for even the most prosaic and
skeptical. John Brown's fort is lost, forever, to Virginia, but it is a
matter for thankfulness that, while brick and mortar can be disposed of
to satisfy the love of gain, the traditions of a people cannot be
converted into money and that sentiment cannot be sold by the square
foot. Land-marks are more easily destroyed than folklore.
In gratitude to Father Cahill, Livingstone before his death deeded to
the Catholic church thirty-four acres of land, and this tract is what
has ever since been named "The Priest's Field." The clergy of that
faith, however, renounce all claim to the place because, no doubt, they
felt that nothing in the spiritual ministration of Father Cahill
contributed or was intended by him to contribute towards the object
Livingstone had in view--the expulsion of a veritable demon. Father
Cahill, like the Lutheran minister, went to the house merely as a friend
and not in the character of an exorciser of a real spirit and, if the
rascals who so cruelly tormented their harmless neighbor were more
afraid of the priest than of the other minister, with whom they were no
doubt familiar, it was no reason why a claim should be set up by the
former of superior influence with Heaven. Mr. McSherry and Mr. Minghini
were made trustees of the property, but by common consent, the land was
left with the Minghinis and it is now theirs by prescription, perhaps.
In the county clerk's office in Charlestown, Jefferson county, West
Virginia, can be seen the deed made by Livingstone and wife to Denis
Cahill, the supposed exorciser of the fiend. It will be found in Book
No. 1 of the County Records, and it conveys the title to thirty-four
acres of land--"The Priest's Field"--to Father Cahill and his
successors. Our esteemed friend Clerk Alexander will be glad to show it
to anyone curious to see it. The deed is dated February 21st, 1802.
Within about eight miles of Harper's Ferry is a sleepy hamlet which has
quite a history in connection with several prominent men of the
Revolution. It is called Leetown, and it has been heretofore mentioned
in this history as the scene of a brisk skirmish in the war of the
rebellion. As before noted in this book, it got its name from General
Charles Lee who, after the censures incurred by him for his conduct at
the battle of Monmouth, buried himself here in gloomy seclusion. Very
near this village is also a house occupied by General Horatio Gates, of
more honorable fame in our war for independence, and still another
revolutionary general--Darke--lived in the immediate neighborhood of
the place. So, then, a sauntering tourist might spend a little time
pleasantly enough in visiting the neighborhood. It is but a few minutes'
drive from "Wizard Clip" and a curiosity seeker might easily take in
many noteworthy sights in the course of a day's jaunt from Harper's
Ferry. About five miles north of Leetown and in the immediate
neighborhood of the battlefield of Antietam, is Shepherdstown, which is,
or at least ought to be known to fame, as the home of James Rumsey who,
it has been pretty clearly proven, was the first to apply steam power to
purposes of navigation. On the Potomac, at Shepherdstown or Mecklenburg,
as it was then called, was the first experiment made of propelling a
boat by steam power, and the trial was made with success by Rumsey. In
his life-time he was regarded by his acquaintances as a visionary, if
not a decided maniac, but time has vindicated him, although the honor of
the invention has been generally assumed to belong to others. There can
be but little doubt that Rumsey anticipated all the other claimants for
the fame of the invention, although with them, too, it may be said to be
original, as they probably knew nothing of Rumsey or what he had
accomplished. Shepherdstown has a war record, also, for in a day or two
after the battle of Antietam, a detachment of federal troops having
crossed the Potomac into Virginia at the ford near the town, they were
badly defeated by a force of the rebel army that attacked them
unexpectedly.
Some ten or twelve years ago, a stranger arrived at Harper's Ferry and,
without letting any one know what his business was, he purchased a pick
and shovel, hired a horse and buggy, and drove up the Potomac taking the
implements with him. He proceeded towards Shepherdstown, appearing to be
very familiar with the road. When he arrived within a mile of the latter
place, he halted, tied his horse to something available and looked
around inquiringly. It took him but a short time to find what he wanted,
for in a few minutes he approached a large tree and plied vigorously his
pick and then his shovel around the roots. His labor was not in vain,
for soon he exposed to view a fair sized box which he immediately
transferred to the buggy, and at once returned to Harper's Ferry,
without deigning to satisfy the curiosity of some parties who were
attracted to the spot by the sight of him at work. It is generally
supposed that he himself had buried a considerable treasure at the place
while he was hard pressed by enemies at some time while the late war was
in progress, and that, deeming it safe, and not being much in want of
money, he had left it in its concealment for nearly thirty years. Some
advanced the dream theory--that, in his sleep he had a vision of the
buried treasure, but the stranger kept his own counsel and departed on
the next railroad train for parts unknown.
THE ENCHANTER'S WHEEL.
Starting from the railroad bridge at Harper's Ferry and running
northwest, with the railroad track for six miles to Duffield's Station,
is a region that has ever been the home of wizards, witches and all
kinds of adepts in occult lore, besides being a favorite resting place
for gypsy caravans. The construction of the railroad many years ago was
the first interruption to the dreams of magic, and, then, the civil war,
with its very practical ideas and, above all, perhaps, the subsequent
introduction of free schools have completed the delivery of the worthy
inhabitants from the very galling yoke of many professors of the black
art--African and Caucasian--who profited in money and reputation by the
fears they excited and the fees they received for cures or immunity. In
justice, it must be stated that the whites, mostly of German origin,
were generally of a benevolent character and that the practice of their
art was always directed to counteract the malevolence of the negroes who
seldom devoted their mystic knowledge to any good purpose, especially
where any member of their own race was concerned. They always appeared
to have an instinctive dread of the superior race and were shy of
practising on the white man, unless under very strong temptation. The
gypsies alone keep alive the old order of things, appearing to have
nobody to punish and every one to reward with a rich wife or a gallant
husband for the trifle of crossing the sibyl's palm with a piece of
silver. Indeed, they are not charged with molesting the person or
property of any one. On the contrary, they are ever invoking the
blessings of Venus, on the conditions above mentioned. Time has in no
way changed their habits.
Two generations ago great was the fame of the professors--white and
black--but now it is difficult to get any one of either color, unless
some octogenarian, to relate what used to occur in the olden times. They
appear to be afraid of the imputation of superstition. In this way many
interesting and even poetic legends are likely to be lost.
Of the white seers the most renowned was the miller--John Peacher--a
Pennsylvania Dutchman. He was a man of excellent reputation, and the
only people who had any complaint to make of him were the evil doers,
especially the thieves. It was useless for a thief to steal anything
from John Peacher, for it had to be returned, and by the culprit
himself, in broad daylight. Peacher's friends, too, if they reported to
him any loss were merely told to wait a little for the stolen article.
So, neither Peacher nor his friends ever complained to a law officer of
any losses, feeling very certain that the missing would return. In
consequence, it was no unusual sight to see seated on a fence near
Peacher's mill, or the house of one of the miller's neighbors, a man,
nearly always a negro, with a bundle of some kind tied up to suit the
contents. There the visitor sat until late evening, if not asked to get
off the fence and tell his business. Even then, it was with extreme
difficulty that he could get off his perch, and some were known to
invoke the assistance of the proprietor to =unfasten them=. The man was
sure to be a thief, and the bundle always contained the stolen article,
which was laid at the feet of the lawful owner--the proprietor of the
place--Peacher or some one of his friends who had reported to him a
robbery. On one occasion a wagoner on his way to Georgetown drove his
team past Peacher's place and abstracted from a wagon that belonged to
Peacher some part of the gearing, with which he proceeded to Georgetown,
fifty-seven miles distant. Peacher soon discovered the loss but, as
usual, he "lay low" and waited for the certain issue. In a few days a
man was seen to approach Peacher's place early in the morning afoot and
carrying an apparently heavy load. When he reached Peacher's gate, he
climbed one of the posts and rested his load on the fence nearby. No one
questioned him, for Peacher and his domestics recognized the articles,
the loss of which was known to them from the time of the theft, and the
presumption was that the man was the guilty one. There the culprit sat
without a word until the benevolent Peacher thought that the penitent
might be hungry and sufficiently humbled. Peacher invited the stranger
to get off and come into the house to get something to eat, but the
hapless thief was glued, as it were, to the seat and not 'till Peacher
chose to break the spell could the crestfallen victim get off his perch.
He then confessed his guilt and told how his conscience did not trouble
him a bit until he reached Georgetown with his plunder, when some
impulse forced him to leave his team in the city and walk back, carrying
the stolen articles, instead of waiting for his regular return trip to
make restitution. After his meal he commenced his journey back, afoot,
to the city for his team and in some time after rode past Peacher's
place on his home trip, but did not stop. How Peacher worked his charms
he never revealed, except that he said he had a wheel by the turning of
which, as the case demanded, he effected his wonderful exploits at
thief-catching. The wheel he never exhibited. For many years after his
death there was a common phrase in the neighborhood, "I'll introduce you
to Peacher's wheel," whenever any one was suspected of knavish
practices--especially a child or a superstitious person. It would take
more space than we have allotted to ourselves to relate a tenth of the
exploits of Peacher with his magic wheel.
THE WITCH'S OVERSIGHT.
Of an entirely different type as to nationality, color and moral
standing, was Jesse Short, a disreputable negro scamp who enjoyed an
immense reputation for powers of mischief, and who got credit for nearly
every mysterious thing that occurred in the neighborhood, if only it was
of a disreputable kind. Nearly all of the houses had low porches at
their front doors, and the very narrow spaces underneath were enclosed
with lattice work, so close that a robin could scarcely force himself
inside and, if he could, he had very scant room to hop for a little
exercise. It often happened, however, that in the early morning the ears
of the family were greeted with the bleats or grunts of a well grown
sheep or porker belonging to some neighbor that had found its way or for
which a way had been found, in some uncannie manner to enter, and which
had to crouch very low to find room for itself. But although an entrance
had been found for it, there was no exit until the porch was torn down.
All this and many other such pranks were put to the credit of Jesse
until he enjoyed a fame equal to that of Michael Scott, and was the
great terror of the country all 'round. Like John Peacher of better
character, he performed too many feats for recital in this modest-sized
book, but we will relate one that was witnessed, and is vouched for by
at least two parties of unexceptionable character, who are still living,
one of them being the victim of Jesse's unholy practices, who can still
exhibit marks left on her person by the wizard's touch.
Jesse was a slave on the Miller estate, about four miles northwest of
Harper's Ferry. Near this plantation was another owned and occupied by
John Engle, a pious, God-fearing man, some of whose children are yet
alive. As far as we know there are two--Mr. James Engle and his sister,
Mrs. Margaret Moler. When these were very young children, their father
owned or hired a colored girl to whom our hero, Jesse, desired to pay
attentions and with this view, often visited Mr. Engle's house. Mr.
Engle, however, positively forbade those visits on account of Jesse's
very bad reputation. It was supposed that our hero was deeply offended
at this exclusion from the company of his lady-love, and secretly vowed
vengeance, although his countenance and general bearing towards the
Engle family did not betray his real feeling. One day he visited the
house, ostensibly to convey some message from his master. While he was
waiting for a return message, Margaret, the five year old daughter of
Mr. Engle, who is now the widow of a Mr. John Moler, passed close to
him. The negro patted the child and appeared to have a desire to
ingratiate himself with her, but the little girl screamed wildly as soon
as his hand touched her, and she showed the utmost horror of him. Her
screams continued until she got into fits and the greatest difficulty
was experienced in restoring her temporarily to her normal condition.
But the little one was not the same from that time. Day by day she
failed, lost appetite and could not get natural sleep. In a month she
was reduced from a hale, hearty and lively child to a mere spiritless
skeleton, and hope of her recovery was almost abandoned. At that time
regular physicians were not as plentiful as they are now, and old
mammies of either color were mostly depended on, especially in cases of
ailing children. The Engle family were then, as they are now, among the
most respectable in Jefferson county, and, from regard for them as well
as for natural sympathy, every mother in the neighborhood and every
skillful woman aided in trying to restore the poor child, but in vain.
When the little tot was almost exhausted somebody remembered that across
the Potomac, in Maple swamp, a place inhabited in a great measure by
half-breeds descended from the Indians, lived a certain Mrs. Mullin,
whose fame for occult knowledge was wide-spread. Indeed, she was a power
even among the professors themselves. To her as a last resort the
parents of the child appealed. The benevolent old lady responded at
once, and crossed the Potomac on her mission of charity. She took the
child on her knee, without the least repugnance on the part of the
little girl. What mystic words or rites the old lady used, tradition
does not say, but she took from her pocket a pair of scissors and with
deliberation clipped the nails from the fingers of the child--from all
but one finger--and herein lies the wonder, for the child at once began
to improve and, as we have before mentioned, is still alive and hearty
at an advanced age, with the full use of all her limbs, except that one
finger, the nail of which Mrs. Mullin failed to clip. That finger is
crooked and that one alone. It has never been straight since that day,
about seventy-five years ago, when Mrs. Mullin, either by accident or
design, failed to treat it as she treated its fellows. It never pains
her, however, and merely gives a sign of something designed to be a
mystery. Mrs. Mullin, as far as we know, never tried to rectify the
omission or make any explanation.
THE REMORSEFUL DOG.
About half way between Duffield's and Shenandoah Junction, on the south
side of the B. & O. railroad, and very close to it, is to be seen the
grave of General Darke, heretofore mentioned as one of the famous men of
the Revolution, who once lived in that region which is embraced in the
present county of Jefferson, and whose homes were very close to Harper's
Ferry. General Darke is the hero of the neighborhood, and many of the
best people of Jefferson county, are proud of the kinship to him, which
they claim. His personal history would, indeed, read like a romance, but
our proposed limits forbid us the pleasure of giving it in detail. We
will merely relate one of his adventures and a curious tale told of a
dog belonging to him that figured in connection with his master's story.
We have but the general's own words to prove the truth of most of the
tale, but he was a man of undoubted veracity and, besides, he had no
motive for inventing the story. We have heretofore given an account of
great sagacity manifested by a dog owned by Colonel Lewis Washington
and, as the farms on which the dogs were born are but a short distance
apart, it is probable that General Darke's dog was a remote ancestor of
that of Colonel Washington, and that the extraordinary intelligence they
both displayed was a family trait. The exact period of our legend is
unknown, but it probably was a few years after the Revolution.
General Darke then lived near the spot where he now rests from his
life's work, surrounded by many of his veterans and relatives, by whom
he was much revered. The general, like the great majority of men, was
fond of a good dog, and was very jealous of the fame as well as careful
of the bodies of his dumb favorites of that species, which he kept
around him. One dog was his 'special pet. Tradition does not tell what
breed he belonged to or his name, as it does in the case of Colonel
Washington's "Bob"--neither does it inform us of his caudal advantages
or deficiencies. Indeed, in the case of "Bob" there is no need, yet
awhile, to question tradition, for we all, whose hair is gray, knew him,
that is all of us who in 1859 were acquainted with the hospitable home
of the colonel.
One day one of the general's neighbors complained to him that his--the
neighbor's--meat house had frequently of late been robbed and that,
having watched many nights for the thief, he had at last got ocular
demonstration that the general's favorite dog was the culprit. The
general would not deny the fact of the robbery, but he plainly denied
the guilt of his dog and, although the complainant was a man of the
utmost respectability, the general still stood up for his humble friend.
An agreement was finally made that the general himself should
watch--which he did and, besides, every night he barricaded the room in
which the dog used to sleep, and left the animal not the least chance,
as he thought, to leave the house without permission. The master kept
listening, too, for any sound from the dog's room that would indicate an
effort to escape, and for some nights he heard just enough noise to
prove that the dog was in his proper place. One night, however, he
thought the stillness unnatural, and his suspicion was aroused. He
entered the dog's room and found it vacant. He also found a hole either
in the wall of the room or at the foundation, through which it was easy
to make a noiseless escape. The general at once started in pursuit and
encountered the dog on the way from the neighbor's meat house whither
the master's suspicions led him. The dog had a large piece of meat in
his mouth, which he at once dropped on recognizing his owner, and then
made a hasty retreat out of sight. Of course, the general made all the
apologies due from him to his wronged friend, and the trouble between
them was forever ended. The dog, however, was never again seen in that
neighborhood.
In some years after General Darke had occasion to travel to Ohio. He
made the journey on horseback, the only method at that time. One night
he took lodging at a lonely inn among the wilds of the Alleghany
Mountains. On alighting he noticed several suspicious-looking men
lounging around, but the general was a brave man and, besides, he had no
choice, so he remained at the house. He kept awake all night, however,
but he was not molested. Next morning he started to continue his
journey, but he had not advanced far before a very rough-looking man
jumped from behind a fence and ordered him to halt. At the same time a
dog bounded from the same direction to the road, and at once caught the
assailant by the throat and dragged him to the ground, holding on with a
death grip to that peculiarly dangerous part of the human anatomy to be
seized by. Whether the man was killed or not tradition does not say, but
he was rendered hors de combat. The general recognized in the dog his
own former pet, but the dog again fled from before the face of his old
master, by whom he was never again seen. The general returned to the
inn, reported the affair to the landlord and made special inquiries
about the dog. All he could learn was that the animal had appeared at
the inn a long time before, and that, the family having taken a liking
to the stray, it was allowed to remain. The dog was not to be seen at
the inn at least, until the general departed finally, nor is it known
that he ever did return and, as far as we know, he was never again seen
by any of his old acquaintances.
* * * * *
Harper's Ferry has always been noted for the number of ministers of
religion it has produced. It would be impossible to name all of them in
view of the limit we have set for ourselves. A few, however, whom we
ourselves have taught and prepared for learned professions, we feel
justified in mentioning. They are Fathers Edward Tearney, James T.
O'Farrell and John Bowler, of the Catholic church; the Reverend McFadden
brothers--John, Harry and Frank; the Reverend C. B. Price and the
Reverend A. S. Yantis--the last five of various Protestant
denominations. We are proud of those boys, their genuine piety, their
learning and the great good they are reported as doing. No bigots are
they who can see no good in anybody that differs from them, but they
found their belief and their life-practise on the glorious "Sermon on
the Mount" and have a good word for everybody. This is the way to win
souls to God, and they have found it.
Various eminent men, not natives of the place, however, have served in
the ministry at Harper's Ferry. The Rt. Rev. J. J. Kain, the present
Arch-Bishop of St. Louis, and the Rt. Rev. A. Vandevyver, Bishop of
Richmond, were formerly priests in charge of the Catholic church there.
The venerable Dr. Dutton of the Presbyterian church also served there
and was the hero of a remarkable adventure in the great flood of 1870,
which we have noted elsewhere. The last mentioned there were held in
extraordinary honor. Many believe that the coming great man of the
Catholic church in America is Bishop Vandevyver, of Richmond. He is
certainly one of God's noblemen.
There are now serving in the ministry at Harper's Ferry the Reverend
Messrs. Marsh of the M. E. Church, and Sullivan and Farring of the M. P.
Church, also, the Reverend Father Collins, Catholic priest. We have not
the pleasure of much acquaintance with any of those gentlemen, but they
are, we know, men of very high character. Father Collins' father we knew
well--a better man never lived and we take him for a guarantee for his
son's excellence. We have been thrown a good deal into company with the
Reverend J. D. Miller of the Protestant Episcopal church, and in our
judgment, he is a gentleman of profound learning and a high degree of
polish and amiability. We always listen with high pleasure to his
conversation, the more so because he never tries to convince his hearers
that he "knows it all," although it is plain that he knows a great deal,
and that the day is not far off when he will make a very distinguished
mark. He is making it now.
In giving the names of Harper's Ferry-born clergymen we might have
mentioned Father William Lynch, pastor of the Catholic church at
Roanoke, Virginia, who, if not quite a native of Harper's Ferry came
very near having that claim on us. He was born and brought up at
Halltown, within four miles of Harper's Ferry, and those four miles
deprived the ancient village of the honor of being his birthplace, and
us of the credit his education would have conferred on us. He is,
however, regarded by us as one of our own, and the author is as glad of
the great success the good father has met and is meeting with as if he
himself had made him as he made the others. From this rather extended
notice of the ministers of religion to the credit of Harper's Ferry it
must not be inferred that the place is not entitled to the honor of
having produced other men of marked ability who adorn other professions.
Some sixty years ago was born in Bolivar, a suburb of the place, the
Hon. E. Willis Wilson, an eminent lawyer of Charleston-on-the-Kanawha.
The civil war broke out just at the time when he had got a fair
education and his studies were, of course, interrupted for a time. His
native energy, however, was too much for any obstacle and as soon as the
reverberation of the cannons ceased around his native place, he went to
work at the study of law, entered politics, and was chosen to fill
various places of honor and trust until he was elected governor of West
Virginia, and was inaugurated on the same day that saw the same ceremony
for President Cleveland. The election of Governor Wilson was the more
remarkable for the violent opposition to him on the part of all the
monopolies in the state and his was a triumph for the right as well as
for himself. His administration was a model one and as he is young
enough for further usefulness, the people of West Virginia will not lose
sight of him.
Another native of the place has risen to eminence in the law. The Hon.
James D. Butt was brought up under some disadvantages in the matter of
education, caused by the civil war but, as he was young enough at the
cessation of hostilities to resume his interrupted studies, he made up
for lost time. He is now Referee in the Bankruptcy Court of his native
district.
In medicine, too, Harper's Ferry has many sons to be proud of. William,
George and Robert Marmion, three sons of Dr. Nicholas Marmion, were
themselves famous physicians and surgeons, especially in diseases of
the eye and ear. The second--George--died some two years ago, but the
oldest--William--is still practising in Washington City, and ranks among
the very highest in the profession. The youngest--Robert--is in the U.
S. Navy. They were all our pupils in the long past.
Another pupil of ours is Dr. Joseph Tearney, now employed by the B. & O.
railroad. He has practised a good deal at this, his native place, and,
although he is yet a young man, he has, and justly has the reputation of
possessing wonderful skill in his profession. Personally, he is
emphatically a "good fellow" with a big, generous heart, as is well
known to many a needy patient. So, with his acknowledged ability, the
confidence he inspires, and the magnetism that draws every one to him,
he cannot fail to become a veritable celebrity. And he, too, was a pupil
of ours. He never forgets the old tie and the "old man" is very much the
better for the remembrance.
We would be ungrateful indeed if we forgot Drs. Howard and Claude
Koonce, young physicians, natives of Harper's Ferry and two of our old
pupils. They are sons of Mr. George Koonce, prominent in the politics of
West Virginia. They stand very highly in their profession and are
whole-hearted young men.
* * * * *
1871-1903
ESTABLISHED 32 YEARS
JOHN W.
BISHOP
WHOLESALE GROCER
AND
MERCHANT MILLER
MARTINSBURG,--WEST VA.
ASK
YOUR
GROCER
[Illustration]
BEST FOR
EVERY
PURPOSE
PRIDE OF BERKELEY
CREAM OF WHEAT
GOLD DUST
[Illustration]
FLOUR
Dime Museum
[Illustration]
If you fail to see SPENCER'S DIME MUSEUM when
visiting Historical Harper's Ferry, you will have
missed an opportunity that you will ever regret.
Having had a mania for
RELICS
at a very early age much valuable time in fifty years
has been spent in collecting the largest private collection
in the United States.
Traveling Salesmen, Tourists, and Strangers generally have
expressed their surprise upon viewing such
=An Immense Aggregation=
A. SPENCER
T. M. CONNER, Prop. A. A. LAMON, Clerk
=HOTEL
CONNER=
$2.00 Per Day and Upward
Steam Heat
Artesian Water
Electric Lights
Electric Call Bells
Hot and Cold Baths
Good Meals
AMERICAN PLAN
_HEADQUARTERS FOR TRAVELING MEN, FOR
WHOM A LARGE SAMPLE ROOM IS PROVIDED
ON FIRST FLOOR. FISHERMEN PROVIDED
WITH GUIDES AND BAIT AT SHORT NOTICE_
_=THIS HOTEL=_ Has just been completely renovated throughout, is located
in the business part of the town and convenient to trains :: :: ::
=HARPER'S FERRY=
WEST VIRGINIA
[Illustration]
BALTIMORE AND OHIO'S MAIN LINE THROUGH HARPERS FERRY WAS A MUCH
FOUGHT-OVER PRIZE IN CIVIL WAR DAYS
On October 17, 1859, John Brown and his small band of followers, swooped
down on Harpers Ferry. The B & O right-of-way was the scene of the first
fighting and two railroad employees were among the first casualties.
Upon arrival of the eastbound night passenger express at Harpers Ferry
the train was surrounded by a cordon of riflemen. In the darkness a shot
was fired and Station Porter Haywood Sheppard fell, dying. During the
wild firing Station Master Beckham also was killed.
When word of this incident reached the B & O President, John W. Garrett,
he immediately notified the Secretary of War. To quell the uprising, a
detachment of ninety Marines, under Colonel Robert E. Lee, was sent to
the scene. The Abolitionist leader, and his followers, were captured
after a pitched battle, and Brown was tried and hanged on December 2,
1859.
Because the Baltimore & Ohio was the main east-west link available to
the Government for the movement of its soldiers, the B & O carried much
military freight and many troops during the Civil War years. At the
start of the war the railroad operated almost normally, running through
areas held by both armies. But, as the battles progressed, there were
frequent interruptions to rail service and repeated damage to B & O
tracks and equipment.
The record of the Civil War disaster, from 1861 to 1865, was unequaled
by the history of any other private industry in America. That the
railroad's engineers and workmen rebuilt the road in the face of enemy
gunfire is a memorable tribute to their skill and courage.
After the end of hostilities, thousands of troops traveled over the full
length of the B & O main line, from Washington, D. C. to Parkersburg, W.
Va., where they boarded steamers for Cincinnati, Louisville and other
river cities.
1958 Patrons
Mrs. S. Hawpe Adams Leesburg, Va.
Geraldine (Kern) Basore Frederick, Md.
Mrs. Irene McFaden Benjamin Lewisburg, W. Va.
Anne Hobbs Betts Alexandria, Va.
Raymond Bresnahan
(grandson Capt. Chas. Briggs) Hinsdale, Ill.
Capt. Charles Briggs Hinsdale, Ill.
Roy Spencer Butts
(nephew Fannie Baden Loman) Bolivar, W. Va.
Mrs. James F. Cassell Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Chas. Joshua Cavalier, Sr. Bolivar, W. Va.
Chas. Joshua Cavalier, Jr. Shepherdstown, W. Va.
Cyrus Wakefield Cavalier Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
David Taylor Cavalier Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Frank Schilling Cavalier Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Kenneth Kemp Cavalier Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Kenneth Kemp Cavalier, Jr. Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Mary Ann Ridenour Cavalier Bolivar, W. Va.
*Mary Kemp Cavalier Bolivar, W. Va.
*Sarah E. Cavalier Bolivar, W. Va.
*Miss Alvernon Cross Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Col. Cutshaw Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Mary Cavalier Dalgarn Washington, D. C.
Dorothy Nunnamaker Davis Richmond, Va.
*Atty. Raymond C. Dickey Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Cassandra C. Dittmeyer Bolivar, W. Va.
*C. Victor Dittmeyer Bolivar, W. Va.
*George Dittmeyer Bolivar, W. Va.
*Walter E. Dittmeyer Bolivar, W. Va.
Mrs. C. E. Dudrow Bolivar, W. Va.
Mrs. Castilinia Allstadt Elder Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Will Erwin Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Aileen O'Boyle Evans Mt. Lebanon, Pa.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul W. Fishbaugh Washington, D. C.
Isabel (Kern) Flannagan Bakerton, W. Va.
*Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Dowden Furtney Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Thomas William Geary Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Sergeant-Major William Joseph Geary
(1st. W.W. U.S.M.C.) Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Mrs. Claudia Furtney Geary Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Miss Elizabeth Geary Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Marie Bresnahan Gillingham Washington, D. C.
*Miss Jessie Graham Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Mrs. Laura Chambers Griffin Clarksburg, W. Va.
James Karl Grubb Bolivar, W. Va.
*Capt. James W. Grubb Bolivar, W. Va.
Mrs. Frank M. Harrison Baltimore, Md.
Thomas Grove Henkle Halltown, W. Va.
*Edward Higgins, Confederate Veteran Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Cora Rockenbaugh Icenhower Washington, D. C.
Mrs. Walter Jenkins Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Eleanor Knott Johnson Alexandria, Va.
*Clifford C. Johnson, M.D. Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Mrs. Clifford C. Johnson Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Samuel Linden Johnson Alexandria, Va.
Mrs. Cornelia Marquette Jones Bethesda, Md.
*O. T. Kemp Bolivar, W. Va.
*Charles Eugene Kern Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Edna Lee (Keyser) Kern Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Harry Eugene Kern Washington, D. C.
Robert M. Knott Shepherdstown, W. Va.
Marine Krepps Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Louise Rau Lawson Bolivar, W. Va.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert P. Leonard Harpers Perry, W. Va.
Horace Chambers Littlejohn Leesburg, Va.
Daisy E. Marks
(granddaughter Richard Heafer) Bolivar, W. Va.
Lillie Wentzell Marquette Silver Springs, Md.
William V. Marmion, Jr. Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Mrs. Mayme Burleigh Marquette Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Fred H. Mauzy Bolivar, W. Va.
*Dr. Henry T. McDonald Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Mrs. Henry T. McDonald Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*George Leferve Marten Shepherdstown, W. Va.
Mr. and Mrs. J. Allan Millar Washington, D. C.
Miss Frances L. Millard Orange, N. J.
Mr. and Mrs. Preston S. Millard Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Mr. and Mrs. Preston S. Millard, Jr. Alexandria, Va.
Miss Beatrice Miskimmon
(Sponseller and Beale) Bolivar, W. Va.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Moler Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Miss Mary V. Moler Washington, D. C.
Miss Nina E. Moler Washington, D. C.
Mr. and Mrs. Evan A. Nason Andover, Mass.
Lewis Duke Nichols (great-nephew Todd Duke,
Supt. of Arsenal) Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Louise Allstadt Watson Nichols (great-granddaughter
John Allstadt, one of Brown's hostages) Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Harold Nunnamaker
(grandson "Yank" Nunnamaker) Richmond, Va.
*J. Walter O'Boyle Bolivar, W. Va.
*Daniel O'Boyle Bolivar, W. Va.
Margaret Schilling Parlon Philadelphia, Pa.
Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert E. Perry Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Mr. and Mrs. John L. Perry
(Hildred Marlatt) Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Dr. and Mrs. John L. Perry, Jr. Houston, Texas
Nancy Cavalier Perry Charles Town, W. Va.
Thorton Tayloe Perry Charles Town, W. Va.
Mrs. Lucas Phillips Leesburg, Va.
Edna May (Kern) Ramey Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Grace Sponseller Littleton Ramsdell Bolivar, W. Va.
Mrs. Briscoe Baldwin Ranson, nee Yantis Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Mrs. Mary Conway Rau Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*W. O. Rau Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Mina Krepps Rau Bolivar, W. Va.
Mrs. William Reed, nee Dorothy Jones Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Elinor Virginia Rider Halltown, W. Va.
Mrs. Mary Brackett Robertson Washington, D. C.
Mrs. Norman C. Rogers, nee Ranson Alexandria, Va.
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Ross Tazewell, Va.
*J. Frank Schilling Bolivar, W. Va.
*Carrie Gertrude Schilling Bolivar, W. Va.
*Oliver Raymond Schilling Pittsburgh, Pa.
Margaret Rodgers Schilling Pittsburgh, Pa.
Robert Rodgers Schilling Pittsburgh, Pa.
Amos Beaty Sharps Lumberport, W. Va.
Mr. and Mrs. John T. Shirley
(Gladys Marlatt) Cumberland, Md.
Mrs. Frank Eugene Shugart Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Edward Lee Smallwood Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Briscoe Smith Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Dorothy (Kern) Strouse Ranson, W. Va.
*Mrs. Mary O'Bierne Sullivan Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Catharine Beck Tatten Pittsburgh, Pa.
*Norman T. Thayer Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Mrs. Strother Watson, nee Eackles Bolivar, W. Va.
George L. Weber Bolivar, W. Va.
*Gov. Willis Wilson Bolivar, W. Va.
*Father William Winston Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Hugh A. Winters St. Davids, Pa.
*Paul Eugene Winters Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Sue K. Winters Falls Church, Va.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur A. Winters Alexandria, Va.
DeWitt Wentzell Zook Silver Springs, Md.
Mrs. Everett K. Clark
(Nellie Marlatt) Chicago, Ill.
Clarence E. Marlatt North Mountain, W. Va.
*Charles E. Marlatt Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*William H. Marlatt Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Mrs. Monroe B. Hallman
(Ruth Marlatt) Ogden Dunes, Gary, Ind.
Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Hough Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Dr. W. E. Perry Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Lt. Gilbert E. Perry, Jr., U.S.A.F.
U.S.M.A. 1946. 1924-1946 Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Kate Strider Stanley Charles Town, W. Va.
Loretta (Kern) Thompson Charles Town, W. Va.
Leon Edwards Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Charles W. Powers Cabin John, Md.
Charles Lee Kern Alexandria, Va.
John Louis Beck Cleveland, Ohio
*Mrs. Julia D. Littlejohn Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Clifton W. Littlejohn Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Chambers Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Miss Kate Chambers Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Miss Jennie Chambers Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Miss Martha Chambers Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Forrest C. Littlejohn Shenandoah Junction, W. Va.
*Mary Sites Littlejohn Shenandoah Junction, W. Va.
*Forrest C. Littlejohn, Jr. Shenandoah Junction, W. Va.
*Paul V. Littlejohn Roanoke, Va.
Betty Lou Cavalier
* Deceased
Patrons and Advertisers
Added in 1959
*Mrs. Charles E. Marlatt (Wilmoth Headley) Heathsville, Va.
*Mrs. R. Booth Eubank Dunnsville, Va.
*Walter W. Winters Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Edwin G. Winters Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*C. Edgar Dudrow Bolivar, W. Va.
*Mary Emma Dudrow Bolivar, W. Va.
*Joseph H. Renner Bolivar, W. Va.
*Prudence Williams Renner Bolivar, W. Va.
*Rezin Shirley Rockenbaugh Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Laura Renner Rockenbaugh Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Wanda R. Young Bolivar, W. Va.
*Joseph J. Young Bolivar, W. Va.
*William P. Grove Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Edna W. Grove Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Charles Marvin Smith Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*J. Lyle Eackles Bolivar, W. Va.
*Alfred and Sarah Burton (Fair) Bolivar, W. Va.
*Gus and Hattie Burton Stewart Bolivar, W. Va.
*Hallie Edna Stewart Bolivar, W. Va.
*Ethel T. Stewart Washington, D. C.
Chauncey Burton Stewart Washington, D. C.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Burton Stewart Takoma Park, Md.
Lt. and Mrs. Robert A. Stewart Kansas City, Mo.
Howard H. Stewart Washington, D. C.
Cadet Donald E. Stewart West Point, N. Y.
*Mary Elizabeth Wilson (Kirby) Bolivar, W. Va.
*William Fitzgerald Wilson (One of John Brown's prisoners)
Agnes Burleigh Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Louise Burleigh Thompson Charles Town, W. Va.
Katheryn Burleigh Pope Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
John Burleigh Washington, D. C.
*Thomas Burleigh, Jr.
(son of Thomas Burleigh, Sr.) Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Mr. and Mrs. Harwood Cauffman
(Adelaide Naill) Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Cornelius M. Marquette Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Daisy Marquette Show Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Catherine Johns Myers Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Mr. and Mrs. W. Clifton Butts
(Anna M. Mauzy) Bolivar, W. Va.
Wilma Wentzell Zook Chevy Chase, Md.
*Mr. and Mrs. John Buckey Wentzell
(Clara V. Rau) Bolivar, W. Va.
*Alice Merrick Zook Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Blanche (Keyser) Wiseman Bolivar, W. Va.
*Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Rau Bolivar, W. Va.
*Charles R. Rau Bolivar, W. Va.
*William Frederick Stuart Bolivar, W. Va.
*Fannie Decker Stuart Washington, D. C.
Edna Stuart Aubright Washington, D. C.
*John A. Stuart Bolivar, W. Va.
*James W. Marlatt Bolivar, W. Va.
E. R. (Dolph) Sponsellar Bolivar, W. Va.
*Clara Burton Sponsellar Bolivar, W. Va.
L. Marie Sponsellar Martin Chevy Chase, Md.
*Levi Winbert Decker (Confederate Soldier) Bolivar, W. Va.
*Frances Ardella Decker Bolivar, W. Va.
Fitzhugh Lee (Tobe) Decker York, Pa.
Beulah Glenn Decker Kight Arlington, Va.
Langdon Backus Armory House
*Daniel Henry Nichols Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Lucy Shirley McFaden Nichols Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
*Daniel Shirley Nichols Charles Town, W. Va.
Rita Gaver-Nichols Charles Town, W. Va.
Frances Minge Nichols Liddell New Orleans, La.
Joseph McFadden Nichols Cumberland, Md.
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene P. Andes West Newton, Pa.
Rev. Alfred P. Collins Bolivar, W. Va.
Catherine Butts Collins Bolivar, W. Va.
Nina Filler Butts Bolivar, W. Va.
*Mr. and Mrs. Kirby L. Frye Bolivar, W. Va.
H. L. Jones Bolivar, W. Va.
*Capt. George W. Chambers Bolivar, W. Va.
*Frances Cutshaw Chambers Bolivar, W. Va.
=STORER COLLEGE=
=The oldest school for colored students in W. Va.
Established 1867. Coeducational, Academic,
State Normal, Music and Industrial Departments=
Beautiful site, ample buildings, fine libraries, a healthful atmosphere
and strong faculty make this college an excellent educational
institution for colored youth.
Write for catalogue
=HENRY T. McDONALD, A. M., President=
=N. C. BRACKETT, Ph. D., Treasurer=
Added in 1959
=BOLIVAR METHODIST CHURCH=
=A Century of Christian Science=
=Dedicated Sept. 26th, 1849=
The final resting place of an unknown Union Soldier, who, wounded and
alone, found shelter under the walls of this Church during the bitter
fighting of the Civil War.
=SAINT JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH=
=Harpers Ferry, West Virginia=
=Organized 1848=
=Pastor I. P. Smeltzer--1850=
=Pastor L. B. Williamson--1959=
=Basement of Church used as
hospital during Civil War=
=CAMP HILL METHODIST CHURCH=
Historic Camp Hill Methodist Church was organized in 1830, and received
its name from many camps situated on hill under command of General
Pinkney in 1799. Services have been held continuously, except 1861-65
because of the Civil War. 1867 work started on the present building by
Rev. Jeremiah Clay. Mr. Derrett Coates, loyal member, lost his life
while trying to obtain brick from the armory yard. 1948 the late Mr.
Charles Smith financed the remodeling to the present building.
=ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, HARPERS FERRY=
Began with five communicants, with Rev. Dr. Andrews, Rector of
Shepherdstown, holding service twice a month, first in the old
Temperance Hall, and later in the Armory Office. Admitted into the
Diocese in 1850. In 1853, 26 persons were confirmed. The old church,
looking down upon the flowing waters of the two rivers was begun in
1851--completed and furnished in 1852. During the Civil War the Church
was so badly wrecked only walls and roof remained. To Rev. Wm. T.
Leavell, belongs the credit of gathering the scattered congregation. He
secured from the Government, the lot, on which the rectory built in 1899
now stands. Old Church was re-built in 1882. A new site was obtained in
the western part of town, a new church was erected. Cornerstone of new
St. John's laid Nov. 1895. Consecrated by Bishop W. L. Gravatt, March
19, 1899. Rectory completed 1899.
=ST. PETER'S CATHOLIC CHURCH=
Established as a mission by Father Dubois about 1792. Church built in
1830 and rebuilt in 1896. Only church in town to remain open for
services throughout the Civil War.
Transcriber's Notes.
=Text= denotes bold in the original. _Text_ indicates italics in the
original.
Variations in spacing, capitalization and hyphenation; variation in
spellings of names between the main part of the text vs. the lists of
patrons; variable spelling of "Alleghany" vs. "Allegheny"; missing towns
in the lists of patrons; the ordering of the chapter title before the
chapter number in Chapter II; and lack of chapter title in Chapter I are
as per the original.
Errors in punctuation have been corrected without note. The following
typographic errors have been corrected:
p. 8 contempt on the busy hive of men below (changed from "bleow")
p. 9 to see one of them climb (changed from "clmb")
p. 10 a crow's nest is a comparatively (changed from "compartively")
p. 12 then unbroken wilderness to fulfill (changed from "fullfill")
p. 14 that transpired in Mr. Harper's time (changed from "itme")
p. 14 and another, though a less freshet (changed from "through")
p. 15 and ninety-five acres on the Loudoun (changed from "Loudon")
p. 19 into the streets in pursuit of some of (changed from "some or")
p. 19 pursuit of some of his tormentors (changed from "tormenters")
p. 19 charge an armorer for medical advice (changed from "advise")
p. 20 from eastern Virginia, the ancestors (changed from "ancesters")
p. 20 in 1810, by James Stubblefield (changed from "Stublefield")
p. 22 man was named Robert W. Daugherty (changed from "Daughtery")
p. 22 Young Daugherty was a scion of the (changed from "Daughtery")
p. 25 Twice he had been honorably acquitted (changed from "acquited")
p. 28 under him, on account of politics (changed from "poliics")
p. 30 These restrictions were (changed from "restriction were")
p. 31 do them justice. The octogenarian participants (changed from
"octogenarians participants")
p. 40 succeeded in lifting Chamberlain (changed from "Chamblain")
p. 41 Chamberlain on the subject, but it is (changed from "is is")
p. 44 Mr. Beckham was always much opposed (changed from "Beckman")
p. 47 boarded at the house of Mr. Ormond (changed from "0rmond")
p. 51 Mr. Thomas Boerly approached (changed from "approched")
p. 52 passed on strongly impressed (changed from "impresssed")
p. 53 history, like that of Pocahontas (changed from "Pocohontas")
p. 53 gratefully remembered than that (changed from "that that")
p. 58 holes kept up a brisk fusillade (changed from "fusilade")
p. 58 Martinsburg; Mr. Young, of Charlestown (changed from
"Charestown")
p. 58 Shenandoah streets, where Mr. Boerly (changed from "Boerley")
p. 59 enemy. He crept along the railroad (changed from "ralroad")
p. 61 be none by them on the besiegers (changed from "beseigers")
p. 63 Brown himself was wounded severely (changed from "severly")
p. 63 This removal and reinterment accomplished (changed from
"reinterrment accomplish-")
p. 65 penknife or even with a minie (changed from "minnie")
p. 65 he had, all along, communicated (changed from "communcated")
p. 66 women and children rushed wildly (changed from "wildy")
p. 67 not molest them. Sandy Hook (changed from "Hok")
p. 70 succeeded in eluding the vigilance (changed from "viligance")
p. 73 hoped that honest convictions (changed from "convections")
p. 74 railroad passengers who, every day (changed from "everyday")
p. 74 Henrie Kagi, Charles P. Tydd, Oliver (changed from "Oiver")
p. 75 and helped to give to his aquiline (changed from "acquiline")
p. 79 William Lehman, who (changed from "wh")
p. 81 did not see the latter occurrence (changed from "occurence")
p. 83 it was he that killed Mr. Boerly (changed from "Boerley")
p. 85 Elsie Kreglow, of the District (changed from "Distict")
p. 89 over him. Brown coolly (changed from "cooly")
p. 93 dwelt on his extraordinary (changed from "extraodinary")
p. 93 The sheriff--Campbell--who officiated (changed from "Cambell")
p. 93 himself and the gallant nation of (changed from "of of")
p. 94 ugly scars remained as mementos (changed from "mementoes")
p. 94 without a scratch and succeeded (changed from "succeded")
p. 95 and the following gentlemen (changed from "gentlement")
p. 96 avoid disagreeable repetitions (changed from "repititions")
p. 97 perhaps, by his consciousness (changed from "conciousness")
p. 99 hands of the United States troops (changed from "State
stroops")
p. 100 many of those who participated (changed from "patricipated")
p. 100 Kentucky and other southern (changed from "souther")
p. 100 mostly of rough, Ohio boatmen (changed from "boastmen")
p. 102 crowds of soldiers on the platform (changed from "plaform")
p. 103 signal example of vengeance (changed from "vengence")
p. 107 Henderson--wounding him severely (changed from "severly")
p. 109 see the rapid demoralization (changed from "demorilization")
p. 109 certain parties pursuing the thieves (changed from "theives")
p. 110 learning this accomplishment so necessary or at least ("so
necessary or at least" repeated in original)
p. 111 day aiding Beauregard at Manassas (changed from "Manasas")
p. 119 major's office. Many and various (changed from "varius")
p. 120 property as the trestle buttresses (changed from "butresses")
p. 121 suspicions, it is believed (changed from "belived")
p. 123 Friday and Saturday, September (changed from "Septemeber")
p. 125 foundation in fact, but is (changed from "is is")
p. 127 spirit which he afterwards exhibited (changed from "exhibted")
p. 128 superiors. He was a great (changed from "geat")
p. 128 terror of sutlers (changed from "suttlers")
p. 130 injuring any one, and then (changed from "the")
p. 132 the State of Ohio a (changed from "as")
p. 133 the protection of the Baltimore (changed from "Balitmore")
p. 133 switch key, they transferred the (changed from "the the")
p. 134 orders with the aggravation (changed from "aggravaton")
p. 136 was surprised and taken prisoner (changed from "prsoner")
p. 137 claim on the chronicles (changed from "chonicles")
p. 138 hide himself in some bullet-proof (changed from "bullet-poof")
p. 138 of General Lee at Appomattox (changed from "Appomatox")
p. 139 would increase and, finally, a motley (changed from "motly")
p. 140 a native of Hesse Darmstadt (changed from "Darmstdat")
p. 142 theme of this little book will flourish (changed from "fourish")
p. 144 of those three extraordinary (changed from "extraodinary")
p. 145 Chief Justice Chase presiding at the (changed from "a tthe")
p. 148 necessary to rebuild at Harper's (changed from "Haper's")
p. 150 has no other merit, it commands (changed from "command")
p. 150 best view of Harper's Ferry, to choose (changed from "chose")
p. 153 to which he was clinging with (changed from "wth")
p. 153 clinging with the proverbial (changed from "proverbal")
p. 154 around it. At length, his (changed from "His")
p. 159 mingled with hysterical screams from (changed from "form")
p. 159 any exertion to save himself (changed from "hmself")
p. 161 put in a sharp rejoinder (changed from "rejoiner")
p. 163 when Mr. Williams and his (changed from "an dhis")
p. 164 instances, the very foundations (changed from "foundatons")
p. 164 their industry and unobtrusive (changed from "unobstrusive")
p. 165 and the remains were forwarded (changed from "forwaded")
p. 169 Munchausen immediately transferred (changed from "transfered")
p. 170 did not suffer much from this flood (changed from "food")
p. 173 by any victory for the canal company (changed from "comjany")
p. 179 profession in West Virginia, Maryland (changed from "Marylang")
p. 179 stranger called at Livingstone's (changed from "Livingtone's")
p. 180 was listening to the conversation (changed from "conversaton")
p. 187 and looked around inquiringly (changed from "inquriingly")
p. 202 Dime Museum (changed from "Musuem")
p. 202 If you fail to see SPENCER'S DIME MUSEUM (changed from "MUSUEM")
p. 206 Louise Allstadt Watson Nichols (great-granddaughter) (changed
from "great-grandaughter")