Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1853-03-31
From the St. Mary's (Md.) Beacon.
AN OLD TIME TRAGEDY.

AN OLD TIME TRAGEDY.
Whoever travels from Leonard Town to
St. Joseph's Chapel by The Mary land Spring,
passes by The scene of singular tragedy.
The story is en- old one; all who lived at the
time Of the occurrence have been buried
more than a hundred years.
Beyond the Maryland Spring, and about
one fourth of mile to the norlhward, we
cross a small stream having small meadow
on our left. There was mill here once,
and lhe dam then covered that meadow
This mill belonged to one Robert Shanks,
and on the rising ground 10 the northwest
ward of the dam, stood Mr.. Shanks' dwell
ing house. To the righ. of the private way
over which we now travel, and nearly OPP
posi,e the red house lived Mr.. G--s.
His descendants own the property to this
day. Mr. G. was man in good crcum-
stances for the day and neighborhood in
which he lived. His wife was living, he
wes the father Of four children, and the mas
ter Of two negro slaves. His oldest child
was girl OH the eve Of womanhood. He
had two boys going TO school in the neigh
borhood, and li.le pc, q, home. His old
es. negro was named Peter; The other was
la boy whose real name has not been hand
ed down to us. He was perhaps the wots,
e,ammerer Of his rsce. His s.ammering re-
sembled the noise OF water issuing from an
inverted jug aud on this account, he was
celled "Jug'' BY all who knew him.
Peter, il seems, had imbibed the impress
sion that, II bis master, mistress, and ell their
children were dead, he would be free to go
where he pleased, and to work or play ss
it should suit his fancy. Tradition SAYS that
the oldest girl had .hough'Iessly impressed
him with this erroneous idea.
A; the time of our story and for many
years afterwards, the planters Of Mary yland
conveyed their tobacco to the warehouses
by rolling the hogshead all the way on the
ground, and TO facilitate this process, vsri-
ous roads were opened over the most even
parts Of the several neig ighborhoods, and KEEP,
In repair al the public expense. These were
called "roling roads" aud many Of the finest
roads in ST. Mary's county were originally
opened for this purpose. To end this di
gresson, il is necessary TO add. that when
a planter had a hogsheah Of tobacco ready
for The ware house, he had but 10 get few
bottles Of rum, and give notice to his neigh
bors. rolling was generally looked upon
as q lrolic.
Abou. mile and half southwest Of
Shanks' mill lived a man by the name Of
Shercl'ff This man bad a hogshesd ready
to be rolled, and his neighbors had me. TO
assist him. Among these was Mr.. G., as
fond of rum aud fun as any OF them. II was
a hot suI'ry day in July. Owing to some
unexpected difficulty, they were not ready
to brgln the rolling until late in the after
noon. They determined. therefore, to take
snack before starting; and before the re-
past was over the thunder in the distance
Ioretold The approach OF a storm. The roll
ing was, therefore, postponed TO the follow W
ing day, and The Disappointed neighbors
started for their home. Our story follows
Mr.. &. The storm overlook him about the
time he reached Shank:' mill He found
the door open and took shelter there. The
rain that fell that day was remembered for
many years.
After talking awhile, the two neighbors
both fell asleep. Mr. G. was The first to
awake. The rain was over, and the sun
was shining low in the western sky. He
again started for home. Scarcely he'd he
left The mill, when he saw his boy "Jug''
coming towards him a, full speed. The
boy cangh, his master by the arm, and en-
deavored to stop him. He made his master
understand that some dreadful calamity had
happened bu, not one word could the negro
arlicula,e to give him an idea of its nature.
Mr.. G. therefore tore away from him, and
hurried home to learn The state Of affairs
from some one else.
When he entered the door of his own
dwelling, the sight lha. presented itself al
most deprived him Of his senses. The floor
was covered with blood, and in differen,
parts OF the room, were lying the mangIed
bodies OF his wife and two daughters. He
was no, the only sufferer, however. in ,ba,
house Of mourning. Seated upon stool
and leaning his head against the wall, was
young man Of the neig ghborhood apparent
ly as miserable as himself He was strip.
ling, several years short of manhood, and
yet repor. said that he loved, lenderly loved
the girl whose lifeless body was lying close
beside him. The young man was weeping
His name was OrrelI. He was good bov
and everybody that knew him loved ane
spoke we'll Of him.