Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1860-08-11

ing above the voracious waters. He cIung
TO the boat, and was rescued by friends
from The shore, who were Witnesses OF
the terrible scene.
The bodies had not been found up TO
the hour Of our latest Information from
that quarter, Saturday morning. though
the river vas being dragged at every point
where there existed possibility OF find
ing the bodies.
The deceased were aged as follows -
Grant Harris 90 years, Ursula 2l. Nan
ME 10. All were highly accomplished
and much beloved.
The melancholy occurrence has spread
gloom over Charles county, such as has
not been witnessed for many years.
Taking the Census.
The collection Of statistical information
concerning The resources and industry OF
The country, by The assistant marShalS
who were employed TO take the last CEN
sus, was very difficult work. The pop
ular Impression, that a tremendous tax
would soon follow the minute invesEga-
ton Of the private afairs of the people,
caused the census-taker 10 be viewed in
no better light than a tax gathereT; and tie
consequence was, that the information
sought by hun was either withheld Ell.
tirelY, or given with great reluctance.
The returns, therefore, made by the mar
shaIs, exhibit a very imperfect view OF
the wealth and industrial progress Of the
country. In some portions OF the coun-
try the excitement against the unfortun-
ate officers-who were known as the
'chicken men"-made il almost danger
Gus for them to proceed with The business
of taking the census; and bitter were the
taunts, threats, and abuse which they re-
ceived on all hands, but most particular
! ly from the old women OF the country.
The dear old souls could not bear TO be
catechised about the produce OF their
looms, poultry yards. and daiTes; and
when they did come down" upon the un-
fortunate lnquisitor, it was with force and
volubility that were sure to leave an i'm
preston. We speak from experience,
and feelingly,on this subject; for II so hap
pened. that The Marshel Of The Southern
District Of Alabama, proposing especial
confdence" in our abIily,nyesled us one
day with all the powers Of assistant Mar
shal; and arming US with the proper guam
lity OF blanks, sent us forth to count the
noses OF all the men, women, children,
and chickens resident upon those nine
hundred square miles Of rough country
which constitute the county Of Talla.
poOse.
Glorious sport thought we; but it
didn't turn out so. True, we escaped
without any drll b;ngs, although we came
unpleasanIy near catching a dozen, and
only escaped by very peculiar knack we
have of ''slidng OUT" but then we were
quizzed, laughed at, abused, and nearly
drowned.
Children shouted "Yonder goes the
chicken man !" Men said, "Yes, d-n
him, he'll be after the tGTeS soon; - and
the Old women threatened, il he came to
inquire about their chickens, "to set the
dogs on him." while the young women
observed "lhey didn't know what a man
wanted TO be so parlic' lar about gals ages
for, without he was gwine a-courtn.'
We have some "reminiscences Of our off
cial peregrinations that will do to laugh al
now, although the occurrence with which
they are connected were. at the lime, any
thing but mirth inspiring 10 us.
I'VE rode up one day 10 the residence of
a widow rather past the prime Of lie
just that period at which nature supplies
most abundantly the oil which Iubrcates
the hinges Of female longues-and hitch
ing TO the fence, walked into the house.
"Good morning, madam" said we, in
our usual bland, and somewhat insinua.
ting manner.
"Mornin," said the widow grnffly.
Drawing our blanks from their case, we
proceeded-"I am the man, madam, that
takes the census, and"
The mischief you are !" said the old
lermagenl. "Yes, I've hesrn of you; Par
son w. told me you was coming, and
told him jist what tell you, that ifyou
said "clotb, soap. or chickens" TO me
I'd set the dogs on ye. Here, Bull here.
Pomp !" Two wolfsh ours responded
10 the call for Boil and Pomp, by coming
10 The door, smelling at our feet with
slight growl, and then laid down on the
steps," Now" continued the old she
avage, "them's the severest dogs IN this
Last week Bill StOnecker's two
year old steer jumped my yard fence, and
Bull and Pomp tex him by the throst,an
hey killed bin afore my boys could
freak 'em loose to save the world"
"Yes, ma am" said we meekly; "Bull
nd Pomp seems to be very fine dogs"
IINn,, Ill L., Ill.