Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-12-07
SCI lsrEprsrlvc DocU,lENr.-I

", winch VIII De Itdu viii Pie"'" N'"f
for which We are under many obllga'
tons to the gentleman who furnished IL
to us for publication =
LIVELY DAY IN SHEPHERDS
TOWN, NOW IS YEARS SINCE.
"Dnrino the war of 1912 with Great
3 itain. tn, writer lived at Harper
Ferry. and the greater part OF the time
went to school in Shepherdstown. As
the Ferry was the seat OF national
armorv all the war news was first
sought for there. as the Secretary OF
War sent "pony expresses" nearly every
week to- Col. Stubblefield, the Snperln-
tendent. The first question asked the
writer every Monday on his return to
school was what is the war news at
the Ferry" Therefore he was looked
for early in the morning with much IN
terest.
Shepherdstown ike the whole Valley,
had much at stake. Every mill and
warehouse was full OF wheat and flour,
the latter selling at So per barrel in de
preciated paper, when at the same time
France was paving Sl2 in gold to feed
her hungry soldiers. No wonder the
farmers wanted our ports opened.
1t was a Sabbath night i'll February
1915. that the sound of the horn from
the Maryland shore announced the arrl-
val of the Pony Express" with most
important news for Col. Stubbletield.
But short time elapsed before the
little hotel was filled, altho' it was after
midnight, and the following letter to
the Hon. John Baker which the writer
(and a colored boy named Lewis,) had
to deliver to its address as soon as Poss-
ible. We arrived at Mr. Bakers house
Just at the dawn Of day. The letter:
"IIon. John Baker, am directed
by the Secretary Of War to spread the
news as far and as widely as possible
that a treaty of peace was signed at
Client, by the United States and Eng
lish Commissioners, on the oath Deem
Der, 1914.
The object of this note is to protect
the farmers and millers from specula-
tors, who may avail themselves Of early
information to purchase country pro
duce. The treaty is highly honorable
to our country and great credit Is due
to commissioners Adams, Gallatin, Bay
ard, Clay and Russell. Signed,
BY breakfast time the news in this
letter had reached every business man
in the town the merchants-Lane, Sci
by, Worthiugton and others were busy
sending off their clerks to all the millels
and farmers with whom they had bust
ness relations and by noon the sub
stantal wheat growers for miles around
were coming in to learn the particulars.
Shepherdstown was scene of great bus
mess commotiOn. The stores and
James Hotel almost rivalled the 'Liv-
erpool Corn Exchange The question
uppermost was, what is flour ?" Lame
is offering $50, and gentleman Just
from Baltimore offers S., OF $3.50 If
delivered there 'Any sales. Not
any as every one is anxious to learn
what the French agents will give.
YESTERDAY flour could be had at S3,and
to-day nothing short of 80, will move
a barrel" Not sale was made, but
such was the talk of the by-standers.
The day was drawing to close; the
Shepherds, Swcaringens, Morgans, Lu-
cases, Bedingers, RuthelfordS, Buckles,
and hundreds Of others were starting
for home, while we boys not being will
ing ito give it up so" were providing
ourselves with candles, and a drum and
fife for night procession i'll honor OF
the cheering news. The night was cold
and chilly, tho we marched until 8 o.
clock. We then, after our fatigue went
to Shuts brewery ana had a jolly time
over gallons Of beer and baskets OF horse
cakes. W.
81 DANIEL. S. BIsER, ESQ. & o..
CASAL.-Presiden German and the Di-
rectors of the c. & o. Canal Company,
have concluded their tour of inspection
over the line of the Canal. The Canal
was found in fair condition, but some
improvements were ordered to be made
upon the permanent works Of the same
after the close Of navigation. Daniel
S. Biser, Esq, of Middletown Valley,
Frederick County, Md, is one OF the
Directors, and was among the number
who made the tour of inspection, and III
passing under bridge on the Cana, his
hat was knocked off, and they all con-
Guided the bridge was too low 1t GER
tainly was very low to have knocked off
our old friends hat, because Mr.. Is. is a
very low man, that is in stature, but
stands high in the estimation of the
public. In our ''boyhood day" he was
elected to the Maryland Legislature
some half dozen terms in successiou,a and
well do we remember OF frequently
"throwing up" our ''straw hat" i'll hur-
raining for Daniel S. Biser lie is, and
has been for many years, a sterling
Democrat, and when the polls of old
Middletown and Hauvers District were
counted out Daniel 5. Biser lead the
column. Mr. B. is plain and substan-
tial former, and could always shoe his
row" in stump speaking with ''any 9th
er man." Often did we listen with plea
sure to his speeches.