The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-02-24

Of Elkton, some six miles, was Il place
called the barrcns, where robberies were
committed. One evening in Winter. the
passengers going east were waiting at the
Fountain Inn, while the baggage was being
changed from one stage to another A
trunk was found to be unusually heavy
Many loafers were standing around, some
assisting to lift the trunks on to the
boot Of the stage. Some one remarked,
"there must be money in this The
owner was standing on the porch, and
remarked " Boys, il You should see what
is in that trunk, it would make You laugh !;
there are Holsters in it, The roughs
thought that but ruse, and some of them
getting ahead of the stage. when it reached
the barrens cut the baggage strap, and
carrying the trunk into the bushes, broke
it open, and fonnd, to their dismay, that it
did indeed contain Holsters. The owner, a
fancy goods merchant of Baltimore, had
been to Philadelphia to replenish his stock,
and being somewhat Of an epicure, had
goods trunks were examined for money,
but, finding none, the trunks were left
there in the brush.
Afterwards, and before the era of rail
roads, line of steamers was established
between Baltimore and Elkton, the pas
sengers being carried twenty miles by land
between Elllton and Wilmington, in the
post chaises. 1t was beautiful sight to
see from nine to twelve of these post
coaches coming in, each carrying about
nine passengers, drawn by four horses, and
this each way each day. The steamers
landed at the Landing. There was large
carrying trade done in those days between
Baltimore and Elkton, in sail vessels
Great quantities of wheat were shipped
from Baltimore, to supply the Touring mills
on the Big and Little Elk Creeks, and pig
iron was brought in Elkton.
left Elkton for the West in October of
1S19-not then quite 10 years old. Often
in memory, especially in the last two years,
l have rambled over it in every part, and
revisited the Landing, where, about the
wharves and in the river, l spent so much
of my time rambling about, with rod in
hand, fishing, and catching crabs. 1 am
an old man now, but the recollection of
those days is very pleasant to me. l go back
to the store, near the Court House-East
of it-where, for Levi II. Evans, clerked
~, l., tl,,+ 80 ~. 7
spent in Elkton. There used to be a legend
connected with the Rudolph house, which
stands next to that store-room East. The
store-room sets back from the street. On
the west side of the house is an outside
cellar door. 1t used to be said that during
the Revolutionary war, our troops retreat
ing before the British, who were in close
pursuit, some of our boys were in that Gel
lar filling their canteens out of some pipes
Of wine, when the British appeared around
the bend of the road, west, where old
Stephen Hollingsworth used to live, and of
course they did not tarry long. The retreat
continued to Brandywine, where our troops
made stand.
Many of the incidents in No. II, of the
"reminiscences, published in The Cecil Dem
ocrat, are familiar to me, and all of the
persons-Zeb Ferguson, Andrew Short,
Dick Mills, Polly Poulson and others. l
wonder if any of the Giles family live about
there now? Amelia married Philip Hard
ing, Kentuckian, first cashier of the old
Eikton Bank, and an out and out gentle
man. / very we'll remember the life and
death of Nicholas Lirtz Dawson, who died
His sister Maria-now Mrs. Ford-I learn,
resides in Sassafras Neck, widow, and an
estimable lady. The funeral of Lrtz
Dawson shall never forget. I noticed in
The Cecil Democrat, sent me by the hand
Of a kind lady friend, the name of John
Gilpin. l knew him, and Joseph and Henry
and Mary, the only sister,-a sweet, inesti-
mable lady. Their mother married Frisby
Henderson-both now dead.
would like to know the name of the
writer Of the "reminiscences. am doubt
less well acquainted with the person.
am now an old man, but still hope to
revisit those scenes of my boyhood; 60
back to the old farm, where memory came
into being; roam again over the old scenes
of the Landing; go across the river again
to the Lewis Thomas farm, where I used
to go for apples; fish again at the old log
pens, opposite the lower wharf; 90 to
Whann's mill, where, with Mary, l used to
stroll along the race-bank of Sabbath even
ings; go to the spot in the graveyard, at
the head of Christian Meeting House,
where my precious sisters lie buried.
This is enough for this time. I may
write again.
Yours, in friendship,
THOMAS J. SAMPLE.