Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-04-10

ems SeVeTdi nuuuTeu yards, at Suc1
a time one Pinkerton, an old rev.
dictionary soldier, who must have
possesse much ofthe daring of the
men of revolutionary times, at
tempted to ford the stream, having
for his conveyance the front gear
of a wagon, two horses pulling it,
one named Dick, the other Fox ,on
the top of the wagon a half-barrel
of tar, and Pinkerton on that, and
in this situation was he when he
drove to the waters edge prepare
tory to crossing.
Mrs. Snodgrass, the mother of j.
E. S. happened to see Pinkerton
at the time, and becoming alarmed
waved her hand to Pinkerton
and called to him rot try to cross
the stream, but Pinkerton replied
"mind your. business, madam" at
the same time using the lash to his
horses and at the same time calling
on Dick and Fox to plunge into the
stream, but poor Pinkerton had
not gone far in the turbid waters
until his half wagon upset, throw
ing Pinkerton out of the seat from
the half-barrel of tar and washing
wagon, horses, tar and all down
stream.
In the meantime all was commo-
ton on the bank, some going to
his rescue in boat, others calling
for help, etc, and, after a terrible
struggle, Dick and Fox landed on
sand bar with the half wagon,
but the half-barrel of tar was lost,
and, after time, Pinkerton crawl
ed on the bottom to water of
depth SO as to be able to stretch
his head out, and, after relieving
himself from the waters oppres-
sion called out to his rescuers to
save Dick and never mind Fox.
After the man and horses were
gotten ashore, Pinkerton was call
ed on to know how he saved him.
self from strapgulation, when he
replied that he crawled along on
the bottom and then went 'pugh,
pugh.' So soon as possible Pinker-
ton got himself to the bar and call
ed for a wee drop; but the landla-
and his only reply was, "mind
your own business, madam"
This same Pinkerton lived some
distance from the above described
circumstance, at place on the
Third Hill Mountain, which the
writer, j, E. S., may remember as
" Pinkerton's Knob" it being a
high point in the mountain that
may be seen a long distance away.
The writer j. E. S. may have no
recollection of the circumstance
relative to Pinkerton, though a
gentleman of undoubted veracity
related it to US some years go,and
at the same time told me many
other amusing circums ances con-
nected with Pinkerton's eccentric
habits, only one more of which |
will here relate.
At a time when the ground was
covered with snow land at such
times Pinkerton used a sled instead
OF the half wagon he loaded up
viii, pine knots, hitching Dick and
Fox, and drove to the market,
where he exchanged the pine
knots for fish, and being in the
ahi Gf imbibing freely of ben
zine, Loaded himself up pretty
wei, and started Tor home, but on
tine way the bottom of the fish
barrel save way, and the fish pur-
ct3- {! in the market scattered by
Wiyside, which was unknaWn
i',ui-,lt,n until the next morn
ieg, hu when he made the NOR
i,,t.. discovery hat his fish
T.. mn gave ultc:ance t. his
-. Hing on his good old
= N +'c ring to her, " Anns.the
""''' come, the robbers clmr,
,,sj ole the fish,
In lie future other circumstd ..'os
may be related which he wtinr
J i s., may b. Iamiiit, wiGl III
u r>"'eY county. G S.
MIL CREEK, Berkeley Go,