Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-02-20
TRAGIC WAKE

This may not be believed, but it u .
| fact.
Paddy O'Rourk had been found
drowned. Paddy had no relatives and
/ only few friends.
After the poor fellow had been ''sat
on" by the coroner and pronounced
dead for at least three days, by some
means unknown to the jury, but ''sus-
pected strongly Of taking too much
water" few OF his friends concluded
to give him "wake."
! Unfortunately these friends were i'm
pecunious.
Paddy had been well known as an
honorable man who always paid his
debts, but these friends who proposed
to wake him did not enjoy 80 good u
reputation.
Paddy was laid oat in his regular
everyday suit, and he looked as natural
as life
But how to get good drink on the
occasion was what troubled Paddys
friends. They smoked pipes, and each
had something to say regarding his
good qualities, but there was no whisky
to give spirit TO their sorrow.
"Faith have it, said Tim McShane,
one OF the poor but honest mouriers.
LET US go aud stand mp tho old
Dutchman next, door for q drink he
will trust US.
"Divil trust. lie knows us all,
said another.
III have it," said third. "Lets take
Paddy ont of his coffin an stan him mp
for drink wild de Dutchman. Sure his
face was always good
They talked the matter over, and the
upshot was, seeing no other way, they
took poor Paddy from his coffin aud
carried him into the saloon kept by old
Hans Schmidt.
1t was nothing uncommon to see
party come into his place Juggling one
who had all the money and the worst
OF the drunk.
They stood him up against the bar
while one of them held him up and did
the talking.
Paddy's hat was pulled down over
his eyes, and he looked as natural as
life.
"Set 'em up for the boys, said the
man behind him, and Hans spread the
glasses upon his bar, and big drink
was INDUCED in ali around.
"Set EN- up again." said voice
which appeared to come from Paddy,
and again the crowd INDUCED in big
! drink.
They drank TO Paddy's health, and
one by one they sneaked out, leaving
the poor corpse standing up against tho
bar with his head bowed down IN such
a way as to prevent Hans from seeing
his face.
Hans Schmidt waited some minutes
for Paddy to get out his money to pay
for the drinks, but seeing no move made
to do so be spoke to him:
care you going to bay Tor doso
drinks T.
No answer came to this.
81 say, mino fren, are you baying TOR
dem drinks!'
OF course Paddy made no reply.
"Of you don'd bay for dem drinks l
shall see aboud ii puddy gwick.'
Still no reply; aud Hans began to get
his Dutch up.
81 hafe dem games played on me
blenty dimes, und id is played oud. Bay
me righd away or | gife you som" swell
head for your supper.
And he looked savagely at Paddy.
"Vas is dot you sayf" he asked at
length. :,
Or course there was nothing said.
"Dot vas a blk, und you vas be blk.
esd of the whole gang. Bay me for
dem drinks!'
Haus was getting to an uncontrolla-
bic point, aud failing to get reply he
drew off and dealt Paddy q stunning
blow which knocked him Hat upon the
floor. -.
At thi, point the walkers rushed in
and gathered around the fallen body.
",Vhat have you done, Hansf ask
ed one.
"You have killed him." said another.
"He's dead
"The Dutchmau hiss killed him.
Hans began to be alarmed aud came
from behind the bar.
"You have killed him.
"Vel, | could not help ID, said Hans.
couldn't help i'll What do you
mean I"
"Val, I doles you. ! asked him to
bay me for dem drinks, und he--he
drtw KNIFE on me.
Hans furnished drinks for the re-
mainder Of that wake, and " this day
if YOU say ..knife" to bin you will wake
up the madjest Dutchman in New
! York.
THE DEATH or GEx. WILLIAM HAYES,
y. s. A-rhe death OF Brevet Briga-