Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-09-25

On the morning of the 18th, a man
was found on the Baltimore and
Ohio r.. R., track a few hundred
yards above the depot at Hancock,
with his head and lower limbs seve;-
ed from his body. He was unknown
and all efforts to identify him prov
ed vain. He had on his person about
two dollars, pipe and pint bottle
about half full of whiskey. 1S& H5.
The Hagerstown Herald is inform :
ed that Messrs. McKeg and Nc
Dowen, two very enterprising young
en-, intend engaging in sheep rails
lg in that county on a large scale.
hey have bought a farm at Moores-
vile, in the indian Spring district,
peculiarly suited for the business of
sheep raising. They have already
{ large number of fine sheep and
propose to increase their flocks.
They are putting up extensivebuild-
ings and fencing, and have eight
men in their employ.
A man was shot and killed near
Chambersburg not long ago while in
the act ofstealing potatoes form tn e
premises of another. Mr.. Stouffer,
the party whose land was trespassed
upon, was indicted for murder, but
after trial acquitted. While the law
does not ordinarily justify such ex-
.leme measures as the shooting of a
trespasser, the verdict shows that
popular sentiment is decidedly OPP
posed to the differing that is con-
!. ,antly going on around a town of
"ny size. The farmers near Mar
tinsburg have just cause for CON-
plant from the same evil.
ACCIDENT.-While Mr.. Buck
Bruce and some other horsemen
were on their way from Martinsburg
to this city on Saturday morning
last, with five or six trotting horses
and sulkies, the horse bringing up
the rear ran away, colliding with
some of the others, and starting them
all on wild chase. Several of the
sulkies were broken to pieces, and
Mr.. Bruce received some painful
injuries. They repaired damages
here, and left for the Leesburg Fair
on Monday morning. Winchester
Times.
FATAL AND DISTRESSING Acct
Saturday evening last
Miss Bertha Edmiston, a pupil of
the Episcopal Female Institute, was
fatally burnt by her clothing taking
fire, and died the next morning at II
o'clock. Miss Edmiston, who was
daughter of Judge M. Edmiston, of
Weston, West Va, went up to her
room, which was on the third floor
for,some purpose at n O'Clock. She
took in her hand kero sene oillamp.
After she had gotten in her room
the chimney which had been inse-
curely fastened on the lamp fell off,
which startled her caused her to
drop the lamp on the floor. She turn
ed and ran out of the room, but
some of the oil which had ran out
Of the mouth of the lamp caught in
the flame and set fire to her dress-a
thin lawn. She flew along the hall
way down two long flights of steps
defying the efforts of one of the
young ladies on one of the landings
who tried to stop her but could not,
only succeeding in throwing small
shawl over her face which protected
it from the fire. When she reached
the lower floor Mr.. Wheat having
in the meantime heard her screams
met her and in an instant threw
something around her and put out
the flames.
She was carried into a room and
had the tender care of physicians
and nurses, but no effort could save
her life. The accident occurring
just at the beginning of the session
has thrown gloom over the whole
school and DR.. Wheat, who is
proverbial for his watchful care and
kind interest to his pupils, is heavi-
ly bowed down by this great calami-
ty. 1t is proper to state that the
whole building is lighted with gas,
but finding the bracket in the room
Miss Edmiston occupied leaked a
little she was advised until it was
to use a lamp.
Miss Edmiston was about sixteen
years old. Her remains were sent
to her home on Monday morning..
Winchester Times