Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-05-08

ITO, or l70 years ago, German Lu.
therau colony immigrated and settled
in the Robinson Valley, Madison Co,
Va. The title-deed for the ground on
which they built their church, still
standing aud known as the "Old Dutch
Church" was made in 1920 1t is not
known that the building was ready for
use before the year 1929, for those
sturdy Lutheraus builded 10 endure,
and il is notable that the stout limbers
upifted then are as sound as ever. and
the mortar in the foundation has har-
dened to the consistency OF stone.
The audience room is crueiform in
shape, with two side galleries and or
gan-left. The interior has been some
what changed about 10 years ago
The high pulpit has been replaced by
one OF more modern construction. ln
front of the pulpit, within the altar
railing, stands the 5aptismal bowl, OF
silver, "nade and presented May 18th,
1927, by Thomas Clifton of London.
This inscription is found also on the
communion service In the loft at the
rear OF the church stands the pipe
organ, presented to the congregation
by Gustayus Adolphus, King Of Swe-
den. It's pipes, once glittering and
bright, have faded TO dull lead color.
It was made more than 100 years ago
at Lutzen, Sweden, under the direction
of the King, expressly for this church,
and is in very good state OF preserva-
ton. The keyboard is complete re-
versal in point of color, those keys be-
ing OF ebony which are white in mod
ern instruments, the raised keys being
ebouy faced with ivory. The tone Of
the instrument is still very good.
Under the chancel lie buried the re
mains of good old parson kluch, III
conformity with an ancient German
custom. He was among the first pas
tors that served at this altar, and many
are the tales told of him among the
simple country-folk of his neighborhood
Rev. Wright g. Campbell is the pres
ent pastor in this interesting old church.
A HousEuoLD POISONED By ARSENIC.
"A correspondent of the Baltimore
Sun writing from Cumberland under
date Of the IS, INST, says: The family OF
Chas. Keller, farmer living near Cum
berland, was poisoned, last Friday, by
biscuits in which arsenic had been used
for baking powder. Seven persons in
all were poisoned from eating ofthe bis
cults, viz: Mr.. aud Mrs. Keller, Mrs.
Wilkinson, the grandmother, Daniel
Schultz, the farm hand, and three OF
Keller's sons, ranging in age from to
years. The only member Of the fam
lily escaping was an infant, who did not
eat of the biscuits, Keller and Schultz,
were at work III a field when their din
ner, including some of the biscuits Mrs
Keller had just made, was brought TO
them. After eating heartily of the bis
cults they became very sick, and started
TO return home. Keller succeeded in
reaching the house, but Schultz fell in
the field, and lay there until discovered
some four or five hours later. When
Mr.. Keller reached the house he found
the rest of the family writhing in help
less agony. They remained in the house
without assistance until nearly six o.
clock, when they succeeded in attracting
the attention of neighbor, who came
here for medical aid. When the doctor
reached the scene and entered the house
he encountered the novel spectacle OF
seven persons, lying on beds and i'm
proyised cots, suffering the horrors OF
arsenical poisoning. Their faces were
ghastly white, and the muscles of some
were twisted and contracted. Fortunate
", most OF the poison was vomited
early in the day, but enough was ab.
sorbed in the systems 10 make some OF
the cases desperate BY strenuous ex-
ertions the physicians succeeded in ov-
grooming the effects OF the poison,
although in several OF the cases fatal
results were apprehended all through
Friday night. Mrs. Keller and Schultz
were the last to he pronounced out OF
danger on Saturday morning. All are
now in fair way to recover, but some
of the victims will feel the effects OF the
terrible ordeal through which they pas
sed for some time TO come. None OF
the substance used by Mrs. Keller for
baking powder was left by her, and not
one of the biscuits was saved, but it is
certain, from analysis Of the contents OF
the stomach of one of the patients, and
from numerous other facts, that the stuff
was arsenic. 1t was found by Mrs. kel.
Ter wrapped in paper in jar, marked
"baking powder" How it came there
is not known, but it is supposed to have
been placed there by some member OF
the family, probably in the hurry OF
preparations for removal, which had
been making In the house for several days.
Destructive FIRE IN NoKTn CARO-
LIMA SwAMRs -TidiDgs Of the terrible
work of the fires which ragged in the
swamp region Of North Carolina last
week have been received. Life and
property were destroyed, and houses
and timber devastated. Zachariah
Ovens, of Tyrell county, was engaged
in getting shingles from the swamps on
the Alligator river, and lived there in
house surrounded by woods. On Sat
urday he left home on business, but
had not gone far when be saw the
flames approaching so rapidly as TO i'm
peril bis home and family, and he hast
ened back TO save them. He buried
his wife aud three little children away,
hoping 10 reach the main road beyond
danger; bat they were overtaken by the
flames in the swamps. Their bodies
were found by Deighbors, the mother