The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-07-26
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM SHREWSBURY, PA.
SHREwsnuRy. Pa JuIv ODD. 1894

SHREWSBURY, Pa, July 22d, 1884.
Messrs Editors = Having been informed of the
sudden death of Mrs. Sophia X. Hoffman, wife of
Hon. VIM. II. Hoffman, of Paper Mills, Baltimore
county, Nd, your correspondent attended the
funeral of the deceased which took place from her
late residence yesterday. The trip from Shrews-
bury to Hoffmansville, distance of about twelve
miles, was unusually interesting, for the reason
that we felt great desire to what destruction
the flood had caused along the falls about the
paper mills. The public roads in this and your
county are in a very bad and unsafe condition to
travel over which robbed us of much of the plea
sure the trip gave u.s. However, reached the
hills about the falls and commenced the descent
from the east side. When half way down the hill
eyes behed the falls, but the beautiful sheet of
water for mile in length was gone. The breast
of the dam was torn out to the bottom of the
stream presenting fg chs hoda pPssg away
everything in its course. The amount of damage
cannot be truly estimated at present. This de-
structon of property by the flood will prove
serious matter for the Messrs. Hoffman to replace.
When we came to the falls the bridge was gone,
hence we had to ford it, which was accompanied
with some difficulty and no little danger. The
Baltimore county authorities should erect this
bridge at once or put up temporary one so the
people can get at their work to repair the damage
done by the water.
We finally reached our destination in safe
condition. After having our horse cared for we
made some inquiry about the death of Mrs. Hoh-
man and learned these facts 1t appears the
Sabbath school of that place held its annual pic
mic in grove near Mr.. Hoffman's house on Sat
urday last Mrs. Hoffman was in her usual health
and accompanied her husband to the grove. After
the addresses were delivered she and Mr.. Hoffman
went to the refreshment stand, and whilst par
taking of some ice-cream became suddenly i'll and
soon became unconscious. She was conveyed to
80 fnr I'm Vuoo
taken i'll about o'clock p. m. and died about
the same evening. Her death was caused by
paralysis. The deceased was about SO years of
age and daughter of the late Peter Roller of this
place. She was a devout Christian for many
wears of her life. Her funeral was largely attend
ed, and the sermon was preached by Rev. JOS r
Wilson from text found in Job l6 Oh. " verse.
The sermon was one of the most appropriate and
eloquent discourses I ever heard at funeral The
| beautiful walnut casket containing the remains
| was profuseiy decorated with flowers.
| 1t is said that troubles never come singly, and
| in this case the saying seems true. The flood
came first and tore up and destroyed large
amount of property and stopped work at Two OF
| the mills. Then followed this sad bereavement OF
the family by the sudden death of Mrs. Hoffman.
| Whilst mourning the sudden death of this loved
| one, on Sunday afternoon, twenty-fo hours
after her death, word reached the house that Rock
dale mills were on fire. The alarm was given and
upon reaching the mill it was discovered that the
stock house was on fire. By the effort of the men
and the means provided for in case of fire the de-
vouring element was confined to the stock house,
thus saving the mill. The building was full of
stock at the time. The origin of the fire was up
to yesterday unknown, though the firm will in
vestigate the matter. Neither incendarism nor
spontaneous combustion is believed to be the
| cause as the stock was not of that nature. The
loss is total one, fully covered by insurance.
There was no machinery running at the time nor
any fire about the building. The Waterman was
in the building but short time before the fire
was discovered.
The tournament at New Market, Baltimore
county, was we'll attended by persons from this
place. We did not learn the particulars, but the
parties had pleasant time. X.