Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-06-06
A Very Sensational Story.

legged selling at public auction of eighteen
paupcrs at St. George, the county seat OF
Tucker county, W. Va, on May "a:
eighteen wretchcd beings stood be-
fore q crowd Of some six hundred people.
The crowd was gathered before the little
courthouse, and included farmers, cler-
gymen and towns-people. These eighteen
human beings, some crying, others laugh
lug, and among them an ijiotic girl suffer
ing from scrofulous disease, who jabber-
cd and grinned, were paupers. and they
were, under the law of the State, to be
sold for the term Of one year to the high
est bidder. Promptly at 10 o'clock the
crowd gathered in front Of the courthouse
and inspected the paupers. Presently the
sheriff Of the county mounted the horse
block and read 'the order Of the court
Then the auctioneer, q stout, jolly-faced
individual, mounted the block, and MAX
ing jesting remark, which caused the
crowd to roar with laughter, announced
that the goods are divided into two classes,
able-bodicd and invalids, and asked for
bids.
"The first to step upon the block was an
old man 20 years Of age. Turning him
around for the better inspection of the bid
lers, the auctioneer began. Now, gem
tlemen,' said he, here you have fine
man. He is sound, solid and gentle rs a
kitten. How much am 1 offered?' The
old man looked anxiously at the crowd Of
| bidders rs the amounts offered were out
bid. Finally he was sold to man named
John Anderson for s26, who, after paying
his money, took the old fellow, who look
ell sad and weary and sighed heavily as
he went away with him.
"Among the group of panpers was
beautiful little girl Of 10 years. who cried
bitterly because she had to leave the fam
| ily to whom she had been sold the pre-
vious year. She had neither father nor
mother, or, il she had, they had thrown
her adrift when m infant. She had not
even name, and the auctioneer face
tiously dubbed her Sally whcreat his
! listeners laughed immoderately. She sold
for IS. so, and her purchaser was minis
ter of the gospel. ..t.
"One Of the most pitiful sights ever
seen was that of the next pauper to be sold.
She was an old woman, and it was her
| first year rs n pauper. Perhaps she had
once been rich in this worlds goods and
ha6 happy home. At all events she had
supported herself till the present time,
and the question of her past WAS known
only to herself. 70 one else knew. No
one cared. She was led to the block cry
ing as though her heart would break.
When she stepped upon it she walled in
her anguish: MY God, wish that could
die. Ny husband and son were killed in
the army. Oh, II / could only dieo She
was sold to the keeper of a boartling-hOusc
at logging camp for$ 81. The idiotic girl
was sold TO q hard-looking mountainecr
for the sum of sixty cents per week.
".is the next part of the human goods
and chattcls stepped upon the block it
showed the white, cnrly locks Of an aged
colorcd man, who laughed as he looked
over the throng with his good humored
and jolly eyes. Il golly,' said he, rs he
glanced around, ',lis yer is like OIL times,
Dress my SOUL lie was sold to Il farmer
for Sill.
''rhe sale aggregated $113 for the 'able-
bodied paupcrs and nh average price Of
thrty-two cents per week for the invalids.
At the conclusion of the sale the jolly auc-
tioneer, with parting jest to the crowd,
stepped from his stand, and entering the
hotel, refreshed himself after his fatigu.
Ing duties. The purchasers, with their
bargains rs some Of them termed the
unfortunate whom they had bought, start
cd off homeward."
At JohnstOwn, Pa, Ollie Brooks, miss
Of sixteen years, In company with Miss
Ada Williams, called at the residence Of
Mr.. Henry Brooks. After the girls were
seated Ollie suddenly exclaimed to her