Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-21
ALL OVER THE STATE.


s.asss sske-sssvsiss n r4ssr-Ula Re-
tcorsspondcnce OF tho Richmond Dispatch.
oxAxcocK, January 10, 1855.
Il turns out that the attempted assss-
ninaticn Of Mr.. Thomas Selby, re-
ported last week, was only trick Of
some youngsters Of the ncighborhoSd
to ffightcn the old man, who is said TO
be cranky on the subject Of sharpening
sssors. The boys fired d big charge Of
powder through the key-hole, striking
Mr.. Sclby full IN the face and destroy
ing the sight Of one OF his eyes. The
boys did not intend to hurt the old man,
and to escape suspicion some Of them
gave the version OF the affair as it first
appeared in the newspapers. Mr.. Sell
BY had fight with tramp several
nights before the shooting, and tins,
coupled with the fact that he had just
received $500 in part payment for
farm. gave rise to the belief that rob-
berry was intended.
The fish-gusno factories that line
both the bay and sea-shores are closed.
Millions OF bushels Of fish are made
into manure every year at these facio-
RES and used on the Eastern-Shore
farms in growing corn and potatoes.
There is much complaint over here
among farmers about the scarcity of
farm-laborers. Very few have yet Sc
cured hands for this year. Ii is said
that many negroes have gone north in
search Of higher wages than our
farmers are able to pay. Many of our
farmers ere talking OF securing white
laborcrs from Europe, while others are
inclined to put their lands in grass and
raise cattle.
The General Assembly at the late
extra session passed an act allowing the
people Of Accomack to vote on the
question of removing the courthouse
from Drummondtown to point on the
new railroad near the. centre OF the
county. The question would have been
decided at the May elections but for the
blunder of the engrossing clerk in re-
tanning in the bill several lines that had
been superseded by an amendment. As
the matter now stands, it seems that an
other act will have TO be passed before
the vote can be taken. In the mean
time the building Of the new court
houso---to cost about s25, 000--will be
greatly delayed. The old courthouse
has come down from the revolutionary
era, and is too small and shabby-look-
ing for so large and prosperous a county
rs this. BY the way, the old records
Of this county, preserved in the clerk S
Office at Drummondtown, 60 back
nearly to the foundation Of the colony,
and are extremely interesting and yalua-
Bile as historical documents. There is
material in them for readable volume
IL one only had the time and means TO
Law them before the public. Accomack
probably had the first ducking stool i'll
the colony, and the first victims were
a. two babbling women who were
ducked near this town for 4" slandering
We Maiestie's Justice of the Peace"
The celebrated report of Colonel Ed
mond Scarburgh, suryeyor-general of
the colony, and ancestor of all of that
name in Virginia, in regard TO the Qua
ker rebellion in northern Accomack
is in one Of these old volumes
that records the events Of 1862. 1t
is most remarkable document, briSt-
ling with sweeping denunciation of the
"creeping Quakers " and containing
many striking passages and expressions
that serve to body forth " the form and
pressure of those quaint old days.
We need new repository for these
venerable records.
The remains of a young lady, daugh-
ter Of Mr.. Edward lie Cato, formerly of
the Eastern Shore, who died in Phila-
delphia last Saturday, were brought to
Accomack to-day for interment.
'KALLIAS.