Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-06-13
Our Lewis County Letter.
June Sth. 1885


We are having most delightful
weather; pleasant breezes and bright
sunshine, with interspersed showers
of rain giving glowing prospects for
fair if not full crops of grass, corn
and vegetables of every character.
Grain raising, through this region,
is exceptional, seldom sown, and crops
are rarely good-such as you would
term almost a failure in your valley
to 8 bushels per acre being con-
sidered good yield. Fruit, in this
section bids fair for a large yield,
except peaches. 1t is stated that
many peach trees were killed during
the winter. Small fruit, such as
blackberries, will be scarce, other
berries will be in ample supply.
1t is anticipated that during this
week many male and female patients
will be returned to their homes and
friends, fully restored. They will
be taken to the Third Congressional
District, and messengers going with
them, will bring patients, now con-
fined in Jail, to the hospital. Thus
it goes from time to time, as vacan-
cies occur. Unfortunately there are
always others to take the places of
those discharged. 1t is reported
that at present there are in the va
rious county jails not less than sew
enty insane persons waiting accom-
mediation in hospital. 1t is impor-
tant for the comfort of the afflicted,
as well as for the possibility of re-
covery that they are speedily placed
under treatment. Hence arises the
Importance of having the additional
hospital building speedily erected.
1t is unfortunate that failure to give
it out under contract occurred, and
another year, if not longer, must
elapse before it is commenced. The
failure of securing bids is said to be
from the terms of the law for pay
ment being so long in the future that
contractors would not submit bids.
The Board of Directors, at last meet
ing, appointed Judge Edmiston a
committee to confer with Gov. Will
son and secure, through him, some
arrangement by which more prompt
payments might be made under con-
tract. 1t is anticipated that he must
fail, as the Governor will be bound
to observe the terms of the law as
passed, which provides for payments
in part out of taxes collected for the
years 1885 and 1885. 1t is hoped,
for the sake Of suffering humanity,
the matter of room may be fastened.
The general health of inmates Of
Asylum is good; very few confined
to bed by disease of the body.
On last Wednesday we had an un-
fortunate occurrence, by which a
Berkeley county patient, John Muir
ply, was injured by patient named
Eli Richards, from Doddridge coun-
ty. Richards broke open a door of
room in which floor mops were
kept, and in his insane frenzey
struck Murphy over the head with
a mop, fracturing his skull. Muir
ply is still living and has apparent
ly better mind than usual. have
frequently endeavored to get him
into conversation about home and
friends and never with success could
/ learn from him anything about his
friends. Since his injury, he has
several times collectedly conversed
with me, giving name of his father
and postoflice. Murphy is afflicted
with epilepsy, which, up to day of
injury, was frequent; since his inju-
ry he has not had an attack as far as
/ know. His residence is in the
western part of Berkeley county, be-
tween Hedgesville and Cherry Run.
In our connection with this insti-
tuition, we find that there is much
mischief and fun among insane peo-
pie, and practical jokes will be play
ed with as much enjoyment as by
sane people. Not long since a pc
culiar talkative and inquisitive male
patient was made very ridiculous by
a joke. He was complaining of his
diet and wanted wild meat or fowls.
One told him that the fiat below asy-
lum along the river was full of snipe,
and if he would join him they would
catch a mess and have a pot-pie
made. The party was furnished
with a sack, and stationed at the
mouth of a sewer with open sack,
the joker telling him to keep quiet
and hold it open and he would drive
the birds to him, and when full he
should close up the sack. After
taking his place with the sack, the
joker returned to the Asylum. Par
ty remained holding the sack and
kaeninp uuiet for over an hour