Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-10-09
MEIGHBORING NEWS.

A large number of emigrants have
passed over the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad during the past two weeks,
among them several car loads of Nor
mon converts.
The water supply at Hagerstown is
very low, and the engines of the Shen-
andoah Valley Railroad are compelled
to run over to Shepherdstown to fill
their tanks.
Rev. s. A. Hedges, now of New
vile, Pa, has accepted call recently
rendered him by the Lutheran con-
gregation at Jefferson, in Middletown
valley, to become their pastor, ana
will enter upon the duties of the pas
torate about the middle of October.
The annual soup on Rocky Marsh
was held at Mr.. McQullken's Spring
on Wednesday night of last week.
There We're about thirty persons pres
emit. Captain Walter Kearney was
president, Philip Needy secretary,
and Ad. Billmyer was chief caterer.
We are informed that twenty-five old
hens were sacrificed, and other pro-
visions. 1t is also said that a barrel
of hard cider was put behind the
waist-eoats of those present. Mr..
Walter Herr was the boss of the pep
per and salt.
SNAKE SToRY.-A peculiar snake
story was recently told us by WELL
known and reliable gentleman of
Charlestown. It was something like
this: For some time past the cows
on the farm of Col. HI. B. Davenport
have been yielding much smaller
amount of milk than usual, and on
some days they would give scarcely
any. This remained unaccounted for
until few days ago, when gentle
man riding past one Of the fields saw
two large black snakes (COlttber con-
strictor) engaged in milking the cows.
Each one of the snakes was coiled
under a COW, and drawing the milk
from tie udder as scientifically as any
milkmaid. The gentleman made up
his mind to watch the snakes again,
so next day posted himself near the
same place. After a while he saw
one of the snakes approach the cows.
1t was dragging an old tin can with it,
and he at first thought some wicked
boy had tied the can to the snakes
tail. This belief was dissipated when
he saw the snake, after drinking its
fill, take the can and fill it with the
lacteal substance. The snake then
made coil around the can, holding
it upright, so that no milk escaped,
and moved slowly toward an old stone
fence. The gentleman cautiously
went to the same place, where to his
great establishment he saw the other
snake in a hollow place in the wall,
with the first snake holding the can
for it to drink from. 1t had been
trodden on by one of the cows, and
being unable to go and do its own
milking, its companion was playing
the good Samaritan. The observer
was so touched by this exhibition of
kindness that he had not the heart to
harm the reptiles. He mentioned it
to Col. Davenport, however, who at
once had his land posted, since which
time the snakes have not been seen.
The cows now give their regular
quantity of milk.
In A PRECARIOUs POsITIoN.-One
day last week Messrs. Henry Schamel
and Samuel Highbarger were return
ing to Sharpsburg from Hagerstown,
and had arrived within a mile of the
cross roads, when hearing noise on
the pike, they looked around and saw
a horse driven by Mr.. John Petre, of
Fairplay, dashing wildly down the
pike with his spring wagon. They
turned aside to avoid a collision, but
the wheels of the two vehicles locked
and the runaway horse became nearly
detached from the wagon. Mr.. High
barger jumped from the buggy and
caught him. Their surprise and anX-
iety may be imagined, when. Mr..
Petre exclaimed. Gentlemen, that
is the ugliest place / was ever in my
life; there is enough dynamite in my
wagon to blow up this entire neigh
borhood." In addition to this danger
Gus explosive, he had a stove with
him, which greatly increased the
danger of an explosion while the
wagon was being dragged and jolted
down the pike. Messrs. Schamel and
Highbarger left Mr.. Petre and his
explosive material as soon as they
could get his team in travelling con-
dition. The dynamite was for blast
ing purposes.-Hagersto,ca Herald.
Monday last Messrs. B. G. Wash
ington and Forrest w. Brown and
Col. r. P. Chew, officers of the Emm-
ner Telephone Company of West Vir-
ginia, were in Shepherdstown trying
to have the line of telephone commu-
nication extended to this place. They
were met by a number of the business
men here, to whom they explained
the plan of operation. 1t is their
desire that the people of this vicinity
take certain amount of stock, and if
this Is done the line will be at once
built from Charlestown to this place,
and thence to Martinsburg.