The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1886-04-15
MARYLAND, MY MARLlANDl
A Talk About SOnAc POinla Ia
Maryland and virginia.

MWCySuUo WusW vtVRsutNs
A representative Of tho SENTl'
NEl. met Mr.. J. Il. Tritsch M0nda.
last and learned from him tha
he had just returned from u Wis
it to Maryland on Friday, and ~
there were some points in the
conversation that We thought
would be interesting to our read
crs We have taken the liberty OF
publishing them without frs
asking permission.
As to The places visited MIR
I'ritsch said: III spent some
time in Hagerstown, Cumber
land, Aarper's Ferry aud ut Mar
tinsburs, Va. was born with
in threo miles of Haserstown ,and
while still quite small my family
removed TO Martinsburg. Va
where | resided until | was abou,
seventeen years old, when | came
back 10 uagerstown. Martins
burg is a pleasant little town o'
four thousand Inhabitants and
appears to be prosperous in
business way. found there,as
did at other points visited that
many of the friends had known
in other days, were either dead
or had moved away. On this &C,
count, my visit to the old towns
was not as satisfactory as | would
have liked. It. is always q dis.
appointment TO keep in mind
events aud people aud IN afte,
years drop IN and find all
changed"
How much OF a place is Ha.
gerstowne
"The census of 1880 shows
that the population Of the town
was 6,627, and | was informed 10y
an old resident and friend that
there had heen an increase OF
$4,000 since that time. They
have four railroads now and this
wonderful increase should be as.
cribed to them, at least in part, |
suppose. The business outlook
is much better than in the west.
Real estate is steadily increasing
in value, and trade lively. They
have had considerable wet wealth
er this spring, and quite exten-
sive floods. Farmers, however,
were ready to 60 TO work putting
in crops when I left"
How about Harper's Ferry.
Does that town improve any!
"No indeed. The town has
one half less population than it
did before the war"
Are the old government build
ings still standings
"Yes, some Of them are. The
wooden sheds adjacent to the
armory buildings were destroyed
during the war. The walls Of the
main building are still standing,
but the roofs have given in to
the storms and have mouldered
away. Many Of the iron gratings
over the windows have been torn
away. 1t is a desolate looking
place. The little engine house
in which John Brown was cap.
tured is still in a fur state Of
preservation The words "John
Browns Fort" are over the en-
trance; it is of course a place Of
much interest TO all corners. The
business of Harper's Ferry de-
pended largely upon the govern
ments works and when they were
suspended The town commenced
going down. The government
grounds have been sold lately to
a company that proposes to man.
ufacture pulb. If this Is done
The town may again see prosper
ous days."
You stopped at Cumberland, l
believe you said?
"Yes. ! have a brother living
there. l also have one living at
Pleasant Valley, close TO Antie-
lam, whom l visited"
Was you on the battle field of
An'ietam this tripa
"Well, I was ON the Bishop
Russell farm and mat was a part
If the battle ground, 1t was be
,ween that point and Sharps-
oureh, however, where the heav-
est fighting was doue / believe"
Does the timber show any
marks Of that fight YETI
1.-THE country in the immedi-
.te vicinity of where was, is
very open, and as 1 was not near
my woodland could not say. The
,nly relics l saw of the engage
nent were a couple of shells ly-
ny in the creek that runs in front
.f he Russell residence. Several
'ears ago when l was there some
orty or fifty of these shells were
n the same creek but they have
,een carried away by curiosity
seekers. Close to the house is a
spring and in the
time is a great resort for
Who was this Bishop Russel7
''He was prominent divine in
he United Brethren Church aud
roc ~ ona tip,o o raoiIa,t ofl