Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-17
HE Didn't SCARE.
RidtcuIOus Ending or N Practical
yOHe-Whtte Caps

tCorrespopdence OF the Richmond Dlspatch.l
OvANCOCK. VA, February Is. 1889.
The people OF OnancOCk have been shaking
their sides over the ridiculous ending Of az
attempt to play practical joke en- young
man named Peed, who for some months past
has been employed a. clerk at Colonel Ben.
ParEer's hotel in this town. Many years
sgO the custom prevailed here OF taking YER
dant Young men out at night into the woods
or Old fields around here and frightening
them by having some one 10 shoot from a
,hicket As II making an attack on the party.
Generally the plan has succeeded well, and
not few have been so badly frightened That
they have speot cold and stormy nights
hiding In The woods aud swamps around the
town. But things did not 90 that way last
night, or rather the men who went out to
scare got terribly frightened themselves.
The plot had been carefully laid and pre-
partitions f0r carrying II out were making
several weeks beforehand. Last night every
thing had been arranged and all the signs
pointed 10 successful termination Of the
decp-laid scheme. According TO agreement
Peed was TO accompany young man named
West mile or two out IN the county to
visit some girls. Their path lay through a
gloomy region aud led night by deserted
old house that stands Ia sn old deld. Here
In the upper story Of this old house were
hidden bali dozen or more young mon
who were going 10 brighten Peec, Tor West
was IN the secret just Al they were passing
by the house several shots were fred, and
West fell, pretending 10 be desperately
wounded. Ieed, who seems 10 have gotten
wind Of the plot TO irlghten him, Jumped
on bis PROSTATE companion sud began TO
T. fNt fsa "a
which he bad saturated with red paint and
carried along with bin for the very purpose.
At the same time be drew his pistol ana began
firing al the old house. the balls going through
the windows end creating the greatest con.
s!ernation among those on the inside. Some
OF them lcAped out OF the rear windows,
while others called Justify TO Peed not to
shoot. telling him who they were. But Peed
kent firing till every man had iled from the
building. Young West, who fell at the
FIRST fire. msDsged TO get from under Peed
and made his escape TO the woods. IL was
some time before the scattered party could
get together again. and II was not until they
were half way back to OnsOcock that some
Que discovered the red color OF Vests head
and neck. At first they all thought West
had been shot, and even West himself made
dihgent search for the hole Ia bis head
where the bail went In. When 1t was
fnally discovered that 1t was paint
they were all greatly relieved. In the
mean time Peed had come back 10 the
town and spread tue news. A large crowd
assembled at the hotel to greet the party who
had gone out to scare Peed. They all
turned mp and confessed that the joke had
been well turned on them and that Peed bad
scared them all nearly 20 death. West spent
tue gre lter part OF the night IN the baln-tub
IN an unsuccessful attempt TO scrub of the
red paint. Nothing has occurred here for
wears that has created so much amusement,
and il Il believed this affair will put an end
10 all such attempts for many years TO come.
The White Cap excitement continues here
and az Acc0mack Courthouse. Several adj
di,ioaal notices were received by parties
acre to-day, and all the recipients are aiming
themselves for emergencies. One young
fellow who has Just received a threatening
notice has buckled on an old pepper. box
pistol that has not done service since tue war,
aud swears that he will shoot the first per-
son who molests him. All these notices
are written In a peculiar hand with blood
or red INK. aud all OF them are adorned
with the frigatfu crOss-bones ana skull.
The greatest excitement prevails amoag
the negroes, many VI whom cam
not be Induced 10 leave their homes at
night. Tue most searching Investigation
has failed 10 reveal any evidence OF the ex-
istence Of a real White Cap organization
here, but the belief Is quite prevalent
among many persons here that the White
Caps are abroad In this section.
The trial OF Mrs. Virginia Taylor at the
February term OF the County Court, which
begins on the 18th instant, promises to be
one OF the most interesting ever witnessed
OH the Eastern Shore. She preserves her
composure and continues 10 protest her in
necence as stoutly as ever.
The sky as well as the atmosphere indicate
an early fall Of snow. kALLIAs.