Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1889-05-25
WiIIiamsport orr Potomac.

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One of the huge weeping willow
trees on the right hand side of the
gate of Antietam National Cemetery
was blown down by the storm on Fri
day of last week, and was so damaged
that it had to be removed.
A young man named Sylvester Ca
BILE, of Toledo, Ohio, in the employ of
the Toledo Bridge Company, was ac-
cidentally killed Thursday morning
at Schlosser's bridge, across the Antie-
tam, in Keedysville district, by a
heavy piece of iron falling upon him.
During storm about midnight
Monday, the warehouse of John A.
Stallsmith, Granite Station, on the
Baltimore and Hanover division OF
the Western Maryland Railroad, was
struck by lightning and burned to
the ground. Besides lot of Railroad
tickets, books and stationery, the of
fee being in the building, several
thousand bushels of wheat, corn and
oats and large stock of store goods
were consumed.
In view of the fact that there are
number of applicants for the postoffice
in this place, several of whom have
petitions with the names of our best
citizens thereon, 1t has been wisely
suggested by Representative McCom-
as that an election be held to deter
mine who will receive the appoint
ment. Consequently on Saturday
next, the 25th inst, an election will
take place. The candidates are l..
r. Wolf, w. II. 10y, G. l.. Albert and
Christian Mentzer. 1883
The storm which passed over Ha-
gerstown last week, done considerable
damage.
Mr.. Martin L. Snavely, of Sharps-
burg, has purchased of Mr.. Henry
Miller, the highest point on the Blue
Ridge Mountains, situated three miles
east of Sharpsburg, and known as
"McClellan's Gap" with the inten-
ton of opening it up as place of re-
sort for excursion parties. The ground
will be cleaned up, and an observatory
80 or 40 feet in heighth erected, which
will, no doubt, be visited by excur-
sionists to the battle field and Nation
al Cemetery at Sharpsburg. A cor
respondent of the Hagerstown Daily
NeaoS in an article of the IA itst., has
the following to say about the history
of the point referred to and the mag
nificent view to be had there
son the morning of September Is,
1862, monster gun drawn by %
horses was conveyed to this spot
which had been previously cleared Off
and large pit dug which is still visi-
BILE, for the reception ofthe gun. This
heavy piece of artillery it is said was
capable of throwing shell to the Poto-
mac river and it is thought was de-
signed to cut off any union force next
to Lees Army at the Battle of Antie-
tam. But the gun was never brought
into requisition and was shortly after.
wards removed, and the place occu-
pied as signal station by the FEEDER
al troops as long as the army was en-
camped on the field of Antietam. The
old chestnut tree which was used and
Is known as the observatory tree Is
still standing and is notched in mum
bers of places where seats were erect-
ed on its branches for the purpose of
signaling. Numbers of our citizens
distinctly remember seeing the red
aud blue signal lights at night and also
the signal flags. From this historic
point, made ever memorable In story
and song by the battle of Antietam,
you have grand, a magnificent view
Of unsurpassed beauty and lovelinesso
the country for miles around. To tho
north'you can plainly see the stesples
OF the churches in your city, whilst
the towns Of Martinsburg, Charles
town, Shepherdstown. Harper's Fer.
~, w. Va, and Sharpsburg are vIsi.
Bile to the naked eye. In front OF you
Is spread out like rich oil painting,
the ever memorable battle field OF
Antietam, the creek from which IL
derives its name, the grand old Poto-
mac rolling majestically along, the
ord were Lee retreated across on the
morning of the 18th of September,
md the beautiful Antietam National
Cemetery, where rest in undisturbed
'epose the ashes of the fallen brave.
McClellan's Gap is said to be LAO
eet above sea level and from 700 to
100 feet higher than the surrounding
country.
Thursday morning last, Mrs. Cath.
rine, wife of g. w. Harris, ESQ.,, pro-
'rietor of the Hotel Hamilton. Ha.
died very suddenly of heart
roubie, in the fifty-ninth year of her
ge.
In this place on Thursday mornino
he infant child of Mollie and Rrnce
Downin, aged ID days.
a hurricane amapf aya. -