Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-06-07
Winchester News.

1t has been customary in Winches-
ter for the public schools to hold nc
session on the 9th of June, while the
Both of May has been passed by unob.
served. Now, as the latter is q legal
holiday in honor of the Federal dead.
while the former is only Confederate
decoration day, should not this order
of things be reversed, or the schools
at least observe the Both OF May as
well as 9th Of June?
FREsHET.-O Back Creek cores
pondent, Occasional, gives an account
of Sundays rain storm, as follows:--
"The rain of Sunday night resembled
the Both of May freshet one year ago in
these parts; but upabout Wardens-
vile and along Capon mountain, the
rainfall was the heaviest ever wit
messed by the oldest citizens. Usually
it takes Capon river u hours to rise
down toward Capon Bridge, but this
time it was at its height in 7 hours.
AT Davis ford, near Capon Lake, the
water was from 2 to 3feet higher than
ever before known; at Hooks Mills
2 inches higher than last season.
while at the Bridge it was not as high
by foot, showing that the great rain
fall must have occurred along the
head.waters. The bridge across Lost
river is gone, and we are told by some
gentlemen who went to the scene
Monday, that the loss of property is
immense. Many farmers had just re-
placed the fences destroyed by last
years freshet, and on Sunday every
bit of fencing rebuilt, together with
q good deal more, went crashing down
the river. and field after field OF corn
taken off furrow deep. Mr.. John
Davis is said TO be damaged to the
amount of $500 TO 5000. Evan Kline
is also heavy loser; and at Hooks
Mills they are torn all to pieces. In
fact, no one along the rich Capon val
ley escaped. John Smith. at the
Bridge, loses all the fencing on his
island, the second time; and Mr.. G.
Nixon had twenty odd acres of wheat
flooded fiat. The farmers along Capon
are to be pitied, for this is the third
season in succession that the crops
have been destroyed. Alph Brill,
postmaster at Mutton Run, lost two
good horses in the flood. While tho
rainfall along Back creek and Dry run
was heavy no damage resulted, as the
flood of last season cut out the
channels so deep that the stream
kept within banks. At the gap in the
mountain on n. w. Grade, the bridge
at Jos. Wisecarver's, also the one at
DaYid Fries, were swept away, and
we are told Dave had some wheat
flooded.
SHARPERs.-Winc was visited
by gang of bold swindlcrs and gamb.
lers last week, about six in number, all
rather fine-looking men. On Thursday
night quite crowd gathered near the
Court House, where, from buggy,
slight-of. hand performances were Civ
en-, songs sung, and different articles
were offered for sale. One ofthe men
raked in about Sl2 on the " Waterbury
watch" scheme in about an hour.
some persons buying as many as three.
After explaining that he had been
sent out as an agent for wealthy
watch company which gives away
thousands of watches yearly in order
to advertise and introduce them, he
exhibited a gold-looking chain which
he proposed to sell for 25c and throw
in watch. When all who could
possibly be induced to do so, had "bit."
the sharper began to distribute the
little boxes containing the coveted
prize, and as each man received his'n,
he hurried away to a secluded spot
where an inspection revealeda Scent
dumb watch and chain that might be
worth nickel. Those who got" taken
in" on this OCCASION, felt somewhat
better next day friday when they
heard that four of the gang were ar
rested for stealing $2l from young
man who exhibited his money to
these sharpers while they were gamb-
ling in the yard adjoining Bakers &
Co.'s store. 1t seems they were con-
Quoting a game by means of a board,
a ball, and piece of shell. The fell
low who guessed the shell with the
the ball under it won. The young
fellow from near Wardensville, w.
Va, stated that he didn't bet, but had
them arrested for getting his money
{" all the same he hardly knew
how, but itslipped through his fingers.
At Police Court the fellows proposed
to compromise by paying the young
mans money back, but the case was
tried, and after handing over the S21
and S2S additional, they went their
way to get their money back in some
other communicated