Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-05-18
GAVE UP ALL HOPE.
$50. ". SHlRK, THR STOCK THIEF COMMITS
SUICIDE.
Narrow Escape from a LynchiDg in Randolph.
Father Shoots his SOn-Accidsnt, and
General State Intelligence.

George w. Shirk, the notorious stock
thief, whose arrest, escape from jail,
recapture, second escape and third arrest
have attracted much attention lately,
committed suicide in the jail at Frank
lin, Pendleton county, Friday, by hang
ing himself. Shirk was originally ar
rested for stealing eight sheep from
Andy W. Harper, OF Grant county, and
two hogs from another farmer. He was
sentenced TO years Imprisonment, but
after serving four months he broke jail
and escaped with Bob Guthrie and a
third prisoner. After being at liberty
for several months he was recaptured
bv Constable Jacob liter and u posse,
and again lodged in Jail, but in
about a month, although hObbled
and chained TO the floor, he
again escaped by saving. off his hob
bleS and the chains, and also bar from
the iron cell door. Two young men
named Isaac BOdkin and Conrad Bowen
pursued him as far as the cliff Of rocks
west OF the South Branch, south of
Franklin, and gaining upon him Shirk
deliberately jumped from the cliff, a
distance of fully thirty-fve feet, and
alighted in "a dOgwOOd Sapling without
injury, from which he swung to the
ground. Before his purSuerS could get
down the cliff he swan the South
Branch, which was very much swollen
by recent rains, and thus evaded further
pursuit. Since that time he had been
indicted for breaking Jail twice, and
twice for felony in stealing cattle from
Geo. Harper, Sr., and Annoy Harper.
Frequent efforts have been made
10 recapture him, but they all failed I'M
til. as reported, Sheriff Trumbe aud
fifteen assistants surrounded him near
his home recently, captured him and
lodged him in jail. On Friday last
Tailor Davis went to Shirk'S cell as
usual to administer TO his wants. He
took his pitcher to get him some water,
and. after attending to some chOrS
about the house, returned TO the cell.
Upon opening the wooden door to hand
the water through the hole in the iron
door, he was amazed and horror
stricken TO behold Shirk upon his knees
VIII Il >uEtL LlNu 0lUuAQ HIS NUN 0AAA
suspended from the iron bars that run
along the top of the partition wall be-
tween the cells to ventilate them. He
rushed in, but being unable to loosen
the sheet be Immediately spread the
alarm. Many citizens, including DR..
\. y. johnson, responded at 0Nce, and
did everything possible 10 reSuScitate
him. but without avail. George Shirk
was dead.
The Tygart'S Valley NctcS says:
There is no anthracite coal mined In
West Virginia, except at few points
where in 4 small way 10 is gotten out
for purely local consumption. 1t has
long been known that there were few
veins in different parts of the State,
particularly in the Eastern Panhandle.
A few months ago an oil well passed
through a thin seam In Berkeley county
at depth of about 800 feet This well
was located on high ground on one side
of a mountain on the opposite side Of
which, about two miles away, Is deep
valley. Recently, down near the bot
tom OF this valley, prospecting party,
cutting out q route for a new railroad,
came out upon an Ou;crOpping OF an
thracite coal, supposed TO be the same
as the vein through which the oil drill
passed on the opposite side of the
mountain, as the altitude Of the two
finds are about the same. The vein at
this point of discovery is said by the
discoverer TO be very clean and about
four feet thick. The land under which
it lies is held for speculation by a Syndi-
cate which will build railroad through
it,"
Coal transportation over the West
Virginia Central railroad for week end
ing Saturday, May >, 1891, were 70, Pa
tons: year to date, 500, 3S9 tons; increase
over last year Of 50, 93l tons. Coke
transportation over same road for week.
OH tons; year to date, 24,059 tons; in
crease over last year Of S,lS9 tons. Ship
ment from Elk Garden mines Nos. l, 3,
4. and 6, for week ending May >, 1891,
were 9,2Sl tons; year TO date, IA, S64
tons The shipments from the mines of
the Cumberland coal region for the week
ending Saturday, May Q, 1891, were
9O,67O tons, and for the year to date.
Lap, 500 tons, an increase of PSI, Cps
tons rs compared with 1890. The ship
mentS TO the Baltimore and Ohio rail
road and local points were, for the
week, 57,6l5 tons; for the year, l,O0O,-
2lS tons; Increase of 144,25S tons as
compared with the last year. The ship
mentS to the Pennsylvania railroad for
the week were 33, 056 tons; for the year.
81, PSI tons, an increase OF 1877, 36S tons
as compared with 1890.
The town of MontroSe, in Randolph
county, was treated TO Small-Sized
western boom one night last week.
young man by the name of Teter was
enticed into a low dOggery kept by Per-
~ Thompson and Frank Stout, where
he was drugged and robbed. letters
friends became Justly indignant over the
outrageous theft. and accordingly pro-
ceeded TO take Thompson in charge. A
rope was procured and the crowd COM
menced 20 hunt for tree on which to
hang up Thompson TO await the coming
of the undertaken. Thompson began
10 beg, pray and yell for the officers as
the procession started for the nearest
tree. but through SOME means ThOmp-
son became released and made tracks
for some secluded spot in which to med
itate. There seems to be but little
doubt but what Thompson got the
money.
William Faulkner, a wel-tO-dO citizen
OF Wharton township, Fayette County,
was Jailed last week, and subsequently,
released on a habeaS corpus hearing in
81 900 bond for the June Court, TO
answer charge of arson. He is