The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-11-12
A "Reminiscences of Port Deposit.

NEW YORK, November 9TH, 1892.
Mr. II. r. ToRBERT.
Dea.' Sir: Away off here among this
wilderness of strangers and strange faces,
thoughts go back to old Cecil and the times
long ago. Today one .emembrance oones
wildly back to me and not mentioning
names, L will tell for the first time in thirty
one years, little story that you will well
Der part at least of, the balance of 1t,
1 now feel at liberty to II AXE public, heliev
ing M self to be now the only one living
who had personal knowledge of the mat ar.
In the exciting times of 81 when feeling
ran high and brother arr tyed against
brother, father as ,irst son, est, families
broken up by bitter itrsd, there ia ofened
in our old town of Port Deposit Two terrible
murders in broad daylight. All of the older
folks will remem Der, how two citizens Were
carried out of the old "Smith' hotel with
Threats cut from ear to ear, one of them an
old and highly respected membC: of The
church. All will remember how it was
impossible to prove that the wounds were
made with any weapons found on the
soldiers that were In the fracas and how
bitter we all felt took sizes. Tic
writer of this stoo /, rather knelt u one
of the front windows of the Oir room dur
ing the melee, and although but boy,
what happened then h Is 70 all these years
been wrapped up tight n me no Y, havlag
CO tn M dnica ed it to only tnree persons (all
now living) and they all bound 20 secrecy.
In front of me- within two feet, dressed
in the old time Farmers linen" pants, shirt
sleeves, soft hat, stood a well known and
popular citizen. Across the bar room with
cudgel stood or rather moved, another
resident of the town. Many years before
that day this last 'esideut had done the
other citizen grieUouS 'orohg 10 my mind
the time came that day to revenge this
wrong, and as l knet there this citizen in
linen clothes drew from his pocket large
buck horn handle bowie knife, with blade
8 or inches long, Opening it and taking it
by the poiut of the blade he nurled it with
all his strength at this man who years
before had bsen his fimily's ruin The KNIFE
struck tae one aimed at i'll the face, near the
nose, cutting a deep cash. Tue knife fell to
the floor where three or four of the soldiers
were in heap with others fighting Ia
less time than | can tell it, a soldiers hand
grasped the knife as it fell, and Stephenson
aud Kelly were corpses. l never believed
the owner of the knife Intended so serious
an ending as ensued, but | give this now
as all interested are under the Sod and
! III )ss wh) rem ,nbsr th 1t terrible day Cn
nov know where the death dealing weapon
came from, but the name of the owner of
| that terrible knife must never be known.
He ills an honoied grave and led an
honorable blameleSs lie, with this one
exception, and thoss who know will say bis
| grievance was gre t, aud Wa cannot blame
| him. ). . IL
| an thing succeeds like sTcccSs, md
nothing will more quickly insure success
4-taaJi true merit. For fifty years, Ayers
| Sarsaparl'l.i has maintained lis popularity
| as tho Sup.rIOr bipoiruriiitr. H. stands
| upon its own merits ana uever fails 10 give
Is satisfaction