Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-18
A REMARKABLE MAN.
The xrany lrisssrtunss He Had survivsd-
Aswstv "Dsy" Tewn-salsm xzeissd
Over Two Mysterious nelss.

SALEM. VA. March u.-<Bpecial "a
letter was received by Mn. william
Karnes. of Salem. few days ago. an
nouncing the death, at Gailatin, Tenn.
Of Mr.. Peter Baber, at the ago Of los
years. Mr.. Baber was born In this sec
ton Of Virginia. but moved to Tennessee
many years ago. lie was q man OF re-
markable constitution and vitality. He
was once kicked by horse and had his
skull fractured. was crushed almost to
death by log rolling over him. was
blown almost to pieces while blasting
rock. and was struck by lightning. and
yet was able to do his work until short
time before he died.
Big Spring Lodge. No. n. /. o. o. f..
was organized at Elliston Wednesday
night with twenty-three members by Dis
trict Deputy Grand Master A. II. MageN
assisted by q score Of members Of Salem
Lodge, who were overwhelmed by tho
hospitality Of the Elliston folks.
CONSENTED.
W. T. Younger. who has been Mayor OF
Salem for many years, has consented to
be O candidate for reelection, although
his duties as bank president give him
plenty to do.
Judge Blair. Of the Circuit Court. has
appointed T. J. Shickel and ]. c. Lang
horne receivers Of the Salem Machine
Works.
mills here, Is O cousin Of Admiral Wor-
den, who commanded the Monitor In her
famous fight with the Merrimac
President Strouse Is negotiating with
northern parties who desire to lease the
Salem furnace.
A Richmond drummer here on Thurs
day remarked that Salem was the wet
test dry town he had struck for many
day. He said he hadn't been in town
half an hour before he was offered drinks
from three different bottles.
MYSTERIOUS.
For the past two or three weeks Salem
people have been considerably mystifed
over the work Of some crank or cranks,
who, probably, In quest of hidden treasure
90 have dug two large and mysterious
holes. The first was discovered about
two weeks ago in a field within the cor
porate limits. at the foot Of dead locust
tree. 1t was five feet wide 1T tho top
seven feet deep, and gradually narrowed
down to three feet In width at the lot
tom. The hole was dug In one night with
PICK and shovel through hard clay by
the light OF sperm candles, the drippings
from which were visible on the sides Of
the excavation. The sod from the top
had been carefully removed and laiI asde
as If with the intention of being replaced
Near by lay short, sharp-Dointed r.,ce
OF iron. which had evidently been driven
into the ground, and had PROBABLY been
left behind by mistake. Hundreds viewed
the hole, and all agreed that there was
too much work about IL for 1, to be the
work of practical joker. whilst the ne
groes were so superstitious that none
could be found to fill 1t up, ard that
job was done by the owner of the field.
ANOTHER.
The talk concerning this hole had hardly
died away ere news came this week OF
the discovery of another mysterious exca-
walton about half a mile from .vwn in n
different direction. 1t had been Dug In
two nights at the foot Of an oil Chimney
on the site OF an old house which had
been removed. This time the hole was
nine feet deep. three and a half feet long,
by two and half feet wide, and Of .hese
dimensions to the bottom. The soil here
was rocky and Of hard LAY, very diiii-
cult to dig through. Again the sperm
candle had been used to furnish Eight,
for portion had been left. also an empty
whiskey bottle. Steps had been cut in
the clay on the sides Of the hole. so as
to admit of a man getting OH. eas,l?.
whilst at the foot OF the chimney on the
opposite sice were footprints Of where an
assistant may have stood to watch and
give warning. People in Salem end VI
cinity are very much stirred Up this
time, and whilst various conjectuces are
being made as to who is digging these
holes, an effort will be made to ferret out
the matter, as to whether 1t IS the work
Of crank or connected with some horri-
BILE crime.