Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-02-16

Prof. Spence was able to return to
Maryland Agricultural College on
Tuesday. 1t was his intention To have
returned last Saturday hut there was
no way for him To get back.
"A party of our young people en-
joyed an oyster supper at Girdletree
last Thursday night They drove down
in sleighs and stopped at the hotel.
The party consisted of Misses Georgia
smith, Nettie Dryden, julia fookS.
Winnie Payne. Ollie johnson and Nora
DRYDEN: Messrs. W +. Bratten, Chas.
:. Richardson. William + MALES. DIR
;. l.. Benson and John :. Hurlock.
The eyesight of Mrs. Harriet T.
Richardson OF this town, which for
sometime had been failing, has now
been fully restored by receiving pro
per attention from a Baltimore occulist
Mrs Richardson can now read the
newspapers aud this week subscribed
for the MESSENGER. We trust She
will be able to see how To read il for
many years to come
Don't forget the masked parade
which will take place in Snow Hill
next Friday-W ashington's Birthday.
Everybody in the county is invited to
participate. The Snow Hill string band
and the Brass Band will participat.
and the young men of the county pro
pose to have a big time. Three prize
will he distributed among the riders,
as follows: A barrel of -four for the
best costume a good riding bridal for
the funniest costume and box OF cigars
tor the worst costume. The prizes are
exhibited in the Window OF X. J. Me-
Allen Il Bro.
On Wednesday of this week DIR.
William ID. Straughn received word Of
the death of his sister Helen, which
occurred in Jersey City on Monday.
Her remains were brought to Snow
Hill on Wednesday night and we're
inferred in the VI Z. Churchyard on
Thursday morning. Miss Helen was
about fourteen years Of age AMI the
daughter OF David and Elizabeth
Straughn, of Elizabeth City, North
Carolina. She was an intelligent,
attractive young lady and won the
friendship of all with whom she came
in contact. She was attending a school
in Jersey City, where a few weeks ago
she contracted typhoid fever which
terminated in pneumonia and caused
her death. The parents and relatives
have our sympathy in their sorrow
Jim Deal, respected old colored
man living near town shot himself in
the leg with a pistol on Saturday.
The ball made big hole, but having
passed through his pants leg, leather
boot, and stocking, its force was nearly
spent when it struck the flesh and he
was enabled to pull it out with the
stocking, part OF which had been
pulled into the wound by the ball.
Jim. few days before, had lectured
boy about the house for carrying 4 pis-
tol and he was sitting before the fire
warming himself when he spied a pop
per- sticking out Of the boys hip peck
ct; he grabbed it and commenced an
other lecture on the use and abuse of
firearms when the pistol went off with
the result mentioned. DIR. Paul Jones
visited him aud treated the wound.
MIR. George Wonnell's store and
dwelling came near being burned on
Thursday morning and no doubt would
now be in ashes had il not been that
his brother Gordon was kept out till
nearly 3 Il. IN. on business. Ii is his
habit TO examine the lock of the store
door every night when he goes in, ii the
other members of the family have re-
tired. When he entered the store
Thursday morning he saw blaze be-
hind the counter, ran for a bucket of
water, which he found in the kitchen.
and soon extinguished what promised
TO be a big fire. The place burned
clean through the floor was about the
size of water bucket and one of the
sleepers was burned about one third
through. The origin of the fire is I'M
known, but presumably was caused by
someone throwing Il match or cigar
down sn the floor, which was covered
with sawdust.
On Monday afternoon the resi-
dence Of Mr.. Cephas Riggin, about two
miles from Snow Hill. on the POGO
moke road, was destroyed with nearly
all of the furniture by fire. Mr.. Rig
gin was away from home at the time.
but his wife and child were there and
were asleep down stairs when awaken
ed by sitting smoke in the room
She ran up stairs and found the roof
ready TO tumble in and in few min
utes thereafter the whole building was
a roaring, seething mass of flames.