Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-01-13
A Cemetery Desecrated.

The browning atrocity Of the gang
of rufians that have been guilty of
so many wanton depredations in the
neighboring town of Williamsport,
Md, was committed Monday night,
when the "Whooly-Goolies, as they
are called, devastated Riverview Gem
etery. The heartless rascals entered
the cemetery some time during the
night, and when they left the sacred
precincts ninety-four head-stones and
monuments were lying prone upon the
ground, many shattered and broken.
Lying across the the graves they were
erected to mark, they made mute APP
peals to those who had placed them in
loving remembrance Of dear departed
ones, to bring to justice the soulless
villains who had wrought such ruin.
Almost the first thing that greeted
the eye on entering the cemetery gate
was a tablet to mark the resting place
of the unknown dead, lying fiat on
the ground. A glance in another
direction showed monument erected
to Henry L. Castle, broken into three
pieces, and a few PAGES further on
monuments to c. T. Porter6eld and
Mrs. w. E. Taylor were seen, lying in
fragments. Next, four headstones in
row, marking the resting places Of
members Of the Weisel family, were
down.
A few steps more and the full ex-
tent of the outrage was seen. On all
sides, in every part of the cemetery,
every monument and every headstone
of any size or beauty was down. Tall
shafts were broken, prettily and ex-
pensively carved tombstones were shat
tered in fragments, and the cemetery
shorn of its beauty. Some of the fam
lily lots, notably the Findlay and Cul-
bertson lots, were scenes Of desolation.
In the Findlay lot ten stones were
down and the monument in the centre
had toppled over on top of the others
and in its fall smashed all into frag-
ments, leaving in place of handsome,
well-kept lot, a mass of ruins.
So, throughout the whole cemetery.
Wherever the vandals were able, aim
ing to destroy the handsomest, they
upset with ruthless hand monument
and tombstone, until damage amount
ing to thousands of dollars was done
and the tenderest and most sacred re-
membranes Of many persons were
rudely torn.
The dissertation was discovered
about 8 o'clock Tuesday morning. The
shameless, wanton ruin wrought by
the hands Of the rufians whipped the
blood of the residents OF Williamsport
to a white heat. Excitement soon gave
place to deep determined feeling to
bring the perpetrators to the bar Of
Justice A meeting Of the town au-
thorities was held and reward of
5000, the largest amount they are en-
powered to obligate the town for, was
offered for the arrest of the guilty men.
A meeting of the citizens was held,
and steps taken to increase the reward
to a thousand dollars. Detectives have
been sent for, and no effort will be
spared to run down the guilty rascals.
Footprints in the mud will serve as
clues, and it is believed the perpetra-
tors will be caught. The Williams
port people think hanging is too good
for the wretches who would commit
such a deed
The people Of Williamsport were
again shocked yesterday morning
when they discovered that Zion Luth-
eran church had been entered and the
handsome new organ badly damaged.
Four stops were torn out and others
beaten down. The panel above the
key board was also broken in and split
into pieces.
1t is thought that an axe or a
Ratchet was used on the organ, which
was purchased about three months ago
and placed in the church. The or
gan cost 5000 and replaced reed IN
strument which was almost totally
ruined by vandals on Christmas eve,
1896.