The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-06-18


This stream is known as Contention Run.
Very little water fills the stream bed, ex-
Dept in time of freshets: and even then, the
banks are rarely overlooked. But Oh
Thursday the Goth day of May, 1893, a
cloud-buist occurred, filling that peaceful
run with an immense volume of water,
carrying with it huge tree-trunks, and
large rocks and stones, and piling them in
fantastic shape and entirely changing the
appearance and in some places the course
of that usually quiet stream.
Why this is called Contention Run, -
no one now living appears to know. Ira
dition has given several reasons: but nearly
100 years have now elapsed since Il e first
record of its name was given. and it's
nomenclature has faded awav in the mist
OF former years.
One of the traditions is, that many years
ago, this Run was claimed by adjoining
owners of land, each alleging that the
stream was on his land, and suit was
brought to legally establish its ownership.
cords failed to disclose any truth in this
supposition
Another tradition is, that dispute arose
between two mtn on election day, but the
encounter was then delayed, because one OF
the contestants had sore hand, and they
agreed to meet in the woods near the Run
uh isn cd
person signified his readiness for the en-
counter,
They met, each accompanied by few
friends to secure fair play. In short time
after the fight had commenced, the friends
OF each combatant soon got entangled in
the fight, and the whole affair turned into
Donny brook arrangement: 'Where you see
head hit it, " and the result was, each came
out OF the fight with blackened eyes, broken
noses or confused jaws.
1t is difficult at this time to know why
contention Rum was SPECIALIZED. OF
course there was reason for it, but what
that reason was, appears to he lost. But
the Run is still there narrow, sluggish
stream, running through thick woodland,
each bank lined with laurel, and emptying
itself into Little Elk Greek. am not sure
its source could be clearly located, but am
informed it rises on the farm of Mr. John
T. Dewitt.
BY looking at a map of Cecil county, we
can easily see why "The Head Of the Elk"
afterwards contracted into "Elkton' was
so named for the branches Of Big Elk and
Little Elk Creeks resemble the antlers OF
an elk
shall state incidents that occurred many
years ago in the immediate neighborhood of
Contention Run, and / shall give the
correct names of those persons who have
died and left no defendants, hut the names
OF those who are now living | shall either
suppress or give fictitious names. Perhaps
my word-painting may be sufficiently clear
to point out to the reader the persons to
whom refer.
In the latter part of the year 1885, or
early in the year 1896 the mysterious dis
appearance of Matte Polk occurred She
lived alone on the left hand side of the
cross-road between the Center School
House and Newark, Delaware, near a small
run. A wild, desolate place.
She was peculiar both in appearance and
in her manner of transecting business. She
loaned her money to different persons in
her neighborhood, taking notes with secur-
ity. She was unsociable in disposition,
her only companion was small yellow
dog. An old frame dwelling on a hill,
surrounded by trees and bushes was her
home This house has disappeared and
only the uncertain mark of its foundation
remains. 1t was dreary place, yet Matte
liked 1t, She was frequently seen walking
on the road when in search of delinquent
debtors, and was dressed so peculiar as to
attract attention The little yellow dog
always accompanied her. One day the
neighbors heard this dog whining and
bowling and they went to her home to see
what was the matter, and they found the
house tenantless and the dog emaciated
through hunger. What became of Matte
Polk no innocent person ever knew, but it
Is strongly suspected that she was murdered
by two persons who owed her money.
At the time Of her disappearance the
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore
Railroad, was under construction through
this county. Deep cuts and high embank-
ments were being made. 1t is supposed
her body was taken at night to one of those
unfinished embankments and the workmen
uneonscousy covered her body in the next
DAY work. This is mere conjecture.
Every stream in the neighborhood was
dragged. A thorough search for her body
was made, yet no trace Of Matte Polk
could be found, Only one person, except
the real perpetrators of the crime, knew
anything about it. That person was Dove
Henderson, colored girl
1t appears that in the early morning of
the day when the dearborn containing the