The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1901-07-19
SALEM CLAM BAKERS
GOT BADLY BURNT
The Town Authorities took a hand
in the affair and Iiterallyroast-
ed the Participants in the
clam'bake.
Blacklist Day iHSaIem's History
Law and order RuthIessly 0isre-
garded by not only the rough
and tumble element butby
some of leading citizens.

Abraham beseeched the Lord to
snare Sodom, If ten righteous persons
could be found in that city, but the
old patriarch failed to find even ten Of
that kind and the city of wickedness
was consumed by fire. Such prayer
as Abraham's would not have been
necessary at Salem last Sunday, as We
know of a truth that a goodly number
of righteous, God-fearing people re-
side in that town, but a duplication
for the eradication and suppression OF
the evil that prevailed there that day
would MOB have been out Of order. In
the character and kind Of its wi ked-
ness 1t might have properly been term
ed a modern Sodom. All the sins and
wickedness Of that ancient city pre-
vailed in Salem in large degree and
Sunday was declared by many as the
blacklist day Of Salem's history.
An extensively advertised clam-bake
was the immedi te cause of the wild
scenes enacted. Excursion rates were
given and hundreds of people fiocked
to the second metropolis Of Harrison
county. They came by rail, on horse
hack. in wagons and afoot, and the
town was soon overrun by the multi
tuee. The natives from mountain
and vale had never seen clam-bake
and flocked pell-mell to the place
through curiosity, the desire for
knowledge, appetite for delectaole
foreign to their taste, and love for
neood time" Wit the adjective
somewhat questionable.
Salem's theater conducted by one
Campbell was selected as the rendez-
yous for the bakers OF CLANS and the
building from basement to garrett buzz
zed with humanity from early morn
ing until night. Several barrels of
clans were publicly exhibited but
whether or not many Of them were
prepared to be eaten is not generally
known, although number of stalwart
natives of the sterner sex were seen
parading the streets with the shellfsh
in their hands, from which they nib
bled as the pangs Of hunger led them.
The basement was devoted to the
clam baking. The first room had
cards, gaming OF all kinds AMI wines.
beers, and other drinks, but no soft
ones so far as we know. The second
door had more gambling devises and
more WHISTLES and wines, ard on the
third floor, forming an imposing dome
for a temple dedicated to the Devil,
were women and wine, the deStroyerS
of mems souls. The CHATTER of the
gaming chips, the rattle of the dice,
the shutting Of the cardsan the 'rolly
holly song Of the dealers allured men
to try their luck with the hope of ILL
gotten gain. They saw their wages
swiftly glide away and driven to des-
peration they plunged their all and
lost. OF course, few won but not
many, as the devices are not made
that way, and the percentage always
for the house.
Wines, whistles and beers were
liyishly served and ere long the rosy
bloom of the topper was on many
cheek, and there we're emphatic dis
cussion and settlement of great ques-
lions, public and private to the com
pIete satisfaction of all the debaters.
Then, up the winding stair with
purpose bent and very much beaddled
in mind, not a few of them went. We
will not follow them there but leave
that to them to tell.
An order had been promulgated that
all saloons be closed on Sunday, but
there was tacit understanding be-
tween Campbell and the townauthori-
ties, so we are informed, by which he
was not to be over-annoyed. This was
in gratitude for his bringing such a
crowd OF strangers to the town. But
several saloonists soon got onto them.
selves and threw wide open their Joints
at 9 o'clock Then the fun began. 1t
was raid after raid all day long. The
"a Ter was raided "a times and Camp
bells day of festivity cost him s265,
which he paid in fines. Others were
fined APO, among whom were some of
thelS'3&pg business citizens Of Salem.
The, gty's exchequer was augmented
to the amount of $40 during the day.
Prices of beer jumped in proportion
trthe fines imposed. 1t started of at
25cents bottle but soon went to 80,
so and rs cents and even dollar, No
sooner was dollar planked down for
beer than it was raked into the till
with no change made. Asked why
this was done, the reply came from the
bar tender, Have been fined again