The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1903-07-18
Johnston's History
Of Cecil County.
CHAPTER NNII CONTINUED.


purchase the right to use the water OF
Big Elk from the Elk Forge Company.
whose forge was then located where Elk
Mills Factory now stands, near which
the feeder was to start. and also the
water rights of all the mills between the
forge and the mouth of the creek Due
bills or promiSary notes. similar to bank
notes. were issued for the purchase of
the water rights. and work was COM
mCnccd on the feeder in 1902 Some of
the plans of the engineers of that time
seem quite curious and strange when
viewed through the light of the expert
cnce since acquired. The Canal Com
pany only purchased the right from the
Forge Company to use the water of the
creek. when needed. for the purpose OF
supplying the canal. the forge company
rr>rrving the right to use the water of
the creek during the winter months when
it would be impracticahlr to navigate it.
The water Of the creek was taken out of
the hcnd-raCe of the forge and taken
across the channel of the creek in an
auurduct constructed for the purpose. 1t
would seem to have been Il great deal
more practicable to have taken the water
directly from the east side of the dam
and to have dispensed with the auucduct,
but probably there were reasons that do
not now appear, that caused the engineer
to adopt the plan he did.
The work upon the feeder was done in
superior manner. Several of the arch
cS. through which the water of small
streams was to pass underneath it. ara
still standing, and quite IL large one in
tended for Il roadway across it is yet
is hnt I,t,
Daniel Lord was constructing the factory
which is near the arch. being in want of
stone he ordered his workmcn to take
the arch down. and that after many
fruitrSS efforts to do So they concluded
it would be easier and cheaper to quarry
the stone they wanted. This old arch is
now standing. and looks strong and dur
able enough to stand ut least century
longer.
For IL short time the water of the Big
Elk was admitted into the feeder. and
the stone used in the construction of the
arches, some distance from the upper end
of it, were transported to the places
where they were used upon ScowS from
the quarry near the forge. Many stones
were Quarricd and nicely dressed for the
arches. which. after the work was aband-
used in the construction of the railroad
bridge across the Big Elk near Elkton.
which was recently covered by the EN-
hankmcnt. after the construction of the
new iron bridge in 1876.
There was much diversity of opinion in
regard to the proper place for the Local
ton of the canal. This was the reason
that the company after finishing the
feeder To the site of the proposed rcser-
voir near Glasgow. were forced to dis
continue the work. which they did. for
want of means. in 1903 The feeder
passed within about two miles Of Elkton,
and it is stated in II history of Maryland
and Delaware. published in Philadelphia.
in 1907. that bHrgrS We're then used upon
it. This is untlur:'thoUgh the people of
that day entertained the opinion that it
WAS practicable to use the feeder rs Il
canal. and the Canal Company mt that
time intended to establish slack water
navigation upon the Big Elk. north of
the forge. by erecting II system of dams
and locks for that purpose.
The lahorrIS employed in the conrtruc-
ton of the feeder, who were principally
lrShmcn. became involved in rioa Will"
I'll" work was in course of construction.
There WAS Il racrCourSr at that time in
the field near Gilpin'S Bridge. ON the
southwest side of Big Elk Many of the
lri>hmrn from the feeder were ut Il
horse rae" on this course. which WAS, no
uncommon thing. for horse racing was
quit" common in Cecil County ut that
time, and the races were recognized by
the law of the State. 1t was customary
for those who wished To do SO 10 obtain
irrnS" to sell liquor at the races. and
10 doubt it was sold ut this one. and that
the too free use of whiskry lrd to the
riot. which began in this wise \ negro
was on the ground. who was proprietor
of II gambling arrangement. called Tree
kvt the Loop. 1t consisted of II stake
driven into the ground i'm The centre of Il
circular excavation Of probably foot or
eighteen inches in diameter: Il cent WAS
placed on the top of tn" stake by the
proprietor, ANA those who wished to
participate in the game We're furnished
with club or ShllalHh and required to
stand som" yards from the stake and if
they could throw the club and knock the
ccnt off the stake so that it would fall
outside of the pit in which the stake
stood. they won the money: II the coin
fell inside of the pit, which it probably
did in nine cases ont of ten, the player
forfeited Il cent to the proprietor Of the
pit. y dispute occurred between the
negro who WAS tn" proprietor of the pit
and an lrishmHm who Was playing. which
came from words to blows. and tn" negro
is said to have fractured the skull of one
of tn" Irishmcm who soon afterwards
died This riot. like all others. WAS
easier started than stopped. and from the
accounts which have come down to us,
was quite II serious affair. Many other
IL grurS on the race ground became in
volvcd in the fight before it was over.
The lriShmrn pursued them to Elkton.
ard II reign OF terror was inauguratrd
which lasted for Il considerable time.
during which several lives were lost The
late Dr. Evans. who was then Il student
of medicine with DIR. George +. Mitchell,
is said to have been Instrumental in
pncifying the infatuated lrishmcn and