Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-23
SHENANDOAH VALLEY
B. and O. to Lease Valley
Branch-General Items.

Special Dispatch 10 The Star.
WINCHESTER, Va. July 22.-According
to advices from Strasburg, Shenandoah
county Va, received today. the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad is negotiating with the
Southern railway for the purchase OF the
lease of the Valley railroad between Stras-
burg Junction and Harrisouburg, which Is
the same road that for many years
operated by the Baltimore and Ohio, and
which became the property OF the South
ern Immediately upon the expiration II
the lease held by the BaItir1ore AID Ohio
while 1t was in the bands of the n ceivers
some years since.
The Baltimore and Ohio people admitted
that they had made a mistake in not again
leasing the road, and for several years
after it passed into the hands of the
Southern the travelling public was put TO
unbearable inconvenience by enmity exist
ing between the two roads at Strasburg
Junction. and the court issued injunctions
requiring them to maintain convenient con-
nections at that point.
Recently the officials of Strasburg not'-
fed the Baltimore and Ohio Company that
they would make application TO the court
for a writ compelling me railroad to .un
its line into the town. instead OF stopping
at the junction-a mile distant-f the rail-
road company did not agree to do so Wlthin
a specified time, that being one If the pio-
visions of the company's charter
Third Vice President George l.. Potter OF
the Baltimore and Ohio visited Strasburg
a few days ago and during a conference
with the municipal authorities ne stated
that negotiations were n prosreSs with
view OF regaining control OF the alley
railroad and that a decision was expected
within a week.
Even under the slightly improved condi-
tions. the train service in the Valley of
Virginia is worse than in any other part
of this section of the country. and the
10 f.ltT
Immedia teiy following the intense hot
weather of the past few days. this section
of the Valley of Virginia was visited by
the most disastrous thunder storm In recent
years. IT being very severe N Clarke county
and along the Shenandoah river ard Blue
Ridge mountains. Great damage was done
to corn that had been growing rapidly dur
ing the hot spell and people who depend.
to more or less extent, on the products or
their gardens for 2 livelihood. lost heavily.
The high winds that accompanied the
stor N cut off big trees and unroofed small
dwellings A blooded driving horse be-
longing to Mr.. r. Powell Page, a. Boyce,
was killed by lightning.
Little Mollie Funkhouser. daughter of a
prominent farmer of Shenandoah county,
was burned to death the other morning
while kindling a fire with coal oil. She had
asked permission of her mother to make the
fire, but consent was refused. When Mrs.
Funkhouser went into the yard the child
struck a match to the kindlings and the oil
can. which was near by. exploded. She was
horribly burned and died the same day. She
was eight years old.
Mrs. Simon Stickles of Clarke county had
a desperate battle with copperhead snake
Ave feet in length at her home few morn
ings ago. and emerged from the battle vic
torious While she was In the yard the
snake crawled to the bed of her two little
children and was about to spring at them
when she entered the room. Picking up
stick of wood she attacked the reptile which
showed fight At the first opportunity she
After several months rapid courtship by
correspondence and the exchange of photo
graphs, Miss Mary Julia Combs of New
Market Va, and Herbert Cline Cook of
Lima. Ohio. were quietly married at Mount
Jackson this week by the Reformed Church
pastor. Rev H. Ditzler. A gentleman friend
of the groom went to Lima some months
ago, and in the course of converse ton. II
is said. on the loneliness of Virginia girls,
he gave Mr.. Cook a letter of Introduction to
riage this week.
The reel team of the Friendship Fire
Company returned late last night from
Luray. Page county. where they won the
SIPS prize in the reel races. which were the
most conspicuous feature of the fremens
celebration. The victors were given a royal
reception upon their return So far this
summer they have won $500 in hose con-
tests outclassing all other teams in this
section.
Over 5000 persons from the District of
Columbia, Maryland. Virginia, West Vir-
GINA and Pennsylvania attended the six
teenth annual reunion of the Reformed
Church. which was held at Pen-Mar on
Thursday. it being the largest crowd that
has been in attendance at that churchs
reunion in the past ten years. Addresses
were delivered by eminent clergymen and
several native missionaries from the far
east. Rev. Dr. J. A. Hoffheins of Martins
burg, w. Va. was reelected president of
the reunion committee, were also the
other old officers
Georgia veterans to the number of 150 &C
companied by many ladies. held reunion
at the Manassas battlefield Thursday, and
planted MARKERS appropriately inscribed, at
the points where they fought In the two
great battles during the early part of the
civil war. At night a reception was given
by the local chapter OF the Daughters of the
Confederacy. and after holding picnic on
the battlefield yesterday. the veterans left
at night for their southern homes.
~
Mrs. Kate Mcdonald was shocked to re-
ceive letter this week announcing the
death OF her husband. Mr.. Benjamin F. Nc
Donald. former prominent merchant of
Hampshire county. w. Va. and Winchester,
which occurred at the Western State Hos
pital at Staunton. where he had been taken
some weeks ago on account of weakness
OF his mind. Mrs. Mcdonald had received a
letter earlier In the week stating that he
was suffering from a stroke of appoplexy
and the following day she told several
friends that she had dream that he was
dead. The next mail brought her letter
from the officials of the asylum stating that
her husband had passed away and had been
buried. He was a confederate veteran and
was about seventy years old
Baltimore and Ohio railroad detectives
mr. tpy-a ip.t tny he ~i,