Evening star., 1909-08-22
VALLEY OF VIRGINIA
Baltimore Councilman Inves-
tigating Virginia Railroad.
STAUNTON HOTEL is SOLD
Lutheran Synod of Virginia Is in
Session.
LONG DROUGHT IS BROKEN
Corn Crop Is Observation-Disclosures
Fair Will Be Held Sep
tember Z, 8 and 9.
.ONG DROUGHT IS BROKEN
Special Correspondence o. The Star.

Special Correspondence o; The Star.
WINCH ESTER, Va, August u. 1909.
Responding 10 invitations extended by
town authorities and business mems aso-
cattons in various towns between Win
chester and Lexington. and the Roanoke
Board OF Trade in particular. City coun-
Gilman Heatwole of Baltimore, who re-
Gently agitated an investigation of rail-
roads in the Shenandoah valley, in which
the city of Baltimore owns 81 100000
worth OF stock, came to the valley yes
terday for the purpose of comforting with
local authorities.
II is his intention to press the investi-
cation and insist upon the railroads pro-
viding better tracks. rolling stock and
general service. The city OF Baltimore
claims to never have received divi-
dend. 1t has just been discovered that
:he Valley railroad. which is under Bal
timore and Ohio management, owns
large tracts of land in Salem. which lies
along the proposed extension from Lex
ngton to Roanoke. This extension has
already been graded. but work was stop
ped several years ago, and nothing has
been done since that time. Councilman
Heatwole will make thorough investi-
cation of conditions in this section of the
state.
Lightning a few nights ago struck two
old barns on the Cherry Meade farm.
near Summit Point, Jefferson county. w.
Va, owned by NJ. Lohr Capper OF Win
chester, and they were totally destroyed,
together with about 500 bushels of wheat,
new hay, straw and much lumber A
new barn twelve feet away caught fire
several times, but was finally saved.
The loss amounts to about 5000 with
$500 insurance.
The Virginia Hotel, at Staunton. one
of the most historic hostelries in the
state. has been sold to A. T. Moore of
Newport News, Va, for 81 cash and as
sumption of debt of SAT 200. He also
owns the Beverley Hotel in Staunton.
William Miller White and Miss Bessie
Estelie Willis, members of well known
Frederick county families, were married
Wednesday evening at the home of Mrs.
ION street. by Rev. FL. f. Richardson
of the local United Brethren Church.
They will live with the Groom's parents
at Stephens City.
Lutheran Convention.
The eightieth convention Of the Evan
geiical Lutheran Synod of Virginia is
now in session in Bethany Church, near
Lexington. the meeting having been called
to order Wednesday morning by the
president. Rev. DIR. George S. Bowers of
Winchester One OF the principal ques-
lions before the synod is the proposition
Of uniting all the Virginia Lutherans into
one synod. but it is not likely that action
Hil he taken at this time. The present
Virginia synod embraces all the Shenan-
doah valley and several churches east of
the Blue Ridge and few In West Vir-
ginia.
William c. Ritter Of NIillwood. Clarke
county, said to be one of the most ac-
complished deaf mutes in the country,
has been selected as principal of the new
Virginia State School for Deaf and Blind
Colored Children, which Will begin its
first session in handsome buildings at
Newport News September s. Mr.. Ritter
was engaged in newspaper business for
Il number OF years before taking up edu-
tational work.
While reading a newspaper Mrs. Anna
Garrison fell from q buggy driven by her
daughter, Mrs. Virginia Widmyer, near
Reliance, Warren county, few days ago
and sustained injuries which left her In
n precariouS condition.
Mrs. Henry Haines of Capon Bridge, W.
Va, who had gone to the home of Mrs.
George Reynolds at Whitacre, this coun-
~. after attending church services few
nights ago, stumbled and plunged head
long down long flight of stairs. and was
seriously injured. She is still in criti-
cal condition at the home of Mrs. Rey-
noldS.
At the annual conference Of the Vir-
ginia Christian Church. held this week at
Newport, Page county. 1t was decided by
the conference to as sume debt of $500
on a lot In Winchester on which 1t is pro-
posed to erect new church building.
The building operations are expected to
commence early this fall Rev. W. L.
Walters of Rockingham county, Va. Is
TO become pastor of the local church. de-
voting half of his time to the Winchester
work.
Retires From Ministry.
Rev. DR.. 4. Paul Funkhouser OF Har-
risonburg Va, one OF the most noted
ministers of the United Brethren Church.
and formerly a leading republican politi-
cfan and postmaster at Harrisonburg, has
retired from the active ministry on ac-
count of his health.
Mrs. Nena Shearer, wife of A l.. Shear
or. died of bright's disease Thursday af-
rernoon at the family residence in this
city. aged ffty-five years. She was
daughter of the late William kiger of
Winchester. and was married twice. Her
first husband the late Charles Nc
Collum of Baltimore. by whom SHE leaves
Two sons, Harry McCoilum of San An
tonic. Tex, and Sellman McCollum OF
Panama. She Is survived also by three
sisters. as we'll as her second husband.
Kicked on the head by horse, William
Mckinley RUBY RUB ,, son Of CHARLES r;a RUBY RUBY OF
short distance. the other day, complained
Of feeling sick, and expired in short
time.
Fire. believed 10 have been OF incendiary
origin destroyed large barn on the farm
Of Samuel Sager, three miles from Mount
Jackson. a few nights ago, together with
all its contents, including 3l7 bushels of
wheat $50 bushels of last years corn, 45
tons of hay. 80 tons OF straw, sets of
harness. a wheat binder, grain drill and
other farm implements The live stock
which was in a field. escaped injury. The
loss amounts 10 about $1,000, with $l,5oO
insurance.
Mrs. Mary +. Hout of Shepherdstown,
jefferson county, w. Va. died Thursday
aged eighty-siX years. She was formerly
Miss Miller os that county and was the
widow of David Hout. Three sons and
three daughters survive.
The fourth annual convention of the
Berkeley County Sunday School Associa-
tion was held Wednesday at Inwood Park
and was attended by more than l 200 peo-
pie. Addresses were made by Sunday
school workers and officers were elected
for the ensuing year.
Will Work Convicts
Charles +. Light of Martinsburg West
Firginias first road commissioner. who
recently assumed tie office. has unearthed
an old law which gives the county courts
power to make prisoners work on the pub
lie roads. and as a result il is expected
that between $50 and 500 state prisoners
will be turned out shortly. in charge of
guards, and made to aerk on the public
highways.
Ii is reported that steps will be taken at
once by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
TO secure an Injunction restraining all
state and county officials in West Vtr-
ainia from enforcing the 2-cent rate. So
far the Coal and Coke the Chesapeake