Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-10-05
Another sharpsburg Sensation.

| the toWn OF SnarpSOurgan ana the Surround
ing neighborhood, and which has also
interested folks on this side of the river,
has been caused by the mysterious dis
appearance of Reese D. Fisher, a we'll
known farmer who lived mile or two
from Sharpsburg. Last Thursday after
noon Fisher, who is prosperous farmer
some fifty years old, left his home, stating
that he was going to his fishpot in the
Potomac river, several miles above Shop
herdstown. He rode horseback to .he
place, hitching his horse along the river
bank, and went out to the fishpot in a
boat. About dusk, persons living in the
neighborhood heard the sound of an
explosion and two pistol shots. Fisher
failed to return home, and next morning
search was instituted for the missing man.
His horse was found where he had tied
it the evening before. A sack that he
had carried with him was found on the
fishpot, showing that he had been there.
A mile or two down the stream his boat
was discovered lodged against the Vir-
ginia shore, with hole in the bottom and
one end. In the boat was stick of dy-
Mantle and some fuse. The conclusion
was at once reached that Fisher had gone
to the river to dynamite fish, and that
premature explosion had killed him and
wrecked his boat. This explained the
sound of the explosion, apparently, but
some persons thought that the pistol shots
indicated murder. II was believed that
his body was in the river, and on Friday
and Saturday perhaps $50 men with a
large number OF boats dragged the river
from the fishpot TO point mile or two
down the river. The stream was gone
over thoroughly number of times, but
no trace of the man nor bis belongings
could be found.
Sunday was to witness still more de-
termined search for the missing man, but
whispers OF queer sort began to float
around, and the crowd dispersed and
gave up efforts to find his body. Details
of mysterious character began to leak
out, and it was evident that another chap
ter was to be added from this side OF the
river. Fisher, If was known, had been
to MartinSburg on Thursday, and had also
been in "Terrapin Neck" which is the
Virginia section contiguous to that part OF
the river where his fishpot is located and
where the tragedy is supposed to have
occurred. He afterward drove through
Shepherdstown to his home, and then
hurried to the river from the Maryland
side. The same evening stranger in a
uggy drove into "The Neck" He went
TO point not far from the river, and soon
after the explosion and the pistol shots
had been heard, he drove back again,
and this time another man was with him
in the buggy, but in the darkness neither
was recognized. They drove on out 10
the Shepherd pike, and some one passing
along the road saw two men lighting
matches and evidently searching for
something at culvert near the entrance
to Wild Goose Farm. After this no trace
was found Of the men, one OF whom is
thought to have been Fisher.
No romance or mystery can be regarded
as the real thing unless there's woman
in it. A mysterious woman appears in
this case, though it is not asserted that
she had anything to do with the diSap-
pearance OF Fisher. But Wednesday a
strange woman, driving horse and bug
gy, was seen in the section north OF
Shepherdstown, and remained all night
at the home of William Hill, along the
Shepherd pike. Thursday she drove to
Wild Goose, and told Mr.. Baldwin that
she was looking for a home, and talked
about hiring out to Mrs. Baldwin. Later
she drove into "The Neck" inquiring
her way to the river, and though she did
not 20 the full length of the road, she
told some one who asked her if she had
found the way, that she had seen what
she wanted TO see. She returned to town
and had her horse fed here at the Entler
Hotel, but subsequently she also passed
from public view. No direct connection
between her trip to "1he Neck" and
Fishers alleged departure therefrom has
been established.
II is now generally believed that Fisher
left home because OF domestic difficulties,
and that the dynamite business was only
bluff. II is said that his home relations
have not been happy and that he deter
mined to get away from unpleasant family
affairs by disappearing from this section.
There are many stories afloat as to where
he may be found and all sorts OF rumors
concerning his actions, and gossipS con-
meet several persons with the affair who
say that they have nothing whatever to
do with it.
The Register has been informed on
what it regards as good authority that
Fisher was neither drowned nor blown
UP by dynamite; that he left home be-
cause he was not satisfied with his do
mestic affairs; aud that there is no woman
in the case so far as he is concerned.
This is not the first time that Fisher
left home. Some years ago he disap-
peared and was gone for several weeks.
He is married man, his wife having
been a Miss Remsburg, ofthe SharpSburg
neighborhood, and they have several
grown or married children. He form
erly owned farm in this county in the
vicinity of Bakerton or Keller, but sold
out here and moved to Maryland many
years ago. He owns couple OF farms,
one OF them, on which he lived, being
the Mumma farm on Antietam Battlefield.
The family of Fisher Yesterday issued