Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-07-29
NOTES BY OBSERVER.

Charles Town hundred years ago. One
OF these papers is dated January Is, 1910,
and another March IS, 1916. They are
excellently preserved, good quality oil
both paper and ink having been used, and
they are almost as legible now as when
they were first printed. Richard Williams
was The publisher. Mr.. Williams evident
" held TO the idea that there was no use
in printing the local news, which the
people would know all about by word OF
mouth, so he devotes practically all OF
his paper to foreign news. A long article
is devoted TO the Algerine treaty, with
statement by Stephen Decatur and Viii
liam Shaler 10 the Hon. James Monroe.
Secretary OF State. There is news from
London, and also from Paris, Hamburger
and Havana.
Although there is scarcely an item OF
town or county news, details are given OF
tragedies and events in Virginia and other
States. A melancholy catastrophe in
Mecklenburg county is related-the de-
struction by fire in the night time OF the
residence of Henry H. Burwell, resulting
in the burning to death OF Mr.. and Mrs.
Burwell, Miss Mary Burwell, the infant
child OF Peyton R. Burwell. and four SER
want maids. A distressing fire is also re-
ported from Doylestown, Pa, when Abra-
ham Benner's large new stone dwelling
was destroyed and his two children were
burned to death.
A list OF letters rema lining unclaimed in
the postoffice at Shepherdstown Decem-
Der 81 1915, is given. Folks presumably
were not as regular in their attendance at
the Shepherdstown poStoflice as they are
a hundred years later, for "a letters were
awaiting delivery. Among the names
mentioned we notice Walter Baker, Fred
erick Brantner, Philip Bird, Charles Butt.
Richard Claggett, John Cross, William
Cox, John Dalrumple, Burgess r. carp.
John Groves, Jacob Getzendanner,
Thomas HeSSy, Abraham Hoffman, Jacob
Heilman, Amos James, Jacob Kensil,
Anthony Kearney, John M'Garrah, Jacob
Melchoir, William Parrott, John Pierce,
John Rian, John Strider, Daniel Staly,
Susan Stipp, Martha Swift, Sarah Sap
pington, Ehud Turner, Jacob Vandorn,
Jacob Wristbands, Lewis Willis, Joseph
Withrow and Henry Wisenal. Some OF
these names are still well known in Shep-
herdstown and living descendants are yet
among our residents; but alas ! how
many have disappeared entirely from our
town life and only remain memory to
be considered now and then.
The advertisements are not numerous
in these old papers, but they are inter
esting. John Griggs, agent for Andrew
and Alice Taws, announces that he will,
on Monday, January 23d. sell before the
door OF Fulton's Hotel, in Charles Town.
IS or 10 likely negroes, consisting OF
men, women, boys and girls. Peter
Glasscock, who was undoubtedly an
honest man, advertises that he has found
a sum OF money on the Winchester road
between Knave Town and Opeckon.
Henry S. Turner offers for hire three
negro women, who can cook, sew. spin
and knit. One thousand acres OF land,
known as the Shannon Hill tract, is to be
sold at public sale TO satisfy a deed OF
trust given by Charles Gibbs TO F. Fair
fax. The board of managers OF the
Boonsborough turnpike road having fixed
the location of the same and contracted
for the paving OF part Thereof, the second
installment Of stock is called for, Jacob
Hess, of Shepherdstown, being one OF
the managers authorized TO receive same.
William Butts announces that he has
commenced the backsmith's business at
Miller's run, between ShepherdStown
and Charles Town. Vincent Moore,
trustee, advertises that he will sell the
following property OF Anthony Kerney,
to satisfy a debt due David Snowman
one old wagon and geers. one grey
mare, one brown mare, and clock.
Isaac and Thomas Reyes offer their ser
vices as boatmen on both the Shenandoah
and Potomac rivers when the same are
navigable, and agree TO boat flour to
Washington for 80 cents barrel and to
Alexandria for sc cents.
II is generally supposed that the dis
covery OF the famous Luray Caverns dates
back about forty years ago, but they were
in reality opened up more than hundred
years ago. In one of The copies OF the
Farmers Repository, dated June Is, 1925,
there is an extensive account OF this great
natural wonder II was previously pub
lished in the Woodstock Herald, and tells
how party of gentlemen few weeks
previous had explored the caverns. The
account says this cave "has been known
to the people OF the neighborhood OF Lu-
ray during number of years past, but
nothing like full discovery of its beauties
was ever made until few days past. This
cave is about one mile west OF the little
village of Luray, and situated within a
hundred yards of the road leading from
Thornton's Gap TO Newmarket. The en-
trance is almost exactly at the top of a
small mountain, which has for a long
time been known to the neighborhood by
the name of Cave Hill"
The writer then goes on TO tell of the
bold exploration of the cave by party OF
fifteen men, who carried with them candles,
instruments for measuring distances, ETC.,
provisions and refreshments" II took
good deal of courage to penetrate so deep
into the earth, but the adventures seem
to have made thoroughly good job of il.
They went through the narrow passage