The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-03-23
A [STORY OF THE EARLY
DAYS OF GARRETT COUNTY
Wherein the Rev. D. a. FREUD Relates
Some Interesting Episodes

The story I am about to tell was cur
rent from so to 100 years ago, and in
those times was often told, at least in
part, by many whose tongues have
long been silent in the dust of the
grave.
When l was small boy the long and
drearY winter evenings were often
spent in telling historical stories of
days ami years gone by.
And 1 for one was always happy
when such occasions came around; and
this is one of the stories l used to hear
them tell:
About the year 1850 when the early
settlers began to flock to these parts,
and the Friends, and Ratans, and Freys.
and Smiths, from time to time, would
chase the rowing bands of Indians away,
there might have been seen a log cabin
nearby good spring, not far from the
summit of the river hill, and about one
mile south of where the town of
Friendsville now stands.
In this cabin lived a sturdy settler
by the name of Grimm. with his wife
and number of children, the eldest of
which was very attractive young
woman, and who was crack shot with
rife, and often accompanied her
father on hunting excursions in the
dense woods about them which at the
time abounded in all kinds of wild game.
Maggie Grimm was also fond OF fish
ing, and often with her father and
younger brother would bring home loads
of speckled beauties from the river
which flowed at the foot of the hill, and
which was literally squirming with the
beautiful trout. Their cabin was stu
ated in secluded place well protected
from storms, and surrounded by deep
forest and full mile away from the
old Indian trail. which crossed the river
at the broad rifle north of the site of
the town and nearby where Mr.. Fred
haiLlp iiO" ihcS. lII'll SIuOhc by Jay,
nor their light by night could not be
seen from the trail. so they felt compare
lively safe, and yet they were well pre-
pared with good rifles and a liberal
supply of powder and bali. They had
but one cleared field and that was near
the cabin. They kept cows and pigs,
but sheep they could not keep on &C
count of bears and panthers and wolves
which infested the woods around them.
At the spring nearby they had very
temporary spring house where they
kept their fresh meat, and milk, and
butter and honey and the like. One
autumn morning about daylight, the
dogs kept barking and they heard
crash at the spring house, and Grimm
on going hastily out with his rifle in
hand discovered that a huge black bear
had broken into the spring house, and
was helping himself to a pot of honey
that he had doubtless smelled as he was
passing by. Grimm cautiously slipped
upon him, and sent bullet through the
heart of the fat old fellow which af-
forded him a splendid skin for an over
coat, in addition to a good supply of fat
bear meat for the use Of the family.
Now about this time there was a
stranger came to Grimm's cabin and
saw Miss Maggie Grimm. and was
impressed by her pleasing
manner, and her charmingly beautiful
face.
This man 5 name was Lapinton. He
was trapper and fur buyer and he
soon began to make very frequent visits
to Grimm 5 cabin. and would often
stay for several days at time; all the
while his heart burning with love for
Miss Maggie, but she for the while
holding HIM off. Her father seemed
right well pleased with Lapinton, and
would often take him fishing and hunt
ing with them, and indeed he was inclined
to think him a rather brave and clever
fellow.
On one of those visits there came up
an occasion for Lapinton to show that
indeed he was fearless and brave man
He had been there for several days
trying to WOO his darling Maggie, but
with only partial success. But one
the dogs were barking most
furiously about a chestnut tree that
stood by a lower spring; both men
sprang out of bed and Grimm seized his
rifle and made for the scene; Lapinton
slipped along behind him without his
gun and upon nearing the spot, to their
utter surprise they discovered a huge
panther perched among the lower limbs
of the chestnut tree. Grimm fired at
once, and the panther fell or sprang
wounded to the ground and started to
run away, but was checked for the
by the dogs, when Lapinton
bounded forward and seized the ugly
beast by the tail, and with Lapintou at
the tail end, and the dogs at the head
end, round and round the tree they
went, and by this time the women were
on the scene, and screamed to Lapinton
to let go or the beast would tear him
to ribbons; but he only frightened his
hold, and gritted his teeth and held on