The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-07-25
LOOKING BACKWARD
j. Albert Whitelock

In your issue Of June 9th, 1924,
you make mention Of storm that
passed over your section doing
much damage. This wildly recalls
another hail, rain and wind storm
that swept down the Susquehanna
valley on July 25th, 1866.
My father worked for Mr.. Jeffer-
SON Ramsey, near Port Port. 1t was
a splendid morning. We we're
threshing grain in the barn. AS
boy, / helped measure and bag
wheat, remove the chaff, etc.
OF. sudden the storm broke be-
fore they could get the horses out OF
the "coffee-mill' and under cover.
The pelting hail made them frantic.
Several men, my father amoung
them, were badly pelted before they
were stabbed. The storm swept
southwesterly, cutting the corn
stalks out of the ground, literally,
in places. At ,Perryville, and Hayre
de Grace it lifted the railroad bridge
from the piers and dashed it into the
river.
1t was some what freakish too, as
there was little or no rain on part Of
the Everist farm, on the opposite
side Of the road.
Two incidents impressed this on
my mind. On the following day
July 26th, 1865, negro excursion
from Chestertown or elsewhere down
the bay, came to Port Deposit, the
first Of its kind, I think.
The town was overrun with
negroes, many of them showing in
science with their newly. found
freedom. Some were octoroons and
mulattoes, quite light complexioned.
AS a boy wondered at those almost
white people mingling with the
blacks.
Another circumstance that strong
ly impressed this on my mind was
that in building the bridge at Perry
vile, it seems they worked on Sun
days, this was breaking the Sabbath
dayA and the good people Of that
day--and there were many such
prophesied God would surely punish
the Company for such sin, and
when the storm did wreck the bridge
the good people said it was the act of
God.
Wonder what these good people
would say now that the Sabbath is
mainly pleasure, sport and fixing
autos
How times have changed. Is any
one now living who can verify these
dates ?
Perhaps you will publish this July
25th, 1924, ffty-eight years after.
l wish you had correspondent
from Franklin School district, near
Port Deposit. That was a good
country school for those days. The
teachers may not have been SO well
drilled in theory as they are sup
posed to be nowadays, but they
were earnest. Among these was a
sweet young woman, Miss Eta Kirk,
who started our class in algebra.
And when we began to work simpl"
concrete problems she showed us
how to fuse the answer to get the
answer" Algebra became fasci-
nation, and so continued as long as
was engaged in school work, which
was for more than thirty years
She also made out written reports OF
our studies, the first we ever saw
am quite sure have mine yet.
Miss Kirk married and settled
around Zion or Brick Meeting House
If she is still living would like te
hear from her.
While attending Franklin schoo
we used wilson's Readers, descri5
ing fishes, birds, minerals, etc.
Some thirty odd years afterward
had the pleasure of meeting th'
noted author, Marcus Wilson, at |
teachers institute in Vineland, New
Jersey, where we spoke from thu
same platform.
Salt Lake City, Utah
July IA, 1924