September 1910

September 2

Constable Ashbaugh Finishes 34 Years Of Service

Last Saturday, Mr. William Ashbaugh completed 34 years of service as Deputy Sheriff and County Constable, the longest of any such officer in this state.

First appointed to town constable in 1876, then to County Constable only 10 days later, and finally made Deputy Sheriff by December of the same year. Mr. Ashbaugh served town office for a total of 19 years before retiring due to health matters.

In the early years of his office, Emmitsburg did not enjoy the reputation for order that it now bears. Mr. Ashbaugh picked up three or four offenders every day. Who can tell whether he is entitled to the credit for the changes in these years? His arrests run clear through the gamut of crimes; from murder to petty larceny. He once arrested a man for attempting to kill his father-in-law. The fellow was brought here and locked up in the basement of the hotel. During the night the man’s friends liberated him, but in short time Mr. Ashbaugh was on his trail, on account of a light snowfall which made it easy to follow. The footprints led to the man’s house where he lay in bed with a revolver and razor close at hand. Mr. Ashbaugh got his hands on the weapons first, and then grabbed hold of the man. He was landed safely in jail. Indeed, in a long career as an officer of the law, Mr. Ashbaugh has never had a prisoner whom he arrested escape from him.

Performance At Clairevaux A Great Success

The operatic and vaudeville performances given at Clairevaux, Mount St. Mary’s, was greeted by a large crowd of representative people. The lawns, porches, walls and halls of this historic house were handsomely decorated for the occasion and the whole place was a scene of pure beauty.

In addition to the operatic and vaudeville performances, choruses treated the crowd, marches and drills by the children. The society sideshow on the east porch was a great success. Miss Marianne Ward, as the 'largest baby in the world,' took the prize in this department. The Emmitt Cornet Band, also on hand, furnished excellent music. Ice cream and cake were furnished to the audience during intermission without extra charge.

Emmitsburg Pike Next

At the next meeting of the road commission, the turnpike between Frederick and Emmitsburg is expected to be purchased and opened to the public. An agreement has already been reached for 21 miles of this road at $1000 per mile. Governor Crothers said the Emmitsburg Pike will be taken over during September at the latest, and the toll gates taken down. The turnpike company will retain ownership of the toll houses, such as that on Tollgate Hill just south of Emmitsburg, as the state has no desire of purchasing them.

September 9

William Weant Dies Of Typhoid

On Wednesday, William Weant, oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Weant, died at his parents home on West Main Street of typhoid fever. The young man had been feeling badly for some time but was not confined to his bed except for two days. He was almost 18 years of age and was a man of industrious habits. His untimely death was a shock to the community. Interment was made in Mountain View Cemetery.

Too Quick On The Trigger

On Thursday of last week, Thomas Johnson shot Noah Jenkins while the latter was hunting squirrels in the mountain. Johnson is now under $500 bail. From Johnson’s statement made before the magistrate it appears that Johnson did not want his land hunted over, and had ordered several people to leave the place on the morning of the assault. Later he heard the report of shooting, and gun in hand started after the hunters. Near the top of the mountain he saw a man and immediately opened fire. Afterwards he learned that the man he shot, Noah Jenkins, was not one he had ordered off his property.

Best Freckle Remover

One of the very best freckle removers is a wash made of buttermilk that is not rotten sour, but acidic enough to drink nicely. The drinking of buttermilk is excellent for the liver, but buttermilk is very hard to get away from the farm. The so-called buttermilk retailed from the dairy depots in cities is rarely anything but the soured leavings of the sweet milk, and never to be recognized as the "Simon-pure" article.

September 16

High School Literary Society

The first meeting of the E. H. S. Literary Society was held September 9. The meeting opened with singing "Flow Gently Sweet Afton." Then Lewis Beam was appointed critic and Edith Ohler, William Morrison, and Samuel Keilholtz judges for the debate, which was resolved, that drink is a greater destructive power than war. After lengthy and spirited debate, the society agreed that drink was in fact more destructive than war. The society also chose Longfellow as the societies’ patron poet and ‘The Village Blacksmith’ as the societies’ poem.

Emmitsburgers Under Suspicion

A saloon in Cascade was entered and robbed of $30 of whiskey. The discovery of the loss initiated a search, which found, according to the Waynesboro Herald, two young Emmitsburg men in the woods near the saloon. They were under the influence of liquor and the owner was so certain that they were the thieves that he warranted further arrest. By the time the constable returned to the scene with him they had disappeared.

Flying Machine Coming

Professor Perriot and his wonderful aircraft "Skyscraper" will appear here in two sensational flights with the Wheeler Big Shows, which will exhibit here on September 27. Many other new and exclusive features have been added this season, including Wheeler’s Dancing Horses, Educated Ponies, Dogs and Mules, World’s Greatest High School Horses, Marvelous Troops of Acrobats and Aerialists, and a host of happy, mirth provoking clowns. Also enjoy a tremendous, free, spectacular street parade at noon.

September 23

Crapster Barn Burned

A large barn on William Crapster’s farm, tenanted by Mr. Hall, 5 miles from here, was totally destroyed in a fire on Saturday night. Four horses, this year’s wheat, rye oats and hay crops and farming implements were also destroyed. Some 24 years ago the bar in this property was struck by lightning and again on July 11, 1889 it was struck and burned to the ground, killing two men, Charles Harner and Denton Reilander, by lightning.

Fair View Farm

One of the prettiest and kept-up farm properties in this neighborhood is "Fair View Farm," home of Mr. And Mrs. George Miller, near Emmitsburg on Bruceville Road. The Millers named the property "Fair View Farm" when they bought it several years ago.

September 30

Bernard Butler Shot On Street

On Saturday morning between 12 and one o’clock Bernard Butler was shot by Mr. Joseph Elder in front of Dr. Jamison’s office on West Main St.. Butler had attended a dance given at Spangler’s Hall and caused some disorder at the place. Dr. Jamison was driving up the Pike and noticed a fight. He asked the people involved to stop. Butler, it was said, was very impertinent at the time. Elder, who was near there at the time, got in with Dr. Jamison and drove to the stable. He and a doctor were coming from the stable when they were again accosted by Butler and his companions, who when ordered to move on, came towards Elder and was shot.

It appeared that none of the shots had taken effect as Butler and his companions walked off uptown, where he then collapsed in front of Dr. Stone’s office. All four bullets had in fact struck him. He was taken from Dr. Stone’s office to the Beatty House, and the next day removed to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Baltimore. His condition was not considered critical. The next morning Mr. Elder reported to Squire Shuff and was held under $500 bond, which was furnished by Dr. Jamison.

Butler’s reputation as a bad Negro seems to be well-established; an indictment against him is now pending in Frederick Court. Mr. Elder’s character is of the best. Never of a quarrelsome disposition, he has always been well-liked by many if not all of Emmitsburg’s best citizens, and this supposition is that the aggravation of this occasion must have been great. It is stated that when Butler started up street he was heard to say that he would fix Elder, or Elder would have to fix him.

Read Prior '100 Years Ago this Month'