Mountains Again Afire

Between 300 and 400 acres of timberland in the Catoctin Mountains, west of Thurmont, were burned over from Sunday to Tuesday night. The fire swept a section of the mountain known as Rattlesnake Hill, and drove hundreds of the reptiles from their dens. The snakes became so numerous that the District Forrester had difficulty in keeping the firefighters on the job.

The fire was discovered early Sunday morning and the Fire Warden notified, but by the time he reached the fire zone the flames were advancing along the side of the mountain. He summoned about 15 men to help fight the fire, and Joseph Trope, owner of Catoctin Furnace, sent a dozen.

The flames spread rapidly and by Monday the fire had reached Rattlesnake Hill, a dense piece of young timber and underbrush, and as the flame swept over the hill hundreds of the reptiles sought a place of safety from the advancing fire. One of the firefighters killed three large rattlers, one after another, and a half dozen men then turn their attention to dispatching the snakes. Besides snakes, dozens of pheasants were frightened from their haunts.

From the State Road about a half-mile south of Thurmont the fire presented a spectacular appearance. By Tuesday night the firefighters had control of it, with but a few patches of flames in sight.

The Forrester said he was unable to say until investigation has been made, whether or not the fire was incendiary in origin.

Escapes Lighting Bolt

James Baker, met with a narrow escape from being struck by lightning last Sunday evening in Taneytown. He had taken refuge under a tree and had just untied his horse and moved away when a bolt of lightning, almost out of a clear sky, struck the tree, completely shattering it. There was no storm of any consequence in the neighborhood.

Harney Man Shot

Lloyd Rothaupt, of Harney, was shot twice in the leg last Friday night. Details of how the shooting took place and who did it are lacking, but it said that it occurred in an argument with another resident of Harney over the attention Lloyd had been showing the other man’s wife. Apparently Rothaupt had been a tad bit too ‘sweet’ on the other man’s wife.

No Shooting

The Commissioners of Thurmont have posted signs throughout the town calling attention to the penalty for firing explosives within the corporate limits. The fine ranges from $5 to $20 for each offense. The celebration of the Fourth is somewhat premature in Thurmont, having been underway for three or four days now, with many of the ‘shooters,’ loaded with hooch, firing in all directions and at all times of the day and night. This has occasioned the no shooting notice and also call forth a protest from a number of citizens.

June 14

Fairfield Bank To Get New Home

As a result of actions by the Directors at their weekly meeting, the First National Bank of Fairfield, will get a new home. Between $15,000 and $20,000 will be spent on the new bank building.

Plans for the new bank, which is to be located on Main Street, about one block from the present location specify a two-story brick building, a feature of which would be a fireproof and burglarproof vault. The building will be 30 x 45 feet in dimensions.

As soon as the building on the site for the proposed new bank can be sold and removed, work on the new home for the bank will be started. The Directors hope to move into the new building next fall.

Growth of business is given by the Directors as the reason for building the proposed structure. The bank was established 13 years ago, and since then has been occupying rooms in a property on the corner of Washington and Main Street. There is no room in the present bank for which Directors can hold meetings, and because of this fact, the second story of the new bank is to be fitted up for that purpose.

Aged Rope Jumpers

Two-aged woman indulged in a novel contest. Lavana Vinson, 81, and Priscilla Webb, 87, watched some children jumping rope. They recalled their younger days and Vivian recalled how she out jumped Priscilla. "Can’t do it now" said the latter, and they made a wager. Three oranges were the steaks. Vivian jumped 11 times and sat down panting. Priscilla jumped 12 times and not content with a mirror victory added one more jump, claiming the championship in her class.

Keep Thyself Civil

Excitement ran rather high at the baseball game on Wednesday – much too high. Enthusiast are warned – both locals and visitors – that baseball is a sport; patronized in large measure by those who want it continued on its merits, as a clean entertaining sport. The game can be easily killed as such by those who play too much with their voice and actions. We hope for clear sailing, here after, and this means that the routers and players for the various teams must help by properly controlling themselves, even when things do not go as they would like to see them go.

School Budget Approved

Adoption of the school board budget of $332,000 for the ensuing year, and all of its major particulars, was urge by a committee of the Frederick County Parent-Teachers Association in a visit before the County Commissioners. In recommending the adoption of the budget, the importance of maintaining the present high standard in the county school system was pointed out. Attention was called to the good condition of the school properties and the high standards that have been reached, and the commissioners were urged not to impede this progress. It was also pointed out that the school system is an investment, and not an expense, and that upon it’s continued support depends the future of the county.

June 21

Auto Mishap At Bridgeport

Two men running a handsome Packard car had an upset on the curb just beyond the bridge at Bridgeport, Monday evening, with a result that the car was considerably injured, as well as the occupants. The car was towed back to the Taneytown garage for repairs. After getting fixed up, the man hired a car to take them to Buena Vista, just outside of Emmitsburg. Both of them had evidently been drinking and were in an unfit condition to operate a car.

The car is reported to have been liberally stocked with liquor. A state policeman happen to come along at the time of the accident and secured 2 pints as evidence, and 2 quarts for his own use. He then came to town to notify the garage to come and get the car, but when he returned to the scene the rest of the stock had mysteriously disappeared, much to the annoyance of many who had descended upon the scene to acquire samples.

Death

Lawrence Dielman died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Rhody, near Thurmont, on Saturday afternoon, age 75 years, 10 months and 14 days. The funeral took place on Tuesday morning at our Lady of Mount Carmel church. Interment was made at St. Mary’s.

Fire In Keymar

Tuesday night around 11 o’clock, the house on the farm of John Harman was destroyed by fire. Mr. Harman’s little child became restless and his wife got up to see about it. She told her husband she smelled smoke and Mr. Harman got up and going downstairs found a whole one side of the house a blaze. The rest of the family barely escaped. Mr. Harman’s lost all their furniture and clothing, and have no insurance. It is hoped that Mr. Harman and family will be helped with furniture, money, clothing. Anything in the eating line will be appreciated by them. How the house caught on fire is unknown, but it originated in the kitchen.

Trolleys Crash

Two trolley cars of the Thurmont & Frederick Railroad crash together in a rear end collision at Wilson’s Place west of the Frederick city limits. And while no one was badly injured, the motorman on one of the cars was severely shaken up.

Since the change up of the schedule of the railway company went into affect on Sunday, a car has been dispatched to Lewistown early in the morning to relieve some of the congestion and passenger traffic that is brought to Frederick from that location on the early morning car from Thurmont. The car left Lewistown a few minutes before the car coming through from Thurmont. The Lewistown car picked up all the passengers at the way station and while passengers were moving aboard at Wilson’s Place, the Thurmont car came around the bed and as the rails were slippery, the motorman was unable to stop the car.

The Thurmont car crashed into the rear of the Lewistown trolley and damage the rear end. The Thurmont car was smashed in front and the motorman was thrown back from the controls. No passengers on either car were injured.

To Inspect Highway

The State Road Commission will inspect the Taneytown Road between Emmitsburg and Taneytown, where the use of shale used in the road building has been found a failure. The road is in such bad condition, it is said, that repaving will be necessary very soon. Officials will make a complete inspection of the highway and well then determine just want to recommend as a fix.

Two Women Hurt

Two women were injured, neither seriously, in two mishaps on the Emmitsburg State Road.

In the first, Mrs. Caroline Barnett, who was driving south lost control of her car when some children ran out in front of her machine at the Catoctin Furnace and collided with another machine traveling towards Thurmont. Both machines were damage and Mrs. Barnett sustained bruises and cuts.

In the second accident, Mrs. Roy Miller sustained some injuries about to head in the body when she accidentally fell out of her machine. It is rumored that she had been sampling some of her husband‘s homemade hooch for a significant portion of the day of the accident.

June 28

Storm Wrecks Havoc

Saturday afternoon occurred the most severe rain and windstorm that has visited this section for some time. Rain fell in torrents and the wind uprooted trees and tour large branches from trees throughout the countryside. Lightning was sharp and incessant. The storm was of short duration, passing over in about 20 minutes.

It partook of the nature of a cyclone in the vicinity of LeGore & New Midway. In those sections trees were twisted, telephone poles snapped off and blown for a distance of up to 30 to 40 feet. Wires were strewn along the highway from Woodsboro to New Midway.

It is reported that lightning struck the towers on the Lutheran and Reformed Churches in Creagerstown - little damage was done. Two houses in town were also struck.

During the storm lightning struck the shed of Isaac Hackley’s farm in Creagerstown, in which were stored about 25 tons of hay, a hay press and other machinery. The building went up in flames and contents were destroyed.

A large hayshed on the farm of William Shorb, between Creagerstown and Rocky Ridge was also destroyed, as well as 30 tons of bailed hay and practically all of Mr. Shorb’s farming implements. It required the efforts of a number of men who formed a bucket brigade to save the barn, which stands almost 30 feet from the hey shed.

Four trolley cars on the Thurmont trolley line were burned out by lightning. No one was hurt, and damage was limited to the meters.

The Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. reported that 700 telephone sets were out of service in the county as a whole.

Fairfield was compelled to stand by helplessly and watch the storms all around miss the town and vicinity, proving not a drop of rain there to lay the dust.

17-Year Locust

The 17-year locust has been reported as numerous in the mountains of Frederick County. The brood is known to etymologist as Brood XVI and insects this year will be the descendants of the 17th generation of those which vexed the Pilgrims. State authorities look for the brood to be a large one, although in recent years, because of the disappearance of forests, Locust have not been so numerous. The Locust lays its eggs in the tender twigs of trees and owing to cutting down of timber in many of the mountain counties, there may not be as great a visitation as in 1898, the year of the Spanish War when there were considerable damage done by the insects.

Sandy Hole

Thurmont’s beautiful little retreat in the mountains, where small parties from town are accustomed to spending an afternoon, bathing, having lunch and an all-around good time, is beginning to look more like it used too. The trees which stood on the South bank and enclosed the rocks and stream with shadows, which afforded relief from the heat and lent beauty to the spot were destroyed to make way for a high-tension wire. The wire required the sacrifice of an 80-foot belt of timber through the mountains and Sandy Hole paid the penalty of being in the line of progress. Now the young timber is growing to become again valuable as a beautifier and Sandy Hole is likely to become more popular than ever.

Sandy however has its thorn - broken glass litters the entire rock, the particles, in a number of spots, show that they have been deliberately put in depressions and pulverize, while other pieces range in size from a half inch down to the particularly invisible are scattered everywhere.

We are unable to guess at what might be in the bed of the stream and therefore feel that there is quite a risk in waiting or bathing without a solid protection to the soles of the feet. Just why should anyone wish to make use of a place like that for his own pleasure and when through, deliberately ruin it that others may not enjoy it? What goes wrong in some people’s heads that turned them towards senseless destruction and vandalism?

Thieves Visit clubhouse

The clubhouse of the Forest and Stream Club, located on the Monocracy River near Detour, was broken into last Saturday Night by a window shutter being forced and a lock broken. At this time it is impossible to state the value of the property damage and stolen. The club owns 4 acres of land and has been used by the public for some time for camping and picnic, and games. On account of the public abusing their privileges, the club has decided not to allow trespassing, and the public or asked to please keep off those grounds. The property is now in charge of competent men who will see that only club members will use the property in the future

Catoctin Furnace Land Sold

The Catoctin Furnace track in the northern section of the County located along the Emmitsburg State Road has change owners. The new owners are Lancelot Jacques of Smithsburg, and Stanley Hauver of Foxville, who acquired it from Joseph Throop.

It is a tract of 10,174 acres, embracing a village of 44 houses, an Episcopalian church, a store, and an old mansion built by Thomas Johnson, first Governor of Maryland. The village will be preserved in its present condition, according to an announcement made by the new owners. Most of the houses are largely stone buildings of great antiquity. The Johnson mansion is typical of the colonial period.

The track is almost 7 miles long and extends along the Catoctin Mountain for about 3 miles along the Emmitsburg State Road. The track was patented by Leonard Calvert and Thomas Johnson in 1770. The furnace was erected by Johnson prior to the outbreak of the Revolutionary War and was used to cast cannons and shells for Washington’s army. The cannons were used during the siege of Yorktown. The plates of the famous Monitor were also cast here, as well as parts of James Rumsey’s steamboat which was floated in the Potomac in 1785, this being the first steamboat ever floated in America. At the beginning of the 19th century the furnace was used to cast stoves known as Catoctin Stoves.

The Work Of Death

Michael Hoke of Emmitsburg, died at the home of his son, Joseph Hoke, Monday morning. Mr. Hoch had been ill for six weeks and two to his advanced age – being in his 81st year - was unable to withstand the attack of dropsy, which resulted in his death.

Mr. Hoke was born in York, PA. and came to Emmitsburg when not quite two years old and resided in that community to the time of his death. He was wildly and very favorably known in the vicinity of Emmitsburg, where he had conducted business, being very active up into within a few years ago. Outside of the Grand Army, Mr. Hoke was not associated with any organizations.

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