Tuesday, July 27, 2010

They Were 'huntin' to rob someone'.........

Makeshift memorial Joshua Eicher, part of a street-cleaning crew with the Charles Village Community Benefits District, pauses from his work to look at flowers and birthday cake left at a makeshift memorial in the 2600 block of St. Paul St. for Stephen Pitcairn. (Kenneth K. Lam, Baltimore Sun / July 27, 2010)

Prior brushes with law highlight long-standing problems with local criminal justice system

The suspects accused in the killing of a Johns Hopkins research assistant had been out that night "hunting to rob someone" and told witnesses that they had robbed and "hurt" a "white boy," according to court records.

Lavelva Merritt, 24, and John Alexander Wagner, 34, charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Stephen Pitcairn, have lengthy criminal histories and have been passing through the region's justice system for years, seemingly without repercussion.

A Baltimore Sun review of court records and interviews with law enforcement officials and a recent victim found:

•Wagner pleaded guilty to a vicious assault on his then-girlfriend in 2008 and received eight years in prison, but the entire sentence was suspended. He was charged with violating his probation on four occasions, but each time a city judge ordered that the terms of his supervision remain unchanged.

In April, Wagner was caught on city surveillance cameras robbing a man at a downtown gas station and was arrested at the scene after the victim gave a detailed account and identified his attacker. But the victim later got skittish and refused to cooperate. Prosecutors dropped the case.

•And on July 22, a Baltimore County judge issued an arrest warrant for Wagner for violating his probation in a 2009 car theft conviction. But it was added to a backlog of tens of thousands of unserved warrants.

"The police can only take this so far — we can lock people up and we can move the baton, and we have to rely on our partners in the system to carry that baton to the finish line," said police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. "In this case the baton was dropped."

Wagner and Merritt, according to court records, had struggled with addiction. They had apparently married within the past year and have been arrested together before. Merritt, who is on probation, has at least five prior convictions, most for drug offenses, according to a pre-trial investigator.

Pitcairn, who would have turned 24 today, was on the phone with his mother as he walked to his Charles Village apartment from Penn Station on Sunday night. He was approached in the 2600 block of St. Paul St. by a man and woman who demanded money.

Police say Pitcairn was stabbed in the chest and died in the street as a neighbor held his hand. Bloody shoes, a wallet and Pitcairn's iPhone were found during a search Monday of the nearby Maryland Avenue home of Merritt and Wagner.

Pitcairn had come to Baltimore from Florida after attending college in Michigan and spending a year conducting stem cell research in Japan. Friends and colleagues said he studied breast cancer at Hopkins while teaching MCAT classes, and said he was a "foodie" who loved to travel. He had developed close friendships in his brief time in the city, they said. He was poised to attend medical school and wanted to become a physician to help those less fortunate than him.

"He had so many dreams," said friend Medha Darshan, who trained him when he joined the Hopkins lab last year.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake called Pitcairn's death "an absolutely senseless tragedy" as she walked through Brooklyn on Tuesday evening with a Citizens on Patrol group. "It's incredibly painful for his family, his friends, for the witness and for the community that works so hard to make the neighborhood a safe place to live."

She said police are working hard to target the most violent offenders but was skeptical of the way that Wagner's previous charges had been handled. "I question whether the male suspect should have even been on the street," given his lengthy rap sheet, she said.

Wagner, whose birth date varies in public records, has armed robbery convictions dating to 1991 and received a 15-year prison sentence in the early 1990s.

His most recent charge came in April. After receiving a call for a robbery in progress near a downtown gas station, police tracked down Wagner and Akil Meade using city surveillance cameras. Meade told police Wagner approached and asked if he was a member of the Black Guerrilla Family gang, saying that he "did not want to do this if you are."

He said Wagner then hit him in the face and put him in a headlock while another man rifled through his pockets, an account corroborated by CCTV footage reviewed by The Baltimore Sun.

Meade, 26, worked at the time for Baltimore Rising, a city agency that works with wayward youth and ex-offenders. But when prosecutors spoke to him as they prepared to take the case to court, he expressed reservations.

"You have camera footage, so that's enough," he told prosecutors, according to case notes. He was told that, in fact, his cooperation was necessary. "V [victim] says he's not coming to any court. … V did not want to speak further," the notes show.

"No victim, no case," said Margaret T. Burns, a spokeswoman for Baltimore State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy. "Without the victim's presence, the evidence is hearsay. Even if they recant their original statements, we need them present in court so we can play the statements back and let the jury decide."

Meade insisted on Tuesday that prosecutors had a strong case without his testimony. He cited the independent witness who called 911, the CCTV footage that corroborated his story, and the fact that the arrest was made on the scene and his belongings were found in Wagner's possession.

Meade said the responsibility for Pitcairn's death falls on the prosecutor who declined to continue with charges against Wagner.

"That's on him," Meade said. "They shoulda gone forward and the dude wouldn't be dead. Tell him to do his job and not put [blame] on me."

University of Baltimore law professor Byron Warnken said a 2004 Supreme Court decision upheld the right of an accuser to confront witnesses. He said prosecutors have the ability to compel victims to testify or seek "body attachment" warrants to have them brought to court, or they can discard the victim's testimony and use the accounts of others who will testify.

"But the practical reality is that in most of these assaults, rapes, robberies, the victim has a lot of control. If the victim doesn't want to play ball, the typical response is to drop the case," Warnken said.

Defense attorney Gregg Bernstein, who is challenging Jessamy in the Democratic primary, railed against the chief prosecutor at a news conference Tuesday for not doing more to keep the defendants off the streets. "If the state's attorney had done her job … Stephen Pitcairn might still be alive today," Bernstein said, calling the murder "not just senseless, but preventable."

Bernstein said he would have pushed harder to obtain the victim's testimony. Even if he couldn't, he said the state's attorney's office under his leadership still would have prosecuted the case.

In a statement, Jessamy accused Bernstein of "politicizing" the tragedy.

Wagner had come before Baltimore Circuit Court Judge John Addison Howard at least four times since a 2008 domestic violence conviction, charged repeatedly with violating a probation term that required him to stay out of trouble, check in with a probation agent and attend anger management classes at the House of Ruth.

He failed to attend the classes and check in with his agent, and was charged with car theft in Baltimore County. In that case, he and Merritt were found driving a stolen vehicle. In the passenger's side door was a bag containing suspected crack cocaine and needles, and a knife was in the center console. Wagner was also arrested in the city for drug possession with intent to distribute.

Howard, who did not return phone calls seeking comment, found Wagner guilty of violating his probation at least twice, but never punished him. Joseph Svitako, another spokesman for Jessamy, reviewed the tape of an April hearing and said prosecutors appeared alongside probation agents and asked that Howard sentence Wagner to three years in prison.

Wagner countered at the hearing that he was attending his anger management classes, working at a law firm, and was making his required check-ins with his probation agent.

"I will tell you, you do not want to be back here," Howard told Wagner, according to Svitako.

Baltimore County judges weren't any stricter with Wagner. Baltimore County District Judge Philip N. Tirabassi sentenced him to two years on the car theft charge but suspended the sentence. Wagner failed to pay $300 restitution to the car theft victim, triggering a violation that did not result in a change to his probation.

A warrant for his arrest was issued July 22 after Wagner failed to report to his probation agent. Officials from the Baltimore County sheriff's office said the warrant was sent to a police station in Pikesville, and police would not comment on whether attempts had been made to serve it. Regionally, there is a backlog of more than 40,000 outstanding warrants.

Merritt, wearing a red tank top and blue track pants, was denied bail during a hearing Tuesday afternoon.

The public defender had asked for a $250,000 bond, claiming that Merritt had no "history of violence" and that she had ties to the community through her brother, who was described only as "a high school graduate."

The attorney also raised questions about the strength of the witness accounts against Merritt, saying they didn't see the actual event, but allegedly gave details about the situation "after the fact."

But Judge Devy Patterson Russell countered with a list of the evidence collected from Merritt's apartment — including the victim's belongings — and the statement she gave police.

"The court considers [her] an extreme risk to the public safety," Russell said.

www.baltimoresun.com

Being A Pony Penning Volunteer

CHINCOTEAGUE -- Roe Terry intricately understands the annual Chincoteague Pony Penning from every angle.

Terry, a 34-year member of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, which owns and manages the herd of ponies, knows the importance of the event's tradition and cares deeply for the welfare of the animals.

As the company's public relations officer and media representative, Terry helps television and print reporters get access to the ponies and the volunteers who are so important to this week's activities.

The result is that Wednesday's 85th annual Pony Swim and Thursday's Pony Auction will get worldwide coverage and have a dedicated following of enthusiasts.

"It's a juggling job," Terry said recently from his decoy carving shop on North Main Street. "You've got to be diplomatic."

Terry also understands the impact of Pony Penning on Chincoteague Island. The event helps local businesses and restaurants. And the proceeds of the pony sale and annual Fireman's Carnival help the fire company.

Long after the ponies are sold and crowds are gone, the funding helps meet the operating expenses for firetrucks, ambulances and more.

"Chincoteague's very lucky because we have the ponies," he said.

This year has been no different from others. Terry has been in contact with a reporter from Europe who recently spent time on the island documenting the ponies, and a television reporter from Japan who is expected to attend the event.

Last year, he was particularly proud that Horse Racing Television came to town to film the event and produce a segment. And Terry enjoys recounting when Spencer Christian, the "Good Morning America" weatherman, interviewed him live on national television while the ponies swam in the background.

"You learn, through your trials, what to do," he said. Terry always gives credit to the volunteers and firefighters who came before him and thanks Donald Leonard for being his mentor as the company's public relations point person.

Terry's involvement with the event, however, lasts far more than one week. Caring for the ponies, organizing the swim and auction and preparing for the carnival is a year-round process.

He waves off attention and deflects the credit to all the dedicated volunteers in the fire company and Saltwater Cowboys who give their time and talents to make the event a success.

"Everybody does it, not just me," he said. "It's a tremendous amount of work."

Terry's background

Terry, 57, joined the Navy after high school in Chincoteague and then worked at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Terry and his wife, Monnie, have two grown children, Ryan and Irene.

For a decade, beginning in the early 1980s, he was a full-time decoy carver.

Terry has been a carver ever since he was 15. He credits a neighbor, Doug Jester Jr., with fostering a love of the outdoors.

"He took me clamming, fishing, hunting," he said of Jester.

After carving 5,751 pieces in a little more than nine years, he went back to NOAA as an electronic technician, saying he "decided I better get some retirement and health insurance."

Still, Terry enjoys carving -- he works 42 hours a week at his full-time job and carves another 20-25 hours a week behind his house in a shop where he shows and sells his intricate, detailed birds.

These days, Terry produces about 200 pieces a year and donates some of them to worthy causes like the new Chincoteague Island Library for fundraisers. He also gives 40 talks a year to groups like Elderhostel on carving and wildfowl.

Dedication to volunteering

It seems Terry likely won't get much carving done in the coming days as volunteers coordinate the swim and auction. He'll be speaking with the media and granting access to the swim site. Like many others who help with the event, he takes vacation time from work so he can volunteer for the storied event.

Volunteering is dear to Terry, whether it involves the Pony Penning, helping on a wintertime house fire or with any other organization. He bristles at people who complain about volunteers.

"Don't complain about your volunteers," said Terry, who keeps his firefighting gear in his pickup truck. "Be a volunteer."

That's exactly what people will see Terry and the other Chincoteague firefighters and Saltwater Cowboys doing, not only in the coming days, but all year long.

"It's a satisfying job because you're a volunteer," he said.

www.delmarvanow.com


85th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim - July 28, 2010

The 85th Annual Chincoteague Pony Penning is set to take place tomorrow, Wednesday, July 28th. The Ponies will hit the water after 10:00 AM at dead low tide.

This year, the town is providing a free shuttle service for people wishing to attend the swim. The departures will being at 5:00 AM at Chincoteague High School on July 28th. There are various shuttle stops for all who are staying on the island already in hotels and campgrounds. The shuttles will be wheelchair accessible and will run continuously until the pony swim ends.

According to lore, the Assateague Ponies swam to shore when the Spanish Galleon carrying them was shipwrecked. However, after research was completed it is more likely they were simply turned free by settlers. The Penning was originally for livestock owners to claim, brand, break and harness their loose herds. By the 1700's it had become an annual event, complete with festivities for entire community, according to the Chincoteague Pony Penning Website. The first known documentation of the Pony Penning was a pamphlet printed in 1835.

Following the swim will be the Pony Auction. The auctioneer for the even will be Tim Jennings. At last year's Pony Auction, 65 horses were sold, or folds as they are referred, raising $94,100 for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. 5 ponies were "bought back" in last year's auction. "Buy backs" are ponies which are purchased at auction and then returned to the heard on Assateague Island. Several "buy back" groups exist such as Feathered Friends and the Buy Back Babes. Traditionally, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fireman's Carnival has ended the Saturday after the Pony Swim. However, this year Chincoteague's Carnival will run until Saturday, August 7th.

More Information History of the Pony Penning
http://www.shoredailynews.com/

Nightmist's Colt To Make Pony Penning Appearance

CHINCOTEAGUE --This year's Pony Penning week will be the first appearance of Nightmist's colt, named Paul Merritt's Mountain Mist after local businessman and past supervisor, Paul B. Merritt.

Michael Pryor and Paul became good friends in the late 1980s, which led to Pryor purchasing most of the ponies from the famous Chincoteague Miniature Farm, Inc., including most of the Misty family line.

(Paul Merritt)

Forward to the late 1990s, when Windy gave birth to NightMist. NightMist was a very special pony from the miracle of his birth to the day he died.

The history of the great stallion started with Marguerite Henry purchasing Misty from Grandpa Beebe, then making her famous with a story book titled "Misty of Chincoteague," which has been treasured from the time of its debut in 1947.

This brought Misty into the spotlight, making her famous and starting a legend and legacy to span the next 63 years.

Misty birthed three foals between 1960 and 1962: the first, Phantom Wings; the second, Wisp-o-Mist; and the third and final foal, Stormy.

Stormy was named after the great storm of 1962, which occurred just before her birth. Stormy would birth five foals: Thunder, born in 1967; Windy in 1969; Breezy in 1972; Rainy in 1973; and Misty II in 1974.

Windy would later adopt her sister, Misty II, due to Stormy's lack of interest in her.

Windy gave birth to seven foals: Sunshine in 1973; Cyclone in 1974; Gale in 1978; Hurricane in 1985; Tornado in 1987; Windstorm in 1988; and finally NightMist in 1998.

There are several books about the famous family. The latest editions were written about NightMist, including "NightMist the Miracle Pony," written by Jessie Friend, an understudy of Marguerite Henry and good friend of Pryor; and NightMist the Blue-eyed Pony, by Lois Szymanski, who has written several children's books about the famous ponies and is another good friend of Pryor's.

There is also a comic book featuring the pony and next year a biography about NightMist, titled "NightMist, the Foal, the Stallion, the Legend," by James Smith will be released.

NightMist, like his great-grandmother and grandmother, toured a lot, including with actor David Ladd, who was the child star in the film "Misty of Chincoteague."

NightMist, who was owned by Pryor, died in May 2009, leaving behind many new legacies -- one in particular, named in honor of Pryor's late friend, Merritt.

With the help of his friend Smith they came up with the name Paul Merritt's Mountain Mist. Mountain Mist is marked very similarly to his sire and father, NightMist -- having one blue eye, almost the same medicine cap and body markings and definitely a similar personality.

"He's almost the same as his father, but not exactly the same, because there can only be one NightMist," Pryor said.

Mountain Mist will also be going to train for six months with world-renowned equine trainer Tommy Turvey when he reaches the age of three next year.

Also traveling with Mountain Mist, who is known on the farm as Little Paul, will be Thunder II, the beautiful golden palomino and grand-foal of Misty.

Thunder II was one of the show ponies at the once-famous Chincoteague Miniature Pony Farm and has made appearances all over the East Coast. Thunder II was once the traveling buddy of NightMist.

Again this year Pryor and his Misty family of ponies will be at the famous Beebe Ranch on Ridge Road Monday through Friday from noon on. There will be pony rides all week and plenty of NightMist souvenirs.

The annual party, which was started to celebrate the birth of NightMist, now celebrates his life. It will be on Tuesday, July 27, starting at 6:30 p.m.

There will be free soda, pizza, subs, chicken, hushpuppies and cake, courtesy of the following sponsors: Pepsi, Pizza Hut, Subway, Woody's chicken, Captain Zaks and Sugarloaf Bakery.

During the week, Lois Szymanski's book will be available at the ranch and on Tuesday she will be there to autograph books.

Pryor also would like to think about preserving NightMist's legacy. In the near future there will be a statue erected of NightMist as a foal. The planned statue will be located on the Beebe Ranch, where the legacy began and the most fitting place to memorialize the famous NightMist.

Other appearances throughout the week will be at Pony Penning Enterprises on Maddox Boulevard, which is still run by Helen Merritt, on Thursday, July 29, from 6-8 p.m. Paul's spirit still lives on everyday with her.

This year will be a special year for the ponies that Pryor is offering for purchase. The four foals are grandchildren of NightMist and each one offers a unique trait.

There will be photos available all week at the Beebe Ranch. Come buy a piece of the legend and become part of the legacy.

http://www.delmarvanow.com/

Another Promising Life Cut Short- This Never Should Have Happened!

The promising young researcher had come to Baltimore from his home in Florida, after attending college in Michigan and working with stem cells in Japan, where he became fluent in the language. Here, he assisted with breast cancer studies at the Johns Hopkins University and was poised to enroll in medical school.

(street where the stabbing took place)

He was four blocks from his Charles Village apartment Sunday night when two robbers took his life for cash and a cell phone.
Dropped off at Penn Station after a weekend trip to New York to visit his sister, 23-year-old Stephen Pitcairn was talking to his mother on his iPhone at about 11 p.m. and walking north in the 2600 block of St. Paul St. when a man and woman demanded money.

Police say he turned over his wallet, then took a knife to the chest.

A resident was in his home ironing when he saw three people who appeared to be fighting, then heard a scream. He ran outside, saw Pitcairn lying on his stomach in the gutter and called 911.

"I made it back and held his hand, and I told him that everything was going to be OK," said the man, who was shaken and did not want to give his name. "He said, 'Help me,' and then I held his hand until he expired. I didn't want him to be alone.

"Nobody wants to die alone."

Police said Pitcairn was officially pronounced dead at Maryland Shock Trauma center after midnight. He would have turned 24 Tuesday.

Anthony Guglielmi, the Police Department's chief spokesman, said Pitcairn's mother heard the robbery over the phone.

Police arrested and charged two people in connection with the crime, each one with a predictable rap sheet. Lavelva Merritt, 24, has a long history of drug-related arrests and convictions. John Alexander Wagner, 34, has been charged in robberies and assaults, never receiving anything more than what amounted to time served, even after violating his probation repeatedly, court records show.

Wagner's most recent arrest occurred in late April, when police used surveillance cameras to locate Wagner and a man who said Wagner had put him in a headlock and taken his belongings. The victim pointed out Wagner, who he said had first asked him if he was "BGF" — a member of the Black Guerilla Family gang — or "J," a reference to Jamaa, a Swahili word meaning "family" that is used by BGF members.

Prosecutors dropped the charge on May 18. On a form documenting the decision to place the case on the "inactive docket," prosecutors checked boxes indicating the victim did not appear and "gave statements inconsistent with evidence or otherwise lacks credibility"

Pitcairn's death was one of five killings over the weekend as city officials say crime is on the decline. An unidentified man was fatally shot in the head earlier Sunday while sitting in a vehicle in East Baltimore; two other men were killed a day earlier on the east side in unrelated incidents.
Those killings occurred in traditionally more dangerous enclaves of the city's east side, where gunshots are more frequent and memorials mark light posts. Pitcairn's death came in a neighborhood generally regarded as safe, though that distinction can seem fleeting: The Charles Village Benefits District, which encompasses four neighborhoods where residents pay for extra services, has seen six homicides so far this year, including the shooting of a reputed gang member from nearby Barclay.

Pitcairn, of Jupiter, Fla., studied economics at Kalamazoo College in Michigan. After graduating in 2009, he pursued an interest in medicine and research to land a job at Hopkins that summer, in part due to a personal recommendation from former university President William Richardson, a faculty member at Kalamazoo.

"At that point, I knew he was a pretty special person," said Dr. Gregg Semenza, of the Institute for Genetic Medicine.

Semenza hired Pitcairn for a junior position, but was quickly impressed with his thirst for knowledge and soft-spoken confidence. He had spent a year in Japan doing stem-cell research, soaking up the culture. When Japanese visitors came to the lab in April, Pitcairn conversed with them in their language and talked about restaurants.

On July 1, Semenza promoted him to a lab manager position, which he said was essentially his "right-hand man," and recommended him for enrollment in Hopkins' School of Medicine.

"This was a guy who just had a whole future in front of him," Semenza said. "You knew he was going to do great things."

Daniele Gilke, who worked with Pitcairn and counted him as a friend, said he had been in New York visiting his sister, something he did often. She said he had applied to several medical schools, shadowed a prominent Hopkins transplant surgeon and taught MCAT classes twice a week.

"Stephen always struck me as a person who didn't believe in obstacles," she wrote in an e-mail.

Dr. Edward D. Miller, dean and chief executive officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine, called Pitcairn's death a "tragedy for his family, his friends, for our institution and for science" and expressed hope for a rapid arrest and conviction.

"This is a terrible, terrible loss," Miller said in a statement.

There have been several high-profile incidents involving Hopkins students, including a break-in at a student's off-campus house last fall in which an intruder was killed with a samurai sword. Fraternity member Christopher B. Elser was killed in 2004 after a struggle with a knife-wielding burglar. The next year, a man fatally beat student Linda Trinh. The two student deaths prompted the university to beef up security on and off campus.

"The loss of any member of our Johns Hopkins community impacts us all," Ronald J. Daniels, president of the university, said in a statement. "But the loss of a vital young man of such potential, intent on dedicating his life to helping others, is especially tragic. Everyone at the university joins me in expressing our sympathies to Stephen's family, colleagues and friends."

Pitcairn's relatives in Florida declined to comment.


Sympathy is not enough. The word tragic does not quite explain it! Sorry won't bring this young man back. And the horrible part about all of this is that in a few days, a few weeks, his name will be almost forgotten and he will only be a statistic in the city's crime report. This young man, along with the others that have lost their lives to thugs like these will no longer have a face..........except with the family, friends and colleagues who will always love him and will miss him forever.

This type of crime should NEVER be allowed to happen in ANY city in America and it's a darn shame when walking down an American street can get you killed! Two worthless thugs are still alive today, sitting in a jail cell that probably feels more like home to them than home itself. They've done this before and if tried and let free again they will repeat.

Stephen Pitcairn, his family, and all other families that have faced losing a loved one at the hands of a killer have no more time. They were cheated by the judicial system and those that operate it.
I can't imagine listening to my childs voice from my cell phone as they are murdered........stabbed repeatedly to death and I can't help my child.

Boy Scouts of America's 100th Anniversary With Jamboree At Fort A.P. Hood

The Boy Scouts of America are preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary with the national jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, about an hour south of the nation's capital.

More than 46,000 Boy Scouts, leaders, staff and volunteers from around the world are expected at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree starting Monday in Caroline County. Organizers also anticipate around 250,000 visitors.

Tents will help transform the 76,000-acre base into the state's seventh or eighth largest city.

For 10 days, Scouts ages 12 to 18 will spend their time participating in archery, fishing and other events like geocaching, a GPS-based scavenger hunt. Other events include skeet shooting, robotics and a chance for Scouts to analyze a sample of their own DNA.

The Boy Scouts have held the event at the Army base every four years since 1981, but it skipped a year so the event could mark the organization's 100th anniversary. The group has hosted the gathering since 1937.

"The jamboree is kind of the crown jewel of the 100th anniversary, so it's a big deal for us," said director Larry Pritchard. "For the Scouts, I think the important thing is that this is kind of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something that's bigger than anything you've ever been a part of. ... It gives them a chance to put their Boy Scout citizenship training to use."

The event traditionally features a presidential address, but Pritchard said President Barack Obama will address Scouts with a video message. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is scheduled to speak during the event.

The 2005 event was marred by tragedy when four Boy Scout leaders were fatally electrocuted when the center pole of a large tent they were erecting touched overhead electrical lines. The deaths also were followed by days of intense heat that sickened more than 300 Scouts and visitors.

Organizers have taken extra precautions to help those in attendance to stay safe in the hot temperatures by developing a colored, heat-safety index telling them how much water to drink to stay hydrated and other tips for beating the heat.

The group plans to move the event to a permanent site in Beckley, W.Va., in 2013, but there are contingency plans in place to hold the event at the base in Bowling Green if the other site is not completed in time.

The community surrounding the military facility in Bowling Green also has benefited over the years from visitors coming to town for the event. The Boy Scouts have funneled nearly $75 million into the community for the 2010 Jamboree by using local businesses for preparation, maintenance and supplies, Pritchard said

"We really thrive on a lot of small business especially retail, hotels and restaurants. Our local small businesses have shined because of the jamboree," said Cindy Matern, president of the Caroline County Chamber of Commerce. "This is going to help us tremendously, especially with the economy being on the slow track."
www.shoredailynews.com

Crisfield Mud Hop-- I'd Call It A HUGE Success

After weeks of waiting the Crisfield Elks Mud Hop finally became a reality on Sunday! Alot of credit has to be given to each spectator in attendance on that very, very hot day! Some had unbrella's, some erected those life saving canopy tents. But the bravest were those that sat on the bleachers and watched! What a great crowd!



By noon the area was packed with racers. Some drove campers, some drove semis to transport their racing vehicle. Others trailer towed their vehicle.

The 187 East Performance Racing Team were all there. Donald, the team mechanic, could be found almost anywhere throughout the day...... never in one spot for long.


During the intermission the young racers had their chance to compete.
No truck ever comes out of the pit looking like it did before it went in.
There were a few delays in the racing events during the day. During one race a truck ran completely over the hay bale taking the timing lights with it. That had to be restored before racing for be resumed and completed.

But nothing was quite like this wreck at the end of the day in the Unlimited Class. There were only two more vehicles to go after this one and the hot day would be behind us. The next thing everyone witnessed was this car rolling and rolling at a very fast pace towards the crowd. Luckily it stopped and I think every heart watching stopped too. Paramedics and Staff were there almost immediately and had the driver unlatched from cage and slowly the driver stood to his feet and gave the thumbs up! Whew!

Day done!

You know, this huge event just didn't happen over night. And an event of this magnitude took hours and hours of planning. It took dedicated people to work outside in the hot temperatures like Sunday. A HUGE thankyou to ALL of you that took part making this a sensational event. I honestly don't know how it could have been any better.

THANKYOU!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Md. Fatality On Personal Watercraft During Storm

If you have ever ventured onto the open spaces of the bay, or any mass of water, you know that sometimes no matter how frequent you check the skies conditions can change in a matter of seconds! There can actually be NO warning. My guess is that this was exactly what happened.

ANNAPOLIS — Officials in Maryland say a 63-year-old man using a personal watercraft died after encountering severe thunderstorms while riding Sunday evening.

Maryland Natural Resources Police said Monday it is investigating the death of Warren Douglas Smith who was riding a personal watercraft one-half mile south of the Bay Bridge in the Chesapeake Bay.

Smith and a friend were trying to get back to land when they encountered the storm, which officials said produced winds estimated at 60 miles per hour, waves five to six feet in height and strong lightning. The storm knocked Smith's friend off his watercraft and when he got back up he saw Smith laying face down in the water. Smith was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

www.delmarvanow.com

Crisfield Mud Hop - 2010

In spite of the high temperatures yesterday the Crisfield Elks Members did a fantastic job hosting their mud hop!Trucks were lined up first thing in the morning waiting anxiously to be registered for competition in the days events.Racers and racing fans came from up and down the East Coast. I don't think anyone left the event yesterday that did not have a good time.......unless you were sun burned.
More pictures this evening....................

Stranger Held Stabbed Victim's Hand

A 23-year-old Johns Hopkins research assistant was fatally stabbed Sunday night in Charles Village during an apparent robbery, two days before the victim's birthday, according to city police.

Officers responded to a call of an attack at about 11:30 p.m. in the 2600 block of St. Paul St. and found the man in the road, suffering from stab wounds all over his body.

A man, who would not give his name, said he witnessed the attack and ran outside to comfort the victim. He was in his home ironing when he saw three people who appeared to be fighting, then heard a scream. He ran outside and saw the victim lying on his stomach in the gutter, then called 911.
"I made it back and held his hand, and I told him that everything was going to be OK," the man said. "He said, 'Help me,' and then I held his hand until he expired. I didn't want him to be alone.

"Nobody wants to die alone."

Police said the victim was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police have not identified the man, pending notification of kin.

About 8:30 a.m. Monday, a police SWAT team executed a raid in the 2700 block of Maryland Ave. and took away a man and a woman in plastic handcuffs. Detectives at the scene would not comment about whether they were considered suspects, but a spokesman confirmed that the raid was connected to the homicide investigation.

The stabbing was the second fatal attack in the city Sunday night. At about 7 p.m., officers responded to a call for shots fired in the 1500 block of Lanhorne Court in East Baltimore and found a 30-year-old man sitting in a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head, according to police. Medical crews pronounced the man dead at the scene. Police were waiting to identify the man, pending notification of kin.

Police had no suspects and had not determined a motive in that incident.

In two other unrelated incidents Sunday night, two men suffered nonfatal gunshot wounds.

A 23-year-old man was shot in the left thigh at about 10:15 p.m. in the 5200 block of Wilton Heights Ave. in Northwest Baltimore, according to police. The victim was taken by a friend to an area hospital. The victim told police that he was outside his home when an unidentified man attempted to rob him. Police said the victim was trying to run away when he was shot.

Later in the night, an unidentified man was shot in the leg in the 1500 block of Baker Ave. in West Baltimore, according to police. The man was taken to an area hospital at about 1:30 a.m., and his condition was unknown.
www.baltimoresun.com

Longtime Mounted Unit Horse, "Mr. President", Retires

OCEAN CITY – The OCPD this week announced the retirement of longtime Mounted Unit horse Mr. President, who has been a fixture in the resort for the last 17 years.

Mr. President, now 23 years old, officially retired last Thursday, July 15, after serving the OCPD since 1994. Known for his speed and durability, Mr. President routinely patrolled the south end of Ocean City including the Boardwalk, where he was involved in dozens of incidents over the years. In addition to his routine patrol duties, Mr. President was involved in several arrests, crowd control incidents, crime prevention events and search and rescue incidents.

According to the OCPD, the horse’s devotion to the town of Ocean City has been demonstrated through his hard work and participation at hundreds of public events and functions. In addition to his official police work, Mr. President became an ambassador of sorts for the town over the years and a favorite of residents and visitors, especially children.

Along with his on-duty work, Mr. President was also an asset to the OCPD in an off-duty capacity. As the senior horse in the OCPD stable, he was often tasked with training duties involving new riders as well as new horses. After a successful career and years of dedication, Mr. President will retire from the force.

He will continue to reside at the farm with the other police horses and will be under the supervision of retired OCPD officer and longtime rider Corp. Ray Land. According to the OCPD, not only will Mr. President be missed by his colleagues at the department, but he will be missed by the visitors and citizens which he served since 1994, the OCPD said.

www.md.coastdispatch.com

Ocean City Councilwoman Tells About Incident With Laser Pointer

OCEAN CITY — Laser pointers have made their way back into the public eye after a City Council member claims she had her eyes damaged by one last week.

Councilwoman Margaret Pillas, who also owns a Boardwalk store, said a young boy hit her in the eye with a beam from a green laser pointer that he had carried inside her store last Saturday, and she says she’s been struggling to see things clearly since.

“It’s like trying to look through a piece of cellophane,” said Pillas on Wednesday. “Things have been blurry, almost like there’s a haze around everything. My doctor said it will be like that on and off for several months.”

Pillas described the youth armed with a laser pointer as a “10-12 year old boy” who had come into her store with his mother and grandmother. She said she saw the green light flickering near her on the wall by the cash register, and when she turned around again, it hit her square in the eyes.

“It was obvious that he did it on purpose, and I asked the folks to leave the store after they claimed it was an accident,” said Pillas. “I felt the impact of the light on my eyes, and I haven’t been able to see properly since, accident or not. Kids today aren’t being taught to do the right thing, and life is just a game to them. They need to be respectful of other people’s personal space.”

Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officials said this week that there has been a widespread proliferation of green laser pointers being sold and carried on the Boardwalk that has potentially surpassed the proliferation of red laser pointers back in 1998, which prompted the Mayor and City Council to pass an emergency ordinance that would make it unlawful to harass or even point a laser pointer at another person.

As a result of the heightened interest and rise in complaints, the OCPD issued a press release this week reiterating the ramifications if one is found guilty of harassment with a laser pointer as per Maryland State Law.

“Maryland state law restricts individuals from knowingly using a laser pointer to illuminate another in a public place in a matter that harasses or endangers another. The Ocean City Police Department is continuing to enforce laser pointer violations. If a person is found to be using a laser pointer in a harassing manner, they are potentially subject to a fine of up to $500 or imprisonment of up to 30 days or both,” the release said.

The released also touched on the dangers associated with the laser pointers.

“The Ocean City Police Department warns citizens of the danger that can accompany laser pointers. Hazards are most likely to affect the eye, including flash blindness, damage to the retina and an after image or glare. The Ocean City Police Department reminds citizens laser pointers are not toys and should be used with adequate care and supervision,” the release said.

While in another capacity with the department, Police Chief Bernadette DiPino testified in Annapolis in 1999 about the merits of creating legislation that would instill penalties for misuse of laser pointers, and her testimony was credited as one of the deciding factors in the bill being passed into law.

City Solicitor Guy Ayres advised the council that the local and state law were potentially as far as they could go regarding this summer’s rise in laser pointer related incidents, noting that the legal usages of the devices were enough to stop a total ban in the resort.

“These laser pointers are used in boardrooms and offices all over the country, and because there is a legal use for them, we can’t just ban the sale of them outright in Ocean City,” said Ayres.

Pillas urged the public to come forward and speak out if they fall victim to harassment by a laser pointer.

“At this point, we need more people to complain, and more people to come forward,” said Pillas. “That, and we need more research done as to how damaging these lasers can be on a person’s eyes. All I can do is try to bring this issue to the forefront and hope that the six other people on the council will support me on this.”

Pillas said that she has gone as far to ban all laser pointers from being brought into her Boardwalk store, and she says that she hopes that other stores on the Boardwalk will follow suit.

“I wish that merchants would just stop carrying them,” she said, “but they are everywhere now, and it’s getting out of control. It’s one thing to have freedoms, but it’s another thing entirely not to take responsibility for those freedoms.”

www.md.coastdispatch.com

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Pocomoke Mourns the loss of community member

Mrs. Joan Condyles, 54, of Pocomoke died Saturday evening when her van was struck while her and her family was on their way to the beach. A sedan failed to yield near Betheden Church Road and struck the van. The van they were driving flipped a couple of times and stopped in the median on it's roof.

The following passage is from a Facebook page that was created in her honor.
"Joan worked mainly out of Cedar Chapel School for children with special needs, but also made home visits around the county.
She helped with Special Olympics, especially with the swimming program.
She played guitar and was a member of the Holy Name of Jesus choir. She frequently could be heard creating an alto line to harmonize with the rest of the choir. She was also a cantor for the services, helped with the CCD program and Vacation Bible School. She incorporated Signing into the music for the smaller children.

She loved her flower and vegetable garden and also to sew projects like quilts and curtains. From her experience as a physical therapist, she could fix anything or construct anything needed around the house. She was amazing in her ingenuity.

She was a long-time member of the church Monday Night Bible Study group. She would have notes upon notes written in preparation for each class!

She loved to take her family and the Copelands to pick blueberries each year. She had a special system and all the gear ready to go.

She loved to take long walks. Neighbors would see her, sometimes with her husband, Joe, walking around the Homewood and White Oaks neighborhoods. Her long red hair, usually with a headset or earmuffs on, made her quickly recognizable.

She leaves behind her husband, Joe, who she met in Portsmouth, Virginia, when he was in the Coast Guard. She has a son, Curtis, and his wife, Becky, and their son, 2 yr old Luke, who is her only grandchild. She has one daughter, Christina (Christy), who just graduated from Mount St. Mary's with degrees in Theology and Music. She has another son, Tim, who graduated from Pocomoke Senior High School this June and will attend Capitol College in DC this fall.

Joan was a wonderful person and May She Rest In Peace
In HEAVEN! Amen."

Joan, you will be missed!

The History Of Pocomoke By Murray James (16)

110 History of Pocomohe City,

Our youthful readers cannot realize the advantages of
steamboat travel to the same extent that some of us can,
whose memory goes back to the time when there was no
steamboat plying between Pocomoke City and Baltimore,
and when it would require, at certain seasons of the year,
two weeks or more for a sail vessel to make a trip from
Pocomoke City to Baltimore and return.

Whereas with the present facilities of travel the trip can
be made in thirty-nine hours, and gives you eleven hours
of that time to attend to business in the city. With these
facts before us we can see clearly that progress is march-
ing onward.



Formerly New Town. Ill



CHAPTER XVI.

SHIP BUILDING, &c.

The shipbuilding, steam milling- and marine railway

business is carried on quite extensively in Pocomoke City.

Shipbuilding has been carried on in New Town from time

.immemorial, but the steam milling and marine railway

business is of more recent date.

The first steam mill ever erected in New Town was by

a man by the name of Hutchinson in 1839. This mill was
•employed at first to make shingles, but afterwards turned

into a saw mill.

It was severally owned by Hutchinson, Dr. Geo. S. D.
■ Shipley, Ricaud, then E. S. Young and Geo. Blades,

under the firm of Young & Blades, then E. S. Young and
and James H. Young, under the firm of Young & Brother,
.then Capt. James T. Young by himself, who carried on
the business until 1866, when he sold out to Polk & Powell.
They conducted the business about ten years, when they
sold out to James T. Young and Lewis W. Young, doing
"business under the firm of Young & Brother. Finally
James T. Young bought out his brother Lewis, and is now
conducting the business by himself.

I have been thus explicit in running out the history



112 History of JPocomoke City,

of th.s mill simply because it was the first ever established
in New Town.

But the year IS44 was marked as the beginning of a.
series of successes unprecedented in the history of New
Town. The circumstances which brought them about
were as follows : During that year Ezra B. Risley hap-
pened to be in a certain port in the State of New jersey,
when a vessel loaded with cypress fencerails arrived- He
saw the rails and enquired where the}' were from, etc.
The cargo of rails belonged to Jas. Daugherty and Levin
P. Bowland. In this case, like thousands of others, the
door of wealth was opened by the merest accident, and
the old adge holds good, "one sows and another reaps."
In as short a time as possible alter this two strangers were-
seen in New Town ; no one knew who thev were or what
was their business. They prospected awhile in the cypress*
swamps, made some purchases and went away. The
strangers proved to be John Ashcraft and Ezra B. Risley.
During the next year, 1S45, they established a large steam
saw mill at Harry Henderson's landing, the place now
owned by Littleton Waters. Here they commenced
operations. They brought down Jersey wood choppers and
employed our own men also. Like an electric shock,
they aroused the citizens of New Town and the entire
surrounding country to the idea of business which has
never died out. They infused r a spirit of industry and
enterprise in all, from the day laborer to the merchant
behind the counter and the farmer at the plow. They



Formerly New Town. 11%

raised the price of labor, paid their employees the money
for their work, and produced an entire revolution in busi-
ness life.

They engaged in ship building also, and built some
large sea vessels. They purchased all the cypress swamps
below New Town, and sent to market all their timber and
lumber in their own vessels, which they built. They
operated about twenty years, made about $i5o;ooo and

retired.

With them originated, in a great measure, if not entirely,

the practical idea of the steam mill business in this sec-
tion of country.

In 1854, JohnW, Ouinn, Jas. Murray and John Ashcraft

established a steam saw mill in New Town. In 1855,
Murray sold out his interest in the mill to Nicholas N.
Bosley ; the mill now being run by the firm of Quinn,
Bosley and Ashcraft. This firm continued two years, when
they sold out to Thomas W. Hargis and Ambrose Dixon,
doing business under the firm of Hargis & Dixon. They
continued two years and then sold out to Captain H. H.
Husted. Captain Husted conducted the business three
years, when in 1862 he sold out to Captain James H.
Young ; Captain Young, having already a fine mill, bought
this mill of Captain Husted to get it out of his way.

As history is always repeating itself I wish to present to
the reader a case illustrative of the fact, in which we have
an example of one, who, from the poorest walks of life
has attained, by hard work and good management to the
position of wealth and independence.



114 History of Pocomoke City,

I allude to Captain James H. Young, who, I am sure

will not take exceptions to this statement, for he takes a

pride in the knowledge of the fact that he has made his

mark in the world. \\ nile he seems to say to the youth

of the present day, by his independent step as he walks

the streets ; boys go work as I have done and take care of

your labor, and when you get old you will have something

to lean upon.

Captain Young's father died quite a young man, and

left a widow and three children to support themselves as

best they could. It is true they had a little home but it

was merely a staying place.

The mother and elder son Edward would work at any-
thing they could get to do. She at the spinning wheel,
hoeing corn, and sometimes in the fodder field saving
fodder at twenty-five cents per day. and he tending the
gardens in town and working on the farms for twelve and
a half cents per day.

After a while James grew old enough to work, also, and
would work, sometimes, for five cents per day. At the
age of sixteen he was put to the tailoring business ; he
continued at the trade two years, when his future pros-
pects seemed to be beclouded, and as sitting on the board
did not agree with him, he concluded to make a change.
At the age of eighteen, he engaged with Captain James
Riggin as cook on board a small vessel, similar to that of
a. ship's long boat, at four dollars per month.

This was the day of small things, but it was the begin-
ning of a successful course of life. At this period he was



Formerly New Town. 115

very destitute of clothing; he had saved, however, as he
thought, three months wages with which he intended to
clothe himself. When lo ! the tailor with whom he had
been living, had by some means collected his wages, and
he was still left destitute. This was a terrible blow to the
little fellow, for he was very small for his age. however he
continued persevering and became a hand before the mast,
in the bay and coasting trade. Some time after his
maturity, by his industrious habits and temperate course
of life, he won the respect and sympathy of John U.
Dennis, who one day told Captain Young that he ought
to buy a vessel or part of one. Captain replied that he
was not able. Mr. Dennis told him that he would make
him able, he would lend him the money, and did so.
Capt- Young then joined Thomas W. Hargis in the pur-
chase of a schooner. Mr- Hargis at that time was keeping
store at Wagram, Accomac County, Va. How long this
partnership lasted I cannot tell, but after their dissolution
he joined Col. Wm. H. Merrill in a schooner called the
Sarah Ellen. Finally he bought out Col. Merrill and run
the vessel in his own name until 1854, when he engaged in
the steam mill business.

Although Capt. Young had made up to this time $8,000
or $10,000, yet here was the gold mine which he struck.
The first few years of his milling life, however, were not
so successful, but after the war commenced the tide of
success set in, and money poured in upon him like a
f.ood.



116 History of Pocomoke City,

In 1866, after making money enough to satisfy his
ambition, he sold out to Polk & Powell, as before stated,
and retired.

In making a few desultory remarks relating to Capt.
Young, I will say he has been a great worker and has had
a constitution to stand it. He has been unyielding in his

perseverance until the prize was gained.

There is one feature of his business life which is spe-
cially worthy of record, and that was, Captain Young
never did business on the Sabbath day. This is worthy
of all praise and should be an example to other business
men to act likewise. He owns ten farms aggregating two
thousand acres of land, which cost him between forty and
fifty thousand dollars, he also owns about twenty houses
and lots, some of them valuable ones, besides his private

securities and other personal property.

Captain Young has been a member of the Methodist

Protestant Church, in Pocomoke City, for many years, has
been twice married ; has eight children living, four by
each wife. He is now living in a green old age at about
three score and ten years, and looks back upon his life-
work as master of the situation.

In 1869, Levin J. M. P. Broadwater and Thomas R. P.
S. White established a steam saw mill, in Xew Town, and
run it until 1869, when it was purchased by James T.
Young, and he run it until 1876, when he sold it to W. J.
S. Clarke, and it was moved to Nashville, Accomac County,
Virginia.

In 1864, \Y. J. S. Clarke and John H. Clarke, his brother^



formerly New Town. 117

established a Marine railway, and in 1869 they built a
steam saw, planing and grist mill, in New Town. They
also commenced ship building and repairing at the same
time.

In 1869, Hall, Bro. & Co. commenced the steam saw
mill business. In 1873, they built their Marine railway
and carry on ship building, also, in connection with these
two branches of business.

James T. Young, as has already been stated, is carrying-
on the steam mill business. Is running a steam saw,
planing and grist mill, and carries on ship building in
connection.

Clarke & Co. and Hall, Bro. & Co. have three steam
saw mills in the country, but the business ot those ' mills
centers here, so that I associate them with the steam mill
business of Pocomoke City.

In 1865, Thomas F. Stevenson commenced the business

of steam milling in New Town. In 1866 he took as a

partner his son, Riley M. Stevenson ; the firm is now doing

business under the firm of Thomas F. & R. M. Stevenson.

Theirs is a flour, grist and planing mill. It will afford

any one pleasure to go into their establishment and witness

the mechanical skill and neatness that characterizes every

department. The father and grandfather of this firm is

with them and works daily at the age of between 80 and

90 years. They are all natural mechanics and merit the

praise that is accorded to them for the exhibition of such

a talent.

In 1872, James T. Hearn, Allison Fleming and Charles



118 History of Pocomoke City,

G. Dale established a steam flour and grist mill in this
place. How long they continued I am not able to say.
They, however, sold out to H. H. Dashiell, of Princess
Ann, Somerset County, Md. The mill is still owned by
Mr. Dashiell, but it is rented by R. T. Dixon, who is a
live man, and is doing a heavy business in the manufacture
of flour and meal.

In summing up the steam saw, planing and grist mill

business, together with the marine railway and shipbuild-
ing business of Pocomoke City, we now have seven steam
mills, including those in the country whose business is
identical with the business of Pocomoke City. Five are
saw mills, two of which have planing and grist mills
attached ; two are flour and grist mills, one of which has a
planing mill attached. There are three shipyards and
two marine railways. They employ in the aggregate 160

hands annually, and do an annual aggregated business
of $166,000.

Before concluding this part of the history of New Town,

now Pocomoke City, I would do injustice not to mention

the case of Captain John H. Clarke, who is equally

deserving of a liberal notice in this historv.

He was born in 1828 and lived with his father until
1846, at which period his lather died. He was then 18
years of age. He farmed for two years and then engaged
as hand on board of Captain Elijah Taylor's vessel, which
engagement lasted two or three years, during which time
he married Captain Taylor's oldest daughter.

After this he engaged in partnership with his brother,



Formerly New Town. 11 9*

W. J. S. Clarke, in the vessel business, and they owned sev-
eral vessels together. This firm continued, when they
entered into the steam mill, Marine railway and ship
building business, finally ending in their large transactions..
He has served one term, and is at present on his second,
as commissioner of the county, with great acceptability.
Above all he is recognized as a good and honest man.

He owns ten or twelve hundred acres of land, eight or
ten houses and lots.

Captain Clarke has been an acceptable member of the

Methodist Episcopal Church, in Pocomoke City, for many
years, has been twice married ; has eight children, five by
his first wife and three by his second. He is now fifty-two
or three years of age, in the prime of his strong man-
hood, with the prospects of the future looming up brightly
before him. His oldest son, William E. Clarke, is a whole-
sale dry goods merchant in the City of Baltimore, and as
he is a native of this place, and as it was here that he
received his first business ideas, it is but right and proper
that his history should be known. He was born on the
20th day of March, 1851. After receiving such an educa-
tion as he was able to get here, he was taken at the age of
12 years into the store ol his uncle, W. J. S. Clarke, where
he remained three or four years, during which time he was
thoroughly drilled by his sagacious uncle, whose business
ability is proverbial.

At the age of 15 or 16 years his uncle, seeing he had

great business qualifications beginning to develop them-
selves, took him to Baltimore and placed him with that



120 History of Pocomoke City,

popular and well-known house, Hurst, Purnell & Co.,
where he arose step by step from office boy to book-
keeper, and has been for several years a partner in that
gigantic establishment.

Mr. Clarke is' quite popular, and as a recognition of that
fact, a new steamboat, which was built by Hall, Bro. & Co.
and Clarke & Co., which cost $25,000, which has just
made its first trip and which will ply between this place
.and the various tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay, has
been named after him. William E. Clarke is recognized
by all as one of the leading business men of the Monu-
mental City. He is 31 years of age, is scarcely in the
prime of life, with success and emolument knocking at
his door.



Formerly Mew Town. 121



CHAPTER XVII.

HOTELS. LIVERY STABLES, &c.

Hotels existed in New Town at an early date in its his-



was kept by Josiah Long, my wile's father. How long he

'was engaged in the business I cannot say. He died in

1813. About the same time, or shortly after Josiah Long

commenced the business, Bennett H. Clarvoe engaged in

it also. After Mr. Clarvoe died, the widows of Mr. Long

and Mr* Clarvoe carried the business on for some time

and then retired ; and in succession the following persons

kept hotel, in New Town, now Pocomoke City, until the

present time, 1882 : Captain John Merchant, Littleton Cot-

tingham, Sally Jones, Francis Mezick, Thomas Evans,

Edward F. Mezick, Robert Silverthorn, Joseph Lanklord,

Henry Dryden, John Allen, Rosa Young, Peter Corbin,

Robert Marshall, John Adair, L. J. M. P. Broadwater,

Ralph Ross, Littleton Sturgis, Charles Rider, W. J. S.

Clarke, William W. Quinn, Titus I. West, Captain Wm.

H. Comegys, George Twilly, Levin P. Bowland and H.

<1 Powell. Mr. Powell is the proprietor of the Clarke

House, and is a popular hotel keeper. Report says he

'.keeps the best table of any house on the shore.



12:2 History of Pocomoke City,

The Livery Stable business has been connected with the-
Hotel business from time immemorial, until 1869, when,
the Messrs. William and Samuel Twilly commenced it as
a separate business. As the Messrs. Twilly are the pio-
neers in this business, it is but right that an extended
remark should be made concerning them here. These
gentlemen, having had long experience in the livery stable
business, have become experts, and are widely known as
reliable men, and are very popular, it is a real pleasure-
to see the fine teams and splendid carriages which go out
from their stables. It is thought they can challenge the
whole Eastern Shore, if not the State, for a successful.
rival in their line.

In 1878 and 1879, Emerson Melvin kept a livery stable,.
in Pocomoke City, and in 1880 and 18S1, John J. Jones^
was engaged in the business ; both of these establishments,
however, continued but a short time.

In 1881, Edwin F. Causey and Herbert H. King estab-
lished a livery stable, in Pocomoke City, and continue
the same to the present. These gentlemen are polite and.
accommodating ; they keep constantly on hand a supply
of horses and carriages, and no one need fear disappoint-
ment in getting a good team at their stable.

We now have two livery stables in Pocomoke City, kept
by the Messrs. Twilly and Causey & King. These two
stables keep constantly on hand about twenty horses and
fifteen carriages, and can scarcely supply the the demand
at that.



Formerly New Town. 12



Q



CHAPTER XVIII.

PHYSICIANS.

Ol the physicians of New Town (now Pocomoke City),
Dr. John Stevenson was the first that we have any knowl-
edge of. He settled in New Town about the year 1800, and
practiced medicine until he died, which event occurred in
in 1 8 26. He was buried in the family burying ground on
the farm, which now belongs to Thomas W. Hargis, he
being at the time of his death 50 years of age. Dr.
Stevenson had no competition in the practice of medicine
until a few years before his death, consequently he had a
large practice and made money. He had a genial spirit,
was very popular both as a physician and citizen, and was
highly cultured. He was a member of the Pitts Creek
Presbyterian Church, and as has already been intimated,
became independent, and when he died he left a fine
estate to his widow and children.

Dr. Morrison settled here for a short time and practiced
medicine. Dr. Johnson also practiced medicine in New
Town for a short time and then moved to Salisbury, where
he died. The first name of these two gentlemen I have
forgotten ; they practiced in New Town in the latter part
of Dr. Stevenson's life.



124 History of Pncomoke City,

Dr. John B. H. W. Clarvoe commenced the practice of
medicine in New Town in the latter part of Dr. Steven-
son's life. He built up an extensive practice ; he was
sociable, intelligent and one of the most popular physicians
and citizens. The tidy little Doctor's image is before me
in my memory while I write. Seated upon his Teaboy or
Catahulean — for these were the names of his horses — hav-
ine his saddlebags with him, he would ride away to visit
his patients. The Doctor was a cousin to Bennett H.
Clarvoe, and consequently a relative of the celebrated and
well-known detective John Clarvoe, of Washington City,
who has recently deceased. The Doctor died compara-
tively a young man, and left a widow and three children,
all of whom have since passed away,

Dr. James B. Horsey settled in New Town in the prac-
tice of medicine a while after Dr. Stevenson's death. He
married the Doctor's youngest daughter, Elizabeth, and
occupied the homestead while he lived. He died in 1838,
aged 30 years. Dr. Horsey was a native of Snow Hill.
His lather died when he was quite small. The independ-
ent and generous-hearted David Hopkins, of Snow Hill,
who was a bachelor, took a liking to the sprightly lad and
assumed his education. He gave him a thorough college
course all at his own expense. After the doctor's gradua-
tion Mr. Hopkins gave him a physician's outfit, consisting
of horse, carriage, etc. Dr. Horsey had a bright intellect,
was a good physician, and a ready off-handed speaker
when the occasion called him out.



Next; Formerly New Town. 125 



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THE YEAR IS 1910

THE YEAR IS 1910
************ ********* ***********
The year is 1910
One hundred years ago.
What a difference a century makes!
Here are some statistics for the Year 1910:
************ ********* ************ 
The average life expectancy for men was 47 years.
Fuel for this car was sold in drug stores only. 
Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower !
The average US wage in 1910 was 22 cents per hour.
The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year.
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year,
A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year,
 and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME.
Ninety percent of all Doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which
Were condemned in the press AND the government as 'substandard.'
Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.
The Five leading causes of death were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke
The American flag had 45 stars.
The population of Las Vegas , Nevada , was only 30!
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented yet.
There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write and 
Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores.
Back then pharmacists said, 'Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind,
Regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health'
( Shocking? DUH! )
Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help.
There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A. ! 
   
I am now going to forward this to someone else without typing it myself.
From there, it will be sent to others all over the WORLD - all in a matter of seconds!
Try to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years. 

Taliban Says It Captured Two U.S. Service Members In Afghanistan

KABUL -- Two U.S. service members went missing after driving off their base in Kabul on Friday, and the Taliban later claimed to have captured them in eastern Afghanistan, NATO officials said Saturday, the same day five U.S. troops were killed in the south.

Coalition forces launched a manhunt by ground and air for the two missing troops but did not immediately release information about their identities or what is known of their whereabouts. The Associated Press reported that the two were Navy personnel, citing a NATO official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

"Every available asset is being brought to bear" to find them, said Lt. Col. Joseph T. Breasseale, a NATO spokesman in Kabul.

Afghan officials in Logar province, which borders Kabul to the south, said the two service members were driving an armored sport-utility vehicle when they were captured in Matinai, a village in the Charkh district. A spokesman for Logar's governor, Din Mohammad Darwish, said the area is "totally under control of the enemy."

A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, called Afghan reporters in Logar on Saturday and told them that the militant movement had captured the two Americans and killed one of them, according to an Afghan reporter and the governor's spokesman. NATO officials said they could not confirm the statements of the Afghan officials or the Taliban.

The announcement of the two service members' disappearance came on a difficult day for NATO forces, as five U.S. troops were killed in bomb attacks in southern Afghanistan, the volatile region where the Taliban is strongest. Four of the troops died in one bomb blast, and one died in a separate attack, NATO officials said.

The deaths pushed NATO's death toll in July to 75 troops, including 56 Americans. Last month was the deadliest of the war for NATO troops, with more than 100 killed.

President Obama has sent 30,000 new U.S. troops to Afghanistan, and commanders attribute the growing violence to the push into Taliban strongholds where the coalition previously had a minimal presence. Others say that the Taliban has grown stronger by the year and that it now controls wide swaths of the country.

Kidnappings of U.S. troops in Afghanistan are rare. One American soldier, Spec. Bowe Bergdahl, from Idaho, has been held captive since June 2009.

www.washingtonpost.com

HOT! HOT! HOT!

Another hot day!!
Just stretch out and stay cool wherever you find a comfortable spot.....

and chill.................

Crisfield Mud Bog

Races will be held behind the Crisfield Elk Lodge
Pit is dug and waiting for racers and the racing fans.....................
Gates open at 8:00 AM
Races begin at 12:30 PM

Admission: $7.00 Children 10 and under FREE
Bring an easy chair or blanket.

SEE YOU THERE!!