TIME MACHINE ... An Eastern Shore Duel To The Finish

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April, 1878

(The Liberal- LeMars, Iowa)

To The Death

Richmond, Va., March 30.- Intelligence has just been received here of the desperate and fatal rencontre on the eastern shore. It occurred at Eastville, the county seat of Northampton County, on the eastern shore of Virginia, and one well-known and respected citizen lost his life and another is expected hourly to die. The principles in the fatal rencounter were Major Sidney Pitts, second son of the late judge E.P. Pitts, and Mr. Alfred P. Thorn, a prominent young lawyer in the county. The former was killed outright and the latter lingers in an insensible condition. Some two weeks since Mr. Pitts announced his intention to going to St. Louis, and being indebted to the estate of Mr. Elijah Brittingham, the late Postmaster of Eastville, of which estate Mr. Thorn was curator, that gentleman took legal steps to hold him to bail as an absconding debtor. The County Sheriff being sick, the writ was placed in the hands of Mr. Colonna, the jailer, to serve. Mr. Colonna followed Maj. Pitts to the Baltimore steamer, at Hunter's Landing, and, aided by several parties, including Mr. Thorn, attempted to arrest him. He refused to be arrested, claiming that the jailer was not the properly authorized officer to serve the process. The Major then proceeded to Baltimore. A few days ago he returned to Eastville, and on yesterday demanded an explanation from Mr. Thorn, in the street, near Taylor's Hotel, for what he considered an insult in attempting to have him arrested as an absconding debtor, calling him a liar and a damned scoundrel.

Mr. Thorn then drew a navy Colt's revolver, and firing commenced with deadly earnestness. Each party fired two shots. Maj. Pitts fell to the ground, shot through the left breast, and died almost instantly, and at the same time Mr. Thorn fell, shot through the face and neck. The ball having passed through the right cheek, carried away a number of the teeth and a portion of the jawbone, and buried itself in the neck. A coroner's inquest was held a few hours after, and the verdict was delivered in accordance with the above facts. The sad affair has cast a gloom over the whole community around Eastville, where the young men were well known and respected. The body of Maj. Pitts arrived in Norfolk tonight for burial. It now turns out that both parties went armed, and that they expected that one must bite the dust. Thorn had a seven inch barrel Colts fluted navy revolver, and Pitts a five-shooter Hopkins & Allen make. On the evening previous to the shooting, Pitts went to the undertaker in Eastville and told him to take his measure for a burial case, as he expected it would be required for the next day.

At the first shot, Pitts was wounded in the right wrist, which disabled him from cocking his revolver, and he went up to the corner of a house and pried the trigger up, during which time Thorn coolly waited until his adversary was ready, when the two fired simultaneously, each falling at the same moment. Both principals were young. Pitts was in his twenty-second year, and was a nephew of Senator Dennis of Maryland. Thorn was aged twenty-four, a graduate of the University Of Virginia, and a final orator of the Jefferson Society two years ago. Here the romance in this sad affair comes in.

At the University Thorn met and won Miss Loulon Massie, the acknowledged belle of Virginia, who has had more suitors than any other belle in the State, and who has been called the peerless, by scores of students at Virginia's great institution of learning. They were to have been married this winter, when the beautiful girl was stricken down by a fearful malady. As a last resort, to save her life, the surgeon's knife was resorted to, and for three weeks she has been hovering between life and death in Richmond. Young Thorn, her affianced, has been here for months, anxiously awaiting the result.

He left the city a few days ago. While he was absent Miss Massie grew worse, and as he was kept hourly informed by telegraph of her condition, it is stated that upon receipt of the intelligence that she was sinking, he grew reckless and refused to avoid the fatal rencontre. Miss Massie's physicians say that if she hears of the rencontre she will die instantly, and it is kept from her. Mr. Thorn's only audible words since he was shot were, "Is she any better?"- Special Dispatch to the Globe Democrat. 　

　

June, 1893

The Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad Company's regular summer schedule of express train service from Baltimore to the beach was to begin in mid June. In addition, special low rate tickets would be offered beginning in July. A $2 round-trip ticket between Baltimore and Ocean City would be available for use every Wednesday; or for $3: leave Wednesday and return Thursday, or leave Saturday and return Sunday or Monday.

　

August, 1902

Washington College in Chestertown was advertising to attract Eastern Shore students for three courses of study including a Normal Course of 3 years, with graduates of this course being eligible to teach in Maryland Public Schools without examination. "Buildings Furnished Throughout With Electric Light, Bathrooms, and Water-closets." Three free scholarships were being offered for each county on the Eastern Shore for total expenses of $140 to $150 per annum.

　　

April, 1967

(Charlston Daily Mail- Charlston, W.Va.)

'DEAN' MARTIN BRINGS MOTEL BRISK BUSINESS IN MARYLAND

POCOMOKE CITY, Md. (AP)- A motel in this Eastern Shore city posted on its marquee Thursday night: Welcome Dean Martin.

Business was brisk.

Today Professor Martin checks out. He is a dean at Mars Hill College near Asheville, N.C. 　

　

　

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