PWCo Items: 1 August 1874

Alexandria Gazette
1 August 1874

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ITEMS.--[From the Manassas Gazette.]

The water in the well of Mr. E. E. Conner, of this place, became so strongly tinctured with coal oil several months ago that the family was compelled to discontinue its use.  Last week Mr. C. had the well cleaned out. There was found an oily substance on the surface of the water which, on having fire applied to it, burned as brilliantly as the best coal oil. Mr. C. cannot account for the presence of the substance.

Edwards, a German, living with Mr. C. Matthis, of this place, had occasion to go on top the barn one day last wee, and, missing his footing, fell to the ground a distance of fifteen or eighteen feet, sustaining a terrible fracture of one of his legs and a very bad sprain of an ankle. The bones were terribly shivered between the knee and ankle joints and protruded through the flesh.

Constable Keys, with a number of men, surrounded and arrested Monroe Atchison, on Saturday last, at Horton's store. Atchison is one of the brothers, two others of which are at large, who are suspected of stealing two horses from the Herndons. He was taken before Justice Law, who committed him to jail. Atchison expects to prove an alibi.

A wandering albino, with a pack on his back, passed through here one day last week. His complexion was almost snow white, and his hair, including his beard, eyebrows and lashes, if possible, were whiter than his skin. His eyes were almond shaped, and a light cherry-red. He was of light statue, and walked as nimbly as a cat.

Nearly every well in the town of Manassas has gone dry, and will continue so while they remain at their present depth -- from fifteen to twenty feet.

One Wednesday, the 5th of August, at Sudley church, a festival will be held for the purpose of raising funds for the completion of said church.

Delegates to the Congressional Convention to meet at Tappahannock on Wednesday next will be appointed at Brentsville on Monday.

Horse racing, which bid fair in the early summer to be all the rage at Manassas, seems to have entirely died out.

Blackberries are plentiful now, and selling at from two to three cents a quart.

The corn crop, from present appearances, we fear, will be a short one.

The County Court for the August term sits on Monday next.