Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-07-12
MOST EXTRAORDINARY HOAX.

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The Manchester (England) Guardian,
has the following account Of an extraordi-
nary hoax at Warrington, Lancashire On
Saturday, a hoax Of the most extraordinary
and impudent kind was played off at War
rlnston. 1t appears that some waggish in
! dlvldual, at present unknown, last week ad-
dressed letters to various gentlemen and
traders in the town, dating from the Rec
tory, and purporting to be signed by the
Rector, the Rev. ". Quekett, giving invi-
/ tatlons and orders to an almost incredible
amount. On Saturday morning about IL
o'clock, the end of Church street that
fronts the Rectory presented curious as
pect Crowds Of people had gathered, and
were watching the fun as butchers, sweeps
and bakers made their appearance at the
house of the Rector. Mr. Quekett, as may
well be imagined, was nigh frantic at see
ing the numerous articles that were being
! deposited at his door; and it really was no
joke to be presented by seven carriers. each
OF whom had brought load of coal, and
determined not to be gammoned into ta-
king 1t back. Nor was it all laughing
matter to be troubled with sweeps, butch
ers and doctors, all seeking an entrce-
While squabble was going on between the
coal carriers and domestics, up come two
empty carts, the drivers having orders, as
they said, to take the Rector's luggage to
the railway station; and confusion was
worse confounded by the arrival of joiner
armed with full instructions to measure
Mr. Quekett for coffin The bewildered
servants astonished chips by telling him
he'd better ask the master himself and
feeling himself done he walked off amid
the derisiye cheers from the people outside
The joiner had barely left the door when
four sweeps made their appearance eyeing
each other askance, as they thought queer
that four of US should be chaw'd to sweep
one chimney
They were undeeeived at last, but not
without some difficulty, and the disputation
had scarcely closed between them and the
Rector's servants, when the Mayors car
riage was announced, and out stepped the
Chief Magistrate, expecting to take lunch
con with his reverend friend. A few
words suficed to show His Worship how
matters stood, and he was preparing to
leave, when two celebrated members Of the
medical fraternity arrived. Perhaps they
were sent for to prepare the Rector for the
service Of the joiner. Eight butcher boys,
with prime joints, next besieged the Rec
tors door, and supplemented by lad with
a hand-cart full of currant bread, which
had been prepared for some party that was
to take place. Explanations ensued, but
a barber who had come to shave the Rec
tor would not believe the news, and he had
to be told to depart After the solids
came the liquors. Men with porter and
wine from various merchants in town, each
morally certain, as he knocked at the door,
that his were the only things ordered All
were; however, doomed to disappointment,
and they had to return as heavily laden as
they came; and so had the fishmonger's
boy with barrel of oysters. A cab next
drove up, but drove away as it came, empty,
the driver looking as pleasant as was posi-
bic under the circumstances. y couple Of
carloads of bricks were next driven up to
the door, followed by boy with truck
laden with buckets and tubs, and another
with barrowful Of spades, all the parties
being evidently in state of mystifcation
at the crowd, the Goals, the sweeps and the
butchers, their intellect being not at all
cleared by the Goals, the sweeps and the
dusty cheers with which they were greeted.
The matter has been placed in the hands
of the police, and every effort is being
made to discover the author of this outra-
geous trick.