davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-18
The war Against Indeuency in the Press.

To The Editor Of aie Commercial.
As citizen of Wilmington, and on behalf Of
all decent and respectable readers of the public
press. earnestly protest against the publica-
tion of such obscenity as was contained in the
columns Of Ecery EUening, on Tuesday, in To-.
cal entitled "A Queer Crime"
"The highest and noblest end of any newsps
per, apart from pure religion, is the wide diffl
sion among the people OF intellectually and
true morality. Aud such should be the aim OF
its publisher. Nor does strict adherence to
such policy initiate in any degree, against the
circulation and pecuniary success OF he paper.
On the contrary, it is viuiageous in every
resi- ect both to the publisher and reader.
1t is true that every newspaper shurld be all
important insitumeutality in the ifflsion of
the news OF the dsy to the end that all readers
may he Informed or whP' m m,y fleet their inter-
e-ts or aifout EN- entertainment or improve
ment But both y. hey an decency furnish lin
its to the publication Of news, which should
never be passed,
Where an outrageous offence has been COM
mtted. the details Of which are impure aud
disgusting. ths common interest of rs all as eiti.
zens may well demand that the nan es of the
guilty pertons, and the general chdrdcter of the
offence, be given to the public. Aud such of
fence may be properly described as an Outrd
geOus assault Or " indecent assault" or by
Whatever other word may appropriately express
the geHer u nature Of The act. But to descend
into particulars uf most ind csut and revolting
character is entirely unn csssary, slo3kS the
first pnuciples Of propnety. ac30mpllsnes no
wottilg purpose, and only pandeIs to the taste
aud curiosity Of the most dsbAsed portion of tho
popn'sce such a cour-e is altogether beneath
any puull-her who has even the fdintest appre-
cation Of b duties to Tho public
Nor does The IuU icatou of such items inure
to the peGutiary success OF a newspaper. II
will in time drive it from every respectable tre
side and deprive it OF the patronage of that
p irtion Of the public who-e business ADVERTISE
ments furnish the most tolid foundation of its
continu, d success.
In conclusion, the writer has a conviction that
it il the duty of all high toned papers to wage
common war agsinst any and every such gross
violation of common dec ncy as was displayed
on Tuesday by the Eoery Ecen6tg
DECENCY
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-18
The nroIins County Murder.

~ TRACES or TUE BODY Ygr--A BLOODY JACKET
1uru-TuE NH FAMILY FLEE AWAY IHRoUGH
hDrEE-Tluyus FEAR
Tho Murdered body OF VIM. II Phillips has
uut Yet been found, nor have any traces of it
b,eu Uncovered. The States Attorney has or.
duted the dragging of the river thoroughly, and
hltlouRh those whom he has sent out have Ia
bod diligently their labors have been unrewar-
dod.
But ono OF the parties sent up the river last
week found tracks leading from the river
,urOugh one Of tho cripples to main land near
Mlle below the ieridencs OF OH. One OF the
thJes taken from Illn foot, having no heel tap
on It exactly fitted one OF these tracks and
-n0Ned the impression in the soft mud of no
heel on the lett foot and other distinguishing
.Iatk- lett Nv the sole of the shoe. Other tracks
c7nrspoud,d tXEctly with a boot worn by
Bitdes tie nails IA the heel OF the boot and
pJtCo of leather which had been pegged on TO
one siie OF the sole, hayll loft tue Impression
IA the mud as clear and distinct as ever pat
tom wa moulded IN the sand by the most skill
iAl muulder There tracks after leaving the
euppia lei towards DiIl'r house. This party also
lYuud near the house, haraIhg to a tree an old
tclet, having un 1t spots OF blood. IL showed
Whence of having been recently washed, no
dUnbt, with tho Intention OF destroying all traces
Vi biuu d upon 1t
Dlll's wlie Is much troubled at the fate OF
FHIhps Sud -eems TO manifest great interest
Z hc ruing hts nIu' der. She has cen beard to
'ay that hhe had father lost john, (her nus
ia q AZ ii all the children, than that Phillips
suuul have besn murdered.
Ihe two prisoners now III jail. Dill and Blades,
rosled IN the same house Bladss WAS only
married last October and has no children. The
MY e. Of the Two prisoners, since their arrest,
nave continued To ABIDE 10 the same hou e un-
al iast week At tue witching honr OF midnight
they elthur raw OF heard or fancled they AaW
aud he ard The ghost OF young Phillips Which
had returned to toI ment them They then be-
c5me / rfltly alarmed deserted the house, and
NIpuuut waiting to fAsten the doors, fled in
ua-te to the house of colored man quarter
Of mile distant and there spent the remainder
Of ih5 night. The next day L AIDES wife gath
ered up her personal elects and left the scene
If the murder entirely.
lie tso prisoners in jill are very re icent ard
ieuv all FartcIpa .luu Ia the crime Or any know
leage OF Us perpelrati ~ Blades ID young
man aud from appearances We would not sup
q, se Lam to be over 2S Dill is about 81 years
81 age he character of neither is said to be
NbuNe rel roach.
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-18
Another FOray to EItton.
VISIT OF COLLEGE sTuDENTs-THEIR CONDUCT, RE-
TURN 70 NEWARK, AND SUBSEQUENT DEVELOP

I)EcENCY.

VISIT OF COLLEGE srUDENTs-THEIR CONDUCT, RE-
TURN 70 NEWARK, AND SUBSEQUENT DEVELOP
MEETs.
Elkton must be charmed spot. 1t seems
10 possess strange fascinations for the young
They go there for all manner of sport, but they
come away invariably it seems in different
plight from that in which they went
The latest excursion to the town was made by
two students OF Delaware College. at Newark, n
Monday last. They bad been housed up fOr
many days; college life and College studies had
become burden to them; they sighed for just
another afternoon away from the eyes OF pre-
ceptuis and the mnnotuny Of books and states
ald school room; literature had lost its romance
and study generally it's interest So they must
II, Q IL ave rome liItls diversion of their own
some relaxation from continueds uly-and tney,
accordingly, on Monday afternoon. reached the
charmed spot in some way and started out i'll
pursuit of their pleasure after their own ineh-
nation.
We cannot follow them in their wandsrings
about the town We cannot say when or upon
whom they called; but there was some entice-
ment the lothners TO part with which caused
them TO missathe train, and they set out on foot
on the return-rix long miles. But this
was Lothing to them. They were well
steamed up" and would have reached home
in 'jiffy" had they not tackled back aud forth
across tue road to lengthen the distance. Nor
were they COOLED off" entirely when they en-
tered the enclosures O. the college grounds I;
but the knowledge of what they bad done came
to the ears of the Faculty. and Faculty meet
ing was to have been held on Tuesday evening
to consider the s-ms
During tke day however. one of the party
left for New Haven, Connecticut while the 9th
or remained to receive whatever might be i'm
posed upon hin. We are not advised Of the ru-
suit OF the Faculty meetiug.
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-18
A Delnware e. .. r.nIn lmperIIIed.


AN EFFORT TO THROW II FAoM THE TRAcK-THE
LOCK BG TX en- AND rHE SWITCH opENED-ARREsP
OF rHE PHRpErsAr0R OF THE Died.
The passenger train north on tho Delaware
Il r., yesterday afternoon, met with a narrow
escape from accident-an accident which, had it
not resulted in the loss of life or limb, might
have proved disastrous to the company.
Shortly before the train was due at Arm
strorg's, a small country station below Middle
town, a colored man named Frank Davis was
seen by small colored boy to approach the
switch and, breaking the lock, open the same.
He then posted himself respc ful distance
off to await results. The colored boy, however
ran down the track sfter Davis had gone, and
informed some section hands what had been
done The train was due in very few mo-
nlonts aud no time was to be lost. So portion
OF the men hurried mp to the switch and rs-
placed 1t. while the remainder gayo Davis chase,
they having just eeen him enter a woods near
by.
When Davis saw them coming he started to
run and soon lost his hat and finding his pur-
suers were gaining on HIM he pulled of his
boots and plunged into the depths of tine woods
shots were fired without effect but after two
hOur's chase tine capture was made, and the Gull
prlt was taken TO MI iletown. Hsre a hearing
was gwen him and he was committed to New
Castle Special Ofliser Lsgg going down to Mid
detown for the purpose OF removing him to the
county Jail.
DAVIS stated in explanation of his conduct that
he had performed similar tricks" upon two
former occasions and that it was 80 much fun
to SEQ the care jumping up and down."
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-18
The w. g. r.. r. h.

| THE FRoHPEcr FOR RUNNING THROUGH TRAINS II
READINa-THE PROPOSED CELEBRATION OF TIL
EVENT.
From present prospects, 1t Is thought that the
Wilmington and Reading Il. R. will be opened to
the latter city on Wednesday next, and that trains
will be run regularly over the road from that
date. The tracklaying progresses rapidly over
the extension OF the road from Birdsboro' to
Reading this mild weather aud as force of men
are following the tracklayers in ballastiDg the
road, trains may pass over its entire length as
soon as connection is made between the two
gangs Of tracklayers who are approaching each
other.
It was the wish Of the friends OF the road at
this end to give an excursion to the friends at
the other end Immediately after the completion
Of the road. in return for the warm welcome
which Reading extended to Wilmington when
the road wac first opened But we understand
that in lieu of this special favor, the stoekhold-
ers and interested parties at Reading unite in
the wish that an excursion train may be run
from that city to Wilmington on Christmas day,
the proceeds to be devoted to the charitable in
stitutions of Reading. No definite action has,
however. been taken, and we cannot, therefore,
say positively, at this writing, in what manner
the event will be celebrated.
1t IL probable that with the opening Of the
road to Reading will come q change in the time
table-at least such is the wish in Wilmington.
The starting Of the morning train at so early an
hour 80 is believed to affect the interests of
the road to some degree, and it is thought that
il a train were started from this depot at say
73O to reach Reading at about IL O'Clock, . very
visible benefit would accrue to the road The
time between the two cities would then be three
and one-hRlf hours, and the condition of the road
is such that rate of spsed sufficient to make
the time Ia admissible. Minor stations could be
made flag stations, and by running the early
train as an express with the natural shortening
of the time at Birdsboro, there would be no
doubt OF the ability to reach Reading at that
hour.
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-18
suaoca ed with Gas.

A SERIOUS MtsHAp. IlNotp WITH oomIcALITY, IN A
NElaHBoRINa HUNDRED.
Not long ago an accident took place at a farm
louise in neishboring hundred which came very
uear havirg tragic consequences although. as it
turned out, the comic element prevailed in the
occurrence.
IL appears that the farmer uses gas
Tor Illuminating purposes, which he man
ufactures himself with machine locat-
ed in the cellar. This machine, IN
in the absence OF the male members OF the fam
ilygot out of order and the farmers wife, dangh-
ter and the servant went down to see what was
the matt er aud rectify the machine. In stteInpt-
f=gto dc 70, the wrong screw was turned the
rg h. way. or the right hGrew was turned the
wrong way. Of course, when the gas Escaped
-udeun ing tie occupants and filling the cellar
TCutticcJs Of the gas were such that the ladies'
we're AL uvelc lme aud were unable 10 lind their
wa 10 tho door aud so remained under the ln-
tla uce II tie fumes until dnner time.
WLenth iatmcr returned at noon, instead OF
fin ing II o dIhner ready, as usual. he raw none
o. the household and no signs Of preparations
Tor the nOouiay repast. search was made,
Ii IL in aus time the cellar was reached, ana the
c.u4itel AID servant were found rs described,
ousconsly laying upon the floor, while the
wife sat IN a potato bin, laughing profuselY
IL III the tiiec'A OF the gas. Of course, no time
WAS Iort IN removing those biit c,ed to the open
ayr Uhrn they zoon recovered their seliees with
out experiencing any permanent effects Ihe
moral Of this is that women should not go near
Q as machiuUs.
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-18
CoDsres, Yesterday.

In the U. s. Senate yesterday, Mr.. Bogy,
from the Indian Committee, reported back the
bill "for the relief of certain parties Mr. Cra-
gin, from the Naval Committee, reported the
House bill, increasing the number OF seamen IN
the navy to 10 0U0 On motion Of Mr.. Sumner,
the Finance Committee WAS directed to cOnsid-
er tue expediency of producing the national ex-
penditures by abolishlng the Internal RI Rtvenue
Bureau. Rno collecting the taxes by stamps, un-
der direction of the Treasury Department. On
motion OF Mr.. Wright, the Pension Committee
was direc ed to inquire iuto the eIpedency of
allowing the same pension for the loss OF an
arm above the eluow, as tho loss of leg above
the knee The House resolution for holiday
recess WAS indefinitely postponed, by vote OF
81 to 27. 1he House bill repealiug the Bank
rnpt act was referred to the Judiciary Com
mittee The House bill making a special ap-
preparation Of "a 000,00O for the navy was
passed Adjourned
In the House Mr., Wilson, from the Judiciary
Committee reported resolution looking to the
impe 4chmAnt OF Judges Busteed. of Alabama
aud Dureii, of Louisiana. The Sen6tr amend
ment TO the bill tor the redemption of the loan
OF 1868 was concured in, and the bill sent to III 9
President The consideration of the Salary bill
was n Humed. and substitute offered by Mr.
HaTlburt WAS adCpted-yeas l22 nays "a
motion to reconsider waa tabled, thus making
the action final. and the House then adjourned.
The bill as passed fixes tue salaries Of members
of Congress at s6UOO. and those of the Vice Pres
ldent aud Speaker of the House at 5000 each.
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-18
sUBsCRIPTIONs.-IS74.
Terms ;

HARPERs MAGAZINE one yeRr............. St00
"a 10 inc udes prepayment OF U. 8, Postage W the
publishers.
Subscriptions to HAMPERS MACHINE WEEK Y ani
BAZAAR tO address for year $40 %; trO Of
harper Peripdic ts 10 address fO year s. 0
pOStIgs payable by the subscriber at ihe Office Were
ceiped.
IN Extra Copy Of either the MAGAZINE WEEKLY or
BAZsR u be ep ,tltd gratis for every Cub or FIVE
SUB 'CRIBs' at "a. each, remittance IN
Copies for SEQ on, tceut ertrd copy pestdge payable
BY the sub eribsr at hs Offices phsTe receiusd.
Bick Numbers can be supplied at any time:
Conn etc Set of HARPER's MAGAZINE now
comprising a volumes In n At cloth binding will
BE- Mt b. eXp IS, freight a. expense Of purchaser
for 81 "a per- lume. Singl Vol nts,by mai pot.
paid, SO 90 Cloth cas-s, for binding, IS cents by
mail, p st paid.
he pos: ge Cn HAPPERs NIoszIGE, is 81 GEMS
year wllch must be paid at the subscribers post
Address HARPER BROTHERS, New Yo.k.
deels 1t
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-18

{ enRrrhalonnl Tall.


The Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday
heard tho testimony in relation to the nonina-
hpn Of Attorney General Williams TO De CLlsf
Justi.s.
Msjor General o O. Hovsrd appeared before
the House Military Committee yesterday morn.
ing III reirreuca to the charges made against
him hy The Secretary Of War. The General wa
in ful military nIform ANA he announced tiig'
lie G1ultod the fullest investigation aud wgtvad
any prot, cton iIom the staiuio OF limitations.
Tne Senate Iransp ita,ion Committee will
leaye Washington GU Monday for Atlanta, New
N'eaus md other Sauttsin altia7 % take testi-
IN ny ON tLe snl cts re erred to them
The lionse Tttriofial Committee yosterday
con-litt Cd the LID I tho eatpretm"ut OF tho
Jaw, III th a'a uas,puH,l pcdJu upon it IN.
til after the hula4Rys
A tnh-rpmmifiet Of ihc House APPROPRIATION
Committee Sestriay morning heard iiessrs
Jantv Dtrrev G irtt atj uthtts lu aGEueac'
of&p o.ltion f,r the advance mett oi m3Gey
to TIE uppe, Rilsfuu'l ana lbNuoe lndlru iiltts
in the Northern Snprrufyrdc Gy beflIe lng N
tended -Rle Of III, " lands Ii is not believed
that Lhcle Viii 10 favorable gcuJn on the
scheme.
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-18
PERSONAL AND PARTICULAR.
Our Christmas present. The virginius.

Our Christmas present The vrginius.
Heavy freshets are reported in the western
rivers on Saturday.
Robert OOllyer thinks q man should not
marry unless he does it before he is 25
Whittier has promised to contribute some
autobographical papers to the Atlantic
On dit, that DiAraeli ID coming over to see us
next spring. The latch.string will be out
They think in London that Livingstone is
coming home. At last accounts he was en- route
for the African coast.
The sum of $4,000, collected in Georgia
for the heather OF Africa, has built house for
ono OF tina canyassing agents.
"A crazy woman in Georgia stole a locomo-
tive and ran it 60 miles at full speed before tie
steam gave out. No collisions.
TIE Brooklyn Eagle protests against the
popularity OF funerals and the consequent length
Of the professions. As we only have one apiece
all round nobody should complain.
We cannot be too careful how we play with
the English language One day, recently.
married lady OF Genesee, while admifng the
falls from the Erie railroad bridge, remarked /;
isn't that dam nice 2"
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-18
Industrial News.
The Reading hat factories are again resuming

Ihe Headlng nat IactoIIeb arc aBalh Fe5umlnB'
notice has been posted up in the Cumberland
Nail and Iron Works, at Bndgeton. tnat on and
after the 23d inst reduction OF 10 per cent will
be made on the wages Of the operatives. This is
the second 10 per cent. notice, within few weeks
from that source.
The rollers and heaters of the Lawrence Iron
works, at Ironton, Ohio, have refused to accede
to reduction OF wages. aud the mill shut down
on Saturday. No furnace i'll that region has
blown out on account of hard tines though
sales OF iron are very light. Differences about
wages are keeping several mills idle.
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-18

Sale OF TOys-Ogle 4 Miller.
C,ty warrants bdught--Iesse Sharpe.
Cigar4-E L II Singles & Son.
ID DlWnlf
Notice. Undeltakers.
Buxbanm-semi local
Nd Doughien.
emma and glassN e-deNormgnde.
List OF letters
Wante1-bOArding
wnuted Information Of Henry Boetger.
L.chtcu-tein-- -stmi local
Rulcye's soap semi local.
Dry Cold--W " Keunard & Go.
Holiday GOO1s--E. y, Il. Batter.
Notice Sewing NJ 70 ines rrraired.
For sale. choontr Thomga Fitch.
Lost gold crors
Aafiion Sale--Siidham Il Son.
Auction Sale-S'llllam 4 Son.
Harpers Magazine.
Dr. Pierce's Golden Ne1ie'l Discovery
For Sale or Rsnt-M9TOcoe Factory.
Frnits, &c Almond,
Notice. Personal.
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-18
tcnio Nnlcr.

The Lizzie Young vi c9 lately left for Balti-
more. Il -iid to he the finest schooner ever built
on the S,btleoke
lindne nore almost equals scmn Of the %es
tenn toNtp thete ben Is no le-s titan 20 of %
he" i#u-esIn caur7a1i tacdpft hete ~ present
ania which Is lt-y rlsro h.luS hatlt "u tiaih
stree ty Mt. lsa Elas Il viii tts oee7med by
Mr. ia nns BJbs0n, rs Il Brevlt Btoeefy amt
market h6use.
hr lisnry o G5itits Is pfapaffas . open, o
new FtOfe near tho depot. at tue stand formerly
occupied by Cuipiusn X L1uk.
As-5rs. WIN B1--, B.i aud othefs arc
buldlps fho- tsi4 Fuattg tAa Ftetm
niil- VI Manners EteHer IL TO 'ItfeE have then
cai-ew4} aut drudge burt aa= are . wosli on
lbe.t WEalt NJ lGe.eat fry Ail not g,t the
bu..ilg completed letoro H. rn4ty ~ March
ON : 10 taa c1'i lti the NiUter pc.
fei..t & the mulk ~ t4a wAsaHs
L ia trtted iiai Hr Id walf II has cold
m ntegestm IT, Nslt.c ba iiau q ta Z W
lH-.s'= d ti.t L. ~. =at. ai d t4at MI
L. I'd Ntd z.l=ilr9f an - laua!drd of Tie
udt4
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-18
Intc.t l.en.rnI News.

Au order has been received at Brooklyn the Ma
w Yard from Washington directing all the vessel
now under repairs to be got ready for service
within ten days
local election hold Yesterday at Stone
Mountain Georfis, r,srlt'd IN the choice by
hJge mgjouy Of a A..5er aHd GUuRei men
WIN ua pledged not to grant any more liquor
lltsutC4
Trl S monitor Manhattan left Savannah
yestsrlo, lt 10y West,
vi. p.e.tl4,d lpa p,rl-ood Samuel q, Brown
ari H I,.i 80 siir, ot s44ll Catoira, cOuNc :
ed hi NuX',,a,
r-... ,H.,}." "tut,. rlN'.o loHcr T. the
N,+..I ~, rr t.ut. 80. rhfeatou' Il
w.. '. .l9t5 '."."4 'Ddtt'ctvo as
.-r ir- "a -.ia mi ste Arap,s
b .H aH E Sau "pxpf.s-
..-r Tho ruakl n
."Er t"st-r,.A.
rtul, Z rai-i &
..l. #lt.l Witn ther
r.a r. .'rr was
u 81 Flb ary
.s ..-. Culhin
.rnrs
81. ,.l L,-rtye>ISo
t ..l.. nt - pauro-
a .." .e D.5l NWu-o, ai
e ...U......r w .e. ulune as-
lA.a.. ....it.tl.-. tl.pt .r .al W.r
We, aU. ,Jf.. m.. -,- Naj- t- Gown. ID .n
Nj HtuhM 70 ey. u- iu'pu,l f,t th' aNDi-
enc, nrorr. .c.unlmuu. -to.tn... .u tbier tl. ~
the evening The ac,rbsic Iosl. ol tt" t'4r'
nea riliareu wcfe wonderful and The palfeI.
marces ut Me smaller cf the twn .oidy about
Hx yeats ot at;e cIici,rd the warm ht comIsrn-
danou The whole performance in fact. "a
good and We have no d Ubt tpoy Will huy"
larger houro, ibis evening Tins is their !asl
night