Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-01-24
THE GREAT BALL OF 1910.
A Few Scraps Of Its History Sussex County 3
Connection With the Monster.

The "Grcat Bail of lsiO," which en-
ioy-d "a Nations reputation in the Pref
deutil campaign OF the year above
stated, aud - closely connected with tue
history ol Sussex county, has again been
hitught TO notice. The bail was con-
stiucied daring 1910 by an eccentric but
w.ily gentleman named William John
son, then IL rcs idriiof Dresden, ohio. II
was thirteen feet In diamttei,yli lical oithc
ori-inal thirteen States Of the uniun aud
It's p,Iuuty This inintnse ball was
made Of Seasoned poplar boards, which,
after hriug seasoned, were htnt in proper
shape aud the whole cIyer,d with muslin
rpon which were maPIed the various
States Of the lrion, rivers, Nc. This
vas placed ia a frame upon axlcs aud tue
/ whole mounted uyOn large wagon. IL
was only necessary to touch tile hall
/ ishtiy with the fingers 10 set II in motion,
when all tho Vari-cOlOfpd States were
represented to view ~ regular order. In
the early part of the campaign Of leiO Il
lirst made its appearance In public, and
thourh it was only intended for local
sensation amt for the purpose of draw
ing crowd to hear the now venerable
1hOmar Ewing deliver Il Wing tpetch, il
was drsltcd To achieve u National iepu-
tatim. I pom the occasion 10 which we
have referred il Was made 10 head pro-
ctssion aud vas drawn by four black
horscs, gayly caparieoued. After the
meeting ii was presented to the wing
County Committee
This gave the ball wide reputation
and il was sOuu after started ON au
eastern tour along the" National Road,
and was greeted everywhere by large aud
enthusiastic crowds. Having mede the
circuit Of the Eastern States it was
Z taken to Washington, where for some
. weeks Il attracted universal attentions
], was then taken south through virginia
the Cntolmas, Georgia, Nc., to New
) Orleans ard up the Mississippi and Ohi'
{ rivers to the State Of Kentucky, iron
% whence it mcaudcred iutO Tennessee.
Tue ball created 20 much rXcitemen
q and interest, il was decided that the Stat
t. sending the largest delegation to Balti
. more to be present at the National Con
. yeutiom which nominated Henry Clay a
+. the standard bearer Of the Whig part
q during the Presidential camI align OF th
e year In question, should be AWARDED
ard DECLARED the bonner state. TIL
& decision served 10 intensity the universe
y interest in the ball and the Middle au
- most Of the Southern States concluded 1
contest iur 10. Delaware WAS IA patty .
q the contest and for months men rod
Il huhrr aud thither, Csptclally in SUISSE
county. soliciting Nuitls to promise thel
@ attendance at Baltimore during III
session OF the convention. On th
r. Sunday preceding all nelawarean
IT huuud for the convention astemhled 1
.r Vienna ur S,afuid, on the Naniicoh
.- river, and boarded steamer Tor Bait
= more. chartered for tue purpose. III
- party was very large aud enthusiast
one indeed, aud was under the charge
lf John L. McF,e, Esq , ot Grorgciowl
aud John ". Houston, (nuw Judgc) wi
ID we've thtn Young and active WI lg-.
Allcr pl,a.ant pas.are the large ai
enthusiast cargo of Whig- WAS luudt
at Baltimore. 7 he patty marched
., their headquarters aud inside n big sho
= tor those days. The convehu'
\, assembled promptly on the day decit'
a., sud in due time nominated Henry 10
n for President and adjourned, after Whi'
A. the different State delegations we
N drawn uu in line ON the Canton Ground
" in the suburbs Of the city Hed u
T. counting Of noscs" showed that Del
y wares WAS the largest delegate
~, present. The announcement was 7
" rrived with deaienii z cheers aud Daul
., Webster presented the hall To the u!
~, lhu's Chickens" and II was received {
n, their hehalf by either MIR. Mcfee
II Judge Houston.
4, Thomas B. Simple, then o! Georgetow
now drceasri', was marshal Of the Del
rs. wate del, Cation aud Il used TO be nmusi
~, to lear hm tell how lis party we
attacked aud riM 10y rival delegation
a., A. tuun ns he cnuld rally ihrm The 10
a" was taken charge of, iulld to the hc
i,, aud alter hriug secured nn honfd the h'
'a left the Monumental thN lur sraiul
~. where boat, ball aud delegation SO
a.. HrriNcl.
40 A.lcr arriving at Scaiord The ball v
W. mounted an wheels and conveyed
-" Georeetown where il played promin'
-. Part in the campaign that iollow'
w. The largest and most enthusiastic pol
w. cal meeting rvtr held in this state ca
NV, oil ni GcOrgotown soon alter the b
'.- arrived, and il was rolled through
u.s.. tlace un that occasion, followed hv The
~ sands Of PERSONS Of all rltirs. lis "
presence tccmei to kiEdle the sma
. spsrk ct enthusiasm into an iiamel
,,t cunhagratiOn.
II was slowed away in large cauii
80 house after the campaign, and une MI
4 = some persons broke in and shattered
~ but il was afterwards repaired .
"a wheeled up the State, which was the !
..i' seen of il, and the question is often ael
'.w now, where is she ball of lsiO"
~ echo ans swris, Whore -