Middletown transcript., 1874-07-11
The Recent storms.

The Recent Storms.
The amount of damage done, in different places,
by the storms of last Thursday and Saturday
evenings was very large. In addition to striking
and killing the negro woman mentioned last
week, the lightning struck in various places. AT
New Castle a vessel lying in the Delaware was
struck and burned to the waters edge. Riddles
Mill, on the Brandywine, was struck and set on
fire. but the fire was extinguslied before much
damage was done. A large tee was struck at
Shakespeare's saw mill at Dover and shock Of
wheat on Mr.. W. Brady's farm, near this town,
was struck and burned. Much damage was
also done by the wind: At Newark several of
the beautiful trees in the College campus were
blown down the spire of the new Presbyterian
church was considerably damaged. At Elkton
the FELTON, House was nnroofed, trees were blow
down and much other damage was done. This
was Thursdays storm. The storm of Saturday
evening was even more violent. Damage is re-
ported from all directions. At Delaware City
the storm was very severe, the wind being very
high. Many trees were blown down, and other
damage done. At Stanton the brick mill of
Pilling, Dean & Co., was struck by lightning,
the gable end being knocked out and two ma
chimes destroyed. AT New Castle many shade
trees were blown down and shock of wheat in
the field of B. Holcomb was struck and burned.
man named Michael Dougherty, gardener for
DR.. Lesley, was crossing the river from New
Jersey, when his boat was upset by the storm and
he was drowned. He was accompanied by Jos.
Kidd, of N. j., who held on to the capsized boat
and was rescued after being in the water until
8 O'Clock in the evening. Much damage was
done on Iron Hill. We have not heard of any
serious injury from the last storm, in this vicin-
ity.
Fatal Accident.
On Saturday morning last when the IL 25
train reached the depot at this place a man named
7. S. r. Peters left the cars and went over to
the National Hotel where he bought and gave a
glass of liquor to negro man. While he was
doing this the cars started and he ran back TO the
railroad and attempted TO get on the front plat
form of the last car, which was, by that time
nearly as tar down the road as Foard L. Comegys
coal yard. As the cars were going pretty fast,
in catching the railing, Peters was thrown be-
meath the cars and four wheels passed over his
right arm and both legs crushing and mangling
him in terrible manner He WAS at once pick
ed up and carried into the warehouse of Messrs.
Foard & Comegys. Tho cars were stopped and
Mr.. l. N. Mills came back and requested that
surgical assistance should he obtained and that
rything that could be done should be done to
relieve the unfortunate man, but he was beyond
medical skill and soon died. The poor fellow
was en- route, accompanied by his little son, to
Milford to spend the day with his mother whom
he had not seen for eight years.
| Deputy Coroner, Frank Stevens, held an in
quest over the remains when a verdict in accord
ance with tho above facts was rendered. The body
was packed in ice and, in the evening, sent back
10 Philadelphia.
Some sympathizing gentleman also made up
a small sum Of money 10 delray the expenses o
the little boy to his home.
The Glorious Fourth.
The fourth of July was just as quiet in Middle
town It's any other day. The people were no
even wakencd up in the morning by the report.
of guns. a few fire crackers were shot off by
boys, and the little chaps also had little can
non with which they amused themselves all day
No accidents occurred, nobody got drunk, only
one horse ran away, no fires occurred and al
together it was as tame day as could well be
We didn't even have a fight, ard if it hadn't
have been for the ''trot'' on the new fair ground
in the afternoon the day would have gone by
unnoticed. The merchants all kept their store
open as usual.
II we were quiet it's more than Dover and New
Castle were. Dover had a big time. The let
ter OF our special correspondent, elsewhere, give
an account of what was done there
New Castle had carnival and parade ON th
Third, and judging from some of the character
in the line it must have been funny enough
Newark celebrated independence by tub regatt
on the White Clay Creek, sack race and
wheeling match In other places the day wa