Middletown transcript., 1876-07-15

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Fell from scanold.
An accident of serious nature occurred
one of Mr.. J. H. Lingo's carpenters as the
were working on the new barn of Mr.. Serec
F. Shallcross on Thursday afternoon. Jus
as the wind began to blow, Frank Sweatma
started to walk across the scaffold when tn
board, which was knotty one, broke, pre-
cipitating the unfortunate man to the groun
twenty feet below. In falling the arm of Mr.
Sweatman came in contact with the crosse'
boards and was considerably bruised, ant
he received internal injuries. He was kindl.
cared for and Mr.. Harry Eliason brought hin
to Middletown, where he is receiving ever.
attention at his boarding house.
The Lightning's Frolic.
| In the midst of the heavy thunder storm OF
Tuesday night, Mr.. Cyrus Polk, who resides
in the country near Middletown, was abou
to retire for the night when he remembered
some charges he should have made in hi'
account book. He went down stairs, attend
ed to the matter and returned to his room
in time to prevent the house from being des
troyed from fire, as the bed was in a blaze
The lightning struck the bed, went down thu
chimney, came in contact with the bell wirt
and exploded powder flask that hung near
Without much trouble the fire was put oot
before it gained any headway. Mr.. Polk's
escape from instant death was wonder and
his friends, and himself in particular, fee
very thankful that the result was not so disas.
trous, Ito bachelor.)
Ratification Meeting.
The Democrats of Wilmington held a mass
meeting at the corner of Sixth and King
streets on Saturday evening last to ratify the
nominations of the st. Louis Convention
Notwithstanding the intense heat 'sths meet
ing,' say the Democratic papers, "was a
large and enthusiastic one." The stand was
handsomely decorated with flags. evergreens,
Chinese lanterns, &C. A band Of music was
in attendance. Senator Bayard delivered an
eloquent address telling in his own strong,
but gentlemanly language, of the misdeeds Of
the Administration party at Washington and
elsewhere. He spoke for al hour and half
Senator Eaton, of Conn.,, who had been ex-
pected to speak also, was not present, having
been detained in Washington. At the close
of Mr.. Bayard's address, C. P. johnson offer
ed series of resolutions endorsing the action
of the st. Louis Convention. Calls were
made for Col. Whitley, Marshall O'Byrne
and others but they would not come to time.
Such weather as we have had for the past
three weeks was too hot for political meetings.
Large Fire In Camden.
The Smyrna Times gives the following ac-
count of the recent confagration in Camden:
About o'clock last Sunday morning, a
fire which is supposed to have been of incen-
diary origin. made wide gap in the heart of
the town of Camden, in this county. The
flames broke out in the rear part of the drug
store of DR.. Geo. G. Harmon, consuming it
and all its contents, the books alone being
saved. In obtaining these the Dr.'s hands
were very badly burned. The fire then spread
to the dry goods store Of J. Wesley Stevens,
the grocery store of Dan'l Mcbride, the tailor
shop Of Andrew K. Baggs, and double
house of Mr.. D. Ward, occupied by ]. W.
Cats and Mrs. Parker, was also partially de-
stroyed. Their contents were mostly saved,
except Of the drug store, which was too nearly
destroyed before the alaIm was given to save
anything. These properties were all located
in the heart of the town. The loss is esti-
mated at $40, 900; which is partially covered
by insurance in the Kent County Company.
The losses were as follows: DR.. Harmon
saved nothing, insured for So, 400, which will
cover one-half of his loss; J. Wesley Stevens
saved the greater part Of his goods, on which
there is an insurance of $4,000; Mrs. Mur-
rell's loss on building is $4, 900, insured for
So, 400; Mcbride looses $225; building in
sured for 5000; Ward not insured.
Death OF Captain Joseph M. Barr.
With much regret we announce the death
this week of Capt. Joseph NJ. Barr, which oc-
CURED at his residence in this town on Monday
evening, after very brief illness. He was
in his usual good health up to Friday Of last
week, when, feeling unwell, he left his Office
and went home. His complaint was an at
tack of Calculus, to which he was somewhat
subject. No alarm was felt for bis safety until
Monday afternoon when it was found that
rupture of an inner artery had taken place,
from which death speedily ensued.
Captain Barr was well known in this csm-
munity and pretty generally through the
State. He was member of the New Castle
bar, and formerly took an active part in poll
tics. He was, about the year 1858, the pro-
prietor and editor Of the Commonwealth news
paper published in Wilmington. When the
civil war broke out Captain Barr volunteered
MS services to the government, with the f'Col-
lmbia Rifles" of which be was captain, and
vas attached to the First. Delaware regiment
or ninety days. At the expiration of this
cru VI ScTtlCc NC dSoiu NOiuutcSEcu duu GU"
cred the Second Delaware regiment as cap
ain of Company X. In this position be
erved under Gen. Mcclellan in the seven
lays battle on the peninsula from Seven Oaks
o Harrison's Landing, contracting like thous-
lnds OF others severe fever from the malaria
# the swamps which prostrated him for long
while and from which he narrowly escaped |
With his life. From physical inability he was
Unable to enter again into active service and |
vas assigned to duty as guard to the Fede-
al prison at Camp Douglass, near Chicago.
In all the battles in which be took part,
Japt. Barr evinced much bravery and showed |
be qualities of good officer, but he never
,esitated whether in camp or out of it to de-
;lare his hostility to many Of the measures Of
he administration which be looked upon as
Unjust and unconstitutional. Hence be never
eceived the promotion which his bravery and
kill deserved.
In 1866 Captain Barr received from Presi-
lent I0hn onn the onnn;ntvrnart of pootrcaeta.