Middletown transcript., 1876-01-22

reached home. He estimates bis loss
$1,000, with only $1,000 insurance in II
Farmers Mutual Insurance Company Of S
Georges and Appoquinilnink Hundreds.
4 Sad Accident-Two Boys Drowned.
A sad catastrophe occurred near this tow
on Saturday last. A number Of young me
and boys we're skating on Drummond's mil
4 pond, about a mile from town, and two boys
Curtis Layton and Frank Wilson, acciden
tally broke through the ice, and wer
drowned. The particulars Of the misfortune
as far as we have been enabled TO ascertain
them, are substantially as follows: Afte
skating for some time on the upper and mar
rover portion Of the pond, where the ice wa!
thick and strong, number Of the. boys wen
10 the lower and wider part where the ice
was not sufficiently thick to bear their weight
They then began. as all boys are apt to do,
to banter each other as to who would venture
furtherest on the, weak and cracking ice.
After several ventures young Wilson, being a
little lighter than his companions got out be-
yond point where the ice would bear which
gave way, plunging him into water scme ten
or twelve feet deep. At the same time Lay
ton, who was not far from him, broke in, as
did also Eddie Clayton, son of Charles E.
Clayton. Layton soon managed 10 get out
and at once Started to crawl, on his hands
and knees, over the treacherous ice to the
assistance Of his companion. Poor wilson
was now calling piteously for help. Hearing
bis cries, Leslie Schreitz, who, in the mean
time had run to the aid Of Clayton, FASTENED
toward him MS far as the depth of the water,
the ice breaking under him, would admit, but
was unable to render any assistance. Young
Layton, however, had succeeded in reaching
the drowning boy and stretching out his hand
to him, which the other at once caught. Un-
able 10 bear the weight of both the ice gave
wayand both boys sank to the bottom Of the
pond together, never again to rise. A few
bubbles arose to the surface alone telling
their sad fate. The news soon spread and
several persons hastened to the sceLe, and
procuring boat and graphing hooks worked
their way through the ice and raised the
bodies, which were found within few feet of
each other. As a singular coincidence, it is
said that the irons took hold Of each in the
same manner and in the same place, under
the skate on the left foot.
Curtis Layton was the son of widow lady
Of Middletown, upon whom the blow fell
with much severity, as she is in somewhat
'traitened circumstances.
Frank Wilson was the son of Mr.. W. W.
Wilson, also of MiddIetown, and was the
bird OF four children. Both boys were of
lbout the same age. Layton would have been
Is had be lived one day more, and Wilson
would have been le in April next. i
Knowing Mrs. Layton's circumstances some
,itying. gentlemen started the, circulation of
! subscription paper, and sum sufficient TO
lecently inter the deceased boy was speedily
'aised issf@
THE FUNERAL. tfl u Il
On Tuesday morning, notice Of the funeral
having been announced in the various
churches on Sunday, the bodies of the un-
ortunate victims were buried. The children
If the Methodist Sunday School, of which
he deceased boys were both scholars, at
ended the double funeral in body, and it |
VAS A pitifplsight to look upon, as the long
procession Of children proceeded by the two
:ofins walked slowly down the street to the
". E. Cemetery. Appropriate services were
leld in the church, conducted by Rev. Drs.
iatiack and Patton, of the Methodist and
Presbyterian churches, the house being
rowded with a sympathetic audience. After
which the remains were laid away in the
anne grave, in the burial lot of Mr.. Wilson.
10 as they were companions in life, in death
hey were not divided.
,. A. q r. Association.
The annual meeting of tie stockholders of
he Peninsula Agricultural and Pomological
association, was held in the office of j. Thos.
Judd, Esq, Secretary, on Saturday afternoon
,st (l5th). Quite large number were pres
Mt, from various parts of New Castle county
nd the adjoining counties Of Maryland. At
bout half-past 2 o'clock the Chairman of the
'xecutive Committee, and acting President,
Vm. R. Cochran, Esq, took the chair and
allied the meeting to order. The minutes OF
f the last meeting were read and approved,
fter which the Board Of Managers, through
he Treasurer, and the Secretary made their
espective reports, showing the financial con-
ition of the Association to be as follows:
ASSETS.
Buildings erected in l874............$5. .3l9 SO
uildings erected in ls75......"... 2,497 81
ills receivable........ ................- lit so
alance in Treasury..........,. 80