Middletown transcript., 1876-07-08
The Fourth In MiddletOwn.


morning the most abominable and inferna
racket that ever saluted mortal ears was KEEP
up. The tin horn brigade was out in full
force and with the aid Of squeaking fife ant
some kettle drums made more and more dis
agreeable noise than all other things com
bined Some two or three anvils were car
ried into the Square" and utilized as cali
non, and these with pistols, guns, fire-crack
ers, rockets, tin horns, shouting and yelling
men and boys made the night as hideous as g
loosened pandemonium. Nobody slept and
everybody rejoiced that the span of human
life is not long enough to stretch over two
centennials. One such as this one is decid-
edIy enough, with some to spare. Among
the attractions of the night was huge bon
fire made of dry goods boxes and coal oil
barrels in the centre of the square which illu-
minated the town and caused the people who
lived in that vicinity to tremble and quake
with fear for the safety Of their houses Inn
Thus was spent the night before. The day
ITSELF Tuesday, was given up to the boys
with horns, FIRE crackers, torpedoes, muskets,
shot guns, pistols, &c. Among other things
they had wee bit of cannon, about six
inches long, and when heavily loaded the
nasty little thing would make report almost
as loud as six FOUNDER.
BLOWING OUT A PEDLAR.
One of the best things the boys did with
their horns was to blow out a yankee notion
vender. This fellow, who belonged to that
tribe of wandering pedlars who almost in
variably swindle all who invest in their wares,
had stationed himself upon box with big
torch in front of him and was having good
time to himself making funny (?) speeches
and selling little things to cut glass With, &C.,
but in an unlucky moment, he addressed a
very illnatured remark to boy with horn,
ordering him to 60 away from there. The
boy went, but in a few minutes came back
with the whole gang, and for while that
fellow heard more blowing than he ever heard
before in his life. For moment or two they
would slacken and he d start again only to
be saluted with the same din much to the
amusement of the lookers-on who seemed,
generally, to think that the horns had done
a good thing for once. Finally the fellow
packed up and quit and left in disgust.
FLAGS AND DECORATIONS.
Quite neat display of flags was made by
the stores and other business places though
business was suspended. E. B. Rice decorated
the front of his confectionery store and ice
cream saloon with profusi0n of small flags,
among them thirteen with the names of the
original colonies printed thereon. The trim
ming was very tasty and pretty. Messrs.
Eliason & Benson and w. T. Foster had also
fine display of flags and other trimmings.
Two big flags streamer and host Of little
flags foated from the cupola of the town hall.
neat pole was erected on the TRANSCRIPT
office and an eight-foot flag was run up on
halyards trimmed with small flags. Several
private residences were also prettily decorated
with the national ensign.
In the evening an nexceedinglywelcomes storm
accompanied by heavy rain blew up which
of guns and crackers and gave the wearied
citizens an opportunity to sleep, Of which
they were not slow to take advantage, losing
the brilliant and pretty sight of a quantity Of
rockets, roman candles and other fireworks
which Mr.. Rice set off after the rain was over,
and this wound up the Fourth.
AN OUTRAGEOUS ASSAULT.
The Notorious Whitlocks Again.
An exciting trial was held at the Office Of
Esq. Walker, on Wednesday which, hot as the
day was, was attended by large crowd Of
interested spectators.
The following is statement of the facts in
the case, as near at least as our reporter could
ascertain them from the evidence ELECTED at
the trial On Monday last number of per-
sons from Middletown went over to Odessa to
attend the "Pole Raising" among whom were
the parties to this affair. While there, it
seems that one of the Whitlocks, the notorious
John, who was tried at New Castle at the last
November term of court for the murder of
negro man in his grog shop in this place, was
detected in the act Of unbuckling the reins
from the bride bit Of Thomas Murray's horse
the lynch-pins having been already removed
from the wheels of the carriage to which the
horse was attached. A young man, named
Hayes, who saw Whitlock unfastening the
reins, reproved him in language merited by
thesdeed, saying that it was Every mean act
of which no one but low, mean scoundrel
would be guilty" On the strength of this
Whitlock attacked Hayes and Edward Thomas
attempted to defend the latter from his assault
as he (Hayes) is slight built young man and
unable physically to cope with Whitlock, and
stepped between them. This interference was
not relished by Whitlock, and he asked
Thomas if he meant to "take it up" Thomas
replied, "Only so far as to protect Hayes from
your assault" Whitlock then made an at.
tack on Thomas, but bystanders interfered
and prevented further proceedings for the
time.
Whitlock Immediately returned to Middle
town, gathered up party of his pals and
went back to Odessa breathing vengeance
against Hayes, Thomas and their friends.
Thomas supposing the matter was at an end
had left Odessa and come over to Middletown.
this the Whitlock party came back
and after drumming up recruits got together
and arranged a conspiracy to go to the Ma
tional Hotel where Thomas and bis friends
were ascertained to be and make combined
attack upon them. This plan was at once
put into execution. Proceeding to the hotel,
after accommodating the premises and ascer-
tanning that Thomas was in the bar-room
no harm, and therefore off his
guard, several of the largest and strongest of
the party entered the room under the pretense
of getting drink, while the rest closed and |
carefully guarded the doors to prevent the
escape of their victim, or assistance from
him from the outside. John Whit
lock quickly and slyly stepped up behind Mr..