Smyrna times., 1877-08-08
SMYRNA AND VICINITY

The colored people of this town picnicked
at Bombay Hook last Saturday.
The Fruit Growers National Bank has
declared semi-annual dividend of per
cent. See adv.
THE boys of this town went to Odessa on
Saturday to play base ball and were badly
beaten by the Odessaites-l6 to O.
Rev. ?. II. RAwLINs, of Smyrna Circuit,
and family have gone to lower Maryland
to spend short vacation among relatives
THE excursion that left this town this
morning for Cape May was the largest of
the season. Over 500 were ON the train
| over 40 from this town.
Miss RIVERS, formerly of Baltimore, who
is to open select school here in September,
was in town yesterday, with Miss Hazard,
her assistant, seeking to perfect her ar
rangements.
The Citizens Cornet Band of Newark
intend giving an excursion to Bombay
Hook on Saturday next, August 1lth, via
railroad, the train leaving in the morning,
at o'clock.
THERE has been slight change in the
railroad time table. The mixed train for
Philadelphia now leaves Smyrna at 6 20 in
the evening instead of 7.45, as formerly.
No change in the other trains.
The wet, warm, murky weather last
week was dreadful on wheat and oats vet
in the sheaf. TIE grain sprouted and
considerable injury was done, in the aggre-
gate, particularly to shocked oats.
AN excursion train will be run from
Smyrna to Millington next Sunday, to the
Segars woods camp. Train will leave
Smyrna at 1880 in the morning and the
camp at $50 i'll the evening, for home.
See adv.
AMONG the Smyrnians from abroad who
are home on visit are Mrs. Allen, of
Phila., daughter of Capt. Scout; Mr.. & Mrs.
Alvan Allen, of Wilmington Mrs. Annie
Allen, also of Wilmington, daughter of the
late Charles L. Smith Cadet Midshipman
William Stayton, of the Naval Academy,
Annapolis Mrs. Kate Mincer and Miss
Ella Smith, of Phila., daughters of Benz. F.
Smith; Jos. Sharp, from Tennessee, son of
VIM. Sharp, and Mrs. Rev. II. S. Thompson
nee Culbreth), of Newport, near Whining
ton.
HE PEACH SHIPMENTS are now going
forward In earnest and at Clayton the
bulk of the fruit comes from the Md. & Del.
K. Il. On Monday the shipments amounted
to 80 car loads, of which the Md. & Del.
furnished Is, the Kent County R. r. fur
nished 9, and were sent off by our own
growers. Yesterday 81 cars were shipped
IL by the Md. & Del, by the Kent and
8 by our local shippers. The yield along
the line OF the Md. & Del, from Clayton to
Easton, Al miles, is the best on the PENN
sula.
ABOUT Mr.. GERKER.-We find the follow
ing item in most Of our Delaware exchanges.
to wit:
"The enforcement of the internal revenue
laws is having the effect of breaking up the
distillation of apple and peach brandies on
the Peninsula. A number of those engaged
in the business have ceased its manufac.
ture, and now Henry Gerker, near Smyrna,
the largest distiller in Delaware, has
abandoned the business, and offers his stills
for sale.''
The facts, so far as Mr.. Gerker is con.
cerned, are these: Recently his wife died,
and during her last illness she expressed a
desire to her husband that he quit the
business. He readily acceded to the wish
and at once advertised his still for sale.
SINGULAR CIRCUMSTANCE About A WATcH.
Sometime in 1864 or 5, Howard johnson,
formerly butcher in this town. in driving
drove of cattle up the State road some Of
them ran off into thicket on the farm now
owned by B. Frank Truax, at the Black.
bird Camp Ground, four miles above Smyrna.
In chasing them out, Mr.. johnson had his
gold watch pulled from his pocket by a
bush catching in the chain and he was
never able to find it. A month or. so ago
Mr.. Truax had the cripple cleaned off and
IN grubbing up the roots one Of his colored
men found the watch in the mire, but he
nor any one about the premises had any
idea who the owner might be. Mr.. Truax
did not live on the farm at the time the
watch was lost. Mr.. johnson, who now
lives in Chester, Pa, happened to hear of
the finding of the watch. however, and
supposing it might be his, came to see
| about 1T. He recognized it at once and
purchased it from lad who had given the
black man coat for it. The hands and
crystal lit was an open face) were gone,
and the main spring and other parts Of the
works rusted out, but the case was quite as
good as ever. 1t had been imbedded in
the muddy branch for over twelve years.
1t was a bequest to Mr.. j. from his father.
Mr.. Johnson's uncle, who was driving a
drove OF cattle up the road about a month
ago, heard of the finding of the watch, so
that it was by cattle driving that the time.
piece was both lost and found.