Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-05-22
STTDHAM'S CLOSE SHAVE
SPA RKS HAS 4 WAKE-OVER FOK
CORONER.
How Uuktils Hopes We're Blasted -
Be Loses the Nomination A Tter Get
ting Big Vote In Wilmington.

Saturdays Republican Dominstion for
candidates for sheriff and coroner proved
tig surprise all through. During the
progress of the voting people were aston
ished at the strength William A. Hukill
developed in this city, and when the re-
turns began to arrive, in the evening,
they were equally astonished at the big
vote Stidham had received in the lower
| hundreds. These were considered
Hukill's special bailiwiok, and the pre-
vsiling opinion all through the contest
was that if he got fair vote in Whining
ton he would win the nomination. BE
not only got fair vote In this city, but
an expectedly large one, and but few men
who noticed the support he was receiving
in Stidham's stronghold would have
dared to bet that he would lose the fight.
Stidham, however, grssped the situa-
tion few weeks ago, and seeing that
Huhill was likely to run well in Will
mington he get to work to make himself
stronger in the county. How we'll he
succeeded is shown by the vote he re-
ceived for while he led Hukill by only 1856
in Wilmington, Hukill beat him by
only 297 in the rest OF the county.
Hukill, apparently, felt sure of his
country vote, as he spent all Of last week
in this city, but Stidhsm worked for dear
life in his enemy's strongholds, and by
an unoomfortably close shave came out
ahead.
Although there was considerable ex-
element, the nomination passed off with
comparative quiet, despite the fact that
money flowed freely and the voters were
supplied with all the liquor they wanted.
Carriages were also numerous, and the
triends Of the various candidates, par
ticularly the negro workers, rode from
poll to poll, drumming up all the voters
they could find scattered around.
Vinoept's run surprised everybody.
This was his first appearance in politics,
and he is q young man, butt he has hosts of
friends and will bother come OF the older
applicants two years hence.
The polls olosed in Wilmington at
O'Clock in the evening, and the returns
were received at the rooms of the Young
Mems Republican Climb, in the Smith
Building. For an hour or more the i'm
pression that Hukill had been nominated
continued to prevail, but when Stidham's
surprising gains in the country districts
were ascertained, his friends took fresh
hope. At length all the districts in the
country were heard from, either by full
returns or majorities, and by midnight 1t
was apparent that Stidhsm had won by
majority of between 80 and 100. Hukill's
friends were bitterly disappointed, and
the usual threats Of cutting the success
ful nominee were freelv INDUCED in.
Charles X. Sparks nomination for
coroner surprised no one, as It had been
generally conceded, by reason Of his
personal popularity in the party.
The candidates for sheriff were Frank
G. Stidham, L. II. Hoagland and Hiram
W. Moore Of this city; William A. Hukill
of Pencader hundred James Il. Vincent
OF North Cbristians, and Jacob Hermann
OF New Castle. Those for coroner were
Charles &. Sparks, Levin s. Taylor,
Joseph II. c. Macy and Joseph W. Wood
row, all of this city. The full returns
are as follows: