Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-06-06

uuo phchhBo OF HtUlnltlBs cIlthSus II IL hn-
nounced that no more packages will be re-
ceived after p. m. Friday.
WILL LEAVE THURSDAY EVENING.
The car containing supplies forthe Johns
town sufferers will leave this city by the b,
Il o. road on Thursday evening.
WILMTEGT0E'S STRANGE CITIZEN.
ERe Dtcs Leaving $4,000 Worth Of
IHt'B, IA 25-YsarN' Collection Stored
ia Four lsOuses.
Joseph Mellor, the aged junk man of
Twelfth and French streets, died sud
denly Tuesday afternoon from the effects
Of fall, induced by sudden weakness.
He bad called in the afternoon TO see
Contractor johnson in regard to the dis
posal Of tbe show window Bashes Of the
Meyers building, which he had pur-
chased from Mr.. johnson. He COM
planned OF weakness, and had aat down
two OF three times TO recover. At 4.30
O'CLOCK he was stepping into the building
of the Market street pavement when he
suddenly fell, his forehead striking o
siedge. hammer, which lay in his way.
He received very bad cash over the left
eve. He did not return to consciousness,
and expired within few minutes. DR..
William g. Winner was present, snd
gave what medical attention was possible
under the circumstances. The deceased
was taken to his home in 0 carriage by
Jordan A. Wilson.
Mell0r was most remarkable man. In
his way there was probably no more Pc
culiar peraon in this CITY. He died le6v-
ing an estate estimated at not less than
1856 600, nearly half Of which ia an ac-
cumulation of 25 years. gathering of
junk, rags, paper and all varieties of
those Undesirable objects that no one
but Junk men interest themselves In.
This accumulation is stored in four
houses and cellars, mainly in the two
dwellings Nos. 1926 and 1928 French
street, and the remainder in neighboring
houses. The deceased owned all the
dwellings in Mellor's court, o purlieu st
the rear OF the two houses referred to,
both OF which he also owned. Other
cellars in the neighborhood are stored
With junk riches as also are the eontigu-
GUS onthouses and some neiehboring
cellars which he rented for shat purpose.
In appearance the old man looked any
thing but well of. But be was not by
any means mtser.
He was an Englishman by birth. His
native place Was Oldham in Lancashire, q
centre Of the weaving business in that
county. he was brought up to the trade,
and when he came to Wilmington In 1856
he followed that business being al vari-
Gus times an employe at the Pusey cotton
mill, which years ago was located at
Front and Tatnall streets,
But he gave only partial attention to
his business as weaver. His main inter
eats We're centred in the junk trade for
which he seemed to have o particular
genius. He occasionally turned his at
tention TO ether work and was fer long
time trusted employe Of the water de-
partment, but he always centred hts at
tention on his junk shop and as the years
went BY the Accommodations increased
until their present almost incredible pro-
portions revealed themselves, and this
would not have been known now but for
his death.
In addition to collecting junk, Joseph
Melor had sharp eye for valuable old
teapot, or strange brass candlestick.
These old relics he recognized with the
quieknsss of virtuoso. He always paid
a fair price for them, when otherwise un-
obtainable, but many were the bits OF
fine old ware he bought for d song. But
he knew we'll what price to ask when his
customer came around. He has been
very successful in collecting old house.
hold articles, teapots. urns, brass can
delabTa, aud brass Tenders, poker and
tongs, Bnud dish and trays, brought from
England or France 100 years ago.
These he disposed of in turn to wealthy
citizens OF Wilmington and Philadelphia.
He possessed among his regular patrons
United htates senators, congressman,
judges, merchants, and many of the old
families OF this city. No small quantity
OF the old brass utensils in the pretty
drawing rooms of Wilmington passed an
experience in the dark coh-webbed cor
ners of the French street 'old curiosity
shop His customers gave him carte
blanche for all his purchases. The fact
of the articles passing through his hands
was q sort OF local "hall mark" which his
really less-informed patrons accepted
without question.
The interior of the "Old Curiosity
Shop" where all his gatherings are stored
ia literally wonderful to behold. None
but Dickens could do Justice to the
picture. Literally from attic to cellar
the four houses are packed with iron,
rags, paper, wheels, nails, tools, old
furniture, sewing machines, baskets,
hampers, clothing ware, crookery, lam
terms, lamps, csgeE, saws, traps, bsgging in
feet everything and anything imaginable.
These represent the collections OF %
years. 1t is simply wilderness of stuff.
His daughter said TO an EyEnY EVENING
reporter: "He didn't know himself what
he had.n That could only be credited in
an attempt to pass through the close,
ehoked up passage-ways OF the different
etore-re ms and cellars.
MIR. Melor leaves a daughter, Mrs.
Mary Eghalt, aud q son, Joseph, who is
carpenter in Philadelphia.