Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-01-03
A RETROSPECTIVE VIEW
1sss A hfEMOR8BLn AND CON-
SPICUOUs YRAR.
Tho Cctdest nnd Efo'test weather.
Mest Terrific and Desiructiye
storms - Tho Work OF Death :
Crinrc List and Fares,

Crinrc List and Fares.
The calendar year of 1883 has in many
respects been conspicuous over its prede
cessors, and will doubtless long be
memorable one to the dwellers In this
vicinity. In o climatic sense the year
presented the greatest variety OF surprises
and sensations, the mercury have
reached higher and again lover point
within the IL months than IL had attained
In corresponding period within
memory's recall. In this line II Ia q ques.
tion as to whether the bowling bl,zz lrd
of March 18th, or the terrific tornado OF
August 2lst, should take precedence as
sensational event. Tho former by reason
of Its vastness In the area covered, and tho
distance from its legitimate field Of
operation is perhaps the more memorable
OF the two, but for purely local affair
exacting the attention OF those living ia
the immediate vicinity the tornado dis.
counts the March blowout by long odds.
In both Delaware bore the greatest fury
of the violence. At the Breakwat4r
almost an entire feet OF vessels were loat
and by the tornado in August upwards
Of $l00, 900 WORTH OF destruction 10 prop.
erty was wrought. Nothing half 80
severe and terrifying as either can be re-
called. Again the year has bsen notice.
able for giving some Of the BhsrpeBt rain
aud electrical storms that have yiaited this
section in years.
But 1888 has been year OF general
prosperity and great local development
In all branches of eudeavor. There was
sn entire freedom of any trouble between
labor aud capital, and every industrial or
mercantile establishment has been
operated with profit, and continuously
through the period under consideration.
While there have been no extensive acces.
gions in the way CT new enterprises, there
has been o heelthy and continued de.
velopment In facilities for production to
meet the increased demand OF the general
market In mercantile ciFcies there has
besn more satisfactory trade, ard the
fact that Wilmington merchants are being
looked to to supply greater part Of the
peoples needs is apparent.
A retrospect of the year is not without
interest. 1t recalls the various pba1es Of
aotiyo life and tells OF sorrows aud Joys,
HnapessoB aud failures, achievements and
disAppointments, crimes and casualties.
a no work Of death Ia told later in detail,
but q survey Of tho record shows that
among those who were best known are--
given In chronological order: Banjamin s.
CLARK, Sophie Madeline dupont, William
Miller, Col. Joihua Clayton (of Thomss),
the Rev. Gaylord L. Mors, Ziba Ferris,
Alfred O. Nowlsnd, Adam arubb, Mrs.
4. ". Terry, George w. Tailey, Hanry
Eckei, James l.. Vsllandigham, ESQ :,
Joseph Il. Seal, Mrs. Joseph P. oomegys,
Victor dupont, William Mcdonnell,
George Richardson, Eiwood Il. Norny,
Thomas Il. salisbury. Jacob +. Sharp,
Edmund ID. Oieaver, Robert M. Gibson,
Commander .. II. Baker, U. s, n, Henry
Leo. John Crawford, (sged 10L), Captain
N. X. Benson, Albert Curry, DR.. Sylyes-
ter Chadwick.
The railroads add to this list John r.
Lawless, DIR. ]. II. Parvis, Charles Carr,
MCCALL Bauer, William Mcbride, James II.
Wrightington, Dennis B. Kane. All but
the first named met their death on the
p, W. d B. or Delaware railroads.
The records of the court show that
crime has Increased commensurately with
the general prosperity of the community
and beside the large number OF petty
offences there have been several cases
before the court with mans life pend
ing upon tho outcome. Charles Horny
Riedel, for the murder of his wife and
child, was executed. George II Graham
was given three years for killing q.
Kosder, and William J. Calhoun is under
death sentence for asssuiting decrepit
German woman. Hugh #. Sweeney mar
yowly escaped long term ssntenoa for
lssaulting Thomas Martin. Franklin
q. johnson Is doing life teym.for kill
ing companion. Harvey Turner is
awaiting trial for accidentally shooting
Taylor q. GoodleF, a few days ago, +.
Taylor shot and seriously wounded his
stepfather, but was acquitted on the
ground that the defence OF his aister was
justifkble grounds. Harrison Rothwsll,
alias sugar Awful" is doing 10 years foI
burglary. The petty cases te'ore thg
city court were more numerous than dur
Ing the previous year, the whole indioa-
tion of the growth of lawlessness.
Dariug the year the court has instl
tuted an open system OF hearing liquor
license applications, and is on the road tt
q discrimination against the lower auo
lawiess men engaged in the business
This gives much satisfaction to the TEN
perance element and as result they viii
regard 1888 as marking what they regard
az the beginning of q radical reform. Tht
city escaped with but few fires of ap,
consequence during the year. The most
destructive were the burning Of e u
Fighters store, j. Paul Browns stndio
Michael Newells morocco factory, Hart
mann & Fehrenbach's porter brewery
Western Union Telegraph Office, |. y
Quieley's morocco factory, Academy o.
MusIc, Moore's ship yard. The loss an
tailed by the element In Wiimingtou "a
probably be covered by $25O,0O0. The
largest fires in the State outside OF thu
city were the burning Of the Delaware
iron works at New Castle and the DoVsi
glass factory.
There has been marked development
In the spiritual field DR.. J Leighton Cole
man has been digniiied to the exalted oifin'
of biahop. and with the advent Of the new
head the church has apparently grown IT
strength. There have bean number o.
new churches dedicated in the State dnr
ing the year. In this city, perhaps, th'
most important obange In the oongrega
tions was the retirement of the hev
Howard Nixon from Central Church ant
ths installation of the Rev. William L
Bwartz aB his successor. Also the install
eation Of the Rev. George M Hickman tt
tuuceed the Rev. Fl. ID. Lindsay. Tb'
Wilmington Annual Conference helt
its annual session in this city IN March
and Asbury NJ. e. Church celebrated III
Goth anniversary during the summer
There has, in addition, been greet dea
OF effective work done iy the varionl
church societies and organizations and
other bodies looking toward the spiritua
improvement of mankind. The home
pathic Hospital has almost ccvered IN
frst year Of its existercs within tn,