The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-03-04
items FROM
new CASTLE.
Correspondence Of the REPUBLICAN
March 1, 1899.

Considerable interest has ibeen aroused
during the past week in this section by the
presentation of o cradle to the Historical
Society of Philadelphia by Mr. Thomas
Short of Cecil County, Md, 1t was the
cradle in which Lydia Darrah was rocked
over $50 years ago in Dlblin. Ireland. She
was the mother of John Darrah who lived
here about 100 years ago and whose lineal
descendants are scattered through New
Castle County. He married. Miss Mar
garet Stuart Porter Of Port Penn and
their Issue was six schildrsn-Lydia, Mar
earet Ann Hall, Susan, Etizs. and Alex
ander. Lydia married James Short. The
result of this union was one son, Alexan-
der Dar1 sh Short who married Miss Anna
j. Naudain, daughter Of Rev. Arnold .
Naudain. Their first aud only issue was
one son, James Hall Short, who was born
In 1888; and he in 1868 married. Miss Mar
tina d, Humphreys. Their first child. a
SOL, Alexander Darrah Short. was born in
1869, after him William Chapman. Anna
j., Emaline Mem, Martha Il Lea H.,
Lydia Burlington Thomas E., and Es-
tela. Mrs Short died In 1888, and MIR.
Short in 1907. James Hall Short was one
of the hos known men in this and Cecil
Comfy. Md,
Alter the battle Of Germantown the
British army was in Philadelphia. The
Americans h ad retired to White Marsh, q
few miles distant from the city.
Whilst here IN attempt was made by
tho British to surprise Washington In his
camp. 1t was frustrated BY Quaker wo-
man name Lydia Darrah.
Lydia lived in Philadelphia. and at her
house the adjutant-Gensrai OF the British
army mad his quarters, and here CONSUL
tations were frequently held by the COM
handing officers.
Ono evening the General ordered Lydia
to prepare room for the reception OF
some gentlemen who were to meet him on
business; adding In a decisive tone, "and
DO sure. Lydia your family are all I'M bed
at an early hour
His manner impressed her with tho feel
ing tina something of Importance was in
tended, but she obeyed his orders; her fam
lily we're asleep, and she, after admitting
the officers, retired without undressing
The feeling that evil designs against her
country were plotting made her 50 restless
that at length she arose, and stole, bare
footed, to tho door Of the room In which
the council was sitting.
There she heard an order from General
Howe for the troops In Philadelphia to
march out aud surprise and attack WASH
ington's camp at White Marsh. Al early
dawn Lydia arose and with . prayer for
guidance and protection went to General
Howe. the chief general of the British
army, and told him she wished to go to
Frankford Mills for -four. and asked him
to give her leave to pass the British troops.
This he readily did.
Leaving her meal bag at frankfort,
she pressed on through the snow for 1t
was cold December morning, to WASH
ingtons camp. Meeting an American
officer she told him the precious secret, and
then, hurrying back to Frankford, took
up her -four, and reached Philadel-
phia without any suspicious being aroused.
The cradle was present ted In order that Il
may be properly presented in memory Of
Mrs. Darrah.
Unless Superintendent King enforces
his rules thore will DO an accident some
morning that will cause the loss of many
lives. When the II car with a passen-
gers reached the Edwards switch this
morning. Motornan white threw signal
and was given the bell to 60 ahead. He
had gone about 100 yards when he saw til q
extra car followed by the regular car
from Wilmin ston approaching. The re-
suit was that White saved a collision BY
giving the three boil to conductor Cluff-
The result was that the car with i5 men
aboard had to 20 back to allow an
empty car to pass by in opposition to his
signal.
James b. Hance Is able to be around
after being confined to his home with q
severe attack Of the grip. His sou, Ed
ward NJ. Fsnce. has been acting as night
Jail warden during his fathers sickness.
The infant child Of Mr.. and Mrs. Temple
died last night.
Willard Smith caught five heriin in the
Delaware river yesterday.
A youth named johnson succeeded In
capturing big haul Of wood yesterday. 1t
Ia believed that the panking Is of tho Du-
Pont pier that broke down few days ago.
The o. P. II. assembly has o handsome
lily at the store OF Wilbur Merridth. 1t
was grown from an imported bulb In i'm
ported earth. 1t gives when in bloom n
peculiar perfume.
If tho Delaware Iron Works tho Knowles
Mills and the Triton Cotton Mills resume
opera, lon then New Castle will have some
of it's old time hustle about 1t.
Mrs. George Brough OF Philadelphia 10 re-
ported % being much better.
The following 10 the Woman's Home
Missionary Society for the annual mest-
Ing on next Thursday in the M. Z. Church
1904 NJ.
| Devotional Exercises. Mrs N. NJ. Browne