Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-09-14
THE NEWS OF NEW CASTLE.

machine hand IN tho cutting Shop OF
the Delaware Iron Co, was instantly
killed ut an early hour this morning.
He was using an iron rod to measure
pipe and on turning it about, end for
end, the rod came in contact with an
electric light wiro and the result was
q shock of LOCO volts through his
body, and instant death. Batten lived
at Townsville, N. j., and rowed across
the river night and morning in going
to and from his work.
Last evening, shortly before O'Clock,
it was thought that John G. Bacon
was dead, but it was only a sinking
spell and he afterward rallied slightly.
The end finally came at 3 O'clock this
morning. Deceased was the eldest son
of tho late John Bacon and was 4s
years of age on Tuesday last. He was
we'll thought of and was building up
an excellent trade in the restaurant
line. He leaves widow, three sons
and one daughter, Lewis, Walter, Ray
and Elizabeth. Hs had been i'll but
week. On Friday last he was stricken
with vertigo and fell over on his front
steps, cutting his head He was at
once taken in the house and DIR. Black
summoned. The family was appraised
of the fact that the injured man had
not long to live, as he was suffering
from tumor on the brain. Every
thing possible was done for his relief,
until death ended his sufferings.
The wedding of Miss Mary Hoffecker
to Lawrence Harvey took place last
evening at tho home of the parents
of the bride, No. 1923 South Twelfth
street, Philadelphia. A number of
friends of the bride from this city
attended the wedding.
A number of women Of this city have
recently been duped to the extent of
S1.50. A man who represented himself
as agent of an alleged artificial flower
house at Fourth and Orange streets,
Wilmington, sold molds from which to
produce artificial flowers, with the
understanding that only limited
number were to be sold and that the
firm would take all the flowers made
He assured the women that they could
make in their spare moments from So
to So per week. The man was TO bring
far he has failed to report, and the
women find that they have been
swindled by an old trick.
New Castle, Sept. 0. = Yesterday
morning pitiable scene was enacted
in this city. The comrades of the late
Thomas Batten, who was killed by an
electric shock at the Delaware iron
works, had accompanied him in his
boat daily, to ano from Pennsville,
but yesterday they could not bear to go
home without him. The heart of each
man failed when he thought of going
alone to break the sad news to the
| Wi a r. ba mn 30 MAN
An attempt was made to have Cor
oner Vandever reach here early yester-
day morning, view the body and secure
and swear in the jury, in order that
| it might he taken across the river on
the steamer Major Reybold, but the
| coroner did not arrive unit it was too
late for the boat. The body was viewed
| and placed in the care of Funeral
Director Clewell. Later, encased in a
coffin, it was placed on skilf and the
| journey to Pennsville made. Batten's
| companions went together, each refus-
| ing to 60 without his comrades.
| The scene at Pennsyille was heart
| rending. The wife was heart broken.
She stated that he had gone from home
to work to earn the living for the
family at her request, as she feared
| that he might meet violent death il
he continued at the works of the
Repauno Chemical Co., where he had
been employed. They had been plan
ming to remove TO this city, SO az to
save him the daily trips across the
| river.
The inquest was held at 8. 80 O'Clock
and verdict of accidental death was
rendered. The jury was composed of
New Castle men. with the Rev. r.
Irving Watkins foreman, and f. l.
Rogers secretary. The testimony showed
that Batten had touched the upper
carbon of an open arc light with the
| end of an iron measuring rod and
that after touching it he took several
steps and exclaimed, 'Who hit me?"
He then sank to the iron-plated floor,
his head falling against pile of pipe,
and was dead when picked up. He was
q finely built man, weighing about
100 pounds, and general favorite.
| John Boyle, son of James Boyle of
South Third street, met with painful
accident while at work in the flue mill
| Of the Delaware Iron Co., early yester-
day morning. He was about leaving
the pit in front of q furnace, where he
had been working, and failed to OBJ
serve a truckload of iron pipe being
hauled along the top edge OF the pit.
He placed his left hand on the edge Of
| the pit and the wheel of tho truck
rolled against and crushed tho little
finger and portion OF the fleshy part
of his hand.
New Castle, Sept. 70. THE largest
funeral seen in this city for several
years was that of the late John G.
Bacon, yesterday afternoon, from his
late residence, Second and Delaware
streets. Mr.. Bacon was one of the
most popular business men in the city
and great throng visited the house
during the day to pay their last tribute
of respect.
The funeral services were held in
Nazareth M. E. Church, of which the
deceased had been member for q
number of years, by the Rev. r. Irving
Watkins, pastor, and the Rev. James
M. Wise. Both preachers delivered
excellent discourses. Mr.. Wise, who
had known Mr.. Bacon ever since he
had come to this city, over 40 years
ago, spoke beautifully of his Christian
character and fatherly bearing toward
his family. The interment was made
in the new Episcopal cemetery. The
| pallbearers were five nephews, Harry
| w. Hushehsck, William II. Hushebeck,
| Presley Ball.. John Tobin and George
| Tobin and William B. Mccoy, Jr.
| Mrs. Bacon and son, Ray, have de-
cided to carry on the restaurant con.
Quoted by MIR. Bacon and Walter will
| be timekeeper at the works of the
Delaw Iron Co., which position was
rendered him at the time his father
was taken ill, 10 days ago.