Evening journal., 1907-06-20
FEARING HARM,
400 DIDN'T GO
ON EXCURSION
Scott Sunday School Took
742 Persons Down the
Bay Today
RUMORS CAUSE FALLING OFF

When Scott Methodist Sunday school
excursion left Fourth street wharf on
the steamer Thomas CLYDE this morn
ing, It was estimated that between
three hundred and four hundred per
sons who had intended TO go remain-
ed at home because of the absurd ru.
NOR that an astrolorer had predicted
that none Of the excurslonists would
return, but an would be drowned.
Just 742 persons took a chance and
went down the bay 20 have good
time at Woodland Beach. Some OF
them would have beeen pretty we'll sat-
isfied If they could have caught the
mythical astrologer or the person who
Started the fear-inspiring rumors ana
dropped him into the bay about six
miles from nowhere.
Had Him ARRESTED"
AS an indication Of how the rumor
has assumed new shape. it was gener-
ally reported about Fourth street
wharf that "the astrologer he's been
arrested" AS a matter of fact no for-
tune teller or astrologer has neen dis
covered who made any prediction Of
disaster TO excursionists. and no as-
trologer or fortune teller has been ar
rested
Scott Sunday school usually has the
largest excursion of any school I'm Will
mington. II generally takes from 100
/ to 1900 persons on its annual outing
/ 10 Woodland Beach. When the band
marched down from the church tld.
morning with a string Of merry mer
and women. boys ami girls. trailing
along in jaunty attire there seemed e
be no fear of drowning OF any Other
calamity. on the contrary everybody
was happy.
After Customs Inspector Fred Mid
dleton had finished taking his coun
Of persons boarding the Clyde his IN
dicator showed that 1i2 persons Ia,
gone aboard.
Caused Many 20 Stay
"These absurd rumors have cause,
between 300 and 400 persons TO remain
at home" said Pastor q. X. stephen
son Of Scott Church 1t Is surprig
ing that a large number of timid per
sons were influenced by the rumor
started By some irresn snonsible person
The Evening Journal has done muc
to try TO overcome tho effect Of tn
reports. for which II should be give
much credit"
A large crowd gathered at th
wharf TO see the excursion leave. an
the rumor was the chief topic Of con
versation.
Union Sunday school a'so went on it
excursion this morning About "a
persons went ND on the Wilson line
that left Fourth street wharf az 7i
o'clock for Philadelphia. From IN
wharf there the excursionists viii e
TO Willow Grove PARK ON street cars
None Of the Union party seemed fear
full Of disaster as they left cheerin
this morning.
Trailed Down the Rumors
Asbury and Madeley churches 20 ou
tomorrow Several members Of the
Sunday schools have been disturhe
by the rumors, but & is expected
big crowd will go. 7. Elmer Perry, sur
erintendent OF Asbury school, went C
a tour Of investigation yesterday II
tried 10 trail down the rumor. NJ
Perry visited each theatre in the cit
and learned that no astrologer or foi
tune teller hpd been at any of thoI
t and so far as he could learn no pre-
/ dictions OF disaster to excursionis
, had been made az any Of the theatre
He and Pastor Westerheld advi'
everybody to so on the excursion an
I not to have n days PLEASURE spoile
/ by the rumors about astrologers or an
= kind of "ologers"