Evening journal., 1908-08-15
RECOLLECTIONS OF
WILLIAM A. HUKILL
Latter No. is.

Letter NO. 10.
propose to change the base OF opera
ton from Thoroughfare Neck. and turn
my attention to Odessa or cantwen
Bridge as it was then called. and Mid
dietown. As / recollect tho conditions
from the early forties say $40. cantwen's
Bridge was the most unimportant town
between New Castle and Dover. except
Smyrna and good portion OF Cantwells
Bridge, or at least OF the business men
OF Odessa, went to Smyrna on Thursday,
or bank day, as it was called as there
was no bank between New Castle and
Smyrna, except possibly at Delaware
City. for am not sure when the bank
opened there but know il was in operation
In 1850
When the cantwens Bridge business
men went to Smyrna on bank day it was
who should have the best horse or who
should tell the best yarn on what hap
pened on those trips.
Men who went to Smyrna in those days
were William Polk, Daniel Corbit, Charles
Lat1nan, John Whitney, John Yelefsow,
Benedie Doughten, Mordecai Doughten,
(John p. Doughten's father, James stew
ems and a number of others. 1 will relate
one little incident which occurred and
which I heard related BY some Of those
who took part in playing the joke.
DR.. William II. Hamilton, a prominent
physician in that town, and who died
there only a few years ago, came there a
fun fledged young doctor TO take up his
residence and practice there. He was in
vited to ride down to Smyrna on bank
day by Charles Latman and on arriving
at that town he put up at the hotel for
dinner. Mr.. Latman proceeded to put up
Job on his friend with the cooperation
OF the landlord The doctor was somewhat
OF dude and very fond Of having fun
at the expense OF other people. I think
on the occasion In question he was dressed
in breeches and long stockings. SO Mr..
Latman whispered to the landlord that he
expected his friend would probably want
to pay for the dinner but that the land
lord was to refuse to accept any money.
II the doctor insisted the landlord was
to reply that he could not think of ac-
cepting any payment from so distinguish
ed gentleman as the doctor The landlord
was to say that he felt himself amply
repaid because Of the amount of business
the doctor had brought to his hotel BY his
distinguished appearance.
All of this rufhed the doctor and things
were getting unpleasant for him But
other friends who were IN the secret and
who were close at hand, came to the
front and gave the joke away and the
doctor saw at once that he had been sold
and that there were others who knew how
to play a joke as we'll as himself
Cantwells Bridge being at the head Of
navigation was the chief grain market
and the seat Of general commercial trade.
It had e-<an yard which made a market
for bark and material for the miil was
brought for many miles. There were six
or eight large granaries for storing grain
till It could be shipped to Philade, phia
on the many slops owned by the dealers.
| There were the Mary and the Carolina.
the Odessa and the John Witby AMI the
William Polk, a new coasting schooner
which was lost on her initial trip 10 Bos.
ton with a load of corn in August 1916
At that time and later men would come
with grain from ten miles down west ei
AIiddletown and from other directions ant
| Aioul llt llcS tdlAc III Hlbul lntl
would begin race to see who should gel
to the granary FIRST unload; and then
have seen them go down the main stree
three abreast and it was very exciting
The teams would have from two TO 81,
horses, four horse teams were common
but six the exception. Thus things wen
on till in the early ffties there wer
rumors Of a project to build railroad
The men Of that vicinity became rousel
at such an enterprise and held meeting
to protest against the road being built
They said their farms would be cut L
pieces. their stock endangered. their hen
and chickens ground to pieces and thei
own lives put in danger. They succeede
in fighting the project until it was pushel
over into Middletown.
William Andrew Hulill