davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
SMYRNA SCHOOL BOARD TO
LOSE MISS EDITH SCOTTON
HER RESIGNATION FORMALLY
TENDERED FRIDAY EVENING
Making Three designations Since
June-Miss Annie Middleton Flee
ted But Not Assigned Grade

The Board of Education of the
Smyrna Public Schools at a meeting
Friday evening, formally received and
accepted the resignation of Miss
Edith Section of Hartly, who leaves
to accept a position with more pay.
This makes the third resignation the
School Board has received since
June:-Miss Mary b. PassmOre, who
accepted the principalship Of the
HOckessin schools; Miss Esther Read
who gives up to embark some time
this Fall upon the matrimonial sea
and Miss ScOttOn. Like in the other
two cases the School Board regretted
to receive the resignation of Miss
Section. For six years she has
taught the pupils of the Sixth Grade
and not only endeared herself 20 the
little folks but was particularly inter
ested in making her room attractive
one of the most attractive in the
school. The Board did not make any
effort to tlll the three vacancies.
They did elect Miss Annie Middleton
a teacher but left her grade or work
for the present unassigned. Miss
Middleton was a teacher in the prim-
airy grade for many years and ker re-
turn to the school faculty is pleasing
to her friends. Another meeting
will be held in the near future when
it is hoped the vacancies can be
filled. Most teachers are now fixed
for next year making it lather diff
cult for the Board to make good Sc
lections at this time. Applications
however, are being received from
several quarters and by the time all
are in, which it is hoped will be by
next meeting, a selection for the va
cancies can be made.
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
ANOTHER SEVERE ELECTRIC
STORM PASSES THRU KENT
BARN AND HAY BARRACK ON G.
FRANK GOOTEE FARM, STRUCK
But No Material Damage-Herman
Wallace on the Wilson Farm Near
Dover Loses 10 Horses and Hay

Another severe electric storm pass
ed over Kent county Monday evening
and while there was no damage in
Smyrna, at Clayton the farm of G.
Frank GoOtee was endangered. The
farm is in tenure of David Boggs.
During the height of the storm a bolt
of lightning struck the fork at the
end of the stable and went thru to
the ground. 1t tore a hole about
four feet across in the roof and a
dense volume of smoke poured out.
The chemical engines of the Smyrna
and Clayton fire departments dashed
to the farm, but their services were
not needed. The shaft of lightning
had torn through piles of grape
boxes and carriers to the ground, but
in some singular manner that infam-
mable material did not catch fire.
Lightning struck a large barn on the
farm of Mrs. DR.. ]. H. Wilson, near
Dover, in the tenure of Herman Wal
lace, and set fire to it,tOtally destroy
ing it together with fully 100 tons of
hay. Ten valuable horses were also
burned to death, the remaining num-
Der, four OF five, being released by
Mr.. Wallace, before he was kicked by
one of the animals. In the fall he
sustained broken leg, broken arm
and kick in the forehead by the
frantic horses as the fire ragged. Two
cOrncribs also caught fire and were
destroyed. A third barn and the
home was saved by the efforts of the
neighbors and the Robbins Hose Com
pany, of Dover, who were called to
the fire. Mr.. Wallace, the tenant, is
in a critical condition. Another bolt
struck the large barn and stable on
the Howard Hudson farm near Fred
erica, destroying both with several
tons of hay, $50 bushels of wheat,
seventy-five bushels of corn, three
cows, one horse and a pair of mules.
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
DOVER TO HAVE HOME GUARDS
Adjutant General l. Pusey Wicker
sham Issues Orders for Formation

Dover is to have a company of or
ganized militia for home defense, the
order for the same having been Civ
en- by Adjutant General l. Pusey
Wickersham, the same now in course
of organization under the direction of
Deputy Attorney General James NJ.
Satterfeld, a former captain of Com
pany G, Organized Militia of Della
ware. The new company will be en-
tirely different from the old Home
Guards, which was organized there
some months ago, and which after a
few drills was practically abandoned.
The new company will receive state
recognition and will be completely
equipped with uniforms and guns, the
enlisted men being required to fur
nish their own shoes and a copy of
the manual. Only men between 21
and 45 years will be accepted in the
new company which will have a min
imum strength of forty men and
three officers and a maximum
strength of sixty-five men and three
officers. The enlisted period will be
for three years, unless sooner dis
charged by the proper authorities,
with the understanding that when the
emergency ceases to exist these
troops will be mustered out. While
the officers are not yet selected, it is
more than probable that Mr.. !Satter-
field will be made captain and Char
les w. Hardesty and Prof. C. w.
Schantz, lieutenants, as all three
have had military training.
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
MRS. c. E. DONOVAN INJURED
Struck by Lightning Wednesday
Night Her Whole Left Side Burned

Mrs. c. Edward Donovan, near
Clayton, was severely injured during
the electrical storm on Wednesday
night about 10 o'clock. Mrs. DonO-
van was standing at a window when
struck, was knocked unconscious and
severely injured in her thigh and hip
and was burned all the way to the
shoulder on the left side. DIR. Cobb
was called and dressed the wounds.
We are glad to learn she is improv-
ing rapidly but still in bed. Her
many friends will be pleased to see
her out again real soon.
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
I0IINC|L LETS FROST GAS
COMPANY RAISE ITS RATES
.,.,v1uOUSLY GRANT PRIVI-
' 'rcr DrRING PERIOD OF WAR
,so From S1.SO Per Cubit Feet
S15 With Minimum Meter
Dill of 80 Cents a Month

cn,rrna Town Council at a meeting
rsJay evening received Mr.. F. A.
roodwOrth, local manager'and Arley
vagee. Esq, attorney for the Frost
r.. COMPANY, and heard their appeal
- On amendment to their franchise
.,i;rc said Frost Gas Company the
scbt TO raise their meter rates for
"a during the period of the war.
Nv Nagee as spokesman, pointed out
a. necessity of such move in these
times of higher prices for labor, coal
.rd material, that the company was
coing behind on the rates they were
Getting from Smyrna consumers and
an increase was absolutely necessary
they were to continue business ana
cire the service they desired. An
o,dinance covering the situation was
Drpsented and explained seriatim by
Attorney Magee which in the main
v,s as follows: That for and during
Mp term of the present war the
Frost Gas Company be empowered to
charge for gas produced, distributed
and sold at a net price not exceeding
N75 per 1000 cubit feet, and that
tbe minimum meter bill be so cents
Der month. In turn the Gas Com
pany agrees to give service. Where
such service is insufficient and upon
application of customer, they will re-
new at their own expense and install
sufficiently large pipe from gas main
TO curb as to afford and insure good
service, provided said customer re-
new the piping from the curb into
his or her residence. The latter the
Frost Gas Company will do at actual
cost, but should insufficient service
result there (frOm curb to property
the Frost Gas Company agrees not
to make any charge for installation.
The Town Council of the Town of
The Town of Smyrna expressly re-
serves the right to change, alter or
repeal this ordinance at any time
after a treaty of peace between the
United States and Germany has been
duly ratified. Council, after hearing
the representatives of the Frost Gas
Company adjourned until Monday
night and then until last night when
by unanimous vote they adopted the
ordnance. All the members were
present and voted.
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
DAMAGE ON EASTERN SHORE
Kent and Queen Anne's Counties Hard
Hit by Electric Storm Wednesday

Late reports from the severe storm
on Wednesday night show that more
than $4,000 damage was done in
Kent and Queen Anne counties. A
large barn on DIR. Dudley's farm,near
Kennedyville, was destroyed, causing
a loss of $4,000; three valuable cows
belonging to Arnold Willis, in Wor-
ton, were killed; the barn on Capt.
Henry Urie's property in Rock Hall
was destroyed, loss $500. A large
cannery at Hayden station, on the
Queen Anne railroad, was burned, loss
$4,000; the home of A. S. Turner, in
WortOn, was struck, and a cot in one
of the bedrooms was burned, as was
also Mr.. Turner, who sustained burns
on the hand in his efforts to extin-
guish the flames before the house
caught fire; the ice plant in Centre
vile was struck and the dynamo bad
ly infused, and it is reported that
the big hotel at Love Point was con-
siderably damaged by lightning.
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
EXPERIMENTING MOSQUITOES
Good Work at Hog Island to be
Tried on the Delaware Marshes

The mosquito, ever pest to Smyr-
ma, Leipsic, Dover and other towns
along the Delaware River marsh and
as a matter of fact few if any
towns in Delaware escape the annoy
ance should make our citizens inter
ested in the report made by the Phil
adelphia Bulletin which is applicable
as well to Delaware as to the big
state of Pennsylvania. 1t says:
Chester will raise 100000 including
$4,000 contributed by the State, to
exterminate the mosquito in the river
zone reaching from Darby creek to
the State line. The campaign, back
ed by 100000 contributed by the city
of Philadelphia, the State, and the
Hog Island and Westinghouse inter-
ests, and covering the former breed
ing places from Greenwich Point to
the lower end of the shipyard, is
said to have got these diminutive
beasts of prey on the run to such an
extent that the down-river folks must
act in self-defense.
Cali of this is good news for Hog
Island and vicinity, and likewise for
Chester and its environs, but Phila-
delphians in general are concerned to
know where the horde, driven out
from their accustomed preserves, will
next locate their hunting grounds.
According to reports and experience,
the regions beyond the State line and
reaching to Wilmington, are already
over-populated, and the human food
supply is already pre-empted, so that
the wise 'skeeter will not head in that
direction.
According to the experts these
hostile hydroplanes have a cruising
radius of four miles, and although
they prefer marshy lands for their
habitat, any pool of stagnant water
where they can float their wings, is
home, sweet home, for them. A
back yard or an alley is all the same
to them. Consequently it behooves
even the householder to have a care.
Prospects for the crop of the
house mosquito, familiar pest, are
said to be good. The weather is
propitious for a bumper visitation,
and general outdoor cleanliness is the
only known means of defense. But
the situation is not without hope. If
the mosquito could be driven out of
the Panama Canal Zone, it can be
driven out of Philadelphia. All that
is required is to keep persistingly at
the job, and future generations, at
least, will rise up to call us blessed"
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
LIGHTNING SEVERE UP STATE
Struck Several Places Near Green
spring, BIackbird and Townsend
Entailing Loss to Buildings

The electrical storm which swept
over lower New Castle county on
Wednesday night was, according to
the oldest residents, the most severe
one which they can remember. Balls
of fire were seen in various localities
and heavy damage resulted. The
Outbuildings on the farm of A. ].
Wright near Blackbird were burned
at a loss of $4,000. William Burch-
ard lost 300 bushels of wheat in the
stack. Mrs. Edward Donovan, wife
OF farmer near Greenspring, was in
the dining room of her home when
a bolt struck a chimney and she was
so badly burned that her recovery is
still doubtful. William Green had
three cows struck and killed by a
bolt which struck his barn. Walter
Hart lost two cows by a bolt and on
the farm of Richard Gonce near
Townsend, two horses were struck
and killed. Charles Todd also of near
Townsend, was just preparing to
thresh his wheat when the storm
came up, and his whole crop of $50
bushels was burned in the stack.
Lightning also killed three COWS on
the farm of Frank Rausch and P. J.
HOdgsOn lost one cow in a similar
manner. The heavy rain badly wash
ed the roads and several bridges were
damaged seriously.
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
MIDDLETOWN MAN HURT
John ]. HOffecker Reported Severely
Wounded in Fighting in France


In the latest casualty list from Gen
eral Pershing in France, appears the
name of John j. Hoffecker, aged "a
years,of Middletown, son of George
S. and Alberta HOffecker. The young
soldier, one of the best liked young
men of MiddletOwn, was connected
with the Ninth Infantry, Company B,
and has been cover there" since last
September. He holds the distinction
of being the first resident of Middle
town to sacrifice himself to Uncle
Sans army. Last June a year ago
he was working in Chester, Pa, and
Immediately, upon learning the need
of men in the army, enlisted. He
was sent to Fort Slocum, and after
being there for a week, left for Camp
Syracuse, New York, and in Septem-
ber went overseas. The soldier is in
jured but the extent of his injuries
is not known.
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
OLD BELMONT HALL IMPROVED
Cummins f. Speakman Restores
House to its Colonial Architecture

Mr. Cummins E. Speakman, of
Pennsgrove, n. j., has been spending
a week home with his family at Bel
mont Hall. During the past spring
and summer Belmont Hall" has been
thoroughly renovated. The bricks
have been restored to their original
color, all the colonial woodwork has
been painted white, the outbuildings
have all been rebuilt and mOdernized,
handsome three-stall garage has
been erected. Fences have given way
to more ornamental changes and his
tOric Belmont Hall in its palmiest
days never looked more colonial or
more attractive than it does to-day.
Mr.. Speakman is making it one of
the most attractive places in Kent
county.
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
GEORGETOWN BOY MISSING
Lieutenant Layton of Georgetown,
Law Student Reported Missing

Law oJuueHt reported MISSING
Official word from WASHINGTON has
been received by LII. Layton that his
son, Lieutenant Lawrence Layton, in
the aviation, has been missing in
France since July Is. Lieutenant
Layton who was flying in the Marine
sector, was graduated from Mercers-
burg Academy, from the University
of Pennsylvania in 1914 and from the
Pennsylvania Law School in 1917.
He was reading law in Wilmington
when he enlisted and had been flying
his own machine only about four
weeks although he had been in France
since the first of the year. He has
two other brothers in the service
Lieutenant Lice Layton, in the light
artillery in France, and Lieutenant
Halsted Layton, of the 59th Delaware
Pioneers at Camp Dix. He is the
first from Sussex county in the cas-
ualty list.
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
COMING FIREMEN's CARNIVAL
Everything in Preparation for the
Biggest Week Ever, Aug. 24-31-
Committees to Make Canvass

Everything is in preparation for
the big Smyrna Firemen's Carnival
for week of August 24-31. The COM
mittee has been very fortunate to Sc
cure Mile Ruby as the free attraction.
Mile Ruby was the feature act at
Paragon Park, Boston, Mass, for
three years. Also at Luna Park,
COney Island, entire season of 1917.
They also have engaged the Harlan
Band of Wilmington. This band has
obtained quite a reputation through
out the state. The regular meeting
of the Citizens Hose Company was
held last night and the following So
Letting committees were appointed
for the various streets of the town:
South Main, H. w. Oliver and G. w.
BOehmler; north Main, Lee R. Coch-
ran; Market street, John c. Still;
Delaware street, G. c. Truax and
Harry Collins; Union street, Howard
Newnum; Pearl street, John Morris;
west Commerce street, George w.
Cunning and H. w. FAIRIES; east Com
merce street, Wallace Eltrich; South
street, Norman Coleman and Frank
Webb; Frazier street, James Lang
rell; Mt. Vernon street, V. L. Phil
lips and DR.. r. F. Corley. The COM
mittees are asked to make a report
at the Hose Room on Friday night.
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
BIG THURSDAY AT BOWERS
Quite a Number Motor Down and
Spend the Day in Large Crowd

A number from Smyrna and vicin-
ity mOtored to Bowers Beach Thurs
day, to participate in the big Thurs
day" crowd. A large cOncourse of
people from all over Delaware, Mary
land, Pennsylvania and other states
were in attendance. The impression
seemed to be that the crowd was not
quite so large as in former years, due
possibly to the fact that many of the
soldiers and relatives of soldiers were
not present as usual. Contrary to
former years, there was no rowdy-
ism, drunkenness or fighting, and the
only incident to mar the pleasure of
the thousands present was the drown
ing in the Murderkill river on the op-
pOsite side of the bay of young Will
liam Lorenz, of near Kenton, who
had gone to the beach for the day.
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
GERARD'S 4 YEAR IN GERMANY
Great PhOtOplay to be Shown at
Opera House Monday and Tuesday


Opera House Monday and Tuesday
The people of Smyrna and vicin-
ity, thru the efforts of Manager Mark
McManus, are afforded a rare treat
in the coming production, "My Four
Years in Germany" by Ambassador
James W.Gerard which will be shown
at the Smyrna Opera House next
Monday and Tuesday, Angus 18th
and goth. Says one press comment:
"a company of truly great actors
gave life like portrayals of the vari-
Gus familiar characters, the imper-
sonatiOn of the Kaiser by Louis Dean
being very good. Also Herbert
Brown was perfect as the unruffled
diplomat. The direction was a mas
ter stroke of concentration, the inter-
est never tagging. ThunderOus ap-
plause greeted Ambassador Gerard's
refusal to drink the toast at the
grand banquet given in his honor by
the fawning hypOcrites, for he sees
vision in the goblet of the victims of
the Observation-Disclosures with babes
frozen at their breasts. The hold-up
of passports unless he signs treaty
agreeable to the Kaiser, and his reply
"I1l stay here till hell freezes over"
is expressive of Uncle Sans hench-
men. Again is shown miles of mu-
tilated bodies of those who died that
democracy might live. Some slight
conception of the twisted psychology
of the Teuton mind is displayed in
their foolish boast, america won't
fight" and the United States an
swered by sending millions of our
boys over the top. A truly great
photoplay, deserving the highest
praise"
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
FORMER CHESWOLD GIRL WEEDS
Miss Margaret Knots Becomes the
Wife of Willard S. Morgan

CheswOld, August 13.-Miss Mar
garet c. Knots, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Walter Knotts of Cheswold, and
Willard F. Morgan, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. David T. Morgan of Roselle,
near Wilmington, were quietly mar
ried in Baltimore Monday afternoon
by Rev. E. C. Primm, pastor of First
Baptist Church of Baltimore. The
young couple were accompanied by
Miss Efie Tomlinson of Seaford, and
Harry Sterling of Wilmington. Af-
ter short honeymoon they will be at
home in Wilmington. Until recently
the bride had been in nurses training
at the State Hospital.
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
DELAWARE BOYS CAMP DIX
COl. Townsend of Milford Chronicle
Wants Them Given an Opportunity

wants lnem GlVen an Opportunity
The frequent desires we hear ex-
pressed by the Smyrna Bunch" of
Delaware Regiment known as the
osth Pioneer Regiment of Camp Dix,
" go across and be given an oppor-
UNITY for real service but bears out
ne following pertinent editorial COM
ment Of the Milford Chronicle which
says; Just when Delaware soldiers
stationed at Camp Dix will be given
al opportunity to cross to France
"nere they can get the experience
ana training for real war work,seems
" oe problem to the great majority
VI lOlks. 1t is shame to pocket the
Delaware soldiers at Camp Dix, and
ed'e them under a cloud, for they
certainly do not merit this fate.
.nefe are officers and men in the 59th
iiOheer Regiment who are chatting
4iuef this restraint, but who are too
sOOu soldiers to rebel against their
''perIor commander, and who are
s1,'eiihg unJustly because of some
~ alAnoWn political reason, over which
'"'y nave no control. The men who
81 " france, and after a campaign
% -'ie' return to this country, will be
s-'a'ef citizens by reason of the ex-
-''ence they have gained, and the
n TrO"uenlng effect upon their minds.
1' men who come back will be big
% men, broader men and men who
SAi Know for themselves how to. treat
' important questions which will
s ,'ue before the country for treat
.; si'' Doth in military as we'll as in
a. C ana commercial affairs. Send
h,.. delaware soldiers to their oppor-
mo-. 10 not treasure up resent
S Lsn' Tor any mistakes which have
~ - made in the past by the Della
of le e people demanding the holding
.t.to Deiaware troops together as a
cunt s unit Give the boys theil
ba'' and see them make good, as
dsf.. always have and always will, in
'iSe Of their country"
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
Herman Pierce Goes to Washington

Mr.G.Herman Pierce, who since his
employ by the Goodyear Tire and
Rubber Company has been making
rapid advance, has had another pro-
motion. He now becomes manager of
the Washington, D. c., Branch and
left Philadelphia recently to take up
residence in the National Capitol.
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
Ayres J.StocKly Gets Government Doh

Ayres J. Stockly, Esq, son of Mrs.
John c. Stockly of this town, has
been appointed secretary of the State
Advisory Board of the United States
Employment Service with offices in
Wilmington.
Smyrna times., 1918-08-14
DEATH RECORD OF THE WEEK
Andrew E.SanbOrn, Esq, WeII-known
Wilmington Lawyer, Native of
Leipsic, Died Suddenly Friday

Andrew E. Sanbon, for MANY
years one of the leading attorneys of
the New Castle county bar, and coun-
sci for the Baltimore and Ohio rail
road and the Philadelphia and Read
ing Railway Company, died suddenly
Friday night at his summer home at
Wildwood Crest, N. ]. He was we'll
known to number in Smyrna. Mr..
SanbOm suffered an attack of apo-
pleXy. His home in Wilmington was
at 813 West street, but during the ab-
sence of the family at the seashore
1t has only been occupied by a care
taker. Mr.. SanbOIn was born in
Leipsic, Kent county, March a, 1857.
and was graduated from LAFAYETTE
College, EastOn, Pa, in 1881. Later
he studied law under the late Levi C.
Bird, and was admitted to the bar of
New Castle county September Is.
1884. He and Mr.. Bird became law
partners and upon the latter's death
Mr.. SanbOrn took his place as counsel
for the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
Mr.. SanbOrn married Miss Isabella
Derckson, daughter of DrJacob Der
icksOn, for many years one of the
leading physicians of Wilmington.
Another daughter became the wife of
Frederick Bringhurst. Mr.. Sanborn
was Mason, Temple Lodge of Will
mingtOn,and Philadelphia Consistory,
Scottish Rite, being his affiliations.
Recently he completed very thor
Ough and interesting history of Tenn
pie Lodge.
Victor NJ. TOrbert Dies at ElktOn,M Md.
Victor Megredey Torbert, 48 years
old, for many years associate editor
of The Cecil Whig, which is now pub
lished in the town of Elkton, Md,
died on August 9, 1918, after a ling
ering illness. He was born in Elk
ton and was the son of the late
Major Henry Robinson Torbert, at
one time owner of and editor of the
Cecil Whig. He was employed for
some years as a special writer for
several Philadelphia and New York
newspapers. He leaves his mother
who was the daughter of the late
Colonel Edwin Wilmer; one sister,the
widow of Frederick T. Haines. Mr..
TOrbert was a man of attractive
manner and strong personality,
brilliant mind and a loss to those
near to him. His funeral was held
in Trinity Episcopal Church, ElktOn
on August -, burial in the family
lot ElktOn cemetery.
Mrs. w. l.. Pritchett Dies at Dover
Mrs. Lizzie r. Pritchett, aged 81
years, wife of William L. Pntchett,
one of Dover's leading undertakers,
died at the home of her husband on
State street shortly before noon Fri
day. Mrs. Pritchett was a daughter
of John A. and Gertrude Lockwood
Stevenson, and taught school in the
Dover public schools for several years
in her younger days. The funeral
was held Tuesday afternoon at l
o'clock with the Rev. Thomas Getz
Hill, of Smyrna, in charge. Inter
ment was made in the Christ P. E.
cemetery, Dover.