davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1927-07-29
SUMMERS IS PRESIDENT OF
RURAL CARRIER ASSOCIATION
Milford Man Will Head MaiImen For
Ensuing Year

The Delaware Rural Letter Car
riers Association was in convention
at Armory Hall on Wednesday of
last week, the session being called at
p. m. There was a large attend
ance of letter carriers from all parts
of the State. The invocation was
given by Rev. Guy L. Hill, secretary
of the Chamber of Commerce, and
the response by E. B. McCabe, of
Selbyville. Postmaster M. L. Davis,
of Milford, gave the address of well
come, and the main address of the
afternoon was delivered by Post
master Leroy Hickman, of Whining
ton. Postmaster Hickman spoke of
the proper erection and upkeep Of
rural mail boxes to facilitate the de-
livery of the mail. He said that the
boxes on the rural routes are not
erected so as to make good service
possible. He urged the consolidation
of the boxes into groups, so as to
make the mail carriers stops less
frequent, in order that they might
CONTINUED on page u
Milford chronicle., 1927-07-29
BIBLE SCHOOL PUPILS
INTERESTED In WORK
Average Attendance Has Been IS
Each Day This Week

The vacation Bible classes at the
Methodist Episcopal Church, with
Miss Margaret Miller at the head,
are now in their second week, and
will terminate the last of next week,
when a demonstration will be given
of the work being done. Of an en-
rollment of rs, there has been an
average daily attendance Of 65,
showing that the interest is keeping
up. Every day worship program is
held followed by study period and
the expressional activity and the
supervised play. The junior group is
doing some interesting note book
work, with their supervised play in
the community building, and the
other groups have Bible stories and
dramatization, and play out-of-
doors. Those assisting Miss Miller. in
this work are: In the junior depart
ment, Misses Dorothy Davis, Eliza
beth Messick, Louise Vreeland, Pau
line Johnson and James Holzmuel-
ler; in the primary department, Miss
Edna Barker, Mrs. Annie S. Jones,
Miss Margaret Sharpless; in the kim
dergarten department, Misses Kath-
crime Hickman, Jeanette Manlove
and Anna Wilson. Miss Marian Rob-
inson is the registrar, and Miss Sara
Prettyman is in charge of the girls
play; John Bennett helps in disci-
plining the boys.
Milford chronicle., 1927-07-29
DARBY FAMILY WANTS
SISTER TO RETURN HOME
State Highway Police Asked To LO-
cate ''Marie" Who May Be In State

Corporal o. G. James, in command
of the State Highway Police Station
near Bridgeville, has received let
ter from Mrs. Thomas Beaver, of
Darby, Pennsylvania, in which she
states that her sister, Marie, aged IL
years, has been missing since Satur-
day, July 10th.
The letter mentions the man with
whom she is thought to have depart
ed. This mans father resides near
Bridgeville, and the letter states
that it is thought that the sister has
been taken to that locality.
In the letter to the State police,
Mrs. Beaver states that her mother is
almost dead from grief because of
the disappearance of the daughter,
and asks that this information be
conveyed to the sister through the
nearest newspaper published at
Bridgeville. Corporal James has
mailed a copy of the letter to the
Chronicle. The message reads
marie: Come home, Mother is dy-
ing. Everything will be forgiven.
Signed, Lillian, Anna and William" !"
If marie" sees this notice it will be
well for her to communicate with
her relatives.
Milford chronicle., 1927-07-29
FLOATING" OF OYSTERS
BANNED BY U.S.. HEALTH BOARD
Federal Authorities Say Practice
Leads To Pollution

Those who are fond of oysters are
now assured of the bivalves coming
to them 100 per cent pure, owing to
new regulations put in effect by the
United States Public Health Service.
Ever since oyster planting and culti-
vation became an industry in Della
ware Bay and Maurice River Cove,
as we'll as other oyster sections, the
dealer has been accustomed to "foat-
ing" the oysters. In other words,
when the oyster dredging captain
brought in load of oysters to the
wharf, the bivalves were dumped in
to floats which were in fresh or
brackish water and the bivalves were
allowed to drink for two tides. This
always resulted in their becoming
bloated or puffed up so that packing
would require only about rs per
cent of as many oysters as would be
required if they were not bloated.
According to the rulings of the
United States Public Health Service,
this floating of oysters is a means
of pollution. For that reason all
floating has been forbidden. AS a
consequence all the oysters received
not in cans will be simon pure sale
oysters.
According to the regulations of the
U. S. Public Health Service all oys-
ters that are now canned must be
washed and drained of water, so that
the can contains nothing but the
solid meat of the bivalves.
Milford chronicle., 1927-07-29
NEGRO HELD ON CHARGE
OF. FORGING A CHECK
Herman Polk Held For Court At
Hearing On Wednesday

Herman Polk, colored, was held
under $500 bail for court by Justice
of the Peace w. A. Truitt, on We'd
nesday, on the charge of forging a
check. Polk was alleged to have
signed the name of Nancy Brown, al
so colored, on a check of $12, pay
able to her husband, James Brown.
1t is alleged that the endorsement on
the back of the check is also forged.
Polk took the check to Mrs. Ada
Meeker of near Milford, who took it
to the First National Bank to be
cashed. When she presented it, how
ever, paying teller William Aldred
informed her that the signature was
a forgery. She forthwith made a
complaint to Justice Of the Peace
Truitt, and he advised her to see
Nancy Brown whose name was for
ged. The latter denied any knowl-
edge of the check. Polk was arrested
by Corporal Powell of the State Po-
lice, and in default of bail, he was
committed to Jail.
Milford chronicle., 1927-07-29
MARYLAND BARS DELAWARE
FRUITS and GARDEN PRODUCE
Quarantine Against japanese Beetle
Spread Now In Force

Absolute quarantine against trans
portation into or through the State
of Maryland of farm products likely
to harbor the Japanese beetle, which
now infests parts of Pennsylvania
and Delaware, was declared last
Thursday by Governor Ritchie on
advice of the state horticultural 1e-
partment.
Rules to enforce the quarantine
will be formulated by the depart
ment subject to the approval of the
State Board of Agriculture, it was
announced. Products of garden and
orchard grain and forage crops are
expected to be included in the quar-
antine.
Following discovery of several
beetles in Easton, Talbot county,
several days ago, 10 men in the en-
ploy of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture have made a
thorough inspection of parks, yards
and cemeteries in Baltimore with the
purpose of stamping out the pest if
found.
The quarantine against transpor-
tation of farm products is expected
to include garden or orchard plant
products of all kinds, grain and for
age crops of all kinds and other ma
terials, which, in the belief of au-
thorities, may carry the beetle.
Any person violating provisions Of
the quarantine or the rules and reg
ulations will be subject to prosecu-
ton.
Milford chronicle., 1927-07-29
WILL PAINT WARNINGS ON
ROADS NEAR RAILROADS
Safety Measure viii Protect Travel
ing Public From Unknown Crossings

How to make the highways of
Delaware safe for the motorist is one
thing that G. ID. Buck, chief engineer
of the Highway Department, is con-
tinually seeking. When it comes to
reckless drivers and intoxicated
motorists it is almost impossible, he
realizes, to protect sane motorists
and even these drunken reckless
drivers from harm.
However, Mr.. Buck is planning to
put two ideas in use on Delaware
highways that have proved their
worth in other States.
The first of these is already in
operation on the Heald street en-
trance from the highway to Will
mington. 1t is very simple. After the
concrete has been poured 1t Is made
corrugated by raking it in lines 1-8
inch deep. This plan it is believed
will prevent the road from scaling.
In this way it will save money to
the citizens of the State and pre-
serve a more smooth, uniform sur
face for the road. 1t is also believed
that it will prevent much slipping or
skidding in rainy weather. In this
way it will be a means of protecting
the reckless driver or drunken mo-
torist from himself.
The second safety idea has to do
with railroad crossings. Two hum
Continued on Page Seven)
Milford chronicle., 1927-07-29
WILL PROTECT FORT
SALISBURY FROM FLOODS
Government Starts Work On Wall
To Protect Batteries From Tides

To prevent the inundation of Fort
Salisbury by water from the Della
ware bay, during the heavy spring
tides, the Federal government is
having constructed wall Of dirt
around the batteries. Fort Salisbury
is situated along the Delaware bay
shore line miles east of Milford,
and about one mile from the Della
ware shore highwater mark. At
certain times due to high easterly
winds the tide breaks the beach and
overflows the surrounding country,
doing considerable damage to farm
lands and property. According to
records these exceptionally high
tides occur about every seven years,
and overflow the country adjacent
to the shore in this section of Della
ware. To avoid this contingency the
government before building the fort
had erected at the bay shore a wall
of sand to obviate this difficulty.
But the flood of last February prov
ed the wall at the shore inefficient.
AT that time salt bay water flowed
around the wall and was waist deep
at the fort. A stream flowed
through the batteries and filled he
gun pits, rusting a great deal of
mechanism. The ruSted parts had
to be sent away for repolishing.
The present wall under construct
ion is designed to completely isolate
the fort from the bay waters. 1t is
being constructed by a caterpillar
mud digger.
Mud from the marsh is being used
CONTINUED on page y
Milford chronicle., 1927-07-29
DOVER MAN ENDS
LIFE With PHOTO
OF WIFE In HAND
Raymond Deakyne OF Dover
Suicides In Same Room, Man
ner As Mate.
MISSING FOR THREE DAYS
Left Note Bidding Goodbye !;
Clasps Rosary Beads Before
Open Bible.

Holding a string of rosary beads
in his hand and staring with vacant
eyes at picture of his dead wife
the body of Raymond Deakyne, a
barber, was found in the gas-filled
kitchenette of his apartment at
Dover Monday morning. The room
in which his wife committed suicide
by inhaling Illuminating gas on
May IL. 1t is believed that he came
to his death while kneeling in front
OF table containing the picture of
of his wife and Catholic Bible
opened to the book of st. Mark.
On the table was a roughly writ
ten message in which he bid good
bye, stating that he had tried to be
honest in every way but had found
the task too much.
Coroner Minner, who took charge
of the body, said he believed the
man had been dead since early
Saturday morning.
Deakyne was last seen about mid
night Friday by his business partner
Edgar L. Smith. Nothing was
thought of his absence Saturday
and Sunday, but when he failed to
appear Monday morning, Smith be-
gan an investigation. Going to
Deakyne's home he had the janitor
open the door leading into the apart
ment. When he came to the kitch-
enette he found the door secured
and the sides around it stuffed with
towels.
After the door had been pried
open the body was found lying in a
pool of blood beside the table. 1t
was first thought that he had cut
his throat, but an examination of the
body showed that he had apparently
suffered a hemorrage after falling.
All the gas burners in the room
were turned on, but quarter gas
meter used in the apartment, was
nearly spent before the body was
found.
The body was claimed by broth
er living at Smyrna, who came to
Dover and arranged to have the
body shipped to his home for burial.
Deakyne had at one time resided at
Smyrna. He was about % years
old. Worry over the death of his
wife is believed to have been one of
the reasons for his taking his life.
Milford chronicle., 1927-07-29
IT PAYS TO USE
COMMON SENSE
VIM. E. Adams OF Sussex Has
Practical Demonstrations At
His Greenwood Home.

Thirty-two years ago VIM. E. Ad-
ans, then young farmer in Sussex
county, near Greenwood, purchased
"Deering" wheat harvester with a
seven foot cut, and which after being
used each harvest season for the full
thirty-two years, is now doing as
good work as it performed nearly a
third of century ago when bought.
For the first fifteen years his rec
ords show the machine averaged $50
acres each season of service and Of
ten the acreage cut was two hundred,
while in only one season did it fall
as low as 60 acres. Including that
fifteen years and the seventeen years
to date, including 1927, the average
acreage cut has been very near 100
for the entire thirty-two years.
For twenty-nine years the har-
vester was drawn by horses, but for
the past three years a tractor has
been used, which makes the work
more rapid and saves the horses and
much of the time of labor; a very
considerable item of the expense in
harvesting.
At the end of each season of work,
the harvester has been gone over
and thoroughly cleaned and housed
out of the storms and destroying ele-
ments of weather. The repairs have
all been because of wear in service
and not from loss through wet wea-
ther or storms or any other expos
ure.
Mr.. Adams is firm believer that
care of farm machinery is one of the
sources of profit for all farmers, be
they renters, or owners. He is a
man who has followed farming all
his life, and today, is an active, in
terested and contented farmer, who
knows that farming, when managed
with intelligence and careful atten-
tion to proper care of all kinds of
is on a par with any
other business. Each year is not
always equal in success with other
years, but the general average for
twenty years is equal to that of
other business or professions.
Milford chronicle., 1927-07-29
GEORGE S. MESSERSMITH n
Is GIVEN PROMOTION
Former Lewes Resident Is Now In
Glass 2 Of Diplomatic Service

George S. Messersmith, formerly
of Lewes, is listed among the pro-
motions in the diplomatic branch of
the foreign service and in the con-
sular branch, which were announced
by the State Department this week,
Mr.. Messersmith, who is consul gen.
eral at Antwerp, has been promoted
from Glass to Class 2.
Mr.. Messersmith was born in
Fleetwood, Pa, on October 9, 1888,
and is the son of Charles A. and
Sarah S. G. Messersmith. He gradu-
ated from the Keystone State Normal
School in 1900, and was student at
Delaware College. On July %, 1914,
he married Marian Lee Mustard, of
Lewes, where he was principal of
the high school.
He served as superintendent Of
schools in various towns of Della
ware from 1900 to 1914. From 1911
to 1914, he was a member and secre-
tary of the State Board of Examin-
ers for Teachers of the Delaware
Board of Education, and was vice.
president of the Delaware State
Board of Education from 1912 to
1914.
In 1914, Mr.. Messersmith entered
the consulate service and was, from
1914 to 1916, American consul at
Fort Erie, Canada. From 1916 to 1919,
he was American consul at Curacao,
Dutch West Indies. He was appoint
ed consul on detail at Antwerp in
February, 1919, and was made con-
sui at Antwerp in May of the same
year. Mr.. Messersmith was placed in
charge of the consulate general at
Antwerp, Belgium, in 1928.
Mr.. Messersmith is a member of
various clubs, including the Cerclela
Concorde, Antwerp Golf Club and
the Philotax Club. He is member
of the Presbyterian Church. In 1914,
Mr.. Messersmith wrote a book, en-
titled "The Government of Della
ware" which is used as textbook
in the Wilmington High School and
other schools throughout the State.
Milford chronicle., 1927-07-29
GAS FOR COOKING
RESTORED TO MILFORD
First Installation OF The New
System Was Made Here This
Week.

For many years Milford has en-
tertained ''long felt want" for re-
establishment of gas for domestic
service; especially in cooking. The
problem has been considered from
many points, but at last it has been
solved and this week, the first home
to be supplied with this to be desir-
ed domestic convenience, is that of
Colonel Theo. Townsend, Is West
Second street, North Milford.
The system is that of the PyrofaX
Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Cor
poration. 1t was installed last Mon
day and the results certainly have
justified all that was claimed for the
system from the start of operations.
One of the greatest problems in
the country home, maintenance of
continuous and satisfactory domestic
service, is solved, with the convent
ences usually found only in a city
home, of which probably the most
important is safe and reliable gas
system.
The gas comes in steel containers
OF 5OOO cubic feet capacity each, and
the gas is passed by the system
through the controlling device, into
the usual iron service pipe connect
ed with the gas range, or other gas
using equipment.
There is no gasoline, coal oil, or
other liquid to be used, but simply
the gas itself, which solidifies only
at a temperature of A degrees below
zero. Turn the gas stop, light a
match and instantly the fire is ready
for cooking. The heat units are all
consumed almost instantly and when
the cooking is completed, the kitchen
is probably as cool as any other US
ed room in the home.
No ashes, no grease or dirt and all
the work is done in comfort. The
tanks work in relays, and when one
is empty, it can be disconnected and
the new tank connected in less than
three minutes.
This system is filling the require
ments of Lewes and also Smyrna,
where the local gas plants have re-
Gently gone out of business and re-
linquished their charters.
Milford chronicle., 1927-07-29
M. E. SUPERINTENDENTS
CONFER AT DOVER
Discuss Plans For Holding Regional
Meetings During Coming Winter

The four district superintendent
of the Wilmington NJ e. Conference
held conference at Dover on Tues
day, in Wesley M. E. Church to dis
cuss matters pertaining to the fall
work of the conference.
The main topic discussed was that
of holding the district meetings as
was done last year, one in the terri
tory of each district.
1t was decided at the conference
this year in view of the fact that the
speakers secured, can be present at
each one of the conferences, and
consequently the Wilmington and
MiddletoWn Districts will combine
and hold a joint meeting at Middle
town, the first week in Octobr,, and
the Dover and Salisbury Districts
will combine and hold their meeting
at Delmar. on October 4 and S.
At these two conferences, Bishop
Mcdowell and Bishop Henderson,
with possibly another bishop of the
M. e. Church, will be present, as will
also H. w. Woolever, the church's
press representative at Washington.
The theme around which these
meetings will revolve will be the
subject of Evangelism"
The program for the two joint
meetings will be arranged by the
district superintendent and will be
ready for publication at later date
At Tuesdays conference, no action
was taken as to the McVey case at
Greenwood this matter first IN
come before the quarterly confer
ence of tn Greenwood M. e. Church,
and possibly later taken up at a
special session of the conference to
be decided upon by the district
superintendent and the quarterly
conference.
Milford chronicle., 1927-07-29
KENT FAIR
ENTERTAINS 10000
ON OPENING DAY
Children Admitted To Grounds
Free On Tuesday And Enjoy
Amusement Features.
RACING is VERY GOOD
Lovers OF Fine TrOtting Races
Are Finding Real Pleasure At
The Fair Grounds.

The eighth annual Kent and Sus-
sex County Fair opened on Tuesday
and will close tomorrow night. If the
opening day and Wednesday are to
be taken as criteriOns by which to
judge, the fair this year will be a
real success. On Tuesday it is es-
timated that fully $4,000 men, women
and children were admitted to the
grounds during the day.
Tuesday was Children's Day at the
fair and no charge to the grounds
was made for any child who attended
the fair. The management of the fair
this year has made real effort to
secure features which will be of in
terest to everybody. For the children
and those who desire amusement of
carnival nature, merry-go-rounds
swings and other rides ire there in
profusion. The midway with its
games of chance and other enter
tanning features seems to be a very
attractive feature judging from the
crowds which visit that part of the
fair grounds.
Horse racing, always one of the
big drawing cards Of the annual
events, this year is still proving
real attraction. The racing has been
fine, and some of the finest heats to
be seen at any of the eastern fairs
are pulled off each afternoon. The
large crowds filling the grandstands
each afternoon attest to the popular
ity of this sport. Between the sever
oil oarnhnffa aaf- nnd Tndnn
stunts amuse the race enthusiasts.
One of the pleasing and amusing
races on Tuesday was that in which
several mules ridden bareback by
negro boys was staged.
The exhibits this year are up to
the usual high standard. Fruit and
farm produce are displayed in one
building, while in another the hand
iwork of the ladies is shown in large
quantities. Fancy work, rugs and
other sewing is interesting. The
State Board of Health has a booth
at which all who desire are weighed
and examined by representatives of
the board. Another feature which is
interesting to the children is the
contest for perfect sets of teeth in
children. Each day dentists who are
making the examinations have been
kept busy. Each owner Of perfect
set of teeth is given fifty cents.
The cattle, swine, horses, chickens
and other poultry are displayed so
that it is a pleasure to inspect them.
Some fine specimens are on display
and large crowds visit this portion
of the fair each day. Boys and Girls
Clubs are displaying large assort-
ments of work and products of the
members. This feature is housed in
a fine new building and is amply
large to accommodate all who desire
to attend.
Yesterday was Governors Day at
the fair, and thousands of persons
were in attendance. Politicians from
all parts of the State came in large
numbers, and rumors of States made
and broken were heard on all sides.
The fair this year certainly gives
every appearance of being a success,
and it is so ably managed that it de-
serves it.