Smyrna times., 1931-02-11
SMYRNA FIFTY YEARS AGO AS
REVAMPED FROM OUR FILES
ITEMS ABOUT SMYRNA FROM
SMYRNA TIMES, FEB, 8, 1881
Notes of Marriages, Deaths, Real
Estate Deals and Matters of In
terest of Half Century Ago

tereSt OF Hall century Ago
(The Smyrna Times has started
to look back over its files and tell
what happened around the correspond
ing date of this issue, a half century
ago. We hope to make this a regular
weekly feature. If it does nothing else.
it will call to mind people and events
of that day that should be interesting
to the present generation. We hope
our readers will find il interesting and
that it will make the Times more eag-
eyly sought and read-Editor.)
Almost a Fire. On Monday
night about IL o'clock the alarm
of fire was given and for a time
there was considerable of a stir
1t was caused by the burning of G
mattress in the upper story Of
Charles E. Beck's dwelling Oh
Main Street. He was aroused
shortly after going to bed by the
smell of fire. On ascending to the
room above he found it in a light
blaze. He threw a pitcher of wat
er on it and hastily gave the alarm
Of fire. Fortunately there were
several persons in his fathers
store next door who partly sup
pressed the flames with water and
then threw it out of the window.
In it's descent it fell on some bar
rels filled with coal oil belonging to
George w. Gordon which very for
tunately were covered with snow,
otherwise, the consequence may
have been disastrous. There was
unusual promptness in getting the
two fire engines out and but for
its speedy extinguishment they
would have been on the ground as
soon as needed. The origin of the
fire is a mystery. Mr.. Beck says
no one has occupied the room for
some weeks. A candle stick and
candle were observed in the room
and some suppose there were also
matches on the stick which were
ignited by mice or rats in working
around the candle. The material
otherwise was hardly of the kind
to produce spontaneous combus-
tion. Parlor matches are wonder
fully easy of ignition. A gentle
man tells us that last week in
throwing his vest on a chair pre-
paratory to retiring, that it was
set on fire from the abrasion of
several of these matches and a
penknife that was in his pocket.
These things should admonish to
great care in their use.
Another Railroad Scheme. IA
new Railroad Scheme heretofore
limited at is circumstantially spread
out in the Morning News as of
some significance. Briefly stated,
it assumes that the Delaware and
Chesapeake Ship Canal (Which is
a far ways from being dug will be
under the control of the Baltimore
& Ohio road at its western term
mus. The eastern terminus on the
Delaware Bay would be the entire
pot Of all European steamers and
will Of necessity be prize for rail
road capitalists. It says that
of such capitalists was
held in New York some months
ago and it was determined if
proper charter could be obtained
from the Delaware Legislature to
build the road and make the con
nections. The project is, to run
the line from some northern point
in the Southernly direction to st.
Georges, Odessa, and thence to tap
the Smyrna and Delaware Bay
railroad at some convenient point
between the town of Smyrna and
Smyrna Landing; thence by way
Of Dover, Magnolia. Frederick, Mil
ford, Milton, to the mouth of Lew
zs Creek, or to such other point on
the Delaware Bay or river as may
become the eastern terminus Of
the Maryland and Delaware Ship
Canal. This problematical project
Is based on something far in the
distance
Death of DR.. Maloney- DR.. VIII
liam B. Maloney. well-known in
this vicinity, died at his residence
at Wyoming on Sunday. He came
TO this town about twelve years
ago and was winning his way into
a good practice but had to relin-
quish il on account Of his inabil-
lty for carriage riding and moved
70 Wilmington. Thinking it would
improve his health he got the po-
sition Of Surgeon on a steamer Of
the Red Star" line from New
York 10 Bremen. He improved
rapidly for a time but after sever
al years had to relinquish the po-
sition and settled down in Wyom-
ing. He suffered greatly from a
spinal and nervous affection which
finally terminated his life.
Deaths Doings papers of
last week recorded the deaths of
two former residents of SMYRNA.
Rev. Thomas F. Plummer. of Will
and Martin f. Dickson of
Philadelphia Mr.. Plummer. when
a boy. clerked for some time in the |
store Of Mr.. John II RewIev Iaav-