davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1936-11-22

marked with only q marble cross, but
in 1904 this had toppled over. At this
time q marble slab was placed over the
grave by Decatur Parsons, Of New
York City, q granddaughter of Com.
Decatur, and the cross cemented to it.
The old Barlow vault, where De-
catur was first entombed, gave way to
progress" in 1892, and the Sheridan
statue stands near the spot. 1t is not
unreasonable to suppose that in time
the graves around ST. Peters Church,
in Philadelphia will be forgotten, but
the famous toast offered by this cele-
brated American, and the patriotic
thought it conveys, will outlast all the
monuments one could erect. 1t Is this:
"Our countryl In her intercourse
with foreign Nations, may she always
be In the right; but our country, right
or wrong!"
A NICE letter from . very dear
- lady: 2
November IS, 1885,"
my Dear Mr.. Proctor:
THE Mr. Charles P. Wannall you
mention in today's Star In connection
with the old neighborhood Of Ninth
street and New York avenue was my
father.
"The property was bought from
John C. Harkness way back In 1855.
and I was born there In 1856. Quite
an old lady now, but with keen mem
cries Of our beloved city and its old.
time citizens. In the block Of New
York avenue between Ninth and Tenth
streets, in my earlier days, lived many
prominent people. recall the BryaIas,
Thomas Francis, Rev. John c. Smith,
David Walker, DR.. Groot, William Bal.
lantyne, Mr. Hartley, Assistant Secre.
tary of the Treasury: Prof. Baird,
Harkness family and many other well
known names of good old Washing
tonians. We lived on that corner
Of Ninth and New York avenue with
our flower gardens fenced In. down
Ninth street, until 1891) when my
father sold and astonished the real
estate men by informing them that.
there was no mortgage on the prop
erty.
II enjoy your articles in The Sum-
day Star; ! always find some good
old news.
THE King family you wrote about
living in Philadelphia Row. moved
to Ninth street, opposite to our house,
about 1870, and we have been intimate
friends ever since.
81 once belonged to the Society Of
Natives, but moved to Hyattsville
and just dropped out, but still am
interested. Very truly yours,
LIZZIE M. GOODRICH"
Evening star., 1936-11-22

with an iron clutch Of his left Hand,
whilst thrusting his right beside him.
he drew from his sash the shorter of
two yataghans, which, for the very
purpose of such close work, he carried
in the same sheath. The moments Of
Decatur's existence seemed numbered;
scarce an interval remained to breathe
a prayer for mercy in another world;
q second brother was about to perish
beneath the rage Of the fierce Tripoli-
tan. But the cool courage and fertile
resources of Decatur came to his rescue
in this extremity. Disengaging his
left hand, he caught the right of the
Tripolitan, stayed the yataghan as 1t
Evening star., 1936-11-22

after all only q fighting climax to .
life Of war and adventure such as
was his.
This duel. as is well known. oc-
CURED at Bladensburg on March "a,
1890, and was the result of hard feel
ings brought about by the surrender
Of Comdr. Barron, In command Of
the U. s. frigate Chesapeake, to the
British ship Leopard. OF the port Of
Norfolk June 70, 1907, when the Amer
ican ship was boarded and some al
legged British deserters taken OIL.
1t was claimed that Barron failed
to make o proper defense, and, ac-
cordingly. he was tried by court
martial, found guilty and suspended
from the Navy for q period Of five
years with the loss Of rank and pay
from February 8. 1908. Decatur,
against his desire, was q member Of
both the court Of inquiry and the
court-martial. and seemingly this was
the beginning Of the animosity be-
tween the two men, which resulted In
the wounding Of Barron, from which
he never fully recovered, and the kill
ing Of Decatur.
A year or two ago, the writer wit
messed q re-enactment Of this duel
at the Beaver Dam Club by members
of the Bladensburg Historical Society,
and 1t was very well done. Allen A.
Greenstreet took the part Of Stephen
Decatur, Walter L. Green the part Of
Comdr. Barron, and Leander McCor-
mick -Goodhart of the British Embassy
read the story as the actors performed
their parts, and so tmbued were the
parties with accurately portraying the
story that II Is said Mr.. GreenStreet
really thought he was wounded.
The spot where this duel was fought,
according to Allen c. Clark, lis where
Is the sixth boundary stone. The
ground itself, or where the parties
stood, Is filled In. The stream still
runs, but not in the same purity and
volume; it is def1led with contributions
Of rubbish. The road by the dueling
ground is now q part of the Brent
wood road"
IRON a supposed eyewitness, inter-
viewed many years ago by George
Alfred Townsend, the following Is
taken:
When Commodore Decatur fell, in
1920, there were trees masking this
gully from the road, and many trees
and bushes growing along its banks.
The gully itself was clear and grassy
as you see 1t today. In q carriage
passing along the road. you couldn't t
have known anybody to be nearby.
! was boy. and remember well; for
these things made an impression on
me, and sneaked into the bushes
and saw the duel happen"
After the firing ceased 1t was found
that Decatur was mortally wounded.
the ball having severed some large
blood vessels in its course through
the abdomen. He was assisted to his
carriage and borne rapidly to his
home, where he arrived at half-past
10 o'clock. and about IL hours later
he breathed his last. The following
morning the National Intelligencer
said of the occurrence:
"A hero has fallen. Commodore
Stephen Decatur, one of the first off,
GERS Of our Navy, the pride of our
country. the gallant and noble heart
ed gentleman. is no more. He expired
few minutes ago Of the mortal
wound received in the duel this morn.
Evening star., 1936-11-22

conspicuous no less by gigantic size,
than by the ferocity with which he
fought, and to meet him face to face.
Decatur was armed with q cutlass,
the Turk with heavily ironed board
ing-pike. AS the latter made a thrust
at Decatur, he struck it violently with
his cutlass, In the hope Of severing
the head; but his cutlass, eoming in
contact with the irons broke at the
hilt and left him without a weapon.
NfANY brave man thus disarmed
" might have turned to seek an
other weapon. But Decatur stood his
ground. and, attempting with his
right arm to parry the next thrust Of
his antagonist, received the point Of 1t
in his arm and breast. Tearing the
weapon from the wound, he succeeded
likewise, by sudden jerk, in wrestling
it from the hands of his adversary,
who Immediately grappled him; and,
after a fierce and prolonged struggle,
both fell with violence on the deck.
Decatur being uppermost.
During this time, the crews, rush.
ing to the aid of their respective com.
manders, bined in furious conflict
round their persons. A Tripolitan
officer, who had got behind Decatur,
aimed an unseen blow at his head,
which must have decided his fate, had
not a young man by the name Of
Reuben James who had lost the use
of both arms by wounds. rushed in and
intercepted the descending scimiter
with his own head. thus rescuing his
beloved commander by an act of heroic
self-sacrifice which has never been
surpassed.
Just then the Tripolitan, exerting
to the uttermost his superior strength,
succeeded in turning Decatur, and,
getting upon him, held him to the deck
Evening star., 1936-11-22

which. having been ref1tted, had drop
ped down to New Castle, preparatory
to sailing. The mate, too, deferring
private business for the present. had
gone on with his duties. His ship,
being also ready for sea, came down
to New Castle, and anchored near the
United States.
The mate now came on board Of
the frigate and, asking for Lieut..
Decatur, told him he was ready to
accept his invitation. Decatur i'm
mediately accompanied him on shore,
but mentioned to Lieut.. Steward, be-
fore he left the ship, that, as he pre-
sumed the young man was not expert
In the use Of arms, although he had
offered him an insult wholly unpro-
voked, he should carefully avoid tax
ing his life. and would shoot him In
the hip. They met; Somers being the
friend of Decatur. Decatur wounded
the young man where he had pro-
posed, and remained unhurt himself"
THE exploit in the harbor Of Tripo-
Ii, which brought Decatur into
outstanding prominence, took place on
February Is, 1904, when the United
States was at war with the -Barbary
States.s It was in November, q few
months prior to this. that the frigate
Philadelphia was grounded on q rock
while chasing a vessel, was surround
ed by Tripolitan gunboats, captured,
and their officers and men made pris-
oners. The burning of the vessel was
conceived by Decatur and carried out
with precision and dispatch.
At this period, we are told, Lord
Nelson was in command Of the Brit
ish feet engaged in blockading Toulon,
having his flag on board the Victory,
and when the news Of Decatur's
achievement reached him, he pro-
Milford chronicle., 1936-08-07
MILFORD GRANGE NEWS

The Flower Show Committee Is
meeting regularly to complete plans
for the show to be held September
II and IL. This show is for the com
munity to exhibit and classification
lists may be secured by calling the
executive committee-Mrs J. S. Will
lis, Mrs. Duanne Lynne, Mrs. Jay
Abbott or Mrs. S. Willis Hammond.
Mrs. Howard Moore. chairman, of
Bazaar asked that the ctairnien of
the different committees meet at the
hall Saturday night to select their
committees.
Pyramid parties are still in vogue
and Mrs. Higman entertained on
Tuesday afternoon.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wesley HeebneF past
members Of Milford Grange are ex-
pected to drive in from California
and be in Milford about August IS.
A committee to arrange for their
entertainment was appointed and
each member will be notified when
it will be.
The Sussex County Pomona Picnic
will be August Z. Everyone is look
ing forward to a day Of fun.
National Master L. J. Taber will be |
IN the state September 1873. It will |
be announced later when and where /
ne will speak. but don't fail to hear
him. He will have a message for
very rural person.
Milford chronicle., 1936-08-07
Milford, Friday, August 2, 1896
WTTH THE PASSING of Iulins r

WITH THE PASSING of Julius E
Scott at his home in Milford on Mon
day, the last of the original team
which founded the Milford Chronicle
has gone. Col. Theodore Townsend,
his partner of early manhood, pre-
ceeded him in death last April. Mr..
Scott was a man of sterling qualities.
Unlike Col. Townsend he was of a re-
firing nature: but in this respect
only did they differ. Both were am
bilious to give Milford and lower
Delaware the best possible in the
weekly newspaper field. In this they
succeeded. While associated with
the Chronicle only for a very short
time, Mr. Scott was a very close
friend. and in earlier life a frequent
visitor at the office. In later years
the infirmiries of age made his visits
less frequent-but enjoyable never
theless. His passing is regretted by
the Chronicle force. all of whom
held him in deepest affection.
Milford chronicle., 1936-08-07

THE KENT-SUSSEX Fair at Har-
Tlngton last week drew the largest
crowds in it's history. and thousands
OF Delawareans were given an Op-
portunity to witness displays of live
stock, farming produce and handi-
craft of their friends and neighbOrs.
Lovers of horse flesh were treated
to some of the finest sulky racing
seen in years. The management of
the Fair is to be congratulated upon
the manner in which the affair is
conducted. Always on high plane.
this years fair was even better than
usual. That those responsible for
it's success were alive to the dan
gers confronting it's reputation as
a safe place for women and children.
was fOrcibly demonstrated through
their action in causing the imme-
diate arrest of confidence games
men when they opened up on the
carnival grounds connected with the
fair. This action on their part was
wise. it created a feeling upon the
part of the public that the manage
ment wanted things run on the level.
and will react favOrably for an even
greater fair in the future. Harring-
ton men who have the destinies of
The Fair in their hands have given a
demonstration of how such gather
ngs should be conducted. Our sis
er town is to be congratulated upon
he interest manifested by her lead
ng citizens in the Fair, and any re-
wards which are to be garnished
rom such an assembly is justly
heirs.
Milford chronicle., 1936-08-07

Doris Talley, Elaine Colcord Mafy
Ellen GOldey, Mafgery Metz. CAROLYN
Pluhmer, Gladys ana AlEa RvI6n
and Marjorie Short Of Wilmington
Mary Elizabeth Davis and Vera
Gould OF Newark; Ann DeCuitt. sara
Gooden, Frances Cummins. CayIe
MacDOwell, and Minnie Bice Of Do
ver; Lillian and Constance Sabine
Of Granogue; Jean Gordy and Ann
SmOtt, Dorothy Elzey, and jeanne
Snyder Of Seaford, Margaret Rev
nolds, Constance Gregg and Janet
KavanOugh Of Elmhurst; Marjorie
Bromhal and Carolyn Bedweil Of
Georgetown; Rachel Davis OF Mil
ford; Julia Taylor Of Newport; Mar
garet Fay Sehantz and Nancy VIII
son Of Smyrna; Margaret Ann and
Mary Elizabeth WiEsten Of Watkins
Glen, N. Y; Nancy Katherine Wig
stem Of Horsehead, N. Y: Ruth Mes
sick Of Frankford; Grace Dukes of
Millville; Emma Grace McCabe of
Ocean View; Jean Gareth and Mar
tha Ann Moore Of Efkton. Nd.
Saturday the District Y. w. c. A.
Board was the guest Of the camp at
dinner and the pageant and tea
which were given In the afternoon.
Mrs. Charles Townsend, president;
Mrs. Matte Townsend, MRS. Peter
Valley. Mrs. c. H. Nutter, Mrs. Rich
ard Cooch, Mrs. Howard Morgan and
Mrs. Herbert Richardson make up
the board. Our guests lauded the
campers and directors on the after
Moons entertainment. We, ourselves.
we're quite proud of the smoothness
with which the pageant was pre-
iented.
Thursday evening campers were
AIKEN to Oak Orchard by boat. Be /,
'ause of the size Of the group, il
vas necessary to make two trips in :
rider to transport everyone. A love- :
y night added perfection to a very
lleasant evening.
Milford chronicle., 1936-08-07

THE AUTOMOBILE inspection
campaign in Delaware is now at it's
height. This week the safety lanes
in rural Delaware are located at
MiddletOwn, Bridgeville and Selby-
vile. Already thousands of auto
mobile owners have taken advantage
Of the opportunity to have their
cars inspected and put in first class
mechanical condition. Of necessity
other thousands as yet have not
had the opportunity to take their
cars through the inspection lines.
As the inspection crews visit the
several towns designated by the Mo-
tor Vehicle Commissioner. it is obIi-
gatory on the part of motor car own /
ers to see that their cars are check /
eG by those in authority. While the
cost of making these annual check
ups is borne by the State the motor
ist has his duties to perform also
Unless he does have his car passed
b. those making the tests. he will
be unable TO register the car next
January. This is compulsory. The
motor vehicle laws of the State pro-
vide specifically that the license for
any car failing to pass shall be with 4
held. Visit the safety lanes as they
are in your community. See that
rour automobile meets with the re- S
Iuirements laid down by the author
ties. and you will experience no 1
rouble so far as a misunderstand- o
ng with the authorities is concerned. c
Don't delay. Go early and stay on 4
he job until your car is passed. Il
Milford chronicle., 1936-08-07
HOME TOWN THOrGHTS

The philosophers tell us to keep
our eyes fixed on the high peaks of
achievement. Better not keep those
eyes fixed so high. that they fail to
see the opportunities around our
own feet in our hime town.
The ball player who can't subor-
dinate his own score to the interests
o his team is not very desirable, nor
! the citizen who hustles exclusively
for himself, without regard to the
interest of his home town.
Money spent at home produces
prosperity at home: money spent
elsewhere helps produce poor busi-
ness at home.
Milford chronicle., 1936-08-07
FISHERS DISTRICT
tNeaR GFeenW0Odl

Mr.. and Mrs. Gordon Warner anC
family after spending their vacation
with relatives here left for theil
home in Quebec, Canada. on Monday
morning.
Messrs. Lester and Carl ZOtt, Clar-
ence Outten, ManceI Cade and James
Anthony left by bus on Tuesday
morning for a trip to Washington
via Philadelphia as representatives
Of F. F. A. of Greenwood High
School.
Mr.. and Mrs. George Zott enter
tanned at a family dinner about 40
guests on Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Lloyd enter
tanned Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Nc
Dowell Of Philadelphia over the
weekend.
Miss Zilda Russell of Wilmington
was supper guest Of Miss Dorothy
Rust on Tuesday.
Mr.. and Mrs. r. p. Morris enter
tanned MIR. and Mrs. Mcconnell, Viii
liam Rubbing and sister and nephew.
Mrs John Maris, Mrs. Winson Mar
is and Miss Mae Maris. all of Phila-
delphia. during the past week.
Mrs. Edna Delaney Of Wilmington
was the guest of her sister, Mrs. FL
mer Trice recently.
Mr.. and Mrs. Alva Lloyd, Mrs. d. !
f.. Lloyd. Miss Gladys Lloyd and /
friend, Mr.. Hammond, spent Sunday |
visiting ChincOteague Island and \
Ocean City.
Aro To-. nsIlsa,. .ro,,t rT,,,.,5,., - {
Oak Orchard with the Sunday school
class Of Epworth Church
w. A. Dearman Is entertaining his
sisters. Mrs. Floyd Sisk and Mrs. FL
la Sisk. also his nephews, Messrs.
William Dearman and Lohiar and
Reuben Sisk. all OF KannapOlis, N.
c. They will be able to make their
friends at home understand the
sport Of the ocean waves when they
take home their blisters they found
IN the waters at RehOboth on Sunday
md it seems just too bad for the
reads that had the smallest amount
If hair on them.
Mrs. George Young, Miss Mae
Norris, S. F. Collision and David and 8
IOhn Morris spent Tuesday at Chin
.oteagde Island. Va
We are very glad to know after (.
ieing very i'll Mrs Frank Anthony :
5 able to be out again.
Mr.. and Mrs Oscar Biddle and
amily Of Townsend and Mr.. and 2
frs. w. s. Collision Of Clayton were ,
ecent visitors Of Mr.. and Mrs. S. r. j,
ellison. =
Mr. and Mrs. NJ. A. Robinson and
Irs. Jesse Sharp and sons spent I,
unday at Rehoboth. II
Milford chronicle., 1936-08-07


PERSONS DESIRING to vote al
their party primaries and who have
not already registered will have One
more chances to do so. Next Thurs
day, August 18th, will be the last
registration day before the party
primaries. Lower Delaware voters
should be especially anxious to reg
lister and vote this year. Especially
is this true within the Republican
party. 1t is generally conceded that
the Governatofial nomination for
this party shall come from Sussex
this year. Several candidates are in
the field which should bring out al
large paHty vote at the primaries.
Regardless Of the final nominee, the
voter not already registered should
do so next Thursday so that he may
be in position to participate in the
primary elections.
Milford chronicle., 1936-08-07
QUODDY PUT no SLEEP AGAIN

(Bosion Hefald)
Judged bg the "porK barrel' mea.
sure Of sectional handouts, New
England took another licking 10
Washington. As the result Of the
Senate's votes on the Robinson
amendments TO the deficiency ap-
preparations bill. the South may get
S10,000,000 to continue It's extrava-
CANT whimsy, the Florida ship canal.
and New England will get nothing
for its biggest New Deal plaything,
the Passamaquoddy hydro-electric
project.
New Englanders. as a whole.
would rather have half a victory for
common sense than none at all.
They would have preferred seeing
both the Florida canal and the
Maine tide-harnessing stunt called
off. But the apparent shelving Of
Quoddy for good and all will at least
save the nation about $4,000, 900 and
protect New England from an enter-
prise which was bound TO be dis
turbing economically.
This decision, we said, apparent
ly" shelves QuOddy for good and all.
The qualifying adverb must be used
because Messrs. Roosevelt, Farley
and Brann know what effect a con-
of failure may have on
Names weathervane election in Sep
Eember. They will undoubtedly Ie-
sort to every parliamentary device
10 obtain funds to continue the pro-
ect at least through the end Of the
campaign. Meanwhile a
Of Quoddy by a
Boston engineer on the value Of the
project is worth remembering: "It
,eats all records Of getting the least
electricity for the most money"
Milford chronicle., 1936-08-07

THE SUGGESTION is made that
hidden streams of water under the
esrth's surface be tapped to supply
the. regions now suffering from
drought.
Large parts of our territory fire.
Cuently suffer a crop disaster, owing
to lack of rainfall. This is true even
of some sections famous for very rich
soil. The land may have untold
richness in that wonderful earth. but
if the heavens shut up tight as iron.
what good does that richness do?
Man needs to know more about
the wonderful rivers Of water run
ming beneath the earth. His land may
seem dry as Sahara, and yet under
meath that soil there may be some
abundant supply of water that would
give him all he needs. if it could be
pumped to the surface. Then he
would not have to look up at the
clouds in an agony of hope and fear. |
Perhaps we shall hear more of
the method of locating underground
water supplies by the so-caIIed div
ring rod. It has been claimed from
ancient times, that water and min
erals under the earth can be located
ny such a rod. consisting of light
crked stick made from hazel or
'ther wood or metal. which is held
lftween the hands. This forked
tick is supposed to incline when
'assing over the desired supplies.
Scientists seem to differ about the
merits of this method of finding
water and minerals. But anyway
here is probably water enough in
he earth to irrigate every farm. if it ,
ould only be located and pumped {
ut. Ii
1t may be objected that the coun-
~ has too much farm land now. that !
produces unstable surplusses of
J ops in ordinary years. so that far i
iers have to be compensated for Z
tting some land lie idle. Why l
1en. it is asked, provide water for Q
lore land? There is something in
his argument. Yet when so much
pod land can't be worked in all
'asons because of irregular rain
H. some more regular supply is 81
eeded
Milford chronicle., 1936-08-07
CAMP \ AZ 0TiONKA NOTES

Tuesday marks the end of Jun.
ior High Period at Camp. For TWEEN
ty-four hours camp will be quiet
AFTER lunch on Wednesday the
younger children will arrive for the
Junior Period.
-Four girls are staying over for the
nrst week Of the last period at camp.
Ihey are Gertrude English, Betty
Barnhill, Betty Stuck, and Louise
Matson Of Wilmington. Those who
are expected are: Agnes DarrOck,
Alice Kennedy. Jean Armentrout,
Caroline Sanford. Anne Wise, Char
lotte Reese, Betty Bird. Betty Johns
ton'i Loretta Bowers,r Jean Morrison.