Year: 1877




On Wednesday night one of those smart


gentlemen who travel about the country sell


ing little bits of soap or patent medicine which


they declare to be something wonderful and


warrant to do miraculous things, stationed


himself on box, with flaming torches for


lights, in front of the Middletown Hotel and


commenced with the usual glibness Of these in


dividuals to descant upon the wonders of his


wares. But the people have been fooled by


these chaps most too often and somebody pro-


posed way of getting rid Of this one and


stopping his operations. For this purpose q


hint of fun was dropped to the boys and away


they went and, gathering together all the old


tin pans, kettles and boilers they could lay


their hands on, they surrounded the soap mans


stand and raised such a calathumpian din
around him that his voice was completely
drowned. Mr. Pedler ranted and scolded and
threatened, but it was of no use. Not soul
would take his side. Every time he opened
his mouth the boys serenaded him until finally
he was compelled to give up and quit in dis
gust. Good for the boys. This is the first
time we ever knew calathumpian serenade to
do any good, and the boys will do good
thing if they will keep their old pans together
and whenever one Of these humbugs comes
along, just drown him out and drive him of.
A Young Girl Terribly Burned.


Yesterday afternoon, as Emma P. Downing
was walking down Walnut street, Whining
ton, in company with two other girls about
her own age, spark from the blacksmith shop
of Gatta & Kaiser, at the corner Of Third and
Walnut street, accidentally lit on the back
part of her dress. She had taken but few
steps when she felt burning sensation on her
left side, but thinking it was caused by the
sun she paid no attention to it. But when she
reached the opposite corner her clothing sud-
denly burst out in sheet Of fame


Her screams Immediately attracted attention,
and Mr.. Wilson, who keeps grocery store on
the corner, rushed out and commenced to tear
off her clothing While in the act another
gentleman, whose name could not be obtained,
passed by and seeing the condition of the girl,
pulled off his coat and wrapped it around her,
thereby smothering the flames. She was taken
10 one of the houses near by, and DR.. Cahall,
who was passing at the time stepped in and |
lid all that was possible to alleviate the terri
Die sufferings of the unfortunate girl. Upon
examination it was found that her body from
he hips to the neck had been terribly burned.


This morning, although still suffering, she
5 slightly better.-Gazate Of Tuesday.
Big Frnnk'' Conc AgainI


About nine O'Clock Oh Monday morning,
frank Macdonald, alias Big Frank, quietly
Unlocked the door of New Castle jail by means
# false keys which some sympa.lizing friend
lad furnished him from the outside, and bid
ling Mrs Grubb, who was standing in the
'assage way, adieu, walked out, took his seat
n carriage which was in waiting and drove
ver to Wilmington, where he left his c. riage
nd it is presumed took the cars for Philadel-
hia or Baltimore, or some other point. At
ny rate he could not be traced any further
nd is off now, happy in the possession Of his
berty and free to ply his trade some where
lse. This is the third time Frank has escaped
nd it is likely he will put such distance be-
ween himself and the Delaware authorities
bis time that he will not be readily caught
gain. He was one of the four professionals
Tho attempted to rob the Bank of Delaware in
Tovember 1873, and was, with his associates
aptured and convicted of the ofense, whipped
t the New Castle post, pilloried and sentenced
, ten years Imprisonment which was pretty
eep sentence for mere attempt His COM
anions all escaped long ago and Frank was
lie only ore whom our Jail could hold, and
ow he hes gone and we are out of bank rob
ers. Frank has not left many mourning
lends behind him, nor many who will regret
is escape, and if he is not again caught, not
AMY persons will cry about it, and if our
ierif does not make any especial efforts to
itch him he will not be very severely cen
lred by the people. For our own part we
omit hesitate to say that we hope he is gone
r. good.