[Daily Record, April 12, 1897.] Last Friday was the thirtieth anniversary of the most extensive fire WilkesBarre has ever seen, destroying property to the value of about $100,000. The fire started on Market street, in the roof of Theron Burnet's tin shop or the bakery adjoining, at 6:30 in the morning, and it burned until long in the afternoon. The buildings consumed extended from the North present Harvey building on Franklin street around West Market to the alley adjoining the present Windsor Hotel, and on the opposite side of Market street from the alley adjoining the Misses Doran's store up the street and around South Franklin street to where the Grand Opera House now is. The Wilkes-Barre fire companies, the Good Wills, the Reliance and the Wyoming, were assisted by the Kingston company, and all worked valiantly for hours, but could make scarcely an impression on the element. Two of the merchants whose stores were destroyed retired from business on April 1 last. They are C. E. Butler, the bookseller, and E. J. Sturdevant, glassware and crockeryware dealer. The press, machinery and book bindery of the Record of the Times were destroyed and all the stock of paper. The Wyoming National Bank building, which was then at its present location at the corner of West Market and South Franklin, was left standing, while the fire burned all around it. This was due to the fact that the building was built of brick and was more substantial than the mass of wooden structures that were consumed. The list of buildings destroyed was as follows: Charles Lehman-Stock of paints, wall paper and shades; loss $1,700; insured $800. Patrick Higgins-Loss $2,200; insurance $1,000. Theron Burnet-Stock $8,500; insurance $5,500; building insured $1,200. William P. Miner-About $5,000; insurance $3,300. J. C.Jeffries-Loss $75; no insurance. Estate of Jacob J. Dennis-Insurance $7,000. Urquhart & Paine-Loss $2,000; insurance $3,000. W. U. Telegraph Co.-Loss $150. A. R. Brewer, operator-Loss $20. L. B. Perrin-Loss $4,000; insurance $2,600. C. E. Butler-Stock loss $3,500; insurance $1,000; insurance on building, $2,000. Housenick & Johnson-Building insurance $1,500; furniture stock $2,400; insurance $3,000. George L. Haines-Furniture, clothing, etc. Loss $250; no insurance. O. Trumbower, stock and household furniture, loss $2,000; no insurance. J. W. Gilchrist--Household furniture, loss $800; no insurance. Gilchrist & Son-Livery shed $650; insurance $250. O. Collins-Building $3,000; insurance $4,000; furniture $1,000; insurance $500. John Grandon-Two buildings $2,500; no insurance. Faser & Smith-Loss $125; insurance. John Faser-Loss $3,300; insurance. J. W. Lynde-Building and stock $500; no insurance. J. Sturdevant-Building and stock $10,000; insurance $4,500. W. W. Loomis, harness-Loss $500; in THE HISTORICAL RECORD. 119 BATTLE OF LEXINGTON. [Daily Record, April 20, 1897.] The The anniversary of the battle of Lexington, the initial engagement of the Revolutionary War, was celebrated last evening at the Historical Society. attendance was large and the proceedings were much enjoyed. The audience included numerous representatives of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Colonial Dames and the Sons of the Revolution, wearing the insignia of those organizations. Rev. Dr. Jones presided, the rooms being decorated with the American flag and the blue and yellow bunting of the Sons of the Revolution. The address of the evening was by Capt. H. H. Bellas, a retired officer of the U. S. army, whose theme was "The Coast Defenses of the Delaware River during the Revolution." It was a carefully prepared essay, descriptive of that thrilling portion of our revolutionary history touching the occupancy of Philadelphia by the British and its subsequent evacuation, together with the efforts of the two contending armies to hold possession of the Delaware River. A thrilling description was given of the gallant defense of Fort Mifflin, which had no superior in American history. The combined British fleet concentrated their fire upon it for a whole week, but the fragment of the brave garrison maintained possession as long as a vestige of a fort remained, and only then withdrew from sheer necessity. During the last day more than a thousand solid shot, weighing from 12 to 32 pounds each, were hurled against it and of the garrison of 300 men 250 were either killed or wounded. The British had five shore batteries within 500 yards of Fort Mifflin, a large floating battery mounting 22 guns within 40 yards of the fort, and half a dozen gun ships within half a mile. The speaker paid a glowing tribute to Major Thayer, who he thought had received scant credit for his part in the gallant defense. The fall of Fort Mifflin was soon followed by the hemming in and destroying of the American fleet. The American defenses on the Delaware being now scattered to the winds, and the enemy having full possession of Philadelphia, Congress was compelled to fly to the interior and the broken battalions of the patriot army sought winter quarters at Valley Forge. Mention was made of the merrymaking of the British in Philadelphia at the Mischianza, the subsequent evacuation of the city and the march of Lord Clinton's army to New York, the pursuit by the patriot army and the battle of Monmouth. At the close of his address Capt. Bellas was given a vote of thanks and was also elected to corresponding membership. Rev. Mr. Hayden announced that at the May meeting the address would be by H. M. M. Richards of the Pennsylvania German Society on the "German Leaven in the Pennsylvania Loaf." The following persons were elected to membership C. Scharar, John Sturdevant, E. R. Troxell, A. R. Root. WERE IN SULLIVAN'S ARMY. W. A. Wilcox, Esq., of Scranton, in a paper read by him before the Daughters of the American Revolution says that among the names of those in Sullivan's army he noticed Esquire Archbald Stark, Captain Luke Day, Lieutenant Elijah Day, private David Ford, James Wilcox, two Robert Littles, Major David Piatt and many other familiar names. This was the army which passed up the Susquehanna River in August, 1779, and encamped one night at Slocum Spring-Tunkhannock-where the tannery now stands. In returning from up the river it is said that Sullivan's army also camped for one night at the same place.-Tunkhannock Democrat. ORIGINAL EDITION "GERTRUDE OF WYOMING." [Daily Record, April 14, 1897.] Charles Quick, the North Franklin street bookseller and stationer, yesterday received from a private collector of old books in New York a copy of the original edition of Thomas Campbell's famous poem, "Gertrude of Wyoming." The edition was published in 1809 in London by T. Bensley of Bolt Court for the author. The book is about a foot long by eight inches wide, and is printed on hand-made paper made in 1802, the paper bearing the water mark of that date. The print is very large and clear and the book is in good condition, although showing the effect of age. AN OLD WELL. [Daily Record, April 14, 1897.] While workmen were excavating for the foundation walls for St. Stephen's Church yesterday they came across an old well about sixteen feet deep. near the sidewalk. A large flagstone covered the top. It is believed that the well was at least a century old. There was no water in it. A PIONEER FAMILY. [Daily Record, April 13, 1897.] to the mountain at Exeter Borough. The Wyalusing correspondent of the 13, repeatedly heard from the lips of Mrs. Lucretia York Buck, wife of Capt. Aholiab Buck, who was slain in the massacre, a minute narration of the dreadful scene enacted there. Shortly after that memorable event Maj. Gaylord, a pioneer in these parts, married Mrs. Buck, and our townslady, Mrs. Hines, is their great granddaughter, being but a little past middle age and having an excellent memory. Mrs. Hines has a distinct recollection of the story of the massacre, as well as incidents and episodes in connection therewith, as narrated by her great grandmother. The day of the massacre Mrs. Buck was engaged in making bread. The alarm being given, she left the bread and everything else, and fled to the fort, carrying her 3-months-old babe, and accompanied by her mother, Mrs. York, and her six or seven children, Mr. York being a prisoner in Canada at that time, his capture by the Indian and British having been at this place some months before. Mrs. Hines relates many things about the hardships and sufferings encountered by Mrs. Ruck, whose daughter, 3 months old at the time of the massacre, on reaching womanhood, became the wife of Maj. John Taylor, an early settler, whose descendants are among the best people of Wyalusing. JAMES SLOCUM KILLED. [Daily Record, April 20, 1897.] James S. Slocum of Exeter Borough, near West Pittston, and a representative of one of the oldest families in Wyoming Valley, was instantly willed last evening on the Lehigh Valley Railroad while walking on the tracks near the Forest Castle Hotel, a short distance north of Pittston. His head was cut off, his back lacerated and one of his arms was smashed. Mr. Slocum was 70 years of age and lived on the old Slocum homestead close was killed soon after the massacre of Wyoming. The subject of this sketch was also a grand-nephew of the famous Frances Slocum, who was stolen by the Indians. Deceased was educated at the common schools and at Kingston Seminary and removed to Scranton in 1854, where for a time he engaged in the milling and mercantile business. He was a delegate to the national convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency of the United States. He enlisted in 1862 in the 134th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served through the war, and on his return became proprietor of the Scranton Republican, which he conducted for a number of years until it passed into the control of the Scrantons. Mr. Slocum was appointed postmaster of Scranton in 1869 by President Grant and in 1874 was reappointed by President Grant. He had considerable opposition to the latter appointment, but finally succeeded in overcoming all obstacles. He was a candidate for the State Senate in 1872, but withdrew in the convention. He was the prime mover in the erection of the Academy of Music at Scranton. After figuring thus largely in the history of Scranton he removed back to the homestead in Exeter in 1876, but remained a director of the Scranton Savings Bank until about four years ago. He was the first burgess of Exeter Borough and continued in that office for five terms. Mr. Slocum in 1881 sued the Lehigh Valley Railroad Co. for trespassing on his farm and claimed $88,000 damages. The appraisers awarded him $22,000, but he would not accept this and later jury awarded him $15,000. a He is survived by one sister, Mrs. Oakford of Scranton, Mr. Slocum was well known to the older residents of Wyoming Valley and was in his time one of the most prominent residents of this vicinity. SOME APRIL STORMS. [Daily Record, April 22, 1897.] The two heavy frosts of Tuesday and Wednesday nights of this week (the mercury falling to 22 on Tuesday) are a reminder that winter is still in the lap of spring. The delightful weather which we often have in April is apt to be succeeded by the most inclement weather. For instance, in April, 1857, there was an unusually heavy snow storm, though the thermometer did not fall so low as it did this week. On the 20th of April, 1857, snow fell on Pocono Mountain to the depth of five feet, as shown by a letter published in the Record several years ago by David T. Bound, who was then superintendent of the L. & B. R. R., and who was on the Pocono at the time. His train was stalled for three days. James D. Laird recollects that storm and says the snow was from fully two feet deep in Wilkes-Barre. The Record for that week stated that the storm had so interfered with the office work that it was necessary to call in extra assistance in the way of steam for the power press. E. H. Chase, Esq., remembers that the storm seriously affected the courts. The drifts were so bad and the storm so heavy throughout the county that court, which had assembled for the spring term, was compelled to adjourn because of the absence of jurors. Stiles Williams of Bear Creek, for a long time proprietor of the hotel at Prospect Rock, created a sensation by bringing in several jurymen from Bear Creek Township and neighborhood, the party being pulled by four horses, with five outriders going on ahead to break the road. In Wilkes-Barre, roofs of sheds were crushed and telegraph poles were broken down and the wires tangled in the street. The late Richard Sharpe, who was then living at Eckley, in this county, recorded in his diary that snow began falling at Eckley April 19, 1857. The next evening it was thirty-one inches deep and on the 21st the depth was fully three feet. The thermometer did not fall more than 2 degrees below the freezing point. Charles Morgan was on Long Island Sound on a steamer en route from New London to New York. The reckoning had become lost and the vessel had a difficult time in making port. On April 20th, 1843, the last snow of the winter disappeared and on June 1st, [Daily Record, April 28, 1897.] Peter Sharps, one of the oldest residents in this section, died at 4 o'clock yesterday morning at his home on his farm in Exeter Township. Deceased was born eighty-two years ago in New Jersey, but came to the Wyoming Valley with his parents when he was 5 years old. The family settled in Kingston Township, now Dorranceton, and owned large tracts of land there, which they disposed of before it was known that they were underlaid with rich beds of anthracite. For fifteen years Mr. Sharps owned and worked the farm in Exeter Borough now owned by the Lehigh Valley Co., a portion of which is used as the fair grounds. For the past forty years, however, he has lived on his farm in Exeter Township, and at the time of his death made his home with his son John. He had been in ill health for some time, and his death was not unexpected. He is survived by five sons-William, Freeman, Jacob, Albert and John. Among his daughters are Mrs. Irwin Miller of Exeter Township, and Mrs. Floyd Richards of Upper Pittston, Mr. Miller's brother, who is also about 80 years old, is the owner of the ferry at Port Blanchard. "Uncle" Peter Sharps, as he was familiarly called, was widely known throughout this section of the country. The funeral will take place on Thursday morning at 10 o'clock, and the remains will be taken to Wyoming for in terment. AN HONORED RESIDENT. The accompanying cut is a faithful likeness of Charles Morgan, one of Wilkes-Barre's oldest and most respected citizens. Mr. Morgan was born in Whitpain Township, Montgomery County, Pa., Oct. 31, 1814, and is therefore in his eighty-third year. Having been a man of exemplary habits all through life, and coming from rugged Quaker stock, he has almost uninterruptedly enjoyed perfect health, and is to-day hale and hearty, retaining every faculty. In early life Mr. Morgan learned the shoemaker's trade and drifted to Philadelphia, where he followed this avocation for several years. On Aug. 1, 1839, being in rather poor health, he left Philadelphia, expecting to visit in the Wyoming Valley until CHARLES MORGAN. cold weather and then return to the Quaker City. He was two days and three nights, lacking three hours, on the journey, going to Harrisburg on the old Columbia Railroad and coming to Wilkes-Barre by packet on the canal. Mr. Morgan was very much impressed with WilkesBarre on his arrival. It was then a village of 1,200 inhabitants, had an abund ance of foliage in its confines, while mountain and plains were covered with almost a virgin forest. Several weeks were spent in fishing in the Susquehanna and moderate hunting about the fields and mountains, Mr. Morgan being in the pursuit of health, and when the frosts came he entirely recovered. Deciding to settle down in Wilkes-Barre he commenced as a journeyman shoemaker, which he continued until 1843, and thereafter for four or five years was in business with John Kline, when the partnership was dissolved, owing to the latter's ill health. He purchased the hardware business of Isaac Wood in 1868, where Weitzenkorn's store now is, and conducted this in addition to the shoe store until about 1870, when he entered into partnership with his Jesse in the shoe store. Mr. Morgan continued actively in business in hardware line until about ten years ago, since when the firm of C. Morgan's Sons, the present enterprising concern, comprising Edward, Charles and Benjamin, succeeded him. son the Mr. Morgan was married to Miss Ellen Hann of Huntington Township, this county, April 2, 1842, and his estimable wife is still spared, the venerable couple having enjoyed fifty-five years of happy was born wedded life. Mrs. Morgan Dec. 25, 1823, being about nine years younger than her husband. Relative to the marked progress of Wilkes-Barre and the Wyoming Valley Mr. Morgan remarks that upon taking a retrospective glance of the long years that nave elapsed since his arrival, it is difficult to comprehend the enormous prosperity which has visited this section and the development of its natural resources. Not until after the late Civil War did Wilkes-Barre show any particular advance, but since that period the progress of this municipality has been wonderful. He has noted these changes, and the village of 1839 of 1,200 people is to-day a teeming business and commercial centre of 55,000 or 58,000 inhabitants. Who can predict with certainty the progress that awaits this city and valley during the next fifty-eight years, the time that Mr. Morgan has resided in Wilkes-Barre? DIAL ROCK DAUGHTERS. [Daily Record, April 24, 1897.] The ladies of the Dial Rock Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, have a pleasant custom of meeting from house to house and from town to town. |