September 5, 1902

Mrs. Lydia Tomlinson, wife of William B. Tomlinson of this town, died at the hospital in Philadelphia from the effects of on operation performed for the removal of cancer from the stomach, on Thursday last. The remains were brought to her late residence on Friday, where the funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon, and sepulture made in the M. E. Cemetery. Rev. L. P. Corkran conducted the obsequies, and J. Roland Atkins supervised the funeral. The pall-bearers were John Sockum. Stephen Sockum, Miers Muller and John Clark, all colored men. This is an innovation in Milton funerology, and has created quite a talk in town. Mrs. Tomlinson leaves to mourn their loss one son, Wm. Tomlinson, Esq., attorney-at-law of New York City, and one daughter, Mrs. Jennie Atkins, of this town; also three brothers, Thomas D. Burton and Benjamin Burton, of Frederica, and Henry P. Burton, of Milton, and a husband who has the misfortune to be blind, and in constant need of an attendant. Deceased was 70 years old, a devoted wife and one who might be called a “home lady,” as she might always be found around the homestead beautifying its surroundings, and ministering to the needs of her helpless husband. The funeral was largely attended by relatives and friends from Frederica, Georgetown, Lewes and elsewhere, who paid their last respects to mother, sister and friend.

I saw her yet, but once again,
When she and death had met;
The pallid look was on her cheek
My fancy sees her yet,—-

And as she lay in that sweet sleep
Robed in her bridal dress,
A sudden thought proclaimed to me,
Her spirit is at rest.[i]

The unfortunate blowing out of the boiler tubes last week has caused a stoppage of that work pending the arrival of a new boiler. Upon a more thorough investigation it was found that a new boiler was necessary. This was ordered and arrived on Saturday. It has been placed in position, and work resumed. The cannery at the depot has had a good run the past week up to Saturday. On that day there were no tomatoes to can, nor to ship. Prices have ranged from 20 to 25 cents, and baskets returned to owner.

Fred Welch has opened a grocery and confectionery store in a part of his dwelling on Union Street.

The “flying horses” or “merry-go-round'” is here and well patronized by the children and young people.

James Palmer and some friends from a distance, have been hunting the marshes the past week for game indigenous to that locality. They found it.

A colored woman, accompanied by a boy, created a scare last week at the station by her appearance of having the smallpox. She came from about Seaford, and left in the direction of Lewes.

The report of six mail sacks of public documents being received at the Milton post office, as published in our last issue, has increased to fourteen sacks. Representative Ball is certainly doing something for the government in the franking line, and Postmaster Manship is seriously, considering the propriety of building an addition to the post office for the accommodation of Dr. Ball’s superfluous matter.

Mrs. Lydia Black fell from the back porch at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Hannah Carey on Friday, and fractured the left hip bone. Dr. James A. Hopkins was called, and rendered the necessary medical aid.

The Atkins family, of Milton, is noted for longevity. There are four brothers now living, the youngest of whom entered on his 80th year last July. This is Prof. P. Page Atkins, who in his younger days was a lecturer on phrenology. The other brothers are Rev. John S. Atkins, aged about 82 years, Thomas Atkins, 85 years, and Captain J. C. Atkins, now in his 90th year. George W. Atkins died eleven years ago, then 81 years of age, and the oldest of all the brothers.

Fodder saving is now on hand.

Miss Eve Coverdale, of Philadelphia, paid a short visit to her father, Mr. Wesley Coverdale last week, returning to the city on Monday.

Saturday was “Black Saturday” […] Slaughter Beach, and the Georgetown Negroes, as usual, made things lively in Milton as they passed through en route.

At the Union Republican primary meeting, held in the First Election District of the Tenth Representative District on Saturday, the following gentlemen were elected delegates to attend the State Convention, to be held at Dover on Tuesday, the 2nd inst. H. R. Burton, Fred N. Taylor, T. H. B. Pritchet, James C. Palmer, Thomas Spencer; and the following alternates were also chosen: T. H. Brewer, T. A. Johnson, W. B. Messick, Jas. L. Black, S. J. Warrington. County Committeeman: J. R. Block.

Dr. T. W. Tomlinson and wife, of Wilmington, were in attendance at the funeral of Mrs. Tomlinson.

Mr. Julius Primrose is visiting parents and friends.

Edgar Lank, Esq., attorney-at-law of Philadelphia, is stopping in town for a week.

lsaac W. Nailor has purchased the building in which the Milton post office is kept.

Josephus Messick has removed from Philadelphia to Milton, and occupies a building on Broad Street.

Mrs. W. J. Hearn and daughter Alice left Broadkiln Beach on Monday intending to spend a few days at their home.

They will soon return to the beach.

The colored man who stole a bicycle on the Lewes beach, and was captured near Milton and taken to Lewes and placed in the lockup, from whence he mysteriously escaped, was again captured on Friday night. This time in Milton, and put in the Milton lockup. The Lewes constable called for him on Saturday morning and took him to Georgetown.

The colored woman mentioned elsewhere in this communication, as having passed the Milton station with the appearance of small pox, in reported to be housed in a small building below Nassau, and being attended by a Lewes physician who pronounces her case to be smallpox of the most virulent form.

The Milton canneries are not setting the “world on fire” canning tomatoes this season. Tomatoes are yet bringing from 20 to 25 cents per basket; and on Tuesday there were plenty of them. The difficulty of obtaining cars to ship them in and getting baskets to put them in, and the slowness of the canneries in packing them, often creates a glut that cannot be avoided.

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[i] David A. Conner quoted from many now-obscure Victorian poets, most of whom have been anthologized and can be found on the Internet; this particular poem has not turned up.