This Month In Frederick County History

November

From John Ashbury's - '... and all our yesterdays'

November 3

Today we are fortunate to be able to turn on our television sets and view the wonders of the world. But in 1821, few Fredericktonians had ever seen an elephant. That changed on Nov. 3, when an Indian elephant was exhibited here.

The advertisement in The Frederick Town Herald advised that "Tippo Saib, the great and wonderful male elephant, just arrived from Calcutta in the ship Bengal, will be exhibited, for a few days only, at Mr. George Baer's carriage house, one door from the Episcopal Church."

The ad went on to say that the animal weighed between 3 and 4 tons and "is considered one of the greatest hunting elephants ever imported from India."

There was other hype for the appearance, including the claim that the elephant could uncork a bottle of "porter" and drink the contents without breaking the glass.

Appearing at the same time at Baer's stable was "The Bear of Education," who, the ad claimed, "would astonish the audience by a number of interesting questions, such as spelling, telling the time of day by a watch, will add, multiply, subtract and divide." He would also perform card tricks and other feats "too tedious to mention."

King David's Cymbals was on hand to provide background music for the exhibition. Admission was "25 cents - Children of 12 years and under half price."

November 10

When two deputy sheriffs went to the home of William Stultz on a muggy August morning in 1922, little did they know that shortly they would be involved in an incident, which led to the last execution at the Frederick County Jail.

Deputy Sheriffs Charles Smith and Allen Bartgis went to Stultz' home, at the corner of Bentz and Fourth Streets, on August 9, to take possession of Stultz' car in payment for a $30 civil judgment, the result of non-payment of rent.

Smith informed Stultz that he and Bartgis were seizing the car. Stultz objected strenuously, perhaps because he had three stills in his house and feared a search of his property. He grabbed a shotgun, and opened fire on the deputies, wounding both with buckshot. A call went out immediately to city police for assistance.

Frederick Officers John Adams, Martin Walsh and James Painter answered. Adams went to the front door and called out to Stultz. Receiving no answer, he kicked in the door, and he and Walsh entered. Stultz opened fire, hitting Adams in the neck. The officer staggered into the street and fell, mortally wounded. Stultz surrendered an hour later after several more shots were exchanged.

In a one-day trial on August 29, he was convicted of the murder of Officer Adams. He was sentenced to hang by a 3-judge panel.

On Nov. 10, at 6:30 a.m. Stultz became the last person hanged at the Frederick County Jail. He went to the gallows still blaming everyone but himself for his actions, including the police officers.

On January 1, 1923, a new state law became effective, mandating all executions be conducted at the Maryland penitentiary in Baltimore.

November 17

For nearly three years after the death of Frederick's "First Citizen," his friends and associates planned a memorial to the man who gave so much to his community.

On Nov. 17, 1941, 14 bells were placed in the Baker Memorial Tower and Carillon in Frederick's Baker Park.

When Joseph Dill Baker died in October, 1938, Frederick lost a generous benefactor. For years he had given of himself and his fortune to the betterment of this community. So, it was not unexpected that a group of his friends would come together to establish a suitable and lasting memorial to our "First Citizen."

It was decided that a tower, topped by a carillon, would be built in Baker Park, which had been named for Mr. Baker and his wife in August 1927.

On April 2, 1941, Mr. Baker's birthday, ground was broken for the tower. It is 70 feet tall and 16 feet wide at its base, and is made of Baltimore County granite. The 14 original bells weighed an aggregate 15,000 pounds.

For years, weekly concerts were played and the quarter hours were chimed between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m..

At the dedication ceremonies, held Nov. 30, the first song was played by Henry Wade, music professor at Hood College. It was Mr. Baker's favorite hymn - "Abide With Me."

On the largest bell, and on a plaque bolted to the base of the tower, is inscribed: "This tower and carillon have been erected by his friends in loving memory of Joseph Dill Baker, 1854-1938, whose life was a benediction to this community."

in the years since 1941, more bells have been added to the tower. And in 1995 the old bells were refurbished and dedicated anew.

November 24

When the members of Independent Hose Company responded to an alarm of fire at the Frederick City Petroleum Gas Works on East Patrick St. at about 10:30 a.m. Nov. 23, 1880, they did not expect they would be faced with a long-term crisis.

As the firemen moved to better fight the fire, they had to cross the Water Street Bridge over Carroll Creek. As they crossed, the engine, called "Romeo," suddenly veered to the left, broke through the railing and plunged into the water.

Lawrence Bentz, who was holding the tongue of the engine, was carried into the creek. Bentz was pinned under a part on the engine in six feet of water. He was rescued. Doctors called to treat him discovered he had a crushed leg from the hip to the knee, several broken ribs, and some minor injuries.

Because "Romeo" was so heavily damaged and could not be used to fight the fire, it took firemen nearly an hour and a half to bring the flames under control. The Juniors also found their hoses defective and, until Independents allowed their hoses to be used, Juniors were unable to battle the fire.

Despite the length of time necessary to contain the blaze, damage was estimated at only $1,000, and there was no interruption of service to gas customers.

The next day, Nov. 24, Independents members met to hear a report on the cost to repair or replace "Romeo." They were not happy with the estimated cost of repair, and decided to replace the Monarch engine.

A committee was appointed to investigate the cost of a new piece of equipment. On that committee were, John Hardt, Dr. Fairfax Schley, M. E. Getzendanner, George Markell, Charles Tyson and Philip Reich.

On December 11, 1880, LaFrance Engine Company of Elmira, N. Y. offered to replace "Romeo" at a cost of $2,000, plus the damaged engine. Hardt, Tyson and J. William Baughman were then named to a committee to solicit contributions.

On March 7, 1881, anticipation was heightened by word that "Juliet," the new engine, would arrive in Frederick on the 11th. However, newspapers reported the following Wednesday that the Independents were disconsolate because the engine still had not arrived.

But joy abounded on March 18 when the engine arrived at the Pennsylvania Railroad Station. It was described as a "handsome" piece of equipment with a lot of nickel metal.

The boiler was guaranteed to develop 30 pounds of steam pressure in three minutes and from 80 to 100 pounds within five minutes of lighting the fire.

On March 24, "Juliet" was tested at the bridge on South Market St. over Carroll Creek. The engine generated 70 pounds of pressure in 4 minutes and 55 seconds. It threw a stream of water 238 feet through a 1 1/8 inch nozzle, and 248 feet through a 1 1/4 inch nozzle.