The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-05-29
ITEMS OF STATE NEWS.


The people Of Piscataquis County are NOV
ing in the matter of securing railway commu-
nication with the rest of the world. A large
and enthusiastic meeting, in the interestof this
enterprise, was held at Dover on the 14th inst.
The proposed road is to connect with the Maine
Central at Newport and to extend through the
towns of Cornna, Dexter, Garland and Dover,
with probable extension to Brownville.
charter has already been obtained for road to
Dexter, and it is now proposed to push the line
still farther into the valley of the Piscataquis
At the meeting mentioned, much interest was
manifested and liberal pledges of stock we
made. Measures were adopted to secure a SIR
vey of tine proposed route, and to obtain esti-
mates of the probable cost. Reports upon tn Sc
points are to be submitted at an adjourned meet
ing to be held in June. 1t is understood that
if the road is built it will he lease1 by the Maine
Central, and that the latter corporation is dis
posed to render all feasible aid in its construc-
ton. The valley of the Piscataquis comprises
one of the fiuest portions of our State and we
hope our friends in that section may succeed in
their efforts.
The Temperance portion of the community
will be glad to learn that there is at least one
hotel in Maine where from priaeiple no intoxi-
eating drinks are sold. The Eagle Hotel at Me-
chanic Falls, whichis advertised in our columns
and of which Mr.. p. r. Cobb is the obliging
landlord, is such an one, and Temperance men
stopping there need have no Conscientious
scruples" that they are patronizing rum shop
Mr.. Cobb is determined to prove that a first
class country hotel can be sustained without
the aid of a bar.
The Skowhegan Clarion reports the death
by drowning of MIR. Leonard A. Grover, fore
man in the Excelsior Factory at that place. Mr..
Grover attempted to take boat round the pier
of the bridge, on the south side of the river,
just above the dam. While doing so the rail-
road tie got under the bottom of the boat. In
attempting to clear it he broke his paddle,
which left him at the mercy of the current. He
then pulled off his coat and jumped into the
water, and swan for the shore, and got within
10 or Is feet of it when he was swept over the
dam, and drawn under. He was about 35 years
of age, and steady, industrious citizen. he
leaves daughter five years ofage, whose moth
er is dead.
"A son of George Allison, of Lewiston, aged
about IS years, had his arm broken near the
shoulder, one day last week, in consequence of
the breaking of the flagstaff rope by which he
had been drawn up nearly 80 feetby other lads.
So says the Journal.
The Skowhegan Clarion reports some cases
of smallpox in Cornville.
The Bath Times contains the particulars
of sad accident which occurred in that city
on Sunday. A little son of John N. barnett,
four years of age, was playing in the back or
"Ell'' part of his fathers house. tits supposed
that the child must have got access to some
matches, as after time that portion of the house
was discovered to be in flames. When the fire
was discovered the child could not be found,
and though every effort was made to discover
him they were fruitless. The charred remains
were recovered after the fire. Whether he was
suffoeated by the smoke, or his clothes took fire
and SO bewildered him as to prevent his escape
cannot be known. The Ell was destroyed, to-
gether with out-buildings, and barn which
adjoined it. The main part of the house, which
was occupied by two families, was saved.
We have received the programme of the
recent graduating exercises of the State Nor
NAL School at Pennington, some account of
which appeared in our issue of yesterday
Orations were pronounced by Mr.. Edmund
Hayes of Farmington-subject, "One Nation,
One Destiny"-and by Mr.. Charles A. Barton
subject, patriotism" Miss NJ I. Perkins, of
Bath, delivered the Valedictory; and essays
were read by the following young ladies, upon
the subjects appended to their ames-Miss S.
Fanny Norton, Farmington; Freedom by the
Truth" Miss M. Augusta Evans, Athens;
Progress in Astronomical Science" Miss
Hannah B. Stewart, Farmington; "Footprnts
of the Departed" Miss Emma j. Freeman,
Manchester; "Modesty." Miss Mira @. Vaughan,
Pennington Falls; "The Pilgrimage" Miss
Dora A. Sprague, Pennington; "Coral Ami
mails" Miss Nellie NJ. Hayes, Pennington;
Cheerful Workers." Miss Sarah r. Curtis,
Mercer; '"Trials-Blessings. Miss Susie X
Tobey, Machias; "The Life and Assassination
of Thomas A. Beckett"
We learn from the Waterville Mail that the
house of Homer Percival, Esq, Cashier of the
Peoples National Bank in that village, was en-
tered by burglars on Thursday night last. The
object was doubtless to get possession of the
keys of the bank, but it was frustrated in the
following manner: "The nurse of sick daugh-
ter of Mr.. P.was lying on a lounge in the sitting
room. The burglar entered the front door,
which was locked, with the key inside and was
first discovered entering the sitting-room, which
was dimly lighted. He was masked and other
wise disguised, and as he advanced towards the
bedroom door he was boldly confronted by the
watcher; when scream from the invalid, that
was promptly responded to by Mr.. Percivalfrom
a chamber close by, induced him to turn and
escape He did this SO quickly that he found
time to lock the door on the outside before Mr..
p. reached it. Alarm was given and search
made, but nothing was discovered" The Mail
adds that signs were discovered at the residence
of E. L. Getchell, Esq, Cashier of Waterville
National Bank, that during The same night his
premises were explored with the design of
breaking in.