davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14
The "BridgtOn Riders"

We have received from the Secretary of
the Society for the Prevention and De-
lection Of Crime, whose headquarters are
located at North Bridgton, (the towus of
Bridgton, Harrison, Waterford, Sweden,
Denmark. Naples and Otisfeld. comprise
the limits Of this Society report Of the
annual meeting, aud also . copy of the
constitution and other documents relating
to its affairs. These we have read care
fully, and regret that we have had no
room heretofore, and are not likely to have
for some time to come, in which to pre-.
sent them to our readers. The officers
elected at the annual meeting were Capt.
r. T. Bailey, President; l. S. Webb. Vice
President Geo. L. Chsdbourne, Secreta-
nv; Hon. Jacob Hazen, Treasurer, with
S. F. Perley, and r.. s. Chaplain, Naples !;
+. j. Littlefield, NJ. NJ. Davis, l. S. Webb
Geo. S. Farnsworth, Austin Brigham, Geo
Emery, and +. F. Fessenden, Bridgton !;
John c. Gerry, Farnum Jewett and Chas.
Young. Waterford; A. Morse. n. A. Traf-
ton and, Chas. L. Stuart of Harrison, rid
ers for 1869:
The object of this Society is to detect
and bring to justice offenders of all class
es and grades. If a theft or felony Of any
kind has been committed against any mem
Der ofthe Society, the riders are immediat-
~ put in pursuit in all directions, and the
offender over.hauled if possible and
brought to justice. The Society has been
iu operation about fifty years, having been
organized in 1914, yet we can hardly see,
if the advantages claimed for it are rs
great as represented, why il has not spread
to other localities in our State, and why
such mutual protection society" does
not exist in almost every town. A small
annual assessment upon the members is
sufficient to keep the Society running, and
no officer is allowed pay for service except
riders when actually on duty. We should
like to know if crime is less common in the
district over which the "Bridgton Riders"
keep ward and watch than i'm localities
where no such organization exists; if SO
there is certainly need of some such or
gauization in all our rural communities.
The Secretary. Mr.. G.. L. Chadboune OF
North Bridgton, will furnish information.
copies Of constitution, DC. to those who
apply Maize Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14

The Brunswick Telegraph gives the
following programme for Commencement
week: the prize defamation Of the Soph-
omore class will take place, on Monday
evening. July 5th Examination of the
three lower classes July 81. Bacca-
laureate Address by President Harris, on
Sunday afternoon, July 18th. Prize dec
lama,ion of the Junior class, on Monday
evening l2th.-Rev. c. c. Everett of
Bangor, is to deliver an Grafton before the
Alumni, on Tuesday afternoon 18th. The
Anniversaries Of the two literary Societies
will be omitted. Concert on Tuesday eve
ming. Commencement exercises proper
on Wednesday, 18th Presidential leyee in
the evening. On Thursday \. NJ. an ora
ton before the p. b. X. Fraternity, orator
not selected Class Day exercises in the
afternoon. The public competition for
class of 1868 prize, will take place on
Monday evening, June 9TH. The prize is
a sum of 500, established by n donation OF
al. $50 from the class Of 1868, and will be
awarded annually to the author ofthe best
written and spoken Grafton in the Senior
clrSs
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14
The Gubernotoriai Qaesfi0n--Let
the Conreatioa decide it.

1t has always been a strong feature oil
the Republican organization, that il could
meet difficulties and threatening questions
squarely and not shirk. 1t has no TEN.
porising policy of putting off the evil
day, bat rs ready 10 .'take the bull By the
horns" if the animal enters the camp
This is the hope ofthe party in such times
as the present, when timid men magnify
differences OF opinion iato alarming dis
affections. Ii is not 10 be disguised that
some elements OF diSeOrd exist, IN relation
10 the Governor question; but there Is no
occasion for alarm that the State Conven.
ton will not be adequate 10 settle all diff
ficulties by It's action, and the party come
out stronger than ever, A portion of the
temperance party threaten to make new
nomination if Gov. Chamberlain is re-
nominated-but the old guard ofthe Maine
Law, such ~ Neal Dow, Judge Davis. G.
a, Staclpole, Esq. and others are not in
their ranks. and how ridiculous it would
be for other temperance men to get up
party to support the Maine Law, with
the originator of the Law, and its ablest
supporters left out Then it is said that
the men opposed to Capital Punishment
will not vote fox GOV. {. But we can
not believe that 4 question belonging to
the Legislature to settle rather than the
Executive, will occasion any such action.
Some boldly assert that if Gov. c. is not
renominated all the soldiers viii bolt
This Is equally ridiculous. No man or
organization Is authorized to speak an.
thoritative! for this holy Of voters.
There is bat one s.ie course for the
party to pursue, and that is, 10 lei nc
people settle he question, 10y their action
in the Convention, and there is no fear
but that the minorities viii acquicsce
Let preferences be earnestly cou,cnded
for, and the people he aroused a never
before, and elect delegates to represent
them, and then leave it to the Convention.
The party has out-ljved sharp contention
in nominating conl eutioHS, aad it can
again. Let our Republican friends avoid
one thing, by all means, and that is, as
TO taking counsel Of their democratic
friends, who, just now. seem greatly
exercised about our affairs. and are very
anxious to give iheir opinions as to what
ought 70 DE done under certain circum-
stances And let al keep cool" and
not commit themselves 50 strongly for
any one as 20 emhaydss their future
action, and all Will be well.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14

The correspondent of the Lewiston
Journal says: Farming has at length
commenced quite briskly, the land dcluged
by the recent heavy rains having become
pretty thoroughly dried.
Capt Jonathan Blake intends to soon
commence building a pulp factory at
Steep Falls, the pup to be manufactured
from poplar shavings. The building is
to be 4Ox62 feet, composed of spruce
timber, which was purchased at Island
Pond.
On Sunday evening the Rev. L. II. Tar
box, pastor of the Universalist church, de-
livered the first of briefseries of lectures
on the subject of 50 Atonement."
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14
North Fryeburg.

To day it begins to look like spring and
the farmers think it high time to com
mence farming and every man seems to be
busy in doing something on his farm.
There has of late been quite number
of deaths in this vicinity. Last week,
Monday, Mrs. Thomas Day died. aged
80 years; Tuesday, Mrs. Phillip Earring
ton, aged 50 years-sisters-both buried
Wednesday. 1t seemed singular that tive
old lady sisters, who lived in the same
neighborhood, should die so near to-
gether.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14
Vest oxford agricultural Society.

Under our Agricultural head will be
found list Of premiums offered this year.
SOME important changes have beenmade.
from last Year. it viii bo seen.
The list should be saved for reference.
and all whose names Me found among
the Committees, should take notice, and
make their arrangements. Seasonably, 10
be present on the occasion.
To have the benefit of the bruins as
well Is muscles. let our farmers take an
interest in the agricultural fairs, and
while they compete for premiums, get
the benefit of their ne,gh5or's skill and
experience. Intelligence in farming pays
as we'll Is Intelligence in any other call
inc.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14
Hartford.

The cause of temperance Is onward
Representation in the Lodge Room from
the different political and religious socl-
cites. tells for good. The source of read
ing placed within the reach of members
Is well enjoyed. Two hours aweek spent
for each other'sgood, outweighs weekly
feast on poisonous food. :.
= Two inches Of snow, the 'poor man
dressing" on the I'd, and coplous ram
at times, for three days, leaves the ground
in better condition than last year at tAis
time. Farmers are now improving every
hour; larger breadth of planting and
sowing than last year will be the result
Acres of oats and wheat are now in The
ground. The hop fever is not contagious
this spring-many prefer The measles.
saw Mt Nathaniel Iish's most beauti-
full fancy box. II was the work OF his
daughter, by fastening, with white and
black putty, the seeds ofthe common and
California sun flower; the former having
black. and the latter white seeds. Any
lady of taste can make u splendid keep
sake by arranging those seeds accordi ng
to fancy; when completed, yarnish The
same.
A number OF men came from Portland,
with apparatus, to recover the lost tram
from the Nezinscott river. The fifth day
all was recovered, - damage not great
For number of nights, previous to the
accident, it had been the practice Of many
small children to go to Hartford from
Bucklield village, and back again on the
train, but on that fatal night only three
persons were aboard, to the great JOY OF
many.
Among the many interesting items in the
Democrat. those of &c. 4. X" from Glen
coe. Mimi, are read with much interest
by her numerous friends. If the West
holds inducements strong enough to hold
the writer there and the X. should be
dropped for another letter, may the Dem
ocrat notice.
Officers of the Crystal Wave, /. .. OF
G.. T.. East Buckfeld, for the present
quarter which is the sixth. First quarter
commenced with l6 members; the sixth
with 65 members. Four have been hon.
crably discharged--none expelled. Mem
bers in Mass, MINI. and Iowa, pay their
quarterly dues to the Wave. The weekly
meetings are well attended by both sexes
from l6 to 90 years of age. Discussion
select reading and defamation are part
of the exercises. Installation on the 9th,
at their Lodge Room, by George w. Shaw
Lodge Deputy.
Walter b. Morrill,, w. C. T.; Mrs.
BENJAMIN l.. Irish, w. V. T.; Mrs Nan
CIV K. Croker, W. S. Mrs. Melyander G.
Forbes, w. A. S.; l. Wilson Shaw, W.
F. s.. Benjamin Irish, w. T.; William
Bickne!l, w. C.. Colby Sampson. w. NJ.
Miss II. Augusta Bickncll, w. ID. M.
Freeman C. Reckord, w. !, G. Jonathan
Tobin, w. O. c.. Miss Abbie Mason, w.
X. II. S.; Miss Jane ii. Irish. W. Il. IL.
S.; Cyrus Irish, P. w. c. T. Miss Mary
Irish. Librarian. HARTFORD.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14
The Bath Times says, Saturday even

The Bath Times says, Saturday even
ng Officer C.. NJ. Wormwell, OF Bethel,
arrived in that city, having in custody the
Rev. John h. Smith who is charged with
forging and uttering check for $2iOO on
parties in New York. Smith having for
merly been preacher at Winnegance sue
ceeded in finding friends, who had him
brought before Judge Tallman, about 10
o'clock Saturday evening, and went bail
in the sum of $1,000 for his appearance be-
fore the Municipal court on Tuesday.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14

STATE PENSIoNS.-The Advertisers Au-
guSta correspondent writes that the Com.
mittee on Pensions have been instructed
by the Governor and Council TO grant two
dollars month. for one year. to such sol
diers rs shall produce satisfactory evil
dence that artificial legs are needed by
them, provided that the pension of no sol
der when thus increased shall exceed the
full pension of IS allowed by law
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14

A st. Paul paper says: Yesterday
two young ladies from the country brought
to market thirty dozen frogs which they
slaughtered the previous day. They found
ready sale, going off at fifteen cents per
dozen. The frog trade seems to be on
the increase.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14

The fat oxen raised by VIM. Hall, of
Norway, mentioned last week, have been
'gobbled up" by 5. +. Briggs and Co.,
OF 50. Paris, (who are always watching
the Oxford Democrat to see where the
fat oxen are) and have been slaughtered
for their Paris Hill and other customers.
They We're probably the largest oxen in
the County. They weighed 400, and
sold for $4,000.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14

The students of Hebron Academy
were to give an exhibition on Thursday
evening, May 18th, the exercises to con-
sist of dramas, tableaux, farces, &c.
The proceeds of the evening to be devo-
ted to the purchase of an organ for the
Chapel.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14

Total Gs miles
Building and equipping the entire line
probably cost en- an average $4,000 per
mile. The government bonds issued av-
eraged $4,000 per mile. AID the compa-
MES first mortgage bonds sold for So, geo
more, leaving 4 net cash profit of seven
teen millions Of dollars upon the construc-
ton alone, in addition TO the ownership
of the road andits magnificent land grant.
The distance iron: New York to OMAHA
is l479 miles; from Omaha to Ogden,
Western terminus of Union Pacific 1880
miles; from Ogden to Sacramento 74S
miles; from Sacramento to San Francisco
I20 miles; from New York to San Fran
cisco 3,S-7 miles.
some sanguine writers believe that by
running steamers and locomotives At their
atmos, speed, the entire time FROM Yoho-
hama 70 London can be reduced TO three
week-;ea day, 10 San Francisco, four
from their to New York. and seven from
New York to London bat for the pres
emit We may be abundantly satisfied with
nearly twice that time.
Salt Lake City is 10 miles from Ogden,
and a branch road is TO connect the Saints
with the Pacific road a, the latter point.
The New York Herald is ofthe opinion
that the railroad line between san Fran
cisco and New York i So long that very
little Asiatic trade viii pass over it, and
tina, It will be cheaper TO carry heavy
through freight by way OF the Isthmus or
Cape Horn.
The last Railroad tie was fastened. it
i said. with gold spike weighing over
20 ounces The tie was OF California Lau-
rel, highly polished.
The Boston Advertisers Washington
special of Monday says There was quite
q gathering of persons al the War Depart
ment. State Department and the general
office of the Western Union Telegraph
Company today TO hear the announcement
of the junction between the Union Pacific
and the Central Pacific railroads At 3 20
7. NJ. Washington time, all the offices
were notified from Omaha 10 get ready
for receiving the signal. New York and
hundreds of other offices at once answered
Ready" Seven minutes later Omaha,
in response % numerous inquiries, said:
To Everybody Keep quiet. When last
spike i driven 1T PromontOry Point they
will saw done" Don't break circuit, but
watch for signals of blows of hammer"
After some little trouble in the Chicago
office and the closing of the circuit west
of Buffalo, the instrument here was az
itated, and Promontory Point, 2+00 miles
west of Washington, gave notice that
PRAYER was being offered. Then followed
an interval of silence af1erwhich the blows
ofthe hammerupont the last spike were sig
nailed. and at 2 AZ p. NJ. came the word
Done, which told ofthe great victory.
The President was expected at the War
Department. but could not getaway from
his office. General Sherman and all the
officers in his Department. in the tele-
graph room listening to the signals, The
scene at the State Department was equal
ly impressive, Secretary Fish and most of
his leading subordinates being gathered
in the room containing the operating in
Strument.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14

Probate Court will be held at Paris
on Tuesday of next week; at Waterford
and Lowell, on Wednesday, and Fryeburg
on Thursday. The Register will have
our Probate bills for advertising, and set
Element can be made with him, at the
circuit Courts.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14

APPOINTMENTS BY TN GovrENoE.-
Ephriam Flint, of Dover. Joseph Baker,
Of Augusta, and T. W Wcdgewoa3 OF
Biddiford have been appointed by G..
Chamberlain. Commissioners TO revise tle
statutes under the law Of last winner
Nc'har Fe0', Of Erred, T.! las Lord. Of
Standi>h, and T G. Woodmau, ofBu,A -
port, have been appointed Trustees ofthe
Reform school.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14

There is report that the Hallowell
House, Hallowell, is to be bought by
parties who propose converting it into
retreat for insane people, and that it will
be placed under the management of
skillful and well known gentleman who
has had years of experience in the treat
ment of those poor unfortunates.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14
Pucifc Railroad.

The great event Of the week is the COM
pletiou of the through railroad connecting
the Atlantic and Pacific States. 1t is an
other grand step in the progress of the
age of vast import to other countries As
well as eur own. The conception OF %
magnificent an undertaking, it is said y
attributable 10 Lewis GAYLORD Clark who
wrote in 1888: "The reader is now living
who will make railway trip across this
vast continent"
Thomas Benton of Missouri. MAS the
first man TO introduce Pacific Railroad
bill in Congress- His bill, introduced in
1880. contemplated road only "where
practicable, leaving gaps to be filed by
wagon roads, ,s.A ma
In 1854 nine routes were surveyed
under government direction, and the re-
suits were summarized under the super.
vision of JEFF Davis, Secretary of War,
in favor Of an extreme Southern line on
the SD parallel.
In 1859 Congress authorized three lines
-Northern, Central and Southern, but
the breaking out of the war prevented
any steps being taken. The Central Pa
cific Railroad was first chartered by the
California Legislature. Only two shares
,rn,.e taLen i'm San Francisco and one of
those by woman
The following table gives the rate of
progress in building the Union Pacific:
In 1855 40 miles. In Iss. isj miles.
In iss. 2sS miles. In 1862 los miles.
In 1871. 2l5 miles.
Total. l,osO miless
Omaha, Nebraska, on the western bank
Of the Missouri, the Eastern terminus of
the road, has 10000 inhabitants. Coun-
ell bluffs, Iowa, on the opposite bank,
has 10, 900 inhabitants.
Indians have thrown one or two trains
of the track. but in general have kept
very clear Of the locomotive. In Kansas,
however, they have committed many
outrageS.
q The alkali water ofWyoming Territory
i so bad that it cannot be used by the en-
gines and it viii be necessary to supply
the tanks FOR distance of $50 miles by
water trains.
The following table shows the rate of
progress in building the Central Pacific
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14

THE FAMILY FIENp.-From the facili
ties with which it removes grease spots
from fabrics, benzine has come to be re-
garded as almost household indispensa-
BILE But few persons, however, realize
its explosive character, or the danger at
tending the careless handling of the liquid.
Being one of the most volatile and in
flammable products resulting from the
distillation Of petroleum it vaporizes with
great rapidity, so that the contents of a
four-oun vial, if overturned, would rem
der the air Of a moderate sized room highly
explosive. The greatest care should be
exercised in handling this substance, in
proximity to the fire, and it is important
To remember that the vapor escaping from
an uncorked bottle will cause flame
to leap over space OF several feet.
This article is sold under the name of
Chain Lightning, in some of our stores.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14

We would remind our readers of the
Lecture before the G.. \. R., at Norway,
by Rev, Samuel Paine, OH Friday evening
week.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14
Noted State Conflicts.

A correspondent of the Lewiston Jour-
nal has recently visited the State Prison
at Thomaston, and speaks thus of several
prisoners whose crimes have made their
names only too familiar to the people OF
Maine. Sc A
The first prisoner that met my eye on
entering the prison was venerable end
patriarchal form, moving with solemn
tread through the prison aisles, with the
bearing of saint but the coat OF sinner.
He was Jack Hale, the veteran horse
thief. He has become an institution as
mush as the prison itself, in which most
of his life has been passed. He belongs
10 the prison aristocracy; his digniiied
mien is evidence of his conscious superb
ority. He moralizes the prisoners, and
is the pink of decorum, feeling it his du-
ty to chide breaches of good order in his
fellow prisoners. He ID over eighty
years of age. His last achievement was
two horses and communion seryice-the
communion service was yagary. His
principle ordinarily is stealing horses
only" The theft of the communion SER
vice is only freak of genius.
THE BowDoINHAM BANK ROBBERS.
Simms, Bartlett and Mcguire are by
no means the nobby Bowery boys they
appeared when on trial at Bath. Their
iaunty. confident air is changed. Bartlett
is in the paint shop. Simms and Mcguire
are in the carriage shop. Bartlett is oneof
the best workmen in the prison. He has
never given the slightest trouble To the
officers. Mcguire also is orderly; Simms
is not vicious but mischieyous. Simms
cell contains several pictures, and big
curl of hair, supposed to be one OF his
wife's ringlets, depends over a little MIR
ror by tho side of his cot.
GEORGE KNIGHT.
Knight. the cold blooded murderer OF
his wife in Poland in 1857, has been in
the prison over twelve years, isless heshy
and looks older than when he was COM
mitted. He stands at bench in the
blacksmith shop and works daily on the
iron work of the carriage department.
We noticed that his lips were in constant
motion, evidently indicating that he was
muttering to himself-perhaps querying
on the strange failure of all his shrewd
plans to murder his wife and escape sus-
piclon He is brutal, cold bloodcd man,
and if any cody deserves hanging. he is
the man. He is greatly troubled by this
thought-that every body believes him
guilty, despite his persistent denial OF
guilt.
PREBLE AND DOYLE.
Preble who murdered his wife in the
road just north OF Little Androscoggin
bridge, in Auburn, in 1861. works in the
blacksmith shop by the side of Doyle.
who raped and murdered the little girl in
Strong, in 1868. Preble is most villain
Gus looking mana man one would not
care TO meet anywhere. Rum did it.
PATRICK GRIFFIN,
Who murdered his wife in Lewiston in
1861. is chief of the cooking department,
and when we saw him was busy stirring
a big cauldron boiling full with a stew
for the prisoners dinner. Griffin is fat as
Falstafl. and quite as happy. Evidently
he is satisfied with his condition. and don't
care to change it. Rum did it.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14

SPECIAL AGENrs.-The Tribune explains
the mysterious announcement that Post
master General Creswell has revoked the
commissions of special agents ofthe Post
Office Department without pay:
The meaning of this is that hereafter
Gov. Randalfs crowd OF adventurers and
coniidence-men are 10 be stopped from ira
yelling free over all the railroads and
steamboats, of the country. Whenever the
Postmaster General wanted to oblige II
friend, or send some striker off 10 cook mp
a Convention, or manipulate acaucus, he
made him a Special Agent without pay:
The commission was simply universal
railroad and steamboat pass. Sometimes
single train going into Washington
contain dozen of those Postal Agents"
whose green seals" We're iourished in
the face OF conductors, in lieu OF tickets.
A train between New York and Washing
ton was scarcely ever without brace OF
them. Men made business trips over the
whole South and West on Postal Agent
commissions. OfcourSe thrrailroads found
some way TO get even with the Depart
ment, and the Government eventually had
all the promiscuous free riding to pay for.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-14

Western papers attribute the haste
with which the Chicago Tribune puts IL
self at the head Of the anti-Grant move
ment TO the personal disappointment OF
It's Editor, who was an aspirant for Office.
This is exactly the case with Dana and
his New York Sun Ii will take large
number OF such malcontents as these to
effect the stability of Grants adminlstra-
ton.