Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-09-27

L
morning the residents near Silver Mine Brook,
It South Norwalk, CT, were aroused by
critic explosion, which was found to proceed
rom the house of Horatio s. Cook. The
neighbors, on proceeding thither, witnessed
ititiful spectacle. The house was literally
ent in twain, its east end blown out the roof
fitted, windows gone, ceilings demolished and
III on fire. But the most sickening sight of
Ill was the blackened, mutilated and distig-
red corpse of poor Cook, which lay thrown
,ack, buried in the burning debris. Mrs
look, crazcd by the conclusion, Vas franti-
sally throwing herself about and screaming
Tor aid. The flames were extinguished and
Mrs. Cook removed to the house of a neigh
Dor. From her account of the affair it ap-
pears that Mr.. Cook had been i'll for several
weeks with intermittent fever and congestion
of the brain. just before daylight on Thurs
day he had chill and called her up. After
attending to him she laid down again and fell
asleep. Her husband. it seems, then took a
keg half full of powder which he used in his
business as rock blaster, from one of the
it off. Previous to exploding the powder, he
had carefully gathered up all Of Mrs. C's
clothing in the upper part of the house and
thrown the garments down cellar with view
to their preservation, thus showing entire de-
liberation in planning and executing his de-
struction. To the fact that the house was
very slightly constructed, and the windows
and doors open, is to be attributed the re-
markable escape of Mrs. Cook, the only 9TH
er person in the house. Mr.. Cook belonged
to family predisposed to insanity, and was
in the Insane Asylum at Hartford for two
years.
There is some misunderstanding in Illinois
as to where the Legislature is to meet. 1t
adjourned to recommence in Chicago on the
10th of November. The Speaker of the
House will be in that city on that day to call
the House to order. The President of the
Senate considers that, under the law, the Leg
islature cannot meet elsewhere than at the
State Capitol, which is Springfield. He will
be found there and not at Chicago. Thus
there is a prospect, unless the difficulty is
houses being carried on by telegraph between
Chicago and Springfield.
The treasury department has issued a cir
cular letter to collectors of customs, instruct
ing them to make report for each week at
the close thereof, of all seizures, fines, pen
alties and torfeitures occurring in their sew
eral districts for violation of the revenue and
navigation laws of the United States. and at
the close of each month report of such of
said seizures, fines, etc, may be disposed
of during said month by sale, remission, or
der of the court or otherwise.
GENERAL NEWS.
The Jesuits and Republican agents have
been expelled from Rome.
Archbishop Spaulding, of Maryland is ly-
ing very ill at his residence in Baltimore.
President Grant is expected to be present
at the laying of the cornerstone Of the new
post office in Boston in October.
The Albany Evening Journal says Wendell
Phillips is a conspicuous illustration of the
danger of living too long,
A Seltzer spring has been discovered in
New South Wales, the waters of which pcs
sess intoxicating as well as cathartic quail
ties.
1t showed briskly for an hour in Jefferson
and Lancaster, n. H., early Thursday morn
ing. The weather was reported as intensely
cold.
Re-enforcements to the Spanish forces in
Cuba continue to be sent forward. Twelve
hundred soldiers have embarked from Cadiz
for Havana.
party of San Francisco capitalists have
incorporated company with five millions
capital to work newly discovered coal beds in
the Aleutian islands.
Joe Pentland, the noted clown, has gone
mad. The first symptoms of his insanity
were shown while he was performing recent
ly in Tennessee.
There are now lying at the wharves in New
Bedford, fifty-one whaling vessels-fourteen
ships, thirty-fv barques, one brig, and. one
schooner; four are being fitted up for the
Arctic, four for the Indian, one for the Pa
cific and one for the Atlantic ocean.
girl in Racine, Wis, wanted her lover to
swear on the Bible that she was all the world
to him, and when he wouldn't, she knocked
lin down with the sacred volume.
ieter and stephen Thacher,