Connecticut western news., 1871-08-25

Smashed up.-A small car used for car rying ties on the Conn. Western, was left with one end off the track in cut on the curve of the road back of MT. Horace Bar nuns residence in Wetaug last Tuesday night, and when the Construction train came from Canaan the next morning, 1t struck the car and completely demolished it. The 'cow-catcher" of the locomotive was pretty badly broken, also rod com municating with one of the steam cylinders. Engineer Cogswell had not the shadow of an opportunity to see the car until SO near to it, that to stop or even to slacken the speed of the train was beyond his power. It is evident that somebody was slightly careless in leaving a car standing on the track in that manner.
 -4cctdent.-A son of MT. Silas Knicker- booker, formerly of this town, while pas sing with wagon and span of horses over the crossing near MT. Geo. Blodgett's in Ashley Falls, last Monday morning, mar rowly escaped a horrible death. The horses had crossed the track, but the wagon was struck by the morning Passenger train from Pit:stield and knocked into flinders. The boy was thrown long distance from the track but incredible as 1t may seem, was not so seriously injured but that he jumped up and ran after the horses which were scampering through the fields beyond. The crossing is in deep cut nearly half mile long, which prevented the engineer from seeing the team till he struck it. Unless the boy was deaf, he could not possibly have avoided hearing the train coming.
 Dr. Knights Institute. Eleventh annual meeting of the Corporators and Directors of the "Connecticut school for Imbeciles," was held at the Institution in Lakeville, on Thursday Aug. 17th. The usual reports were read and accepted. The following gentlemen were elected directors for the ensuing year. $. s. Robbins, Wm. P. Burrall; c. B. Merriman H. M. Welch; ; G. M. Bartholomew Jos. E. Sheffield j; H. M. Knight; James B. Hosmer; James B. English; Wm. A. Buckingham Geo. B. Burrall; Marshall Jewell. At the meet ing of the directors, George Coffing was elected president. A. H. Holley; w. H. Barnum and Thomas Smith vice presi- dents. A. H. Holley; w. H. Barnum; S.. s. Robbins; w. P. Burrall and Geo. B. Burrall executive committee. Geo. B. Burrall, treasurer; Wm. H. Walton Jr, auditor; H. M. Knight, secretary and superintendent. The Board of directors adjourned to meet on Tuesday Aug. 29th at 8 o'clock P. M. at the Institution.
 Housatonsc Railroad. evidence of the prosperity of the Housatonic Rail- road Company, is the new depot they are building at the Ashley Falls station. The building which has this week been raised. is l3l feet long by 80 feet wide, and is to be two stories high. The upper story will be finished for the accom- modation of family. The building will be first class in every respect, aud will meet the want, so long felt by the inhabitants of that village, for depot adapted to tue business of the place. Under the man agement of Superintendent Franklin, the road in its every department is rapidly as suming position in the first rank, among the railroads of the country. Never be fore in the history of the road, has it had @ Superintendent, who has wrought such g remarkable change in the business of the road, as has Mir, Franklin. The capacity of the road is scarcely equal to the de- mand for transportation over it, and new rolling stock is constantly being added.
 PSc.nic Party.-One of the pleasantesI picnic parties of the season, was held last week Thursday in the grove near the Twin lakes, and in which is the celebrated Sails bury caves. Mrs. Frank Curtis, who resides in the west part of Sheffield, and who is al ways wide awake for all such occasions, has the horor of being the originator of tue party, and to her, much praise is due f r the ex. cellent arrangement of every feature of the occasion. Early in the forenoon, the pro. cession of 40 teams, which was formed by the people who live along the Undermoun- tain road, arrived in Chapinville, and pro- ceeded immediately to the grove at the lakes. Spreading large table on the platform erected near the cave house, and loading it with delicacies, in season and out of season, they partook of a most sumptuous repast, after which the tables being removed, music was provided, and old and young, big and little, fat, fair and forty with smiling sweet sixteen, blended harmoniously in the dance. With a sail on those charming lakes, drinking in the quiet and beautiful scenery, closed one of those daysiin the calendar of their exis. tance, which will tend to tighten their bur. dens in the downward course of their lives. Oh; if we were only a resident of that sec- ton, and could be invited to attend some of those parties. As they work, they play !; entering into it with Q hearty good will, and with determination that all shall be aoeN done.
 Catholic Pic-nSc. Editor NEWS: On Tuesday the 18th inst, the Catholics of Lakeville and some from adjacent towns, held picnic in Gov. Holley' grove. The object of it was to raise funds for the Cath clio church in Lakeville. At dawn, many 8 votary of the flight fantastic toe" rose to cast glance at the prospects of the com ing day, and to their unutterable chagrin, found that old father Sol. had made but little progress in enlightening this part of Litchfield county. We had expected 0 larger attendance, but no doubt the lower ing morning occasioned many to stay away thing went on agreeably, and though the pleasure seekers belong to a traditionally impulsive race, 8 stranger might have ob served but little difference between their