davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28
Letter from Florida.

We have no doubt many of our home
readers have missed from his accustom-
ed place of business, Mr.. A. ID. ROwell,
of the firm of Howard & ROwell, OF
this place, for the past few weeks. He
is now in Florida with his brother
Christy, who is in delicate health. Mr..
Rowell writes that his brother may
soon be able to care for himself, and
thus allow him soon to return to his
business. The following portion of Mr..
Rowell's letter may interest our read
ers, although, taken in connection with
our recent SNOW storm, may produce d
feeling of hOmesickness
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. Feb. 18, 1873.
Florida has fine climate, and that is
about all it has to recommend itself
to me. The weather is splendid and
warm, mercury ~ at noon to-day i'll
the shade. Tomorrow morning it will
be about 20 ON the veranda. The
weather now compares with the last OF
June with us. Had lettuce on the table
to-day, grown here. Peas up feet,
oranges hanging on the trees full grown,
Sc. sc. My clothing felt quite un-
comfortable to-day. ought t" have the
clothing that | wore in July at home,
jacksonville is city of ten thousand
or thercahout>. Some good business
blocks, and several good hotels. one oI
two first class S4.5O per day. and full
too. A. ID. koWELL.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28
Brutal Murder in Connecticut.
TWO BOYS KILL AN OLD MAN FOR HI
MONEY.

M
\ shocklhgly brutal ana cold-hlood-
ed murder occurred ut Burnside, "A few
miles east OF Hartford Friday night.
Ira Bliss aged 80; Tor ilNG years station
master ON the haiI!"lu' froNldence
an" lsiihII Iaili""" Ill hui'iside' nav
ing lnade up MS accounts Tor the day
at ~" p. M, started fol MS home. il
nan hhlie Instant. Ah"nt half way
nome ne was suddenly struck down
WIN CLUBS by Nv" Young men, and
l"npeu OF 'he receipts "l the daN. some
80 win MS Watch ana ticket box.
1 ne WAS lei' sehSele>> ana bleeding from
ms wounds III the SHOW ana cold OF the
on WIN thtir pluli'iti- VII; Bliss ; fam
/ ny "'ite" "ii'Il hlihhI&ii' l"i MS return.
Mheh ms son N'aite" "'!l l." search Tor
nun 1t "'s le''iiH "''."h d. IN ne
i"ie ne was found som" ~" ieet from
me road ~ ING on Ms BACK IN the snow.
Win one manu- li"Atn sun anu lnSt
enough me III MN l" breathe. lie had
era" IL" u" "S %"S course on his
i''ii"S anu N''etH from ''ie r"a"' III one
Pldce niihihs nearly Il ''l'it' hel"ie ne
>t"t'l'" nom i t L. ne was TAX
Il, li"iIic' an" NE u'"I III. MAY ne expect
w a. "iit NUM-, ~ >Nu'i anu ia"
Il. 'l"NIi'' "i'" 49,. '''S l!"N'u from
In. M .'i, INV i"S i.i'Ii''''i INJURIES ana
'", r.; s:o '''i's 10y II" ""n'' SUI iNe'
suspicious attached III once to John
DNhes' "lsIGPu'a"ie young fellow OF
pulIisioe, anu "l'1l'''ili"ll' oscar
'i"Nes' ll"iiI ii"i lord 'l''l"' is th'I !ah
zen ee,n ioi'el,' ai"uii'' Low II "IIlllS
. 81. nii "iI vas sen, ~ li'r'-
i;na r,.l. n,'r ",", n'.is .Le l',
r,.,,a ~ ,.I;,, t, ''il,'
D.,, :. ,'',,i.D7 Us us le"i
800, u, .t nes con
III. .iilii' an ."''' "''Nes was
M. M "iipin e. nis' '"ii,eSSeu
'iie y, Neni,iS ue''iis VI 'he ii''lutrous
1Ss''n. NC Ni'I: mug WI bilss
u"Mn !l.'H P"iiL''''' nun WIN CLUBS ana
nnta ny. h ','i ,h ho easy. 80 i'he r'SiS-
a,'I hoI no ,nJ 'I"h Ms Nl''n' p"ch
,'a, - .,," ~ ,LS ' .;i Ian, nt1
Ill, J ~ un ,s '"e 1 t,'i. "A anu
w. Inv i,a,h;u h, anu t""H Il i"1 y,
,;LaI .ho , u,,, m,n'T .nei VI
tha,. ,,a,t i,,r,' .,,I., ~ .Ihi'>,
,mr "u nt;, LUZ" a. 1,'''"n an" piaItu
... ~ al 'i' ''e
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28

and our foot steps point southwark.
As if we could be travelling heaven
ward and our influence be in another
direction.
Let us see to it that we are doing and
enjoying the things that make us truer,
purer and better, and we may be sure
that our influence will be for truth, for
purity and for goodness. NJ. W.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28
Destructive Fire at Bridgeport.
BRIpGEroRr. Ct. Feb. u

BRIpGEPpRT, Ct, cb. II.
Fire broke ont. this forenoon, i'll
CORTLAND block. fine brick structure.
containing thirteen dwellings, valued
at about $1,000 each. which was entire
~ destroyed. The fire was first dis
covered in the third story of No. 1.
where defective tiue had allowed the
flames to communicate to the wood
work of Il cupboard. From the cup
board in No. / the flames quickly spread.
bursting through the ceiling into the
space beneath the roof. Here the brick
walls. which separated each house up
to the top of the third story. terminated
and nothing hut lath and plaster re-
manned to prevent the flames from
spreading right and left. In fifteen
minutes the space between the upper
ceiling and the roof was all in Il blaze,
whence it worked quickly downward
through the entire length, so that in an
hour and a-half from the breaking out
the whole block WAS i'll blaze. The
occupants removed what they could of
their furniture to Christ Church. oppo-
site. which was thrown open for its re-
ceptiom. and much was thus saved.
Had the brick walls been carried up
through the roof. it is morally certain
that the flames would have been con-
fined inside of No. / and. on the other
hand. had there been even Il decent
supply of water, the fire would have
been drowned out ut the start. As IL
WAS. the city hydrants failed to respond
to the drafts of the engines. and sickly
streams. scarce reaching to the second
story windows, were the best available
eextinguishers. The loss the houses,
with valuable furniture, is heavy. Par
tally insured.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28

Notice is given for special meeting
& Passumpsic Rivers Railroad to be
holden at White River Junction on the
18th day of March next, ''tO provide
means for funding and merging the ex-
listing Indebtedness of said corporation,
and securing the same by Mortgage of
its Railway or otherwise" This means,
probably, the issue of bonds to cover
the outstanding obligations, aside from
the present amount of the bonded debt.
These obligations have arisen from aid
granted the Clyde river road, and that
growing ont of the extension into Can
ada, AS we suppose.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28

" There have been large number
of witnesses before investigating com
mittees i'll Washington, and our curios-
ity has been awakened as To the way
they have passed the ordeal On the
whole, Oakes Ames, to our mind. is the
garlaned one of the whole number. He
has been cool, almost to stupidity, to
the end. And we have come to the
conclusion that he knows ii thing or
two, and more too. Others. Patterson
Brooks, Nc, appear to have been
quick torgettcrs, lis the boy said he
WIS when under parental investigation :;
vet their memories seemed to have been
gradually refreshed when some ugly
point was developed against them.
some of them did well though under
the pressure of circumstances, and con-
fessed, like school boys, when they
couldn't help it. That too was we'll.
For why should not member of Con-
gress confess his sins, like the rest of us
poor outside sinners We see no valid
reason why he should not, though he
ought surely, for examples sake, keep
out of sinful things. Shining in high
places is certainly big SHINING, and is de
serving of severest chastisement.
But, to come back to the idea we had
III mind. These members of Congress
-arraigned as culprits not come
up to the level of Congressional smart
ness, else we in Vermont have men
well qualified for a seat there, and all
the while unconscious of the fact too.
None of these men have displayed "a
moiety of the skill one Hatch did while
before committee of the Vermont leg
iSlature last October. Summoned as a
witness to tell what he knew of cor
rupting former legislature with money
of ii certain railroad, of which he has
been standing, or rather. Il running
agent, for time without mind, and when
Il receipt was put into his face. where
he had expended $1,000 to prevent adj
verse legislation, he made it appear t.
the COMMITTEES, and the assembled wis.
dom of the state likewise, that thi.
money was used for purely legitimate
purposes-to vito indemnify half :;
dozen lawyers, i'll remote counties, foI
= services i'll hunting lost baggage of tn,
Central railroad. If Washington cal
beat this it has Yet to be done. 1t ha.
t not been done Yet.
t The Lake district need not hunt lonl
i for candidate for Congress, when Mr.
der no such brilliant services. 1t woul,
e be the reverse of his habits, nature all,
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28

- The agricultural college till as
amended in the House. contains certain
features differing from Mr.. Morrilrs
bill. which had passed the Senate. but
such rs met the approval of the friends
of the Senate bill. The main provisions
of the House bill are as follows:
One-h half of the proceeds of the pub
lie lands are to be distributed among
the different states i'll shares equal To
the number of states. Colleges must
hc established i'll states where they are
not already i'll operation within five
years from the passage of the act.
The Secretary of the Treasury shall
invest i'll five per cent. United States
bonds (Which are to be held 10y the
Government and the interest only paid
over To the states for the collegcs). one
fourth of the proceeds of the sale of
public lands. expenses deducted, to ex-
ecute the purposes of this act. The to-
tai appropriation to any state i'll Il SIN
gle year shall not exceed fifty thousand
dollars. For every five hundred dol
lars additional income supplied by this
act there shall Toe one free scholarship.
and when the annual income shall he
fifty thousand dollars from this source,
tuition shall he entirely free.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28
Tuesday IN the House.

The report of the Mobilier committee.
came up for action i'll the House, on
Tuesday. Judge Poland opened the
debate We give his speech as it comes
to us-a Geographic rcport-covering.
doubtless, the main points of his argu-
ment. He WAS to close the discussion
on Wednesday.
Cakes AmeS defence was read by the
Clerk. 1t is an able one. Mr. Farms
worth and Mr.. Blair defended the ac-
cused. Mr.. Merrick and Mr.. Haw ley sus-
tanned the recommendations of the re-
port Eldridge, Cox, Richie, Conger
and others participated, some for and
some against the accused. Others were
10 follow the next day. The issue, cam
not be certainly guessed, but the opin-
ion is expressed that the report of the
committee may not he accepted in its
original FORM We trust strict Justice
NAV be done to all parties involved.
Mr.. Brooks is III feeble health, but was
severely handled by some of the speak
ers. Cakes Ames receives the castiga-
tons inflicted upon him as coolly as IA
rhinoseros would strokes from riding
whip, in the hand of child.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28

FIREs.-Several fires, with heavy
losses, occurred the latter part of last
week. The catalogue for the winter has
been a long one. Slice the weather
had become milder we had been looking
for greater immunity in this respect.
The losses have been less for three or
four weeks, yet fires still obtain the
mastery quite often. People have rea-
son to be careful, and such of us as re-
side in our vicinity have occasion of
thankfulness that we have escaped ca
lamities that have befallen so many
during the last six months. We pub
lish accounts of several large tires-but
omit several. Last Saturday there was
a fire of considerable magnitude at New
Bedford, Mass.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28
Personal.

DR.. William H. Rockwell, Jr., will
remain i'll charge of the business affairs
of the Vermont Insane Asylum.
Rev. John Gregory has been employ
ed to preach one-half the time to the
Universalist Society at West Burke.
Rev. l.. II. Stone, of Castleton, for
two Years past agent of the State Tenn
perance Society, is to continue in the
temperance work, us an Independent
lecturer, mostly in Vermont.
Lieut.. 6. W. Sheldon of johnson, of
the fourth regular artillery, has been
dismissed from the service, for frauds
on the enlisted men and government.
Two more tourists, this time Bel
gian and Swiss, have gone down to
the bottom of the crater of Nesuvius.
AS in the case of the Englisman and
American who met the same fate, last
September, the guides warned them
against attempting to 90 into the crater,
but they went, and will never come
back. This is the third accident of the
kind within 10 years.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28

education. But the district has one
'.made to order'-at least, till the Au-
gean stable is cleansed.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28

g The /. :. Senate has adopted
all laws allowing free transportation of
mail matter. including the free circula-
ton of county papers. We hope il i
not true, that because some of the press
instigatcd perhaps 10y the sickly Cincin-
matt furry. called for IL repeal of the
Thanking privilege allowed members of
punish them. We admit il was foolish
to call for an entire repeal of the frank
ing privilege, though its abuses needed
correction. cnuiiming its use to the ac
tual business of the members of Con
gresS. and 81 cutting of the
Thanking of letters for their TWEEN
ticth cousins and their friends.
Many of the constituents of members
of Congress have occasion To tax their
time, and that is enough, without pay
ment of postage. Certain public docu-
mentS are of great Use to the people.
There may he too many of these print
ed, hut Congress can regula t. that mat
ter. Toprohibit their circulation seems
to partake of the nature of circum>crib-
ing the circulation of intelligence among
the people. and the putting up of bars
between C0ngTcssmen and their consti-
trIents, when there should he open and
free channels of communication. No
doubt the abuses that have grown up in
the Use of the ranking privilege need
grcss should step in and make all
things right, and this is all that the SO
her Judgment of the country demands,
OF we mistake i'll our Judgment of the
disposition of the people. 1t is simply
Il sham to pretend that the mails are
to he transported much, if any cheaper.
| That work is done by contract. only
the bulky part 10y railroads. and wheth-
er the amount Is one OF two peckS it
matters little with them The F. VI.
General, 10y his acts, more than admits
this, though at first he suggested addi-
tional revenue or the decrease of expen
SEES.
Reforms do not mean destruction,
hut the cutting off of evils and the re-
tention of the useful and the good. Its
Il blind frenzy that fails to discern this
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28

p DIR. Lord, of Montpelier, made
speech, last week, ut the temperance
meeting in that place. These meetings
are holden weekly and are largely at
tended. DIR. Lord, among other things.
said love was one of the weapons to be
used i'll the suppression of intemper-
ance. We agree with the DIR. in this
sentiment. The tempted are to he APP
preached in spirit of tender regard,
and kindly invited to drop the cup for
ever. 1t is to be done, not only once,
but so long us there is hope. AS to the
dealers in liquors, they too, for the love
they ought to bear every human being,
should be persuaded to cease tempting
weak and pitiful lovers of that which
brings so much of ruin upon themselves,
their friends, and families, if they have
such. The old man in the spelling
book-the picture, so well remembered
by the occupants of school houses 40
Years agO-threw grass at the unruly
boy-but when that failed, he threw
stones. If love will not induce dealers
i'll strong drink to cease doing evil, and
learn to do well-if they are so hard
ened us to resist the appeals of love
then the state has provided stones, as
reminders of the wrongs they persist in
doing to their brothers of the human
family. Can there he such. with no
pity in their souls They ought to he
scarce in this age of advancing civiliza-
ton
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28

~ The Legislature of Massachusetts,
beer from the temperance law of the
state Beer was conditionally excepted,
hut now it cannot he legally sold con-
ditionally OF otherwise. Members of
the legislature who had voted for the
conditional sale asserted that the prac-
teal result of the sale of beer was so
bad, that they now felt compelled to
vote foi its prohibition.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28

FIRE AT CHICAGO. Feb.
% Leech & WoolmaI's distillery at
the Union Stock Yards which took fire
last night. was completely destroyed.
together with all the machinery and
about 300 barrels of high wines. Loss.
about S50.0O0. y number of buildings
near the distillery. including Il ware
house, boarding house. and several
small frame structures were also burned.
involving loss of 100000. Some r.
600 head of Texas cattle were in Il shed
near the distillery. The roofs of the
sheds took fire, and it was found neccs-
sary to let the cattle ont, and doubtless
many will never be recovered.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28

CONNECTICUT DEMOCRATIC STATE
Observation-Disclosures, Conn, Feb.
10. The Democratic State Convention
to-day, nominated the following state
ticket: Governor, Chas. r. Ingersoll of
New Haven Lieutenant Governor Geo.
q. Sill, of Hartford Secretary of State,
Marvin ii. Sanger, of Canterbury {;
Treasurer, VIM. f. Raymond, of New
Canaan Comptroller, \. Goodrich, of
Vernon.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28
From Washington.

The final action of the House of Rep
resentatives, upon the report OF the
Credit Mobilier affair, will not, prOba-
bly,, be fully reached before the last of
the week, if at that time. The ques-
ton of the expulsion of Messrs. Ames
and Brooks is likely to prove as IA fire
brand, cast into a quantity of combus-
tible material, and the result cannot
well he anticipated. The public think
these two gentlemen are not the only
ones in Congress whose garments smell
of selfishness, Yet the committee were
not empowered to investigate the con-
duct of all the members of Congress,
and wisely limited their action accord
ing to the authority conferred upon
them. The animus of the report is the
publication of Congressional life, and
perhaps the committee, when they re-
ported the resolutions of expulsion an
ticipated that they might not be adopted
without modification. If this is done,
and the nature of the final action of the
House should be such lis to declare its
reprobatiou of the acts alleged to be
true. and all acts of a like character,
quite likely the purposes of the com
mittee will he answered, and the inveS-
tigation result in great good, in IA more
prudent regard for that which is pure
and right i'll the future actions of mem
beers of Congress. If this can he done,
and healthful watchtulness he hereaf-
ter exercised the labor of the Credit
Mobilicr committee will not he in vain.
1t is apparent that the House is greatly
divided i'll opinion, and no one can now
discern the end. \ press dispatch from
Washington, of Feb. "a. reports:
NO members of the House believe
that the resolutions by the Poland Com
mittee recommending the expulsion of
AmeS and Brooks can secure even :;
majority of the House, much less the
two-thirdS vote required 10y the Consti-
tuition.
Some members of both political par
ties express the opinion that instead Il
general resolution of ceuSllre will he
passed affecting all the members of the
House concerned in Credit Mohilicr op-
eratlons. At least twenty gentlemen
are prepared to speak on the subject.
and everybody anticipates exciting pro-
ceedings next Tuesday"
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28

The people of Illinois are waging ii
war with the Illinois Central Railroad.
the question being: shall the State
law be enforced ?" The Legislature at
recent session passed law forbid
ding railroads to collect more than
three cents a mile for fares. The Cen
trail continued to enforce the old RATES.
and the people have taken to ridin.r
free as the conductors will not take the
offered three cents Il mile and dare not
put them off the trains.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28

\ DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN OHIO.-A
great contiagration occurred at st.
Petersburg, Ohio, Feb. 81. The main
part of the town was consumed. The
fire commenced at $3.50 p. M, and driven
by a high wind, spread with great
rapidity. The opera house, Adams
hotel, the Emberton Pipe Company's
office, the postoffice, savings bank, St.
Petersburgh hotel, Occidental hotel,
the Western Union telegraph office,
hardware and clothing stores. were
among the buildings burned.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28

~ 1t WAS too much trouble to arrest
"Banquo's ghost" misspelled, SO that we
took the risk of any revengeful appear
ance of the insulted spirit, in our night
uncorrected, as printers of newspapers
are often obliged to do.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28

Free banking and specie payment
projects before Congress are dead for
this session.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-28

"BEAUTIFUL SNOW" i'll poetry,-a
new illustrated edition. published by
+. b. Peterson 4 Brothers. BOG Chest
nut St. Philadelphia. See their adver-
tisemcnt. With us. just now, i'll the
midst of the biggest SNOW storm fol
wears, "Beautiiul Snow" is certainly
not very poetic, but next August. it
may be. we may sigh for it. and richly
appreciate this beautiful volume.
The House Agricultural College
Bill before the L. :. Senate was. on
Tuesday. referred to committee OF
conference. together with the bill fol
regulating the disorders i'll Louisiana.
r. GOV. Dix of New York. refuses
to interfere with the sentence for the
hanging of Foster. the car hook mu
derer. and he will he executed March :
LATEST News ITEMS ColfaN's stolen
bonds have been found ut Baltimore -
or most of them.
The testimony before the Pomeroy in
vestigating committee. seems to amount
to complete discontinue of the Sen
ator'S enemies.
The President sent II message To Con
gresS Tuesday, calling for legislation To
settle difficulties in Louisiana
Buffers measure for the Increase al
salaries will he strangled 10y the Senate
we reckon.