St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-08-22
Editorial Notes.

We have to record this week another
sckcning railroad horror. The CON
duCtor and engineer of Il freight train
run upon the time of an express train.
instead of waiting at the station behind
them. the trains met Oh Il curve with Il
terrific shock. killing thirteen pa>>cn
gers. and manning several others. some
of whom will die. 1t WAS i'll the mid
die of the night. and the poor scaldcd
and manglcd victims had to endure
their agony for hours before surgeons
cry, and calls for the scvercSt penalty
upon the reckless perpetrators.
Professor Wise is completing his AZ
Engagements for his balloon voyage
across the ocean. The Gr0phjc news
paper. which stands as godfather To
the enterprise, announces that the
start will he made sometime between
the first and tenth of superintendent
III August, us heretofore published.
The hour of departure will probably I've
sunset, and previous To the initiating OF
the balloon, favorable progmo>tication>
must Ice received from the signal SER
vice at Washington. Prof. Wise and
Prof. Donaldson are the only tV" who
are known to hc engaged for this cNcur-
sion. although it is expected that Sev-
eral others will accompany them. \
large boat will he suspended hrnratll
the ear. to he used in ease the balloon
will not float. from leakage of ga~ uI
any other cauSc. Besides this. Il paper
litc-bOat will hc taken, So constructed
structihle. This paper boat is said To
be superior to the little boat Rob Roy.
which successfully crossed the ocean Il
few Years ago. The carrier pigeons
which are to Ice taken along. are al
ready i'll training. and they are expect
ed to HE them To the Graphic office
with all haste as soon as let out from
the balloon. 1t looks now as though
the next three weeks would demon
strate the ability of man to cross the
ocean i'll a balloon-or the reverse.
The preparations of Mr.. Wise for his
ocean voyage has perhaps aroused the
jealousy of other acronauts. At amy
rate. Professor King. a somewhat cclc-
hrated hallooniSt. is making prcpaIa-
lions for an extensive land voyage. IS
he claims, to test this upper current"
business. He Is building an immense
balloon at Buffalo. y. Y. the dimcn-
sions of which are - feet high. and l76
feet in circumference. The time for the
ascent is set for the first of September.
and he will take some five OF six pas
sengcrs, some of them scientists, as the
trip is made wholly in the interest of
science. If King should go before Wise
he may he able to give some light on
this matter of a westerly current.
Heavy clouds hung over this section
on Thursday and Friday, but gave no
states. One of the >rvcrr>t storms ever
known prevailed over large tract of
country, extending from Baltimore and
Washington on the south to ClrN cland
on the month. and New York on the
east. y great amount OF water fell and
the gale was quite serious iii its results.
Our readers may remember that one
Jim Fisk waS murdered 10y Edward
Strkcs at hotel in New York in Jan
ualy, le72. They may ais" rccollcct
that stokes has had two trials. in the
first the jury NOT agreeing, and on the
second trial convicting him. From the
time of the shooting until his C0nvic-
tlon-just one Near-thc waitcr-huNs of
the hotel, who happened to witness the
atiray. were kept i'll confinement. to he
used as witnesses. AilcI stokes con
victiOn they were released. Now that
the Judge has granted the murderer Il
new trial, these witnesses mc shut up
again. as they cannot get the heavy
bail required. Is there not something
radically wrong III judicial system
which Furnishes witnesses with implis-
onment, and for no oi1cnsc What
kind of justice will it he if, as every body
expects, on the next trial stokes l. ac-
quilted, while the unotiending witness
es OF his crime suffer a year and a-halt"s