The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-08-27
BRATTLEDoRo', Aug. 81, 1874.

the Connecticut river and the railroad, af-
| fording more extensive and mora varied
| views than are obtainable from the cars.
Although the road Is in the Connecticut
vail. ", yet it is by no means level, as the
numerous streams flowing into the "long
river create deep ravines or "runs," in and
| out Of which we ride.
] Entering the village of Westminster East
1--WE pass over tIs very spot upon which the
court house stood Il hundred years ago,
and which was the scene of the historical
event known as the WESTMINSTER mas
sacre." In the cemetery on the right stands
n fine granite shaft erected last year by the
State to commemorate the event and the
death of the two victims, French and Hough-
ton. One side of the shaft bears this in
scription:
an memory OF William French, son to Mr..
| Nathaniel French, who was shot at Westmin-
ster, March We 18Th, lI75, by The hands OF cruel
| ministerial tools Of George we Sd, In the Cort-
| house at II O'Clock at night In the 22d year OF
his age"
Below this are several lines commencing:
"Here William French his body les"
The history of this affair briefly told is
this Cumberland county was almost equal
| ly divided into wings and tories. Party
spirit ran high. The tories held the civil
offices. The court was about to sit. The
wings seized the court house the night be-
fore. Armed men collected on both sides.
Judge Chandler agreed to hear the alleged
grievances of the wings on the morrow and
consented to their holding the court house
during the night. The sheriff and his posse
stopped at the Royal Inn and becoming in
famed by their deep potations, resolved
to take possession Of the court house by
moonlight. The wing guards refused to
give up the building. After short scuf
file the sheriff ordered his men to fire, and
ten were wounded, two of them fatally.
The old meeting house which saw this
trouble is still standing, but no longer used
for sacred purposes.
From the highest points along the road
through Putney and Dummerston pctur-
esque views are seen of the river and the
broad rich intervales adjacent. Many OF
the farm houses and buildings on this road,
are unusually large, well painted and in
perfect repair. These are occupied by to-
bacco growers. In former years great
profits accrued from the cultivation of the
noxous weed, but the price has deprecated
so much during the last two years, only a
few fields are now seen. Fields of the
more nutritious and equally beautiful corn
have taken its place.
East BrattlebLro', or east village as it is
generally called ny the townspeoplc, is an
exceedingly smart, enterprsing place, full
of business and city ideas. Crosby Block
together with the Brooks House adjacent
both on the same side of Main street, is il
size and elegance OF structure such as few
towns OF twice the population of this op'
"a" -, & ""d nresents q striking con
trast to the poor wooden buildings opposite
formerly owned by James Fisk. Jr Fsl
was once asked by public spirited citizei
to build a good respectable block in pac,
OF these shabby houses lie replied char
acteristically: eff you Brattleboro' peopl,
are not smart enough to burn these down
shall let them remain. Burn them and
will build " Talking the other day with !
resident who years ago played with Jim,
and who knew him intimately, Learned
that the boy, the youth, and the young ped
der exhibited the same characteristic
which distinguished the railroad and steam
boat SPECTATOR. Many of these traits h,
inherited from his father. Fisk's mpnu
ment stands i'll the southern part of TIN
cemetery. Judging by the extent to whicl
the grass is worn away, it is very frequent
" visited. One of the two women we me
at the grave gazed in the most reverentiA
manner upon the beautiful work of art, an
$ finally exclaimed, as the tears rolle
N down her weather stained cheeks
d What pity them spots have got on he
nose !" referring to the imperfectons of tn
! marble in one of the four female figure
d which adorn the four corners ofthe pedestal
&c These figures, representing respectvel
- music, the railroad, commerce and tn
IS steamboat, are the chief ornaments an
e reflect great credit upon the sculptor, Lark
o G Mead, native of the town. The onl
! criticism l venture to make is in reference
;t,ri tI,n
'r faces and attitudes of the figures. Whe
"a Mead was a mere lad he modelled the las
night ofthe year a statue of snow at tn
head of Main street. and when the peopl
went forth to their labor the next mornin
they behell the "recoiding angel, with pc
and tablet in hand, in the act of recordin
the events of their lives. This brougl
No him into notice and led to patronage. ii
n. executed for the state several years ago
y full length statue OF Ethan Allen. Hi
Il name is more or less familiar to the pub
ii lie. From the cemetery grounds beautifu
$, views are obtained of the river, Wat st
l 70 quet Mountain opposite, in New Hampshire
Or and various parts of the town.
In the northern part of this village is si
T. uated Vermont Asylum for the insane, III
. der the charge of DR. Draper. The build
ings are of brick, and will accommodate
OUU ptilcltss HS SiOulus are uiuplc All
= finely laid out. The institution owns &C
acres of lanl. Some OF the patients are PEE
mitted to work in the vegetable and flowt
gardens, and often to cross the river to C,
wood on "Rattlesnake Ridge" Sometim,
one escapes during these trips. Visito
are received every afternoon from 2 to
NJ Half an hour may be spent very profitab
~ in passing through the wards with Mr. 3
Pounds to act as guide ana protector III
professional men are by themselves in OIL
ward, and generally reading. Eigh
books on the average are taken out ea(
week by the different inmates. Most oftl
Y. men, 1--WE did not see the women, who o
cupy the east wing,) had gray hair, we
over forty years of age and were sitting
little tables, amusing themselves in gam
of cards, checkers, dominoes and ches
The guide pointed out the champion che
player of the state, an old, bald-head
man, wearing heavy iron-bowed spectacle
Z. The incurables are by themselves in a Sc
arate building, and never shown to the vi,
tor without special permission.
West Brattleboro, or West Village Ii
two miles west of the Connecticut. 1t is
charming country village, and the seat
Glenwood Academy. 1t is connected wi
the main village by beautiful avenu
lined with fine residences, Brattleboro' AGA
( envy, also situated in the West Villag
. opens on the 26th inst, under the continu
av charge OF V Lang, A. c., principal, assist
~ by an efficient corps OF teachers The PROF
l.. Use Of large school this fall is certain.
: One of the many delightful rides in Il
in vicinity is up the West river valley
NJ. 10 Townsend over one of the very best sta
~ roads to be found in New England. I
}. permanent survey of the West River IA
= road 10 connect this place with Jamai
Ills is still progressing, and there Is no SIN
n Ime prospect that the road VIII be speed
es. Dullt. III VIII pe ""''o" s""eN, $50 ~
BILE up to the market some nne lumber la
The and large granite quarry.
r. cuiat conte mplation and study.