Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-07-14


there was an address by Stephen \. Walker,
OF New York city, reading OF the Dec!ara-
ton. procession, toa-t- and responses, and
al original poem by Mrs. Eliza \. Dana, OF
Brandon The proceedings OF the day were
marred BY fatal accident. Daring lthe
exercises, 81 man named Asa Berry, OF
Chittenden, was shot and instantly killed
while firing cannon. Just before the
Grafton, salute was called ior'
One gun was fired, and Berry, who was
loading, put in the second cartridge with
out swabbing cut his gun. The cartridge
exploded when about half way down, blow
ing Berry into a stump fence some rods dis
tant, killing and horribly hanging him.
HIS right arm was blown Of just below the
elbow, the hand being found near the mouth
of the cannon; the face was blown of, the
right shoulder was badly torn, and also the
chest and side Iii, clothing, with the ex-
oepti0n Of his boots. was blown entirely oil,
and the watch in his pocket was blown to
pieces so thoroughly that nothing but the
cases have been found. Berry was single
man. about thrty-fgc. having no relatives
but married sister, no was on the ground.
He served in the war, belonging to company
A. Second New YORK Veteran Cavalry. 1t
is SAID that be had been drinking at the time
OF the accident
AT POULTNEY.
the day was celebrated By procession,
and public exercises OF which, the following
i the programme Reading of the decara-
tion Of Independence by Rev NJ. f. Cady;
historical address hy Joseph Joslin, Esq;
Grafton by Rev. John Goadby, d. D.: poem
bv Prof. Walter C. Howard. principal elect
Of the State Normal School at Castleton
toasts ard responses. These exercises were
interspersed by music By the Poultney
Cornet Band and singing by the choir Or
ganized for the occasion. The exercises
were to be held in grove Just north OF the
village, but ram coming on they were held
in the RAILROAD depot. The rain also inter
Tered with the evening programme, which
included display OF fireworks.
AT MIDDLETowN
the programme included an orstion from
Hon. W. {. Dunton. OF Rutland, singing
and music by the band. and short speech
by Mr.. Henry Clark, of Rutland. Then a
rain storm caused many to depart without
ceremony, leaving poem and numerous
toasts uudellyered.
AT EAST wALLI:GFORD
a union celebration Of the towns of Wal
lingford, Shrewsbury and Mt. Holly was
held Some of the contemplated outdoor
exercises were prevented by the rain, and
an adjournment was had TO the church,
where Hon. ID. F. Nicholson. Of Rutland,
delivered an address
SPRINGFIELD
celebrated with procession OF 'hOrrlbles:
baseball match, horse trot, a hurdle
race. a walking match and foot race. and
grand illumination and fireworks in the
evening. The baseball match was between
the Bolivars OF Rutland, and Alphas OF
Spring field. and wa> won by the Aiphas
score - to S 5. Iuun~ won first money IN
the hurdle race frs, money 10 the waking
match was won by " Ii. Libby the one
hundred yards run WAS won by s. Young
One sunstroke, one tip-oyer and one man
nearly los. an arm ley a pr mature discharge
of a cannon. are the casualties.
At CABOT,
the Centennial Fourth was observed by the
dedication of fine granite monument to the
| soldiers who died in the la.e war. 0rstiOns
were delivered by L. l.. Durant, OF Mont
pelier, and j. P. LamsoD, of Cabot, and the
| dedicatory services were by Post Brooks. G.
A. r., of Montpelier. Some eighteen hun
dred people were in attendance.
AT BENNINGTON,
the Centennial Fourth was not observed
/ except by the exercises of the Historical
| Society and ceremony of breaking ground
upon the site of the old Historic Gaia
mount Tavern" where it is proposed to
erect a battle monument commemorative
of August Is, III. Ii is the intention to
place this monument in position on the
approaching 10Th of August, and upon the
centennial Of the Battle of Bennington, a
weeks celebration is to take place here
Service was held in the church (which by
the way, is the first one ever organized IN
the STATED, presided over by Ex-Governor
Iiiland Hall, President of the Bennington
Historical Society. Nice-Presdent of the
New England Genealogical Society, of Bos-
ton, as follows: PRAYER. by the Rev. R. NJ.
Luther; song, God speed our Republic :"
reading Presidents Proclamation, bv the
Rev. Mr.. Slocum; and Declaration of Inde-
pendence, by Luman 5. Norton singing,
America" by choir; address by ex-Goy-
ern0r Hall; singing, Doxology; benedic-
tion by the Rev. q. G. Jones. After the
conclusion Of the service at the church, the
audience repaired TO the site of the "Cats-
mount Tavern" where amid the impressive
silence OF large conc0urse OF people. Gov
ernor Hall turned the sod" which was
immediately answered by thirteen guns for
the original thirteen states, and one for the
then independent State of Vermont The
monument is TO be Of granite. upon the
top of which will stand the bronze figure Of
| a catamount.
AT WOODSTOCK,
the Fourth was ushered in by the ring ing
of bells. firing OF cannon and the usual &C
compartment Of horns, etc. Salutes were
fired at sunrise, noon and sunset, and very
large crowd from surrounding towns Joined
in the celebration. The horribles. flood
wood military, Grafton, toasts and free din
ner comprised the other attractions. The
proceedings were interrupted several times
BY showers. The night before the town was
brilliantly illuminated, and during the day
| the residences and stores were draped with
bunting. In the evening there were to be
| fireworks and dance in tie park, but the
rain drove the dancers into the Town Hsll
and adjourned the fireworks.
tceneludsd on in,ids)