Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-02-04

ELEVENTH ANNUAL ENCAAPMENT OF THE y LR
MONT DEPARTMENT.

ELEVENTH ANNUAL ENCAAPMENT or The y AR-
MONT DEPARTMENT.
The eleventh annual encampmcnt Of the
Vermont Department, g. A r., was held
at Grand Army Hall. Montpelier, on Thurs
day, January 9th, Gen. Stephen Thomas,
presiding. There was very fair attend
snce about two-third9 OF the Posts being
represented. Post Stannard, of this city,
was represented by Commander 4. c. Wat
son, Gen G. j S.annard. Warren Gibbs
and George IL. Bigelow.
In tao course Of the iorenOon's proceed
ings, ten. Thomas delivered a brief but
patriotic and eloquent address. which was
well received. The annual per capita tax
was fixed at last years rates-ffty cents.
The following officers were elected for the
year ensuing.
Commander-Theodore ). Peck, Burling-
ton.
Senior Vice, Commander-Eli Wales.
Brsttle6orO.
Junior Vice-Commaade7-C D. Williams,
Mortified
Chaplain-Rcy y. n Glazisr, Mont
pelier.
Medical Director Charles P. Theyer,
Burlington.
Council OF Administrations. H. Gould
Ing, Rutland; Willard Holden, Arlington /,
&. Cannon, Jr., BrattlebOro; l.. d. Savage,
Naltsfield p. 2. Ripley, West Randolph.
Delegates to National Encampment-kit-
fridge Haskins, Brattleboro; Warren Gibbs,
Burlington.
AhrAates-Fred E. Smith, Montpelier
Levi q. Kingsley, Rutland.
The new Commander, Col T. s. Peck. in
a brief speech of thanks ,modestly and suits
bly, acknowledged the honor conferred upon
MIA, and promised to devote his best ener-
gies to advance the interests Of the order
Resolutions of thanks were passed to the
retiring Commander. Gen. Thomas the
Central Vermont Railroad and Post Brooks.
after which the meeting adjourned
In the evening, Post Brooks held camp
fire, and supper was given at the Central
House by Gen. Thomas to the veterans
present.
The NORTHAMPTON BANK RoBBEaY.-Tne
fuller accounts of the bank burglary at
Northampton, Mass, say that about
midnight. Wednesday night, seven men,
disguised, entered the house Of John Whit
tlesey. cashier of the Northampton Nation
al Bank, and speedily took possession of it,
Mr.. Whittlesey was awakened by the grasp
OF e mans hand upon his throat, and his
wife. lying by his side, was aroused BY the
hands OF another man at her throat. Their
hands were quickly handcuffed, but they
,-aNf RI 81
told no harm would come to them. Mr..
Whittlesey was taken to a lower room. and
one of the gang held pistol to his head
and another standing by with pencil and
piece of paper. they demanded his keys
and proceeded to question him as 10 the
combination of the locks of the vault doors
Here their GOODNESS and skill were
displayed in an extraordinary. degree.
Mr.. WhIttlesey was told to answer correct
ly, and as rapidly as possible, the numbers
of the combination on the outer vault door
and the inner vault door, and Of the locks
on the inner safes in the vault. lie an
swered, but gave false combinations in each |
case No sooner had he gone through the |
the list than the man who had taken down |
the numbers ordered him to repeat them. |
This, of course, he was unable to do, and it |
thus being evident that he had falsifed he |
va tH0n V'4,See !" She 'nS tuc com-
binatlons, being prompted TO haste |
and accuracy by evident DISPOSE |
ton to choke MIN on the part of |
the burglar who had the pistol. Although |
forced to give the true combination of the |
lock, Mr.. Whittiesey assured the burglars
that 1t would be of little use TO them. as he
had but one of the four keys necessary to
move tho combination of the outer vault
door. After getting the information they
desired from Mr.. Whitllesey, they gagged |
him as they had previously gagged and
bound the other members Of the household,
his wife. servant girl and visitor. Miss
Matte Z. White, OF Williamsport, Pa, as
well as three persons in the other part of
the house-T. b. Cutler. bis wife and
Maria Benton. an invalid bosrder, making
seven persons in all. Waiting till o'clock,
the time at which the two or three watch
men northampton possesses, including one
whose special duty Is 10 look after the
safety OF the banks, were accustomed 10 20
home, five burglars proceeded to the bank,
which they found no difficulty in entering.
W hen the last burglars, they who were left
On guard finally lett Mr.. Whittlesey's house,
about O'Clock. they left all the inmates
gagged and bound; but MIR. Whittlesey and
Miss White soon succeeded in getting rid
OF their gags, and by their calls attracted
passers by, who came in and released them.
While waiting at the house the robbers took
the preesution to take Mr.. Whittlesey's
gold watch, worth $3.50. and also what
money they could fnd-no very large sum.
One of the men wore for q mask half leg
Of pair Of mems drawers, With holes cut
in it for the eyes, and left this behind in his
haste to depart,