Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-21


The order of the playing and the record
was as follows:
Murdoch No. ], winehendon, MAST, %
Bs ss'si T9ef Ne. T. h g. R Mass. g
star No. !, Orange, 1" 20
Eagle No. l, Greenfield, " 10
Monoosnock No. 2, Leominster, q
The prizes were-lst, $500; ~, SIS; 80.
S25. From the list it will he seen that the
Fountain carried OFF the first prize, al.
though the contest between her and the
Cataract Of 50. Gardner, Mass, was very
close, their plays varying by only II in.
The day was fine one for the muster there
being no wind and no accident Of any
kind happened TO the Braitloboro boys, ex-.
cept that Lumau CLARK, clerk Of the West
ern, had iuger caught in the hose reel.
while retling hose, aud badly hurt. Both
companies reached Brattleboro by the reg.
ular train at 1880 T. NJ. They were met at
the station by delegations from the differ
ent fire companies, and, headed by the
Fuller drum corps. were escorted TO the
house Of Phoenix No. O, where they were
served with a collation. furnished by that
company.
The excellent record which The Fountain
company has made for herself deserves
special mention, this being the fourth first
prize which the machine has aiken during
the past len years, viz. In 1867, at Rut-
land, she played 179 feet and took the first
prize of $500; in 1871, at Greenfield, Mass.
she played 2l2 n. I in. and took the first
prize OF $3.50 in 1875 at No. Adams. Mass.
she played 20s II. iu. and took the first
prize Of $500; and this year at Athol, Mass.
her record is 200 n. 3! in. and first prize of
$500. The only muster which the compa-
ny has attended during this time, at which
they failed 10 take a prize, was at Orange,
Mass, in 1872, where they played perpeu-
dicular stream Of ITO feet.
FIRE IN W. II. ALEXANDER's BARN-AR-
REST AND COMMITMENT OF THE SUSPECT
ED INCENDIARY.
Last Friday night, few minutes be-
fore midnight, a fire was discovered in w.
ii. Alexander's barn, in the rear of his
residence on Canal street, near the school,
house. An alarm was given, and the fire
department started for the fire, but before
The arrival Of any OF the companies the
flames had been extlnguished, and the SER
vices Of the department were not needed.
1t was pretty evident that the Ire was Of
incendiary origin, and suspicion having
fallen upon John Manning, generally
known about town as "Slyfax," be was ar
rested about two o'clock in the morning at
bis iathers residence on Elliot street, by
officer Simonds, assisted by two or three
citizens, and put in the lookup. On Satur-
day afternoon his examination was held in
the town ball before Justice Newton. The
evidence as then brought out tended 10
show that Manning bad attended the fire.
mems muster at Athol on Friday, that he
came home at 1880 p. NJ. somewhat intox-
lea ted, that be was seen on Canal street
alone about half an hour before the fire
broke out, and that the story which he told
TO The officer when arrested, as 10 his
movements previous 10 tue alarm of fire
was not true. The testimony given for the
State was 10 substance as follows:
w. II. Alexander testified that upon be-
ing aroused by the alarm aud going to his
barn he found The fire burning al The foot
OF tie stairs where it had undoubtedly
originated, that 1t had also caught upon The
tassels Of some corn which was stored in
some stalls near by, and had from thence
reached 10 the hay overhead where it was
rapidly spreading. Pals and pans OF wa
ter were brought, and with these the flames
were extinguished. Mr.. Alexanders hired
man was asleep on The hay up stairs and he
thought he must have been burned had
not the fire been seasonably discovered.
As il was he could not escape by the stairs,
but was obliged 10 jump from The window.
The IRE must have been burning at least
is minutes when discovered.
A. ]. Simonds testified 10 assisting i'm
the arrest of Manning at O'Clock Satur-
day morning. Found him at home in bed.
Manning told him and those who were
with him that he went directly home from
No. engine house and went TO he'd. J. w.
Simonds's testimony was the same as this
in substance.
w. +. Baldwin saw Manning at the de-
pot soon amer the train arrived. Manning
was somewhat drunk, asked where he
could get some rum, aud said, "By-, wen
have some funT
L. Wales, Jr., saw Manning on the side
walk on Elliot street, near Waiie's build
Asked him where the fire was and he re-
piled that he didn't know.
Henry Pratt saw Manning on the steps
OF the store in Edwards building on Ell
hot street about IL o'clock. Manning asked
fora match, which be gave him. Saw that
he had been drinking, aud, feeling a
little suspicious of him, watched him 60
toward home. Mr.. Pratt then went home
but had not undressed when the alarm was
given at ll:45. He started at once and ran
down to Elliot street, where he saw Man
ming, dressed as he had left him, going to-
ward Main street.
j. L. Ray testified TO having met Man
ming going ont Flat street, soon amer The
train came in.
Fred Root aud David l.. Duwner, when
going home, toward Canal street, about
half.past IL, met Manning coming from
that direction, on or near The bridge. He
asked for a match TO light a cigar.
Geo. Closer testified 10 meeting Man
ming on Canal street, near Lockhart Bar
Teit's house.
Mason Lamb testified that when he was
going home at ll:l5 be met a man whom lie
believed 10 he Manning in the middle OF
Canal street, as be was crossing the street
TO his house near Mr.. Alexander's. He
could not swear TO his identity at that time
of night, but felt sure from the shape and
form of the man that 1t was Manning, and
was so much impressed with The thought
that, before going 10 bed, he went and
looked about his premises and toward Mr..
Alexandel's.