The Newtown bee., 1877-11-08
x1coLLKcrions OF OLD NEwrowN.
Taunton Lake.

Taunton Lake.
 Fifty years ago or thereabouls, Taun, Son pond was the great fishing ground for the NewtovR people, as well as for shose living in the Taunton district. It wac we'll stocked with pickerel and perch black bass nothaving been placed in it at that period. At the lower end, n good sand beach (more easy of access then than now) afforded excellent fscili- ties for bathing. and thther during the Summer months parties would resort for a cool swim In its clear waters. The writer we'll remembers wheu lad being permitted to join one of these par ties which was made up mainly in "the street" for days fishing, it consisted of Colonel Tim Shepard, Judge Chapman, Lawyer Shelton, John Johnson, Eli Hard, and others whose names l have forgotten. A couple of boats were pro- cured and in the course of the forenoon A sufficient number of fish were caught to supply (with the addition of some pork and other articles that we brought with us) an excellent meal, which we cook and eat, in shady grove on the western shore of the lake
 After the repast WIS over, some of the party felt an exposition of sleep come upon them and spread themselves -on the grass for quiet nap, but the Colonel (a perfect Fa!slaff in bulk) re solved upon taking s swim, and com nienced to divest himself of his wearing apparel, preparatory to making a plunge This consisted of coat of large dimen- ssions, A waistcOat which would have spanned flour r-bxrrel, knee breaches and white cotton stockings, the latter cover inx Il calf which it would have been su- .somely that style of dress then making for lhe water's edge, he boldly plunged in.
 "Oid Ocean shook and back his surge flew"
 It WAS not unlike the sudden launch ing of . heavy scow, raising ground swell that broke in angry waves upon she rocks which ju,ted out from the shore
 Being an excellent swimmer, he struck out boldly for the deepest water, while such of his companions as were not en- toying the " honey-dew of slumber :" watched his antics and evolulions, as he disported himself like some marine mon- ster, until, at length, who should appear. in close pursuit of him (having stripped himself unseen in woody cove near by) but Crazy Tnmlinson'--an individual who appeared periodically in town when fits of lunacy came upon him. He was fully six feet in height, but as gaunt as "Old Time in the primer,' dangerous companion in five fathoms of water; so 1he Colonel thought for, the moment that he caught sight of him, his impulse wss to gain tue shore by the nearest route, but here he was foied for, |" Ora zy" would endeavor to intercept him Ca task rendeIed quite easy. through his su- perior length of limb; then the Colonel would haul off and make 6 stretch on another tack (as the sailors say), which man0uvie. after repeated efforts, finally succeeded, when his reused companions, who were roaring with laughter, gave three cheers for his narrow but lucky escape.
 He will be remembered as s lawyer of .ssme ability, but as too indolent to |" la. b0r in his vocation" He lived and died in the house now owned and occupied by Mir. Booth Terrill. who must remem- Der him we'll He was elected colonel, it is said. entirely for his fine personal ap- psaranee, and not for his courage--a quality which he knew he did not pos ssss; for he did not hesitate. at all times, to acknowledge. if the British forces had actually commenced an attack upon New London while he Was there with his troops acting in it's defense, that he would have tainted away on hie horse from sheer fright. or that he would have spurred him away beyond the reach of danger
 Happily for the Colonel, the British Commodore (Hardy) did not put his shreats in execution, and he was en- Abled to return from hls brief campaign to Nswtown in safety, if not exactly wreathed with iaurels, at least with no imputation of lack of courage, or even . scratch upon his portly and really handsone person, He was. upon the whole, . man of mark in his day and and generation; but, as 1 have endeav .ored to show, he did not intend to ex. pose himself needIessly as tarse for British bullets for. as remember him, he would have made conspicuous enc indeed.
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