davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19

life in the healthy, yet it savored s,
much of Andersonville, that our in
valids could not swallow it. The darE
clouds have passed, and now the "silvel
lining" is smiling down upon us here
and our cup is full and bubbling ovel
with gladness.
One lady of our party on arriving
here, said it seemed like heaven-yet
she thought the "darkies" rather plenty
When we passed through Washington
the temperature was twelve degrees
below zero, and sixteen inches of snow
which gradually diminished, and dis
appeared wholly near Macon, Georgia
The frost swept over all Florida, and
the Bahamas and part of Cuba, where
frost was never known before. Many
oranges were spoiled, and many young
trees were killed.
For some hundred miles south Of
Washington the land is gently rolling
the soil of fair quality-the farms very
large, with stately old mansions, and
little huts clustered around them, with
punches of corn fodder and hay stacks
scattered around the fields. The coun-
try then becomes billy, the soil poor,
and the houses small-many not larger
than ten by fourteen feet. with only
one small window, and often not any,
and large chimneys at one end, outside.
These houses are far apart, scattered
over the fields, generally without any
outbuildings, and no fenced roads, and
usually not living thing to be seen
around them. l have never seen, any
where else, such naked, desolate, home
sick poverty as we found here. One
day we saw only four neat cattle and a
few thin pigs, and occasionally a poor
horse or mule.
Towards Atlanta the country and
buildings improve very much. For a
thousand miles south of the Potomac,
we did not see woodshed, nor sleigh,
nor sled, nor wagon, nor chaise, except
ing one top buggy in village-but at
every station numbers of horses and
mules bridled, part with saddles, and
part with blankets folded to ride upon,
hitched, or coming and going with their
riders.
Atlanta is large, fourishing, hand
some place, and the same may be said
of this place. There are also a number
of neat pretty villages along the route.
The temperature here is seventy to
eighty at noon, and thirty to sixty
nights. There are not, and probably
will not be, as many visitors to Florida
as usual this winter. Board is from
seven to thirty-five dollars per week.
Political matters are not as much
discussed here as at the North, and but
little can be learned of the facts, since
each party have a story to suit their
side. The mosquitoes gave me a sere-
made here the first night, and my first
greeting in the morning was the sharp
voice of the blue jay, and the jolly
notes of the hooking bird. have seen
no section south of Philadelphia which
offers sufficient inducement to Yer
monter to exchange his home for.
There is more enterprise and more in
telligence, more of the comforts of life,
and more wealth in Vermont than in
any section of the South that we have
passed over. The climate here in win
ter is very pleasant, but in summer
there are many drawbacks and discom-
forts. DAVID GooDALL.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19
The Independence of Vermont.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION AT WEST.
MINISTER


BELLOWS FALLS, Jan. Is. One hun.
dred years ago to-day, in the old his.
toric Court House at Westminster. Vt.
was signed the declaration of indepeu-
dence of Vermont by convention called
for that purpose and composed of dele
gates from all parts of the State.
Independence from the rule and Gov
eminent of New York and New Hamp-
shire, which had severally claimed her,
and fought over her, and by thus de-
claring, it meant free from the the rule
of both the crown and Provincial Gov
eminent, she not being Acknowledged
as one of the United States until 1871
The people of Vermont, and especial
ly Westminster, have to- night ceiebrat-
ed the anniversary of that important
event in fitting and appropriate man
ner They met in the large church but
few rods from the site of the old
Court House, in large numbers, filling
the house to overlooking. The meeting
was called to order by P. F. Barnard
and prayer was offered by Rev. DIR.
Stevens of Westminster.
A record of the proceedings of that
convention and the declaration were
read by John B. Morse, a direct de-
scendant of one of the delegates who
framed it. The Westminster Cornet
Band were in attendance during the
evening and added to the interest by
their music. Hon. Henry Clark of Rut-
land was the speaker of the occasion
and made fine address occupying an
hour in delivery.
He gave history of events which
transpired before and after this declare
ton, causing and caused by it, in an
entertaining manner. 1t was a source
OF qualification to him to know that
Vermonters residing in other states
were mindful of the recurrence of This
anniversary, and were also gathered to
commemorate the event in different
cities.
He had to-day received a telegram
from Chicago saying that there also the
Vermonters would tonight assemble at
the same hour as would also YER
monters all over the country. MANY
facts in connection with the early his.
tory OF Vermont were brought forward
by his address, which was closely lis
tened to and frequently applauded.
A letter from Governor Fairbapks's
secretary, regretting the inability of fine
Goyernor to be present; also from Hon.
Z. T. Walton, President of the Histori-
cal Society of Vermont.
Rev: DR.. Stevens brought forward the
fact that the consideration for which
the whole territory of Vermont was
added to New York by Gov. Fletcher
ID l769 was the annual payment of one
raccoon skin, contrasting it's present
value to that.
Mr.: Stafford of Westminster gave the
location of all the houses in Westmin-
'ter IOO years ago and their occupants.
A large amount of research has been
required to do this correctly. A num-
Der OF other speakers made short adj
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19

~ Nothing like the present winter is
remembered in the "Sunny Southn by
the coolest inhabitant." When the
mercury gets much below the freezing
point, the average Southerner thinks
it has gone low enough /; but during the
past fortnight the thermometer has re-
corded several degrees below zero, not
only in Tennessee but even in Georgia.
At the same time there has been the
heaviest fall of snow on record, foot
and half in Tennessee and Virginia,
and almost as much down i'll Mississip-
pi, Louisiana and Texas. Southern
railroads are totally unprepared for
such storm, the snOw-plOw being I'M
known even in Tennessee, and a good
many of the roads were blocked up for
days.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19

The Dartmouth college boys have
thus early appointed committee t.
arrange for ii ''gIand celebration o.
Washington's birthday.
1t is the general sentiment at Dart.
mouth that Prof. S. c. Bartlett of Chi
cago is to be the next College President
Mayor Prince of Boston, who is one
of the national democratic executive
committee, is quoted as in favor of the
democratic invasion of Washington,
next month.
William A. Wheeler, of New York,
occupied his seat in the House Monday
for the first time i'll the present session.
Gen. Nichols of Louisiana, has sent
telegram to the President, saving
there will be no attempt made to order
recount of the electoral votes by the
democratic supreme court.
Mr.. NOrdhoff represents the excite
ment at Washington, increasing, and
the scheme for having the Vice Presi-
dent finally count the vote, in conse-
quence of forced and desired disagree
ment between the two branches, as
coming up again sin a more formidable
tHdu btlOTe.
They make the dogs pay in Hamp-
shire county, Mass. The whole amount
OF damages and fees allowed last wear
was 81 1876. The dog fund amounts
TO 1896, SO that the towns will receive
BACK dividend of a little over so per
cent. This is mainly damages for dogs
killing or injuring sheep.
Ex-Chief-Justice Ether Shepley of
Portland, aged 81, father of the war
military governor of Louisiana, and of
Judge Shepley of the United States
court in this state, died, Monday, from
last weeks fall downstairs, which
broke his leg.
Mr.. Murtagh of the Washington Re-
publican, who has Extensively assumed
to speak for the Republican parry and
rom time to time assailed most bitter
~ such men as Dawes, the Hears
bialne and Garfield, is being shown up
I'D ms true character by the testimony
Wnlch makes him the chief of a con
ssplracy to blackmail "a Democratic
Congressman
MISS Helen Locke, beautiful and
girl of eighteen, daughter
OF +. b. Locke of the Bristol Flour
Mis- N. H., died the 18th, from the
ehects of inhaling gas from red fire.
burned during a tableau at public
meeting given about six weeks since NV
The Ladies' Literary Society connected
with the New Hampshire Conference
at Tilton.
The Boston Board of health tbink |
'cariet fever more contagious than
:lnaii pox; and have issued an order
orpiddlng any child from attending
'cnooi from any family in which case
d scarlet fever has occurred, until four
weeks after the beginning of the last
'ase OF the disease in the family.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19

THE ASHTABULA BRIDGE.-Thec cause
of the fall of the Ashtabula bridge will
doubtless never be known, but that
probability does not tend to diminish
the general inquiry into the subject.
Many solutions have already been Civ
en-, and many more will yet be publish
ed. 1t does seem as if two important
facts in connection with railroad bridg-
es might be ascertained, namely First,
are bridges built of iron safe and sec
ond, if so, is there a period of time af-
ter which the iron loses its strength
AS to the first part of the question it is
claimed by nearly every engineer and
practical man who has written on the
subject, that iron bridges are safe and
better than those built of wood. In re-
gard to the second important question,
there is greater difference of opinion,
some saying that it has been proved
that the iron in bridges which have
stood tor fifteen years has stood as Sc
we're test as new iron is able to do,
while others say that it loses its strength
in time. But if the latter theory is
true, the Ashtabula bridge had not been
built sufficiently long to be affected by
age.
Among the many letters published in
the papers is one suggesting that the
bridge might have been weakened so as
to fall under the weight of the train
by the Tightening of some of the nuts
on the principal rods to q greater ex-
tent than those of some others. AS this
work is usually done in the summer,
such rods would not feel the unequal
strain so heavily until the intense cold
weather set in and further increased the
strain, which was so great that the
shock and the weight caused them to
break.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19

CALIFORNIA.-Ther has been rain in
California, this week, but it was pre-
coded by a drouth of two months. a
very rare incident of the rainy season
in that country. If there is plenty of
rain now for the rest of the winter, no
harm will have been done. A Sacra-
mentO letter of the 9th says: Immi-
grants continue to come at the rate of
about two car loads day, and it is a
question as to what strangers without
money are to do, this winter. There is
no work on the farm, the plows are
idle, and farmers are wont to draw
their purse strings very tight when the
sun has shOne brightly, every day dur
ing December.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19

~ President Grants order to Gen
Augur at New Orleans, which we print
elsewhere, has caused quite futtel
among the White Leaguers, who began
to feel that they were to have things
about as they wanted them. Now the
cry is revived of sustaining a state gov
eminent fraudulently counted in, by
Federal troops. The fact is President
Grant does not "bulldoze" worth a
cent.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19
A Destructive Break of Ice.
In the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers.

OVER TWO MILLION DOLLARS Loss.
The ice from the upper Monongahela
river to the mouth of the Ohio at Cairo.
ILL.,, is i'll motion, and the loss of proper
ty by it in the region of Pittsburg, Pa,
alone is estimated at 90, 100000, while
there is much destruction near Cincin-
natl on the Ohio. 1t is feared, too. that
several lives have been lost on the
Monongahela. The steamboats, and coal
barges suffer chiefly. Two passenger
steamers and seven tug-boats have been
damaged near Pittsburg, and an i'm
mense number of coal flats, laden and
empty, have been carried away, while
the coal works along the river were so
badly wrecked that it will require two
months to repair the damage. Below
Cir cinnati, the ice carried away about
4O loaded and about as many empty
coal boats, and the steamer Calumet.
and at Delhi took the small steamer
Alex Kendall with it. Over 200 coal
barges passed North Bend, O., yester-
day. AT Mingo, near Steubenville, 10
oarges were swept away, and four at
Parkersburg. At Blennerhassett's is
land the towboat N. j. Bigby and eight
barges and the steamer NJ. S. Than
hauser were carried off, and eight barges
supposed to be from the Kentucky river
passed Madison. At Jacksonville the
river rose five feet in two hours and the
Ice swept down at the rate of 10 miles
an hour, tearing away large quantity
OF valuable timber from the ship-yards,
sinking several barges of coal, and de
molishing portion of ferry-boat. The
small tributaries all along the country
have contributed to the flood, but those
10 western Pennsylvania will, accord
ing to the forecastings of the weather
office, fall to-day, while the Ohio and
Cum berland will cOntinne rising
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19

U There is sort of ''you pays your
money and you takes your choice" fla
vOr secreted somewhere between the
beginning and end of the following
paragraph from The Springfield Re-
publican ''In the present state of
public opinion a new election is moral
ly certain, of course, to result in the
success of Tilden and Hendricks. They
have unquestionably gained in public
opinion since the November voting,
and chiefly by reason of the Louisiana
and Florida performances; while the
distrust of an administration which
they shall form is greatly lessened.
But this feeling might change before
the voting. Gov. Hayes's friends have
also removed many of the objections
against his election, and he would have
it in his power to still further establish
his claim upon the votes of reformers
at the North and peace-loving patriots
at the South. We have never seen any
evidence that this country was hank
ering for the restoration of the Demo-
cratic party or the election of Samuel
j. Tilden as President. If the Repub-
licans can make it appear that they
will give it something better, a new
election would certainly be their op-
pOrtunity and their deliverance.r
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19

The Dartmouth navy are receiving
much encouragement from thesssalumni.
and the university crew for fhe New
London race, who are dieting and in
training, are c. Fl. Dodd, captain and
bow; E. L. Mailman, second; H. K.
Foster, third; o. ]. Pfeifer, stroke D.
r. Rood, substitute.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19

II The latest story about the May
Bennett farce is that May won the first
shot, but his pistol missing fire, Ben
nett's turn came, who fired in the air.
The principals then shook hands,
wounded honor had been healed, and
now the fellows are skulking from the
officers of justice. Bennett hid on his
steam yacht until Saturday, when he
was put oil board an outward bound
Steamer for Europe. Another story is
that May was wounded, and that he is
secreted in fishing hut near the place
of the encounter, in Maryland.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19
ASSASSINATION coUNsELLED.

The Evening Democrat in its leading
editorial, referring to the probabilities
of Gov. Packard's attempting to retake
the supreme court and police stations,
says: "Mr. Packard, however, is play
ing dangerous game. The patience
of this people is well-nigh exhausted,
and, if they are forced into a conflict
which is calculated and designed to
again rob them of the government of
their choice and the blessings of an
honest and efficient administration,
their wrath will be difficult to restrain,
and we, for one, hope no hand will be
able to restrain it. If Mr.. Packard for
ces this conflict, we appeal to our
friends to spare as far as final and COM
plete victory will permit the lives of
the metropolitans (police) and negro
dupes; we advise them to let the full
weight of their vengeance fall upon the
leaders in the iniquitous, murderous
and most damnable scheme, and to
follow Packard into the hotel 1.-THE state
house), and, if need be, into the GUS
tom house itself, and hang him from
its highest window.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19
Anti-Beecher.

The new association of Congregation
allst ministers i'll New York and Brook
iyn, excites comment. 1t is composed
OF Drs. Storrs, Burlington, Scudder,
Prof. Cartier, and number of the other
most prominent and respected of the
Congregational clergymen of this citv
and Brooklyn, who were disguised with
the action of the old association in
embarrassing the scandal and giving
Beecher gratuitOus certificate of char
acter. 1t is flank movement which
shows the real feeling of the best rep
rlesentatives of Congregational religion
In reference to the scandal and their
estimate of the Plymouth pastor. This
movement virtually leaves Beecher out
In the cold, for with these departures
the old association has neither members
nor weight. There is nothing more
terrible nor resistless than the silent
drift of public opinion. Beecher is
building superb mansion at Peekskill.
and is putting the receipts of his lee,
lures into it, and the building goes nm
as the money comes in. But, Judging
trom the articles in some of the papers
III the places where he lectures. It is
plain that he earns his money!. Y.
letter IN Springfield Republican.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19

RAILWAY DIsAsTERs.-Th New
York Tribune publishes an open letter
addressed to Congressman Garfield of
Ohio by Charles F. Adams, Jr.. in
which he advocates the creation of a
National Bureau of Statistics to make
special inquiries into the cause of every
railway accident that may occur. The
letter is addressed to Mr.. Garfield he
cause he represents the district in Ohio
In which the recent fatal accident oc-
CURED. Mr.. Adams, in beginning. re-
marks that all the world in America
travels on the railroads, and it is the
way OF intercourse between States.
But, while this travel is wonderfnIlv
secure-resulting in the loss of but 250
lives and the injury of but 1000 persons
In year throughout the country-tbis
number might be reduced largely nv a
proper investigation of all the cases Of
accidents by some independent author
Ity. The railway companies make in
vestigations of accidents on their own
account and generally in their own in
terest. The public has no other ma
ehInery than the ''cOroner's 'auestn for
making an investigation, In some
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19
Special Notice.

The time Of year has come for settle
ment. We respectfully ask those NTH
whom zoe haze deal to square their dc-
counts. Subscribers in to,0ns Where ace
haze agents, UiH find their accounts Nth
them. We ask that settlement be made
NTH them or at this office, at an early
day. Those aohO haze accounts against
us, iUiH present the same.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19
The Louisiana Trouble.
THE PRESIDENTS POSITION.

WASHINGTON, D. c., January Ia.
Gen. C. c. Augur, New Orleans, La. !:
1t has been the policy of the admins
tration to take no part in the settle
ment of the question of the rightful
government in the state of Louisiana,
at least not until the congressional
committees now there have made their
report. But it is not proper to sit
quietly by and see the state govern
ment gradually taken possession of by
one of the claimants tor gubernatorial
honors by illegal means. The supreme
court set up by Mr.. Nichols can receive
no more recognition than any other
the call of any other citizen of the
state. A returning board, existing in
accordance with the law and having
judicial as well as ministerial powers
over the count of the votes and in de-
claring the result of the late election,
have given certificates of election to the
Legislature of the state legal quorum
of each house holding such certificates
met and declared Mr.. Packard govern
or. Should there be necessity for the
recognition of either, it must be Mr..
Packard. You may furnish copy of
this to Mr.. Packard and to Mr.. Mich
oils. U. S. GRANT, President.
PACKARD COMMANDS THE NICHOLS
GOVERNMENT TO DIsPERSE.
New ORLEANS, Jan. Ex-Governor
Stephen B. Packard issued a proclama-
ton to-day, calling upon the Nichols
assembly to disperse and cease their
lawless and reasonable conspiracy
against the legally chosen authorities.
1t also commands those persons claim
ing to act as judges of the supreme
court, and all persons supporting, aid
ing, or abetting them thereby, and all
persons unlawfully assuming to act as
executive and official officers, and all
persons having possession of police
stations, etc, ETC., to Immediately de-
sist from the aforesaid unlawful acts,
and to disperse and retire to their
homes under pain and penalties of the
law
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19
FAIR GROUND COMPANY.

The annual meeting of the Caledonia
Fair Ground Company was held imme-
diately on adjournment of Agricultural
meeting, vice president E. A. Parks in
the chair. t. c. Fletcher, Secretary
and Treasurer, made detailed report
Of financial condition of the company,
as follows:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19

dresses, and the meeting closed. Inc
church was finely decorated with flowers
and evergreen. Many notices of state
and county were finely arranged. Ii
was a successful and pleasant affair
~ There is tendency on the part
of the Southern press to speak unkiDd-
ly of Mr.. Watterson's army of lOO,OOO
petitioners. They not only poke fun
at the spectacle of SO large a number
of men going to Washington with a
petition apiece, but they intimate that
the author of the movement has blood
in his eve. Thus The Memphis Ava
lanch says: "Mr. Watterson is a po-
litical lunatic. If his rash cOunsels
could prevail nothing short of a miracle
would prevent the deluging of this land
with blood. He has been endeavoring
ever since the presidential election to
rouse the fighting spirit of the South,
but with no other result than to call
public attention to the utter inability
of such men as he to guide public Opin-
ion when the country is less calm than
a duck pond"
r. We are liable to be surprised
with great news this week if the cores
pondent of The Boston Herald is on the
right scent. He telegraphed on Friday
night: "There is reason to believe
that the developments of the coming
week will surpass in interest and i'm
pOrtance any events which have occur
red since the November election. With
out indicating what the character of
these revelations will be, it is sufficient
to say that they will have a very i'm
portant and probably determining in
luence upon the claims of one of the
great political parties in the Inaugural
ton of its candidate. A gentleman who
has the very best means of information,
and who has until now believed that
the candidate of the party to which he
belongs would be declared elected,
stated to your correspondent tonight,
in view of what is to be developed, that
he believed the final result of the great
dispute would be that Congress would
declare that there had been no election
by the people,