St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-04-26
Our New York Letter.
M. S.

| vIvORS-A FEARFUL RIDE.
NEW YORK, April 10, 1878.
To the Editor of the CaledOniGn
After partial and troubled slumbel
of two or three years, the Beecher scan
dial has surprised the uninltated, anG
disguised every body, by waking up and
thrusting itself afresh upon society. As
this is lust the sort of news which flies
on the wings of the wind, to even the
furthest and most obscure corners of the
land, it would be unreasonable to sup,
pose that any of your readers are unac-
uuainted with the fact that Mrs. TiltOI
has re-cOnfessed, apparently with al
earnestness and solemnity. 1 was ap,
prised of the coming publication of hel
letter in advance of its appearance, and
was told to look out for tremendous
social convulsion, when the thunderbOlt
should fall. Up to date, however, the
social convnlsinn has not heen visible,
but only the WEAKNESS and disgust
which have alluded to. The trouble
is that Mrs. T. has heretofore proved
herself so void of moral sense, and any
respect for the truth, that it is general
ly taken for granted that she is falsyfy-
ing whenever she opens her mouth.
There are those, of course, who believe
her statements, but only those who have
believed them all along. One reason
given for this confession, is that it is
only necessary preliminary to the rec
oncilation of Mr.. and Mrs. Tilton, which
reconciliation is unquestiOnably proba-
BILE. However that may be, this episode,
including Mr.. Beecher's prompt denial
of the renewed charge, will strengthen
the latter with the majority of people.
There can be no doubt that Mrs. Til
ton is the victim of mania, or form of
insanity well known among the medical
profession. Her case is not very differ
ent from that of an English lady of noble
birth, who, few years ago, figured in
the courts us result of similar charges,
which she brought against some of the
most prominent men in that country,
while laboring under just such an halu-
cination. She is really more to be pitied
than blamed, though she is none the
less IA nuisance on that account.
Poor Tweed is out of Jail ut last, and
beyond all earthly vicissitudes. His
death, briefly announced in my last,
was quiet and peaceful, but unspeakably
sad, us the ending of a life which had
great possibilities, but which proved
worse than failure. The family, which
henceforth must bear alone the dis
graced name, were with him in Jail at
the last moment, eyincing the affection
and devotion which its members have
unvaryingly displayed toward its fallen
head, The funeral, which occurred on
Wednesday, was private and unObtru-
sive, and the remains were inferred in
Greenwood. In regard to this ceme-
terry, there exists an old, almost forgot
ten law, providing that no person dying
in Jail shall be buried within its limits ;
but no attempt was made in this case to
enforce its prohibition.
There is no doubt that there are a hun
dred or SO citizens of this State, who
breathe more freely now that the mouth
of the ex-Bess is sealed for all time. Dur
ing his lifetime sword of Damocles,
of varying weight and sharpness, was
suspended over the head of each of
them. There was no telling at what
moment circumstances might occur
which would uncover some little affair of
bygOne years, which one or more of
those gentlemen would greatly prefer
to have remain bygone. But now the
man who alone knew the whole story,
- Ill =
the way, and the uncomfortable many
smile and hold up their heads with viz
tuous stiffness, while they piously la
ment the sins of the dead man.
The death of Col. Hitchcock, COM
mander of our Ninth Regiment, furnish
ed occasion this week for a military
funeral, such as we have not seen before
in good while. The display of the
militia with reversed arms, draped flags
and funereal music, was magnificent,
and the multitudes witnessing it gave
Broadway and Fifth Avenue, decided
holiday appearance. Col. Hitchcock
was popular citizen and officer who es-
pecially distinguished himself during
the railroad riots last year.
A runawaw in New York is common
and usually not remarkable occur
renee; but an accident of this kind took
place on Thursday, which is well worth
mention. On the morning of that day,
John Strickland, one of B. T. Barnum's
oldest and best drivers, took out for eX-
ercise his six horse team hitched to a
heavy baggage wagon, The leaders took
fright at all elevated railway train, and
IN moment the panic-stricken animals
started off at ungOvernable speed. No
human strength could avail to check
SUCH a course, so shouting hurried
warning to the bystanders, Strickland
gathered the reins and DEVOTED himself
with GOODNESS and skill to the desperate
task of guiding the team as far as posi-
BILE to avoid collisions, in the hope that
got under control, Instead of this, the
horses grew more frantic at every bound,
and it was evident that disaster must
be the result. The heavy wagon was
provided with a brake which the driver
applied with such force as to hold the
wheels from revolving, and yet the We
hicle seemed no more than a feather to
the furious beasts. A long mile they ran,
coaches, wagons, and pedestrians scat
tering like chaff before them, a specta-
Gle that no one who beheld it will be
likely to forget, until they reached the
Grand Central depot, when wheel
caught in frog of the horse railroad
track, swapping the heavy wrought iron
axle like pipe stem. Then as the wagon
tipped, another wheel was torn off in
the same manner, and the heroic Strick-
land, whose unfiinching courage had
saved perhaps score of lives, was vio-
lently thrown to the sidewalk and in
stantly killed, his head being crushed
on the pavement. RADIx.
THE INDIANs.-A letter from from
tiersman to delegate Maginnis at Wash
ingtOn, saws Sitting Bull ACCOMPANIED