Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-08-31
THE NEWS Nv BRIEF.


The excursion steamer Riverdale started
up the Hudson on trip to Haverstraw at
3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, with 80 passen.
gers on board, from the foot of Harrison
street When opposite the foot of Thirteenth
street. her boilers exploded. Eye witnesses
on the shore saw what seemed to be the whole
of the inside of the vessel fly into the air
with report like the discharge of a cannon
The shell Of the hull careened over, but con.
tinued up the stream from the momentum of
its own speed until it went down bow first
at the foot of Sixteenth street. About 20 of
the passengers on the steamer including ev-
erybody in the cabin were blown up in the
explosion, some of whom were badly scaded
while others were fatally injured. The rest
seized life preservers and jumping over the
rail into the river, were picked mp by n num-
Der of boats that Immediately put out from
the New York and New Jersey shores to their
assistance. Only three are known to have
been killed. The cause of the explosion is
unknown.
DEATH OF THE COUNT DE cHAMBoRD.
The shadow-king of France, the last
probably who will wear the title, even by the
humorous courtesy which has allowed it to be
used by his friends these dozen years past, -
las, after an illness during which his end was
more than once supposed near at last depart
the last of the Bourbons of the elder branch,
who called himself Henri V. died at his castle
of Frohsdorf in Austria last Friday at the age
of GO, and the Count of Paris of the younger
branch of Orleans is the head of the old roy
al family OF France. 1t il we'll for his coun-
try that Chambord was so firm believer in
divine right that he would not lift finger or
compromise one of his absurd principles to
get the throne. A strong man in his place
might have made much mischief.
An unpleasant scandal has Just come to
public notice by the arrest of James Otis Ka-
Ter, an author of real and original talent, on
charge of infidelity brought by his divorced
wife. Mr.. Kaler is widely known as James
Otis" author of Toby Tyler" one of the
freshest and most delightful stories of boy
life as well as other books for the young. He
is dashing, handsome man. with spice of
Bohemianism visible through the polish of his
manner that makes him peculiarly charming.
He is an editor as well as an author, and few
years ago was the dramatic critic of the Bos-
ton Globe.
Six thousand carloads of watermelons
have been shipped north from Georgia this
season.
A traveller in the northern and western
parts of Dakota reports a terrible drouth in
that section
are the scenes of busy activity. The sounds
of the machines fills the air, and the crops
which are said to be unusually large, are be-
ing rapidly gathered
A novel experiment has been tried by
Washington dairyman, with complete success.
When the special train containing Knights
Templar left Washington POO gallons of milk
were placed on board, with the understand.
ing that it would be perfectly sweet on arrival
at San Francisco. The milk reached its des-
tination as sweet as when placed aboard the
car, much to the delight of darymen and
milk consumers.
Oscar Wilde's new play, Vera" has
proved failure in New York.
Persecution of the Jews in Russia still
continues. No less than 34G houses were
plundered and wrecked during the recent
riots at Ekaterinosav, and the losses of the
Jews are estimated at S4SS, 800. Fourteen
of the Russians who were wounded by the
troops in quelling the outbreak have died,
making the total number of persons killed
%. Numerous cas- of Jew batting are re-
ported elsewhere, but the police and troops
are acting with energy, and have in most in
stances promptly suppressed any attempts at
outrage.
The foundation of the Garfield monu-
ment was laid at San Francisco last Friday
sisted by the grand encampment of Knights
Templar of the United States at Golden Gate
park Over 100000 persons witnessed the
ceremonies.
1t is announced that d. L. Moody will
conduct a non sectarian convention of Chris
tan workers, clerical and lay in Chicago,
Sept. is, 10 and 20. Mr.. Sankey will be
present and will lead the musical exercises.
At the close of the convention the two evan
gelists will return to the east and about Oct.
they will sail for ireland.
There is considerable excitement among
oil men over a big strike in Lowellville, on
the line of the Pittsburg aud Lake Erie road,
between Youngstown and the Pennsylvania
border.
The French steamer St. Germain bound
fol- New York, came into collision early Sun
day morning with the steamer Woodburn, of
/ Eddystone Light. The latter vessel sank and
eighteen of her crew were drowned. Five
lives were also lost by the sinking of a steam
or off the coast of France in consequence OF
a collision. The accident occurred in a fog
An apt illustration of Will Cartoons
poem, cover the Hill to the Poor House"
has occurred in Cleveland, o. An old man
named Jonathan @. Bowles died recently at
the city inhrmary, Is years of age, ohildless,
friendless and alone. Years ago he was
wealthy, and owned a large hotel in East
Cleveland, on the spot whore Adebert college
now stands, and later was an athuent mer-
chant He is said to have been twice worth
800, 900, lost in real estate specuations, and
to always have possessed horror of going to
the poor house. Among the papers found in
his mothers old satchel was discovered a
well-msrked copy of Will Cartoons poem,
"Over the Hill to the Poor House." Other
things in his possession were $1,000 in worth
less stock certificates of a Colorado silver
mine, letter certifying that he was good
Methodist, and six cents. These are what re-
manned of two large fortunes.