Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-03-09

The cautata of Esther, given q few
weeks ago under the direction of Prof. H.
w. Alexander, was repeated on Friday of last
week. The house was well filled and the
audience was warm in its applause and APP
probation of the entertainment The solo
parts in the cantata were well rendered. L.
h. Willis as "Haman," and Miss Katie Cobb
as "Zeresh,' were especially good in their
parts, both having fine voices and dramatic
power as well. Miss Martha Knapp as
Queen Esther" showed n voice of great
sweetness in its softer passages, and Miss
Mary Miller as "Mordecais sister" was par
ticularly pleasing in that she was so simple
and natural in her acting. L. L. Stark sang
the part of 'Mordecai" and has good tenor
voice. Prof. Ale1ander's part as king was
royalty sustained. He is deserving of the
greatest praise for his untiring efforts in
Dummerston this winter. The cautata was
followed by very amusing "Old Folks Con-
cert, in which the soloists again appeared
I'm pleasing numbers" After this all re-
paired to the vestry for refreshments The
proceeds of the entertainment are for the
benefit of the society at Dummerston.
II. ]. B. Cudworth of Brattleboro. who
is spending the winter in California, sent US
recently newspapers containing the sad in
telligence of the death of Asa W. Sproul,
son of Mrs. Loyina L. Sproul, who is a
daughter of Mrs Asa Knight of this town.
lie lost his life by an accident on the South
ern Pacific railroad. correspondent of the
San Francisco Chronicle, who visited the
scene of the accident a short time after its
occurrence, sent the following information to
that paper:
'BAKERsFIELD, Feb. l3-Last night the regular
passenger train from the north was half an hour be-
hind time, and freight train which usually masses
at Sumner ordered to proceed and take side
track ten miles ahead. This train consisted Of nine
teen cars and three engines two being in the lead and
one pusher, in the About four miles east of
summer me road crosses depression in the plain on
au emoahAment OF alkaline earth, in which, with the
close economy practiced by the company in all their
WORK IN this part OF the state there are no culyerts
The heavy rain had filed the depression about the
trAcA with water and converted the earth beneath in
TO soft mud, so that when the train reached Inc
Fe4chtrous spot the two engines in the lead PARTIAL
ly sank and capsized. This result was probably as
sisted by an accumulation Of mud on the track Six
cars were thrown from the track and demolished
asa W. Sproul, fireman had one Of his legs crushed
anu was otherwise injured that he died INSTANTLY
he had given notice OF his intention to Quit the EN-
ploy OF the company aud this was his last trim Ne
Chico" ''''us !"
His remains were sent on the cars to San
Francisco and were taken to an undertaken.
where, after preparation, they were frat
seen by the bereaved mother and friends
among whom was Mr.. Cudworth. Thew re.
turned with the body to Chico 225 miles dis.
tant where the funeral was held on the 18th.
hVe days after the accident. Mrs Sproul
boards with the family of j. NJ Hoyl, where
the funeral services took place There was
large turnout of friends aud the deepest SYM
pathy was felt for the sorrowing mother.
Asa was graduate from the High school in
That place, where his mother is an assistant
teacher and has been thus employed for ma,
ny years. DIN