Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-12-26

ESQ have been accounted for, leaving Is miss
ing. She says that there we're 30 children
on the nfrmary floor when the fire broke
out, of whom seven we're saved.
THE WAY THEY KEEP THINGS LIVELY IN THE
WILD WEST.
One of the county seat wars in Dakota,
that between Wilmot and Traverse, has brok-
en- out into active hostlities and very excit-
ing times have been going on. Traverse
won the latest victory in the courts, whereup-
on Wimot men decided that action was nee.
essary. Accordingly a band of 100 men,
armed and drunk, raided on Traverse, looted
the court house, smashing DOORS windows
ard furniture, and removing the safe. Pri-
vate houses we're also Quilted aud the mails
robbed. Fortunately the county clerk had
removed the records from the safe. Finding
them gone, after their departure the mob in
creased its numbers and started back to Trav-
erse, threatening to hang the county officers
and kill half the people il necessary to get |
the records. A Traverse despatch dated on
Sunday said On receipt of this news the
Traverse officers ordered the women and chill |
dren to leave town, and the order is being |
rapidly obeyed. The mob is not expected to |
reach here much before dark. Buildings are |
being barricaded and there are runners out |
all over the county for arms and men. The |
force in Traverse at PRESENTS rather small for
such an emergency, but the men on the
ground are well armed and will make des- |
perate fight All the weakened have been
asked to leave town. but none have left.
Men from the northeastern part of the coun.
ty are coming to the rescue, but may not get
here in time. Gov. Pierce will have troops
here Monday evening, but they also may be
too late. A despatch on Wednesday said
The rival towns of Traverse and Wlmot in
Dakota have not yet wiped each other out
The country was informed on Monday that
fight might be expected, that all Traverse
was under arms, and that Wilmot despera-
does were hourly expected bent on getting
the county records aud killing every inhab-
liant. A nation shvered to no purpose.
Now it begins to be suspected that Eli Per-
kins of Mulhatton may be in Dakota. The
| latest despatch from Dakota says: The situa-
ton here remains unchanged. Additional
arms have been secured and the place is well
guarded. A contest within two days is re-
garded as inevitable.
THE NEW YORK THEATRE coMIQUE BURNED.
-Harrigan & Harris Theatre Comique on
Broadway, New York, was burned Tuesday
morning with loss OF 5000, 600. When dis.
covered the FIRE had gained such Roadway
that in an honr the building was gone. The
iremen devoted their time to saving the
neighboring blocks, and streams from ~
steamers were thrown upon them. 1t is sup
posed that piece of drapery may have been
blown against force jet which was kept
burning on the stage all night The theatre
was a three story brick building, occupying
two lots, with 70 feet frontage and 1870 feet
depth. 1t was built last year at cost of
$40 OOO and was said by the contractors to
tie as nearly fre-proof as possible. The the
atre had an interesting history. Robert But
Ter, Jean Burnside, John A. Stevens. Elliott
Barnes and others failed in it and finally 1t be-
came a rehearsal hall, occupied by occasional
combinations to give their pieces New York
send of. Denman Thompson first attracted
attention there by playing Josh Whitcomb
The site was formerly occupied by DR.. o.
goods church, which was converted by Mr..
Stewart into theatre II years ago, much TO
the horror of New York society. The thea
tire will be rebuilt at once.
IMMENSE OIL FIRE IN NEW YORK.
-Pratts astral oil-works, which occupied
the entire block at the foot of Twelfth street
in Williamsburg, n Y, were burned Sunday
afternoon. The fire started with one of the
nsphtha tanks nearest the river. which ex-
ploded with a deafening sound The burn
ing oil scattered in every direction, and few
minutes after another tank burst just in the
rear, These two sent 10000 barrels of fam
ing oil pouring into every nook and crevice
about the yard. The burning oil flowed over
on the north side into Bushwick creek, and
continued to burn on the waters surface.
Several small boats in the creek were envel-
oped and burned The shock occasoned by
the two explosions broke the windows of all
houses in the neighborhood. The heat was
intense. The noise of the seething flames
could be heard blocks away. Explosion fol-
lowed explosion and burning masses were
carried up and far away by the wind. Thous-
ands of spectators gathered in the heavy
rain and stood under their dripping umbrel-
las watching the conhagraton. A dividing
wall which had been built in the yard to pre-
vent fire from going beyond it by 8 O'Clock
was cracked by the great heat and came down
with a crash. After that the fire reigned su-
preme. The wind shifting again and blow
ing from the river enabled the fre-boats to
work against the flames. But the fremen on
shore were now driven away and the mem
bers of one engine company had to abandon
their engine to save their lives. The flames
could not be stayed until all the buildings
and tanks except the large brick building in
which the canning is done, were destroyed.
The ERE continued to burn on Monday, but
no more tanks exploded. The loss will be
nearly 81 900, 900. About 700 men are
thrown out of work
STRANGE EXPLOSION.
The fine brick residence of John Gates
at Butler, Pa, was entirely demolished Sun
day night and the family consisting of the
father, mother, and four children, all grow
up, were buried in the ruins. Fortunately
the entire family were rescued without hav-
ing sustained fatal injuries, although all Of
them we're more or less hurt. 1t appears
they retired about 10 O'Clock and probably
two hours later a daughter, who slept down
stairs, awoke and noticed tiny blue fame
r playing on the hearthstone. She got up and
put it out and then called her brother, who
went with light to the cellar to investigate.
He had no sooner opened the door than q
terrible explosion followed and the building
? was raised from its foundations and came
down a mass of ruins. The escape of all
a from instant death seems miraculous. There
is good deal of mystery surrounding the
accident, but it is believed that gas from the
main 30 feet away impregnsted the ground
and forced its way into the cellar.
D WINTER IN EARNEST.
? Although the coming of last Fridays
: cold wave was accurately foretold by the
' weather bureau, il struck the Middle and
, Eastern states with suddenuess and severi
ty for which nobody was prepared. The
b range of the mercury was all the way frou
l. zero to 2Oo below. Mt. Washington's expert
ence WAS the most severe since 1876. Th,
g mercury frozs and the spirit THERMOMETERS
registered AZ below zero. A northwest hur
roaue, with an estimated velocity of ovei
100 miles an hour prevailed. The exact We
o looity could not be obtained as the auemom
Is eter was blown away. In Vermont Saturday
was a colder day than Friday. At Barre 9TH,
a banner town the mercury sank to $50 below
zero; at Tunbridge it registered 80 below
at Northhsld Il AS 22 below. At st. A ban
4 and Montpelier it was 20 below at Rich
l. ford 22 below. Sunday morning was veTl
cold, but before night warm wave begun Il
be felt, aud by noon on Monday there hat
. been rise of about so degrees.
The mountain railroads in the far west ar
u blocked with SNOW, some OF them, as in tn
vicinity of Leadville, hopelessly so. Las