The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-01-23


IT is coming to be generally remarked that |
the Argus is unhappy these days. Its usual
selfcomplacent, better-than-thou |
air is noticeably disturbed and its calm assur-
ance is conspicuous by its absence. 1t has en-
deavored to quiet itself and distract the atten-
tion Of laughing public by repeatedly assur-
ing its readers of Its merits as the best paper
for news in the state, as we'll as the most out
spoken" but still it is unhappy. There is
evidently fly in its ointment and a good sized
one, too, and the Argus, with its usual ca
pacity for laundering, advertses in its own
columns the cause for all this trouble. 1t an
nounces that under its present management
THE WATCHMAN has lost over twenty per cent
OF its circulation and is losing subscribers con-
stantly," and in the very next paragraph
utters plaintive wall, in its own behalf, for
help to "add largely to the number who take
it," This gives the whole thing away. We
took occasion last week to mildly hint that the
actual circulation of the Argus was not 80 large
as it was claiming and the tone Of its reply
shows how the truth will sometimes stir any
one up. This reminds us of the old saying
credited to John K Allen Of Texas: "Ef you
call man a fool an he knows it amt so, he
don't care, but ef you call him a rascal an he
knows it is 80, it cuts like blazes."
THE Windsor Journal has the following story
which, il true, is undoubtedly a fact: He
was lad Of seven years, and, doubtless with
out the knowledge OF his parents, packed his
skates under his arm and skipped over to the
pond for an hours sport He broke through
and drifted some distance under the ice. Be-
fore life was extinct, however, he caught hold
of an alder bush in the water, bumped himself
up through the ice and escaped watery grave.
At sixteen he enlisted in the army and was
shot at the very first skrmish. He came home,
recovered, and went back into the service At
the battle Of Malvern Hill, a shell from the en-
emy's works landed between his feet and burst,
blowing off his left hip and heel, and tearing to
pieces his right leg 80 it had to be amputated,
besides imbedding two bullets in his left foot
which remain there to this day. When the
wounded were picked up the next day, this
unfortunate was left on the field for dead, but
while his comrades were pitching him into the
trench with hundreds of others, on that bloody
field, they discovered that this corpse was
alive, and carried him to the hospital, where he
recovered On his return home, he entered
the medical department Of one of our colleges,
where he graduated and soon after located as
practicing physician not far from Corinth,
Vt. One day, while riding out to see patient
his horse took fright, throwing the doctor out
Of the buggy, stringing him all along the road
for several rods. On calling together his scat
tered frame, he found three fingers of his right
hand broken. Not long after, while workmen
were repairing his barn, a rafter came down
endwise, striking the doctor on the hat. This
caused uneasiness for several days. The last
exploit was in company with a friend making
professional call. He took his pipe out of his
mouth and put it in his overcoat pocket. Pass
ing house on the way, the doctor remarked
Guess they are burning compost here Half
mile more and another house, and another re.
mark They seem to be burning compost here,
too The silence of another half mile was
broken by the doctor exclaiming: / swow,
believe they are burning compost all along the
road upon which he suddenly gave jump,
landing by the roadside in two feet of snow,
while what was left of him seemed to be pay.
ing strict attention to his pipe pocket"
I THE long drawn out railroad litigation which
has occupied the attention of the courts for
nearly thirty years, was brought to close last
| Thursday. The case has been 80 fully re.
viewed at various times in these columns that
| it is not necessary to 60 over the ground again
| On Thursday the report Of the special masters
in the accounting OF the Central Vermont re-
ceivership, July, 1873. to July. 1883, came W
before Chancellor Royce for approval, by con
sent and at the instance Of counsel representing
the different interests in these roads. Th,
chancellor made final order to the effect tha
the accounts are passed upon and adjudged tC
be settled and closed. The petition Of the
Central Vermont and the Consolidated railroad
companies for the discharge Of the receivershiI
OF the Vermont Central and Vermont & Can
ada roads came up for hearing. The chan
cellor, on full hearing, made an order dis
charging the Central Vermont company a
receivers and managers, ordering them to turl
over to the Consolidated railroad company o
Vermont the railroad and equipment apper
tanning thereto, and assign, transfer and max
over all personal property and assets of ever
kind, also that the receivers make full an,
complete inventory Of this property, and fill
the same with the chancellor, the court retain
ing control of the property until the inventor!
is completed. The court further orders tina
the Consolidated company assume and OK
ecute all contracts and leases authorized by tn
court or bonding of the property, and that th
company execute a covenant to the satisfac
tion Of the court for the performance of thi
order, the chancellor retaining under his con
troll the property until the order is compile,
with. The petition for the dismissal of tn
famous Langdon suit before mentioned cam
up ON motion made on behalf of the Ceutrs
Vermont railroad company. After hearing
the chancellor adjudged that this suit and al
proceedings hereunder be dismissed withou
prejudice. Counsel were present as follows
b. F. Fifield and Daniel Roberts, representa-
the Central Vermont and Consolidated raj
roads; A. +. Walker and VIM. G. Shaw repre-
senting the Vermont & Canada railroad Clal
ence ii. Pltkin, representing James r. Langdor
John Bell and J. L. Edwards, representing tn
Grand Trunk; and James Barrett representa-
the Rutland railroad. 1t Is satisfaction |
know that these vexatious and expensive Law
suits are at last ended.
THE twenty first annual session of the gram
lodge, Independent Order of Good Templart
was held at st. Johnsbury, January 16 and II