The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-01-02

tor, presented plate Of silver dollars equal in
number TO the years of the recipients sge.
fine Estey sewing. machine, the gift OF Mr.. and
Mrs 5. S. Towner. pretty shopping bag
came from kind neghbor. The kitchen,
also, was well supplied with stock Of provi-
kind friends by the pastor family and himself
for making 1t one Of the pleasantest birthday
anniversaries that he had ever enjoyed. Fri
day evening the Christmas festival took place
at the Center. After an entertaining pro-
gramme, a little miss Of six years presented an
elegant gold pen and pencil to the kind and
faithful superintendent, Mr.. John Smith. Mrs.
Hibbard, former teacher, was surprised by
the presentation of a useful gift by one Of her
former pupils. The Christmas tree then yielded
presents for all. The exercises we're enlivened
by appropriate selections by the choir The
occasion was very enjoyable for all present.
THE whole number of deaths in town during
the year 1888 was sixty-four. To this number
might be added twelve more that occurred on
Berlin side. OF the whole number all but
three occurred in the village OF those in
town. forty were males and twenty-four fe-
males, occurring in each month as follows;
January, six; February, four; March, eight;
April, one; May, four; June, four; July, two;
August, twelve; September, four; October, six;
November, four; December, nine. The largest
number occurred in August, and the smallest in
April. There was but one death from March
27 to May a. and that occurred April 20. OF
the causes of death, twelve died of consump-
ton, eight of diphtheria, eight of old age, four
of hemorrhage OF the bowels, four of pneumo-
mia, two of cancer two Of heart disease, two OF
| paralysis, two of membraneous Group, two OF
| cerebro-spinal meningitis two OF apoplexy, two
| by accident, one each of Brights disease Of the
kidneys, measels, congestion of the brain, ty-
phoid fever, one from blood poisoning, and
seven from as many other causes. OF the ages,
six were under one year, six between one and
| five years, six between five and ten years, three
| between ten and fifteen years, three between
fifteen and twenty years, two between twenty
| and twenty-five years, five between twenty-five
| and thirty years, one between thirty and thirty
| five years, none between thirty five and forty
| years. two between forty and forty five years,
three between forty-fve and fifty years, two
between fifty and fifty-ive years, two between
| fifty-five and sixty years, four between sixty
and sixty-five years. six between sixty-ive and
seventy years, one between seventy and seven
| ty-fve years, one between seventy-five and
| eighty years, four between eighty and eighty
five years, five between eighty-five and ninety
years, one between ninety and ninety five years,
and one (the oldest) aged ninety.six years and
three months the next Oldest being ninety -four
years and three months. The average age of
the whole number (sixty-four) was forty years;
average age Of the eleven Oldest, eighty-eight
years. Twenty-six were males over twenty
one years of age, and fifteen were females over
eighteen years. OF these, fifteen were hus-
bands and seven were wives, nine were widow
ers and five widows. The total number of fatal
cases of diphtheria in town from the first one
| August g. 1880) to the last one December 3,
1889 is sixty. In 1882 there were ffty-two
deaths in town and eleven on Berlin side. The
average number in town, yearly, for the past
} ten years. was fifty-nine.
AN incident combining something of the
mysterious amusing and serious, occurred yes
terday morning. About three o'clock MIR.
! Hayden, night watchman at the Central YER
mont depot, went, according to his custom, to
; the home Of the engineer MIR. James A. Bow
| fax rodu to m
, for the morning train, which leaves at fifteen
! minutes past three o'clock. On his way back
to the depot he discovered that the train was
quietly drawing out of the station and had al
ready passed through the bridge. He hastened
} back to tell Mr.. Bowers who, with his son, A.
X. Bowers, Immediately went to arouse Mr.
| Trulan, the telegraph operator. They then
2 aroused Mr.. Howe, station agent, and from
| him received orders to procure team, drive
t to the junction, and get Will Pingree to tele-
D graph information to st. Albans and receive
r orders. While doing this the express train
Q from the south arrived Orders were given
Q for this train to come to Montpelier to receive
| and leave passengers Mr.. Bowers and son
0 returned by this train, and, procuring team
and driver the two accompanied Mr.. Howe in
search Of the missing train. Information had
Q been received that it had not arrived at Water
. bury, and it was found on curve near the
Q water tank, about mile this side of Middlesex
: village. There was no one near it; the ergine
d was found to have thirty pounds of steam; she
was shut off " and the lever was only one
| notch ahead of the "center." Tracks were
: found about the cars and engine. While in
specting the train and getting up steam, man
Z was seen coming down the track with a Ian
a tern. This turned out to be George H. Smile
!. of this village, who was the only passenger on
q the runaway train. Mr. Smile had taken a
n seat in the passenger car and become engaged
q in reading when the train first drew out OF this
: place, and being absorbed in his reading, was
q unconscious of the distance which he had gone.
n | When the train began to slack up he arose,
a took his valise, and went upon the platform,
i | supposing that he was approaching the juno
a ton Seeing nothing familiar in the surround
a | ings he dismounted and ran ahead to the en-
II | gine. There was no one in the cab and he
tried to apply the air-brake. but was unsuccess-
q full. He then blew the whistle repeatedly for a
y signal. Procuring lamp from the passenger
car he placed it on the rear platform, but 1t
, went out at once. The baggage car was locked,
u and he went to a farmhouse at some distance
for lantern, and was returning when seen by
l. Mr.. Howe and Mr.. Bowers. The train was
T backed up to this village and an investigation
IL begun, which has thus far resulted in ascer-
= tanning nothing definite as to the cause Of sim
l. gular an occurrence. Tracks were found in the
:, snow at the depot as of two men, but these
: could not be traced, and the watchman claims
n to have seen no one except Mr.. Smile Mr.
l. James nj. Foss was In town during the day yes
% terday looking up the affair 1t is clear that
the engine must have been meddled with, as 1t
" was left in its usual condition at the depot and
l. had stood attached to the cars for nearly two
g hours-and even in the condition in which 1t
q was found could not have been started with a
y good head " of steam and the throttle valve
Y wide open" The whole might have resulted
very seriously, as the train came to standstill
on curve where it would not have been dis
! covered by a train approaching from either d-
d recton until too late to have averted collision.
, j. D. CLoUGH, formerly student in Heath
u & Carleton's office but at present connected
81 with the Boston university law school, has
= been spending brief vacation in this vicinity.
u He will return to his studies to-day. George
y B. Shepard returned to his studies at Harvard
u on Friday last, much improved in health.
, Thomas C. Marvin, for many years a resident
], of Alburgh, has moved to this place to reside
, with his son, Morton Marvin. e, Mamie from
bee has resigned her position in the store Of II.
y c. Webster. Mrs. +. l. Pitkin is in Boston at
o tending the opera. She will return the last Of
q the week, Mr.. and Mrs. F. w. Shattuck Of
Y Fitchburg, Mass, have been visiting Mr.. and
9 Mrs. B. F. Brown, being on their wedding trip.
IL Mr.. Shattuck succeeded Mr.. Brown as prin-
!, cipal at Fitchburg. Gertrude Drew remains
q in the store of T. c. Phinney for the present.
:. &C. b. Putnam, formerly of the WATcHMAN
" staff, was in town over Sunday. Jennie
:, Phinney has so far recovered rs to be able to
y ride out. Rev. l.. G. Ware of Burlington
J. was in town on Monday. ..J. v Morrow has