Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-01-29

Hrookltmes
THE INSTANT DEATH or BBooKLGNE BoY IN
TENNESSEE by STRANGE ACCIDENT.
Arthur B. Stebbins, son Of j. b. Steb-
bins OF this town, went 10 Morgan county,
Tenn, two years ago last fall and bought
tract Of wild land which he has since been
opening for new farm by clearing, fencing,
breaking, planting vines and fruit trees,
erecting buildings, ETC. The present winter
be has been building house, the shingles
for which be manufactured on the place. On
laying them it was found that he had not
quite enough TO complete the roof, and on
tuesday of last week be and Geo. Lyon,
brother In. law, went TO the woods to cut
white oak tree to finish the balance OF the
shingles required. They saved down tree
and had sawed the first block nearly of when,
without the slightest warning, tall, dead
oak tree standing at considerable distance
from the two men, as they we're saving with
their backs towards it, fell with great force
across the log they we're saving, striking Mr.
Stebbns across the neck and shoulders,
breaking OF dislocating several vertebie, and
killing him instantly. As the falling tree
struck the log on which they we're at work II
broke in several pieces and bounded or rolled
away and did not rest upon its victim. SO
great was the conclusion received upon tue
shoulders that the bone Of one Of the legs
was broken. But the skin was nowhere rup-
tured. The blood flowed profusely from one
ear. A little examination convinced Mr. Ly-
on that life was extinct and he ran for as
sstauce. As he passed the house, 20 or so
rods away, he notified his young wife Of the
accident and she was quickly on the fatal
spot only to verify the fact that in one in
slant Of time all their fond hopes of bright
future we're blighted. Her father Mr.. Daniel
Lyon, was a few miles away at the time OF
the accident. The boy upon running horse
soon brought him to the distressing scene.
He and the widow Immediately made prepar-
atiobs to bring the body TO Brookline for in
terment. They arrived by the evening train
Saturday night. The funeral was held on
Sunday and the body laid beside that Of his
mother and little brother. The bereavement
falls with particular force on the young Wild
ow, and on the father Of the deceased, who
buried bis wife only last June.
The theory Of the somewhat mysterious
accident is this the ground had been frozen,
but at that time had just thawed out and was
very soft. The roots Of this tall old tree or
stub we're completely decayed, so that 1t
stood like post without braces in the deep
soft soil, and Telling the heavy green tree 10
near il Jared the ground so as to make 1t
lose it's balance. The soft earth yielded to
the pressure slowly at first, but finally let it
] drop AS blhleu. - IL ulhuo hOAho ~ Whn
! drowned by that Of the saw, aud coming be-
| hind the two workers it did not give the slight
! est warning.
Arthur Barber Stebbins was born in Brook
| line, Aug lG, 1858. He received a good
academic education at Townshend and lived
] with his father on the farm till March ~,
| 1878. when be engaged AS clerk in the extern
sive hardware store Of Stebbns Il Co, al
Rochester, MINI. March 90 1879, be wa
called home on the occasion Of extreme sick
ness in the family and remained in Brooklint
one aud one-half years. Daring this period
he assisted his father in building set OF
barns, and returned to the store in August
1850. In February, 1852, he was sent e
Vermont by certain parties there to purchase
and ship to Minnesota a carload OF thorough
| bred stock with unlimited discretion in buy
ing and the amount of money to invest. The
success Of this venture placed him in thu
front rank in that city Is a business younl
man and be bad many offers to go into bust
ness. But bis innate desire for an independ
ent business led him to strike out for bin
self in September, 1883. He came TO Yer
mont, married Hattie Belle Lyon, dsughte
OF Daniel Lyon, then Of New York city, AM
went 10 Tennessee as above stated. He wa
a young man who added 10 his unusual en-
terprise and executive force great kindness o
heart, which won for him many fast friends
Private letters from Mauatee county
Florida, report the late cold weather as yer
destructive. The oranges that were nc
gathered were frozen, and the leaves on tn
old trees were killed. 1t is found that tn
trees in the young groves are all killed an
will prove a total loss. The fish in the wa
tiers were so chilled that owners Of oraDg
groves we're hauling them by wagon load
for fer,lizipg purposes. Odd residents tbs
have lived there for so years say that the
never saw such cold wave before.