The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1890-12-05

before the new undergrade bridge will be
ready for use and many who remember
deaths there are willing to wait for safe
ty there. A passage way sufficient for
one team is supposed to be kept open at
the Morehouse crossing, but it is often
blockaded by teams carrying supplies
and delays of five to Is minutes occur.
Stone for the backing of these brown
stone walls comes from Redfield's ledge
near Fairfield depot and is hoisted out of
the quarry by a derrick worked by one
horse power. And here is the usual
weekly accident. A couple of Italians
were hurt by the explosion of quantity
of dynamite at the quarry, Saturday, one
of them, Andrea Salvatore, so seriously
that he was taken to the hospital at
Bridgeport. His chances of recovery are
good.
Mrs Finette, widow of Capt Abraham
Benson, of wnom Rev w. S. Jones spoke
in his sermon, Sunday, as the oldest
communicate in the parish, passed away,
Saturday morning, at 10 o'clock. She
was born in New Milford, January %,
1904 and was daughter of John Edwards.
In 1881, she married Capt Benson at the
Mariners church in New York and soon
came to Fairfield, where hotel or s'pub-
lie house" was kept for years on the cor
ner diagonally opposite the residence of
the late Samuel Glover. Here was kept
an important road house in the days of
stage coach communication between New
York and Boston; here also was kept
the post office for years. In the '30s,
Capt Benson, who was seafaring man,
had command of vessel running be-
tween Bridgeport and New York and
also held commands under Commodore
Vanderbilt. He spent many years on
the water and several of his sons be-
came seamen, one at least circumnavi-
eating the globe. He was much older
than Miss Edwards, who was his third
wife and they had one daughter, also
named Finette. She married John Mich
OILS and lives in the old home. Capt Ben
son died in 1913, at good old age. Mrs
Benson has enjoyed generally good
health and has, until within few years,
been able to perform household duties
without fatigue; but, since the blizzard,
she has been gradually failing. The fu-
neral was attended, Tuesday afternoon
Mt 2, from the late residence, Rev w. S.
Jones conducting the services. The bur-
ial was in the old Methodist cemetery,
by the side of husband and step-children.
Her death was caused by old age. Mrs
Benson, who was member of the Epis-
copal church, was of calm and serene,
yet firm and positive character, making
her individuality felt in the world in
years of her life, she was tenderly cared
for by her daughter and family.
Only by the exertions of a large mum.
Der of neighbors who crowded to the
spot, attracted by the flames and smoke
of his burning barns, was the house Of
Robert Dickie saved from destruction BY
fire, Saturday afternoon. There were
two barns on the place occupied by MI
Dickie, one within 80 feet of the house
and about 200 feet Of the railroad. This
was found to be on fire, about II As, by
Yankee Ed, one of Mr. Dickie's workmen
who Immediately spread the alarm. For.
tunately, the wagons and horses were
not in the barns, which burned with
great fierceness, so strong was the wind
Seeing that there was no hope of saving
these, the neighbors formed a hook and
ladder company and a bucket brigade
and, with such tools as were at hand and
could be obtained in the excitement, tore
down shed and wash house standing
between the house and barns, while 9th.
ers kept wet the roof and sides of the
house. Even this, however, would have
availed little, had the wind blown the
flames and sparks toward the dwelling
The house was not damaged, although
a small building few feet away was
burned. The barns, about 24x36 ano
40x60 feet, were filed with hay and un
threshed rye, Is to 20 tons of the former
and the product of IL acres of the latter
grain, five mowers, reaper, cider and
other mills, about 30 cords of wood and
many other articles were totally destroy,
ed. Mr. Dickie estimates his loss al
$4,000, on which there was very little in
surance, scarcely more than 5000. The
barns, which were old, formed part Of
the Rolf estate, of which Harry Mead ii
one of the heirs. 1t is thought that they
were not insured. The loss falls partic
ularly heavy upon Mr. Dickie, who i!
contending with difficulties, especially
as it is reported that the burned build
ings will not be rebuilt by the owners
of the estate. To shelter his horses, o
which he has IA, Mr. Dickie has had
shed put up, about rs feet long and l:
feet deep. 1t was built of lumber tina
he had on the place and was put togeth
err by the willing hands of neighbors
Saturday afternoon and evening, bein,
finished before 10 o'clock. As to tn
origin of the fire, Mr. Dickie can give N,
idea. There are two theories, spark
from locomotive and the result of to
bacco smoking. The former seems hard
ly tenable, because of the distance from
the railroad, with the wind in the wrong
direction; the second is accepted b.
many, though Mr. Dickie is slow to be
leve it. There is no suspicion of incen
diarism.
The household effects of Mrs Georg,
Dean, whose husband recently left Fair
field, will be sold at auction, Friday, b!
Auctioneer B. +. Buckley.
a.. Lincoln Kirk, the elocutionist an,
character impersonator. will give one o