New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-10
SENATOR MlNDERSoN IN VERMONT.
WITH GENERAL PATRICK LOOKING FOR A TRACT
OF LAND TO PURCHASE.

WITH GENERAL. PATRICK LOOKING FOR TRACT
OF LAND TO PURCHASE.
Vergennes, VT, Aug. (speciaD.-Senator hahoerSoh
md General Patrick, Of Omaha, Neo', nave Deen
spending some days here in the attempt TO negotiae
for the transfer of several hundred acres OF land on
the shore of Lake Champlain. The Senator mas oeen
in Vermont month and he Is mach pleased with the
attractions the State offered summer residence ior
man Of his tastes and he has been LOOKING ABOUT loI
some place that should present just the comDnauoh Vi
mountains and water that he DESIRED before se'ls.
General Patrick, who with him and Is as desrou' VI
finding a summer home among the mountains aS 'i0
Senator is one Of Omahas weathest citizens, ana Is
most widely known In the East through HIS 0oni''
with the Patrick torpedo.
This is remarkable town, simply because IL h1PPo''
10 be city, II is generally stated that |ersehes
the Oldest city in the United States but 1t Is not ior
its charter which take out in 1Iee, Is oa'e '"o
Years later than that Of New-Haven and Hartford.
Nevertheloss yercennes is the smallest city, and ont
NJ 78o inhabitants has 304 voters. IL has null
hedged municipal government owns mayor 1our
aldermen three councilmen and all the other sppeho
apes Of CITY Bnt no members of the city government
are particularly inclined TO boast OF their rank Ino
mavor prefers TO be known rather the president OF
the National Horseshoe Nail Company, that mas lts
buildings near the site Of the place where 800 POUNDS
NJ bullets were run out TO blow the fight ont OF the
British at Plattsburg and on Lake Champain III the
War Of 1912. The city clerk Is also clerk Oh Uhe
district court that valves daily sessions, sts once Ill
three months and then generally only to adjourn.
This remarkable official prefers the utle Oh luuse Vi
the Probate Court He is the historical authority IN
the CITY and lives in the Oldest house, that OF General
strong who was his grandfather. The outside OF the
house has been preserved Just as built ana mas que vi
those aualnt doors seen rarely now, which mas all
American eagle carved the panels under the IAN
shaped lights.
That vergennes Is a city is fault of it's own IN
acitv thp
River which mark the head Of navigation 1t Is these
falls that doom Vergehnes always TO remain Guy ~
long as there are inhabitants enough TO run the place.
At the close of the Revolution these falls marked e
function of three counties which could not agree over
the ownership of the falls They set OIL tract OF
land a mile and half north and south by quarter
east and west and when ST. John de Crevecoeur con-
sul al New York had agreed with Ethan Allen that IL
should be named Nergennes, after Comtc &c eF6ehcs'
French Minister. the first city charter granul III
Vermont was secured for IT, and the bIou city started
IN 1894 in the municipal business with its first mayor
For some years there has been desire to unload us
costly stted government and to adopt one better
snited 70 the number Of people and the size OF terr-
tory but the three original counties VIII nave no part
IN Vercennes They have no mind TO renew the
sohabbIe over the ownership Of the falls Inc
populatiOn keeps about the same, and according 10
the census has only lost one for each Of me ten 3es
some descendants OF Lafayete's companions III AlcF
lea live in the city.
Neor the foot of the falls lives woman OF wlom
yergennes IS inclined to be proud-Nrs Daniels inc
woman pilot Of the otter Creek. sho is bright woman
Of Canadian birth who has been on the river ever
since she was married thirty years ago. Her hu'odNu
owned n tIny steamer that ran through the tortuous
channel Of the otter Creek to It's mouth siN mites
away, and then all up and down Lake Champlah'. At
first the captain sometimes left his wife at the wheei
for n few moments only but as she began 70 eeV
familiar with the channel and learned all about tle
boat the time was increased. Finally wheh tTeI
bought second Mrs Daniels went to take out
a license as u pilot. The examining board WAS re-
Iuctant but Mrs. Daniels insisted being examined
and secured her license as pilot. she runs e'ciler
steamer and goes all the lake from one end 10
the other with excursion parties that make parucu''''
point of securing her services. The chanhel III tn'
otter Creek is not smooth sailing, but when she Is
at the helm nothing ever happens For some tHe sho
occ,pied the pilot house regularly every DAY uulhG
the season. but now she only goes occasionally MIS-
Daniels saws she feels Just much at homo at the
wheel as she in her own home.
81 know all abou: a steamer downstairs rs Wei
as I'D and / could get engineers license Just as
well as did the pilots, only I'd have 70 wear trousers
and Pm not anxious for that In this house there arc
four pilots and three engineers. Ny husband ana TWO
sons ns @ye IS OUiS Sd oons woman to ali appearances
not day over thirty five; yet there are two small
crandmother Her face IS pleasant Will. 6rlghS
hlue eyes dark hair. and curly, short lIlaSe
On the forehead The two steamers tie up ~
night at little wharf IN front Of the cottage on the
river bank Between this wharf and the falls Is the
place where McDonOughs flagship, the Saratoga, was
tut which scared of the British aud made them va
cate Lake Champain and Plattsburg in lsl2' Iradl,
ton has II that forty days from the time the nrst
tree was feled the saratoga was launched anu COM
pleted. The shipbuilder. who was a friend OF NC
DonOugh and came from NewNOri 10 build the meet
settled in Vergennes. and his grandson one Qi tne civ
apo hecaries, has among his historical c0LeGb0hS
mI ,ket presented by McDonough TO his smpDuilulhS
friend after the n,
The scenery about Vergennes is superb. Inc ar
has many OF the virtues Of the Adironaaeks win the
advantages Of magnificent views OF thc mountains.
The lake shore where General Patrick ana senator
Manderson are intending q put up summer honles IS
rocky but Is indented by pretty llttle pays BOlh
north and south Lake Chanplan stretches lts Deautl
ful waters and wooded shores feW miles ABOVE is
DR. " seward Xebb's farm. on the opposite shore
against the clouds The sunsets here are beautiful.
and the shores of Lake Champlan defy description Few
people know the Vermont side thoroughly. and those
few consider Il without doubt the finest shore IN many
states The fish in Lake Champlaln afford continual
sport and in the woods Of this section Of Vermont the
dsar are increasing In number owing 10 the vigorous
action OF the Fish and Game League.
The purchase has not yet been closed. but it Is eN
pected that an arrangement will be reached IN few
days II probable that both Senator Manderson ana
General Patrick viii then have houses ready for Occu
pancy by another season.
A SEA BEACH TRAIN THROWN FROM THE rRACh