Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-05-22
DROWNED IN THE CONNECTICUT
The Sad Fate of Elbridge Houghton
of Putney.

of Putney.
About 8 o'clock Wednesday morning
row boat was seen floating down the river
past this village by several people. Those
who were on the bridge over the Connecti-
cut, looking into the boat, could see a bas-
ket, and a bottle. One oar was dragging
from the rear seat, and the other oar was in
the oar-lock. Yesterday 1t became known
that early in the morning a man had been
seen coming down the river in boat by
Mr.. Matthews, who lives in Chesterfield,
n. H., short distance below the suspen-
sion bridge, a little over two miles above this
village. A Phoenix representative visited
Mr.. Matthews yesterday afternoon and
learned that the facts of the case were as
follows: When Mr.. Matthews awoke about
. o'clock Wednesday morning he looked out
of the window and saw a man in boat i'm
what is known as "lIastings rapids di-
rectly below the suspension bridge. The
boat was headed up stream and the man
was pulling for all he was worth, but he
could make no Roadway against the current,
and drifted down opposite Mr.. Matthews
house. 1t was evident from his appearance
that the man was drunk, and Mr.. Matthews
thought of putting out in his boat and
bringing him TO shore but the current there
is so strong that he did not make the vent
ure. He watched the man, however, and
he came to land i'm the cove few rods be-
low the Matthews house.
When Mr.. Matthews went down to the
cove the man was in the boat holding
on to the bushes on the bank. He was
laxative, but in an ugly mood Mr.. Mat
thews asked him what he was doing, and
understood him to reply that he was out on
a drunk, or something to that effect, but
the man was angered when this answer was
repeated to him. The man said he had
been on the river all night, and was going
where the river would carry him. He
thought he was about 13 miles from Brat
tleboro and said he knew the river well.
as he had RATED logs upon it, etc. Mr..
Matthews tried to persuade him to come
ashore, but without avail. the man respond
ing with, Your a pretty damn good fell
low, but if | want any of your help will
call upon you When asked if he was not
in trouble he said: "In trouble? Guess
not, and what are You going to do about it
if | amp In the boat was basket. con-
tanning Ratchet and few carpenters
tools. There was also quart bottle coll
tanning a small quantity of liquor. The
man was so ugly and obstinate that Mr..
Matthews finally left him and went back
and began milking his cows. The man in
the boat soon afterward made an attempt
to row up the river, evidently with the in
tention of coming to land in front of the
Matthews house, but in this he was unsuc-
cessiul. and after he stopped rowing he fell
back upon the seat in a drowsy condition
and the boat drifted down the stream.
This was the last seen of the man. but Mr.
Matthewss son, who works in this village.
fhnmuhf Ina l,a h,,n Z la
the Thomas farm when he came down to
begin work at clock.
Mr.. Matthews described the man as about
30 years old, strongly built, of a sandy COM
plcXion, wearing whiskers on the side of
his face and under the chin. He had on a
black coat, but his trousers were covered
by pair of overalls. He wore a SLOUGH
hat. Mr.. Matthews had been told that the
description answered that of Elbridge
Houghton of Putney.
On learning these facts The Phoenix sent
to Putney, giving a description of the man
and an account of his appearance at the
Matthews place and of the empty boat
floating down, and asked if Mr. Houghton
was still in Putney. The answer came by
telephone last evening. The last seen of
Mr.. HOughton by those acquainted with
him was Tuesday evening, when he left
West Chesterfield to cross the river i'm a
boat He must have passed the night on
the river, and there seems to be no doubt
that after he left the Matthews place lie fell
into the river and was drowned. The boat
was stopped at Vernon.
The first intimation that Putney people
had of the drowning was when The Phoenix
began to investigate the matter. 1t has
been learned this, Friday, morning that
Mr.. Houghtons family have begun a search
for the body Mr.. Houghton went to West
Chesterfield to make repairs on a boat