The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1892-07-07
4 HAPPY SEQUEL.
STORY OF THE FOURTH IN A CON-
NeCTicUT TOWN
The Boys Rang Church He'll Against
the wardcn's Prohibition and Had to
Answer for 1t. but Got ON with Flying


Answer for 1t. but Got on with Flying
colors.
For years the hoyso of huntington Cen
ser have been IN the habit of ushering IN
the Fourth 10y the ringing of St. Paul's
Episcopal church bell 5 " Linsley
the aged sexton, who is also senior war
den. lives near the church and dislikes
to be awakened by the clangOr of the
bell So, ON the afternoon Of July 3. he
went to the church. nailed up the Will
dows. barrlcaled the doors, removed
the clapper of the bell and chuckled to
himself as he thought that for once
Fourth of July would come and he
would not be disturbed Mr. Linsley
failed Ia realize the intense patriotism
If the Huntington Center boys Neither
bolts nor bars could prevent them from
ringing that bell They effected an en-
trance 10 the church in SOME mysterious
way, tied a railroad coupling pin in the
bell for clapper and at midnight the
weary sexton started up IN bed at tho
hrt sound and petulantiy exclaimed,
Darn those brats' As the bell con-
unued to ring the old mans dander
arose until, when the last joyous notes
died away he was raging
The first thing Mr. Llnsley did after
breakfast next morning WAS to hunt up
the young men who had detied him and
caused his old Adam to rise The first
one he found was Ohm =. Shelton. a
Young man well connected. Mr.. Linsley
backed by the wardens and yestrymen
of his church visited Grand Juror Hub
bard In Shelton. five miles away al
though there Is Il grand Juror III Hunt
ingtou Center, and made complaint
against young Shelton for bnrglarously
entering the church. IA charge which
If proved meant state prison for the
young man THIS action aroused public
sentiment Every person iii the town,
male and female, adults and youths
took sides Families were divided
lovers parted and the warmest friend
ships were dissolved The complainants
persisted III the prosecution, and then
the boycott was applied. The maids and
matrons who got up and successfully
church funds sent note to the wardens
that unless the prosecution was aban-
doned they would never ger mp another
festival The owner Of the village hall
where the church fairs We're held sent
word that the church could not hire the
hall any more The village barber also
notified the wardens and vcstrymen that
aid s,f 81, - hon,
This pressure upon the compliments
caused them to waver IN their deterlni-
nation to prosecute. The citizens sub
scribed literally to IA purse to defend
young Shelton, and engaged Attorney
Williams, of Birmingham, ono of the
most successful criminal lawyers in the
valley The publication Of
the story in The Sun came to the atten-
ton of George b. McLane, "A noted law
yer Of Baltimore, and he wrote Offering
his services us an attorney and also
financial aid Letters prtlsing the pa
trlotism of the boys we're received from
all over the country, one coming from
Oakland, Cal. All ihese were brought
to the attention of Sexton Linsley and
MS DIOllitI olilCluiSi ttud lllty tll'iic az
offer to withdraw the case if Shelton
would pay tho costs. This his lawyer
refused to do Then the prosecutors
gave way to public opinion, visited the
grand juror, paid twenty-five dollars
for expenses incurred. and dropped the
case.
The victory was won, aud it seemed
proper that it should be sigualized in
some manner Tho outributors to the
purse to defend Shelton expressed their
to let the money 20 for 4
celebration. The girls and their mothers
agreed To furnish eatables and finally 1t
was decided TO have grand time To-
night. This was the cause Of the gather
ing. and tho American eagles screams
were never more strident and never
more patriotic hearts than
tonight There WIS i general outpour-
ing of the people from the country round
about Bridgeport, twenty miles away
sent several carryall loads AnsonIa's
delegation came with Il drum corps, red
fire and pyrutechnlos. From Monroe,
Stcpuey. Trumbull, Seymour, Shelton.
IN nam dllil i(bl0hhih III IA I'.t
timers of Fourth of July patriotism
poured IN. until 1t WAS estimated that
, 900 were present.
Al 1870 the village naidens appeared
dressed IN white, with red and blue sash
es pinned across their breasts, The
SWANS. with small flags IN their nat
bands, followed, aud the fun began
4 la -iIln,,aa In. Of
Chinese Ianterus were hung, and When
these were lighted the pentup patriot
ISM was let loose
A cayalcado of horsemen was formed
headed by ban4l, and the rooession
passed around the green, serenadlng the
sexton on the way Cannon
doomed, red lire was burned and rockets
and candles discharged, and IA Fourth Of
July celebration was begun
Ia the ceuteR Of the green /. stand haa
been erected, and on this the girls, tho
hand and the, peakeis were seated
Then Hon ID. n. Morgan, ex-mayor of
Bridgeport, made a patriotic address
which aroused the assembled crowd and
was cheercd to the echo. He was toll
lowed by more music anI non. hODert
l.. Gilbert Of Birmingham. who lauded
the patriotism of the boys who rang the
bell in spite of adverse circumstances
More music, and Colonel d. l.. Durand
OF Birmingham, made an address
America was sung by the big assembly
and then were let loose hundreds of rock
cts and candles The crowd was in
slted to Wheeler's hall, whore u least
prepared by the patriotic girls was