St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-03-09
ROBERT SLATER.
A Strange Story of a Caledonia County
Boy.

~ Pbh""kN P'N'J -"
Boy.
EDITOR OF CALEDoNIAN:-l thank
you for enquiries made through the
columns Of the paper for relatives
of Robert II. mot S. Slater. Your
telegram in reply has not reached
me, but your letter is al hand today,
and | have sent a letter to his uncle
in Michigan.
The story Of young Slater is a
repetition, probably, of what has
occurred often in this far Western
country.
On Friday evening, Feb. 10th,
there came to my neighbor, just
across the street, a fine looking
young man, between thirty and
thirty.hve years Of age-a strong,
clean quiet man, and entered into
an engagement to work in the or
chard. He had a cold, contracted he
said, in San Francisco, but he work
ed all day Saturday. That evening
he was taken with a chill-a congcs-
tive chill, probably. Sunday, a ply
sician was called in, who left him
about noon saying that he vas
threatened with pneumonia, but
that the case was not at all critical.
He received the best of care at the
hands Of the family into which he
had so recently come, and toward
evening said he felt better, but al
most Immediately alterward was
seized with a rigorand suddenly died.
The question Immediately arose
who was he? Whose son, brother,
friend? Where was his home.
Whose hearts will bleed? To all
such inquiries no one present could
return an answer. The only clue
was given by a fellow workman.
Mr.. Slater had said to him on the
previous day while weighing himself
or a Fairbanks scale, Il was raised
within three or four miles of that
scale factory 1t was this remark
of his that led me to telegraph to
you asking you to inquire for rela-
tives. Not a scrap of paper could be
found among his effects to help us
out. A lock of woman's hair care
fully folded and carried in his coat
pocket told of some one that he
loved. Evidences Of his thrift were
found in books of deposit showing
that he had an estate of about two
thousand dollars. Within a few
days past we have learned from one
OF his fellow workmen in Oakland
that two years ago he visited Yer
mont, where he has two married sis
tiers living; the husband of one is en-
gagged in the manufacture of cheese.
He had, recently parents living, but
where, and the names and residence
Of his sisters are as yet unknown to
us. On Monday afternoon follow
ing his death | conducted the funeral
service and a few kind friends gath
cred at his grave where he had a
Christian burial-"By strangers
honored, and by strangers %mourned."
And now a few general items. Be-
fore me is a bouquet of wild butter
cups, which youthful hands have
gathered. Our almond trees are
in bloom and the fields and hills are
green.
Two evenings since we were pain
fully reminded of the days of ankle
ty through which we of this vicinity
passed last April. Arumbling sound,
followed by a sharp earthquake
shock, took all the heart out of us
for a short time, but no harm
was done and no shocks have fol-
lowed.
California is deeply interested in
the annexation of the Hawaiian
Islands. Once annexed we shall
claim San Francisco as the center of
the United States.
HENRY E. JEwETT.
Vacaville, Cal, Feb. "a, '93.