Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-05-25
IN THE LOCAL FIELD.
NoRTH BENNINeToN.


for an indefinite time.
Rev. R. B. Tozer is attending the May
meeting at Saratoga Springs, this week.
The band will give an open air concert,
Saturday evening, if the weather Is
favorable.
The members of the Baptist Junior
Society are preparing for Children's Day
exercises.
J.B. McNamar has leased, what for a
number of years was known as the
Paran Creek home, and will open it
soon.
George yelling, who has recently
graduated from a chemical school, in
Boston, will remain here at the paper
mill of his fathers for while, at least.
Rev. G. H. Peck is announced to read
a paper at the meeting of the Congrega-
tiOnal churches and ministers, to be held
in st. Johnsbury, next month.
The Rev. G. R. Seymour of Benning--
ton, will preach in the Congregational
church next Sunday morning, in ex-
change with the Rev. G. II. Peck.
Miss Hattie Harwood took the cars at
the station yesterday morning, to attend
the marriage of school friend in New
Jersey.
"Amiable Lawrence, after a winter in
New York, is again seen in our streets,
apparently in better health than for
some time.
Mrs. Walker of Chicago, sister of Mrs.
L. P. Sheldon and Mrs. W. E. Simonds,
is in town. She is somewhat out of
health and hopes to recruit in this salu-
brious climate.
There will be game of base BALL on
the grounds here, the Hooslck Corners
nine and the Olympics of this place. on
Saturday afternoon at 8 O'Clock.
Col. J. H. Walbridge appears at the
front in the garden business He now
has tomato plants in blossom and pota-
toes that are beginning to bud.
W. w. Howe, former superintendent
of the graded school, here, is to deliver
an address at the coming convention OF
the Washington County IN. r., Teachers
Association.
He. White is putting new fume
into his mill, which will necessitate a
partial shut down. Business appears to
be pretty good at his works. A few days
ago an order for 200 gross of scopes was
received and Wednesday, came another
for 100 gross, the latter to be shipped at
once. The same day he shipped num-
Der of gross direct to England.
The race track is now in frstclass
condition, and horsemen are daily using
it speeding their horses. Already
several entries for the purses to be trot-
ted for at the coming fair have been
made, one party in Granville having
three horses to enter. NJ. H. Deming of
Arlington was down, Tuesday, with his
mare, Alma, and gave her few spins
around the track. The mare appeared
to be in first-class shape.
A portion of the family of F. B. Jen-
nings have arrived at their summer home
and the balance of the family will be
here next week. Mr.. Jennings has
made some noticeable changes around
his grounds, which are looking remark
ably we'll. Under his direction, in the
spring, two maple trees, one fourteen
inches through, and one about twelve,
were taken up, moved across the road,
set out again, and now are in full leaf
There are two or three more larger trees
that are to be treated the same way in
tie fall.
One of the we'll known men of Benning-
ton County is Col. James II. Walbridge
of North Bennington, whose title comes
to him as the result of nearly four years
good service during the late civil war.
Phe Colonel has had quite an experience
during his life, and in his pleasant home
is always glad to entertain visitors, and
during such time as one may be there
some of the incidents that haYe come un-
der his observation are generally told,
and in such an interesting and quiet man.
ner that they are really enjoyed. Most
of the Colonel's life has been passed in
North Bennington. He was, however,
one of the early pioneers that went to
California, having gone there from North
Bennington in 1852. His route at that
time was the one then generally taken,
via the Isthmus of Panama. When he
embarked on the steamer at New York,
which was to take him to Colon, there
was not person aboard that he had eV-
er seen, and yet before many days out he
made several acquaintance. At Colon
the passengers embarked on train over
the Panama railroad which was complet-
ed at that time about eleven miles. From
this terminus the passengers walked to
Gorgona, and there took dug-outs and
were padded down the river until they
reached Panama. To person who of
late years has been through that country
some idea can be had of the inconven-
fence and dangers experienced at that
time in reaching the then new Eldorado.
1t was while BANNER representative
and the Colonel were reviewing recollec-
tions of days spent together on the 18TH
mus of Panama, that these matters were
brought up, and the scribe naturally felt
interested in hearing of events that tran
spired in California in those early days,
and to hear of them from one that was az
eye witness. He learned that Mr.. Wal
bridge arrived in San Francisco in May,
1852, and went direct to gold mines in
Downville. He remained there until
winter set in, when in company with
some parties from Connecticut, he came
back to San Francisco and went into a
printing office to work as roller boy
At that time the first formed vigilance
committee had been disbanded, and crime
was again beginning to incl ease. The
subject of starting another was being ag
itated. About this time there was mucf
excitement caused by the course taker
by James King Williams. editor of the
San Francisco Bulletin, paper publish
ed in the interests of good government
to defeat the candidacy for alderman o
one James p. Carey, who was editor o.
the Sunday Times The former proclaim
MH