The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-07
A Longer Encampment for
State Militia.
Former Resident Who Looked
For Old Time Ferries.
One Man Who Had Greater Path in
a Mad Stone Than PaSteur.

sible. the movement 10 have the term OF
the annual encampment extended meets
with strong endorsement and support.
II is admitted that the time now given to
the encampment is entirely too short to
obtain the best results, because the troops
after Eve days in camp are but just reap
ing the first fruits of experience in the
field where they are compelled TO pull up
stakes and march for home again.. An
extension OF five DAYS more would not
only more deeply familiarize them with
those branches OF the service wnich
can be learned in the held alone,
but will permit much broader and
more comprehensive course OF instruc-
tion than any heretofore attempted.
There are some people who do not favor
the annual encampments at all and who are
disposed 10 regard them in the light OF
waste of the peoples money; but they
are of that class when finds in everything
that does not line with their own views,
however, narrow or mistaken they may
be, something to growl and grumbie at.
IL any unprejudiced person wishes to
discover the difference that has been
wrought by there annual encampments
let him compare the work of the brigade
at the first encampment Iifteen or sixteen
years ago. At that time the men had but
three days in camp and a rather sorry ag-
gregation they were, to be sure, but the
splendid work of General Rhodes at that
frst and at subsequent encampments
soon brought order. system and discipline
out of incongruity and chaos. And so the
good work has been going on since until
today Rhode Island can boast of as well
drilled, well disciplined and efficient q
body OF citizen soldiery as any in the
country. Those who think the State Will
do enough for the militia when IL provides
ample and adequate armories are mis-
taken; they do not understand the needs
of the service or the limitations of drill
hall instruction., for the drill hall has its
limits, and 1t may be safe 10 say they are
pretty narrow. The manual at arms,
marching by companies, battalions or
regiments, and ceremonies such as that OF
inspection, may be taught there, but that
ID about all. and they constitute but the
primary grade In instruction in the many
important and practical duties of the
soldier.
A few days ago there arrived in this
city q gentleman who for nearly 80 years
has been q resident OF Montana. Before
that his home was in Providence, where
he was born. Yesterday he took a walk
about the city to note the changes that
had taken place In the three decades that
have passed since he was here last. Mag
nificent new buildings he saw on every
hand, streets now broad and well paved,
which, when he went away, were little
better than large gangways and
hundred-and-one other improvements.
Curiousiy enough, however, these great
public improvements were not the
ones that impressed him most
Speaking to the Gossiper he said: 81
took jaunt down South Water street.
There isn't a great deal of change
there, but OF course there is some
had q notion that i would take a trip
across in the ferry beat from the foot OF
James street. Well, when i got down
there found there was no ferry at all.
The little house where we used to wait
for the ferryman to cross Is gone, and so
are the ferry steps and the float. How /
remember that float. / used to go down
there and fish for mummychaugs with
piece OF string and bent pin. And
Lewis, old 'sardine, Lewis, we used to
call him; what's become OF him? He
used to be the terror OF the boys in those
days and many a time he's driven me
of that float with smarting cut from
his fattan cane.
Sand found the lower ferry gone.
too; the one that used to ply between
India street anc Hills wharf 1 remem-
Der the old ferryman with his bushy
white whiskers and his sons. Tom Dick
and Harry we used to call them, but /
never knew what other name belonged to
them. They used to live over near Hill's
wharf in an old hulk that had passed its
days OF usefulness as a schooner and had
been housed over and made place OF
residence for old Tom and his family.
always remember the old ferryman with
more than ordinary interest. for do you
know ne saved me from becoming food
for the eels we used to catch with bobs
down there. How did il happen? Well,
in this way: II was the day before Christ
mas and had been sent over TO some re-
latives OF ours in South Providence with
. bundle containing remembran ces
Il stayed longer than i should have done
and when got to the ferry at HilIs
wharf 1t was pitch dark and cold as well.
That didn't bother me and SO waited
for the boat which came in due time
Going down the ice covered steps 1 slip
ped and pitched head first into the water
couldn't swim then and II the old ferry
man hadn't fished me out with an oar 1
shouldn't have been around here now
trying to find out why these two ferries
have been abolished.
1t didn't take long to explain to the
visitor that the erection OF the Point
street bridge in 1870 sounded the death
knell of bot the Jemes street and HIPS
wharf ferries. They continued TO run
for some time after the opening OF the
bridge, however, hut patronage grew
rhhifer anu rmhiier until the WnOle In
come WAS not equal to that OF day
laborer. Then both the Providence river
ferries passed away forever.
Even in these days people are to be
found who believe I'm the virtues OF this
mad stone. One OF these the Gossiper
met recently and an effort was made 10
obtain from him the foundation upon
which he based his belief 81 can't
tell you where the mad stone comes
from" he said. "some say Il IA a peculiar
cslcnreous growth frequently found In the
stomach OF deer while others declare that
II is species OF tufs. There isn't any
doubt In my mind, however, that where.
YER IL comes from this stone possesses
properties which enable II TO draw from
wound all poisonous matter. IL is soak
ed In warm water and applied to the
wound when, II the bite Is one OF q dog
that II suffering from rabies, II will adj
here for some time and then fall of.
When Il is soaked again, greenish matter
exudcs from IL. IL is applied several times