Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-02
VERMONT HAPPENINGS.
WHAT A WEEK BRINGS FORTH IN
THE WAY OF NEWS.
The Happenings OF Seven Days on Our
Hills and in Our Valleys Condensed
and Photographed for Busy
FREQ Press Readers,

Alpheas w. Giles, formerly of Brattlc-
boro and Bellows Falls, has been placed on
probation by Judge Dewey of the Superior
Court at Boston. Giles pleaded guilty to
an indictment charging him with the en-
bczzlement of S22S while he was the book
Keeper of the Gloucester Fish company.
All of the money was lost i'm playing poll
cy. Giles made a confession of his specu-
lations in May, 1894, to G.. A. Watts of the
board of directors. Giles then went to
Canada. About four months ago he came
back voluntarily, and has since been rem
dering efficient service to the concern in
obtaining the lost money from the policy
men with whom he lost 1t, and against
whom the fish company has brought suit.
At a hearing Giles counsel asked the
court to place the case upon file in view
of the serious Illness of Giles wife, the eff
forts he has made to help his old employer
to get back what he took, and also the
recommendation which his employer gave
him. Mayor Robinson of Gloucester. who
Is director of the company said that
the company would be satisfied If Giles
was placed upon probation, as 1t thought
that he had already suffered enough. He
has given information which has enabled
the company to successfully prosecute
suits which 1t has brought against the
policy men with whom he lost its money.
II. NJ. Ayars. counsel for the fish company,
also testified to the service which Giles
lldI uOHt LOT lIt company Ill tne SUITS
referred to, in two of which judgments for
5000 and $1,000. respectively have been re-
covered against policy men who are able
TO pay. Treasurer @. II. Watts of the com
pany testified that the company did not
desire to press sentence upon him, and,
In fact, did not want him arrested when he
came back. 1t would like. in view of his
wife's helath. and his efforts to help the
company get back what it lost, to see him
given chance.
Capt Avcrill is building new boat,
which Will travel the course around Will
loughby lake next summer. 1t has a keel
30 feet long, the beam is liz feet across
and IT will carry leo passengers Its name
has not yet been decided upon. but there
are one or two large city firms anxious for
the honor of naming, with the privilege of
furnishing some of the material for tlE
finishing touches. The old Ben Hur will
be laid by. She has been plying the waters
of the lake for six years or more has
been nearly burned up once. and met with
one or two other but not serious, acct
dents.
a curious runaway accident occurred a
short time ago, as j. V. Shaw of East Put
ney was driving to Wcstmoreland depot
to meet relatives who were coming in from
Boston on the evening train. Mr.. Shaw
was crossing the river on the ice when the
bit broke, letting the bride back onto the
horses neck. AS a result Mr.. Shaw was
SPILLED out and the horse dashed up a
steep bank, to scale which would do credit
to mountain sheep, and was soon out OF
sight. Mr.. Shaw pictured to himself Il
ruined horse and dilapidated sleigh, and
gathering himself together started on foot
to see what could be done. He tracked his
runaway as far as cross-road which
leads to Park hill and looking up the road
determined to await the approach of a
team which he saw coming and inquire
after his runaway. AS the team came 1t
proved to be his own 1t had been up to
Park HILL encrcled the common and had
started back on the home stretch. The
horse was stopped, Mr.. Britton procured
another bride and started on to the sta
ion i'm time TO meet his relatives. Strange
y enough, not the least damage was done.
A handsome geranum in the window of
cota's barber shop at Bellows Falls Is at
racting much attention. 1t is five feet
broad and four feet high. nearly filling the
arge window. 1t is of the variety known
as the pansy geranium. late count
showed 122 blossoms on 1t, and the buds
Indicate that there will be more than three
lines that number in n week or two.
Charles Hovey, a Frenchman, was ar
rested recently by Constable w. W. Fol-
EFT on complaint of tish-dcaler Ray of
Wilmington, charged with stealing fish
from Mr.. Rays cart. He was taken to
Greenfield and tried before Justice Green,
plead guilty and was sentenced to six
months in the county jail
a historic maple was recently cut down
pm the Hewitt homestead in Pomfret. 1t Is
said that the tree was planted by daugh-
er of the famous Gen. Putnam, over n
century ago. The trunk was so dccayed
is to make the tree a menace, but from
some of the limbs boards ~ inches wide
were sawed and made into trinkets for the
nemento fend.
While saving wood with a saving ma
10 rRh nn1 n
bf West Derby had one hand badly injured
with the saw, tearing the flesh In serious
manner severlng the cords. and partially
covering an artery. The wound was sue
fessfully dressed by the physicians.
Ephraim Blake of Thornton, N H.. set
led in Salem, March, 10, 1898, near the
centre of the town on the old county road.
lie was licensed to keep a tavern August,
SO4. On his sign was the picture of II large
black bear. He was the only inhabtant
f the town till 1901 He was great hunt
pr in those days and used to hunt and
rap around Lake Memphremagog He
MAS man OF dauntess courage. which
viii be readily seen by two of his exploits,
which will relate. on certain time
10 was looking to his traps on the shores
Pf the lake when lie espied huge cata-
mount evidently in the act of springing
pom him. There was no alternative
Blake fired at him, the beast gave hor-
id scream and in his death leap almost
cached Blake, but the old Queens arm
ad done its work, and after the most
rightful yells and contortions of the
east he died with bullet hole through
lis brain. In 1916 there occurred an in
ident similar to that early adventure OF
zen. Israel Putnam with the wolf, by
which Blake laid the foundation of hi,
equation for dauntless courage, anC
Qually worthy of a permanent record II
he annals of bravery. pack of wolves
light in number, made great havoc among
heep in Salem and adjoining towns. Foui
them were killed in the course of tho
tear In December Ephraim Blake sci
everal traps, and upon going to them on 9
ertain day. he found two of them con
aiming each a wolf, and the third mis-
ing. 1t had evidently been dragged along
y a wolf but ii was not until the third
|ay that he was able to trace the ANNA
his hiding place, den in the woods
lie attempted to dig him out but the der
roved to be surrounded by large stones
hat 1t could not be entered by digging
lie the decided to go into the den, and
avihg procured n gun. one-tined pitch
brk and some candles, he commenced his
erllous undertaking. Armed only will
he pitchfork, and followed by his son, /,
ears old, with a candle, he entered the
EN-. For about 20 feet he crawled on his
ands and knees, then the roof of the
en became so low that he was Obliged tC
e down and drag himself along nearly
much further. Here he encountered tn,
folf and inflicted many wounds on him
II at length he thrust him quite through
be leg; then bending the end of the handle
as to insert 1t under a projecting rocl