Connecticut western news., 1896-12-24
STATE NEWS.

During his wife's absence, Sunday Afternoon. E iward Balcom. 65. of Thom aston, accidentally set the house on fire with lamp. Mir Balcom was burned to death and the house partly destroyed.
 Dr Charles Sweet, S6, the celebrated bone-setter of Hartford, died at Leb- anon on Tuesday.
 Miss Helen Beers, of Newtown, who was born blind 50 years ago. having ''congenitsl cataract" on both eyes, has had the cataracts removed and will now have the use of one eye and perhaps both.
 Connecticut is likely to have a new town added to its list by the coming general ssembly. A movement in this direction is being led by large num- Der of the residents of West Haven.
 The fish and game commissioners have recently turned fully eight million young shad into the Connecticut river They are about four inches long. The Humane Society caused Agent John F Simmons, O Wipsted, to re- move the Ave Reed children, who weIe in starving condition, to the Gilbert Home last Thursday.
 The barn of Felix Quigley near Litchfield was burned last week Tues day. possibly set on fire by tramps. Lnss S40O
 Gov Coffin has appointed Col. Rms. sell Frost, of South Norwslk, of the Fourth Reg't, O. N. G., to the com- nand of the brigade.
 Hon. Edward NJ Chspin, 63. died at Pine Meadow. New Hartford, Saturday morning of Bright's disease Leaves . sife and two sons, Frank and Herman. He was at the head of the H Chapin & Sons plane, rule and level factory at Pine Meadow. Had been representa- other public offices.
 Navigation on the Connecticut River closed Saturday because of h ,ating lce
 Ridgeaeld's new s2O, 600 town hall was dedicatsd Friday night in the pres ence of large conconrse of people. in- cluding many frum surrounding towns. It is reported that the Massrs San- ford, who managed the old Merwin Point hotel. are about to erect a large hotel at Woodmont with the intention of making it one of the finest on the Connecticut shore.
 Da, O. Merrill. of Nepang. slaughter. ed one-y ear-old-pig few days ago that weighed 800 lbs.
 MAriden people have been complain. ing of the bad smell and taste of their city water. and State Chemist H E. Smith has found "uroglens" in it,
 An enormous peach orchard of lOC acres is being prepared near Ansonis and will be set with trees next spring It is to be run by J. H. Hale and Michael Coleman, and the trees are to be shipped from Mr Hale's Georgis orchards.
 | The Masonic home for orphans iu Wslliugford will probably be ready by January l. It will have twenty mine sleeping rooms on two floors, large be room with twenty five cots on the second floor.
 | The election returns of probate | judges show total of 112 districts In 78 districts the incumbeuts ere re. elected, in most cases without any pre- ference on account of political sffilis tions. Among those elected is James Huntington of the Woodbury district Judge Huntington had held the office for 22 years when he failed of election two years ago
 Charles Long. the convict who tried 10 kill Deputy Warden Bsisden, Nov IT, by hitting him on the head with heavy iron bar. las been sentenced b, Judge Wheeler to five years imprison ment. When sentapced. he used pro fsne language and remarked that ''ther, is more Christianity in he'll than ther, is in Connecticut"
 l Gov elect Cooke has appointed b Albert W Phillips. of Derby, surgeon general on his staff Dr Phillips enlist ed in the l2th N. Y. Vols in 1861. wa detailed as hospital steward. After wards appointed assistant surgeon O the 149 \ Y Vols. He IS homeo pathic phy sicisn, ss is also Dr Bowen the present surgeon general.