The Press., 1897-02-04

but MT. Glover has been as economical as possible and done all that 1t was possi- ble for any man to do, and 1t gave an op- portunity for some unemployed to earn a little money Take 1t all in all the storm seems to have been "a blessing in dis guise."
 staffordville.
 1 w. F. Peel has new horse, and it is thought that it will be able to go along some.
 R. M. Chamberlin is wishing for warm- CT weather so that he can commence re- building.
 TOLLAND.
 Mrs. A. L. Benton, who has been very i'll, Is improving
 Miss Anges Manning is visiting friends in New York City.
 Robert Doyle has leased the Sears farm, and will take possession March 1.
 Mrs. O. A. Leonard has been quite i'll with the grippe.
 The severe storm of last week delayed travel to a considerable extent and is considered the most severe snow storm since the ''blizzard" of '98. The stage did not miss trip to Rockville, although it took about hours to make the trip to Rockville and return on Thursday after noon. Some of he roads are drifted very badly being in some places impossible, so that it Is necessary to go through lots.
 The infant child of Charles N. B. New man has the pneumonia.
 Only four prisoners are in the jail at present, the smallest number at this time of year for many years.
 The Belt Factory Burned. One of the largest fires that ever occur red in Holland, if not the largest, took place Sunday evening, when the entire factory of Wm. Sumner Betting Company was totally destroyed. The fire was dis covered about 5.45 p. m., near the center of the building and on the north side. The fire had gained such headway when discov- cred that all efforts to extinguish 1t were of no avail. The fire spread rapidly, and the entire structure was soon consumed. | The large six tenement house owned by the Holland County Mutual Fire Insurance Co.,, situated some hundred feet from the factory, soon took fire and was totally burned. One tenement was occupied by Henry B. Phillips, who saved most of his furniture. None of the contents of the factory were saved, except a few personal papers which were secured from the office by G. w. Lansing. The building was built by the Underwood brothers some years ago, and was occupied by them for the manufacture of belts, until few years ago, when they were succeeded by Wm. Sumner as proprietor. It was four story wood building, about 150 by 40 feet. A part of one room of the lower floor has been occupied for few months by Harry L.. Adams for making yarn. All his ma- chinery was destroyed insured for $1000 The cause of the fire is unknown. The loss is estimated at about $50 ,00O; insur- ed for $20,O0O. A very large stock of belts was on hand at the time. The largest part of the interest was owned by Vim. Sumner, with w. A. Agard as the manager, Edwin s. Agard, treasurer, and Geo. w. Lansing, secretary. Mir. Sumner arrived in town Monday afternoon, but has not decided what course will be taken in regard to the continuance of the busi- ness. The fire proof vault in the office of the company was not damaged, and the contents were found in perfect condition A room in the court house is being occu- pied as an office for the present. Between I three hundred and four hundred cords of wood were piled near the boiler house, in the rear of the factory, and only about 75 cords were saved. The sparks from the fire rose to a remarkable height in the air, and the buildings of David A Brown were in great danger, and but for prompt action might have been burned. Had a strong wind been blowing there would have been much larger loss. The fire is very great financial loss to the town, as most of the people of the town will be affected, directly or indirectly. FLORA.
 MONsON.
 The will of the late Mrs. Horatio Lyon makes the largest aggregate public gifts of any made public locally for a long time, the total amount given away in such bequests being SIT, ,OOO. The largest share of these gifts will go to Springfield institutions, but there are three large amounts which will go to Monson and one of $10,0O0 to Pomona college at Clare mont, Cal., an institution which Mrs. l Lyon became interested in through Rev. c. B. Sumner, who was formerly her pas tor in Monson, but who is now professor of biblical literature there. The gifts are as follows: To the Home for Aged Women, $10,000; Home for the Friend less, ,$5000; Women's Christian associ- ation boarding home, $3OO0; school for Christian workers, $8000; Young Mems Christian association, $8O00; Union re- lief association, $3OOO; New West educa- tion commission of Chicago, $3000; Po- mona college, $1O,0OO; the Monson free library, $1O,OOO; Monson academy, $1O,- GOO; to the town of Monson for the care of the. cemetery, $100O. All these gifts are outright, except that to the Union Relief, the sum given to that association being to remain as fund, the interest of which shall be used to support aged couples from Springfield. These bequeste are all made in the original will with the exception of $5OOO each, which is included In the amounts specified aboveas given to the home for aged women, the schools oi Christian workers and the Young Mems Christian association. These were added in codici1 The $1O,OOO to the Monson library is an addition to an endowment which Mrs. Lyon made to the institution when it was first erected. Her daughter the late Mrs. Chalmers Dale, put up the