Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-01
INTEREST TO VERMONTERS.
Bitten by n Rationale.

It Is supposed that the little daughter
OF G. Il. Morgan of Wardsboro was bitten
by a rattlosnahc last week, although the
snake was not seen by anyone. The parts
bitten were badly swollen but the at
tendants gave the child whiskey to drink
freely, which counteracted the effects
Of the poison and she is all right now.
The little girl said she heard strange
noise about the time she was bitten
Prot. Park Morrill,. chief Of the forecast
division of the United States weather
bureau. who died In Washington, Aug I.
OF typhoid fever, had been employed by
the weather bureau for the past twelve
years and was at one time a resident of
st. Johnsbury
The i:B express from White River juno
ton killed a fine deer just above West
Hartford Saturday afternoon. Its weight
was between 200 and 800 pounds.
GEORGE WASHINGTON'S HATCHET
There is a man in Bellows Falls who
believes he owns the ancient Ratchet that
established George Washingtons claim to
vcracty. ID. NJ. Damon owns it and 1t
was given to him many years ago by his
father, Hiram Damon, in to whose possess
sion 1t came in 1862, when the Union army
of which he was 4 member, was stationed
near Fairfax, Va. Hiram Damon, with a
few soldier companions. made a visit to
the historic Lee mansion in Fairfax, where
| George Washington spent several years
OF his life, While rummaging around the
building in search of some souvenirs, Da-
mon came across "A small, rusty Ratchet
In an out Of the way corner in the garnet.
The blade Is about three and one-half
inches long and one inch wide, and judg-
Ing from the appearance, II had lain many
years in the place where 1t was found,
Nothing is positively known of the
hatchets early history.
OLDEST JOCKEY IN THE WORLD.
Charles Taylor of White River juno
ton, who will be % years Of age the 23d
! of next December, drove the bay pacing
stallion, Robert b., 2:l2A. In the 2l2 pac-
| ing class at the Concord driving park last
week. 1t took four heats to decide the
| race, and each time the veteran driver
| landed his horse in fourth position, the
time ranging from ELS to 2:l4. During
the second heat another horse In the race
broke and reared at the half mile pole in
| such way that his sulky wheels became
! locked with those of Robert b. 1t looked
as Il serious accident was inevitable.
| but both drivers kept cool. the horses be-
haved we'll and no one was injured. The
| thousands OF spectators present cheered
Mr. Taylor to the echo and throughout
the contest 1t was evident that he was the
| popular favorite, He is beyond question
the Oldest man who ever drove fast horses
! in races, and in every respect he Is a
wonderful example of longevity in human
life and Of physical preservation. He
takes all the care OF his horse, acting as
driver and groom as well as owner. He
| is in perfect health and can run and
jump like n boy. He attributes his Won
derful record to his habits. He has never
touched intoxicating liquor or tobacco,
never played a game OF cards, never
| struck man and was never struck by a
i uTn nFttb AHA -
never spent a minute In doors when he
might be out This old man Of the sulky
was born In Willamstown, Can, and was
with horses from the first moment he
could toddle, At first he rode the horses
| OF English army officers in running races.
Among the famous horses with which Mr..
Taylor has been identlhsN are Snowflake,
Driver, Woodstock Quechee Maid, Fac
tory Boy, and his present mount Robert
p. The number of races he has driven
| and won in the 50 years of his turf life Is
beyond computation. but he has never re-
| ceived a serious injury, and is looking
forward confidently to driving In races at
| the age of 100 years.