Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-01-06
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
\ c1OSBYVILLE FIRE. I;
sy GEORGE ADE. !
.aoo>~@eeSSSS>SSs

aid of his singular experience
n the town of Crosbyville.
y see-I spent two or three years
..br,ille. off and on" he began.
.Tis must have happened in the
ri or in the spring of '52. re-
= that | left Crosbyville just
he time of the presidential
IAN and that was-well, it must
5ssn about June, '52. No matter;
.,s doesn't make any difference.
order that you may understand
tory better III have to go back a
The first time | ever visited in
ellie | was invited out TO shoot
ITCH. We didn't shoot at glass
rllye pigeons in those days. We
n nut a white square of paper
Inst a tree and blazed away at
N rifles, and, although our fire.
.rsreofdefective bore, can assure
M some Of the best shooting /
av was at those old-time matches
the woods. However, that has
,1g TO do with the story.
Ind Of my friends invited me to go
N shooting match, and after | got
here was asked to enter the con-
Well, l went in and l happened
Harifle that sighted just right for
and won. A man who had been
rjucsd to me as Capt. Jaynes made
next highest score. 1t seemed to
fiat the other contestants took
4 defeat good-naturedly, but on the
home my friend told me to look
for this Capt. Jaynes. He was hot
bed Kentuclian, and it seems that
was the first time he had been de-
td in a year or so, and it worried
good deal. My friend told me
be had taken a dislike TO me and
I'D probably try to pick a quarrel
D ne at the first opportunity.
'TdI. that same afternoon / invited
be men who had been at the shoot
match to come over to the tavern.
as customary for the winner of the
h TO stand treat to the others.
t Jaynes came in rather late, while
were all sitting around and talking.
nose and asked him to join the party.
bowed very coldly, and said that he
|HlOt in the habit of drinking with
|nlgen Well, was pretty hot
Oied in my younger days. l said:
VEy well, captain; l withdraw the in
1on. | made the mistake of sup
kilg that you would feel at home in
company of gentlemen l knew what
expect when / said that. He started
draw knife, but before he could lift
had hold of him. They pulled us
part and tried to quiet him, but he
'atawayravingmad. They all said he
|vNd kill me the first time we met, but
kmst have cooled down when he had
10 think it over. / saw him often
u that-passed him on the street.
sleyer made move, but / knew that
hated me and would be glad of a
aace to do me an injury.
The captains house was right on the
|ins Of The Green river, and stood near
A MILL 1t was an old-fashioned two
Fa'y house, very broad and well built,
nd ihickly surrounded by trees. 1t
A considered the best house in Cros-
g'lle. The captain was the wealthiest
aa one Of the most prominent citizens
tie town. He was a widower and
AiWo 2hildren-a boy of IA or so, and
iNung lady named Elizabeth. She was
very beautiful girl-very charming.
bad met her several times. but, of
'afse, | had never become well ac-
Alnted with her on account of my
aldng feud with her father.
We'll, to make a long story short,
Whole town was aroused by an
I'm Of fire one night, and when we
med out the Jaynes' mill was one
is Of flames. 1t was an old-style
'uclure with framework of heavy
. and it made a fearful blaze. The
10 was blowing the flames toward
house. Everyone saw that it was
10 use to try TO save the mill, so we
ued IN to save the house-got up
Ae roof and passed buckets, and
out wet blankets to catch the
ihs' but il was no use. The men
le driven off the roof. and the water
60 as fast as it was thrown on. All at
e one whole side Of the house seemed
spring into flame. There was a
Iefal shout, and everybody retreated
sale distance. The members of the
ny and the neighbors had been re-
ing the household goods. just as
Houae caught fire and all the men
e getting out of it as fast as they
y heard Elizabeth Jaynes cry out;
eanaryl Then she ran back into
mouse, with everyone calling to her
'op' didn't hesitate moment. but
alter her She ran through the
'ac heat and dense smoke right up |
stairway, and l followed. | caught
oy the arm at the top of the stairs
'oia her TO come back. She was
' I, and excited. She said she
Iun leave until she got the bird. |
que OF all could do she pulled away |
u me and ran into the front room
q bedroom, believe-and felt her |
70 where the bird cage was hang |
Gentlemen, it wac never any hot
= any bake oven than it was in that