The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-09
FOUGHT A. SNAKE.
The Reptile Killed
But Excitement
Ensued.
FEED PIPE BURST.
Six Hundred Operatives
Have Brief Enforced
Half Holiday.


son of Mr.. and Mrs. Fenner Thornton
Of East Thompson, Conn.,, had quite
thrilling experience this morning. He
came out all right, however, but had
narrow escape. He certainly had all
the luck that was coming to him right
with him, or else he would not have
escaped so easy.
The young man was driving along
the highway near the Webster poor
farm with a pair of horses, when he
observed a snake by the roadside. He
Alighted and attempted to kill the
crawling reptile. The snake was big
one and proved a hard character to
dispatch.
Joseph then went to the team and
procured the whip. Armed with this
means of defense he again approached
the reptile. He raised the whip high
over his head, and with all his strength
brought it down on the w1gerllng,
squirming object with the desired re-
suit. The snap of the whip fright
ened the pair of horses, and they start
ed off on a mad run, but not before the
young man had climbed into the team
and gathered up the reins.
He yelled and tugged at the ribbons
in vain attempts to stop the frightened
horses, but his exertions had no effect
whatever, and the horses had their
way for about forty rods, when they
saw their finish. One of the pair got
tangled up in the harness some way
and was thrown to the ground. In
falling, his neck was broken, and the
runaway came to an end. The other
horse was not injured, and the boy, as
well as the vehicle escaped injury.
The dead horse was buried this after
noon near where he met his death. 1t
was a narrow escape for young Thorn
ton. The report that was current on
the streets was that the boy had been
killed instead of the horse, but FORUM
ately this did not prove to be the case.
Besides good electric car accommo-
dations, Beacon park will have the
best Of vaudeville attractions at the
lake the coming season. So will Point
Breeze, as Mr. Hill intends to book
several good companies at that resort,
and in few weeks people attending
the lake resorts will have chance to
see people that play in such theatres
as are included in the Keith circuit,
and who are now playing in 'Keith's
theatre in Boston.
e. w. Petts, whose permanent adj
dress is Leominster, and who formerly
was Webster boy spent few hours
in town today renewing acquaintance,
but principally on business with Mr.
Hill. He had an interview with Mr.
Hill and will probably be given a
chance to put on good show in a
month or two, or as soon as the season
has opened strong.
Petts is the first man that ever left
town to enter the theatrical business.
hat
he has followed it constantly ever
since, having Travelled all over the I'm
tied States. He now has the manage
ment of ten different companies, and
has some three hundred artists in his
employ.
He was well known at the time he
left here to seek his fortune in the big
Cities as well as his father. His father
formerly ran the best orchestra Web
ster ever had. When the son left town
his first experience was with the Clark
and Whittemore's Ministries. He met
several persons in town he Used to
know. James Mcguire of the shoe firm
of B. A. Corbin & Son Company at once
recognized him, as long ago they poyish
schoolmates, and congratulations were
in order. He has promised Mr.. Hill a
good attraction.
H NJ. Slater's North Webster cotton
plant is closed for an indefinite period
and as a consequence some 900 employees
are idle. This morning the feed pipe
which connects with the 1900 horse
power engine, exploded with a loud
noise, and work in the new mill came
10 an abrupt standstill. The accident
Hid not cost any loss of life and very
little, If any, damage was incurred.
The closing of the mill sent the many
employees down on the streets, and the
numerous Weary Willies' that are
Employed as spinners and weavels had
p glorious drunk on the bowery. Officer
Gilbert Osborne was right on to his
make trouble did not have the chance
before they were hustled along on their
business.
There was considerable excitement on
Main street last night, but the rumor
that went the rounds, as rumors usual
" do, proved to be a fake pure and
bimple. Edward Wenthrop came down
street and started a report that his
banging by his neck in the barn at the
East Webster cemetery that was re-
pently half destroyed by fire. A num-
Der believed the story and went to the
peene, but after searching the barn loft
failed to flnd any signs of a suicide
ana returned. We0LDfOp was sig atty
under the effects of liquor and might
have dreamed the story ne was instru-
mental in circulating.
An alarm from box p this afternoon
palled the fire department to a tene-
nent house on Wellington street owned
By John Dupre. The roof of the build
ing was on fire, which was caused by
bparks from the chimney alighting on
the dry shingles and setting fire to
them. The alarm should never have
been rung in, as pail or two of water
would have done the trick just as easy.
Albert Williams. a Dudley resident
about As years OF age, is seriously sick
Al his home. He suffered a recent at
tack Of the grip, but never fully recov-
cred from its effects. and as d result
hts left leg was seriously affected. DR..
f. NJ. Frissell, who was attending aim,
called IN Dr. Fred A. Brown, and a
consultation has been held It is thought
that gangrene was getting IN its work
but today the patient is somewhat i'm
proved.
Fred T. Chase and DR.. 7. J. Cronin
returned this morning from Hot
Springs, Ark. Ted has been there for
the past few weeks for his health, and
has been greatly helped by the water
and medical service he was receiving.
Dr. Cronin5 was there attending him,