Connecticut western news., 1900-11-08

 M. Skelley, Litchfeld; Prof. A. E. Richards. Winsted. In February last the Society of Colo nial Danes offered three prizes for es- says on Colonial subjects, open to all m mem bers of High schools in this state. The prizes have now been awarded and two of the three, competed for by all the High schools in this state. went to pupils of the Litchfield High school. The first prize of $20 was won by Miss Emma R. Van De Water, whose subject was "The Stamp Act," the second of $1O went to Frederick K Moves of the Norwich Free Academy, and the third of $5 was taken by Paul B. Elmore of the Litchfield High school. who wrote on "Colonial Customs" These Litch- field winners were pupils in English of Miss Carrie T. Brown of New Hartford. who taught last year in the Litchheld High school, and it was at her solicita- ton that the essays were written and sent.
 There are ll2 probate districts in Connecticut, divided by counties as fol- lows: Hartford and Litchfisld counties 19 each, Fairfield county 15, New Lon- don and Windam counties IA each, New Haven county 12. Middlesex county 10, and Holland county 8.
 Mrs Vashti Futile, the oldest woman in Wayne county, N. r., died in Sodus, Oct. 25. She was born at Litchheld in the year 1797. and went with her father and mother to Wayne county in an OK cart when but 10 years old.
 On good authority it is said that at | no distant date. the mine of the Bristol Copper and Silver Mining Co.,. north of the borough, will be reopened. New capitalists have been interested and they think with copper at it's present price. and no immediate prospect of it being lower. that the mine car be oper- ated with profit.
 A new factory is being talked of to be built on the site of the old cotton mill in Bantam. Wheels for wagons and automobiles, roller bearing hubs, re- duced tubing for gears, etc.. are to be manufactured and a general machine business will be done. Arthur J Morse, who has so successfully gotten out valuable patents and has had fac | tory in Lakeville, will be the practical mschinist and superintendent. It is necessary to raise $15, 900 and a good part of this amount has already been subscribed.
 The twenty-second biennial conven- ton of the Connecticut Sunday School Association will be held in the First Methodist Church in Bridgeport on Nov. 13. 14 and 15, and the program of events to take place there shows that it will be the best convention the associa- tion ever had. Special music, ad- dresses, conferences and socials will take up the most of the three days ses- sions.
 From latest reports it is quite confi- dently hoped by the physicians that John Addison Porter, who shortly ago underwent serious operation, may re- cover. His condition is greatly inn proved and he continues to gain in vi. tality and strength.
 At a meeting of the directors of the Hurlbut National Bank held Friday afternoon at their banking house in Winsted, fitting resolutions to the mem. ory of their late cashier, O. B. Holmes, were passed and William H. Phelps was elected to fill the vacancy. MT Phelps is young man 26 years of age, native of the town and for the past ten years has held the position of clerk and teller at the bank, having performed his du. ties with accuracy and with credit to himself and the institution. He has been under the direct supervision of the late cashier and 1t IS thought that he is peculiarly adapted by ability and ssso. citation, to fill the vacancy. Mir Phelps grandfather, the late William Fl. Phelps, Esq. organized the bank in 1857 and was it's first president.
 Thomas Chabatte of New Hartford was killed by the cars in Bloomfield Monday morning.
 The water famine which has beer threatening Waterbury the past few Monday that but five days water sup ply remained in the reservoir.
 Burglars have been unusually busy about the state the past week. They have operated in Forestville, Middle town, New Britain, Cromwell, BerliI and other places, doing much damage and securing valusbles and much cash In Berlin the post office was blown uE with dynamite.
 A man by the name of Alexandel Houston is wanted by the Winsted police. Last Friday night he married Miss Gertrude l.. Johnson. 16 years old of that place and Sunday deserted her leaving for parts unknown. It ha, since developed that Houston has { wife living in New York and has 8 sor 19 years old who has an excellent posi- tion with the New York American Cal x Foundry Go. He left large number of bills unpaid and had cut wide swath in Wirsted society. Alexande Houston is 3S years old, weighs 13s 1: pounds and is 5 feet 5 inches in height Brown hair cut pompadour, reddish mustache cut square, scar on jaw nea chin.
 Orsmus Reed, colored, lad 12 year old, came to a premature death b, drowning in Highland Lake, Winsted Sunday morning . He had escaped from the Gilbert Home to which he wa committed in 1887, and was near th lake at In the morning when he discovered tive men approaching hin witblanterns. Thinking the men wer searching for him the lad attempted t. dodge around boat house, but lost hi footing and fell into the water. Tn men, employees of the Highland Lax, Farm, heard the splash but in the dark ness could not rescue the boy until to' late:
 WEST CORNWALL.