St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-05-08
GENERAL NEWS.
Jacksonville Destroxed.

GENERAL NEWS.
Jacksonville Destroyed.
Practically the entire business section
and large portion of the residence part
of Jacksonville, Fla, was destroyed by a
fire which originated in the factory oil
the Cleveland Fibre Company, about
noon Friday, and ragged with unre-
stricted fury until we'll into the night.
One hundred and forty-eight blocks OF
the beautiful city we're burned and al
though the loss cannot be precisely deter
mined at this date, it is believed it will
amount to about $10,000,000. Among
the buildings destroyed are the county
and city buildings, several churches and
hotels, among them the st. James, the
United States, the Placids and the Wind
sor. Among the residences burned is the
mansion Of United States Senator ITALIA
fcrro. About 10000 people are home
less many have left town and others are
camped about the city. Relief has begun
to pour in from many sections of the
state and country. At the request of the
mayor of Jacksonville, Secretary Root
ordered the St. Francis barracks in that
city placed at the disposal OF the home
less people, and also gave orders for l 900
hospital tents to be forwarded at once.
Jacksonville is the largest of the cities
of the Everglade state. 1t has shown
remarkable growth in the last twenty
years. The population in 1880 was T.
$50. In 1890it had increased to 1901,
and last year the census showed % 429
| inhabitants. The city is on the left bank
of the st. Johns river, fifteen miles west
of the Atlantic ocean. The st. Johns
river has been dredged to the Uniform
depth of eighteen feet at low water to
the city from the sea. Jacksonville is
popular winter resort and centre OF
travel for the entire state. The trade
is large in lumber, cotton, oranges, phos-
phate and naval stores. The city con-
tanned nine banks, six hotels, govern
ment building, two libraries, three daily
and six weekly newspapers and fourteen
churches.
Death of Rev. James Tufts.
Rev. James Tufts died at his home in
Monsou, Mass, April 20, aged eighty
eight He was born in Wardsboro, Nov.
2, 1912. His father, Rev. James TUFTS,
was settled as the first pastor in Wards
boro in 1895 and continued until 1886,
when colleague was given him. He
died in 1871. The son, James Tufts, Jr.,
was brought up on his fathers farm and
and Attended Burr and Burton Seminary
at Manchester. He began to teach school
at seventeen, and earned enough in that
way to pay his expenses during college
course. He entered the sophomore class
at Yale in 1885, and was graduated in
1888 He took prize at his gradua-
ton for English composition.
After leaving college he took charge of
the academy at Fairfield, Conn, where
he remained two years. After that he
entered Andover Theological Seminary,
and was ordained in September, 1914.
He preached for two years, when he was
obliged to retire from active service.
Later he resumed teaching, and was
very successful in that work for many
years. He taught at Castleton and
Northampton, Mass, and was superin-
tendent OF schools in Windham county
for two years. He went to Monson in
1852 as principal Of the academy. He
retained that position seven years, and
later conducted private school for boys,
which he gave up in 1892. 1t will be re-
membered that Eugene Field was one of
his pupils, and cherished lifelong re.
gard for Mr.. Tufts. Since giving up his
school, Mr.. Tufts had lived retired upon
his farm on the outskirts of the village.
He married Mary E. Warren in 1855,
and they had two sons, the elder dying
when about seven months old. The sec
ond son, James Hayden TUFTS, the only
survivor of the family, is professor in
Chicago University.
The eightieth birthday OF Rev. Mr..
Tufts was celebrated Nov. 2, 1892, by
reception at Monson Academy. On that
occasion Rev. F. S. Hatch, the pastor OF
the Congregational Church, presented
Mr.. Tufts with purse of money, which
had been contributed by his many friends
and neighbors, and letters of regret were
read from number of his friends and
former pupils, including ex-senator,
Henry L. Dawes of PittsEeld, Professor
w. S. Tyler of Amherst, Rev. DR.. X. S.
Storrs of New York and President
Dwight of Yale.
Minister CODgers Return.
Edwin H. Conger of Iowa, who, as
United States minister to China, has been
much in the public eye during the past
year, has returned to his home. With
him was his wife, daughter and niece.
The coming of Minister Conger on
leave of absence has given rise to great
deal of comment concerning his future
career. 1t has been rumored that he was
asked to resign his post but this is denied
by him, and the fact that he has been
congratulated by both President Nc.
Kinley and Secretary Root on the re-
suits of his work in China is proof that
the report is fictitious. The action of
Iowa's polititions may have an impor-
tant bearing on the matter, however.
In that state he is generally regarded as
a hero and there is a we'll grounded
movement to make him governor of the
state, and it is stated that he would con-
slider the nomination favorably. Mr..
Conger has for long time been one of
the most popular men in Iowa and since
he became so conspicuous at Peking his
popularity has greatly increased. He is
a native of Illinois and veteran of the
civil war, enlisting as a private in the
102nd Illinois in 1862. A year later he
was captain and was mustered out
with the brevet Of major. He is
graduate of the Albany law school and
practiced the profession for a time,
but later engaged in farming and stock
raising, and finally became a prominent
banker. He has served three terms as
n