Waterbury Democrat., 1901-07-27
|0AKVILLE HAPPENINGS.
PEOPLE OF THIS VILLAGE SAY
 HE IS CRAZY.

The Mysterious Man With the Basket Attracted Widespread Attention Yesterday-Wh is He?-Cost of
 Bank Wall
 The mysterious man with the bask- ct, as he is sometimes called, created an unusual amount of attention yes terday. For the past few weeks this man has walked back and forth be- tween here and Waterbury, speaking to no one, stopping no where and ap- bearing to have no business whatever. He generally carries basket which is often empty.
 Yesterday this strange acting man made his way through the village in costume of the foxy quiller'' type as if to escape from the visions of hun dreds of people. He was dressed so warm that the presperation ran down his body in great drops. A long beavy winter ulster hung upon his gaunt shoulders to his ankles and upon his hands were mittens. The high collar of his overcoat was turned up over his ears and upon the top of his head rest ed a dilapidated straw hat.
 As he passed through Waterbury yes i terday afternoon thousands of peop;e stopped to look at this strange sight and while some laughed, others won- dered. Not few pointed their fingers | at tEeir foreheads signifying the some thing lacking in the fellows cranium but he passed on not g bit discomtited by the jeers and jests of the people
 Few in Oakyille seem to have any idea as to where the fellow lives but it was ascertained yesterday that his present abode is on the old LalIy Dlace. IT is stated thar his sister resides there also. Some express tbe opinion that the man is insane and imagines that it is now winter. 1t is said tha- some tines the fellow thinks ne is walking fo. a wager. At any rate the mysteri- GUS man refuses to answer civil question when it is addressed to him.
 From inquiries we learn that nearly all of the Oakville Catholics have com pleted the jubilee exercises, notwith- standing the fact that they had to go to Watertown church to make the re- quired visits.
 The contract for wiring Kelly's grove for electric lights for the big all fresco fete on August 1, was awarded to-day to B. D. A. Brady. Eight arc lights will run through the center of the grounds, while large number of in candescent lights will encircle the grove. Over the main entrance there will be an arch containing forty lights. Moreover, each booth will be artisti- cally lighted. The band concert pro- vided by the Traction company will more than repay a visit to the grove. Already the management is bes;eged with requests to hold the big fete two days, so popular has the affair become. A pleasant time is promised to all the fete's patrons. Admission to the grove ten cents.
 James Newell and daughter went to Winsted yesterday to visit friends.
 W. w Herman has finished painting his residence onINewton Heights.
 Fred Slade, Jr. is now able to ride about each day and attend to his busi- ness duties at the mill.
 Charles Hubbel and George Smith are fishing in the Housatonic river.
 The manager of the American Pin company's baseball team in Waterville was negotiating yesterday for game with the Oakville boys but Stone could not make the proper arrangements. Consequently no game will be played to-day between the two teams.
 The water in the Niggerhead reser- voir is very low at present and yester- day number of school boys caught three snapping turtles weighing over fifty pounds.
 Mrs s. B. Everett is confined to her home with sickness.
 A. H. Wells factory closed this morning to give the men holiday.
 Work on the new wall for the trolley bed along the Watertown road is pro- gressing slowly. It is doubted if the wall will be completed in time to move the tracks upon the same by this fall. The wall will border along the bed of the Naugatuck river and it's cost of completion will amount to $27, ,O00. It will take more than one year to get this amount of money back from pub lie travel.
 The village barber is adding screens to his shop.
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