The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-16
Stratf0Td
,.-. F. sTNGG ESCAPES DEATH
 IN FLORIDA SWAMP.
Former Sheriff Lost With Compan- ion Passed a Night of Horror
 in Dank Morass.
,-(special to The Farmerl

~-@~~~-0-- reached here yesterday of the marrow escare from death of Former sheriff Charles E. Stagg and a companion in the swamps of Florida one night last week The doughty sheriff who has the reputation Of rearing nothing that wears hIoe, hair, TUT or feathers was for once i'll his life thoroughly alarm rllractTrtjifs on the eVenIng in ques- Jion he accompanled friend, a clVh engineer, on e IlLLle >blcycle trip from X eSt Palm beach where he had been stopping out 1nto the country, to look < ast some land. After riding tor half aa hour the Sheriff and his friend attempted to return to their hotel but round that they had lost their bear ing Night overlook them and they continued their search tor the, road nome without success They finally 5 found themselves In dense swamp N11ch offered no way out. The engl> aeed volunteerd to wade through the swamp and return for his companlon' He took his wheel and left the sher- iff The mosquitoes were so thick that they could be cut into blocks with Q knife. After waiting an hour tortured by the millions of insects and terrified by the sounds of hundreds sef water moccaSinS which craWled about him the sheriff began to shout eor help. His companion guided by his voice finally reached him. He at tempted to carry the sheriff through sfle mud and water on his back ano the pair fIoundered about in the mud and water in an endeavor to reach high ground. A dozen times they were n imminent peril. In the dense darK- ness they tumbled into mud hole and it was with. the utmost difficulty that they gained firmer ground: Ali ger a desperate struggle which. lasted 7ilt nearly day light they finally got the direction of the town and reached their boarding place at 5 o'clock thor oughly exhausted In the meantime; Innll1ni s sleepless and anxious night. Strange t9 say the wanderers suffered no ser sous resultF from their perilous ad- venture. They were well bitten up by insects and the escape from serious consequences by MT. Stagg in his weakened condition is considered won deffuI.
 Those merchants who hope to ben eft by the presence of a night watch man on the streets would facilitate lights were left burning in their stores. Unless the watchman enters every store with a light on his rounds he is unable to ascertain the presence of intruders unless they are foolish enough to betray themselves. With no lights in the stores a regiment of As the watchman is not an owl with rtlle power seeing in the dark he can hardly be expected to discover ob- jects or men without night lights.
 The ice harvest was opened yester- day by F. F. Rideout who commenc, ed cutting on Swan Brewsters pono
 
 S. Webb & Sons commenced cutting on Feck's Mill pond. The ice is ten inches thick and of the very best quality. There is plenty of help here this year and the difficulty of getting hands which is usual at this time of year has not been encountered so far.
 David Bunneu of King street last week killed a pair if spring pigs Aznieh --Ieefgfled over se0Spounds. This is =the-record in this section so far fbiS
 The stratford Charity society met yesterday afternoon in the rooms on large attendance and a large amount of clothing was prepared for distri7 butior- The cold wave which brought two welxS of zero weather caused much suffering among the poor and the de- mands upon the society suddenly as stunned amazing proportions. Every application has, however, been met 1rla=Ero-or1e@has- has-been=Rassed@ by. Coal, clothing shoes and provisions have befi distributed The society will need more children'S clothing immediately and everyone who can contribute is requested to do so. The weather is unusually severe and thinly clad chill dren suffer from the cold. It is the aim of the society to first take care of the children who are Nsometimes the innocent sufferers for the sins and mistakes of their parents No worthy person. however is passed by in the Tnfnistrations of the members or the society Ladies, whether members or not are neOeQ 10 make new SdTLnGHIS, and remodel old ones-
 " H. Huff, who has been the guest of Mrs. A B. Park for a week has returncd to his home in Lynchburg,
 will Strickland, a we'll known Strat- ford young man who fought in the, Philippines is now under treatment at a sapitarium in Wallingford where ne hopes to regain his health. Will has many friend s~here who will wish for his speedy recoyery-
 hoa n1nGaY1 manager of the High school basket ball team in place of Supt. Kelsey who could not spare the time neces- sary to conduct the team successfully-
 This evening entertainment win be given in the High school assembly hall by the grammar and primary de, partments the proceeds to be added to the fund for the purchase Of plano for the school hall
 On Thursday night the Ramblers will be up against the toughest pro- position they will have this winter when they meet the team from the Naugatuck. Y. M. c. A. The latter state. Every game this season in which they have played has been won by them easily and. if the Ramblers make a good showing 1t will be a. credit even if they do not win. Every member of the Ramblers is urged to be present for practice this evening. The game is attracting much atten- tion here and large audience of fans is expected to be present to see the game There will be dancing after the game.
 A young ladies basket ball team has been proposed and the suggestion has met with the unanimous favor of the RambierS who promise to do every thing in their power to help the girls. They will allow them to use their hall and apparatus free of charge and also promise to give them. instruc- tions in the game It is now up np the enterprising young ladies of the town to get busy. and make them selves perfect in the game and bring additional honor to the old town Any young ladies who will take place in such team may leave Sher name with teleuhone number 1426-23.
 Prof William B. Kelsey, superinten- dent of the Stratford schools. has been Investigating the new banking system which has been introduced in the Bridgeport schools and is heartily in favor of it. He believes that it would be perfectly feasible in this town and he is willing to devote the extra time necessary to carry out such a project He is of the opinion that