The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-11-03
Already There Have Been a
Dozen Deaths from
Wood Alcohol
BRISTOL TOWNSPEO-
PIE VERY BITTER
d. A. Disbee, Who Conduct
ed Drug Store, Is Taken
to Middlebury Jail

| Bristol, Nov. 3.-Twelve dead, six or
more ill., and the prediction made by
physicians that the list of dead may
reach 20, is the terrible penalty visited
upon the 40 and perhaps more men who
it is claimed purchased liquor at the
ID. A. Bisbee drug store in this village
Saturday. Men apparently in the best
OF health at dawn died before sunset,
some in excruciating agony, Others suf-
fering as many as go eonyulsions before
death. All were stricken with blindness
This in brief tells the terrible toll tax
en- by liquor which it is claimed was
composed largely of wood alcoho-in
fact announcement was made here last
night that an analysis made by the state
laboratory chemists at Burlipgton shows
that some of the liquor contained as
much as 90 per cent wood alcohol, the
balance Of the beverage being water.
The alleged cause of the wave of death
and agony which has befallen the com
munity. ID. A. Bisbee, was taken from
the village lookup yesterday to the coun-
ty Jail at Middlebury. Feeling against
the proprietor of the establishment
where many of the men claimed they
purchased liquor, ran high here and the
authorities were fearful that some overt
act might be committed if Bisbee was
kept in town.
The list Of the dead is as follows:
The Dead
SAMUEL KING. 90 years old, Bristol.
FRED O'BRYAN, 54 wears old, Bristol.
EDWARD WAKEFIELD, Warren.
WALLACE HAMMER, Bristol
A.DlCE JACKMAN. South Lincoln.
ERNEST DuFREY, New Haven.
PHILA TATRO, Bristol.
CYRUS CURRY. Bristol.
PATRICK WEIGH. Bristol
J.. J.. JAMES, Bristol.
HENRY ST GEORGE. BRISTOL
FRANCIS MCBRIDE. Bristol.
Seriously Ill
JOHN CARL Bristol
FRANK TURNER, New Haven.
CHARLES HINES. Bristol.
GEORGE ELLIOTT, Starksboro
JAMES TAMBLIN. Starksboro
JOHN AGAN. Monkton.
Investigation by States Attorney
Frank w, Tuttlc of Vergennes and the
ocal authorities disclose that about 40 I
men secured liquor, it is claimed, at the
3isbee store. L
II appears that the deaths are not {
he result OF general debauch partici. (
,ated in by 80 or 40 men, but came as
be result OF the purchases OF liquor all J
icing made during one day Saturday
I the same place, Bisbee's. Though |
lisbee conducts a drug store he is not, c
{ is stated by member OF the state /
'oard OF pharmacy, a registered phar- j
nacist o
The village is rife with all sorts Of d
umors a. TO the condition OF those who ID
ave thus far survived the effects OF the :
oisonou> beverage but physicians say ;
hat the number Of deaths is likely 10 o
q increased, as the effects of drinking n
'ood alcohol may not show themselves c
or a week or 40 DAYS after the victim 1
A. swallowed the liquor. "
Though Bishee has been twice heavily .
ned for the illegal sale Of liquor there i
re many chsritably inclined in discuss n
" the tragedy which has bcfallen al
ast four towns in this part Of the
,unty.
Some believe that Bisbec must have
-cn doped with drugs or liquor on sat n
rdav and that he got hold OF the wood 81
cobol can instead Of the grain alcohol Al
.ccptacie Others hold that IL vas Ia
,mpound made By Bi-bee with wood n
cohol as a base still others think i
Was.a mixture Of wood and grain Al h,
.hol and ether, basing their belief on i
.e smell 81 the stuff LEO
Tho victims are first stricken with 81
indness Agan was taken On The street
this village Yesterday morning and "
ken 10 bis home Mcbride. who yis- oo
"a SUNDAY AZ Tambin's was taken m
.stcrday morning while a. work re
fackmsn who died sunday night ~
. before diving stated that be- procured ~
T. liquor ~ Hisbee's p.
Though 80 statement q made ~ the ~
thorities ~ 10 shat charge viii D. q.
sdc against Bisbee t is believed that ~
u'li - hcld ~ TIRE charge " erin
) urrlirr1re vhieh is this casf u0uIl 3
akin ~ mansiaue eatrr ~