Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-02
the Central block, but it became use
less and has never been replaced.
BURIED NEAR MASTER.
Dolly, Faithful Horse of Godfrey NAL
bone, Has Grave Near His-Inscrip-
ton on Monument

The peak of a modest marble shaft
protruding over a common field stone
wall that is in the range of vision
of the many who tour along the fine
state road between this city and Pom
fret, short distance west of the
Day -Kimball hospital, is an object of
no more than passing interest to any
whose eyes fall upon it and is apt
to be mentally set down as the most
pretentious of the memorials in a tiny
family burial plot; but it is much
more significant than that to the few
who know something OF it's history
1t is as much a memorial to a faith
full horse as it is to the man who own
ed her-Rufus C. Malbone, and was
so made by his direction.
\ Rufus MaIbone was a giant colored
man and believed to have been a de-
scendant of the people of his race who
were named in honor of Godfrey NAL
bone, who owned many slaves in Old
Trinity parish, Brooklyn. Rufus was
the son of OtheIIo, who as a squatter
took a small tract ff wooded land,
near the site Of the cemetery referred
to, and cleared it for a home. Rufus
was born in the cabin erected by his
father and secured his education in the
Gary district school.
He grew up to be industrious and
thrifty. Going to Providence as a
young man. he secured work as a
truck driver, eventually came to own
rig of his own and in time advanced
to the proprietorship of the largest
trucking business in the city.
In time he acquired q partner,
which act was to lead to his undoing.
Malbone, leaving his Providence inter-
ests to the care of his partner, came
back to the old home and began to
improve it. Taking advantage of his
opportunities, the partner robbed NAL
bone-practically ruined him, his saw
ings of a lifetime disappearing, with
the exception of a small sum with
which the discouraged man purchased
a tract of scrub land just across the
highway from where he now lies
buried. Back at the old homestead
Malbone then engaged in the making
Of cider. which he intended to turn
to vinegar and sell in the Providence
market, where he continued to sell
produce, hay and other commodities.
The great vat that he built to hold
the cider and age 1t was not Of proper
material, however. and all but a few
gallons Of the great quantity of cider
seeped through the wood and dis
appeared, another vital loss to NAL
bone.
The business reverses he suffered
evidently made something of a stole
of Malbone who is described as being
a man of great good heart and many
fine characteristics, though he had his
failings. During late period Of his
life he took to drink and was often
in the habit of becoming grossly in
toxicated while In Providence, where
he was in the habit Of driving on his
business trips a fine mare named Dol
ly.
Time and again Dolly brought him
safely home over the many miles Of
lonesome highway when he was not
in condition to guide her and upon
one occasion in the dead Of winter,
when the ground was deeply covered
with snow, she undoubtedly saved his
life. Malbone told Of 1t many times
thereafter to a lifelong friend. San
ford Davis, who related it Tuesday
upon request.
Near Chepachet, Malbone, supplied
with drink. had fallen from the team