davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-02-26
ENTRANCE ATTEMPTED
AT HAL L. MARGINS
Telephone Call Sent to Police While
Man Was Trying to Force Lock
Left Burned Matches.

An attempt was made Thursday night
70 enter the apartment Of Hal L. March at
= Oak street, but the would-be intruder.
was frightened away or gave up in despair
Mr.. and Mrs. March heard someone
fumbhng at the door of their apartment
and after satisfying themselves that some
man was attempting to force an entrance
a telephone call was sent for the police.
BY the time the officers arrived the man
had left. dozen burned matches and
scratches about the lock, where he evident
~ had attempted to use some tool that
would spring the lock, were unmistakable
evidences that someone lad been there.
This is the last OF a series of burglaries
or attempted burglaries TO be reported TO
the police. They began with the larceny
OF silverware from the home of William
Cushman on Guilford street and since then
have included an attempt at the home Of
John c. Dewitt on Canal street. and an
entrance into the house of Frank II. How
ard of Putney road in the absence of the
family.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-02-26

The capture of Douaumont is tbe
most important achievement since tbe
Inauguration of the German drive At
Nerdun. an onslaught which for furv
and for weight of men involved. has
few precedents in the war. Verdup
and its protecting fortresses is rc-
garded as one of the greatest strong.
holds of Europe. 1t is the strongest
fortress of France and of particular
inportane from the fact that II Of
fers direct communication with Paris,
$50 miles away.
An official statement issued here to.
day says that considerable advances
have been made east of the Meuse in
the region north of Verdun in the
presence of Emperor William.
The war office also announces the
capture of the hills southwest of the
village of Louvemont and the forti-
fled position to the east thereof. The
resistance of the French broke down
ON the Woevre plain along the entire
front to Marthoville, south of the
high road from Paris to Metz. eve
are pursuing the retreating enemy. ,,
the statement saws.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-02-26
WANTS COMPANYI
TO BE RECRUITED
Adjutant General Writes Capt. Gibson
Minimum Strength Is 65- Pres
ent Membership Is 54.

Adjutant General Lee s. Tillotson has
written to Capt. f. w Gibson of Com
pany |, \. y. G., urging that an effort be
made to recruit TO the minimum strength
required by law before the annual inspec-
tlon of the company March -.
The minimum strength is 65 and today
the company has "a, but two or three of
the present membership will be lost before
inspection. These losses come about. for
the most part, by the removal from town
OF members of the company. many of
whom have accepted positions. with muni-
tion plants or machine shops in other
states.
Capt. Gibson says that the necessary
number of recruits for the company must
be obtained and that if not enough inter
est IN the company is shown in Brattleboro
within the next few days he will obtain
the recruits from nearby towns, although
he prefers them from Brattleboro
| 1t is the desire of the adiutant general
that all inspections be open to the public
and that a special effort be made to have
citizens of the community attend BY so
+! doing they awaken interest in the organ
ization and encourage the members of the
| company towards higher standards of eff
cheney.
! Telegraphic requisition has been made
/ by the adjutant general on the war de-
ipartment for a supply of anti-typhoid vac
cine and he announces that each member
| OF the national guard will be required to
take this treatment at once.
Arrangements are being completed fo1
providing every member of Company ]
with new army shoes of the latest ap
proved pattern. The state pays S150 to
wards the cost of each pair. In lots the
shoes cost 81
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-02-26
EASTER UNUSUALLY
LATE THIS YEAR
Date Is April 23-only Twice Before
IN Past Century Has it Come so
Late-Lent Begins March 8.

Only twice previous to this year in the
last century has Easter fallen on so late a
date as it does in 1916, which is April 23
Those times were in 1908 and in 1S4S.
Only once more in the life of anyone now
living will it again fall on April %, and
that will be in the year 1900.
The date of Easter is the Sunday next
following the 14th day of the pasehal
moon, or within IA days after the yernal
equinox. This limits the range of possible
dates to between March 81 and April %
In climate ike that of Brattleboro the
April dates are much preferred by the
women over those in the clustering days
of March. Fashion DEGREES that Spring
goods shall be shown Easter Sunday and
1t often Is a serious problem to make it
convenient to do this with snow and slush
on the ground and a raw wind blowing
Another difficulty with the late Easter is
the interference with the vacation scbed-
ules OF the schools and colleges. Most OF
them take their Easter recesses late in
March. Ii Easter happens to be scheduled
Tor about that time the vacation fits the
season, otherwise it does not. School re-
cesses cannot be made to suit the vaoaries
of the paschal moon.
Back in 1856 the date was the limit
Easter that year fell on April - and back
IN 1893 1t was accommodating enough to
daily around until April "a 1t viii 60 the
limit once more in this century Tor II viii
fall on April p in 1913
The Lenten season begins a week from
Wednesday, March 5, with Ash Wednes-
day
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-02-26
DEFENDS LOUIS BRANDEIs.
Justice Kelly Says Lawyer Wash t
Hired to Wreck N. E. Road.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-Louis D.
Brandeis s part in the New York and
New England railroad litigation in
1892 was defended yesterday before
the senate judiciary subcommittee in
vestigating Mr.. Brandeis's fitness to
be a supreme court justice, by Justice
Kelly of the New York supreme
court, who employed him. Those op-
posing Mr.. Brandeis charged that he
had been employed to wreck the
road.
"Mr. Brandeis was not employed to
wreck the road Justice Kelly told
the committee. cit was already
wrecked. -
What Mr.. Brandeis had been en-
ployed to do, the witness said. was
to bring suits to throw the road into
receivership after President Corbin
whose counsel, Justice Kelly was, had
resigned before the directors insisted
on paying dividends when the road
was losing money. President Clark
of the New Haven railroad, he added
subscribed funds to continue the lit.
igation when Mr.. Corbin refused ia
put mp any more money, but Mr.
Brandeis, so far as he knew, had nc
knowledge of this.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-02-26
STRIKE IN EDISON PLANT.
Carbohc Acid Workers Want More Paw
First Labor Trouble in Years.

ORANGE, Y. J., Feb. 26.-About 100
men at the Edison phenol plant in the Sill
vcr Lake section went on strike for more
pay yesterday. The men are EMPLOYED in
the carbolie acid department. and are
mostly unskilled laborers. The plant was
closed TO make repairs that had been con
templated, so the management said. and
when these have been effected the de-
mands OF the men will be taken IN
Police We're sent to the plant to guard
against the possibility of violence. None
developed during the day, nor is any now
expected by the firm
William H. AIeadowcraft. Thomas a
Edison's secretary, said yesterday after
noon that Mr. Edison had taken personal
charge of the situation. and that it was
hoped settlement might be effected soon
without difficulty. The difference between
what the men want and what they are
now getting, he said, was small The Fdi-
son industries here are not unionized. and
this is the first strike Mr.. Edison has had
on his hands in many years.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-02-26
PRESIDENT FIRM IN
STAND FOR u. S. RIGHTS
Meanwhile Situation in WASHINGTON
Hangs on Receipt of Notes from
Germanic Allies.

WASHINGTON, Feb 26-With the ap-
parent quIeting down of the situation in
congress the submarine crisis shifts back
to the negotiations between Secretary
Lansing and Count Won Bernstorff Mr..
Lansing said today there was no intention
OF transferring the negotiations to Berlin
ito be conducted between Ambassador
Gerard and the Berlin foreign Office as was
intimated in dispatches published abroad.
and reiterated that the state department
had heard nothing more from Germany in
reply TO its request for declaration that
the new submarine campaign would not be
conducted IN violation Of previous assur-
ances for the safety of Americans travel
ing on unresisting liners.
While the situation in congress appar-
emily IS being held in check by the admin
istration leaders the state department CON
tlnues to await receipts of certain appen-
dlces to the Austro-German notice. which
are intended to demonstrate that British
armed merchant ships have used their guns
extensively against submarines They are
coming by mail and Secretary Lansing has
said that until he has had an opportunity
to study the evidence the state department
would be unable to decide exactly what
its position viii be.
On the situation as it now stands Presi-
dent Wilson is firm in his determination
to insist on the rights of Americans to
travel on entente ships armed for defense
only. From German sources come sugges-
tions that the Teutonic governments were
inspired to issue their new notice by the
American circular notes to the allied pow
ers proposing disarmament of merchant
ships and the German belief is that the
allies will not accept the American sugges-
ton.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-02-26
Organ for Masons.

Vermont consistory and the co-or-
dinate bodies of the Ancient Accept
ed Scottish Rite of the valley of Bur
lington have recently closed con
tract with the Estey Organ company
of Brattleboro for pipe organ of ex-
cellent quality, to better facilitate the
rendition of the ritualistic music in
the impressive ceremonies of the de-
gree work The organ will be placed
in the gallery of the preceptory OF the
rite on the fifth floor of the temple
The preparations are now being made
and the instrument viii be installed
in May, so as to be ready for the
meetings of the Scottish Rite during
Masonic week in June. 1t will be one
of the largest organs in New England
devoted exclusively to Masonic pur-
poses.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-02-26
PORTUGAL ABOUT
TO JOIN ALLIES?
Statement of Premier in Regard to
German Treaty Would In
dicate That.

LISBON, Feb. &c, by way of Paris.
The Portuguese premier stated in
the chamber of deputies today that
attempts had been made to damage
seven Of the Teutonic ships, requisi-
toned by the government, and that
an explosive had been found on the
steamship Bulow of the North German
Lloyd company.
The premier added that he consid-
cred it IN the best interests of Portu-
gal that the existing treaty with Ger
many be allowed to lapse and salu
that the Portuguese government was
might arise from the exercise bv
Portugal of her rights
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-02-26
APPLAUD WILSON LETTER.
London Papers Comment Favorably on
Message to Stone.

LONDON, Feb 20. - President Viii
son S letter to Senator Stone, chairman
of the senate foreign relations commit
tee, is published this morning and af
fords the London daily newspapers the
greatest satisfaction. A majority Of
the newspapers print editorials on it.
''The President S words have the
right ring to them, says The Daily
Chronicle He makes plain to the
| whole world that the United States is
unshakable in its resolve to reject the
| impudent demand of Germany. In fact,
the whole substance of the letter proves
| that, for all his patience a1d forbear-
ance, the President has a clear obiec-
| tive which he steadily pursues, and
that when there is need to strike he
can strike hard.
/ 'sThe President remains immovably
how far he will carry the country s
opinion with him in the contingencies
that NAV arise it would be iniudicious
and improper to speculate. But be the
issue what it may, President Wilson de
serves credit for standing manfully
to his guns.
The Morning Post says:
"It is the fate of America, whether
it viii or not, to make choice between
her own gods and Germany's idols
President Wilson has sufficiently de
fined the situation, and in so doing he
has earned the respect of the civilized
world.
Other morning newspapers comment
in similar strain.
/
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-02-26
Total of 3.04 Inches i'm "a
HOurs-Streams Great
ly Swollen
FRED f. CROSBY
CARRIED OVER DAM
.. A. Smith Factory Closed on Account
of water Covering Blower Belt -
Today Is Anniversary Of wreckinE
of Island Pavilion.

ioday Is the anniversary of the breatins,
up OF the ice in the Connecticut ,i,-e9
ias1 year and the heavy damage to Island
park and other places along the ,ivcr
1 ne damage az that time followed a steady
ram OF nearly four days and very ,ya,,,
weather
hile the West River branch ~ tbs
Sentral Vermont railroad Is in trouble 80
DAY and the lower Dummerston road y
IN Lassabie because of water for a coasid-
eiable distance between the places of WI
son ]. Brown and Charles +. Adams tla
body of water in the Connecticut i n.+
nearly as great as it was a year ago.
FERNS X Vaughan, who has been keen
ing accurate records OF weather conditions
Tor years, reports that the fan OF rain v,s-
terday was 4.04 inches; the heaviest IAN
ne ever recorded for any one dav OF -
hours. As result the small streams we've
greatly swollen.
The ice in the West river partially broke
up shortly after midnight last night ana
the water and ice flowed on To the tracks
o. the West River branch on the Estev
meadows and on % the highway. Wilson
!. Brown reported that the lower rosd
near his place was under four or five feet
Of water IN the low places.
The mixed train on the West River
branch which left Brattleboro at 4 O'Clock
tins morning, came back at 5 O'Clock aDl
with a track gang and one passenger car
again went as Tar as possible with the idea
OF having passengers transferred around
the overflow on the tracks.
Fred +. Crosby Of the Putney road. four
miles north of BIattleboro. had a narrow
escape from death or serious injury this
morning when he was swept over the dam
OF his pond while engaged in an effort 10
clear away ice.
The Jam suddenly started as he was on
top Of the dam and swept him over II
He managed with the assistance os ms
daughter, to get to shore He Is ba,Ilv
bruised, but it IS not believed that he has
received any serious injuries
The old dam in Milestone brook near
the Centeryille car barns went out last
evening, but no material damage was done
The Connecticut River Power Co. re-
ported this morning that while the water
was rising slowly it was not within five
feet of the top of the dam 4 year ago
today the water was eight deep on ton of
the dam
The water backed into the cellar OF the
railroad station this morning to a depth
sufficient to put out the fires Ii was nee
essary 10 get a pump to get rid of enough
water TO permit rebuilding the fire.
At the :. a. Smith Mfg Co : plant the
water ran into the cellar and covered the
blower belt, and rather than run with the
belt submerged the company closed the
factory for today.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-02-26
Rev. Richard FL. Clapp Com
ing to Centre Congre-
gatiOnal Church
GRADUATED UNDER
LATE REV. C. o. DAY
Has Been Pastor of First Church in
Pennington, Me-, II Years = Is Se
Years Old and Has Wife and Two
Daughters, and 10.

In a special meeting in the chapel
last evening the Centre Congregations
church voted unanimously to extend a
call to Rev. Richard H. Clapp of
Pennington, Me-, to become its pas
itor, and today Rev Mr.. Clapp. who
had been here and looked over the field.
wired his acceptance of the call. The
church voted to request that the pas
| torate begin the first Sunday in April.
The prudential committee chosen to
recommend someone TO succeed Rev.
10y NJ. Houghton, who has gone to the
Church of the Redeemer in New Ha-
ven, Conn, voted unanimously on Fri
day night of last week to accept the
report of the subcommittee and to
recommend to the church that call
be extended to Rev. Mr. Clapp, and
that recommendation was made last
might
None of the committee has heard
Rev. Mr.. Clapp preach, and the action
was taken on the very highly commen-
datory letters received from men
prominent in the denomination who
know Rev. Mr.. Clapp aud of his work
together with impressions gained from
his brief visit here.
Pennington is somewhat smaller than
Brattleboro, but it is the home of a
StdtG HoIiiiaI ScHOOi, ana thefe are manV
young people in the church of which
Rev. Mr.. Clapp is pastor, the First
congregational. The church is not
quite as large as the Centre church, but
like the church here it is the centre
For congregational churches round
about.
Rev. Richard II. Clapp was born in
Montague, Mass, in 1877, and is there
fore about 80 years old He spent a
part of his boyhood on the Nebraska
frontier and the rest on the home farm
IN Montague. He took the usual high
school course and one additional high
school year in Greenfield, Mass. fol
lowed by courses in Boston university
and Andover Theological seminary.
where he graduated in 1904 when the
late Rev. DIR. Charles o. Dav, for
mer beloved pastor of the Centre
church of Brattleboro, was president.
lie went directly from the seminary
to Pennington on the recommendation
of DR.. Day, who advised him to stav
10 years, and he has now been there 12
years.
Mrs. Clapp also is from Montague.
She Is a graduate of the School of
Domestic Science in Boston. and
taught two years in the Boston Y.
W. {. \. She Is a woman of charm
ing personality aud is very efficient
helper In her husband 5 work. Rev.
and Mrs. Clapp have two children.
daughters, seven and 10 years of age
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-02-26
GERMANS CLAIM
IMPORTANT GAIN
Berlin Despatch Says That Fort Douanmont, Four
Miles From Verdun, Has Been Taken Capture
Not Admitted by French Official Circles Fero-
city of Fighting Unparalleled

The tremendous drive for Vcrdun is
continuing with undiminished fury.
Berlin today claims the breaking Of
the Gordon of protecting forts by the
capture Of Fort Douaumout, four miles
10 the northwest of Verdun. The loss
Of this outlying fortifeation. however.
is not admitted by today's official
flo@eh Communication which declares
that despite the desperate assault the
French have maintained their position
While the German wing on the east
has been driving at Fort Douaumont
tho center of the Crown Prince :
forces has worked down the Muese
valley and continued hammering at the
ridge Of Louyemont, about four ana
ouchalf miles north of the main fort
rcss. Along the Verdun front the Ger
mans are hurliug their men against
tho French lire without regard 20
sacrifices. Paris declares, the fighting
being particularly desperate in the re-
gion of Beaumont, almost directly
north of Verdun.
Accounts from various sources agree
that the fighting has been Of degree
Of intensitv virtually unparalleled in
the war. The progress Of the German
drive is being watched with intense
interest in the allied capitals as the
strategic Importance of this fort is
recognized.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-02-26
County Agricultural Asso-
citation Annual Meet
ing Today
BEST YEAR SINCE
IT'S ORGANIZATION
County Agent Makes Annual Report
and Thomas Bradlee and Dean J. L.
Hills Give Addresses Dues to Re
main at 81 a Year.

! Although the travelling conditions were
decidedly unfavorable about 80 persons at
tended the opening session OF the annual
meeting OF the Windham County Agricul-
tural association, which began in tba
brooks House about II o'clock TODAY. II
was noticeable that a large majority Of
those present were among the younger eIe-
ment of the progressive farmers of the
county.
President Matt L. DivoH of Roclzingbam
presided, and after the call to order Secrd-
tary Carl ). Hopkins read his report. which
was accepted and adopted Senator A
Dunkee OF South Vernon spoke briefly
about dairylng, showing especially the adj
Vantages OF COW testing associations. q.
l. Stlckneys s report as treasurer was ae.
cepted and adopted
Then followed the report of County
Agent a. w. Sweeton of Brattleboro COW
erlng his work the past year. 1t was com
pfehenslve and was accompanied bv MI
merous suggestions plainly and understand
lngiy made. Mr.. Sweeton said the work
iot the association the past year was the
most productive of results of anv wear
since the association was organized He
urged that prominent men in every town
take an active part in the work, as with
towns.
There was considerable discussion over a
motion made year ago that the annual
dues be reduced from 81 to 80 cents.
which motion could not be acted upon
until this year. The proposition was
turned down by a large majority, most of
those present believing that man who
was interested in the work enough to pay
% cents would be willing to pay 81 The
motion Tor reduction was made on the
belief that lower fee would result in in
creased membership
The following town representatives were
appointed Dummerston, T. c. Tennev:
Putney, G. d. Aiken, H. w Frost. George
Gassett; Westminster. w s. Fem, c. 4
Peek, 5. H. Minard, Harry Barnes; Rock
ingham, Henry Stoddard, w c. Belknap
John Alexander, jr.; Grafton, John Howe;
Athens, II. j. Hastings; Jamaica, G H.
Gleason; Londonderry, Lee Haven: Somer-
set. Frank Johnson; Windham, NJ H In
gals; Stratton, Frank Johnson Ray Ly-
man; Wardsboro, J. E. Gleason; Brook
line, Gerald Albee; Brattleboro, A T.
Miller, w. H Hescock, c. s. Hopkins;
Vernon, A. A. Dunklee, J. r. Wright:
Guilford, i. E. Jaquith, Roy Ingraham:
Halifax, q. w Amidon, George Scott:
Nottingham, NJ A Butterfeld c. s
Goodnow; Wilmington, l. f. Adams, For
rest Boyd; Marlboro. Gerald Adams;
Dover, + f. Yeaw. Leon Boyle; Newiane
.C. S. Hescock, Arthur Radway: Towns
hend, r. \. Fitch, Fred Cutler; Williams
vile, Frank Fisher
The afternoon program consisted of an
address by Thomas Bradlee, state leader
OF county agents, who spoke on County Or
ganization, and one by Dean J. L. Hills,
from National Point of View.
The treasurer's report showed balance
of cash on hand of S461 90. Small
amounts due from towns brought the total
balance up to S515.O3, a very satisfactory
showing
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-02-26

BERLIN, Feb. 26, by way of Lon
don.-lt is officially announced that
Fort Douaumout, one of the fortifca-
tions of Yerdun, was taken by storm
yesterday afternoon and now is firmly
held by the Germans. The statement
says the armored fort Douaumont, the
northeastern corner pillar of the per-
mauent line fortifeation Of the strong
hold Of Ncrdun, was stormed yestor-
day afternoon by the oath regiment Of
Brandcnburg infantry and now is
firmly held by Germans.
Fort Douaumout lies four miles
northeast Of Ycrdun and is one Of
nearly n score Of forts encircling the
city. Two forts lie directly between
Douaumont and the city of Verdun.