davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-06
MurderOus Machin e
Gun Fire Greets the
French w h yer
They Attempt to Cross
River : Evidences of
Terrific Fighting

French Front in France. Nov. s.
tBy The Associated Press) The Ger
mans still hold the northern slope of
the valley Of the Ailette after their re-
which nothing remains but the historic
iamc and its dominating position over
the marshy lowlands The famous lit
tic river, whose entire course the cor
respondent was able to follow on Sun
uay Us it meandered through the bog
~ underground would scarcely be
worth marking on an ordinary map, as
It's greatest breadth is only about
Il rec Yards The Germans had made
many passages over the stream, all Of
which were destroyed when the last
man Of their retreatinS forces went
over.
French Reach South Bank
French patrols everywhere reached
'hc southern bank. but whenever they
attempted 10 attain the other side, they
net with Il murderouS machine gun
nre. The whole southern slope of the
valley was swept hour after hour on
Sunday with German shells Of all CAL
II res, most of them charged with
poisonous gases Every place where
the Germans believed the French We're
concentrating received continuous sal
Nos which. however, did little damage.
several thousand projectiles were
fited 10y the German artillery in the
course Of the day in this sector, most
ct which apparently were fired at very
hing range and struck without eXplOd-
ng.
The Ruined Villages
The correspondent approached the
front lines and splendid view could be
obtained right along the valley and over
the ground, for the possession of which
the German Crown Princes army has
spilled so much blood. Seemingly a short
distance away. we'll within machine gun
range. could be observed the ruins Of
the Villages of Chaquille, Melville, Cher
mizy Bouconville and Naucleri, while
along the crest Of the plateau could be
discerncd here and there faint traces of
what once had been the Chemn des
DANES. now mere collection Of deep
shell craters running into each other.
Ia IA ci1 10
The gaping mouths of great tunnels OPP
"uei showing where the Germans had
concentrated and sheltered their troops
Ncry slight damage had been done these
shelters, except in cases where the tim
berg sustaining the roofs and sides had
been sprinkled with petrol and set alre,
sometimes causing the earth to collapse.
Terrific Fighting Shown
Marching over the battle field atop this
plateau il was easy to visualize the ter
rife nature or the sighting which has
been going on these many months. Both
the German and French trenches had
boon Shclled out oc all shape and it
was difficult To understand how the
troops held out under the incessant bonn
bardments There was not an inch OF
ground that had not been pulverized and
now with the heavy autumn mists and
frequent rains the grounds has been
rormad iuto sticky mess, progress
through which IS really a form Of pun
ishment The great mounds known as
razmstes and CALIFORNIA; plateaus. stand
out boldly. making the reason plain why
both sides fight so hard for their pos
session.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-06
Probably Advanced Post

Presumably the American trench
raided was an advanced post. with
only 20 men in it. 1t could not have
had front Of more than 50 or So
feet. Possibly il was the head of a
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-08-29
RYEGATE.

(Mrs. G. A. McKirahan, Corr
The electrical storm on Friday eve
ming was of unusual violence. The
lightning struck the chimney of the
frame house adjoining the brick house
belonging to M. H. Gibson in Ryegate
village. The chimney was torn off,
port of the roof that had been newly
shingled was damaged, and the door
casing and other parts of the interior
of the house showed the path of the
current extending to near the adjoin-
ing barn. The buildings escaped
burning. Mrs. Fred Chapman's right
arm was paralyzed during the storm.
Aida Nolan is making rapid re-
covery from an operation performed
for appendicitis on Saturday at the
Mary Hitchcock hospital in Hanover.
Her mother, Mrs. J. A. Nolan, and
her brother, Clarence, went with her
to Hanover on Thursday.-The moth
er and brothers of Cyrus Metca1f of
Randolph visited him at S. F. Nelson S
on Sunday.-Many are availing them
selves of the opportunity to attend the
Chautauqua lectures now in progress
at Woodsville.- Meserve, son
of Mr.. and Mrs. Frank MeServe of
Newbury, is visiting his cousins, Rich
ard Roland and Martha Sargent.
Richard and Roland spent the day
Friday with their aunt and uncle at
West Barnet Mr.. and Mrs. Albert
Achilles, bringing their cousin, How
ard, home with them.-J. Dunbar has
purchased new reaper and binder
and has begun reaping the oats on
D. F. Nelson's farm.-Different parties
have gone to Black Mountain blue
berrying. The berries are very plenti-
full on the mountain this season.-Mr
and Mrs. w. D. White took an auto
mobile trip to East Burke on We'd
nesday, spending the day with Mr.. and
Mrs. Walter Nelson Of that place.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-08-29
WEST DANVILLE.
Mrs. E. F. Aver. Corresponds

(Mrs. E. F. Aver, Correspondent
Mr.. and Mrs. John Finley and
daughter, Iva, who have been spend
ing week at Joes Pond, have re-
turned to ST. Johnsbury.-Mr. and
Mrs. George Kittredge and Mr.. and
Mrs. E. F. Aver spent Sunday at Pas
sumpsic.-Mr. and Mrs. w. F. Robin
Whites Sunday.-Mr. and Mrs. Cory
don Parker of Sutton spent Saturday
at Clayton Farrington's .-Miss Mary
Aver is spending a few days at St
Johnsbury.-The Eastern Star OF
Montpelier held a picnic in the grove
of A. D. Blackadon last week, Friday
Mrs. John EIibbs and Miss Ella Page
of West Newbury, Mass, have, been
the guests of Mrs Clayton Harrington
for few days this week.-Mrs.. Yer
non Carl and children of Fairlee are
visiting her grandfather, Clarence
Bryer.-Artie Meader and two daugh-
tiers of Whitensville, Mass, were at his
sister, Mrs. F. B. Milligan's. last week
Dudley Dunbar of Florida was guest
at Mrs. George Giles last week.-Mrs.
F. B. Milligan spent Sunday at Hard
week.-mrs.. George Gle and son, Sid
dey spent Sunday at Barre.-Frank
visiting his son, Grover Perkins,
Miss Madene Porter spent Sunday al
her home in Walden.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-08-29
BRADFORD.

Mr.. and Mrs. Claude Hall of Bos-
ton are spending a few weeks at Al
lendale Farm.-Rev. Robert Wright
and family of Lennoxville, P. c., are
occupying one of the cottages at AL
Icndale Farm for a few weeks.--Mrs.
Margaret Tfendell was called back to
Atlantic City on account Of the serious
illness of her mother. Mr.. Trandell
accompanied her but returned on
Wednesday last-Miss Hazel Gates is
spending a few days in Glover and at
Willoughby Lake previous to enter
ing upon school duties at Newport
Center.-John Brigham has purchas-
ed an attachment whereby he can
make his automobile furnish power
for cutting ensilage and other farm
work-Mr. and Mrs. j. w. Hughes
and Miss Patton returned to Montreal
on Saturday after spending a couple
of weeks at Allendale Farm.-Mr. and
Mrs. George Young will motor to
Saratoga Springs this week for short
stay.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-08-29
BENEFIT A BIG SUCCESS.
Rev. Patrice Flynn Entertains Audi.
eHcc With Red Cross Work at
Verdun.

One of the most interesting ad-
dresses heard in st. Johnsbury TO,
many years was the story of the Rec
Cross work at the battle of Verdun
told by the Rev. Patrice Flynn, at Tho
Colonial theater Saturday night. Tho
account was the more Interesting a:
it was told by one who was on the
spot and took a personal part in thu
events of that world known battle
That it was one of the fiercest fights
with correspondingly large loss of life
and innumerable wounded is already
known. The brilliant attacks ano
counter attacks in the face of the
worst fire ever known have also be-
come common knowledge. but the
humanitarian work of the Red Cross
units has never come quite SO close
home as it did to the audience who
heard Mr.. Flynn give "close-ups' of
the work done by the units he was
with.
One of the principal things drawn
from the speakers talk by those that
heard him was the absolute necessity
for work to be done in the interest of
the Red Cross organization. His per-
sonal observations of occurrences di-
rectly behind the French lines given in
detail to an intensely interested audi
ence were vivid. Those that heard
him gained knowledge as never be-
fore of the difficult and dangerous
work carried on by the workers of the
Red Cross units.
The proceeds of the address went to
the Red Cross and the knights OF
Columbus soldiers fund.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-08-29
THIS WEEK PROMISES
To Be Busy One for the Community
Canning" Workers.

Miss Warning will be at the Summer
Street school at 10 o'clock on Monday,
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
mornings; Monday and Friday after
moons at o'clock at the Portland
Street school; Tuesday, all day, at St
Agnes Hall, Cherry street; Thursday
morning Miss Warnings pupils have a
canning contest with Miss Newton's
pupils in Lyndonville.
These meetings were most interest
ing last week and were very well at
tended.
Contributions of rhubarb were
gratefully received and a most de-
licious marmalade was made each day
which was placed on sale.
A roll of wire was donated by D. c.
Horner and some boys from the
Manual Training school promptly
made 120 wire can lifters, which were
also placed on sale.
The class would be most grateful
for contributions of any surplus vege-
tables, fruit or berries, which they
may use in these demonstrations.
The following girls from the Do.
mestic Science class assisted last
week: Edna Day, Hortense Stanton
Marion Babcock, Gertrude Tinker
Lois Clifford. Eleanor Bowman ant
Freda Leach.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-08-29
WHEELoCK.

(Mrs. Geo. L. Gerry, Correspondent
Mrs. Charles Mathewson of Lyndon
vile visited at H. J. Mathewson's last
Friday.-Mrs. Ellen Laffo, who has
been caring for Mrs. Carrie Aver the
past nine months, is at her home for
rest. Mrs. Aver is better-Miss
Margery Bean, who has been spend
ing a week with her aunt, Mrs. Alex
Dwyer, went to her home in Glover
last Friday.-Mrs. P. J. Shorey, who
has been spending week with rela-
tives in East Charleston, has returned.
Prof. O. D. Mathewson has closed
his summer home, "Rest Awhile" and
returned to his home in Lyndonvillc
with his family.-Mrs. Carrie Bean
went last Wednesday to Ayers Cliff, P.
O., to visit relatives for a few weeks.
Mrs. Martha Craig went last Thurs
day to West Burke to visit her sister,
Mrs. Will Anger, for Week.-Mrs.
Jessie Cobb gave. a canning demon
stration at Mechanics hall last Friday
Clifford Mclean spent the weekend
at Newport at his home.-Colone1 E.
B. Taylor and wife of Melrose, Mass,
Mr.. and Mrs L. c. Swain and daugh-
ter of Plainfield, and Burton A. Porter
visited Mr.. and Mrs. A w. Porter the
past week. Mr.. Porter returned with
them to Plainfield and including Miss
Beatrice Kellogg in the party, motored
| to Boston. Burt Porter is now at the
home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.
! w. Porter, for a few weeks. Mr.
Porter was formerly parole agent for
Idaho and now holds a similar posi-
| ton with the United States govern
ment.-Mrs. Ethel Goss of st. Johns
| bury, who has been spending a few
days with her mother, Mrs. Stella
| GoSs, returned to her home last week
| Observation-Disclosures Leavitt, who is Wis
| iting relatives in Canada, spent Satur-
day and Sunday with friends in this
| village.-Charles Miles has finished
his work in the mill at Folsom S
Crossing, Lyndon, and is at his home
Miss Emma Dana. of Lyndon was
a weekend visitor at her grand
father, E. J. Dana s.-George A. Rob
erts and his family have been taking
vacation from his store the pas
week, spending the time with rela
tives in Burlington. They returned tt
their home last Saturday night-Mis!
Avis Cree is entertaining Miss knight:
of Worcester, Mass, for two weeks.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-08-29
CLOUDBURST DOES
GREAT DAMAGE.
Heavy Waterfall Washes Out Eight
Bridges in Lower WATERFORD;
Large Damage to Roads and
Meadows.

A cloudburst at Lower Waterford
Friday night swept out eight small
bridges within a mile radius, washed
out roads, flooded meadows, and did
damage to the extent of many thou
sands of dollars. For a time Satur-
day morning the road through to the
mountains was impossible but later in
the day arrangements were made for
a temporary road through fields by
the way of North Littleton and
through to Littleton.
The edge of the same storms which
did so much damage in that section
of the country also struck st. Johns
bury but with less severity. Lower
Waterford received the full intensity
Of the showers which were also ac-
companed by terrific electrical dis
turbances.
The bridge in Lower Waterford vii
lage just after making the turn to the
iron toll bridge, was completely wiped
out, even to the banks and under.
pinning. In normal times the stream
there is but a few feet across and only
two or three feet deep, but the rush
ing waters of Saturday night it is esti.
mated rose to at least ten feet, leav-
ing nothing but the gorge. From
Waterford hill Saturday afternoon il
was possible to see six different crews
of men at work on the roads to make
them passable. Other smaller crews
of two or three men were at work in
other places on the hill roads which
suffered as badly as those in the val
| ley.
Meadows normally dry were stand
| ing in places under water a foot deer
while small streams two and three feet
wide wound their way throughout
| their length till they emptied into
some larger stream or into the Con-
| necticut river near by.
The damage to fields and meadows
| in some sections was very large
Boulders weighing in the vicinity O.
| 500 pounds, small stones, gravel an(
debris swept down the hillsides onto
| meadow land and titled field and ir
| many instances farmers will be
| large expense to clear their meadow
condition. The amount of sedimen
| coming down the hillsides and left OF
| the level fields by the rushing waite
is difficult to be imagined.
| Older citizens of Waterford say tina
| the storm was the worst that they ca
remem Der. The storm started in it
intensity about 7 o'clock and for thre
hours continued with an intensity tina
was said to be almost terrifying.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-08-29
EAST RYEGATE.

"a. G. Bedell, Correspondent
The Red Cross social was a great
success. About SIS was cleared. The
program which consisted of a piano
solo by Mrs. E. c. Wallace songs by
C. G. Farwell, Fred Lougee and Ar
thur Symmes and readings by Rev. l..
w. Simpson was well rendered and
thoroughly enjoyed by all present.
The r. p. Co.'S lawn on which it was
held presented very pretty scene,
illuminated by arc lights and japanese
lanterns and decorated with ever
greens.-Mr. and Mrs. M. G. Brown
and son, Harry, returned Saturday and
Mrs. Leon Ward returned to her homo
in Woodsville, N. H.-G. L. Cowan left
Thursday night for a visit to Boston
and vicinity.-Mr. and Mrs. f. H
Powers, Mr. and Mrs. E. c. Wallace
Mr.. and Mrs. w. S. Lackie, Margaret
Lackie and Mr.. and Mrs. J. #. Devins
motored to Fort Ethan Allen and Bur
lington Sunday.-Mrs A. NJ. Bedel
and daughter, Priscilla, were guests al
Clarence Bedells and w. S. Lackie'.
Thursday and Friday. a@ ar 49,
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-08-29
St. Johnsbury's Immortal Five.

Five leading business men of ST.
Johnsbury formed themselves into
hay-fork squad the other day and
marched out to a nearby field to as
sist in getting in the crop of a farmer
in sore need of help. They took off
their coats. rolled up their sleeves and
registered activity until seven loads
of hay had been thrown off and they
had enough blisters on their hands to
convince home skeptics that they had
really done more than skirmish
around in the shade of the big tree
under which usually reposes the jog
of gingerade. They found such an
outing more fun than Sunday school
picnic and sat down to a good old
fashioned farm supper with appetites
that didn't need whetting. go thou
and do likewise is the advice they
give to other business and professional
men, who in helping the farmers
would help themselves in a physical
Reporter.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-08-29
County Bar Association
Banquets Military Members

A military atmosphere marked the
banquet rendered by the Caledonia
County Bar Association to their broth
er members, Captain Leigh I. Harvey
and Lieutenant Joseph Fairbanks, at
Pythian hall Friday evening. Mem
bers of Chamberlin Post, G. A. r.,
Lieutenant Jutten Longmoore, Lieu
tenant Boynton and Captain Edward
Stafford were guests of honor. Judge
Wendall p Stafford held the attention
of his hearers in a mastery patriotic
address.
The members of the county bar, a
large representation of Grand Army
men, and guests sat down at 6 o'clock
to the banquet arranged and served
under the direction of Mrs. S. J. Som
erville, while a musical program was
given by Hills Novelty orchestra.
After the passing of cigars the ban
queters pushed back their chairs end
Elisha May, president of the bar as
sociation as toast master, kept the
post prandial exercises under way in Il
highly entertaining manner.
Following the address by Judge
Stafford other speakers were: Judge
L. 2. Slack, Judge Edwin Potter, Cap
tain Edward Stafford and Hon. Alex
ander Dunnett. Captain Leigh Har-
vey, Lieutenants Joseph Fairbanks
and J. a. Longmoore told many in
tercsting facts and anecdotes of their
work and pleasures at their respective
training camps.
The plans for the evenings enter
tainment were in charge of officers OF
the county bar, Elisha May, Judge
Harland B. Howe and Guy W. HILL
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-08-29
OLD VERMONTERS
VISIT HOME SCENES

The lure of the old home in Yer
mont brought to st. Johnsbury Satur-
day evening three men of prominence
and success in their fields of labor.
The man who is going to visit his
boyhood scenes is the Hon. L. d.
Richards of Fremont, Neb. With him
is his eldest son, Fred Richards, who
is in business with his father in Ne
'braska, and the third member of the
party is Rev. John Hewitt, rector of
ST. Marks Episcopal church at Cold
water, Mich. They stopped over Sum
day at the ST. Johnsbury House and
Monday started on weeks automobile
tour through the scenes of Mr.. Rich
ards early days and western Vermont.
L. D. Richards was born in Charles
ton and later came to st. Johnsbury
Center, where he lived for a time and
later went to Barton. One of the first
men he will visit will be Delos M.
Bacon at the Center, who was ac-
Quainted with him as a boy. Mr.
Richards enlisted with the famous
18th Vermont regiment when less
than 1 5 years of age and served as
orderly to the late Col. Redfield
Proctor. Soon after the war he went
west and has been one of the leading
men of Nebraska, taking a prominent
part in politics and having been very
successful in business. He is a mem
Der of the firm Of Richards, Keene &
Co. Inc, dealers in real estate loans
and investments, and has had much
to do with the railroad and industrial
development of northern Nebraska
His last visit to Vermont was in 1871
and while he will find but very few
people who knew him as a Vermonter
he anticipates much pleasure in visit
ing the places where he formerly lived
and the Old Red Schoolhouse where
he learned to read, write and do ex-
amples.
Mr.. Richards is one of the many
Vermonters who left his native state
AFTER the war to win honor and sue
cess in the EaTe' country Of those
days.
Quite as distinguished is the Rev
John Hewitt. He has been prominent
jill the Episcopal church and has
tGIlt ten churche: in different Mid
die West states. Mr. Hewitt was born
ii North Caroline and served in the
Confederate army. He i: one of the
few possessors &C the Southern Cross
OF Honor conferred for distinguished
s1.vice by the United Daughters G:
Ccnfederacy. For many years he has
been an honorarv member Of the
CTand Army of the Republic, and he
was the only possessor of the Southern
Gre SIS of Hon0r Il. march in the Grand
Army parade n Boston last week
TITS is his first real visit to the state
of Vermont.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-08-29
VALLEY HOUSE
CHANGES HANDS
Especial to The Ca1edOnian.)

Especial to The Ca1edOnian.)
Orleans, Aug. ga business trans
action was brought to close late Sat
urday evening in which E. H. Lothrol
leased his famous hotel, the Vale.
House, to Frank H. Parlin, of Orleans
for five years, possession to be givel
September 10. The Valley House ha
been d popular resort for many year.
and was formerly owned and man
aged by J. H. Brown. Twenty-sE
ago he sold out to Mr.. Lothrop, who
from a small beginning, has made i
the most popular hotel in this sectio:
Of New England.
Mr.. Parlin is a native of Charles
ton, Vt, and has resided in Orlean
and vicinity for 1 5 years. He has hat
several years experience working il
different hotels in St. Johnsbury, Dan
vile and other places, and with tho
aid of Mrs. Parlin, will keep the place
up TO it's former standard.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-08-29
SOUTH WHEELOCK.
(Mrs. Lucy Weed, Correspon

(Mrs. Lucy Weed, Correspondent
J. p. Peck carried George Lord and
family to Lunenburg last Sunday
Mrs. Alvin Blake returned to her
home in Derby Sunday.-Carrol Sher-
burne split his large toe to the foot
one day last week. He stepped on a
log to cut it off and his axe caught on
bush and struck his foot DR..
Cheney was called and took seven
stitches.-Mrs. Hitchcock of Barton is
visiting her daughter. Mrs. Gordon
Smith.-There will be a dance at the
Club House next Thursday evening
after the reunion.-The reunion of the
Red Schoolhouse Association will be
held Thursday, Aug. 80.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-08-29
SUTTON.
Corydon Parker, 80 Years Old, Has
Done His Own Haying-Pcrsonals.


(H. A. Blake, Correspondent
Corydon Parker, a man well along
IN his S3rd year, has done his haying
this season with no assistance, save
his horse, and has harvested from
eight to ten tons. Some five acres
was hand moving, the most of it on
land too wet to drive team. and
which he carried by hand to where it
would dry The remainder he moved
with one horse machine. Part of
the hay he handled three times after
it was in the barn, to place it in
storage. He has about two acres I'M
der cultivation, having hired only one
half days blowing. He is raising DO
tatoes, peas, beans and a large garden
of vegetables. He says he has not
had hard fit of sickness for so wears.
and attributes his present vitality and
strength to his observance of physical
laws of health, that he now feels
well as ever and able to reach the
century mark.
Mr. and Mrs. Corydon Parker Wis
tied at Will Roberts in st. Johnsburv
Center last week.-Charlie Switser of
Laconia, N. H., is visiting his broth
er, Harley, and his sister, Mrs. w w.
Sanborn.-Miss Jennie Heath of New
" ork is visiting at F. A. Holmes
Mrs. Harley Keough and children
visited relatives in Lyndon some DAYS
last week.-Clara Trefren of Lyndon
is spending few days with Mr.. and
Mrs. c. A. Aldrich-Mrs. D. D.. Dan
forth of Glover visited her mother.
Mrs A. II. Durham, and other
friends last Sunday and Monday
Mrs. S. G. Chesley is quite i'll at this
writing. She is attended by DR.. D.
r. Brown of Lyndonville.-Miss Hen
rietta Easterbrooks is visiting reIa-
tives in Lyndon for a few weekS-C.
A. Aldrich and wife and Mrs. Sophia
Watson attended the funeral of C. ].
Trefren at Lyndonville Monday, Aug.
2O.-Sutton Grange will have a social
at their hall next Thursday evening.