HANSFIEllLMl-SSINGI Walter Mansfield, an Englishman, employed as a farm hand ,by Rufus Ruscoe of North Wilton, is missing, audit is feared that he was drowned on Thursday last in what is known as Grupe’s reservoir. ‘ On that day Mansfield was in this city audit was seen that he was somewhat under the influence of liquor. He went into Wardwell S: Lockwood’s market about noon and left his rubber coat there saying that‘lie would call for the ‘same later. " . ; But he didn’t come back. He evi- dently started to walk home as he was met by persons of whom he asked the way'to North Wilton. He was seen to pass Daniels Mills and here he asked to be directed to North Wilton and seemed to be somewhat befuddled. This was about 3 o’clock. .-. .The last seen of him was on the road at the north end of the reservoir and at a point where the body of water is unprotected by a fence of any kind for a distance of perhaps fifty feet and where there is a bridge crossing the stream. As he did not return home his wife became alarmed and advised with Mr. Roscoe in reference to her husband’s absence. An unavailing search has since been made for him with the result that a conclusion was arrived at that he had fallen into the reservoir. Monday it was decided to dredge the pond for the body and men were so engaged, but up to this writing have not recovered it. Mansfield was well known here hav- ing for a time been employed by the late Stephen Henry Smith on his New- town'avenue'farm. About the lst of April he went to work for Rufus Ruscoe where he has since remained, occupying with his wife and child a house belong- ing to his employer. He was about 45 years of age. It is said of him that since his marriage he was never known to remain away from home over night and hence the belief that he has either ‘met with foul play, or has suffered an accidental death. LATER. Walterlllansfield, employed on a farm at North ,Wilton and who had been missing since last Thursday, and whose absence led to the belief that he had been drowned in Grupe’s reservoir, where he was seen last on Thursday afternoon, has been found. Whendiscovercd he lay in a semi- stupor near the point where his friends were under the impression that he had fallen into the water. On being aroused he' was ‘u‘niible "to "give any connected story as to where he had been, all recollection as to what had happened to him between 3 o’clock and the time at which he was found being a blank. He said that he took a few drinks in Norwalk, and is inclined to think that he was given some knock-out drops. This latter conclusion looks plausible as he was knocked out of the sight of his family and friends for the space of four days. Our Oldest War Vets. The pension records in Washington have the names of but fourteen sur- vivors of the war of 1812. Of these two are credited to Connecticut, viz: William C. Moss of Stonington who is now ninety-three years old. He is thelast of the Americans living who defended Stonington against the Brit- ons on August 10, 1814. He was then eleven years old. Also, Elizas Smith of Danbury, who was born May 16, 1798, and is now ninety-eight years old. Near the close of the war he entered Captain John- son’s company, which was a part cf Colonel Edward Lizei’s New Hamp- shire militia, and served only five days. Henry Morris, born March 1801, and now residing in Port Chester, was also a member of the militia during the war. . Hardly strong enough to carry a rifle, these old veterans went more than eighty years ago to fight in defence of their country. The nation has not for- gotten the services of these brave men, for every one of them receives a good pension, which enables them to enjoy the silver age of their life. 0 9-____...———- Road Briefs. Narrow tires are road destroyers. Wall street is in a dangerous condi- tion. Bad roads are a costly public nui- sance. , The New Canaan road has not before in years been in as good condition as now. Brains are the one quality most need- _ .ed in road making, and this requisite is now being generally diffused through the country. The farmers, some of whom have been a little bit slow about “getting in line” with the good roads movement, are now putting good thought into active work. . - A Pulpit Sensation. Sunday, Rev. E. F. Acheson, rector of Holy Trinity Episcopal church of Middletown, and a prominent Demo- crat, electrified his congregation by closing his sermon with the words: “The present time calls for all patriots to unite to prevent the further coinage of fifty cent dollars or the placing of a boy in the chair occupied by Washing- ton, Lincoln and Garfield." ' .. John Chichester, aged about 60 years met with a fatal accident by falling in a well at his home' on Belden Hill last Sufidaynight. . The well was without a curb, and water was taken from it by means of a rope and pail. _ About 0:30 Chichester went out to draw a pail of water from the well which is situated very near the house. Soon after a splash and the rattle of a tin pail was heard and it immediately occurred to those in the house that an accident had happened to Mr. Chichester and two of his daughters hastened to the scene and with the aid of alamp saw their father at the bottom of the well. They called to him but he did not answer. The neighborhood was alar- med and among others who came to the rescue were W. B. Brotherton and Walter Gregory. A clothes-line was secured and Broth- erton descended into the well which is twenty-four feet deep and contained about four feet of water, and found Chichester apparently dead. He lost no time in putting the rope around the victim and willing hands hoisted the body to the top of the well and then carried it into the house. A physician was summoned who pro- nounced the cause of death as concus- sion of the brain. It was also found that the unfortunate man’s neck was broken. It will probably never be known just how the accident happened but it is be- lieved that Chichester was stooping over the well to dip the bucket and los- ing his balance plunged headforemost to the bottom. The deceased was an old time hatter and well known in Norwalk. His w? "e and four daughters survive him. fie enjoyed the respect and esteem of all who knew him and his family will have the sympathy of the entire community in their bereavement. .00 A Beautiful Tribute. A genuine and beautiful reward of merit was received Tuesday by Miss Georgie Taylor, It is a richly printed volume, bound in white pebbled moroc- co with the recipient’s name marked in gold letters on cover, and inclosing the following dedication: “Atthe13th Convention of the De- partment of Connecticut Womans Relief ' Corps, held at Meriden, February 26th and 27th, 1896, the following resolutions were adopted: WHEREAS, The Department of Con- necticut, Womans Relief Corps, feel indebted to Miss Georgie W. Taylor who. has. served this Department as special aid for several years, for the kind attention and care rendered the veterans at the Soldiers’ Home and Hospital at Noroton Heights, and wish- ing to show their appreciation of her work, therefore, Resolved, That the sincere thanks of the Department of Connecticut Wo- mans Relief Corps, be tendered Miss Georgie W. Taylor for her active ser- vices and kind attention bestowed upon the veterans at the Soldiers’ Home and Hospital, and may He who watches over all, be very near to her and keep her always in the hollow of His hand. Resolved, That an attested copy of these resolutions be engrossed and for- warded to Miss Georgie W. Taylor. Attested: * FLORENCE LEE HAYDEN, Post Department President. CL ARA GALLAGHER, Post Dept. Secy. Destroying the Hay Crop. The ravages of the army worms in East Hartford are so great that many farmers cut their hay in the meadows yesterday. All the crop will be cut this week to escape the pests. The worms are working northward and some sec- tions of the meadows have not been visited yet. The loss so far is about one-third of the entire crop, This will be greatly increased if the hay is not cut at once. Bugs. Congressman Hill is distributing copies of leaflets issued by the Division of Entomology of the Agricultural Department, specially. treating of the elm leaf beetle that is so terribly de- structive to our grandest New England shade trees. Much information as to the suppression of these pests is to' be gained from these timely leaflets. —-——-——< ' Barbers Elect Officers. At a meeting of the Barbers’ Union held last evening the following officers were elected: Patrick Slattery, Preex- dent; J. Durbeck, Vice-President; A. Pohlman, Secretary; ,William Hess, Treasurer. The Union will enjoy an- other shore dinner at Gregory’s Point in the near future. Shad in Plenty. The fish commissioners have approv- ed the bill for the expense of hatching the shad fry at chuonock and Shelton. During the past year over 12,000,000 shad fry and small shad have been dis- tributed. ‘9. ‘ Homeward Bound. Hon. John S. Seymour is on board ’ the palatial American liner St. Paul on route for home and will be due here in Norwalk on Saturday. He has had a most glorious time of it abroad. Coming State EléCtions. The states which hold elections _be- fore November this year are Alabama, Aug. 3; Vermont, Sept. 1; Arkansas, Sept. 7; Maine. Sept. 14; Florida, Oct. 6, and Georgia, Oct. 7. ’VWEEKLYsuoawamnl BROKE his NEGK.‘ FOR GOOD ROADS. Eighty-Seven Towns Apply and Will Get $950 Each of the‘Appropriation. The State Highway Commissioners arenow making allotments to towns for work on the highways. The time for making application far a share of the State apprbpriation expired July 1, but the commissioners extended the time a few days longer to enable those towns that were unavoidably prevented from making application within the time set, to take advantage of the law. Eighty-seven towns have made the ap- plication." This number is a trifle over one-half the number of towns in the State. Each town will receive at least $950 as its share of the State appropria- tion, accordingtc a statement made by Commissioner A. C. Sternberg. The towns of Fairfield County, which will receive the appropriation, are: Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Huntington, New Canaan", Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Stratford, Trum- bull, Westport, Wilton.. Last year the appropriation to each town was $980. The difference this year is accounted for by the fact that about seven more towns have applied for a share of the appropriation than last year. Nearly all the towns that received money last year have applied this year.‘ ..v OBITUARY. R. S. BENEDICT Roswell S. Benedict of Brooklyn died Tuesday at his home 43 Monroe place, after an illness of a few days. Mr. Benedict was born eighty-two years ago in New Canaan. His father was a shoe manufacturer, and when he died the son succeeded to the business. Previous to the war Mr. Benedict went to New York and organized the firm of Bone- dict, Hall & 00., and to them was awarded the first contract for supplying the Union army with shoes. Mr. Bene- dict was one of tie founders of Ply- mouth church and was its oldest living member. He was also one of the com- mittee which brought Henry Ward Beecher to Brooklyn. He was a mem- ber of the Historical Society and the Society of Old Brooklynites. A widow and five daughters and a son survive him. Middletown’s Mayor Bolts. Mayor Russell, one of the most prominent democrats of Middletown, announced yesterday that he intends to vote for McKinley and Hobart. He says he cannot stand on the platform rhlnrlrLo AROHDEAGONBY. Met at Christ Church, Bridgeport, and Elected Officers. There was a good representation of the clergymen and many prominent laymen assembled in Christ Episcopal church, Bridgeport, Tuesday, to attend the annual meeting of the Fairfield archdeaéonry. The first business of the meeting, atter the ritual opening exercises had been gone through with was the choice of a secretary, treasurer and executive committee for the com- ihg year. The Rev. Louis French of Darien, who was secretary last year, declined another election, and the Rev. G." T. Lindsley of Newtown was chosen secretary. The treasurer elected was Mr. E. Livingstone Wells of Southport. The members of the executive commit- tee choscn were the Rev. L. N, Booth, the Rev. W. H. Lewis and Morris W. Seymour of Bridgeport and E. B Lear- ter'e'f Stamford. The committee on resolutions brought ina report on the death of the late archdeacon, Dr. Tatiock, and a com- mittee was appointed to draft suitable réolutions on the retiring secretary. There were reports from the different missionaries throughout the jurisdiction of the archdeaconry, and the remainder of the meeting was devoted to appor- tionments and assignments for the en- suing year. ASdldier and Patriot’s Views. That gallant soldier and patriot, and hitherto democrat, Maj )r General Da~ rius N. Couch, on being asked bya GAZETTE scribe this morning, as to his views concerning the outcome of the populistic Chicago convention, said: “I graduated from West Point fifty years ago this last June, with a com- lmission as 2d Lieutenant in the U. S. Army. In ’49—’50 I fought under our flag in Mexico; in ’61--'65, I fought for the preservation of the assailed Union. Ium ready at the present, the same as in the past, to stand squarely for the honor and integrity of my country for which I have fought and devoted my life.” a .0. George H. Waterbury Dead. George “Hen” Waterbury as he was familiarly called, and who was well known in Norwalk, died at the Soldiers’ Home in Noroton, Monday a. in, aged 60 years. He had been an inmate of the‘ Rpme for a year or more. The de- ~s. ‘ceasfgill‘dwas a pensioner and in the late civiijgvar was a member of Company A, First Connggticut Cavalry. The funeral win-held liflilidihy‘aitomoon. Burial in adopted at Chicago, nor can he asa democrat vote for the nominees the soldiers’ plot at the Home. Fd <3 Chew it and you’re always safe PREPA RA The, ..THE.. New York Weekly paper of the country,.but is pro-eminently lts campaign news and discugssmns Wlll All the news of the day, Foreign Cortes elaborate descriptions, and a variety 0 Family Paper. (both papers), G . A. FRANKIE. .THE HAIR. CUTTER No. lzeazette Building, Norwalk HOT AND COLD Baum NEW YORK will, as always. be found in the thickest of the fight, battling vigor ously for sound busi- " ' l r. ' ' . ‘ll brin rosperity to the nation. . . ness puncm ea “huh w1 gp Tribune is not only the leading Republican Q -' l te in each number _ Reports, Short Stories comp e ' f items of household interest, make up an ideal TlONS FOR C reat Battle Of November 3are already well under way. A New THE. . PRESIDENT u’iviTkFD STATEs Is to be Elected, and the Weekly Tribune. a natior al family newspaper. interest everyAmerrcan Citizen. pondence, Agricultural Department. Market Ccmic Pictures, Fashion Plates wrth \Ve furnish The Gazette and NOW York Weekly Tribune ONE YEAR FOR ONLY $1.00. feasts ADDRESS ALL pauses To THE GAZETTE. Write your name and address on a postal card, send it to Geo. W. Best, Room 2 Tribune Building, New York City, and a sample copy of THE NEW YORK WEEKLY TRIBUNE will be mailed to you. -‘a-_ ththmuh Has now Completed ts 32d succnssnnr. anmnss YEAR, - And has not outstanding a dollar of unpai losses or claims for losses. No sound com pany fnsurecfor less . _ A. G. McIlwame. Pres..G. B. St. JohnNiee-Pres k anETT pF. E.-Shaw. Sec. Geo. B, Cowles, Resident Sec. 1 9—“ ABOUT THE SIZE OF; jT. We do ‘notvwant to fight ye, J ohn. ' But, mind ye! if we do, ‘ '1‘ will be about the sickest job That ever fell to you; We’re tired o‘ blufl an’ banter, John. An’ insults not a few. An’ so we'd like to tak’ ye down A peg, or maybe two. * " We do not want to fight ye, J chn. But if ye gev’ us cause W'e’ll quickly dock the lion‘s tail. . An’ manicure his claims; Nor will we rest contented, J ohn, ’ Till ev’ry cockney knows As gliblyas “God save the Queen" The Doctrin' called Monroe’s. We do not want to fight ye. J ohn, \Ve’re Anglo-Saxons;_ Bosh? Thet flimsy can’t o‘ conhinship Won't any longer wash; . “’45 are not Anglo-Saxons. John: .3- Nor any sof'-bra.ined mush. ‘ But double distilled Americans- .2 That's what we are, b'gosh e We do not want to fight ye, J ohn, Shol why put out o’ sight The candid truth? for truth it is.“ We're spillin’ for a fight! In reach an’ weight we’re even John An' pretty much in height. Say will ye pick the gauntlet up, 01‘ show the feather white? -—Will Stokes, First U. S. Artillery. THE WANDERER. '—v- There was presage of a storm. Mas- ses of blue black clouds hung over the sunset. The wind wailed and died, and died and wailed. .In the roadway rusty leaves leaped suddenly to the air, eddied and swirled, strove to unite with the tree that had cast them, shivered in the dyke. At the fringe of the cloud there was astar. A stile had been fixed at the turning of the road. It had three bars'anda step to cross by. On either side the hedge grew thickly; and also two trees, like guardians gaunt in the horrid light. 80 the stile was picturesque; but it had its uses. On the further side there stretched a path across the meadow; it led to the old house that had stood among the beach trees through genera- tions. From thc stile you could see the turrets above the tree tops. The inher- itor of the name of Dalrymple, the Squire lived there. If you followed the road you would also come to the Hall, and enter by, the great gate. But the pathway was nearer by far. A man was seated on the stile. His back was to the road and his eyes were fixed upon the turret tops above the trees. He had come upon a journey; you could tell it from his boots.. He was hungry; you could tell it from his eyes. Such a man, indeed, as one would pass upon the further side of the road, and be glad to get rid of before darkness set 1n. The wind wailed in the branches, and the clouds massed in the West, but the man sat still upon the stile. But when those who were hurrying from the storm came by, he moved to let them pass; yet over he dropped upon the side that was furthest from the Hall. Such as were women eyed him askancé, and such as were men with wonder. But note. soul passed him a» salutation. So the man remained, and the birds cried out for the storm. Then two maids re- turning to the Hall came to the stile. , and tossed their heads, resenting that he should soil with his clothes the rail 'which their skirts would surely have to touch. ‘ Yet the stile was his own. Nor the stile alone; but the grass at his feet, and the great house at the end of the pathway, and the broad acres that pressed it round. There was warmth and good cheer at the house. Still the man moved not. Had the journey been long, and did he linger at the stile to rest? Or did he wait there for some one who tarried? ' Then there came the prattle of chil- dren’s voices in the road. They babbled merrilly as their nurse pressed them on from the storm. And they passed the man by. Then their-voices ceased and their feet sped faster still and many a. frightened glance they cast behind them as they walked and hurried again. So they heeded not the pond. But the man watched them wonderingly. And he ~saw a laborer approach along the path- way, returning tram his work. The pipe he smoked glowed warmly, and the man shivered. But at the stile he spoke to the laborer; and his voice was hoarse, as one that was not used re- cently. “Whose chilren are those?” he quired. ‘ The workman stopped abruptly and looked at the man in surprise. He won- dered at the question, I doubt not, and may be, he wondered at the ques- tioner. “Them?” he said, at last, in a strong. broad accent. “Them's the Squire’s bairns.” “But I thought that the Squire was an old man?" “T’owd Squire? Why, bless your life, ’e’s been dead this ten years.” There was a. pause. And then the man said: “So these are the children of his eld- est son?” “Noa,” said the workman, “it winna be the eldest. ‘E wanted ’3 brother’s gal and cos‘ she would a. now’t to say to ’im. ’e went away i’ sulks. An’ ’9 never comeback no more. Aye, that was 20 years ago.” “And what became of him?" “Aye, bless your life, ’ow should I know. ’E’s dead, they say.” And the brother married the lady?” “Aye, that ’9 did.” , There was silence; for the man was gazing at the turrets. The laborer was about to move away. But the man stopped him with another question. “And are they happy, these two?” “’Appy?” Again the workman seem- ed amazed at the question. “Why, it’s beautiful to see them. Aye, often and often when they passes i’ the road wi’ the bairns, agoing to church‘ meb’be, or mebbe not, the missis she says to me, ‘Jim. it’s a pictur’,’ she says, and I says to ’er, ‘It is,’ says I. ’Appy?" And the - workman smiled. But the manat the sti’e' was silent. , From the heavens there shot a jigged ~ in- streak of light. ”For a moment it lit up, the faces of the two men; then the dafkr ne‘ss ,had fallen like a. pail. And the workman laid his hand upnn the sho'uL der of the traveller. ' “L001: ’ere, stranger,” he said, “I ' don’t know ’00 you be, or where you come from, or what yer doing ’ere; but you seem a. civil sort, and I’ll tell 'yop' : this: - we’re going» to ’ave such anig es not many i’ these parts ’11 remem , the likes on, and if you’re gota plaqfi ‘ go to, don’t. wait nolonger, but make “ _ tracks; and if you ’aven’t why come jg! '7 ways along 0’ me.” . > The. stranger seemed moved; but he .. ‘ replied: - . “I thank you. You are very kind. I have shelter from the storm.” spoke his eyes were trained across the stile. So the laborer passed on his way. And the storm gathered. Thunderous clouds loomed overhead. ~ The air was thick, and pressed upon the brow. great bird rose from the rushes at the pond’s verge and shrieked to a sure]: refuge. The vvind dropped. . But the man_.lingered. * And over in the meadow,»in the pathway, there ap- peared a. light. It drew nearer, and swunghgently to and fro. The traveler saw it was carried in the hand of a. man walking. He war/s clad in a. coat that was lined with fur, and his face was soft and white. At the stile he saw the tan. He frowned, and would have passed. But the stranger stopped .nm. ' "Mr. Dalrymple,” he said. . The other raised his lantern till it shone in the face of the man. He shud- dered slightly, and again would have passed ' on his way. But the traveler stood before him so that the path was closed. ’ “Mr. Dalrymple,” be repeated. “By what right do you bar my way?" The tones were quiet but imperative, as of a. man accustomed to receive defer- ence. “And why do you call me by name?” “I have news of your brother,” said the man. , ' “He is alive?" The words were said gladly, but there was a gulp at his throat when he spoke. The man saw the gulp. "He will never return,” the man re- plied. “By what means,” said the Squire, “can I tell that you speak with author- ity‘l” The man put his hand beneath his rags and drew forth the faded photo- graph of a woman. 0n the back there was a name written. He passed it to the Squire. " The Squire looked at it. And he turned it over and read what was writ- ten on the back. Then he raised his hand and uncovered his head. said to the man: “May I keep this memento?” And. the man nodded. ~ “What you tell me,” he said quietly, “is only that which,‘necess arily, I have always understood. Ne-lferthelcss, this confirmation grievesfri’e‘deeplyf”:I-yThefé’“ ' was real sorrow in his voice. » And that too, the man noticed. “Did my brother have no message?” "He spoke much of a. woman,” said the‘man. ' “Can you tell me her name?” “It is Marianne.” » The Squire was silent. Then softly, “Poor fellowl” and again, “Poor fel- low 1” to himself. “It is my wife of whom he spoke,” he said to the man. "I trust she is well,” said the man. ‘ “She is very well. with the children.” . As he spoke the first heavy raindrops fell from the clouds. They were ominv cus of the storm to come. On the water in the pool they pattered softly. “I fear,” said .the Squire, “you have travelled far and are weary. It is pos- sible that you are at a. distance from your home and there is a. terrible night before us. The rain has already begun. You may hear it on the pond. Will you not go to the Hall for some rest and re- freshments‘.’” “I thank you,” said the man, replying in almost the words he had used to the laborer. “I have all I need.” And again his eyes seemed to gaze into the darkness beyond the stile. __ There was the sound of a rumble of wheels on the road, and two lights shone out of the dimness. The lights brightened; the sound cleared; a broug- ham and pair drew up at the turning. My carriage meets me here,” said the Squire, “and~ I am somewhat pressed for time. ‘ But you have lail me under a deep obligation; is there no way that I can serve you?” . “There is one,” said the man. “I should like to shake you by the hand l” The Squire hesitated. It was only momentary. But a. flush rose to the cheek_of the stranger. “It is my hands,” he said. “I will wash them in the pond.” . But the Squire had pulled ofi‘ his sealskin glove, and he held out his soft, white palm. The other clutched it in his bony hand, and for a moment the eyes of the two met in the light of the lamp. The Squire started, and released ,. his grasp. ‘ There was a look in his face ’ that held something of fear. When he entered his carriage the look remained still on his face. - And the man sat again on the stile. In the darkness the lights from the Hall shone brilliantly, and he gazed at the .ights. Then he turned his eyes to the ' trees that were dim around the pond, and again from the pond to the lights. Was their happiness at the lights? Was there peace in the pond? So the man crossed the stile. ' In the quietness be- :ore the storm there was a great cry. It. was a. cry-of despair; yet a cry of hope, of joy. . ‘ The squire heard it, and stopped’his carriage. The laborer heard it as be en- tered his cottage and lingered at the -loor till his wife called out for the irught. The children at the Hill heard - .t as they sat at tea, and droppedgtheir ‘poons askance, listening to hear it igain. But the trees at the pen-El” benu :iosely; the circles melted away. the storm burst-Black and Waite. \ ’a “'7, /" Ashe. .A- I left her but now ‘ Anti"? And ha“ . ,
Norwalk Chronicler