Founded in 1800.]
VOL. XCVI.—No 36
A n Entertaining and ‘Instrwotive Home J owmal, Especially Devoted ,to Local .News and Interests.
NORWALK, CONN.. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1896—12 PAGES.
’
' L It \\:‘\‘\
[$1.00 a. YBuI‘. f
PRICE TWO CENTS
AN ELECTRIC STORM.
Much Damage Done at the
Electric Light Station.
Contractor Sheldon’s House Struck. 1
An unusually severe thunder storm
visited this city about 7 o’clock last
evening. It began to cloud up at 5
' o’clock, and at 6 o’clock it was evident
'hour after the storm.
- burned by fire.
- that the storm cloud was about to burst.
People could be seen scurrying home
and teams were hurried under shelter.
In a short time, the heavens, at every
point of the compass, were illumined
with brilliant and blinding flashes of
lightning followed by the deafening
and almost continuous roll of thunder.
Many said—and the older ones at that
—that the display of lightning was the
grandest and at the same time most
terrifying that they had ever witnessed.
In truth it was a grand sight, and one
calculated to impress the average man
with the smallness of himself and of his
powers, when contrasted with the forces
of the elements.
The flashes appeared‘at all points of
the compass, simultaneously. Jagged
streaks of lived flame darted . from the
heavens straight toward the earth,
others of the quick,’flashy order, light-
ed up the heavens, balls of fire and
flashes radiating from a common center
in a hundred directions, together with
those so peculiar and of such quickness
that they vanished, leaving only a fleet-
ing vision,§made the storm the most ter-
rific of years. The thunder, although
harmless, frightened the gentler sex out
of their wits. Some of the claps were
loud'and quick, othersllasted for sever-
al seconds, seeming to traverse the
whole width of the heavens and dying
off in the far distance in a mutter. If
the lightning appeared continuous the
thunder sounded more so.
The rain came down in torrents and
the streets were flooded. Telegraph,
telephone, electric light and fire alarm
wires were charged with the fluid.
‘ Incandescent ‘and are lights “were
flicked out as if they Were but ordinary
tallow candles. There was quite a high
wind but it seems to have done but lit-
tle damage, other than the crossing of
electrically charged wires. This was
true at a point near the William K.
James estate where the fire alarm.
wires became crossed with electric
wires and were a menace to pedestrains
until they were removed out of harm’s
way.
The lightning struck a large tree in
the yard at William Sheldon’s resi-
dence on Wilton avenue, and gallivina-
ting down the tree tore the bark off
and made a dash for the stone wall at a
point next to the kitchen, tearing two
large holes through the stonework, and
entering the kitchen by the way of the
water-pipe.
Mrs. Sheldon was at work at the sink,
and other members of the family were
seated at,a table near by. All were
more'or less shocked. Mrs. Sheldon
felt a. burning sensation to her feet
which did not leave her until over an
5".1 ”a, Wt)» were
sitting at the table assert mat a ball of
fire gyrated around Mrs, Sheldon’s
head and then shot out much in the
same way that it had come into the
house.
The concrete dressing at the edge of
the stonework was ripped up, and sec-
tions of the plaster in the kitchen torn
off. The damage done, however, was
not very extensive,
One of the bath houses at Roton
Point was struck but the damage was
nominal. The motor on car No. 20 of
the Stamford branch of the Tramway
line were burned out. The dropping of
a Postal Telegraph were on the Tram-
waywire caused the cars on that line to
be stalled for over three hours. '
The damage caused to the Electric
Light company will probably be in ex;
cess of 81,500. A large alternating ma.
chine was burned out at the station,
the transformer. at the Opera House
burned out and considerable other
damage done to the property of the
company.
The Fife alarm system was greatly
damaged and includes the burning out
of every alarm box on West avenue.
Mr. Hoyt the superintendent is busily
engaged in making repairs to-day.
This morning, when Ernest A. Bobme
the local broker, went to his office in
the Masonic building, he was surprised
to find that the framework of his'ob~
servation window was charred as if
Investigation shchd
that the damage was caused by electric
fluid which had entered the office on
the telegraph and telephone wires and
set fire to the woodwork and after
scorching'lt had disappeared the same
way it came in I '
At Winnipauk. -
The electric storm was particularly
severe hereabouts. Mr. J. C‘. Randle
was at his telephone awaiting an answer
to a call, when the electric current
struck him with such severity that he
fell with a groan, and was for sometime '
so bewildered he could not realize
what had happened. He says he first
felt it in his knees, which gave way
under him before he fell. He was not
seriously injured, but feels the pricking
sensatiod in his ‘arms to-day. He will
not fool with the telephone again in the'
midst of such a lightning display.
Out of Town.
In Bridgeport as a trolley car on the
Main street line was approaching Sear
side Park, after one of the brilliant
flashes of lightning, the natural electric
current struck the wire and ran into
the car. All the appliances were burned
out and the car “killed.” Motorman
Edwards and Conductor McCarthy
were thrown down bythe shock and
stunned, but they quickly recovered.
Sherifl‘ Doolan, who was on the car,
was landed in the roadbed and didn’t
even have time to serve a writ on. the
aggressor. The car was slightly dam
damaged. '
The spire on the German Reformed
church on Congress street in the same
city was struck by lightning and badly
damaged, and an old barn belonging to
Mrs. Lewis Cole was struck and des-
troyed by fire.
The postoffice in Stratford was struck
as was also an elm tree. The former
was but slightly damaged.
A barn was destroyed on the Wheel-
er’s farms road, north of Naugatuck
junction as was also a burn on the
Huntington turnpike, but the names of
the owners could not be ascertained.
Fires from lightning were reported
from New Rochelle and Portchester.
A house on Sylvan avenue was struck,
but -slightly damaged. A number of
trolley cars had their motor boxes
burned out and were disabled. Tele-
phone boxes, and fire alarm boxes also
sufi'ered. -
Lightning also struck in several other
places about Bridgeport but the clam-
age done is remarkably small.‘
Has Got the Chills.
Genial old-“Uncle Walter” J . Fitch
hasgot the chills and got them had.
He says he always thought he was ' too
lazy to shake, but admits now that at
eighty odd years he has ’em so hard he
can’t hold hisJalse teeth in his jaws.
He says further, that if there remains a
spark of his youthful deviltry in his
system, it will get shaken out of him by
this measly distemper. ,
.9.
Crop Report.
The Price Current summarizes the
crop conditions for the past week as
follows: The'past week was a favorable
week for corn. The total crop estimate
is placed at 2,275,000,000 bushels. The
southern states are 180,000,000 short of
last year. Other states show 305,000,000
bushels increase.
Other grains are reported about as
previously in yield and quality. .
____.+,-
First Number Out.
The firstand initial number of Rev.
C. M. Selleck‘s serial history of ancient
Norwalk is out and will prove a most
valuable publication. The author’s
plan is to print the history in monthly
numbers in such shape as at the con?
clusion of the numbers they may be
bound up in two or more volumes in
permanent form.
..__.—__<..
Mrs. Ely Complimented.
The’Westport correspondent of the
Bridgeport Post says:
' The address which Mrs. Emily Ely of
Norwalk made Sunday afternoon be.
fore the C. E. U. of the Congregational
church, is spoken of- as one of the
brightest and most interesting that so-
ciety has lately listened to. All ‘ would '
be delighted to hear her again.
Sale Bohtinued.
The great clearing sale of the Nor-
walk Boston Store having proved such
a success during the past week, the
proprietors have decided to continue
the sale to-morrow.
An Editor’s Woes.
Floyd Tucker, editor of the Bridge-
port Farmer, became the father of a
pair of twin boys, yesterday morning..
Mrs. Tucker is doing well and the babies
are big and thriving.
.-
In Buffalo Next.
At the National encampment of the
G. A. R. in St. Paul yesterday, it was
voted to hold the 1897 encampment in
Buffalo.
Poor Newtown.
Senator Stewart, of Nevada, is to
speak at Newtown on the benefits of
bi-metallism next Monday afternoon.
i
'L08T HIS EYESIGHT.
William lenningsStruck Blind
by Lightning. ‘
Feared That it Will be Permanent.
William Jennings of Union street,
South Norwalk, is probably the great-
est suflerer by reason of last night’s
storm of any one in town.
He ”was returning from Roton Point
on a Tramway car when a flash of
lightning of great vividness flashed in
his face, and the next instant he found
that it had blinded him to the extent
that he was unable to see anything at
all.‘ '
He remained on the car and on reach-
ing South Norwalk was assisted to his
home, and a physician summond.
Dr. Dumortuier responded and made
an examination of the youngiman’s eyes
but was unable to decide as to whether
the loss of his eyesight willbe perman-
ent or not. .
Fears are entertained that he will be
unable to use his eyes for some weeks
at the best.
Jennings is the young man who on
July 4th managed to accidently send a
cartridge ploughing its way into his leg
from which accident he was laid/up for
time. ‘
Only a few days since he had an ext
perience with a burglar after whom he.
' shot but has not yet learned as to the
result of the shooting, beyond the fact
that the burglar has not since put in
an _ appearance. ‘
Bartenders Play Ball.
The much talked of game of base
ball. between Norwalk and Danbury~
players took place at N crwalk Park,
yesterday afternoon. -
The Danbury contingent numbered
about twenty-five, and reached here on
the noon train. There was quite a
crowd on the grounds when the game
was called.
The following is the score:
DANBUBY- NORwALx.
r o r
J. Russell. s. s. 3 OiLayden. 2b. 2 2
McFarland, p. 2 0.Bedell. c. 3 0
Hackett. r. f. 3 0.1’ennington, l. f. 4 0
Murphy, c. 2 ‘ 0.Ha , r. 1’. 2 0
Green, 0. f. 3 0 Hogan, 5. s. 1 2
Foley. 1. f. 3 , QSinmns. lb. 0 3
Russell, 3b. 1 L;.Creaiizh. c. f. 2 1
D. Russell. 2b. 0 ‘vJICQuillan. p. 1 2
Ike Williams. 1b. 1 2;Jennings, 3b. 0 3
18 6; 15 14
1 2 3 4 5
Danbury. 0 3 0 0 0 .2— 6
Norwalk, 0 5 .2 2 5 ‘ —-12
Umpire. Charles Finch; Scorer, J. A. Currier!”
Substitntes—Scollins, Duffy and Brown. nan;
lfili;3 : 'Johnson. Blake. Northrop and “Joe‘
8. eis.
After the game, which was a rather
one-sided adult, the Norwalks escorted
the visitors to a Tramway car and
started over the line for a trip to Stam-
ford and returned to Gregory’s Point
where a shore dinner was to be in read-
iness. On reaching a point near the
Tramway car houses in South Norwalk,
the car became stalled and the crowd
was forced to wait over two hours before
they could resume their trip. They
finally reached their destination and
had a glorious time, and started for
home about midnight. At the Point
there was vocal and instrumental music
and a grand depletion of salt water
food etc.
The Pat Men.
The Fat Mens’ association enjoyed
their annual shore dinner at Gregory’s
Point, yesterday: The heaviest man
was J. L. McDonald of Brookfield, who
was credited with weighing 310 pounds.
oTbB bake was a grand cuisine success,
and as usual at this famous resort there
was enough and to share, in the edible
line. _
Of Interest to Many.
The burning out of two of the ma-
chines by lightning at the Electric
station will probably cause the shutting
off of a large number of incandescent
lights until such parts of the machine
as were destroyed can be duplicated.
This it is not thought can be done
earlier than Monday next.
Another Murderous Burglar.
A young man in Flushing, yesterday
morning, grappled with a burglar who
was armed with a dirk and after a des-
perate struggle, got out his revolver
and put a bullet into the body of the
intruder, who then dropped his knife
and plunged headlong out an open
window and is supposed to have been
carried off in a team by confederates,
as no sign of him could be discovered.
. “The Burglar.”
The fierce storm that prevailed last
evening prevented a large number of
people from being in attendance at the
presentation‘ot {The Burglar" at the
Norwalk Opera House. Those who
did brave the elements felt amply rc-
paid as they were treeted to an excel-
lent plpy by an excellent company.
f .
L
J.
BEHIND THE BARS.
The Assailant of Ella Gardner
Under Lock and Key. ‘
Confesses His Crime to Detectives.
The Bridgeport police have succeeded
in running down and placing under
lock and key the wretch who, Tuesday
afternoon committed an indecent as-
sault on eight-year-old Ella Gardner,
of '70 Orange street that city. the story
of which was told in the GAZETTE of
Wednesday.
' The prisoner, John Burns, 35 years
old, of 41 Warren street, was arrested
at his home at 10 o’clock last night.
Detectives Arnold and Cronan made
the arrest. He was at once taken to
Police Headquarters and locked up.
Burns freely admitted the crime to the
officers, and when asked why he did it,
said he could not help it.
Burns is a wood turner by trade and
lives with his brother and widowed
mother. They say he is insane and has
been mentally unbalanced for five
years. He was confined in the state
hospital for’the insane, three times,
they said, his last .period of confine-
ment ending three years ago, when he
was discharged as cured. Burns him-
self said that he has served five years
in the state prison for committing a
crime of the same nature. The crime,
he said, was committed at Waterbury,
where he lived until a few months ago,
when his family moved to Bridgeport.
_-,, List of Patents.
List of Patents issued from the U. S.
Patent Office, Tuesday, September 1st
1896 hit the State of Connecticut, fur-
nished us from the Office of Earle &
Seymour, Solicitors of Patents, 868
Chapel St.. New Haven, Conn.
G. E. Adams, New Britain, glove
fastener.
E. Atwood, assignor to Atwood Ma-
chine Co. Southington, spindle driving
mechanism. -
G. L. Barnes, North Haven, cash
[ygmarora a‘i‘uulcaior. '
B.’E.‘ Bra '
Machine Co. So’uthington.’ combined
sprining and doubling machine.
M. Casey, assignorone half to A. G.
Hayes, Manchester, apparatis for
grinding car wheels in place. ,7 .4
E. E. Clausen, Hartford, machine
for making twist drills.
~ 1‘. M. Edwards. New London, grate.
J. M. Murphy 85 A. F. Pierce, Dan-
hury. assigno'rs to International Elect
trio 00. Electric Railway system.
W. B. Simonds, Canton, Centrifugal,
separator. .‘
W. G. Smith, New Haven, car coup-
ling.
C. Sonneson, Torrington, vegetable
paper.
M. Steinert. New Haven, piano ac.
tion.
F S. Wardweil, Danbury, press.
W. E. Wright, assignor to E.
graham 00. Bristol, musical clock.
..v
The'Veterans at St. Paul.
Thirty years have passed since the
firi-t National Encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republicat Indian-
apolis on Nov. 20, 1866. The organizx-
tion dates a little further back, to the
formation of the first post at Decatur,
in Illinois, on April 6 of that year. So
long as the drums of the Grand Army
beat, and its tattered flags unfurl, it
may be sure of a warm place in the
hearts of the people.
~._f
Lorenzo Adams who has been sell-
In-
ing “Blazo’n” in New York, returned .
home yesterday afternoon.
—See Charles Howard Johnson’s “An
Autumn Reverie” in truth, to-morrow.
All trains and news stands.
Charles Fillow of Norwalk, is visiting
Mrs. Allan Chichester of Division
street—Danbury News.
‘Norwalk people who were at the
shore last evening report the sight as
having been grandly magnificent.
A Great Knnfversdi-y. '
The nineteenth of April is a. holiday
in Massachusetts. Great things have
happened on that day. The battle of
Lexington, for instance, and the assault
of the Baltimore mob upon the Massa-
chussetts Sixth Regiment. These are
events gradually obscured by the dark
backward and abysm of time.
On April 19, 1896, Massachussets cel-
ebrates an occurrence nearer to her im-
mediate enthusiasms. Then comes the
first baseball game of the League season
in Boston; and then the intellect, full
fed by a winter in the Public Library
and at the slugging debates, bursts into
glorious action.
A Great Barbette.
The barbette for the battleship Iowa
was completed at Homestead, Pa., re-
cently. It is the largest ever manu-
factured in America, and was more than
a year under construction. It consists
of nine plates, each weighing 95,000
pounds, in addition to a large turret.
The plates are 15 inches thick and 220
inches wide. .- _ . -
,.-....————~
..—'— r..- .
/
/
ey, assignor to AtWood'
HERE inn THERE.
of Interest to the Public.
Garnered With Scissors and Pencil.
To-day is pension day.
Norman Merritt has returned home
from Boston.
The Arctics and Winnipauks will play
bass ball this afternoon.
A few new planks are being set over
the railroad tunnel on River street.
The Wheeler Straw works will start
up in a short time with a full comple-
ment of help.
—-The half price sale at the Boston
Store, Norwalk, will be continued on
Saturday.
The Merwin street Shirt factory will
shut down to-night and remain closed
until Tuesd iy'morniug.
A new and fragrant bouquet graces
the desk of Miss Hyatt the clerk of the
board of selectmen, every day.
Congressman Hill will speak on the
money question to-nigh-t at the meeting
of the Bridgeport Republic in club.
The weather to-day promises to be
fair and cooler. To-morrow it promises
to be clear, with slight temperature
changes. _
Bradley S. Keith attended the re-
union of hisold regiment, the 10th C.
V. at the Hotel Majestic, New Haven,
yesterday.
——-No one cares to buy stale fish and
they are newr offered for sale at
Gregory’s Wall street market.
Mrs. Charles Brown will treat a num-
ber of Broad River children to a' trolley
ride over the Tramway system to-mor-
row afternoon.
A month’s mind mass to the memory
of the late Mary F. Harty will be
celebrated at St. Mary’s church to-
morrow morning.
Congressman Hill will make an ad-
dress on the money question at the
meeting of the Republican club in
Bridgeport, to-night.
There was no dancing at St. John’s
grove, Broad River, last night on ac-
countiof the storm. The dance will
take place this evening.
Stephen Smith and Mrs. Hart who
have been visiting relatives in Norwalk
and elsewhere, returned to their homes
in Philadelphia to-day.
The base ball nines of Hope Hose and
Pioneer Hook and Ladder company.
nines will play a match game at the
Labor Union picnic Monday morning.
One of the wheels of Milkmen
Sheehan’s wagon was dished on Main
street early this morning. He secured
another wagon and proceeded over his
route. V
—Clams, soft-shell and hard-shell
right out of their element can be found
at Gregory’s Wall street market.
There was a ten minutes delay on the
West avenue trolley line last evening,
' caused by the shutting off through a
mistaken order, of the power at the
station.
The water pipe leading from East
avenue to the F. St. John Lockwood
residence burst last night. Coroner
Roach was engaged this morning in
placing it in repair.
The ex-Prisoners of War of Fairtield
county will hold their picnic at Greg-
ory’s Point on Labor Day, Sept. 7th.
Dinner will be served at one o’clock.
All err-prisoners invited.
It is reported that a certain man living
on Grand street neglects to provide for
the wants of his family, and if it were
not for the kindness of the neighbors
they would have suffered from hunger.
-Tickets for Buckingham Post’s ben-
efit can be had at G. W. Raymond’s
and J. H. Hovt’s. Norwalk and H. S.
Road’s, South Norwalk, 25 and 50
cents. s42t
A Norwalk wheelman, who gave his
name as Saunders, came to grief while
riding through Stamford yesterday.
He turned out of the way of one team
on Main street near West Park last
night, only to be run into by another
team. He escaped injury, but his bi-
cycle was so ‘badly wrecked that he
could net return home upon it.—Stam-
l
ford' Advocate.
An Epitome of Happenings of
DON’T Inns THEM.
The Latest Ads. Received. Be-
. fore ' Going to Press.
By the People—ahdFdr the People.
DIED.
LYNES.—At Norwalk. Conn., Sunday, August
39th. Charles Sherry, eldest son of Emily A. ,
and the late Dr. Samuel Lyrics
170R an]. a.
0R SALE—For sale cheap if a l'
0111' esoon,a lot of used brick.’ Apply) 1:19 310i:
.5 . .
FOR SALE—Bicycles. guaranteed $75 1896
models, seamless steel tubing. drop
forged steel connections. choice of tires. $39.75
at Scorn NORWALK HARDWARE Co. " f
r .
u.
OR SALE-Benedict. Norwalkmewsdeal-
er. is selling an excellent Fountain Pen -
and Holder for 25c. Call and see it. J'l2tf‘
1'0 RENT.
0 RENT—Cottage, No. 14 Maple street
All the modern improvements
of O. E. Wilson. No. 3 Gazette Buildingnquue
0 RENT—The lower floors in two h
T .051 Cross Street. Possession givebufi:
$li‘ilgsiéséélst. Apply to F. pr. JonN Locxwoon
w ANTEI‘.
ANTE DTWashing. A competent and
res onsibie laundress. needing employ-
ment. won (1 like family washing or special
pieces for ladies or gentlemen. and would go
out by the day to assist in housework or clean-
ing. Address or call on Hrs. John Reed. 12
York street, near Main, Norwalk. 3312w
ANTED—Captain , Oliver S. Clark. 27
_ . Mei-Win street, Will take out parties for
sailing ornfishing cruises in his yacht "Three
Brothers Call or drop a postal as above if
his serVices are desired. alOtf
‘AIANTED—SOLIBITORS FOR LIFE 0
MAJOR MCKINLEY, the next presE
dent, by Murat Halstead. (‘hauncey Depew,
Foraker. John Sherman and Mark Hanna,
wnh biography of Hobart. Contains speeches.
and platIorm. A bonanza for agents. a. gold
mine for workers. Only $1.50. The only
authorizedIbook. 50 per cent. Credit given.
Freight paid. Outfit free. Begin now with
chowe of ’terrirory. Permanent. profitable
work for 96. Address The National Book
Concern. Star Building Chicago. j27tf 1
EW
NORTHTliEllCH,
SUNDAY, Sept. 6,
on THE
St’r. “ISABEL”
400. EXCURSION‘IUOI
TICKETS,
Music by the Old Well 0in Band.
Leave South Nor-walk; 10:30 a. in.
Leave Grand Pier, North Beach, 4 p. m.
L ABOR DAY.
SEPTEMB ER, 7th.
-'<>- EXCURSION 'TO '0-
SEA BEACH.
Excursion Tickets. 75c. Leave South
Norwalk, 9:20 a. m. Leave Sea Beach,
5 p, m.; East 3lst street, 6:15 p. m.
faiifield County National Bank.
4-1 Wall Street, N orwalle. Conn.
NUORPORATED, 1824. Capital, summon
EDWIN O. KEELER President.
DAVID H. ILLEB. Vice-President.
L. C. GREEN. Cashier
DIRECTORS .
[tom 0. KEELEB Mosns H. GLovEn
DAVID H...M1LLEB, A. J. MEEan,
F. 81'. J onN Locxwoon, THEODORE E. SMITH
COLE, Ones F. Tnis'iaax.
Accounts of Manufacturers M 1- h t d
Individuals solicited. e c an s an
Safe Deposit Boxes free to Depositors.
SCHOOL - SUPPLIES.
The Schools will open again
soon. Just bear in mind the
LARGEST and BEST line of
To 'o lets,
Pads,
Pens,
Pencils,
Slates, ,
Everything used in the School
can be found at
JOHN T. HAYES
NO. :5 MAIN .STREET. NORWALK.
Best Goods. Lowest Prices.
J. D. Jennings.
UNDERTAKER
a Knight street. opposite '
Street Railwu Doom.
NIGHT oELT: A1 OFFICE.
I
Piano Lessons.
8. GEORGE W. BRADLEY. d htet
MB of the late Wm. B. Nash.) zive‘s 33cm
and satisfactory instructions on the Piano at
her home No. 193 Main street.
PLYMOUTH ROCK ICE.
Stores and Families Supplied.
Lowest Rates.
.. . \. _.
"2'." .
Norwalk Chronicler