- .. ,0“... ......,..._...
THE ON]. Y EIGHT-PAGE ONE-CENTDAILY IN THE WORWALKS.‘
I strength was apparent to all.
Vol. VII Whole N0. 155!
Norwalk, 001111., Saturday Evening, February 13, 1897., '
7
. . Price One ‘(erit'
I THE My |
W
DARIUS NASH COUQI—I.
One of the most prominent officers of
the late war, cxpired at his home in
this city last night, at five minutes past
ten, in the person of Major General Da-
rius Nash Coach in the 75th year of his
age.
The General had been in precarious
health for some time past and during
the latter part of the summer had béen
, confined to the house for several weeks
with extreme debility. He rallied from
this attack and was about the city again
quite recently, but his 'declining
He suf-
fered little or no pain in his last sick-
ness, but worn out by his severe Army
service, and in along life of business
activities, the great natured and gener-
ous souled man’s life went out as a taper
flickers and expires in its socket, and
passed to the better world as sweetly as
a babe falls asleep.
General Couch became a resident of
Nerwalk January lst 1871. Previous to
his coming he had through the recom.
mendation of General 0, S. Ferry, sent
his son, Leonard C , to Dr. Fitch’s
Hillside Collegiate school, which led to
the family making Norwalk their per-
manent home. The General was soon
after Quartermaster-General on the
staff of Governor Richard D. Hubbard
and subsequently, Adjutant-General on
the staff of Governor Thomas M. Waller.
He was universally esteemed and recog-
ized by all, as Norwalk’s most notable
citizen.
He leaves a widow and only son. His
funeral takes place at St. Paul’s chur ch,
Monday, at 2:30 p. m , his Rector, Rev.
Mr. Pond officiating. His remains are
to be taken to Taunton, Mass, for in-
terment, previous to which there will
be services held at St. Thomas’ church
in that city on Wednesday.
DARIUS NASH COUCH was born in
South-East, Putnam County, N. Y.,
July 24, 1822 He graduated at West
Point Military Academy in 1846. He
wasafellow cadet there with Grant,
Sherman, Hancock, Franklin and other
noted heroes of the late war. Upon his
graduation he was assigned to the 4th
Artillery with which he served in the
Mexican war under General Zachery
Taylor. ' Here he gained the rank of
brevet First Lieut. February 23, 1847,
for conspicuous gallantry at the Battle
of BuenaVista. One of his household
trophiesis a copper solid shot firedinto
his battery at this battle. On Decem-
ber 4, ’47, he received his full commis-
sion and served against the Seminoles
in Flor1da 1n ’49 and’ 5.0 In 1853 he
'made, while on leave of absence, an ex-
ploring expedition into Mexico. which
is thus honorably mentioned in the U.
’ 8. Senate reports of .“Explorations and
Surveys for a railroad from the Missis-
sippi River to the Pacific Ocean”—
1853-‘6—vol. lX.—f‘8hould there be two
species andthe smaller not named, I
should propose to call it 0. 0011131111, in
,Vh'onor of its indefatignable discoverer,
Lieut. D. N. Conch, who at his own
risk and cost undertook a journey into
Northern Mexico, when the country Was
swarming with bands of marauders and
made large collections in all branches
of zoology, which have furnished a
great amount of information respecting
the natural history of our borders and
the geographical distribution of verte-
bra generally.”
Lieut. Couch wrote an account of this
expedition entitled “Notes of Travel,”
but never published it.
He resigned from the Army April 30,
1855 and was a merchant in New York
city from ’55 to ’57. He then engaged in
manufacturing at Norton, Mass. from
’58 to June 1861, when he was made
Colonel of the 7th Massachusetts Volun-
teers. He was made Brigadier the
August following and on the reorgani-
zation of the Army of the Potomac was
assigned to the command of a Division
in the Corps of Gen. Keyes, and greatly
distinguished himself at engagements
at Fair Oaks. Williamsburg and Mal-
vern Hill. He was promoted to Major
General July 4, 1862 and commanded a
division in the retreat from Manassses
to Washington, August 30 to Septem-
ber 2. He took part in the terrible bat-
lc at Antietam in Gen. Franklin’s
corps. He was soon after placed in
command of the 21 Army corps and
took a prominent part in Burnside’s
operations at Fredericksburg and was
next in command to Hooker at the dis-
astrous battle of Chancellorsville. ,
From June 11, 1863 till December
1864, he commanded the Department of
the Susquehanna and was engaged in
organizing the Pennsylvania Militia to
resist Lee’s invasion, of July ’63, when
President Lincoln urged his acceptance
of the command of the Army of the
Potomac after the withdrawal of
Hooker. --O wing to ill-health and a nat-
ural modesty, this great ofer be de-
clined and the command was given
General Mead who fought the battle of
Gettysburg. It was during General
Couch’s command of the department of
the Susquehanna, and residence in
Philadelphia, that his acquaintance
with and strong attachment for General
OrrisS b.Fcrry was formed and which
lead to his ultimately coming to Nor-
walk to reside and becoming our most
distinguished citizen. '
He wasfit the head of the 2d division
of the 23rd Army corps from December
’61 to May ’65; was at the battle of
Nashville and took part in the opera-
tions in North Carolina in February ’65,
to effect a" junction with Schotield. He
resigned from the Army on the 26th of
May ’65 and was the unsuccessful dem-
cratic candidate for Governor of Massa-
chusetts. He was collector of the port
of Boston from October 1, ’66, to March
4367. In ’67 he became president of a
Virginia mining and manufacturing
company, but shortly after settled
down here in Norwalk, and, since then
was quarter-master-gencral of the state
in ’77-’8’and adjutant-general in ’83-’11,
and a member of our old Court of Bur-
gesses and named for many of our local
offices of honor and trust.
In every station of life he was the
same modest, upright, courageous and
ssrupulously honest man, patriotic citi-
zen and true and generous friend.
All praise for him who nobly fought:——
Our tearsfor a hero gone.
01110115111111.
.A Defective Flue Starts a
Blaze in the Congrega-
tional’s Steeple.
Extinguisher! with a Small Loss.
Asayoung man was coming across
the church Gre an at 11 4:5 o’clock last
night, he discovered a fire in the tall
steeple of the First Congregational
church. He ran to the Bridge and
notified OlficerB. N. Morehouse, who
promptly investigated and then pulled
Box 62 located on the Green.
Picneer Hook and Ladder company
was the first to respond dud dragged
their ponderous apparatus through the
deep snow to the foot of Mill Hill,
where'they'were obligel to halt. As
the exhausted firemen stood in the
snow James Cassidy, Col. F. St. John
Lockwood’s coachman, drove up with
the Colonel’s handsome span of horses
attached to his carriage in which was
his youngest daughter just returning
from the entertainment at the Central
club.
Cassidy was equal to the emergency
and in an instant the truck was secured
to the rear axle of the carriage and the
horses were speeding towards the fire,
where the company arrived some ten
minutes ahead of the supply wagon,
which was the second to arrive upon
the se‘éne.
An entrance was effected into the
church, where it was found that the en-
tire interior of the steeple was on fire.
The bell rope was burned in two and
the clock ropes were also on fire,
while the principal blaze was found
near the fine on the south side of the
steeple.
A line of hose was run up into the
steeple, and but a small quantity of wa-
ter was used to subdue the flames that
had not already been extinguished by
means of the buckets.
The fire had eaten its way through
to the outside of the steeple, and there
being no ladders in the department long
Pioneer boys lowered Captain Charles
Riley from the belfry window by means
of a rope, and he put out the fire on
the outside with snow.
The flames had also extended out to
the middle chimney over the auditorium
and Chief Prowitt sent several of the
firemen to that point to extinguish all
signs of fire. Among the men was
George B. Nash, who in working his
way along over the auditorium through
the smoke, . accidently stepped ofi'the
board upon which he was walking and
both feet went through the ceiling. he
only being saved from crashing down in-
to the church below by a girder which
fortunately held him and preventing
what would have been a fatal accident.
The fire was undoubtedly caused by
a defective flue, all evidence pointing
in that direction at an inspection of the
premises this morning.
The loss will not amount to $500 and
is fully covered by insurance with the
agencies of O. E. Wilson and Cowles 8.:
Merrill.
THE WHEELMEN’ S CONTEST
coo ———-——- ——
The Three Leading Qantestants Increase
’ Th eir Vote.
The three leading contestants for the
Gaznrrn’ s inaugural trip have inbreas-
ed their votes considerably to- day.
George Allen retains the lead, but there
is but a small margin between his vote
and that of W. A Wheeler. R. F. Cott-
er, who holds third position, advanced
further in to-day’ s vote than either of
the others.
”<0
Pickerel Kings.
, George Finch spent a few hours one
day this week on Scott’s pond , and capo
tured twenty pickers], two of which
City Engineer Charles Wood is willing
to make aflidavit weighed between 8 and
9 pOund. Mr. Wood fu’rther says that
“they were the finest specimens of the
genus Esox he ever knew to be caught
in the waters of this section of the grim.
ious Union.” That in reply to Dr. W-
F. Acton who said that he had hooked
larger ones in New York state.
o o . ,____,______.. — -
Adjutants. P. Cronan.
Dr. S. P. Cronan, a popular young
dentist of Bridgeport, has been appoint-
ed battalion adjutant of the Fourth
regiment, C. N. G. by Major Merritt
F. White. commander of the First bat-
talion.
Major GilbertL. Fitch of Stamford
will announce his adjutantin a day or
so. In all probability it will be Walter
Hall of South Norwalk.
+>—-—-————-— _‘ ' '-
Local news on 8th page. .
enough to reach to the flames, the -
003er PARTY.
The Girls’ Literary Club Enter-
tains At the Central
Club.
An Evening of Rare Pleasure.
, The severe snow storm yesterday did
not interfere with the “Cobweb party”
given by the young ladies members of
“The Girls’ Literary club,” at the Gen-
tral club’s building on West avenue
last evening.
The young ladies had made great
preparations for entertaining their
gentlemen friends and the spacious
club rooms never looked handsomer
than at last evening’s party. White
and blue cords had been strung from
room to room, over chandeliers and up
the balusters, and at the end of each
was a dainty dance order. The young
gentlemen were required to follow this
intricate winding of cords until at the
end he watched his dance” order with
that of his partner, the, one first un-
raveling the "mystery winning the prize.
The prizes last evening were cap-
tured by George L. Woodward and
Miss Emily Jennings.
After the puzzling net work of cords
had been cleared up, dancing was in'
dulged in to the music of Prof. Purdv
until quite a late hour, dainty refresh-
ments being served after the fifth
dance.
Among those present were: The
Misses Julia B. Lockwood, E. Violet
Ells, Jeannette L. Gregory, Grace B.
Adams, Alyse Gregory, Vera M. Wood,
Alice Cole, Edith Cousins, Ethel Wil-
cox, Clara L. Betts, Emily Jennings,
Ethel Keep, Helen Swartz, Ethel Sla--
ter, Maude Wheeler, Millie Wilcox and
Messrs. "Robert Van Buren, Frederick‘
A. Ells, Frank Van Buren, Willard
Comstock, George L. Woodward, Wil-
liam P. Beers, Rutherford . Keeler,
Louis Leonard, Spencer Adams,Charles
Swarlz. Harry Cousins, Frank Ferris,
Frank Sherman, Dwight Keep, Howard
J. Bloomer and Samuel Partridge.
o.
PASSENGERS IN DANGER.
Attempt to Wreck a New England Train
Thursday Night.
An attempt was made Thursday
night to wreck the New England train
which left Danbury for Hartford at 7
,o’clock.
The train left Plainville at 8:36, five
minutes late, and was running fast to
make up lost time. In the out three-
fourths of a mile west of New Britain,
it struck a large stone which the train
men say had been placed on the track.
The stone weighed about 100 pounds.
The cowcatcher was broken and the
air brake was so torn that it could not
be used. The train was. delayed about
half an hour.
The passengers were thrown from
their seats and much frightened, but
no one was hurt. A gang of section
men was on the train. These men re-
moved the rock.
The train was in. charge of Conductor
Curtis. There is no clue to the would-
be wreckers. . It is not possible that the
rock could have been dislodged and
fallen in the cut, as the ledge on both
sides there is solid. The spot is at .a
curve, just about where the tracks en-
ter the city, so the engineer could not
have seen the rock, even if it had been
in the daytime.
Conductor Curtis says: “the stone
lay in such a position that it would have
been impossible for it to have fallen
there. The roadbed there, is double-
tracked and the stone lay near the
inner rail on the north track.”
Secretary Porter lll.
Mr. John Addison Porter, who has
been appointed Secretary by President-
elect McKinley, had intended to go to
New York this week to’ confer with
Vice-President-elect Hobart in relation
to the inaugural ceremonies, but he is
compelled to postpone his visit, owing
to sickness. Mr. ' Porter is confined to
his room. He is suffering from a severe
cold which has affected his throat and
lungs. V
Failed to Respond.
Among those who did not attend the
fire at the “Mayflower” church last
night were George Allen and Patrick
Slattery. George failed to hear the
alarm but Slattery heard it but was un-
able to respond as he was laid up with
a “game” ankle. Mr. Slattery says
that during his entire service in the fire
department covering a period of twenty
years, this was only the third fire alarm
to which he had failed to respond.
—-Leg of mutton 8anry’s_Mkt. cor.
Belden andBiverside avenues. '
\-
i‘ McKNlEl
WILL ‘BE‘: 1111111111111) 11'
wasmucrta 1 MARCH 1
no. 101 111111 in
THERE?
If YOU AREA MEMBER OF A WHEEL (lLllB YOU ARE
ELlfiIBLE T0 60 AT THE GAZETTE’S EXPENSE. ‘
HUSTLE FOB VflTES AND WIN.
President William McKinley, of Ohio, will be inaugurated
at Washington, D. C, on the 4th of March.
arations are now being made to make the civic and military
Extensive prep-
parade the largest ever seen in the capital city.
Thousands of visitors from all over the United States 'wil
be present to witness the grand spectacle.
Would you like to be present and see the great sight?
If so, and are a member of any wheel club in Fairfield
County, you are eligible to contest for the EVENING GAZETTE’S
free excursion ticket to Washington.
GUR PEOPOSITlON,
The EVENING’GAZETTE will present to the member of'any wheel '
club in Fairfield County receiving the highest number oi
votes, a fi ee ticket to Washington and re lurn on the occasion
of President McKinley’s inauguration
WHO ARE ELIGIBLE.
No one can contest for the E’JENING GAZEI'TE’S ticket unless
a member of some wheel club in Fairfield County. Anyone
connected with this office, either direztly or indirectly, is dc?
barred, and votes sent in for any employee, or for any relative
o
of an employee, will not be countc l.
THE VOTING.
The winner will be determined by a vote of the readers of
the EVENING GAZETTE, the voting will begin at 8 o’clock 'p. 111‘
Thursday, February 25th, 1811/,
nounced on Friday, February 26.
and the result to be an-
In order to facilitate the voting and for the convenience of
the voters the official ballot below will be printed in these
columns every day, which. is to be cut out,,and the blank
lines filled in by the voter, with the name of the candidate,
the club of which he is a member, and his address, and sent-
to the GAZETTE office.
§§WWWMW 63686363? 6 ‘6 6 smmmsnmsfl
INAEGERATEEN it E McKENEIY.
A.
MARCH 4th, I897.”
s;
g EVENING - 1- GAZETTE’ S FREE. TICKET.
g Name ‘
a
s
a
s
as
Club .............
Ad d ress
fififiéWWfifi§666fi§WWWMW 0 smmmsm
Ho«0—.W._._
THE VOTE.
,.
2
. WWGWWGWRWH
Georoe E, Allen, Alpha ................................................................. '. ........ .- 1450
William A. Wheeler, Twin City................... ................................. . ........... .1 176,
B. F. Cotter, Alpha ............................................... .. ................................. 355
Leo Davis. Twin City. ........... ............................... ...... 19-
William Gunther, Orient ...... ..... .. _. ...... . .... ................ ‘12 ' ~
Thomas F. D‘unn, Twin City. ... .. ........ -. .1 ...... ....... ....... . ..... ..... 11
Frank Smitlh, Orient on ooooooooooo count-OJ ......... o ooooooo '1'... ...... vane-Io ooooooooo on onto-an an... no I» 6 {
Ernest 09 Fleet, TWEn City-"jenn- unauoaouuu‘ nununnonoun-nonunion“."snoop...- by. ’ 4
.\ i
Norwalk Chronicler