. Founded inIBOOJ VOL. Key—No. 20. NORWWGAZETTE- THE FAVORITE HOME PAPER. ‘ / _,_————’———'—' llllltlltlllltlll iii an llllllES l lltlllltll lll llllllllllll. The Frost Calamity. Sometimes a change of weath excellent thing to have, but it is apt to e high. Reports indicate that one nges of weath- er is an com of the most expensive cha er we have had in along while was that which came upon us so suddenly on Saturday. It is said that it will cost $2,000,000 merely for its effect upon one crop in one little part of the country. In the grape belt, which extends along the southern shore of Lake Erie, and is from five to eight miles wide, 35,000 acres of vines have been ruined as to this year’s crop. From every other part of the country come reports of similar havoc with growing‘crops especially with fruit trees now in full bloom. For: nearly a week we had midsummer weather. and the confiding plants, trusting‘to the certain- ty of the sun, came out in alltheir glory, and were caught out in “a nipping and an eager air.” It is one calamity more for the people. It seems rather to dam- age the theory that the farmers’ ven- tures are the safest of all, and that he alone is sure when the merchant and the manufactures and the banker and the sailor have to face all the uncer- tainties of life. ' Reports from the farmers about Rockville show that the damage to crops by the heavy frost of Monday night was exceedingly heavy. The vegetables most afi'ectad were beans and peas. Strawberries, apples and pears suffered more than vegetables, however. Onefiman reports his loss at $500, while others reports theirs rang- ing from $50 up to the previous sum. The widespread area of low tempera- ture, accompanied by killing frosts, in all the Northern States from Maine to Minnesota, can hardly be regarded otherwise than as a public calamity. While wheat and rye were not far enough advanced to be seriously injur- ed by the frost and corn is scarcely planted, fruit and all early, vegetables above ground are doubtless much dam- aged, if not entirely destroyed in the northern belt of States and probably in many sections as far south as the south- ern line of Pennsylvania. The grapes in the Chautauqua and Seneca Lake sections of New York are certainly destroyed, and it is hardly possible that the apples in Michigan and New York have escaped. " There are several silver linings to this frigid cloud, however, the most important of which is to be found in the fact that the great staples upon which humanity depends for food are not injured. There will be wheat, rye, barley, corn, potatoes and other vege- tables in the usual profusion unless some or all are blighted by other agen— cies than frost. No one will be likely to go hungry, even though the fruit crop of an extensive belt of country be a total failure. Apples, peaches, pears, grapes, cherries and the other small fruits are excellent, appetizing and healthy, but people can get along with- out them for a time and be both healthy and comparatively happy. Another patch of silver, gleams through the blackness which' follows the freeze in the fact that this is a big country and the frost missed a good deal of it. Just as California and the Mediterranean provinces furnished or- anges to take the place of those de- stroyed by last winter’s freeze in Flor: ida, the Middle, Southern and Pacific states will be able to furnish some fruit and early vegetables to fill the place of those destroyed by the late frost in the northern belt of states. We shall not forget how apples and peaches look or grapes taste, even if compelled to con- sume less of each or all than usual. Mortuary. There were 1,194 deaths reported in the state during the month of April. This was 216 less than in March, and two less than the average number of deaths in April for the five years pre- ceeding the present. ' REQQLLEQTIQNS > \ WAR “GURRESPUNDENT. BY THE Editor- of the Gazette. Copyrighted 189-1. CHAPTER LVI. My messenger Mr. Wing, had a com- paratively uneventful gallop across country to Brandy Station. Several rebel raiders rode rapidly after him for a brief space, but W’VIWN hotel- was always much the flePtLeL and thus he was saved any unpleasant interviews. The few resident natives he passed looked upon him as one of their own kind and gave him only friendly salutes. At Brandy Station he loaded his horse into a freight car and both soon reach- ed Alexandria and Washington and thus the Tribune again was the only paper in all the country to get the news of Grant’s two first days of fighting at the Wilderness, as did the President and War Department. To maintain a reasonably correct chronology of events, it is proper here to detail the affair attending General Kilpatrick’s cavalry raid from Culpep- per down to and around Richmond. This should more properly have beenin- troduced as Chapter LV as it occurred just prior to General Grant’s accession to the Potomac Army. The corres- pondents in and about General Meade’s headquarters were fully cognizant that he gas contemplating some unusual movbment, but so cautious and retici'ent were those who knew what was General Mead’s purpose, that the newspaper men were all at sea in their thousand and onesurmises. Something came to my knowledge that led me to a con— fident surmise that whatever this move- ment was t.) be, Custer-’s and Kilpat- rick’s caValry were to play an import- ant part. So one pleasant morning I ordered my own chief-of-stafi', Mr. T. 0. Gray, to accompany me some six miles down to General Custer ’s headquarters, to pay him a friendly visit of courtesy. We arrived a little before noon, when the gallant and courteous General ordered our steeds unsaddled and fed and insisted that we should remain and dine with him. Remembering the kind and impressive admonition given us by General Stuart L. W oodford on a similar occasion, never to decline an invite to a meal in the army, for the good Lord only knew when you would get another one, Gray and I sat dmvn to a prolonged and most enjoyable army dinner with the always brilliant. and entertaining Custer. It was at that time known to the reporters that Kilpatrick had been dispatched very stealthily on Feb. 28, south on some re— cognizance to find out what the enemy was up to,or else to destroy his railroads and sources of supply from the Valley of Virginia. A stringent order was also issued by Meade as soon as he sus- pected the newspaper men had gotten an inkling of the expedition, that no reportr-r should be allowed to accom- pany Kilpatrick. This order Was re- spected by all of us with the single ex- ception of a Colonel Paul, who repre- sented the New York Times. He had been a school-fellow with Custer in boy- hood and seen staff officer service. To evade the order of Meade and win laurels for his paper, Paul got Kilpat- rick to appoint him an aid on his per- ’scnal staff. We had missed Paul for several days about Meade’s headquar- ters, which was a suspicious circum- stance of it self. During the hour and more at dinner, we two journalists, with all the profes- sional adroitness possible. and in the seemingly most innocent and casual way, worked the “interview” dodge upon the totally unsuspecting general, to the utmost limits of prudence. Un- wittingly, and by indirection, he re- vealed to us the fact that Kilpatrick’s- move had been planned because of in- formation furnished the War Depart- ment by General B. F. Butler at For- tress Monroe, who had discovered that Lee had left Richrfiond almost totally unguarded and that it could be cap- tured and held at least long enough to liberate our prisoners in Libby Prison and on Belle Isle. It was from Custer also that we learned of Paul’s maneu- ver to accompany the eirpedition. But more important and fortunate than all, while we were still General Custer’s after dinner guests, a scout sent from Kilpatrick to Meade, arrived. Both he and his horse were pretty efi‘ectually used up. He had left Kilpatrick about eighteen miles this side of Richmond, he said, and been the best part of a week on his return. , Being reporters, of course Mr. Gray and myself had gentility enough to offer to withdraw while Custer should gain the scout’s information, prior to his passing on to Meade’s headquarters. "Oh, no,” said Custer. “Kill’s raid is now public, or will be before you gentlemen can get these details to the Tribune, so you stay right where yon are and hear all the scout has to say.” We did not need any over urging on this point, especially as Paul’s rather mean advantage, had caused us no little anxiety, because of the chance it gave him to “scoop" all the other news- papers and the Tribune among the rest. in most important’news, should the raid prove a success. Custer ordered a. bountiful meal set before the half starved fellow and then began to ply him with questions like a trained lawyer on a cross-examination of a witness. The scout accounted for his long delay in getting back, by. run-» ning short of feed for his horse and having to halt for it to brouse. . Also by having to secrete himself i the woods and swamps many times, during daylight, to escape discovery and capture and more especially on ac- count of Kilpairick having burned all the bridges behind him, and the long distances he was forced to ride to find a spot where he could ford or swim his horse across the streams. General Cus- ter had informed us that it was Kilpat- rick’s purpose to return to his old camp at Stevensburg, near Culpepper. When I suggested that his having burned all bridges behind him, looked very much as if he proposed to get out of Rich- mond, if he ever got into it, by some other route, than a direct return back to his old camp. Custer’s quick reply was, “Oh yes, that is all right; he has burned the bridges to prevent the ene- my now up the valley, from falling up- on his rear. Yes, he’ll be back here before many days, though quite likely by a roundabout route.” The scout said they had encountered no serious resistance up to the time of his departure and he had seen only a few guerrilla bands of a few mounted men each while on his return. After resting and refreshing himself a couple of hours or so, the scout rode on to Moade’s headquarters. Gray was quite anxious to accompany him, with the purpose of exhausting further news. but I purposely delayed, so as our re- turn ride should bring us to Culpepper a little after dark. After bidding Gen- eral Custer a cordial good evening and starting for Culpepper depot at a gal- lop, I informed Gray of my purpose to board the seven o’clock freight train for Alexandria. . “But Meade has an order against passengers geing down on freighte,” said Gray. “And I have a special pass from Mr. Stinton, per- mitting me to use the army wires. and to go on any government train or boat, when not interfering with their public use,” I replied, and to wait until next forenoon for a passenger car, may de- feat the object I have in view.” "What is that?” queried Gray. I replied that I was going to Fortress Monroe in the most expeditious way possible. I wished him to quietly lead my horse into camp and if inquiry were made for me, say I had returned to Washington;that I was convinced from the scout’s story, that Kilpatrick, on being opposed, would dash out at White House, York- town. or some point on the Pamunky or James; that-if my view was correct I could head him ofi‘ and thus euchre Paul. Snatching my blankets from the sad- dle and bidding Gray good: night, I clambered unobserved, into an open cattle car in which was a large box which had evidently been used for ship ping trees in. Upon this I spread my blankets and rolling myself up likea butterfly in its cocoon, “laid down to pleasant dreams.” At Alexandria I was awakened by a severe jolt against the side of my car and looking out, saw that it had been caused by an under- taker’s dead wagon being rudely backed against the side of my sleeping car. Within the box upon which I had slept all night, were the remains of an Union officer who was being thus-transported to Alexandria to be decently encofiined and forwarded to his friends at the North. The incident was nota pleas- ing one, yet in the war time, such little things did not interfere with one’s re- pose. I hastened to General Butler’s head- quarters at Fortress Monroe, reaching tnere early the next morning. Captain John I. Davenport was then his private, military secretary. I at once explain- ed the cause of my sudden and unex— pected visit. “You have guessed it right this time,” said Davenport, “for I have just taken off the wire a dispatch from Kilpatrick, saying he will send us his official report in half an hour, from Yorktown. On paying my respects to General Butler, he complimented me upon my enterprise and Yankee sagaci- ty in guessing so near to the result, then ordered Davenport to let me copy Kilpatrick’s report as soon as received. As I was forced to wait until afternoon before the return of the Baltimore boat, General Butler had Davenport wire Kilpatrick’s dispatches to the War De- partment and then, with a wink of his lopped eye said, “Byington, none of the reporters about here know a word about this news and hadn’t you better take the copy and go aboard the boat and conceal yourself, so that their suspic- ions may not be aroused.” I did not need a further hint and in less than five minutes was locked up in my state. room, making a duplicate copy to mail the Tribune, while the original was in the hands of the operator clicking. over the wire, the moment I should reach Baltimore. So did the Tribune repre- sentative effectually distance poor Paul, who had been wounded in a skirmish, had his horse shot from under him, and his leg badly bruised in the horse fall— ing upon it. .Thus was was another “beat” scored for the Tribune, as Paul’s dispatches did not appear in the Times until three days afterward. Kilpatrick had his first collision at Beaverdam Station, driving the enemy across the South Anna river, cutting both railroads and pushing on to within three miles of Richmond, carrying the first and second lines of defenses and being worsted at the third line and falling back. He camped two miles from the Chickahominy where he re- pulsed 8 vi orous charge, then moved across the bite House railroad and down the Peninsula, where he met and joined the cavalry force sent up by General Butler from Fort Monroe and soon after, a brigade of his colored in fantry. Kilpatrick lost about 150 men, but captured over 500 prisoners and many horses and inflicted heavy dam- age on the enemy in burnt bridges and torn up railroad tracks. event of this cavalry exploit, was the killing of Colonel Ulric Dahlgren at Dabney’s ferry, and the capture of more than a hundred of his men. false charge was trumped up by the rebels that papers were found on Dahl- gren’s body to the effect that his pur- pose was to release 'our prisoners and have them burn Richmond and murder Davis and his cabinet. . This was a rebel scheme to “fire the Southern heart” and justify murder and the placing of barrels of gunpowder under Libby Prison so as to blow the thousands of our Union prisoners into eternity in case of our capture of Rich~ mond. Kilpatrick might have dashe. The saddest ' .4 n Entertaining and I nstructivc. Home J carnal, Especially Devoted to NORWALK. CONN}, FRIDAY. MAY 17, 1895. into the rebel Capital, but could not have held it. Butler once attempted a surprise and capture of Richmond, but his purpose was defeated by a New York bounty jumper named Abraham Abrahams, who had escaped from pris- on and given the enemy information of the coming of our troops under Gen. Weilzel. His infantry marched 80 milles in 56 hours and his cavalry 150 miles in 50 hours on this abortive expe- dition. Fortune gave Abrahams back to But- ler, his troops securing him again by capture. He was tried by drum-head Court Martial and sentenced ' to be shot. I chanced to be at Butler’s head quarters the day designated for the villian’s execution when this peculiarly worded dispatch was received by But- ler from the President: ~ - “If Abraham Abrahams is not hanged let hiln not be hanged. A. LINCOLN.” Instantly Butler shouted out in my hearing, "Davenport, send out an order that the convicted and sentenced trai- tor and spy Abrahams be executed at once! Then telegraph the President that “he is hanged.” Turning to me the genial General said with intense feeling: “I’d have that villian shot. if the road to hades were paved with Presidents. His relatives have no doubt coaxed our soft hearted Presi- dent to,respite him but he is beyond hu- man clemency.” . He was ; he was shot, not “hanged.” - _ It was my mournful privilege also, to be present at young Dahlgren’s funeral services at Dr. Sunderland’s church in Washington and report for the Tri- bune the surpassingly eloquent and feel- ing etiology pronounced by that great- est of pulpit orators, Henry Ward Beecher. General Assembly. The Temperance committee reported unfavorably to the House yesterday these bills and they were rejected: ,Provding that only certain ingredients should be used in malt liquors; trans- ferring the power of appointing excise commissioners to Superior court judges; allowing hotel keepers iii no license towns to sell ccrtaln liquors. The Finance committee reported un- favorably the bill providing for the is- sue of execution against corporations failing to pay taxes within 30 days after they became due and it was rejected, The House concurred in rejecting the bill for the payment of street railway taxes to loans and citles instead of the state. The Incorporations committee favor— ably reported resolutions amending the charter of the Bridgeport Electric Light company and the charter of the Bridge- portilluminating company permitting increase of its capital stock to $500,000 and extending the time for the charter’s acceptance. The same committee re- ported unfavorably an act allowing the Norwalk and South Norwalk Electric Light company to issue bonds. ' The Cities and Boroughs committee reported unfavorably on the following: That drivers of vehicles turn to the left as is the rule inEngland, instead of to the right as at present ;' acompanion act that street cars pass on sides of the street opposite to those now followed; prowding a'hpeniilty on street car com- panies for failure to provide passengers with seats. All these. were rejected. The Judiciary committee favorably reported a bill allowing state and other prosecuting attorneys $200 a year for actual expenses. The Insurance committee reported, defining what shall constitute secret and fraternal societies. In brief, such societies are described as organized for the sole benefit of members and their beneficiaries and not conducted for profit. Such societies are exempted from the Insurance laws. Charles Cameron was elected judge and Jeremiah Tierney deputy judge of the Greenwich Borough court. In the Senate, the Judiciary commit: tee reported unfavorably on the bill for the adoption of the Meyers automatic voting machine, and also on the bill requiring that the ingredients of patent medicines be printed in English on the labels. On the bill relating to the age of consent, the House adopted the minor- itv report, fixing the age at 18 years ; the Senate adopted the majority report, making the age 16 years, by a vote of 16 to 5. , Among matters passed were : Exempt- ing soldiers and sailors from the ped- dlers licence fee; repealing the law of 1893 concerning itinerant peddlers; providing that publications in news- papers and posting on public sign posts shall be sufficient notice of orders of town boards of Health; amending an act concerning damages assessed to towns for removal of grade crossing. This last is the bill passed by the House which provides that moneys as- sessed by the Railroad commissioners and the Superior court against towns and cities where the application was brought by the railroad companies, since May 1, 1884, for removal of grade crossings on highways which were in existence before the construction of the railroad, shall be reimbursed by the state to such towns and cities. On the invitation of William A. Lew- ' is, the newly appointed Oyster inspect- or, the Flsheries committee will Visit Local Bridgeport for an outing and to inspect the natural oyster beds, on Wednes- day, May 22d. Two reports were made by the Rail- road committee on the application of the Norwalk Street railway for permis- sion to extend their lines. Five mem- bers were favorable to the petition and four opposed. The petition is being fought by the Norwalk Tramway Co. who say the other company are schem- ing to parallel their best paying lines with the object of compelling them to either sellout or be forced into insol- vency. The Street Railway Co. was formerly run by the late James W. Hyatt and upon his death its control passed into the hands of Congressman E. J. Hill. Its service was for years so unsatisfac— tory that in 1889 citizens se cured a char- ter for the. Tramway 00. They never built under it, and in the fall of 1892 sold it to G. W, Mansfield, of Boston, who in order to preserve it from lapsing in the following January builta line from Norwalk to East Norwalk. Later, there were constructed extensions to Rotan Point and Dorlan’s Point, about 10 miles in all. After the Hill party got control of the old line they equipped it with electrici- ty. It is alleged that the Tramway Co. have begun a campaign intended to force them to terms. The old com- pany are asking for the right to cross Washington street which is opposed by the city government. It was formerly a grade crossing of the Consolidated and their tracks having been elevated, it is desired to keep thecrossing free of tracks. The leading lawyers and citi- zens of Norwalk are arrayed on the sides of the two warring companies, and fur is expected t) fly before the question is decided. ‘ The Military committee of the Legis- lature will next week report a. bill leav- ing the ordering of a field day for the C. N. G. optional with the Governor. As the expenses of field day are about 88,000 Governor Cofiin will probably not order one this year. Wadhams Wins His Case. In the Common Pleas Court, civil side, yesterday afternoon, the jury re- turned ajudgment in the suit of Ed- ward J. Wadhams vs Attorney Joseph A. Gray. The plaintiff was awarded $379.17. This was a peculiar case and excited much interest in the community and bench and bar. Wadhams claimed he put about a thousand dollars in Gray’s hands to effect settlements with his creditirr. Gray claimed he paid out all the money, less his own fees. The jury decided that this money was a trust fund, to be used only for a speci- fic purpose and could not be justly ap- propriated by Gray even if Wadhams we're indebted to him for legal fees, hence the verdict. Attorney Light made very damaging exposures of Gray’s sharp dealings with his clients, in the testimony he introduced, and one Juror is reported as having remarked in the Jury room that any lawyer who skinned his clients in the manner testified to, should not be permitted to practice before any court in Connecticut. . Capt. Rose and Walter Fitch, the two Norwalk jurymen, are reported to have stood by Gray on all points except his right to appropriate the Wadhams’ trust funds for the payment of his own attorney fees. It is generally thought that Gray will accept the verdict and return the Wad- hams money, as a retrial, it is asserted, will bring out still more damaging tes- timony as to Gray’s sharp practices with his clients, and be very likely to result, the plaintiff’s side claim, in his final expulsion from the bar. Jury’s Findlniz Set Aside. An important precedent for Connecti- cut was established Wednesday, bv Judge Thayer, of the Superior court, in the granting of a new trial to Wil- liam L. Baxter, convicted of horse- stealing. Judge Thayer decided that the jury’s verdict was contrary to the evidence. State’s Attorney 'Doolittle opposed the application. ‘7 .True as Gospel. , Says the New Yerk Sun: The sign of the merchant is no longer confined to his immediate place of business. He puts it in ,the newspaper for all men to see. Information requisite for every- body is obtainable by the great mass of the public from the advertisements only. Only by means of the advertise- ments can they both supply and make generally known private wants upon which ‘their welfare depends. They serve as a labor exchange, a directory, a bulletin, a price list, and a means of obtaining distinction otherwise impos- sible for traders and producers. The benefit that comes to a great newspaper from its advertising is infinitesimal as compared with that received by the ad- vertisers themselves and by the public. News and Interests. ‘. PRICE Two CENTS. [$1.00 a Year. M > Flre. Shortly after 9 o’clock, this morning, Thomas Reardon, discovered that the house until recently occupied by George H. Waterbury . on Marshall street, was on fire. He sent in an alarm from box 53 at the corner of Plattsville avenue and the New Canaan road, which was promptly responded to by the fire department. It was but a few moments after the alarm that Chief Engineer Prowitt was at the fire and he was closely followed by the Pioneer H. and L. company and the Phoenix boys. The Hope hose boys were not far behind and were material- ly assisted in getting their “jumper” to the scene by John Kirsch who volun- teered the use of his team, which he set goingat a mad pace “to vet there on time." Connections were made with the bye drant on the New Canaan road and also with the hydrant at Fair street, and the fire was soon under control. The interior of the house was almost entirely burned out, together with its contents. Evidently the fire started in the cellar and ate its way up through the sidewalls and to the roof. It was of incendiary origin. The firemen are deserving of credit for the manner in which they worked to save the building. The owner is now an inmate of the Soldiers’ Home, having been sent there some weeks since. The damage done will not ex ceed $500. ' Mr. George W. Raymond who has charge of the, property, visited the house yesterday afternoon, and found everything all right. This morning, he was surprised to find that doors which he had left unfastened were locked, a fact that tends to show that the fire was of an incendiary nature. The loss on the furniture will not be in excess of $100. Both Novel and Valuable. When the average New Yorker cuts his finger. has a pet cat scratch his face or falls down and barks his shins and knuckles, he first makes caustic re- marks about his luck, then longs for court plaster. Nine cases out of ten he hasn’t any at hand, especially if he is awayfrom home, for there the good housemfe generally has some concealed in her work basket unless, perhaps, the baby has stuck it on its little bald head. Vogel Brothers, the clothiers and outfitters of Eighth avenue and Forty- second street have met all these ex- igencies and filled a long-felt want with a little vest pocket celluloid case which not only contains court plaster, but space for memoranda, current calendar and valuable information regarding up-to-date clothing. Every customer is presented with a case, which adds to the‘satisfaction found in purchasing goods of this firm. ‘ We can safely say to all who have never bought of this house, that after one trial you will advocate Vogel Brothers. They aim to sell as low as can be bought in New York, and guar- antee that their clothing cannot be ex- celled in style, fit or quality for the money, They have but one place of business in the city, 421d, cor. 8th ave. O. Tired. Weak, Nervous, Means impure bleed, and overwork or too much strain on brain and body. The onlyfiway to do is to feed the nerves on pure blood. Thousands of people certify that the best blood purifier, the best nerve tonic and strength builder is Hood’s: Sarsaparilla. What it has done for others it will also do for you-- Hood’s Cures. Nervousness, loss of appetite and general debility all disappear when Hood’s Satsaparilla is persisten’ly taken and strong nerves, sweet sleep, strong body,'sharp appettite, and in a word health and happiness follow the use of Hood’s Sarsaparilla. The strong point about Hood’s Sarsaprilla is that they are permanent. because they start from the solid foundation of purified, vitalized and enriched blood. Shad Fry. Some 2,000,000 young shad fry arrived yesterday and were placed in the state hatchery retaining ponds at Brock- way’s, two miles above Essex. They were brought here in the United States fish hatching car No. 1, from Harve do Grace, Md. , Fish Commissioner Bill of Lyme had charge of placing the young shad in the ponds from the large cans in' which they were shipped. ' Shocked. A deck hand on the steamboat Nut- meg State, of Bridgeport, was shocked yesterday by finding the dead body of a small infant in a pail of water which he had hoisted to scrub the deck while the boat was lying at her pier in New York. The remains were taken to the morgue. The police are of the opinion that the child was murdered as there was a deep cut in its head. Well Deserved. Albert DeForest has been granted an increase of pension. . ——500 dozen ladies’ shirt waists, all new, prices from 25c to $3.00 each, will be on sale’to-morrow at the Boston store, Norw’slk.
Norwalk Chronicler