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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron News-Record, 1895-05-08, Page 1.t TilE 1II1R0N Tonus-51.:b5per Annum, 1.001n Advance. NEWS -R H;CORD. INDEPENDENT IN ALL THINGS—NEUTRAL IN NOTHING A. 111 TODD, Bettor end Owner VOL. XVII CLINTON. HURON COUNTY, ONT. WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1895 HEIR DO YOU BUY ? Probably in some neighbor- ing town. You should ask yourself "why ?" We buy all our goods direct and sell at a small. margin. We guaran tee satisfaction. Give us a trial for your next order. No matter whether it is large or J. W. RITER, THE CLINTON LIQUOR STORE. A BIG BLAZE. The Mason hotel Stables and Adjacent Buildiuks ALL GO UP IN SMOKE—THE CAUSE A MYSTERY—A "(SOT" r'lftE. Last Thursday evening about seven o'clock Mrs. Wal{per, lvlfe of the new landlord of the Mason House noticed that the stables close by were on fire and promptly gave the alarm. The warning in a few seconds sounded from the town fire alarm. Almost sirnultaneously a mass of flame cover- ' in the large stables shot heavenward. Aliightbreeze heavenward. some what to the in- farmability of the several dry frame structures and all seemed to disappear in smoke like a piece of tissue paper. Mr. 'Walper rushed to a box stall for his horse and got the animal out, but the spreading fire prevented hint re- turning for anything else. Joseph Townsend dropped through the hay or straw hole to the floor, a distance of probably twelve feet, and his legs carried him to a stail where he lay down. James Ball noticed Town- send in a dazed condition and managed to get, hint out in a scorched and burn- ed state. Mr. Townsend reached his hue and is now under medwal care. His head and face and hands were severely burned and it will be some time before he recovers from such a terrible close death call. In the meantime the tire was increasing in fury. A strong stream was being thrown from air's water works sys- tem onto the brick side wall of the hotel and onto the flames outside the stables. At this particular juncture good judgment was not used by the firemen. The stream of water should hada been directed to the bed of the fire for a short time and lessen the treat rather than allow it to increase. The branch hose from the fire engine, through the alertness of fireman Welsh, was soon throwing two streams, one from the rear and one from Albert street. The hook and ladder was brought into requisition to assist in cutting off the flames of des- truction. While all this was going on T. Quig- ley was hustling out the shoe leather, findings, working tools and furniture from the shop, next the stables, owned by Felix Hanlon. Mr. Quigley saved everything. I4xt came the premises of the hate John Steep, occupied by James How- son as a tailor, clothes cleaner and re- pairer. He saved everything except the building. Cantelon•Bros. had two store }rouses adjoining containing a large quantity of egg cases, barrels, sugar, tea, brooms, &c., and saved nearly all. Woo Sing's laundry, and the photo• graph gallery owned by J. W. Cook, also frame, was badly gutted • ]though • the outward appearance is no C) seri- n,ly affected. djoining Cook'sproperty is Young's brick, bakery, occuied bMBec- with. For a time the impression was that this, along with Canteion's and Cook's stores, also brick, would all go. Periple rushed.into the bakery thought- lessly and took possession of every- thing. As generally happens under such circumstances, furniture, glass- ware, &c., had to go. A hanging lamp was seized and mercilessly wrenched from its moorings when a little de- liberation and common -sense --presence of mind—would have kept everything in good order and removed the whole contents with little or no damage. Lack Kennedy's ice house, tot he ream of Cantelon's storehouses, was burned, but the ice was saved and enclosed in a new scructure Friday morning. While the fire was being fought to the north there was a well c'onte'sted battle waged within the Mason House. There were seven furnished bedrooms upstairs and all were more or less ablaze. Ry the timely arrival of buck- ets of water and wet blankets the fire was confined to these. Downstairs the principal damage was to glass, sashes, blinds, etc. THE LORRER. The stables were insured for $4(0, and the loss will he from $400 to $600. Mr. Waterer had no insurance. He had arranged to effect a risk on the evening of the fire. His loss will be from $800 to $400. Mr. Hanlon had no insurance and Will lose $250. Mrs. Steep had $200 insurance. Her toss will he about $100. John Johnson owned the two store - licensee and ice house. Some years since he paid $1,200 for the property and had the buildings insured until about a year ago, when he let it drop owing to the high rate. Lack Kennedy will lose about $30 on account of loss of ice and rebuilding house formerly rented. (htntelon Bros. loss will be light. RPARKR ANT) (INDIUM. R. Welsh and 'other nozzle mien were protected from the heat by a door which fell. The heat was intense, but Mr. 'Welsh maintained his post of duty and submitted to one of his hands beingseverely burned. Wo Sing has decided that there is "too much fire ---that the de'il is there," and has removed to cooler quarters on Victoria street. An old saying is that one never knows the need of water until the well runs dry, and we might add that our people never knew the need of water -works until they secured James Fair's introductory system. While three heavy streams were playing on the fire, two from the mill system were protecting that property. Just how the fire originated seems a mystery, hut an inquest has been held and the cause may be ascertained. Soule are of the opinion that the tire originated in the hazy and straw thrown from the man hole ; others contend that if such were the ease Townsend could not have escaped alive. Mr. M. Beckwith had a quantity of wood banned. Ile has missed from $15 to $20 worth of mead tickets tied in $1 packages, as well as a number of loose ones. Mr. Walper passed through the re- cent fire in Seaforth and lost several hundred dollars there. FIRE INQUEST. --- EVIDENCE AS TO THE :'ACNE or THE LATE FIRE—ONE OP THE WIT- NESSES SSSS SEN1' t'P. When the 1lason stables were on fire a couple of months since there was suspicion and rumors to the effect that the buildings had been set on fire by some unknown person or persons. The result of the fire, however, was nob serious, and the platter 'was for some reason allowed to drop. The second fire proved more disastrous and public feeling was considerably aroused. Citizens as well as inettrance'companies felt that an investigation should be held and ascertain the cause of the fire. Accordingly, en the requisition of Mayor Ihaltues, Deputy -Reeve Kennedy. and Councillor'McMurray, Coroner I)r. Shaw summoned a jury and the enquiry commenced in the council chamber on Saturday afternoon at two o'clock. THE JURY were sworn in as follows :—.J. P. Tis - dell, foreman ; F. W. \Vatts, T. C. Doherty, Jacob Miller, J. B. Rumhall, W. S. Harland, C. \Nilson, C. ('arsine, David Cook, T. C. Bruce, Lack Ken- nedy, Jetties Miller, S. G. Plummer. The Jury and Coroner immediately retired and viewed the ruins. On re- turning the evidence was gone into. Lawyer Scott appeared on behalf of the Town and interrogated the wit- nesses. TUE EVIDENCE. LEVI Loris WAi.pr•.a—Wbo said he moved here Tuesday, and took possession of Ma• son's Hotel Wednesday afternoon, having rented the premises, hotel and stable. Was at the hotel all day on Thursday. Was in the house, when fire was first seen. Mrs Walper told him the barn was all on fire, and he asked some of the boarders to give the alarm. Ran into the stable by front door and took his horse out, went back for his harness; the tire started on the south side, near the granary, and just about where the hay was usually thrown down; the lire was started from the bottom; feel sure of that; as he was going ont hallooed to some one to take out the other horse and rig, which were in a stall; saw some one go in by the side door before the fire started. It was Brownlee. Heard some one call him Ike Brownlee. Brownlee came in the bar about 0.30 and got a drink with three others, said he could not pay for it; be re- fused to give him any more; Brownlee did not make any threats, but went out the side door. No more than five minutes elapsed between the time Brownlee lift and time alarm was given; saw no one else at the barn, except shortly afterwards saw Town• send, with his hair singed. His hostler was somewhere about the front of the barn. His own family, the hired girl and a few boarders were in the house at the time. Stable had front, rear and aide doer. Did riot aee'any one run out. In answer to a question by the foreman of the jury, said he did not have any quar- rel with Brownlee; simply refused to give him any more liquor. Was quite sure the fire was burning up, not down. Had not refused any one else liquor up to that time. Mr Scott stated that as Mr Brownlee's name had been brought out in the evidence, it was only fair to him that he should have an opportunity of asking witnesses any questions. Mr Brownlee was called in and given the opportunity of questioning witnesses, but beyond a single unimportant question, made no effort to use the privilege. ISAA(' BROWNLEE.—Sworn said, I live on the base line, was in town on Thursday last, came in about 2 o'clock, and got a colt shod at Oliver Johnston's. After I got my colt ehod I took it to the Mason bouso somewhere between 6 and 7. Drove around town for a little while and just drove his horse and rig into the stable; it would be nearly ?o'clock; say about '25 minutes to; then went into the hotel bar; had a drink, not more than one; went across to Cooper's store and staid there about ten minutes; the berm was on lire when I came out of Cooper's; I had come out of the hetet by the side door, went out of the lane up the street to Scruton's and across to Cooper's; heard the alerm when I was in there: was going in the barn to get my horse when Jim Ball told me it was up street; the fire and smoke seemed to be coming down about the centre; barn was all ablaze in- side; it seemed to be all burning; put my horse in Miller's hotel stable end went back to the fire; could not remember that Walper had refused him drink; did not tell anyone that Walper had refused him drink, nor did he think he was under the influ- ence of liquor; had other drinks, but not much in town; was not under the weather when he came to town. In reply to a question by the Coroner he said he got other drinks at home; wasn't fall, knew what he was doing. Was leav- ing Johnston's shop about 6 o'clock. Have no idea how the fire started. Did not tell anyone how it started. Saw a girl come out of the side door and go into the stable. Called at Bob Mason's as I went home and told Tom about fire; said it earned a mys- tery how it started before and how it started again. Was not smoking. Told Tom Mason I saw a girl in there, but did not give any name. Could not say who the girl waa. she had a hat on, was mid'- dling size; did not pay much attention to her. Mn \VAL.rna recalled said—I identify Brownlee, he's the man to whom I refused liquor. Would not call him sober at the time; had been at business long enough to form an opinion. Was sure he stepped in- to the side door of the barn, whether he came out again or not I caunot say. T. L. Foa'rrxn sworn said ---Was at Har - land's store, both before and after tire started. Saw old Mr Mason, the hostler, come out about 0.15; saw no one else; saw the fire about the first one, and gave the alarm, stood at store door, was talking to W. Archer, no one in the store, but some one came in by the back door and I went in. found it wart Mr W. Harland, spoke to him and went to the front door, saw the flames shooting up at the end of the first- building—the west end of it; the up- stairs seemed to be burning; saw no dames downstairs; hallooed fire as soon as I saw the flames, and started up to ring alarm, when I cause back I saw some one coming out of a hole above the stalls; saw Brown- lee come out of the stable after the alarm was given; had seen him before, about 6, walking with John Scruton; positive 1 saw Brownlee come out of stable after alarm was given; he came into the middle of the road; be was the only one who came out at this time; would not fancy that the dames were in the lower part of stable; did not know at the time who it was dropped out of the loft. Saw a horse brought out which had only a halter on. Brownlee came out the front door of the barn. Fire, was on south side to the back. C. Coote sworn said --I board at the Mas- on House; was there on '2nd of May', got there 5 or 10 minutes after six; was there all the time till the fire commenced; was not in the stable; saw Isaac Brownlee in the stable; recognized him; saw him about (3 30 or thereabouts; he was sitting on a coal box, with a lit cigar in his hand. I stood in the centre of the front doors and could see right into the stable: saw him al- so es he came out of a stall either the one where the fire started or the one next, saw him coming out just as the fire started in the stall about the size of my two fingers; was still standing in the front door; could have seen anyone else it they had been on the floor. 1 hallooed fire and went into the house, because I had some clothes there. Brownlee came out the front door of stable, and a}aid "What made the fire start," lie was staggering, being the worse of liquor; saw him again bringing his horse and cart up Albert street; had not his horse when he came out the barn first. Jack Rayson took out Brownlee's horse, the fire had just started, in the second stall from the gran• ary, below the loft. The coal bin was about half•full, Rayson was in the hotel before the fire, sitting at north window; Brownlee came out just as I hallooed fire; know pretty well when a man is drunk. Saw it was Rayson took horse out. Coal box and stall are about one inch apart. .1.R. KENNEDY, sworn, said : --Was in our own house till about 0.40 ; got my lacrosse stick and walked towards the Recreation Park ; met W. Ball and carne down Albert street, on the west side ; in going by Mason's stable I noticed a man in the staple ; it was Mr. Isaac Brownlee ; think there is a granary nearly half way down, noticed some hay at bottom of steps going into loft and saw Brownlee; it was some- where about 7 o'clock ; Brownlee was in a stooped position, thought 1 noticed a cigar 111 his hand ; he was stooping with one hand stretched out ; called Bali's attention to it as we passed, did not speak to Brownlee ; we passed on to about the Chinese laundry, looked at some tea in the window and had got to about halt' way past the first stave shed when the alarm was given. Saw no one else in the stable but Brownlee and the cart t ; could not see the horse ; did not see any one lighting a match ; had no suspicion Its to where fire was when the alarm was given. it was Browlee s position t hat. drew nay par- ticular at tent ion to hurl; did not know but what 110 was picking. something lip. W. II. Barns sworn, said : — I passed Mason's hotel the night of fire with John Kennedy about 7 ,'cin 'k ; noticed a marl in the barn about the second stall up near at coal bin; it was Me. Isaac I3rownlee ; that is him over t here; he was stooping down, and had :t match in his hand ; was nearly on his hands and knees ; the match was on fire ; I spoke to Kennedy and said "than man was drunk again ; we went into Howson's store and stood at Clue laundry for a minute Or tWO, passing (>11 to near the stave shed on the way to the park; it would be about fly or 2 minutes when we heard the fire alarm ; saw no one else in the stable as we passed ; I could see the flame front the match, which was in his right hand : he was fronting the stable; saw hire after as Jas. Ball was leading him out of the stable, after the alarm was Rounded ; slid not hear anything said by Brown- lee ; think Brownlee had a cigar in his mouth and when the alarm was given told Kennedy. I thought the fire was where we had seen the man ; I watt on the inside of the street walking about even with Kennedy as we passed hotel when I saw Brownlee with the lighted match, I thought he was lighting a cigar ; don't know whether the flre was in the loft or below. JAR. Bete., sworn, said :--I board at Wal ers p was there on Thursday was there before fire started ; was sit- ting in front of hotel when fire first started and heard Mrs. Walper call out "the barn was on fire"; had not been sitting there very long; saw ike. Brownlee sitting in the stable ; i think Brownlee carne out front door of hotel and went in the front door of the :table ; f passed down in front of the -table and saw Brownlee inside; that was abouit five or ten minutes before ,he alarm was given that i saw hint sitting therr with his hands on his Knees ; did not notice anything in his hands ; spoke to him in the bar half an hour or more before the fire ; had one drink with hint ; saw hint come into the staple after his horse ; 1 had just hrooght another roan out of the stable, who was in the second or third stall from the door on the north side ; told Brownlee his horse was out ; he spoke to me about his horse only ; he (night have had time to have gone 111 again when I first saw hint go in by the front door ; the main in the stall looked as if had fallen from the loft; saw Brownlee leave the stable by the front door and go to Quigley's about, tato minutes be- fore the alarm was sounded ; I think the 111au1 1 helped out was slightly burned while up above the loft; the blaze in the batru wits above the ladder when 1 first saw it ; diel not notice any below. .TAs. Fieeli, sworn. said :--i cause down to Meson's aftersupperaid went into the stable about five Minutes W seven : saw a 111018 sitting by the coal bin ; did not recognize hint as he had his head clown ; I trent out by the front barn door and into the hotel ; asked Mr. Walper about meat for next day; then walked outside and while talking there heard Mrs. Walper say the stable was all on fire ; rata to the door and Sat/ that the whole upstairs was o11 fire ; the flames seemed to he running up the stairs; there was some fire down st.atirs; saw no one in the stable at this time; did not recognize 111e mean ; sant/ 110 one else in the stable; the flames seemed to be near where 1 saw the Haul sit- ting. C. MASON, sworn, said:— I'm the host- ler at Walper's hotel ; was there all tiny on May 2nd ; was at the stable between six and seven o'clock ; no one else was there until Isaac Brownlee came in with his horse ; he put his horse into the stall and tied it up ; Brownlee took Robt. Aatttersnn and I in and gave Its a drink ; did not stop long 111 the lull'; ty(' stood Outside a moment 01 two, then Brownlee wanted us to have another drink, haft 1 slipped away from hint and went to the wash room ; Brownlee asked for another drink and I heard Dir. Wainer refuse hint ; saw Brownlee again in the stable, about half way down, he seethed to be sleep- ing ; 1 went out and w'as talking at the baa' -morn door ;"I knew Townsend was Sleeping in the loft; he had been there all afternoon ; don't think Townsend had any cigar or Matches, Its he was too sick tot anything like that; 1 saw him lying there; there was no one else in the stable but thews two ; saw Brownlee outside when they were try- ing to get the tire out; said nothing to hint, nor. did 1 hear him say anything; could not see whether he had anything in his hand or not; the fire could not have started by any means of itself; spanks could not have come from the kitchen, nor Were there any ashes ((10(1nd : there was no sign of fire when ltwas int• the stable about ten minutes before the fire broke out. ; don't know whether Townsend smokes or not ; a load of hay was taken in the barn about four o'clock. Mat. BROWNi.E1: recalled said :—I got the tobacco i think from Mr. Ogle Cooper. I was in the stable shortly before the previous fire occurred and know nothing about the origin of that fire or this one. 1 had no quarrel with .11r. Mason, the proprietor of the hotel, but we had a spat, it was about two months ago, with Charlie Spooner and young Mason. OGLE CltmI'i$R, sworn, Said : 1 was in .the store Thursday afternoon ; do not remember Brownlee coming to the store ; he did not buy any tobacco from � me ; did not see him until 8 o'clock. My.sister told me she did not sell hien any tobacco; there was no one else 1 in the store who would ; was in the store about five minutes before the alarm was given. MRs. EMMA \V:tr.PER, sworn. said: --1 amu the wife of 111. Wainer, a previous witness; 1 was in the hotel when the fire occurred ; i went to the kitchen door and saw that the stable was on the ; it seemed to he about half way up the side of the building ; ;aw no one ei(hev going into or out of the stable ; the fire occurred just while we were getting ten. Mr. Scott. suggested that the evHence of Mr. .Joseph Townsend should be se- cured in some way, but the Coroner intimated that. it WilS itupoSsihlc, ow- ing to the serious nature of his in- juries. This closed the evidence, and DL'. Scott made a brief review of it, point- ing out the seemingly strong ('orro- borative points sworn to by the differ- ent witnesses, the contradiction so fat as Bownlee's own evidence was con- cerned, the assumed motive of Brown- lee being on bad terms with Mr. Mason's family, and expressed the be- lief that the jury could cutin' to only one conclusion from the evidence ad- vanced. The coronet' also alluded to the evi- dence, cautioning the jury to remove from their minds all feelings of pre- judice, and 8011 v at a conclusion only warranted by the evidence. The case was then given to the jury, who retired and in half an hour brought in the following verdict : - TIIE VERDICT. "We, the Jurors appointed in the investigation of the fire which des- troyed the Mason House stables on May 2nd, having heard the evidence. do find from it that Isaac Brownlee, of the township of Hullett, caused the fire by a lighted match in his hand." The Coroner asked Mr. Brownlee if he had anything to say before he ordered his arrest for commitment and he replied "Nothing, except that i am innocent of the crime." Ie was then placed under arrest and removed to (loderich, where he will be formally committed to stand his trial at the higher court. in justice to the prisoner the may say that itis commitment does not by any means prove hint guilty of the charge, and it is only fair that the public with - WHOLE NO. 860 hold judgment until both sides of the case have been heard. NOT PROPERLY COMMITTED. At (loderic•h it was ascertained that the prisoner had been illegally com- mitted and the charge was laid before Police Magistrate Seager, who came to Clinton bast evening and sat on the case. The prisoner WAS defended by W. Proudfoot, E. N. Lewis prosecut- ing. As we go to press the sante tvitlleSSes are being examined. The Queen's Birthday, 'MIME WILL DE A CELEBRATION IN CLINTON—THE PRELIMINARIES ENTERED INTO. There was aL well -attended public; meeting ►t1 the Council Chamber last Friday evening to take steps toward organizing for acelebr'attion here on the 24th of May. it w'as decided to go on and bring thearrltng01uentut(> ILsuc•c•ess- ful issue and a ('anvasing committee is now at work with that t.bject in view. Another meeting will be held in the Council Chamber on Friday evening at 8 o'clock to receive reports of commit- tees 1111(1 transact other business. The officers and committees are :-- OPetee Rs :--Chairntut, Dr. Shaw ; Treasurer, \\'in. ('oats ; Secretary, F. R. I Iodgens. ('.aNv. sees; ('ostatrrTEn.--Joseph \\'hea'.ley, P. ('terns, S. S. Cooper, J. I1oover. BASnnet.t..--Messrs. Hoover, Agnew, Harland, Spalding. LACROSSE.—Messt'ts Read, Beat ti e (3ibbings, Fair. FooTneLL. -- Messrs. McCallum and Turnbull. GENERAL Srowrs..-\V. .Jackson, John Wiseman, \V. N. Manning, J. Allen. CoNcERT.--T. Jackson, Jr., A. T. Cooper, J. \V. ('hidley, M. D. Mc- Taggart. The Treasurer has a nice surplus on hand from the last celebration and if the business men and citizens will contribute. liberally a good day's sport is assured. ---- -41.- Town Town Topics. SEVERE A('CIDENT.—('ounc•illor Tay- lor met with a severe accident while on his bicycle going down the big hill from Hayfield last Thursday. A rig 1.1(5 in front of him and in turning out the wheel got (81 to the rough road, the saddle, through not being properly ad,jnsted probably, gave way and the curl spring underneath entered the thigh, inflicting a Very deep wound about two inches in length, the ped- als scraping his legs. The wound was dressed by a medical roan and several stitches put in it. Mr Taylor was con- veyed by vehicle to Brumfield and came home by train. Although nn - able to attend to business, he will with care be all right in aL short time. The escape from more seri0(18 results was indeed narrow. A CHANCE FOR LITEIt.ATEI'RS.—The Dr. Williams Medicine Co., of Brock- ville, which does nothing by halves, is out with a scheme which is not only praiseworthy in its, inception, but which is liberal in its terms. In order to develop the latent literary ability of Canada, and at the satire time afford ample encouragement for the efforts of those who may successfully participate in the competition, the proprietors of the celebrated Pink Pills have decided to offer $800, divided into five prizes, for the best flve original stories, of not more than 3,000 words. The amount is a liberal one and will be divided into sums of $100, $75, $60, $40 and $25, according to the merit of the ,tory'. The competition will be open to all who have never won a prize in a competition of the kind, and the results will no doubt prove the reck- lessness of those who assert that Cana- da has on literature of the higher type. MECIrAN1(14' 1NRt'i'rt'TE.---The annual tatestig eta; held on Monday evening, President Lough in the chair. The treasur'er's report showed receipts to be $190.86, expenditure $191.51, cash on hand i$8.35; liabilities $41.50. The Board of Directors' report dealt in gen- eral terms with the efficiency of the Library, &c., and stating that the Wane has been changed from Mechan- ics' Institute to Public Library. The Government grant has been reduced $50, lcavin; $50 iulditional to rause locally. Librarian Scott's 23rd annual report showed that- there are now on the Catalogue 3,068 vols., being the consecutive numbers from Nov., 1879, to the present time. Daring the year there has been added 13)8 vols., consisting of biography, history, fic- tion, miscellaneous, poetry, religion, science, general literature. voyages and travels, and references. The classifica- tion is as follows : Biography MO, miscellaneous 21o, science 328, history 4.8, poetry 110, general literature 3'20, fiction 872. religions 61, voyages 280, reference 98. The reading room is sup- plied with two daily and seven weekly newspapers, thirteen magazines and three periodicals. The average month- ly attendance is 21i. The examining committee report a reference librar y of 50 volumes in good condition ; in the circulation library 1,762 vols. in good repair, 200 vols. in bad repair•, and 75 vols. in medium repair. Following are the new officers :--President, .T. (Hous- ton ; treasurer for the 18th Bine, J. H. Comite ; secretary, W. Br - done; finance committee, J. H. Combe, J. Houston, J. Scott and J. Mc- (iarva; book committee; W. R. Lough, J. Houston and. W. Brydone; reading room and library, W. H. Beesley, J. Stevenson and c Fowler : entertain- ment, E. Coombs, W. Rr done and \V. II. Beesley : emergency, W. R. Lough, J. C. Stevenson, and .1. Scott. Ad- journed to meet the first. Tnesciay of every second innnth, the next meeting to beitnJuly. Prof. Chamberlain, 17 King St,eot h.'u+t,'1orouto, EYE - SPECIALIST, 20 Years Experience. I hart the best equipped optical store. in Canada. Trial is all 1 ask, Paper on the eys can be had by calling, free. I make old Apec•- tacles like new. \'uu can mail your glass-, to me for two :Tuts. I bays tits nest sole - elide stock of Spectacles [to lit difficult o,','[ made. Guarantee with caeli pair of glaeee aTI visit Clinton twice each year. County Currency. The school at Lietry, 1'1>i('11 has been closed to prevent the spread of diph- t belie, will soon reopen. Mrs. W. Reid, of Livery, while milk- ing at cow was kicked by the animal and her arm broken above the wrist. Isabella, wife of John Clicks, diad at Bornholm on Tuesday from typhoid fever. The bicycle craze has struck Credi- ton. The fraternal societies of Creditor), will have an excursion in the near future. Rey. Mr. Hunt, of Exeter, must have lots of money, fns• he lust at purse con- taining $1(H). Probably the National Policy has made hitt rich. The. Exeter Times is in er'l'OP when it says the system of frontage tax fns street 111at-eri1rg has long been in vogue in (Tilton. There has not been 11 frontage tax in Vogue Here at any time. A nary 1)0).91 office Is shunt to be established at Betllseda, township of L'sh(mne. The plans for the new Main street Methodist church at Exeter were on exhibition Thursday evening. The meanest man has finally been discovered. He refused to pay his wife's funeral expenses, en 1 ii 1:''i'oult,l that she belonged to hila only "til' death do us part." An old resident. of Exeter, in the person of James Brown, Exeter Nurth, died on Sunday last, at an advanced age. Mr. Brown had been ill for sprue time of general debility. The fun0>:d took place on Tuesday and %NILS con-- ducte(1 0111(1('1' Orange auspices by Bid- dniph L. O. L., County Master, Bro. .John Neil, reading the burial service of the Order. The Exeter merchants have agreed to close their respective places of busi- ness at, 6.30 o'clock every night of each week (excepting Sattur'ciay and Wed- nesday, and all evenings preceding a holiday) during the summer. The Atwood Bee says :—What is the matter with the N. 1'. Farmers' Insti- tute running an exeursiot to Goderich on May 24th ? Their last excursion to the :Model Farm paid thein well. Take it up, gentlemen ; there is no time to lose. A well known retired farmer, Thomas H. Thompson. died on Mon- day of last week in (ioderich from blood poisoning, brought about in a singular way. Some weeks ago while pulling' on his hoot. his foot slipped and 11> hitting against a chair caused an abrasion of the skin, which did not herd up, but gate considerable trouble ever since until 3 few days ago, when it developed into at more serious con- dition, with the above result. I)e- ceatsed was for a long Ilene one of the best known farmers in \Vasvanosh, and a few years ago retired to enjoy a well earned rest in los old age. He WAS a strong Conservative in politics, and a. elevated adherent of the Metho- dist Church. The remains tv('r'e taken to Seaforth on Wednesday for inter- ment, there. It is our painful duty to record the death of Mr. Hugh Lowry of Belmore, which event took pineo April 15th. lie was horn in Prime! Edward County in 1832 and came to Belmore about t 2 years ago. About three year's ago he was attacked with bleeding of the hangs, and since then his strength has been gradually foiling him. During the past winter he suffered much hut, it was borne with great patience, for he was 8 elan of faith. He teas con- nected with the Methodist church and one of the most prominent and active members, having served for about thirty years in various official cap- acities, and will be rnuc'h missed on the Wroxeter circuit. He leaves a widow, 2 sons and one daugh- ter (wife of Rev. D. Rogers of Dungan • non) to mourn their loss. Ashfield. Tile seeding is pretty well through in this vicinity, the weather has been very favorable. The fall wheat in most p}aces looks fairly, but it needs rain badly. Bald colds have been very prevalent in this vicinity hut nioat of those afflicted have recovered. The growth of the setteon is some- thing remarkable, the trees in foliage are a couple of weeks ahead of time. The people on the Ashfleld circuit feel keenly the loss of their pastor, Rev. it. Hall, but, pray earnestly That. he 11111y 50011 Is' restored to his wonted heal( h.