Chittenden County VT News

July 13, 1808

Extract of a letter from Bolton, Vermont, dated June 11, respecting an inundation.

This day we experienced the greatest rain, accompanied with thunder and lightning, which has ever been known by the oldest inhabitants. It commenced at about half past three P.M. and continued about an hour and a half, with some short intervals between showers. At first it seemed to threaten us with a hurricane, the wind blowing from the west - in about 15 minutes it changed to north west, when the rain began to pour down in torrents. A small rivulet, called Joyners Millbrook, rose to the height of 8 feet, perpendicular, in the space of 20 minutes - four feet higher than it has ever been known to rise before. A Grist and Saw Mill, owned by Francis Joyner, Esq., together with dam and bulkhead and considerable quantity of pine boards, were hurried off into Onion river with great velocity. The grist mill was entirely swept away - not a trace of it was to be found except one of the stones, which was removed to the distance of about 14 rods. This deluge has carried off bridges, fences, land & c. The adjacent towns have also felt its effects most terribly. The damage sustained is no small sum.

[Source: The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA - Contributed by N. Piper)

The Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, PA)

5 Nov 1823 Page 2

Mr. Peter Boynton, of Shelburne, Vermont has raised the past season, upon three acres and one-tenth of an acre of land, three hundred and fifteen bushels of winter wheat. A considerable portion of this crop has been sold for seed at one dollar and fifty cents per bushel, averaging 61 ½ to 64 pounds per bushel, which is pretty good evidence of its quality. - Frank. Gaz.

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) February 18, 1824 Page 1

Burlington, Vt., Jan. 9

A Remarkable Instance of Canine Sagacity

A small boy of Mr. Smith's of Huntington, aged 14 years, about two weeks since, was mounted upon a high spirited horse, which his father had hired of a neighbor, in order to return him to the owner. Having a pair of bars to go through, his younger brother was sent in order to let them down, and on moving the top bar the horse leaped over, which threw the boy from his horse, with one leg through the stirrup; in this situation he was dragged, by the full speed of the horse, over logs and cradle knowls nearly half a mile. All that probably was the means of saving his life, was a kind and affectionate dog that accompanied him to the bars and on seeing his situation sprang immediately to his relief, caught him by the collar of his coat, and kept his head from the ground, running beside the horse until the stirrup broke, which cleared him from his critical situation. He was severely bruised, but not dangerously.

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)

June 9 1824

On the morning of the 27th ult., the College Edifice at Burlington, Vermont, took fire by a spark dropped on the roof, and before it was discovered the whole of the interior was in flames, so that its preservation was beyond the reach of human efforts, and before noon nothing but the walls were left standing. The college and society libraries, and a part of the apparatus, were saved, as well as most of the students' books and furniture. The building was of brick, 160 feet in length, and four stories high, with wings 70 feet in breadth. - Amer Sen.

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) October 26, 1825

Melancholy Accident

Three children of Mrs. R. H. Gould, of Burlington, Vt., being slightly indisposed, Mr. G. sent to an Apothecary's store for a bottle of elixir pro, but by some unfortunate mistake, either in the messenger or the clerk of the store, a bottle of laudanum was sent and a quantity of it administered to the children, who in a short time sunk into a state of stupor, which was followed by convulsions. The fatal error was soon discovered and medical aid sent for and the usual method immediately adopted which had the desired effect on two of the children; but one interesting boy, of about 3 years of age, died a few hours after the fatal draught had been drunk.

Dreadful Accident

Burlington, Saturday, July 2.

Mr. J. MASON, of the firm of MASON & JEWETT, of Richmond, was instantly killed last evening. His neck came in contact with a circular saw, which instantly severed his head from his body. - Contributed by Melissa Rodgriguez