The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, June 21, 1889 State Notes 6/21/1889 Walter F. DOW of Burlington lost his life in the Johnstown disaster. His funeral was held at Burlington last Friday. The Republicans of Wilmington had a caucus in the town hall, Wednesday evening, for the purpose of agreeing on a candidate for postmaster. The muster of the Vermont militia will be held at West Randolph in the latter part of August. Grounds have been hired of A. B. MANCHESTER, about a mile out of the village. The negotiations for the purchase of the Bennington cotton mills by J. S. HOLDEN, of Palmer, Mass., have been completed, and the machinery will be put in operation as soon as possible. L. F. WHEELER of Bradford attempted suicide, Tuesday afternoon of last week, by taking laudanum. He was discovered by members of the family in season for the physicians to be able to resuscitate him. He has been despondent for some time. Dr. WILLIS moved from Shelburne Falls, Mass., to Brattleboro, taking his family cat along. After three days experience of Brattleboro life, the cat disappeared. Nearly two months later it turned up at its old home in Shelburne Falls. The Green Mountain Universalist Association held its annual meeting at Rochester, Wednesday and Thursday of last week. Hon. Chester PIERCE of Rochester was elected president for the ensuing year. The next annual session will be held in Rutland. Roscoe SAUNDERS' little boy, 4 or 5 years old, was playing on the banks of the river at Brandon, Monday, with some children about his own age, when he accidentally fell into the water. A man at work near by saw him fall, and rescued him just as he was sinking the second time. The state division of Sons of Veterans held their seventh annual encampment at Burlington, last week, with 100 delegates and officers present. The reports of division officers were presented, and show a flourishing condition. there are now 36 camps in the state, with a membership of 1,000--a gain of 11 camps and 400 members during the year. H. E. ROBINSON died at Williamstown, last Saturday, from small-pox, supposed to have been contracted while traveling on the railroad. Some sixty persons were exposed before the nature of the disease was known, and these have been quarrantined. In this connection, the duty each individual owes himself or herself and the public, in being vaccinated, cannot be too earnestly dwelt upon. The trial of BENT and ROBERTS, for the murder of the Frenchman WALDER at Woodford, last winter, is in progress at Manchester, this week. It will be remembered that WALDER was killed while quarreling with the defendants, one of whom struck him on the head with a sled-stake. The testimony tends to show that WALDER struck at ROBERTS with an ax, and that ROBERTS retaliated with the club, inflicting the fatal injuries. A Boston special from Burlington says that the announcement that the Vermont delegation in Congress has decided to name Capt. G. G. BENEDICT for Collector of the Port has aroused a good deal of feeling among the active members of the Republican party. they say that Mr. BENEDICT is hardly known to the majority of them, and that he has taken very little part in politics. This is giving rise to the general report that next year neither Gov. STEWART nor Gen. GROUT will be returned to Congress; that Senator MORRILL's seat, which is then to be filled, will fall to judge POWERS of the Supreme Court, and that two years thereafter Judge VEAZEY of the same Bench will succeed Mr. EDMUNDS. Soon after the railroad accident in Russia, last fall, by which the Czar of Russia came so near being killed, with his family, Col. F. PARKER of Castleton wrote him congratulating him on his narrow escape, and hoped that he would learn from the same to try and mitigate the sufferings of the exiles he doomed to Siberia. Last Saturday Col. PARKER received from the minister in charge of the Russian legation in Washington a letter stating that his imperial majesty had directed him to say that he was graciously pleased to acknowledge the receipt of the letter, and his thanks were thereby conveyed for the sentiments so kindly expressed therein over the preservation of his majesty's life on the 29th of October, 1888. the colonel will place this letter with others he has received from prominent men in this and other countries. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT