Posted inDaily News Local Histories

Uncle of President Fails to Qualify in Lewiston Fiddlers

Lewiston, Me., April 7 —(AP)— “Uncle John” Wilder of Plymouth, Vt., uncle of President Coolidge, was given an ovation when he appeared as a contestant in the world-wide fiddlers’ contest at the Armory tonight. He played the time limit, but failed to qualify for the finals. This honor was won by John McKenney of Lewiston, who wore a flannel shirt and bow and was more of the Mellie Dunham type.

Joseph Haskell of Brookline. Mass., “Boy Wonder Fiddler of the Civil War,” a prominent G. A R. man, was such a close second that he was requested by the judges to play a second time for two minutes, before they rendered their decision in favor of the Farmington bowman.

Posted inPublic Health & Medicine US Civil War

October 28, 1862 – The Sanitary Condition of the Army

We have a letter before us from an Intelligent, educated citizen of this State, a non-commissioned officer in one of our late Maine Regiments, from which we make the following extracts:

“We have been put through a pretty hard breaking-in process. Our march through Maryland was a fatiguing one, and the exposure (sleeping in the open air) was a rough ordeal to those of hitherto sedentary life especially. I stood it better than I expected, carrying my musket every day that the regiment moved, though many stout men gave out, who, I thought, could stand much more than I.”

The writer was afflicted with the prevailing army diseases,—diarrhoea, dysentery, and bloody flux,—and was obliged to report him self on the sick list. He was on the doctor’s hands about a week, and says of his treatment—

Posted inUS Civil War

September 8, 1862 – From the 5th Maine Battery—Death of Lieut. Twitchell

We are permitted to make the following extracts from a letter written by a private in the 5th Maine Battery. The letter is dated, Fort Ellsworth, Alexandria, Va., Sept. 2.

“After fighting daily and nightly, changing our position, followed up by Jackson’s immense force—our Division always bringing up the rear, under Gen. Ricktt of McDowell’s corps, we arrived near Manassas, where, last Saturday, a terrible battle took place, mostly fought upon the left where our Division was placed, and where the enemy had concentrated his strongest force. The battle raged furiously. Our Battery was ordered into a very dangerous position by McDowell in person, and the boys fought like tigers. We got between two fires, and our horses were all shot at the guns, and our men fell fast, Lieut. W. F. Twitchell was killed, also two sergeants and from 16 to 20 privates. The infantry fell back and did not sustain us. Gen. Towers was wounded severely while trying to rally them to assist us. Lieut Twitchell behaved nobly during the engagement, and A. B. Twitchell fought like a hero, cool and self possessed all the time.—Our Captain (Leppien) was sick and not in action, but he has proved himself “true blue” during the last fortnight and full of courage.

Posted inDaily News

Freaky Storms Hit Many Points In New England

Two to 3-Inch Rainfall Within Few Hours—Strong Wind in Some Localities

Waterville Sewer Overloaded, Damage to Stocks in Basements—Old Orchard Amusement Booth Carried Away by Wind—Man Badly Hurt at Manchester, N. H.—Houses, Barns and Factories Hit by Lightning in Granite State

Waterville, Me., July 22—(AP)—Following several hours of heavy rain, the most severe thunderstorm of the season occurred here tonight, causing such a flood of water that the city sewers were overloaded and some of the store basements filled to a depth of several feet, damaging considerable stocks. Several hens were drowned in the western part of the city. Rainfall of 2.13 inches in three hours broke all local records.

Big Booth Carried Off

Old Orchard, Me., July 22— (AP)—A ten by forty foot amusement booth on the ocean pier here was picked up and hurled bodily into the water by the high wind during a severe thunderstorm today. Jack Bennett, the owner, was not in the booth at the time. His stock of curios, valued at several hundred dollars, was destroyed.