Posted inBiographical US Civil War

July 14, 1862 – Death of Col. Cass

Colonel Cass, of the 9th Massachusetts Regiment

The gallant commander of the ninth Massachusetts regiment died at his residence in Boston, Saturday morning, from injuries received in the battle of July 1st. Col. Cass was an old resident of Boston, an old member of the volunteer militia, and his position and popular qualities gave him great influence among his Irish fellow-citizens. When the war broke out he immediately tendered his services towards raising the regiment which he has since commanded. The regiment has done noble service, and has met with fearful losses. Officers and privates who knew no fear, and no other place of duty that that of danger, have fallen like leaves before an untimely storm.

Posted inCivil Engineering Daily News Local Histories

Rythmic Tread Of Too Many Dancers Caused The Crash

Police, firemen, and officials view the remains of the collapsed Pickwick Club.

Boston, July 5 (AP)—Fire Chief Daniel F. Sennot placed the blame for the collapse of the Pickwick Club building here yesterday on the management of the club.

“The building was allowed to become overcrowded,” he declared, “and the tremendous weight, combined with the rythmic tread of the dancers was too much for the walls and floors. The fire of a few months ago had nothing to do with the collapse, as the damage from that was confined entirely to the floors above the club.”

Posted inDaily News Local Histories Maritime & Naval History

Craft Stranded in Boston Harbor Due to Heavy Fog

Boston, Feb. 10—Several craft were aground tonight in Boston harbor as the result of trying to find their way through the dense fog which almost without intermission has shrouded the shipping channels today.

The British steamer City of Boston, carrying a cargo from the Orient and bound for New York, edged out of dock this morning. After being held in the upper harbor until this afternoon, she attempted to run out when the vapor bank lifted momentarily. The fog suddenly descended again and the ship grounded on the mud of the lower middle. It was believed that she would be re-floated at high tide tonight.

Posted inLocal Histories

Eel Skin Gloves

Commenting on the use of eel skin for gloves, a Gloversville correspondent says: Eel skin makes a glove that is smooth, flexible and equal in appearance to real kid, and…
Posted inUS Civil War

December 7, 1861 – The Mountain Empire

The Philadelphia Press calls attention to an article by Rev Dr Breckinridge, the loyal uncle of the great Kentucky traitor, published in the Danville Review, and entitled The “Civil War; its Nature and End.” A very striking portion of it describes the Union feeling existing in the mountain regions of Western Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, which Dr Breckinridge aptly terms “the mountain empire.”

Posted inDaily News Local Histories True Crime

Hold “Conny, the Rat” in Shooting of Boston Policemen

Boston, Dec. 1—Cornelius Moriarty, known in Boston’s South End district, the police said, as “Conny, the Rat,” was booked at police headquarters shortly before midnight tonight on a warrant charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon on a police officer in performance of his duties, in connection with the shooting last Saturday night of Patrolmen Thomas K. McCabe and Joseph F. Condon. Both officers are still on the danger list in a hospital here as a result of bullet wounds received following a holdup in the Back Bay district.

Picked up in the police dragnet after several witnesses had said that pictures of him resembled the man who shot down the two officers and then forced a taxi driver at gun point to drive hint away. Moriarty tonight denied any connection with the crime.

“I didn’t shoot those cops,” he told the Inspector who arrested him, and a moment later said, the detective asserted, “If I’d known you were out to get me it would be you and I all over the street and it would be you going to the station house.”

Posted inLocal Histories Maritime & Naval History Shipwrecks & Nautical Disasters

Wrecking

The coal from the wrecked schooners Florida, and Laura A. Watson in being landed at the village and Old Harbor, under the careful supervision of Mr. Stephen J. Smith, Underwriters’ Agent, who is on hand at all times, attending to business with his usual dilligence and promptness. The men are at work at almost all hours of the day, and sometimes late into the night. The tides have served so early during the past week, that they were obliged to start by three or four o’clock in the morning. There has been no accident beyond the staving of a few boats, although the weather has been very boistrous, and the sea rough.