Quadient (Euronext Paris: QDT), a leader in helping businesses create meaningful customer connections through digital and physical channels, announced today the company has been named a finalist for the Reuters Events 13th Annual Responsible Business Awards, in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion category.
The Responsible Business Awards recognize and celebrate leaders in sustainable businesses that are positively impacting society, business and the environment. The award program serves as a benchmark for companies from across the globe looking to showcase leadership against international peers.
Quadient’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy is built around five pillars: People, Solutions, Ethics & Compliance, Environment and Philanthropy. Highlights of the company’s inclusion and diversity initiatives include the signing and continued participation in inclusion and diversity charters, the deployment of an inclusion and diversity policy in 2021 and continuing to grow the company’s Empowered Communities program for all employees. The Empowered Communities program is open to all employees and provides safe places for open discussions and raising awareness around important inclusion and diversity topics.
“We are excited to be shortlisted in the Responsible Business Awards, as Quadient’s employees and management team have been working collectively to create a more diverse and inclusive culture where everyone has equal opportunities for success,” said Brandon Batt, chief transformation officer and acting chief people officer for Quadient. “Quadient’s CSR programremains at the heart of the company’s strategy as we continue to grow. Our commitment to improving Quadient’sinclusive culturepositively impactsour relationships with allstakeholders, and in turn has helpedthe companyto be recognized as aninclusiveworkplaceby our employees, customers, partners, shareholders and analysts alike.”
In recent years, Quadient’s CSR program and ESG practices have received various recognition from external rating agencies, including Vigeo Eiris, Gaïa Research, EcoVadis, CDP, ISS ESG and MSCI. The company was listed this year in the Global 100 Corporate Knights’ index of the world’s most sustainable companies. Quadient continues to focus on delivering profitable growth from its businesses in a sustainable and transparent manner through a comprehensive CSR program and in line with its commitment toward the UN Global Compact.
About Quadient® Quadient is the driving force behind the world’s most meaningful customer experiences. By focusing on three key solution areas, Intelligent Communication Automation, Parcel Locker Solutions and Mail-Related Solutions, Quadient helps simplify the connection between people and what matters. Quadient supports hundreds of thousands of customers worldwide in their quest to create relevant, personalized connections and achieve customer experience excellence. Quadient is listed in compartment B of Euronext Paris (QDT) and is part of the SBF 120®, CAC® Mid 60 and EnterNext® Tech 40 indices. For more information about Quadient, visit www.quadient.com.
Sun may be setting soon on summer, but this weekend is jam-packed with events for people of all ages and interests, says columnist
And just like that, summer is almost over. If you are like me, you are doing everything summery you possibly can to stop it from slipping away. Luckily, there is still lots of summer activities to do here in our area.
The second-last See You on the Patio night is this Friday, which also means the second-last Art Walk. Stroll the streets of downtown Orillia and enjoy music, shopping, and dining, and take a trip down Peter Street to enjoy all the galleries and art displays and activities Friday from 5 to 11 p.m. (Art Walk until 8:30 p.m.).
The last Orillia Summer Nights in the park event is tonight (Wednesday) at 6:30 p.m., featuring the Old Dancehall Players at Victoria Park. These folks got rained out in their last outing, so fingers crossed this one happens. Should be a fun and funny evening with this talented group.
The last Wednesday Arts in the Summer show at St. James’ Anglican Church is Wednesday, Aug. 31 at noon, featuring singer Autumn Debassige. Bring your lunch and enjoy beautiful music while you eat. Cold drink supplied. Donations are appreciated.
Don’t forget the several lovely summery concerts and shows coming up this weekend. Songs at Sunset, featuring soprano Alexandra Teske and pianist Kyung-A Lee, features songs by Bach, Faure, Handel, Mahler, Sondheim and more, and gets started Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. at St. James’ Anglican Church. Admission is by donation, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Green Haven Shelter for Women.
You have two chances to see Anne Walker in concert at Coulson Church in Oro-Medonte: Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Coulson Church is at 301 Horseshoe Valley Rd., right near Line 6. Tickets are $15 and the money raised is going toward the ongoing maintenance and restoration of the church. To reserve your tickets, call 416-988-2951 or email ridge4@sympatico.ca.
Don’t forget about the Love for Lucas fundraising concert Aug. 28 from 2 to 5 p.m. at ODAS Park. Featuring musicians SAMMY, Ronnie Douglas, and Liz Anderson, this will be a lovely show to benefit young Lucas, who has mounting hospital bills in the United States for cancer treatment. There will also be a silent auction, door prizes and a bake sale. This event has been organized by Lucas’s aunt here in Orillia. Admission is by donation.
Also this weekend, on Saturday, Brighter Days: A Night of Hope is happening at Kelsey’s Party Room. This is a fundraiser for the Sharing Place Food Centre, hosted by Orillia’s own Ralston Harris, and featuring Mel and Dan Bazinet, Brian Adams, Vanessa Wilson, Ian McCrae and more. The fun starts at 7 p.m. and admission is by donation.
Don’t miss the Orillia Rib and Craft Beer Fest, part of the Northern Heat Rib Series, this weekend at Tudhope Park. Lots of music, tons of ribs and beer, and free admission, Friday from 4 to 11 p.m., Saturday from 12 to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 12 to 7 p.m. Yum!
The Barrie Fair runs this weekend, all weekend long, at the Essa Agriplex. Come and get an early start on your fall fairs. For more information, click here.
And, finally, also this weekend, the Rama Powwow is back, bigger and better than ever. Located at the John Snake Memorial Multi-Purpose Community Grounds, this powwow is one of the biggest and best around. Lots of music, drumming, dancing, feasting, and more. Admission is $10 per day or $15 for the weekend.
There is a sunrise ceremony at 6 a.m. Saturday, and then everything gets started just before noon and runs until 10 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. For more information and the schedule, click here.
Looking ahead to fall, don’t forget the fundraising concert at St. Paul’s Centre on Sept. 10, featuring Lance Anderson and friends; the Leacock Medal 75th-anniversary weekend Sept. 16 and 17; the Roots North Revisited concert for the Orillia Youth Centre Sept. 17; Autumn Mariposa Oct. 1; and so much more.
Lots to say about those in the coming weeks. For now, enjoy these last fleeting days of summer.
Pistol prodigy Esha Singh, adjudged the BYJU’s ‘Young Athlete of the Year (Female)‘ at the Sportstar Aces Awards 2022 on March 19, was presented with a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh and a Casio G-Shock watch.
Sportstar will track the progress of the BYJU’s Young Athletes – Esha and Nihal Sarin, throughout the year. We will bring you their updated rankings, highlights from the past month, expert views on their latest performances and more.
Esha picked up from where she left in May, to put up stellar performances in the pistol events at the 20th Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial Shooting Championship in Bhopal.
The 17-year-old shooter clinched the gold medal in women’s 25m sports pistol, going past two Olympians in the field in Manu Bhaker and Rahi Sarnobat.
Esha topped the qualification with a score of 585-20x, while Manu (583-14x) and Rahi (582-23x) finished second and third, respectively. In the final, Esha topped again with a score of 30. Vibhuti Bhatia (23) and Chinki Yadav (17) landed silver and bronze.
In 10m air pistol mixed team, Team Telangana’s Esha Singh and Kaushik Gopu finished with a bronze medal with a score of 17.
In 10m air pistol women, Esha finished with the best score among Telangana’s shooters with 568.0-14x but couldn’t make the semifinal (top-eight).
“There’s still time for the 2024 Olympics but until then I will have to work really hard. There is no secret to success. If you truly work hard and you want something, you will go all out for it, and that’s what I am doing,” Esha had told Sportstar in an interaction.
The nearly $450,000 of funding will be dispersed among six Ruapehu events, including the Raetihi Gutbuster. Photo / Supplied
Six events in Ruapehu have been awarded funding, predicted to attract over 40,000 people, with two-thirds being visitors from outside the region.
The Ruapehu event organisers will receive funding from a pool of nearly $450,000 over the next two to three years, following the announcement of a second tranche of funding from the Thermal Explorer Regional Events Fund.
A mixture of new and existing events will receive the funding, covering diverse interest areas of snow sports, trail running, cycling, music and culture.
The events are Tom Campbell Big Air, Ohakune Roots & Blues Festival, Kotahitanga Festival, Vertical Sky Waka Challenge, Raetihi Gutbuster and one other that is still to be confirmed.
A Ruapehu District Council spokesperson Kim Treen said in the past it was small groups of volunteers delivering Ruapehu events, and he was pleased they could receive this financial support over the next three years.
“The support allows the funded events to be developed, positioned and marketed to be or become an iconic or anchor event for the region, encouraging economic benefit and boosting capability in our events sector,” Treen said.
The Thermal Explorer Regional Events Fund was set up by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to help support and provide new domestic visitor opportunities for the events and tourism sectors that have been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The event organiser of Taumarunui’s Kotahitanga Festival Anahera Hose said they were grateful to be successful with the support to grow the festival into a strong regional proposition.
Thermal Explorer Event Investment Panel member Nicola Greenwell said they had held capability-building workshops and webinars for event organisers, and planned on expanding them as they focus on developing the events sector capability across the Thermal Explorer regions.
Greenwell said she encouraged event organisers to register their interest to receive notification of capability-building opportunities.
The Thermal Explorer Highway fund covers events in Rotorua, Taupō, Ruapehu, as well as Hamilton and the wider Waikato.
Upcoming events: Tom Campbell Big Air – September 23-24, 2022 Ohakune Roots & Blues Festival – October 21, 2022 Vertical Sky Waka Challenge – 10-12 March, 2023 Raetihi Gutbuster 25 March, 2023
Patients with T2DM who joined the P4P from 2008 to 2010 were enrolled. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of T2DM were defined as those who were hospitalized at least once or came in for outpatient visits at least three times within 1 year and had a primary or secondary diagnosis International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code “250,” “250.00,” or “250.02”38,39. Among them, patients with type 1 DM “250.x1” * or “250.x3;” gestational DM “648.0” or “648.8;” neonatal DM “775.1;” abnormal glucose tolerance test “790.2;” age < 20 years or > 100 years; and those who died within 1 year of joining P4P were excluded. Finally, 283,793 patients were included (Fig. 1). Based on the status of comorbid chronic hepatitis at enrollment, the patients were divided into four groups: no comorbid chronic hepatitis, named as “No chronic hepatitis”; comorbid liver B, named as “Hepatitis B” group; comorbid liver, named as “Hepatitis C” group; patients without viral hepatitis and with comorbid fatty liver were named as the “Fatty liver disease” group and were followed-up until the end of 2017. The “no comorbid chronic hepatitis” group was used as the reference group to analyze the correlation between different types of chronic hepatitis and the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Figure 1
Flowchart for study subject selection. DM diabetes mellitus, P4P pay-for-performance, HBV hepatitis B virus, HCV hepatitis C virus.
Ethics statements
The National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) is derived from Taiwan’s mandatory National Health Insurance program was established by the National Health Insurance Administration Ministry of Health and Welfare and maintained by the National Health Research Institute (NHRI). The patient identifications in the National Health Insurance Research Database have been scrambled and de-identified by the Taiwan government, and the database is commonly used for different types of research such as in medical, and public health fields. Thus, informed consent was waived by the Research Ethics Committee of the China Medical University, and the study protocol was approved by the research ethics committee of China Medical University and Hospital (IRB number: CMUH106-REC3-153) and was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.
Data sources
This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the National Health Insurance Research Database of the “Applied Health Research Data Integration Service from National Health Insurance Administration”. The data included outpatient prescriptions and treatments, outpatient prescriptions and medical orders, inpatient medical expense lists, inpatient medical expense and medical order lists, insurance details of persons, major injury and illness, medical institution master files, diagnosis, and P4P education records.
Definitions of variables
Hepatitis B: Those with ICD-9 070.2, 070.20, 070.21, 070.22, 070.23, 070.3070.31, 070.32, or 070.33 or ICD-10 B16, B17.0, B18.0, B18.1, or B19.1 as the primary and secondary diagnosis during two outpatient visits or one hospitalization within 365 days of study enrollment.
Hepatitis C: Those with ICD-9 070.41, 070.44, 070.51, or V02.62 or ICD-10 B17.10, B17.11, B18.2, B19.20, B19.21, or Z22.52 as the primary and secondary diagnosis during two outpatient visits or one hospitalization within 365 days of study enrollment.
NAFLD: Those with ICD-9 571.8, 571.9, or ICD-10 K74.4, K74.5, K74.60, K74.69, K76.0, K76.9, etc. as the primary and secondary diagnosis during two outpatient visits or one hospitalization within 365 days of study enrollment, and without the occurrence of a hepatitis B or C code, for whom the first hospital visit within 365 days was defined as the date of diagnosis. Patients with concurrent viral hepatitis and NAFLD were classified as having viral hepatitis.
Age-based categorization included 20–39, 40–54, 55–64, 65–74, and ≥ 75 years age groups. Monthly salary was divided into five grades, namely ≤ NTD 17,280, NTD 17,281–22,800, NTD 22,801–36,300, NTD 36,301–45,800, and ≥ NTD 45,801. Charlson comorbidity index was divided into 0, 1, 2, and ≥ 3 after excluding scores correlated with independent or dependent variables40.
The diabetes complications severity index (DCSI) was scored as 0, 1, and ≥ 2 points. The DCSI was calculated based on the classification and scoring method proposed by Young et al. If the patient had no complication, the score would be 0; for each complication, 1 point would be added; if the complication was serious, 2 points would be added. Based on this calculation method, the maximum score was 13 points41.
Cardiovascular disease: Those with ICD-9 398.91, 402.xx, 404.xx, 410.xx–414.xx, 422.xx, 425.xx or 428.xx, or ICD-10 I09.81, I11, I13, I20–I22, I24, I25, I40–I43, I50, R09.89, etc. as the primary and secondary diagnosis during two outpatient visits or one hospitalization within 365 days of study enrollment42.
Calculation of the coefficient of variation (CV% = standard deviation/mean) of HbA1c and fasting blood glucose: All measurements in the first year were used, and if the measurements were taken less than four times in the first year, measurements taken up to the second year were included. If measurements were taken less than four times in the 2 years, the patient would be excluded.
Adjusted CV = CV/√ (n/n − 1): When the examination data were limited, the examination times would affect the result of the CV. In this case, a relatively correct result of the CV with a reduced effect of the examination times could be obtained by correcting the examination times.
Analytical methods
Descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out according to the research objectives and framework. All research tests were based on a significance level of α = 0.05, and all statistical analyses were conducted using SAS software for Windows, version 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, average, and standard deviation were used to describe the dependent and independent variables to be investigated in this study. This study adopted descriptive statistics to present the demographic characteristics, status of comorbidities, blood biochemical indicators, health status, economic factors, and medical care provider characteristics of patients with diabetes. The incidence of cardiovascular disease in patients with T2DM with chronic hepatitis per 1000 person-years was tested using univariate Poisson regression. The relative risks of cardiovascular disease in the four groups were calculated using a Cox proportional hazards model.
This year, the tractor pull is back at the Aldergrove Fair Days.
After two years of cancelled or scaled-back events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the July 14-17 fair will see the return in full of many traditional events.
“That tractor pull is back to its traditional format,” said the fair’s Mike Robinson.
That means multiple weight classes, ranging from the tiny “garden tractors” up to the big full sized farm tractors, will be on hand on the Kinsmen Park Field near the Aldergrove Community Secondary.
The tractors will be over on the south side of the fairgrounds near the BMX track, Robinson said.
In tractor pull, a tractor hauls a large sled, with wheels at the back, that has a significant amount of weight in it. The weight doesn’t stay still, either – it moves forward during the course of the pull, so it weighs down the portion of the sled that drags on the ground, increasing resistance the longer the tractor lasts.
The tractor pulls at the Aldergrove Fair will take place over a 250 foot course. There are usually about 40 competitors, Robinson said.
The fast draw competition, featuring holsters and six guns, will not only be back, the celebrity edition will take place. Local politicians, businesspeople, and other prominent Langley folks will get to test their speed with a shooting iron in front of the crowds.
Also returning will be the dog agility shows, which weren’t present at all in last year’s smaller fair.
The agility show has been moved to the northeast corner of the site, where there’s a little hill for people to sit on and watch events. The number of dogs competing in the event, which involves pups completing an obstacle course, hasn’t been determined yet.
Back for the first time in a while is also Mike the Reptile Guy.
“He’s got a phenomenal collection of snakes and reptiles,” said Robinson.
International Movie Services will also make a return with a collection of vintage and antique military equipment and vehicles. The local company rents out everything from trucks to armoured vehicles to uniforms for movies, and shows off parts of its collection at local events including the fair.
You never know what they’ll turn up with, said Robinson.
“They could bring out a new vehicle every day for a year.”
There will also be the biggest vendor area ever, and while there isn’t a full midway, there are a couple of interactive game sites, including a climbing wall and a bungee ride that launches people up.
Taking part in many of these events isn’t out of the reach of members of the general public, Robinson noted, although it might be too late to sign up for this year’s fair.
Local clubs run the fast draw and dog agility events, so taking part is a matter of joining those groups, Robinson said.
Fort Worth’s Fourth celebration among several 4th of July events Sunday, Monday
Many North Texas cities are preparing for their Fourth of July celebrations Saturday night and Monday.
FORT WORTH, Texas – Many North Texas cities are preparing for their Fourth of July celebrations Saturday night and Monday.
That includes Fort Worth, where Panther Island Pavilion will be packed with North Texans celebrating the holiday Monday night.
Panther Island Pavilion, along the Trinity River, was mostly empty Sunday, but some were setting up early ahead of Monday’s Fourth of July celebration.
“We’re here just to have some fun, watch this beautiful fireworks display,” Tracy Torres said.
Torres runs the food truck, TNT Roasted Corn. He was getting ready to sell his dishes.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The Grand Rapids Art Museum is hosting two events later this month.
“In A New Light: American Impressionism 1870-1940,” runs from June 11-Aug. 27.” The GRAM describes it as a “the first major exhibition of American Impressionism” at the museum in over a decade.” It features “groundbreaking paintings, prints, and drawings from acclaimed artists such as George Inness, Lilla Cabot Perry, Childe Hassam, Thomas Moran, John Sloan, Theresa Bernstein, Ernest Lawson, and Guy Carleton Wiggins, among others.”
“This comprehensive exhibition of American Impressionism traces the emergence and evolution of a truly American style of art,” according to an event announcement.
Another event this month is “SHEEPDOG,” a one-act play by Kevin Artigue being held June 16-18 as part of this year’s West Michigan Loving Day Celebration.
An announcement describes the play in the following way: “This one-act play follows Amina and Ryan, both officers on the Cleveland police force. Amina is Black, Ryan is white, and they are falling deeply and passionately in love. When an officer-involved shooting roils the department, small cracks in their relationship widen into a chasm of confusion and self-doubt. A mystery and a love story with high stakes and no easy answers, SHEEPDOG fearlessly examines police violence, interracial love, and class in the 21st century.”
The play is presented by Ebony Road Players, a Grand Rapids theater company “whose mission is to inspire, educate and engage the cultures of our community with high-quality theater productions focused on the Black experience.”
A broadside published in 1808 describes how smugglers killed two Vermont militia members and a Revolutionary War veteran. Photo by Mark Bushnell
Though it occurred more than two centuries ago, the Black Snake Affair still ranks among the most shocking events to happen in Vermont. But the episode tends to get mentioned only in passing in most accounts of the state’s early years.
Readers usually get only the bare bones, which run something like this: In the run-up to the War of 1812, President Jefferson banned trade with Canada. Some Vermonters, who relied heavily on trade with Canada, turned to smuggling, or were at least sympathetic to smugglers. Federal Customs collectors and members of the state militia tried to stop the smuggling.
One day in 1808, they cornered the smugglers who used the infamous boat the Black Snake. Shots rang out and two soldiers and a local farmer were killed. The smugglers were arrested and one was hanged for the crime. End of story.
Well, actually, it’s more complicated, and interesting, than that. If you want to delve deeply into this incident, check out Gary Shattuck’s thoroughly researched book “Insurrection, Corruption & Murder in Early Vermont: Life on the Wild Northern Frontier,” which came out in 2014.
Shattuck, a former assistant U.S. attorney for Vermont, relied heavily on court documents to paint an intricate portrait of a turbulent and an often-overlooked period. The picture isn’t always the one we expect. This was a Vermont where criminality was common, community leaders were sometimes in cahoots with the criminals, and authorities tried, often in vain, to enforce the laws.
Smuggling on the lake
It turns out the Black Snake Affair wasn’t the only violent smuggling incident of 1808. Earlier in the summer, off the shore of Isle La Motte, the state militia seized a giant log raft. Covering 2 square acres and valued at a staggering $25,000, the raft was being piloted toward Canada. The smugglers responded by gathering a mob of roughly 60 local men, offering to divide $800 among them for their efforts, and returned a couple of nights later to retake the raft.
It was an easier task than you might think. The smugglers had persuaded, or bribed, one of the soldiers guarding the raft to steal lead shot from the militia unit’s stores and give it to the smugglers. Once the smugglers recaptured the raft and began to row away, soldiers opened fire on them. The smugglers shot back and, for about an hour and a half, the two sides traded shots.
But the soldiers’ rate of fire was much slower than the smugglers’. Because of the missing ammunition, the soldiers first had to melt lead and mold musket balls before shooting. The incident sounds almost comic in the retelling, but could easily have turned bloody if not for the missing ammunition.
Things turned deadly later that summer, however, when smugglers clashed again with militia members assigned to enforce the embargo.
In early August, the six-man smuggling crew of the Black Snake traveled south from Missisquoi Bay. The plan was to pick up a couple of more crewmembers before rowing up the mouth of the Winooski River in Burlington to gather a load of goods they would then smuggle north.
They stopped on Hog Island in West Swanton to pick up one man, who noticed that each crewmember carried a firearm. The crew added to its arsenal during a stop on South Hero, loading aboard a 9-foot “punt gun,” a weapon sometimes used to spray shot at flocks of waterfowl.
Jabez Penniman, the federal Customs collector for Vermont, learned of the Black Snake’s plan and ordered Lt. Daniel Farrington to gather 13 of his men and take the Fly, a revenue cutter, to capture it. The soldiers, drawn from a Vermont militia unit, were promised a $100 reward to split if they succeeded.
Penniman passed along a false rumor to Farrington that the Black Snake was only lightly armed. Farrington said he hoped to accomplish the mission without bloodshed.
Setting up an ambush
The smugglers’ sympathizers were more bloody-minded. While resting on North Hero, the Fly’s crew mentioned to local resident Peter Martin that they were pursuing the Black Snake. Martin replied that if they met the smugglers’ boat, some of them would be dead by sundown. And if they killed even one of the smugglers, Martin promised to rally 1,000 men to kill all the soldiers stationed on Windmill Point in Alburg.
After rowing up the Winooski, the smugglers commandeered the home of a tenant farmer, then ate and conducted target practice. Two local businessmen, who owned the cargo the Black Snake was to carry, warned the smugglers that the Fly was shadowing them. The businessmen didn’t want the cargo, which was sitting in a Burlington store, loaded onboard the Black Snake, for fear the Fly would seize it.
One of the businessmen offered the smugglers 10 gallons of rum to “destroy the Revenuers.” When the smugglers replied that they were short on ammunition, the man offered to provide some. Francis Ledgard, a young man who had rowed from South Hero, arrived later with the same news about the Fly’s presence, and the suggestion that they ambush the soldiers.
The next morning, the Fly’s crew paddled up the Winooski. Seeing the Fly approach, the smugglers’ leader, Truman Mudget (sometimes spelled Mudgett), warned Farrington that 30 armed men were waiting to defend the boat. The men aboard the Fly eventually spotted the Black Snake beached on the riverbank and Farrington gave the order to seize it.
“I swear by God, I will blow the first man’s brains out who lays hands on her,” Mudget declared. Ignoring the threat, Farrington sent six men with oars to row the Black Snake.
It was a fraught scene, this moment before violence erupted. As some of Farrington’s men rowed the Fly and Black Snake back down the Winooski toward the lake, four of the soldiers walked along the riverbank accompanied by four smugglers. As they walked, Mudget kept threatening the soldiers.
The incident might have ended bloodlessly if not for a neighborhood boy, 17-year-old David Sheffield, who had joined with the smugglers after they came up the Winooski. Sheffield was one of those who fired at the Fly and was later charged with shooting Private Ellis Drake in the head, killing him instantly.
Farrington ordered his men to row toward the riverbank, but not to return fire. The soldiers went ashore in search of the smugglers, who were hidden in the thicket. Farrington walked forward, accompanied by three soldiers and a local farmer, Capt. Jonathan Orsmby, a Revolutionary War veteran who had been urging the lieutenant to be more forceful with the smugglers.
They eventually encountered a pair of smugglers standing by the punt gun. As the soldiers neared, one of the smugglers urged the other to fire the large gun. The shot killed Ormsby and the soldier beside him, Private Asa Marsh, and seriously wounded Farrington.
A vengeful public
All the smugglers were eventually captured. However, two of them, William Noaks and Slocum Clark, escaped. What happened to them is unknown, but Shattuck found a tantalizing court document from the following winter regarding an inquisition on the bodies of a Noaks and a Clark. Had the Black Snake Affair turned people against the smugglers? Had Noaks and Clark become victims of vigilante justice?
Other Black Snake crewmembers, as well as Sheffield and Ledgard, were tried and sentenced to serve time in the new Windsor Prison, which was built after the local jail in Burlington proved too porous to hold anyone determined to escape.
Samuel Mott, who had fired the punt gun, was fortunate not to be executed for his crime. He was convicted of murder, but because of a procedural error, his conviction was vacated. He had to face a retrial.
In the meantime, Cyrus Dean, who had urged Mott to fire, came to trial. Shattuck believes the jury’s verdict matched the public’s vengeful mood. Dean was convicted of murder and publicly executed in Burlington.
Dean seemed to understand the injustice of his sentence. Standing on the scaffold, he kicked his hat into his grave, which was just below, and then spat onto his waiting coffin. He was hanged before a large crowd, but probably not the 10,000 later reported. That number was six times the entire population of Burlington at the time.
Dean’s hanging may have traumatized the community so much that, when Mott was retried, he was convicted only of manslaughter and imprisoned.
Despite his career in law enforcement, Shattuck has some sympathy for the smugglers. The smugglers were mostly desperate men trying to get by during a time of economic hardship made worse by the embargo. They were paid little for the risks they took, and nothing if the contraband didn’t reach its destination.
The ringleaders, however, could make a decent income, as could the Burlington businessmen who quietly profited from the smuggling. These men are the real villains in Shattuck’s telling of the incident.
Did you know VTDigger is a nonprofit?
Our journalism is made possible by member donations. If you value what we do, please contribute and help keep this vital resource accessible to all.
