"Reminiscences of Saratoga"
compiled by Cornelius E. Durkee

June 23, a slight fire occurred in The Saratogian plant, caused by a leaking gas pipe.

July 19 - Another large conflagration occurred in this date. A gasoline explosion occurred in the bicycle repair shop of Charles Leggett in the Favorite Spring building which stood on West Congress street, and Broadway, where the present Broadway trolley station is located. The explosion was tremendous, and flames were enveloping the building when the fire men arrived. Many of the tenants had great difficulty in escaping. The Congress Park Hotel caught fire, and was destroyed, the guests losing most of their belongings. Other tenants of the Favorite Spring building which were burned out in this blaze were: The Young Men's Christian Association; Swartz, the tailor; and many summer tenants; and the laundry and cafe on West Congress street. The loss by fire was $50,000.

Residents of Saratoga Springs, who had just gone through the war with Spain, were much interested in the calling of the universal peace conference at The Hague on May 18. The Spanish Treaty was ratified by the United States Senate on February 6.

The Plunkett War.

There has been such interest in the Plunkett war which I mentioned under the chronological record of the year 1853, that by request, I am explaining that so-called war, more fully. There are very few people living in Saratoga Springs today, I presume, who know anything about this so-called Plunkett War. I was 16 years old at the time, and visited the "battlefield" daily.

In those days, (1853) the Twenty-ninth Regiment of the State militia was accustomed to meet for drill and training once a year, calling the period general training. In 1853, the camp ground selected was where the present race track is located. Colonel Joseph Plunkett was the colonel of the regiment and General Joshua Blanchard, the general. At general training, the men used to drill from Tuesday morning to Friday night and the pay was $1.25 a day for the days a man trained.

There was a battery of artillery and between the guns were pyramids of cannon balls, piled for display and ornament. When the regiment was assembled Tuesday morning the adjutant general sent word to Gen. Blanchard to discharge the men and send them home because there was no money in the military fund to pay them. Gen. Blanchard sent word to Col. Plunkett to this effect, but the latter replied that he would do no such thing. He said: "I will not discharge the men and they will drill the four days." Gen. Blanchard replied: "If you don't obey my orders, I will have you arrested." At this Col. Plunkett said that he would not be arrested alive. He ordered the militia to get ready for emergencies. "Open fire on the enemy if necessary," he directed his men.

Some of Col. Plunkett's friends, however, interfered and told him he would be foolish to oppose the State of New York. Finally he was prevailed upon to order his men to unload their guns and go home. Thus concluded what was ever after called the Plunkett war.

Early Village Ordinances

How the conditions have changed in the government of the community in the past century is shown by some of the early records of the village. Some of the acts of the officials in the early days would cause present day Saratogians to smile.