USA > New York > Saratoga County > History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. > Part 46
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The officers now (June, 1878) are F. J. Dunham, P. C. R .; M. G. Lester, C. R .; W. A. Mills, D. R .; N. F. Annis, Shepherd ; L. V. Ilawley, R. S .; W. W. Baldwin, F. S .; T. Ledlie, Treas .; J. J. Masten, Levite ; George Jessup, I. G .; E. A. Stevens, O. G.
Some years earlier than this organization there was a tent of the Independent Order of Rechabites. From this was subsequently formed No. 24, National Order of Independ- ent Rechabites, as above stated, and the former tent not long after dissolved.
The Young Men's Catholic Temperance Union of Sara- toga Springs was organized Jan. 1, 1875. The first offi- cers were Rev. F. D. McGuire, president ; M. T. McCor- mack, vice-president ; E. F. IIiland, recording secretary ; Thomas Maddens, financial secretary ; James II. Fitz Pat- rick, treasurer ; John H. Reynolds, Marshal ; Wm. Finn, ensign ; William Ahearn, sergeant-at-arms.
At first the society had a hall in the Morey block on Broadway. In 1876 they removed to a room in the town- hall, and in 1878 to their present place, Broadway, corner of Phila street. They maintain a fine room, supplied with newspapers, and a library where visitors are made welcome.
They have sometimes had a membership of two hundred. Like other societies of a similar character, their meetings are better attended in the winter, when members have more leisure than in the summer. Their present officers (June, 1878) are Rev. F. D. McGuire, spiritual director ; M. McCloskey, president ; M. Driscoll, vice-president; M. T. McCormack, recording secretary ; Thomas F. Hays, finan- cial secretary ; John Kain, treasurer ; Wm. Delaney, mar- shal; David Flynn, ensign ; James Dwyer, sergeant-at- arms.
This society was preceded for some years by an organi- zation known as St. Peter's Total Abstinence Benevolent Society. That was formed about the time of an important Catholic mission held at Saratoga Springs.
The Young Men's Christian Association of Saratoga Springs was organized in 1866. The presidents have been as follows : II. A. Wilson, 1866 ; J. A. Shoudy, 1867 ; P. F. Allen, 1868; S. E. Bushnell, 1869 ; S. E. Strong, 1870; J. N. Crocker, 1871 ; J. E. King, 1872; D. F. Ritchie, 1873; L. S. Rowland, 1874; Paoli Durke, 1875; Fredk. B. Benton, 1876; H. C. Stryker, 1877.
The society maintained a suite of rooms in Patterson's block, at an expense of $500 a year, and afterwards in the town-hall at the same rate. For a short time before the dissolution of the association they were quartered in the St. Nicholas building. They had a free reading-room, well supplied with newspapers and with a well-selected library, numbering five hundred volumes, affording excellent privi- leges to those who frequented them. They maintained a daily prayer-meeting that was largely attended during the summer. Some work was also done in the way of religious meetings in different neighborhoods in the town. Their main work, however, was the valuable reading-room and the daily meeting. They also secured for the winter season courses of lectures, and some of the ablest speakers in the country occupied their platform. Sufficient interest was not, however, developed to continue the enterprise, and the association formally disbanded in the fall of 1877.
Some years earlier than the above society there was or- ganized the Young Men's Association, of which Hon. J. B. McKean was president. Dr. Robert Hamilton was vice- president and chairman of the lecture committee. This continued for a year or two after the organization of the other society, and then dissolved.
The Women's Christian Temperance Union of Saratoga Springs was organized March 17, 1874. At the meeting called for the purpose there was a prompt response and an attendance of more than two hundred. Mrs. Henry R. Lawrence was chosen president, and Miss Sarah Davison, secretary. Two vice-presidents were elected, and an exeeu- tive committee of thirty, consisting of the ladies from each of the churches in town. In the three months following the organization the town was mapped out into thirty dis- triets, two ladies appointed for each, and a visitation was made, extending to every residence, store, hotel, saloon, and
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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
business place. Nine bundred names were secured to the pledge, and an effort made to prevent the granting of licenses by the exeise board. Ministers, leading citizens, and ladies with numerous petitions were heard, and then the board went into secret session and granted the usual number. The Union inaugurated a Sunday afternoon meet- ing, which has been continued to the present time withont a single intermission. Also Thursday afternoons. Boys' meetings were held,-out-door mass-meetings,-temperance literature distributed, and pledges taken.
A very noted occasion was the mass-meeting in July, 1875, when an address was delivered by the Rev. Theodore L. Cuyler, who was followed by IIon. Henry Wilson, vice- president of the United States. It was his last public ad- dress in behalf of temperance. He said, " No other induce- ment could have led me to speak upon this platform to-night than this, that the meeting is under the auspices of a noble band of Christian women who are doing their best to rid this place of the terrible evil of intemperance."
The present officers (June, 1878) are :
President .- Mrs. M. L. Durand.
Vice-Presidents .- Mrs. Crosby, Mrs. Pond, Mrs. Frasier, Mrs. Stryker.
Corresponding Secretary .- Mrs. Bunce. Recording Secretary .- Miss Angulo.
Treasurer .- Mrs. Harrington.
The Saratoga Temperance Reform Club, under the labors of J. E. Risley, of Providence, R. I., was organized March 13, 1877, and commenced its work during that year.
It was, however, largely increased in membership and officially reorganized a year latter, at the time of the series of meetings held here. The officers (June, 1878) are : President .- Rev. Peter Stryker.
1st Vice-President .- Fred A. Johnson.
2d Vice-President .- Rev. William R. Terrett.
Scerctary .- Edward D. Selden.
Treasurer .- Warren C. Fish.
Financial Secretary .- Orville C. Elms.
The club hold regular meetings every Monday evening, at their rooms in the town-hall. They are now securing a supply of newspapers, and the commencement of a library, the privileges of which are free to visitors.
High Rock Spring Lodge, No. 58, of the Independent Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria, deriving its authority from the Grand Lodge, East Division of New York, was organized April 10, 1877, with twenty- three members. The meeting was held in the hall of the St. Nicholas buikling, and the initiating officer was Rev. Wm. Sanford. The first officers were C. V. Moore. W. C .; C. Rue, P. D .; C. Howard, W. V .; M. E. Wicks, D. F .; R. Bowden, W. P .; Ellen Van Schaick, D. L. ; I. Kelly, W. R. S. ; C. Ilill, D. R. ; J. W. Vandyke, W. F. S .; Mary Williams, D. F .; J. Ilill, W. T .; H. A. Ostrander, D. T .; A. Jackson, W. Con. ; S. Williams, D. Cou .; A. Miller, J. S. ; Julia Bowden, D. K .; C. Morris, O. S .; E. Webb, D. P. ; Wm. Sanford, W. P. C .; L. Moore, P. P. D. The object of the society is to promote the principles of temper- ance, to afford mutual relief in sickness, and to bury the dead. At the present time (June, 1878) C. Howard is the presiding officer, and Rev. Wm. Sanford recording secretary.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
Empire Lodge, No. 74, was organized Feb. 23, 1872, with the following officers :
N. Waterbury, C. C .; B. M. Searing, V. C .; Jesse Mains, M. at A .; G. W. Zahm, I. G .; Wm. Graham, O. G .; Ilenry Marshall, K. of R. and S. ; Thomas Valentine, M. of F .; William Calkins, M. of E .; Charles Sanborn, P .; F. W. Horton, P. C. The lodge meets every Tuesday evening at Castle HIall, Broadway. The present officers (June, 1878) are Frank Ames, C. C .; Frank Robbins, V. C .; George Sigsby, M. at A. ; George Jordan, I. G. ; Joseph Morris, O. G .; R. C. Baker, K. of R. and S. ; Oscar Cook, M. of F. ; George Sanborn, M. of E .; Robert Ramsey, P. ; W. P. Carpenter, P. C.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
Post 92 was organized October 11, 1877. The charter members numbered seventeen. Within a year they have increased to seventy. The post meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The following officers were installed at the time of organization by Post-Com- mander Ilarris, of Ballston Spa :
Post Commander .- E. T. Woodward.
Senior Vice-Commander .- W. J. Riggs.
Junior Vice-Commander .- George II. Gillis.
Quartermaster .- John D. Crawford.
Chaplain .- D. F. Ritchie.
Officer of the Day .- John E. L. Deuel.
Officers of the Guard .- A. C. Butterfield.
Adjutant .- P. McDonald.
Quartermaster Sergeant .- J. E. Brainard.
Sergeant-Major .- O. M. Coleman.
Delegate to the State Encampment .- B. F. Judson ; Alternate, J. J. Ilyde.
Perhaps there is no order that equals this in the amount of its charities, there having been donated $70,000 by the posts throughout the State during the last year.
ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN.
The first lodge of this order was organized in the county March 9, 1878, at Saratoga Springs, by J. F. Lamberton, county deputy. It is known as Putnam Lodge, No. 134, A. O. U. W. The officers are J. F. Lamberton, P. M. W. ; Robert A. Hemingway, M. W. ; L. II. Cramer, G. F. ; J. P. Haskins, O .; Lawrence F. Crosby, Recorder ; Goorge S. Stoddard, F. ; C. D. Slocum, Receiver ; Dr. W. H. Hall, M. E .; James II. Reagan, G. ; S. II. Myers, J. W .; A. R. Walker, O. W .; Bomey Smith, B. J. Goldsmith, W. HI. Hall, Trustees. Other charter members were Simeon Brown, Frank Lee, B. H. Searing, J. S. Fassett, Z. C. Shonts. The lodge starts with exceedingly fair prospects. One other already exists at Ballston Spa, and others are just organized at Greenfield and Schuylerville.
THE SARATOGA MUSICAL ASSOCIATION
was first organized in February, 1869, with Samnel E. Bushnell, president ; Lorin B. Putnam, secretary ; Stephen II. Richards, treasurer ; Dr. C. F. Rich, musical director ; John A. Waterbury, organist ; and a board of managers, consisting of the officers and Dr. L. E. Whiting, W. B.
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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
French, B. F. Edwards, C. W. Sterling, E. Holmes, and W. H. Gibbs. Organized for the advancement of music, the association for about eight years was in a flourishing con- dition, and without doubt exercised during that time a great influence among the musical people. For many years it occupied the rooms of the Y. M. C. A. in the town-hall.
The first grand concert was given on April 11, 1870. The first grand musical convention was held in February, 1872, with Prof. L. O. Emerson as musical director. Meeting with great success and encouragement, the associa- tion decided to hold conventions yearly, and to give them greater attraction musical talent from Boston was engaged. The Temple Quartette, the Mendelssohn Quintette Club, Mrs. Carter, Mrs. Spring, and Mr. J. P. Cobb, assisted at various times, and gave great satisfaction. Convention week became a feature in Saratoga during the winter, and always brought in a large number of singers from surrounding villages. Owing to the hard times, the asso- ciation was obliged to disband in 1877, but there is a prospect of its being revived within a short time. The officers of the association during the last year were :
President .- E. Holmes.
Vice-President .- Prof. J. Winder.
Secretary and Treasurer .- E. R. Stevens.
Board of Managers .- E. Holmes, Prof. Winder, E. R. Stevens, C. W. Fuller, Rodney Churchill, J. H. Dinnen, R. A. Heminway, J. H. Pardue, Dr. C. F. Rich, Dr. R. C. McEwen, L. B. Putnam.
IX .- BANKS AND GAS COMPANY.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
The first bank at Saratoga Springs was started in 1848. Its organization was under the general act of the Legisla- ture of the State, passed in 1838, and known as the general banking law, and amended in 1844, making provision for organizing of private banks, with a capital of not less than 850,000. The projectors and owners of this institution were Judge Thomas J. Marvin and James M. Marvin, of Saratoga Springs, and Rufus H. King and J. B. Plnmb, of the city of Albany. The nominal capital was $60,000, and the first officers were Thomas J. Marvin, president, and James M. Marvin, cashier. The office of the bank was on the second floor of the old insurance building, which stood at the southeast corner of the United States Hotel property, on Broadway. Soon after opening their institution, the owners discovered that the proper management of its officers required the employment of some regularly edu- cated banker to conduct the details of the business, and John S. Leake, then of the New York State Bank, Albany, was appointed the cashier. In 1852 the business of the village had increased so much that additional banking facilities were found necessary, and it was decided to increase the capital to $100,000, by opening their books for subscription to the stock, and to change the organiza- tion into an "associate bank," under the then existing laws of the State. The first officers were J. Beekman Finlay, president, and J. S. Leake, cashier. Mr. Finlay continued in office until 1856, when Dr. Samuel Freeman was elected in his place, who held the office until the time of his death, in 1870.
The national bank law having been passed June 3, 1864, and by its provisions prohibiting State banks from issuing bills (or rather taxing them so exorbitantly upon their circu- lating notes that it amounted to a prohibition), which, to- gether with the well-remembered loyalty and patriotism of the then presiding officer, Dr. Freeman, the bank dissolved its connection with the banking laws of the State of New York, and reorganized under the general act of Congress of the United States.
On the death of Dr. Freeman, Jas. M. Marvin was elected president, and has continued in office up to this time. Mr. J. S. Leake has held the office of cashier from the time of his first connection with the old bank.
Since the commencement of business of this corporation, in 1852, twenty-six years ago, it has paid to its stockholders, in dividends, $227,000, or $45,000, over seven per cent., per annum upon their investment. The present board of directors are Jas. M. Marvin, J. S. Leake, Robt. McDon- nell, Jas. Baucus, Jas. C. Hulbert, Jas. R. Chapman, A. S. Hays, J. H. Farrington, Jas. Woodbridge, N. D. More- house, and C. H. Hulbert.
THE COMMERCIAL NATIONAL BANK.
This reliable monetary institution is located on the corner of Broadway and Phila street. It does a regular banking business, and deals in municipal and government bonds. Its business is managed by the following able corps of of- ficials : John T. Carr, president ; Joseph G. Cooke, vice- president ; S. II. Richards, cashier ; Directors, Chas. S. Lester, Jno. T. Carr, Joseph G. Cooke, Henry B. Hanson, Walter J. Hendrick, Jared Ingersoll, Alexander Cherry, Stephen H. Richards, Taber B. Reynolds, and John T. Daniels. These gentlemen are all well-known, enterprising, and esteemed citizens of Saratoga. This bank has a large capital, and has an enviable reputation for soundness and honorable dealing.
UNION SAVINGS BANK.
Union Savings Bank of Saratoga Springs was chartered by special act of Legislature of New York, passed March 28, 1873. Charles S. Lester, James M. Marvin, J. C. Hulbert, J. S. Leake, W. J. Hendrick, S. H. Richards, W. Bennett, C. Sheenan, and S. Ainsworth were named in the act as incorporators, and were the first trustees. J. S. Leake was chosen president, and S. II. Richards, secre- tary and treasurer. The bank commenced business April 1, 1873. Deposits were received at the First National and Commercial National Banks.
Upon the resignation of S. H. Richards from the office of treasurer and trustee, April 16, 1874, Charles H. Hulbert was elected to the vacancy. On June 1, 1874, the business was removed temporarily to Perry's building, west side of Broadway, and on July 1, 1875, permanently removed to rooms very handsomely fitted up for their use at the south end of the United States Hotel. On Nov. 7 of that year John Woodbridge and Nelson D. Morehouse were elected trustees, in place of C. Sheehan and Sey- mour Ainsworth resigned, and T. B. Reynolds, H. B. Hanson, C. E. Leland, and Hiram Palmer were elected trustees to conform to the general savings bank act passed May 17, making the number of trustees thirteen.
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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
The present trustees and officers are as follows : Charles S. Lester, John S. Leake, Walter J. Hendrick, Charles E. Leland, Hiram Palmer, Nelson D. Morehouse, James M. Marvin, John C. Hulbert, William Bennett, Henry B. Hanson, John Woodbridge, Taber B. Reynolds, Charles H. Hulbert ; John S. Leake, president; Charles H. IIul- bert, secretary and treasurer.
SARATOGA GAS COMPANY.
The Saratoga Gaslight Company was organized in 1854, having the following-named officers, with a capital of $75,000 : L. H. Tupper, J. M. Corliss, T. M. Lock wood, S. S. Dauchy, John S. Manning, S. G. Clements, R. D. Bardwell. In 1876 the company was reorganized, with a capital of $40,000, having the following-named officers : William Bennett, James R. Chapman, Charles II. Holden. It has about eight miles of mains, and is considered in point of buildings and equipment superior to any gas- works in the country of its size.
X .- PROTECTION FROM FIRE.
There appear to be no records extant of the earlier fire companies. The first arrangement was the simple appoint- ment of fire-wardens, and the requiring each store, business place, and residence to have one or more buckets in readi- ness for instant use. In case of fire, lines of citizens were formed, one to pass full buckets from the reservoir, and another to return them empty. The next step of advanced protection was the formation of fire companies and the pur- chase of old-fashioned hand fire-engines. These were sup- plemented by a hook-and-ladder company, and in later years by the steam fire-engines of modern times. We add the following brief statement of the fire department and the officers for 1877 :
Wm. B. White Engine Company, No. 1 .- President, Thomas Flanigan ; Vice-President, James MeLaughlin ; Foreman, Robert Swanick ; Assistant Foreman, Jacob Hass ; Secretary, David Quinlan ; Treasurer, John Cothrel ; Engineer, Lawrence Coon.
Hathorn Hose Company, No. 2 .- President, J. W. Dane ; Vice-President, George A. Scaner ; Foreman, F. M. Boyce; Assistant, William Connelly ; Secretary, Jolmn Ernst ; Treasurer, Henry Eaton.
C. E. Durkee Steumer Company, No. 3 .- President, Wm. Shoemaker ; Vice-President, Elisha Ishell ; Foreman, C. E. Durkee ; Assistant, Thomas Nevins; Treasurer, C. M. Avery ; Secretary, Frank A. Phillips ; Engineer, John T. Mains.
C. E. Leland Hook-and-Ladder Company, No. 1 .- President, D. W. Eddy ; Vice-President, W. Gailor ; Sce- retary, J. H. Simmonds ; Foreman, W. S. Snyder ; First Assistant, J. Ayer ; Second Assistant, C. H. Van Dorn ; Third Assistant, T. Robbins ; Treasurer, F. Wells.
Morrissey Hose Company, No. 4 .- J. Lynch, president ; J. Gaffney, vice-president ; J. Reynolds, foreman.
Knickerbocker Hose Company, No. 5 .- J. S. Ingram, president ; D. Allen, vice-president; J. N. Wonhart, fore- man ; M. S. Cummings, assistant foreman.
Exempt Steamer, No. 2 .- President, J. Manuel ; Vice- President, H. Getty ; Secretary, James Fitzpatrick, Treas-
urer, James Brean ; Foreman, John H. Dinnen ; Assistant- Foreman, Patrick H. Hulahan.
S. H. Richards Hose Company, No. 3 .- President, B. H. Searing; Vice-President, C. W. Plowman ; Secretary, F. M. Jenkins; Foreman, J. II. Darrow ; Assistant-Fore- man, W. L. Graham.
Boyce Protectives .- President, J. Merris; Vice-Presi- dent, W. Fenton ; Treasurer, T. H. Chase ; Foreman, C. O. Salsbury ; Assistant-Foreman, J. Fenton.
Walter B. Hendricks states that the first engine was bought in 1826 or 1827. The first hook-and-ladder com- pany was formed about 1838, and Ransom Cook was foreman.
The C. E. Durkee Company was formed about 1848. Mr. Durkee, for whom it is named, has been foreman since 1862. J. J. Hyde has remained in connection with it since 1859, and has been chief engineer of the fire de- partment one or more terms.
XI .- CEMETERIES.
In connection with Saratoga Springs, as a village, there are five cemeteries.
1. The old Sudler burial-place, on the hill in the north- east part of the village. This is now (June, 1878) a desolate place. The monuments are nearly all removed. At the grave from which the remains of the grandfather of President Hayes were taken in 1877 may still be seen the original stone bearing the inscription, " In memory of Roger Birchard, of Wilmington, Vt., who died August 22, 1805, in the forty-eighth year of his age."
This yard is now abandoned, and, under a contract by the trustees of the village, the remains are being removed to the new cemetery on the Waring farm. It seems a desecration of the sacred resting-place of the dead. Here came the earliest funeral processions of Saratoga Springs, bearing their loved ones to burial. From this level summit there swelled up to heaven the notes of the funeral hymn and the words of Christian hope. " I am the resurrection and the life" fell upon the hearts of mourning families with the same divine power a hundred years ago as now. Among the upturned hillocks, mingled with the wild shrubs struggling for life in the midst of death, are still growing bunches of " everlasting," and flowers still bloom in this neglected spot, planted long ago by loving hands.
There seems to be no record of the earliest burial at Sad- ler's. William L. Stone, in " Reminiscences," gives several names and inscriptions, and we infer they were the earliest dates to be obtained. Those mentioned by him are " Con- stant Jameson, 1792;" " Justus Jameson, 1804;" " Pa- tience Jenkins, 1805;" "Increase Matthews, 1790;" " Blumy, daughter of Jotham Holmes, July 3, 1796 ;" " Eli Taylor, Sept. 14, 1797, aged sixty-four years two months and twenty days ;" " Martha, wife of Richard Flagler, April 10, 1792, aged twenty-six ;" " Fenn Wads- worth, died June 21, 1785." We add, also, Alexander Thomas, of Walpole, Vt., died July 2, 1809, aged thirty- five ;" " Abel Brown, Aug. 31, 1810, aged thirty-four ;" " Joanna E., daughter of Alexander Stimson, died Nov. 8, 1805, aged three."
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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Mr. Stone alludes then (1874) to the rumored intended removal of the remains from this place in the following earuest words : " Old grave-yards ought to be venerated as holy ground. Men should no more consent to such changes than they would consent to sell the bones of their own fathers and mothers for knife-handles. If it is thought best to have no more grave-yards within corporate limits, well and good ; but let those which are there stand as a memorial to the old and good men who sleep beneath. Let them sleep. There is no excuse for the removal, and no palliation of the offense against propriety. If necessary, prohibit any further burials, but let not a spadeful of the dust of the fathers be sold for gold."
His fears have been realized. The removal is going on ; the work of destruction is nearly complete, though many of the remains will probably never be found. The present season (1878) will witness the last of the Sadler cemetery. Will the " village fathers" or the new proprietors spare even the two old pines that still stand, silent witnesses of the earlier and the later years; of the burial and of the removal ?
2. The Putnam Burial-Place .- At this ground we pause to note the gratifying fact that the work of selling grave- yards in Saratoga has evidently come to an end. This place, in which so many of the prominent early families were buried, and around which so many early memories cluster, has recently been protected by a plain strong fence. To the onward march of commercial greed, to the demands of gain, the town authorities have said, "Thus far,-no farther."
Situated near the railroad, in the heart of the village, it may seem to some as an unsightly affair that ought to be removed. A few years' protection and eare will, however, easily give to it a beautiful and neat appearance, and the hallowed associations of the past will render it a precious spot to the families whose ancestors slumber there.
Of this burial-place the same writer before quoted says, " This piece of ground was given to the village in 1810 by Gideon Putnam, and in it many of the 'forefathers of the hamlet' slept until, in recent years. they were removed by their relatives to the present Green Ridge cemetery. Still a number of the original settlers yet remain where they were originally laid to rest. Here is Dr. Clark, and here, too, lie a part of the family of Nathan Lewis, who built the second brick house ever erected in the village."
There are several fine monuments in this inclosure. The place already begins to put on a new appearance, thoroughly protected as it is from intrusion. It is a fair specimen of what ought to have been done with all the old cemeteries of the county,-inclose them-save them ; let nature east upon the graves its annual wealth of flowers and foliage ; let even the wild shrubs supplant the roses trained by hands long since themselves folded for the rest of the grave, but spare the graves themselves.
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