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 99
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In April, 1869, the foundations for the works of the lhudson River Pulp and Paper Co. were commenced, and the work was pushed so rapidly to completion that Sept. I, 1869, saw the wood-pulp mill in successful operation. In 1870 the old edge-tool factory was converted into a paper- mill with one eighty-inch machine, and the manufacture of printing-paper was begun. The business increased, and, in 1872, a new mill was commenced on the site of the burned woolen-factory. This was completed in 1873, and com- menced running in May of that year. It contained one seventy-two-inch and one sixty-eight-inch machine, and manufactured a fine quality of printing-paper.
The patent for the manufacture of wood into pulp for the manufacture of paper was issued in 1861, but was not utilized until this mill started in 1869. The pulp is made from spruce- and poplar-logs. The logs are cut into blocks about fifteen inches long, peeled, split, and washed clean. They are then put into a machine which presses the inner face of the block against a rapidly-revolving grindstone, which reduces it to a soft white pulp. This is run through a screen, taken up on another, transferred to a felt, and run between heavy rollers, the top one gathering the pulp into a thick sheet, which is stripped from the roll and folded, tied up in bales, and is the wood-pulp of commerce. The mills of this company use about five thousand market logs, three thousand five hundred cords of fire-wood, and one thousand five hundred tons of rags every year, and produce ten tons of dry pulp and seven tons of printing-paper every twenty-four hours. They employ about two hundred hands. The power is furnished by ten iron turbine water- wheels, furnishing in all between six hundred and seveu hundred horse-power. They use but thirty feet of the seventy-feet fall. They also use four large boilers for heat- ing and drying purposes.
The office of the company is at 45 Bearce St., New York. The officers are A. Pagenstecher, Germany, presi- dent; A. Pagenstecher, New York, treasurer ; W. Miller, IIerkimer, secretary ; Warren Curtis, Jr., Palmer's Falls, superintendent. The capital of the company is $250,000.
In April, 1877, the large mill was burned. The fire was caused by spontaneous combustion generated in the rags in the store-room. Two weeks after the fire the wall of the race gave away and washed away the southern part of the pulp-mill. The company are now at work rebuilding the mills.
At South Corinth, in 1855, Powell & Co. built a small tannery. It was located about half a mile west of the vil- lige, on Kayadrossera creek. In Angust, 1871, the tan-
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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
nery was destroyed by fire, but was immediately rebuilt by Rugg & Son, of Schenectady, who are present owners. The tannery uses about six hundred cords of bark in a year, and about five thousand "slaughter" hides and calf-skins. These are converted into sole, harness, and upper leathers, kip- and calf-skins. It furnishes employment for about six meu. The power used is furnished by a water-wheel.
The woolen-factory built by Washington Chapman, in 1805, has been repaired, and additions built on from time to time, until the building presents but little trace of its former shape and size. It is now used by Morgan L. Prentiss, for the manufacture of carriage and other bolts, forged and turned nuts, and charcoal foundry facing. The works have a capacity for making a million and a half of bolts yearly, and can turn out twelve barrels of facing in a day. When running full capacity about ten hands are en- ployed. Water furnishes the motive power used.
The most prominent of the business men of the town is Dr. Nathaniel M. Honghton, who resides at Jessup's Landing. He owns upwards of four hundred acres of farming lands, and two thousand two hundred aeres cf forest lands, besides having a half-interest in other lands of con- siderable extent. He contracts and furnishes about two thonsand cords of hemlock-bark every year. He has two steam saw-mills in the southwest part of the town, that turu off an annual product of from one million to two million feet of spruce and hemlock lumber. This is shipped from South Corinth station, where large piles of lumber are kept constantly on hand ready for shipment when the market is favorable. The mills furnish employment for from ten to one hundred men, who are engaged in felling, peeling, drawing, and sawing the logs. Upwards of fifty teams are kept busy through the winter hauling logs to the mills. Dr. Houghton is a son of Tilley and Lucy Houghton, who came from Vermont and settled in the western part of the town of Corinth in 1815. None of his brothers or sisters are living here now. He has been quite prominent in pub- lic affairs, has served as supervisor, and went twice to the Legislature, in 1862 and 1863.
XI .- PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST.
In the fastnesses of this wild, mountainous region there were doubtless many places where Indian battles occurred, but their history has not come down to the present time in the annals of the various tribes that roamed through this section of the State.
At Jessnp's Landing, too, was one of the haunts of the Tories in the Revolutionary war, and many incidents doubt- less occurred in that vicinity worthy the pen of the historian. Only in that indirect way did this portion of the county share in the great events occurring along the IIudson.
XII .- MILITARY.
A few items with reference to Revolutionary soldiers are already mentioned in the notes upon early settlement.
With reference to the War of 1812, the citizens of this town shared to some extent in the excitement and alarm, particularly about the time of the battle of Plattsburg. It is not easy to obtain extended lists of those who were en- rolled in the militia or who served in the regular army.
Among the people the names of Thomas Wheaton, Peleg Eddy, and Daniel Cole are mentioned as soldiers of the War of 1812.
WAR OF 1861-65.
When Fort Sumter was attacked, in 1861, the citizens of this town were aroused, and immediately set on foot measures to aid and sustain the general government in the work of putting down the Rebellion. And through all the long struggle their efforts were not relaxed or their courage diminished, but they gave freely of their blood and treasure to carry on the work of maintaining the integrity of the government. As near as can now be ascertained, the fol- lowing is a substantially correct list of the soldiers of the Union army who went from this town :
Frederick W. Andrews, priv., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1862; died of disease at Davey's island, N. Y.
Horace Ballou, priv., 2d N. Y. Vet. Cav .; enl. 1863; disch. at close of the war ; lives at Saratoga.
Aaron Bratt, priv., 30th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1861 ; died of disease in the service. Timothy Brewer, priv., 30th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1861 ; disch. for disability.
Archibald E. Brooks, priv., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1862; captured with regiment at Harper's Ferry ; paroled, and died of disease at Camp Doug- las, Chicago, Il.
Geo. Brooks, priv., Co. G, 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. Ang. 7, 1862; disch, with the regiment at close of the war; lives in Corinth.
Francis Brower, priv., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1862; disch. for disability at Camp Douglas; re-enl. 2d Vet. Cav .; disch. at close of the war ; living in Corinth.
David T. Burnham, priv., 30th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1861 ; pro. to 2d lient .; disch. with the regiment ; living in Corinth.
Daniel Cady, priv., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1862; disch. with the regiment ; living in Corinth.
lleury W. Cass, orderly sergt., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1862; pro. to a lieu- tenancy in a regiment of U. S. colored troops ; disch. at close of the war; living in Illinois.
Chas. Chapman, priv., Co. G, 77th N. Y. Inf .; eul. Nov. 1861; disch. with the regiment ; living in Corinthi.
Asa J. Clothier, corp., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1862; disch. with the regi- ment ; living in Minnesota.
J. S. Clothier, priv., Co. D, 77th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. Nov. 1861.
Wm. M. Clothier, priv., 30th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1861; disch. with the regiment ; living in Corinth.
Dwight Combs, priv., 30th N. Y. Iuf .; enl. 1861; disch. with the regiment; living at South Corinth.
Justin Combs, priv., 30th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1861 ; died in hospital, of disease, while in the service.
Charles Davis, priv .; captured, and died at Libby prison, Richmond, Va.
R. H. Densmore, priv., Co. E, 44th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1861; disch. for disability, caused by wounds; living at South Corinth.
S. T. Densmore, priv., 115th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1862 ; captured in Olustee, Fla., and starved to death in Andersonville prison, Georgia.
l'eter Deuel, priv., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Iuf .; enl. 1862; died with the measles in U. S. hospital near Washington, D. C.
Elijah Earls, Jr., priv., Co. E, 44th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1861 ; disch. with the regi- ment ; living in Corinth.
James Early, priv., 2d N. Y. Vet. Cav .; cul. 1863; disch, at close of the war; living at Jessup's Landing.
Luther Frazier, priv., Co. G, 30th N. Y. Inf. ; died in the service.
Truman Gray, priv., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1862; captured at Harper's Ferry ; living in Corinth.
Byron Guiles, priv. ; enl. 1862; disch. honorably ; living in Nebraska.
Sammel Guiles, priv .; enl. 1862; died of disease while in the service.
Harmon Hagerdorn, priv., Co. G, 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1862; was wounded, captured, confined three hundred days in Salisbury, N. C., and disch. for disability ; living at Jessup's Landing.
Julin Ilaggerty, priv .; enl. 1862; disch. with the regiment ; living in Corinth. Ambrose C. Hickok, priv., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1862; trans, to Invalid Corps; disch. at close of the war; living in Corinth.
Solomon llickok, priv., 44th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1861 ; pro. to sergt .; died of ilisease in the service.
Daniel B. Ide, corp., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1862; captured at llarper's Ferry, and disch. at Camp Douglas for enlargement of the heart; living at Jessup's Landing.
Gilbert C. Ide, priv., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1862; pro. to sergt. ; disch. with the regiment ; lives at Jessup's Landing.
Nathan MI. Ide, priv., Co. F, 113th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1862 ; pro. to sergt. ; killed at Darbytown Road, Va., Oct. 27, 1864.
Ilavillalı J. Loop, priv., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Inf. : enl. 1862; captured at Olustee, Fla. ; was exchanged, but was unable to again cuter upon active service ; disch. with the regiment ; lives in Troy.
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
399
F. La Pierre, priv., Co. C, 77th N. Y Inf .; enl. Nov. 1861.
George B. Lyon, priv., 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1862; disch, with the regiment ; living in South Corinth.
Wm. P. Lyon, priv., 30th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1861 ; disch, with the regiment ; living in Corinth.
Henry W. Mallery, priv., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1862; detailed for duty in hospital ; disch. with the regiment; living in Corinth.
Levi Manning, priv., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Iof .; enl. 1862; disch. with the regi- ment; living in Stillwater.
Hugh McConchie, priv., 30th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1861 ; re-enl. in 2d Vet. Cav., 1863; disch. at close of the war.
Joseph McConchie, priv., 30th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1861; died of ilisease while in the service.
John Merritt, priv., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Iof .; enl. 1862; disch. with the regi- ment; living in Corinth.
J. I. Monree, priv., Co. D, 77th N. Y. Inf. ; eol. Nov. 1861.
Wm. H. Monroe, priv., Co. D, 77th Inf. ; enl. Nov. 1861.
Frederick Parkman, priv. ; enl. 1861 ; disch. with the regiment; living at Jes- sup's Landing.
George Place, priv .; en1. 1861 ; disch. with the regiment; living in Saratoga Springs.
Isaac Plne, priv. ; enl. 1861 ; died in the service.
John Redmond, priv., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1862; captured at Harper's Ferry ; living in Corinth.
Philip Rice, priv., 30th N. Y. Inf .; en1, 1861; pro. to 2d lient. ; killed at Bull Run, Ang. 29, 1862.
Joha St. John, priv., 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1862; disch. with the regiment; living in Corinth.
Darius Schofield, M.D., priv .; enl. 1863; pro. to assist. surg. ; disch, at close of the war; lives at Washington, lowa.
Chauncey Searls, priv., Co. G, 30th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1861 ; disch. with the regi- ment; lives at Putnam, Ohio.
Angustus Sherman, priv., 30th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1861 ; disch. for disability ; lives at Jessup's Landing.
Alexander Showers, priv., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Inf .; en1. 1862 ; trans. to regimental band; disch. with the regiment; living in Greenfield.
Joseph HI. Showers, priv., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Inf .; en]. 1862; died of disease while in Army Square hospital, Washington, D. C., Dec. 21, 1862.
Thomas Smith, priv., 30th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 186I ; pro. to 1st lieut .; re-enl. as capt. in 2d Vet. Cav. ; disch. with the regiment ; died, since the war, of con- sumption contracted while in the service.
Joel Taylor, priv., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1862; disch. with the regiment ; living in the west.
James Turner, priv., Co. G, 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1862; disch. with the regi- ment ; living at Jessup's Landing.
Renben Varney, priv., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1862; captured at Harper's Ferry ; paroled.
Alexander Walker, priv., 30th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1861 ; pro. to color sergt., and riddled with bullets ; fell on the field of Antietam, Md.
David L. Walker, priv., 30th N. Y. Inf .; ent. 1861; re-enl. 2d N. Y. Vet. Cav. ; disch. at close of the war; living at Jessup's Landing.
Epaphroditas Walker, priv., 30th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1861; re-enl. 21 N. Y. Vet. Cav .; disch. at close of the war ; living at Jessup's Landing.
Romaine Walker, priv., 30th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1861; re-enl. 2d N. Y. Vet. Cav .. dischi. at close of the war; living at Jessup's Landing.
Lloyd Wesson, priv., Co. F, 115th N. Y. Inf. ; enl. 1862; killed at Olustee, Fla. Benj. Wheaton, priv., Co. G, 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1>62; disch, with the regi- ment ; died in Corinth since the war.
Emory J. White, priv., 2d N. Vet. Cav .; enl. 1863; disch. with the regiment ; died since the war.
Myron W. Wilcox, priv .; enl. 1861 ; trans. to medical department; disch, with the regiment ; living in the west.
Hamilton B. Woodcock, priv., 115th N. Y. Inf .; enl. 1862; disch. for disability on account of wounds; living in Greenfield.
Henry J. Woodcock, priv., Co. G, 115th N. Y. Iof .; enl. 1862; disch. with the regiment ; living at Argyle, Washington county.
IFiram Woodcock, priv., Co. G, 115th N. Y. Inf .; ent. 1862; died at Lake City, Fla., March 3, 1864, of wounds received at Olustee, Fla.
Jesse F. Wood, priv .; enl. 1861; disch. with the regimeot ; died since the war. Wm. Woodward, priv., Co. G, 115th N. Y. Iof. ; killed in battle.
Uriah Young, priv., Co. G, 30th N. Y. Inf. ; killed in battle.
During the war the town of Corinth assisted the needy families of several volunteers, paying them from $1.50 to $3 per week.
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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Photo. by Baker & Record, Saratoga Springs.
NATHANIEL M. HOUGHITON
was born in Corinth, Saratoga Co., on the 23d of January, 1816. His father was a uative of Worcester, Mass., a farmer and stock-dealer. His mother, whose maiden name was Mitchell, was born and reared in Proetorsville, Vt. His early educational advantages were very limited,-in fact, nothing but the energies of an educated mother ena- bled him to overcome the difficulties then existing, in the midst of small means and consequent discouragements ; but with ambition unrivaled he obtained not only a common school education, fitting him for a teacher iu districts about the town at eighteen, but subsequently, at about twenty- four, commenced the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. Mitchell, completing the same in Castleton Medical College, of Vermont, from which he graduated in 1843. He then settled in his native town, where he practiced as a physi- cian for many years with marked success; but alas ! his constitution was not adequate to the unceasing labors of a country practice, and ten years brought impaired health, compelling him to relinquish his chosen life-work. After recuperating sufficiently, he entered with the same zeal into the laborious life of lumbering and farming. Much might be said of his management in both callings instructive and admouitory to the present and rising generation, viz., that to succeed one eannot leave business to itself, but in all points
integrity and perseverance will bring the possessor its reward. His rye-field of sixty aeres that waves in the breeze to-day, which, his friends tell him, is the pride of the county, came not by chance, but by well-directed labor and careful cultiva- tion. If in the panic that has visited this land his coffers are not well filled, many have found employment in his timber lands that had elsewhere sought for work without effect. Aud we find the subject of this sketch wearing his sixty years lightly. He has a jovial face and over- flowing vivacity of spirits in abundance. In 1846 he mar- ried Christy Dayton, who is still living. Of his family, one daughter married Rev. George Craig, yet living. Dr. N. M. Houghton's life has been a successful one.
Dr. Houghton was a Whig until the organization of the Republican party, and has since been a firm and uncompro- mising Republican. Being always active and thoroughly reliable in bis political attachments, he has frequently been selected to fill important offices. He has held the office of superintendent of schools of his town four or five times, and has also been supervisor at different times. He at present holds that office. He has represented his district four times as member of Assembly, his majorities ranging from nine hundred and sixty-nine to fourteen hundred and thirty in 1862-63 and 1872 and 1874. His course in the Assembly has been exceedingly satisfactory to his constitu- ents, by whom he is held in the highest regard.
RESIDENCE OF W. S. DEYOE, BACON HILL, SARATOGA Co., N Y.
NORTHUMBERLAND.
I .- GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.
THE town lies upon the Hudson river northeast from the centre of the county. It is bounded north by Moreau, east by the county line, south by Saratoga, west by Wilton. It contains fifteen thousand and two acres of improved land, four thousand four hundred and thirty-nine of unimproved, and of this last amount two thousand nine hundred and twenty-four are woodland. The population in 1875 was sixteen hundred and twenty-two. It is wholly within the Kayadrossera patent.
For the purpose of convenient reference we include the following legal description of the town and the definition of its boundary lines, as giveu in the revised statutes of the State.
" The town of Northumberland shall contain all that part of said county beginning in the cast bounds of the county, at an easterly continuation of the north bonnds of lot number four, in the twentieth general allotment of the patent of Kayadrossera, and running thence westerly in tho direction of said north bounds the distance of five miles and fifty-three rods from the west bank of Iludson's river ; then southerly one degree cast to the north bonnds of the tenth allotment of said patent : then east along the same and continuation thereof to the hounds of the county ; and then northerly along the same to place of beginning."
II .- NATURAL FEATURES.
A line of clay and slate bluffs thirty to one hundred feet high extends along the river. Snoek Kill and its tributary, the Beaver Dam creek, are the principal streams, fed by smaller rivulets. The Beaver Dam creek forms a singular natural boundary between the clay and slate soils of the eastern portion and the light sandy loam of the west. This creek derives its name from the beaver dams found along its course in early times.
III .- EARLY SETTLEMENT.
As early as the year 1765, James Brisbin, a native of Scotland, came to what is now Northumberland, then Sara- toga, and settled about one and a half miles westerly of Fort Miller, towards Bacon Hill. His first wife had died in Scotland, and his two sons born there, William and Samuel, about the same time settled in what is now Wil- ton, in the Laing neighborhood. James Brisbin for his second wife married in Scotland Margaret Carruth, a some- what remarkable woman. By her he had the following- named children : Margaret C., died in Scotland; Elizabeth; John, who settled in Old Saratoga in 1771; Margaret, who married Conrad Cramer; Carruth ; James, who married Mary Taylor, of Argyle, Washington Co .; Robert, the an- cestor of Sheriff Brisbin ; and Jane.
Hugh Mouro was also a pioneer before the Revolution, at what is now Gansevoort. He made, in 1765, a small
opening in the forest, built a log house, and erected a saw- mill. This was at the creek, near the site of the present unused woolen-factory. Whatever there was of a settle- ment in that section in those early times, and for many years later, was at that point, and not at the present rail- road station. There is still seen the building used as a law-office by Judge Esek Cowen when associated with Gan- sevoort, in 1808.
Mr. Monro, adhering to the English crown in the open- ing of the Revolutionary war, found it convenient to remove to Canada, and never returned to this place.
On the river a Mr. Graham, of whose history or settle- muent we can obtain but little account, had purchased the farm now owned by Samuel Thompson before the Revolu- tion, cleared a small portion of the farm, and erected a house. This was burned by the scouts of Burgoyne's army in the campaign of 1777. Just what year Mr. Graham settled in this town is difficult to be determined.
It is pretty certain, too, that John Mahawny was in this town before the Revolutionary war, as early as 1770. IIis farm was the one now known as the Stephens place. This fact is all that we have obtained concerning his set- tlement.
On the authority of Mrs. Metcalf, of Schuylerville, as well as of Abram Marshall and others, who are very likely to be correct on these matters, it is believed that Archibald MeNeil was the first settler at the present village of North- umberland, probably as early as the Revolutionary struggle. Ife was a gentleman of wealth and leisure, from Boston, Mass., and lived in the style his means permitted. His house was a little below the old hotel called the Richards House, and on the other side of the road.
The pioneer family of Vandewerkers were also here before the war, perhaps for some years. This is rendered evident by the positive statements of Mrs. Metcalf, before alluded to, who, with her father, Mr. Van Tuyl, came to Northumberland in 1803. Mrs. Metcalf states that Mrs. Vandewerker had often talked over in their house the dangers she and her family had passed through during the war, when the fear of the sealping-knife and the tomahawk invaded every pioneer's home. She was often obliged to take her children across the river and hide them in the woods for safety. This Vandewerker homestead was near the river, about two miles above Northumberland village. In going across the river for safety it is probable Mrs. Van- dewerker went to her father's family at the Peepin Pass, near Bald mountain.
Isaac B. Payne was also here before the war, and lived nearly opposite the mouth of Moses Kill; Stephen Payne and Nathan Payne a little farther north. There were four other brothers, Noah, Samuel, John, and Benjamin ; per-
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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
haps these were all in or near this same neighborhood. Some of them on the other side of the river.
In 1772 three brothers and a brother-in-law, Wynant Vandenburg, John Vandenburg, Cornelius Vandenburg, and Peter Winney, bought sixteen hundred acres of land, with a saw- and grist-mill already built. The first was at the upper falls, opposite Fort Miller village, where Harris' saw-mill now stands, and the grist-mill was at the lower falls. It is not ascertained who crected these mills, but they must have been built about the same time as Monroe's, or perhaps carlier. The Vandenburgs paid $2000 for the sixteen hundred acres. They came with their families in the fall of 1772, and Wynant built a log cabin on what is now the farm of Widow Ilarris. The next year he built a frame house. The location of the other three homes is not exactly ascertained. Ilere they endured the perils and anxieties of the opening war, added to the hardships incident to a new home in the thick forest. In 1777, Wynant Vandenburg and family went to Albany for safety, as very likely the other families did. Even after the defeat of Burgoyne it was difficult to live here with safety until the peace of 1783.
The McCrea family, in which John and Jeanie are the ones principally remembered, settled before the Revolution, on the river, in the neighborhood of the Paynes.
The murder of Jeanie by the Indians at Fort Edward, and the service of John in the Revolutionary army, render their names noted in history.
These are about all the names that we have authenticated as residents within the present limits of Northumberland before the war. Further settlement was prevented by the seven years' struggle, and it was not till after the peace of 1783 that new settlers began to venture in.
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