davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16
TRAGIC EVENT.

just al'er going 10 press last week, we
learned The following tragical particulars OF
the murder of an officer of the Eastern Pen
lnen"ary by prisoner. The prisoner was
John BIllDan, aged 30 years. who was
convicted OF the CT tne of horse stealing, in
hycoming county, and sentenced to under
90 an imprisonment for number of years,
fourteen month"; of which have already ex.
plred. II appears that Mr.. Gaskin, aged
~, nurse IN the prison, had visited the
lre''' as was his usual custom, for the pur.
pose OF attending 10 the wants of the prison
er, and shortly after he entered the cell the
prisoner said he wished TO 90 OUT and
made an effort 10 do so. Mr., Gaskin
caught hold OF him and drew him back
Ihls enraged the prisoner, and he ,ipped
up piece Of the flooring, with which he
neat Mr. u over the head and caused death
IN lew moments. The prisoner then
took the cloihing from the body of Mr.. G.
and dressed himself in il, and passed down
10 Mr. Hallowav. the clerk. and demanded
MS release. While he was talking with
Mr. II. two Of the overseers, who had dis
covered the lifeless BODY Of the nurse. s,a,
led on 10 pursui. Of .he murderer, and found
him as above stated. They communicated
the sad intelligence to Mr.. Halloway-and
then conducted the prisoner back to the
cell and locked him up. 1t was clearly
proven by Mr.. Thompson. one of the war
dens-Mr. Lacomb, the moral instructor
la physician, and several others, that the
prisoner was laboring under insanity, and
the very simple manner in which Tho lo,.,|
confessed the whole affair, subs,antiated
the fact.
The prisoner also confessed TO Mr.. La.
comb and warden, that he had, a few
years ago, murdered his father. was arrest
ed and tried for the murder, but the Com
monwealth failing to make ont their case :.
he was acquitted. Mr.. Gaskin leaves a
vile and two children to mourn their sud
den bereavement, He was well beloved
ny the prisoners and the officers of The ins,i
tuition for his kindness and affection. Cou
rier.
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16
MISSOURI IRON MOUNTAIN.

The following is an extract from
report OF Prof. Sll imah's l., ciure al \
Haven. He recently made a miner
illogical tour in MISC ,ri, 1t the instance
we believe, Of Boston Company.
There are two Of these iron noun
i,ins he said, situated not FAR dis,sn
from each other, and ioriy or fifty mile
west Of Mississippi. One of them wa,
shout 100, and the other something
more than 900 feet in hiegh,,i. e. abov,
the level OF the surrounding plain. The
iron with which they abound is por.
oxyde-,hus constituting a very rich
ore OF iron. AS you approach eiIhe,
Uf these mountsins, and before you gel
TO them, you find Jumps aod masses oi
this form Of iron, scattered much life
the stones OF New England Advanc-
ing you 6nd The masses 10 larger nun
bers and greater size, and so on up the
mountains till you approach their sum
nils, where you liod one va,t Gaping
10 the mountain Of these lion rock. an,
stones, whose depths have never beer
explored. Of course how far they z,
down we do not know, nor what pro-
portion Of the substance Of these noun
tains is iron, but we perceive The quanl
~ there TO be immense, almost beyond
calculation. Enough to supply the
whole human race, even under the pre-.
sent vast consumption Of iron, with the
metal for ages to come. The base and
sides of he mountain, DR.. Silliman said
are thickly and beautifully wooded ,even
after you come 10 the immense cappliuS
with which the mountains are rounded
of you find the trees every where shoot
up among those non rocks although
you can discover scarce trace oil
soil
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16
THE POTATOE.

Was first introduced into Europe by
Sir Waller Raleigh from Virginia il
1855. Potatoes were a, first cultivated
by very few, and considered great
delicscy. In manuscript account o.
the household expenses Of Queen Anne
wife Of James ], the purchase of very
small quantity Of potatoes is mentioned
a, two shillings a pound. 10 1851
they were for the first Time planted in
the open fields. Sweet potatoes had
been brought from New Granada by
Sir John Hawkins in l545.
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

II is proposed in the Manchester New
Hampshire) Democrat,t THAT the question
Of aboiishins the punishment OF death
should be submitted 10 the decision Of
the people at the ensuing election. The
same paper argues the question. at length
with great ability; and in speaking o.
the sxpediency of the death penalty
says:
Neither is capital punishment, as i
regards It's effects upon society, erpe
Ndient. Instead OF restraining crime,
Fthere rs little doubt Of its operation, a.
now prsctised, as an incentive to crime
1t has little or no effec, upon the harden
ed in srime. The murderer from pas.
sion maybe affected by the approach oil
certain death, bu: ahe determined muir
cersr cares little abost it, and his &C.
complies in crime think it a matter OF
course--whs, they daily expect-as a
murderer once observed to an eminen,
English solicitor, the day pre- vious to
This execution--'player at bowls mus,
expect rnb5ess' All experience
shows that :he robber and The thief. tn.
pirate and the burghisr,are no, deferred
fromhheir evil practices by The hanging
,oiahsir accomplices.
Nor dol public execution. nut re.
slralntupon crime. Bradbury Fergu.
son wen, from Hsverhill TO Salem ,c
witness the execution of the Knapps
a did not deter'from killing his wife in
The most bsrbarous manaer. Nei,be,
did those executions, nor his own trial
'ior life or DEATH, soften his savage dis
,Positions; for we we'll recollect his saw
ing 10 the sheriff, after he had escspet
'dea'h'hy the argument of the eloQuer
Bartlett, and thejury had rendered thei
verdlci-1 did'tcsre d-n about be
ing hung; ! only wanted 10 dlssp,oin
ihe Exelor folks in seeing me hung
he hopklnlon tragedy may he in-
stsncsd Ss perfect illustration of IN,
effect Of executions upon society. iTher,
was a thirst for 'innocent biooT-iot
nocent, for poor Prescott was believed
insane oJ every one-lher was anylhini
hut IN Iavor OF humanity. Nature ,hs'
would have shrunk from witnessing I'm,
death OF the smalles animal, were, !,
their hercensss and their thirst for loo,
>engendered by the law of the land, i'm
palient--longng for The opportunity o
witnessing fellow being in the agonie
'eft'h's'dealh struggles! Yes; females
iha, would have shuddered at tn
slaughter Of alamb, were impar;enl,
clsmoring si 'iae prison ,ga'es of the
poor insane boy, Prescott, and chidin,
'the law Is dslay,whereby sfellow bein
'hsd beeo reprieYedl for adew dsys. an,
'thsy deprived upon that day of III
plsasere Of feasting their law. privilege,
'eyesupon the death tbroes Of an insane
ddiol murderet.
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16
A HISTORICAL FACT.

BY reference TO map of Delawar. il
will be seen that the boundary between
that state and this is of semicircul,r folm,
as if drawn with mathematical accuracy.
The Germantown Telegraph says i. was
so drawn. William Penn presented TO his
daughter Leilia a circuit, OF which New
Castle was the centre, of fifteen miles round,
which he called Leutia Manor; and il is
that which gives the singular appearance
TO the boundary line it was originally
designed 10 be a portion Of Peunsylva.
MIA
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16

The Siamese TWins. s.-We extract from
The letter OF a correspondent of the Sou,f
Carolina Spartan, the following account, O
Of Chang and Eng, and their families:
you may be aware tha, some few wears
since the Siamese twins, Chang and Eng
retired from the public gaze, and settled
down in this county (Wilkes) as farmers.-
You will also recolIec. that during the las
year it was published in some of the news
papers 'ha. they were still living in single
blessedness. To my surprise find tha,
the supposed hoax was literal fact; and
lha, these distinguished characters are mar
ried men! Mrs. G. and Mrs. E. are we'll
known TO several of my personal scquain,
ances, and are said to be very amiable and
industrious. Each of the ladies' has pre
sen'ed her particular lord with an heir. ir
the per son of fine, fat, bouncing daueh
ter
IL is said that Chang and Eng, with ,hei,
wives and children, contemplate making a
tour through this county, in a year or two
The twins enjoy excellen, health, are ye,y
lively, laxative and apparently happy. and
VIII doubtless prove moTe interesting and
attractive in their second toar than thew did
IN their first over the civilized world -
Having families TO provide for, as prudent
husbands and fathers. they may think their
bachelor fortune insufficient for all The IiuIf
Changs aud Engs Of which they now have
the PROMISE
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16

On Monday evening last, after The
receipt Of the news of The Democratic
Victory, in New York, .feu de jon Of
36 guns, was fired in this village. in
honor o. the sterling democracy of that
State. During The firing a SPLENDID
torch light procession was formed and
marched through The streets, responding
with their hearty cheers 10 the roar oil
he cannon.
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16

THE Perils Of The Guano Trade.-Some
OF The crews engaged in this trade have had
severe conflicts with the Arabs. Some sal
lors who were taken capives had ,hei,
wounds dressed by the Arabs in STYLE of
surgery which few would relish. The "a
l'Ves used a rough knife,a burned ou, the
wounds with red hot nail. While This
operation was going on, the Arab spectators
were laughing. Ore of the captures had
his skull fractured; they scraped his head
very roughly, twice a day, and filled the
wound with kind of powder. Their
other operations were of similar. charac
ter,
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16

Rogues weH Punished. A farmer ir
Lelces'ershire, found wasp's nest, shor
lime since, in the root Of his house, and he
put II, wasPs and ALI into a sack, intending
to throw The whole into pond. Som,
thieves stole the sack from the door of III,
farmhouse, and en- their opening i, 10 in
'Pect theie booty, The wasps flew out, sci
ling on 'tem' and amply furnishing then
for the theft
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16
l67 245 l00,S63
l60 500
Folks maj. 6,3S2.
ALAS! POOR HARRY CLAY,


Willis, The condition of Henry CLAY
demands The sympathy Of the American
people, says he Harrisburg Union, ,herl
lis lht in bis history from which the
politician may deduce a moral Of in.
eslrmable value. With abilities Of a
high order, and spirit at once com
manding & aspiring, he needed noughr
hut The possession of political Inlegriry y
10 have reached the high SUNNI, of hi,
ambition, long since. This deficiency
how yer, as in hundreds and thousand,
Iof similar instances, has proved iata
one In an evil moment. under tn,
guidance Of sinister counscls, he wa,
betrayed into the wles of that same
Federalism, which, in early life, he
was won, TO assail with such Herculean
power His has been a retrogade career
ever since. The Presidential prize has
been dangling before his benigh'ed
vision ever since. but al every step he
has been . degree farther removed from
iii. We read in he Arabian Ningts ol
a golden bird, which skipped from tree
10 tree, constant y within SigM Of the
hehoIder, but forever beyond his re0ch
We leaIn,in places too, from tabled his
'o'y, the delusive mploymenls of 4
race Of Gold Dggers, who. The momen
They strike their spadesupon The expect
ed treasure, are surprised to find it van.
sh suddenly and forever from then
sight Thus is fancy, hut Mr.. Clay'
IdisapopinImenls are sad rea'iv. His ex
perience has verified the assurance o
Boz'S Lsmplghter, that the ph,Ioso
piers stone would have been discover
Ied, msnv years ago. were it NOT tha
he apparatus generally blows up ss /
is on The very point Of success. Mr.
IClays never is, but always TO be bless
led.'
We repeat, in all this there is rcvea J.
ed 10 the eye of | aspiranrs valusbl,
moral. II should teach him that
though his genius NAV tower to III,
heighlh of the heavens, il does not atom,
in the estimation Of the people. for III,
great defect Of political virtue. I, shoulc
impress his mind with The importan,
truth, that in politics, as 10 every other
relation of life, Honesty, Consistency,
and straight toward Integrity are cardi
nal qualifications, and constitute a surer
Reliance, 10 the hour of ne ed, than
The mere requirement of The mind.
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16

JAMES K. POLK & GEORGE NJ
DALLAS ELECTED PRESI
DENT & VICE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES!
The intelligence received by The las,
mails, says the Democratic Union, places
The triumph Of POLK and DALLAS
throughout the Union beyond the pos
sibilly Of doubt. The great States
If New York and Virginia hav.
ing taken stand along side Of gallant
old Pennsy vsnis, doubt has given way
q cer'alnty,and the Democratic triumph
3 complete.
We cannot but interchange with our
readers hearty congratulations on ihi.
ausplcious result.-The entire life and
character Of JAMES X. POLK afford the
ampest guarantee that in his hands the
desIinies Of our common country will
find safe depository. He comes into
power at ha, period Of life, wh all
he faculties Of The mind are in full un.
impaired vigor. Having never himself
sought The Presidency, but being called
like Cincinnatus of old, from the shades
|of retirement 10 assume the helm Of
state, he is The instrument, of no clique
or faction, and is free TO admin is,er the
duties of his high office for the mutual
benefit OF The CoUNTEY. He brings
with him, too, a character FOR integrity
md sing IeneSs Of purpose, unspolred by
siugle stain. He has resorted 10 no
mean subterfuges,io beguiIe bis country
men into his supposl-bul relying upon
their patriotism aud intelligence, he has
calmly awaited their verdict, never
lonbIing that il woIId be in accordance
with right ard justice. The country
has not disappointed him and he will
not disappo'nt The county. The re-
1ublcans may now repose in security
upon their laurels, and even our poiri-
cal enemies may CLEAN comfort from the
rejection, that we have given them
a President, who will administer its
Hairs upon the pure principles promul.
gated ny JEFFERSON and JACKSON
We annex The Sales in which the re-
suit are certainly ascprtained
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16
Remember the Printer.

WHEAT. CORN, RYE, BUCK.
WHEAT, OATS or WOOD, will be re.
ceived for debts due us for subscription.
Also, few bushels Of POTATOES, if
delivered soon,
From those who have promised Lumber
inch and inch and quarter pine boards
will be received if delivered soor,
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16

Southern Whigism. Hon {. B. Strong
one of the candidates on the WhigEec,ors
ticket in Georgian communication in IN,
last Macon Messenger, says: They say
truly most truly, that | am out and our
Opposed t." protective tariff for protection
sake or one that saxore OF protection
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16

Il New BruiuS.--A French Commis
'ary OF Police, finding his wife had viola
ted the law by lhrowing iumblel of wa
Ter out Of the Window, had her brougt
before the Police, and fined one frame an,
costs,
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16
APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR

LUTHER KrDDER, Esq, OF Wilkes.
barre, 10 be President Judge, of the
Judicial District, composed of the coun
ties Of Lehigh, Carbon and Monroe,
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16

This is Grem Age.-A doctor in Lon
don some years ago declared that with
proper chemical apparatus, and ,he aid Of
ga'van'sm' he cOutd make man; Huins
being, This second Promethean aspiran,
never perllrmed the feat, but a person in
Cincinnati, now announces that he is en-.
gagged in The work and will soon comple,e
~. We wonder how he will sell lSeso ere,
'ores' Slavery will become universal, and
hired help humbug, Welitis grea
age-a very great age.
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16
A CHINESE NOTION OF BOOTS.

a Chinese having been introduced to ar
AMERICAN who wore boots, reported tha
'he gentleman stood up in two liule lea,h
er cask. '''''
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

We give below the returns Of the Elec
ZION, as far as heard from. The Sc return,
render i. certain that Polk and Dallas ar,
elected by large majority of the Electoral
vote.
Pennsylvania, Po,k's majority 63s2
Maryland, CIay's majority 32ss
Connecticut, CIay's majority 1858
Rhode Island, CIay's majority 25o2
New York, PoIk's majority 5677
Virginia, PoIk's majority about 5000
5. Carolina, Pok's majority about 46 600
N CaroIlha, CIay's majority about $500
New Jersey, CIay's majority about 1000
Georgia, Folks majority about 1000
New Hampshire, PoIk's maj. abont 10, 900
Ohio, Ciay's majority about 6OOO
Kentucky, Clay's majority about 10000
Michigan, Poik's majority about 1000
Indiana; is yet in doubt though pros meets
are in favor of Polk's having the State by d
small majority.
No news from Tennessee.
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16
TEXAS ELECTION.

The official majority for DR.. Jones.
PRESIDENT Of Texas, over BqrIeson, appears
The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-16

IBIS electoral votes necessary to a
choice.
Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-04-25

Have you heard tina, Emma Ellis is going
TO Washington To Washington How on
earth can the Ellises afford winter in Wash.
inqton p % you know they are not parlicu.
lar abou, their debts and they have SIX girls
to dispose Of, aud find rather dull market
here
Have you heard tina, the Newtons are going
to the country TO liver Bless me nol-whats
that for2 They say TO educate their children
but my dress maker Sally Smith who works for
Mrs Newton says she is worn out with dinner
parties He runs the house down with compa.
NY
% Isupposc they are obliged to go to ecOnO.
mze. You know she dresses her children so ex.
travagan,ly'
Il saw Mary Newton at the theatre (she is no
older than my Grace) with diamond Ferron.
ier'
Diamond, was it Julia told me it was an
aquamarina. The extravaganza of some people
is shocking don't wonder the men are out Of
patience Don't tell it again because Ned Mil.
Ter told me in confidence. He actually has locked
up all his wle's pocket handterchets Wei
whatever else my husband complains Of he cam
find fault with my extravaganza Perhaps not
but faults far more heinous than extravaganza
this poor woman had to account for-the pernic
ious words for which we must be brought into
judgment.
hope it may appear more incredible to you
my young friends, that woman, half way through
this short life with the knowledge Of their imor
ia destiny, with world without them and a world
within them to explore and make Acquaintance.
with, with the delightful interests and solemn re
sponsibltes of parent upon them, should so dis
honor Gods good gift eff The tongue, should SC
waste their time, and poison social life Be or
your guard. If your minds are not employed or
higher objects, and your hearts on better things
you will talk idly about your frien DIS and acquain
tances.-Mcans and Ends
Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-04-25

hadn't bother 60 and speak to mary she's the
mother OF thin, and twould be onrisonable TO be
given away her chider afore her face, and she
not to know nothing Of the matther."
Away with you them" said H. and bring US
back word ms soon as possible" In about an
hour he returned, but with eyes red and swollen,
and features pale from excitement and agitation
well" inquired |, "what success ?"
'Bedad twas hard struggle, Sir" said he,
'but it's for the childs good, and Heaven give uz
strength to bear it
avery good, and which is it TO be ?"
"Why. sir, I've bin spakin, TO Mary, and she
thinks asNorah here is the ouldest, she won't miss
the mother as much, and if yell jist let her take
partin kiss, she'd give her to yez wild bessen'."
So my poor fellow took his chrildren away
to look at one ofthem for the last time 1t was
long ere be returned, but when he died he was
leading the second eldest.
"How's this2" said l. "Have you changed
your mnd2"
"Not exactly changed me mind, sir" he re
piled "but I've changed the crathur Ye see
sir I've been spak;n' to Mary, and wbin it come
TO the ind be goxty she could not part wld Norah
at all they've got used to aich others ways bu
here's little biddy-she's purifier far, shell do a:
we'll"
"May Heaven be yer guardianp cried he
sna,ching her up in bis ar0s, and giving he
one long, hearty kiss. "God be kind TO thin
that's kind to you, and them that offers you hur
or haurm, may their sowl never see st. Petherl"-.
So the bereaved father rnshed away, and all tina
nigh, the child remained with us; but early the
next morning my friend Pat re-appeared, and THU
time he had his youngest child, mere baby
snugly cuddled up in his arms
| "What the matter now2" said l.
"Why thin," with an expression of the mos
comic anxiety, 'axin' yer honor's pardon for bein
so wake-hearted, but whin begin to think O
Biddy's eyes-ook at thin, they're the image O
her mothers, bedad-I could not let her go; bu
here's little Paudeen---he won't be much throub
! to any one, for if he takes after his mother, he'll
have the brightest eye and the soitest heart on thu
top of CREATION and if he takes afher his father
he'll have purity hard fist on a broad pair o
shoulders to push his way through the wurld. :.
Take him, sir, and gi' me Biddy."
Gust as You like" said |, having pretty goo'
guess how matters would eventuale So he TOOL
away his pet Biddy, an handed me the little tod
ding urchin. This chiriping little vagabon'
won't be long with us, thought l. Nor was he
Ten minutes had scarcely elapsed ere Pat rushe
into the cabin, and sezirg little Paudeeu up IN hi
arms, he turned to me- and with large tears but
bling in his eyes, cried out
"Look a, him, sr-jist look at him its tn
youngest Ye wouldn't have the heart to kee
him from us The long and the short of it is, Iv
bin spakin, to Mary, Ye see she couldn't pal
wild Norah, and didn't like to let Bdy go; bn
be me sowl, naither of uz could live half da
widout little Paudeen. No, sir--.no we ca
J bear the bitterness of poverty but we can't pal
from our chher, unless ii IS the aoiH of Heare
to take thin from w Pm. o. Pic.