The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-15

HAIRBREADTH ESCAPE.-At the Kingston coal
pits On the Illinois river, just below Peoria, John
Calvert, who Is experimenting at the pits, engaged
some Six or eight Germans, who had been in the
army In New Mexico. These men, not knowing
much about mining, nor being willing to obey or
ders, became so troublesome, that they were told
that, unless they conducted themselves better they
would be discharged. AT this they became very
Misunderstanding out that they had done pretty
much as they id pleased In Mexico-that thew
would do so at the pits, and take" the same into
ed when they paraded about the diggings, and,
among other violent things, threatened the life of
the superintendent. This was about ten days ago;
at which time he met the malcontents, and a fray
commenced. On his side were two men, who,
however, disappeared shortly after the onset. The
men had miners picks, and Mr.. G. double. bar
relied gun, Thlsgun ne attempted to discharge,
then waged with dubbed fowling piece on his
side, and picks on the other. The gun was very
shortly dsmantled of its woodwork; and its own
er taken at disadvantage, two men holding him
down in sitting position, while third aimed
blow at his hatless head with pick BY some
lucky accident the pick, which otherwise would
have been sunk into the brains of Mr. c., glanced
aside, but in Its course selzing with its point
portion OF the hair near the top of his head carried
OIL with it flowing wig, which supplied the want
OF a natural crop. The dlsappe arance OF SO much
hair, probably, gave the enemy an impression that
Mr. c. had been scaped and killed. At any rate,
1t produced very decided effect. For, on seeing
and run, as If twenty Calverts had been in full pur
suit OF them. Mr.. G. recovered himself and his
wig, and set himself about arrestng his assallants.
all OF whom have been lodged in Jail at Peoria, to
answer the charge Of assault with intent to kill
ST. LOUIS Organ.
NAVIGATION OF THE SHENANDOAH, VA.-The
survey of the Shenandoah river, which the Board
of Public Works ordered to be made, has just been
completed by those persevering engineers, Messrs.
Coyle and Douglass under the of the
able chief, c. B. Fisk report will soon be made to
the friends Of the improvement to learn that the river
affords abundant supply Of water In the drest
and that 1t Is very susceptible of being improved
by means If locks and dams and short canals 1t ap
pears that from actual statistical information
collected there at least 200 600 barrels Of flour
which would find its way to the eastern markets
through this channel If the improveme mt was made;
and the quantity would In very short time increase
TO at least double the present amount It has also
been satisfactorily ascertained that the mills the
river and its branches could grind more than double
doubt but that In very few years after the improve
ment ie made, the present quantity Of wheat raised
would be Quadrupled, as the farmers could then get
plaster at SO and 81 instead Of having, at present,
ours states that the river valley abounds In various
kinds Of mineral substances, especially these Of man.
ganese copper, coal and iron but mere particularly
the latter which abounds In inexhaustible gu
aud the best quality in the world The article of
lumber Is also very undant and Of very superior
quality, to which fact many of the Charlestown and
Harper's Ferry capenters testify 1, has besn
csrtained that not less than fifteen millions Of feet
are annually sawed In the river valley; besides by
means an uncomfortable quantity is annually RATED
down the river in the log during the spring freshets
The distance Is $50 miles and the amou mt OF all near
cQt CLasIs p,ee