Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-05-08

Of smoke from the horses nostris appeared to mlnge with
his very hair and then wheeling suddenly, he fired another
round from revolver and the rider tumbed from his sad
die. The victim then renewed his flight.
mad veil of grief and rage broke from the remaining
troopers as they witnessed the fate of their comrade and It's
effect was Immediately evident in the augmented cautonof
their pursut-for they gaoped afterwards in one body
thereby greatly retardng their progress, that Neil reach
ed the river before them. He paused not moment, but
plunged headong down the steep bank into the and
struck off for the other shore. The dragons discharged
their side arms Intellectually, and gave the chase
In few minutes Neil landed and as he felt sat-
sfed that he was really saved burst into nsuppressbe
convuson of laughter exclaimng: "lt will kill me Just
TO think how astOnished the yellow devils looked when
hauled the revovers out Of my boots"
Such was Col. John Neil-possessing fund of humor
that no misfortune could eyer exhaust and flow Of animal
spirits which would have enabled him to dance on the graves
of all his dearest friends have sung Yankee Doodle
at his own execution!
At much later period of Texan history the writer had
the happiness make the gallant Colones acquaintance
The first time saw him at the city OF Houston, III tue
summer Of 1915 He was standing the ground step OF
the fght leading up the door Of Ihe Star Holel.-
dng his sides with both hands, and emitting through
his enormous mouth boiserous explosions, he seemed liter
ay diving with laughter; his face turned purple and the
blue veins on his forehead sweled out thick mans
thumb while his, eyes, cleaning with savage mir'h re-
mained fixed on form in the porch above him. The lat
ter was lawyer Seth Allen gentleman with the tall mea-
gre figure Of barbers pole huge Oscche, and great
prousion of rufles He had fought duel mortal TO his
antagonist the previous day, and just then relating to
circle of wondering loaers the history Of his powess
The contrast between his skeleton figure oppsh dress, and
narrated exploits had struck Neil transcendenaIy u-
dcrous and hence his sudden and ungovernabe mermen
Wha are you laughing at fellow 2" Allen demanded,
sternly as he measured our Fals,af with his eye
cat you," followed by another peal, was the
answer.
" teach YOU how to make sport of gentlemen " shout
ed Allen enzed with rage, as he fled down the steps and
aimed furious kick full at the others face. -
Neil caught the foot in his right hand, and then STOPPING
suddenly thrust his head between Aliens legs, and fairly
raised him on his neck In that ridiculous position he trot'
ted with the famous duelst several times around the yard
rs strong man might trot with child, laughing noisly
like an idiot, while Allen vocferaed for his pistols Neil
then walked of eisurely hy PAGES, and tossed his
burden into mud hole with that was reechOed by
the spectaors An immediate challenge was the result
ed the distance at hundred yards.
"Iwil only wing him. said tho laughing hero, as he
took his stand 4shes too poor make good bacon At
the first fire he broke the others andso the affair ended
mere running reference to the remaining facls oil our
sinrular biorraphv must close this sketch.
Co Neil was born and brought up in pine tent on the
hanks of the Cumberland river in Tennessee. At the age
fifteen he ran away from his father and made his way
| oP' He ado The
sion of arms. which he never renquished He has
been captain of rangers colonel OF militia guardsmsn TO
Mexican traders and general thefcacher for the shers
of many counties yet all his life has been long, merry
laugh And indeed he may be said have perfect right
to laugh ever had for braver warmer, more gen.
erous heart never beat in human BOSOM He deserves to
realize his avoune wish "to die laughing -S. lsS.
! MARRIAGE AMONG THE ST. JOHN lNDIANs.-Ihe editor
of the Easpo Sentinel thus describes the manner of WOO
ing and wedding among the ST. John On. b. Indians,
which he learned recent visit 10 their village, near
Fredericton :-'When young Indian wishes to take
wieat which time he has no idea who his coppercoor-
ed companion viii! be,-he makes his wish known TO his
parents The old couple then consult with the chiefs and
maons of the village, who discuss the matter, and decide
upon the briGe Feastiug and pOwwows now commence
during which the candidates for matrmony are brought to-
oeher the bride yelled that neither she or her husband
recognize each other After marriage, which is attended
with great ceremony The couple separated for space
Of five days-when the easting &C., being over they u
mite as man and wife and for the first time, each knows TO
whom he or she has been linked by the fates. believe
this custom approxmates very much to that of the Chinese
Frequently in both cases. believe, the parents of the bride
groom are obliged pay price, per bargain 10 the pa
rents who furnish the BRIDE"
TRANSATLANTIC TELEGRApH-An ingenious article on
this subject, by John A. Roebng, ESQ., civil engineer ol
Trenton, n j. is published in the New York Journal OF
Commerce Mr. r. has had much experience in the con-
sucon Of wire cable suspension bridges and acqneducs
and in the manufacture of wire ropes lie considers the
construction of line of telegraph wire the Atlantic
entirely practicable, and The cost not to exceed 81 3UOOOO
on which he thinks very large dividends may be expected
MANY things which first seemed peposteous have prov
ed to be not only practicable, but eminenty important and
valuable and therefore it would not be wise TO say that
even permanent telegraph the Atlantic may not be
into successful operation. Mr. Roebng rejects the
idea of floating telegraph by suspendng wire by foatS
and b,ovs at certain depth below the surface OF the
and approves one suggested time ago by Mr.
Iobn Wilkins of New York by sinking strong wire upon
the bolton of the ocean, lie goes into full and apparently
satisfactory details.
The Rich Men OF BosroN.-According to epamphle
published by John H. Easburn of persons copartners and
corporations who were taxed $4,000 aud upwards IT
lS49 there were eight who taxed for over half mil
lion property seyen for between 100000 and S5OOoOo
fourteen for between $780, 900 and 100000; twenty five
for between $20O000 and 30O000 and one hundred anC
twenty-five for between $780, 900 and 0O0-The fol
loving are the of those taxed for half million
e Abbott Lawrence, 81 ,0324OO; r. G. Shaw, 1920, 400
" David Sears, s752'600; Jonathan Phillips, $659,0O0
y Josiah Quincy, Jr., $4,000; John wees, $66o0o
~ c Thos. Wgglesworth, $3.50; John Bryant, s549700.