Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-09-17
AN Exc,rIss SCENE.

sengers arrived on board steamer from
Memphis to Cincinnati. Our attention was
called to an unusual crowd hocking from be-
low on deck, with the captain, and two OIL
three officers of the boat We joined the
crowd ia search of an incident to drive a.
way the monotony of steamboat trip. Up
on arriving at the spot which seemed to be
the centre of excitement, we found man
in quaker-lille attire, seated on large chest,
declaring that it should not be broken open
unless they killed him. Soon from the
chest, as if in distress, was heard voice
apparently from colored person. .
Let me eut-rd RAIDER 60 back to nnassa
Oh mercy! Ican't stay here no longer
Look here, my friend, said the captain,
you'll have to get off that chest.
I'll be darned If do, he replied.
Oh dear let me out let me out came
from the chest in tones of sufiocation.
Mate said the captain, bring some men,
take that person off the chest, and break il
open!
The person showing fight, was seized
and dragged off, as it was supposed ne was
carrying off, Mr.. Darkey, contrary to law
made and provided. The mate took aniron
bar and forced it between the lid and the
body of the chest.
Oh don't! You will kill me said the
stiaed voice. Oh dear want to get out
want to 90 back shall die
Hold out just little longer, said phil
anthropic looking individual, and you shall
soon be released.
An intense feeling of excitement now
peryaded the crowd, but the mate soon sue
ceeded in removing the lid, and as it swung
from the chest, an unearthly demoniac
laugh seemed to issue from the old clothes,
with which it was filled, while not a living
thing was seen. Amusement now was de-
picted on the countenances of the bewild-
cred lockers on. We were soon let into
the mystery by the captain, who informed
us of what he was before aware, but had
forgotten--that the inimitable Fakir of silva,
the renowned ventriloquist, stood by appa-
rently curious spectator of the proceed
ings. must acknowledge the whole was
so natural and the stiaed voice so perfect,
that it was hard not to believe that some
supernatural agency had been employed in
emptying the chest of its contents Gin.
Eng.
CENTS IN 1S14.-Few, probably of our
adult readers have forgotten the excitement
caused, in the year 1882, by the popular
belief that the cents of the coinage of 1914
contained some portions of gold. Like all
epidemics, this had its day, but during its
prevalence it was fearfully fatal to the
peace of mind of country boys, and lasses.
Many was the shilling stored up against
general-training, or independence-day, that
was wasted upon the purchase of these IN
significant coins. The price of them even
ran up six times their real value the pur-
chasers were positively insane, and like
the tulip bubble and the South Sea scheme,
men, women and children rushed into it
without thought either of cause or conse-
quence. At last, it collapsed, and many q
poor boy, looking forward to "high-dutch-
ers," Crane sled, ''snow snake" or
some similar instrument. felt himself reduc-
ed to an absurdity, and cut short In his ca
reer of amusement. The real history of the
whole matter is this: 1t was supposed
that the copper coinage Of the year 1914
was less than that of ordinary years. wheth-
er it was so or not we are not able TO say.
On this premise, bet of one thousand dol
lars was made, between two gentlemen, to
the effect that the one would procure, with
in a given time, certain number of coins
of that date. Accordingly, a report was
put in circulation, that the coiners of the
cents had by accident spilled in the cruci-
blesofcopper quantity ofgold. This stupid
hoax operated, like all similar swindles-it
took. The cents of that date soon became
rare enough, in circulation, being preserved
whenever found, and the result was that
the gentleman who proposed the bet, won
if, at an expense, however of nearly twen-
ty-6ve per cent. of the amount-that is, of
$3.50. A friend, who is perfectly yersed in
money matters, and whose duties require OF
him an intimate acquaintance with coins of
every description, has stated to us curious
fact relative to these coins. He asserts that
the coppers of 1912 and 1914 may be read
ily distinguished by their peculiar appear
ance, and proved the truth of the assertion
in our presence, by selecting from among
five hundred coins, without looking at the
date, all that were coined in the Sc years.
He pointed out to us the peculiarly,
which is evident enough.-Ba6dlo Courier.
The AMERICAN FLAG IN FRANcE.-The
Paris correspondent of the New York ex-
press relates the following incident:
ga young American lady presented a
small United States flag to gentleman who
ascends every Saturday with nj. Poitevin
in his monster balloon, the Globe. This the