Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-02-17


ALARM PisToL.-One of the most curious and
ingenious inventions we have seen for long time
was shown to us yesterday. 1t is the Joint nyen-
tion of Messrs. G. Kneisly and H. Best of this
city. In shape it resembles the barrel of COM
mon pocket pistol. In the place of stock it has
sort OF piston-rod in the breech, which is drawn
back by spring, and in this way driven against
percussion cap placed inside, which explodes,
causing the pistol to discharge. thanksgiving
On 'he siae OF the barrel takes the place of lock-
py wncn the pistol may be discharged in the
nahd. by very simple apparatus it can be
fastened to common door the openinp of
Which Will cause tito discharge We regard it as
perfect security against thieves md house-
breakers, and to travellers who are in the habit Of
lodging in public houses should think It indis-
pensable. We understand that it is the intention
OF the inventors to have it patented immediately
Dayton Empire.
GooD LUcK.-The Washington correspondent
of the Charleston (S C.) " Standard" narrates
a piece of intelligence from California which
must be gratifying to the friends of the Hon. L.
Il. Holmes, member Of the last Congress from
that district who, failing in a reelection, went
to California Soon after his arrival he pur-
chased, for $4,000, and professional fees in the
case, an interest in some valuable real estate in
San Francisco. 1t was in litigation, but the
Supreme Court of California has decided the case
in Mr.. Holiness favor; and he is now actually
receiving ground rent of 81 900 per month in
advance, or All annual income, independent of his
profession, of $4,000. He rents the lots, and
the tenants build the houses. This is decidedly
better than serving the public in Congress- y
CAT IN THE MEAL.-Two barrels marked
"new corn NEAL" came into the depot in Au-
gusta, by Carpenters express, directed to no one.
ha1 foh ha ohnr,t ,nL<
that it looked like suspicious heap. ' 1t may
be meal,' said he, '"but there can be no harm in
examining it," Accordingly he waited upon the
express man, and took the barrels into his own
custody. On opening them, each one contained
another barrel, surrounded by a little " new corn
meal'-one of them full of rum, and the other
full of brandy. AS they were directed to nobody,
nobody has lost anything
A carrier, whose ''daily walk and conversa-t
ton" on Prospect street, occasionally INDUCES
in poking fun at those he meets, and few eveh-
ings since free-and-easy remark of his offended
the gentleman to whom it was addressed, who,
turning suddenly, planted a 'tnumber twelve
pegged heel' in the urchin's rear, giving him
lengthy turn ahead" The boy neither whim-
pered nor looked back, but, reasoning from the
force of the kick the impression made, and the
sensation retained, shouted, "SqIiare-toed, by
thunder !'-Ucpeldnd Herald.
Mr.. BUCHANAN The Wilmington "Daily
Journal declares that it has every reason to be-
lieve that the Democracy of .,orth Carolina has
already made its selection, and its first choice
for the Presidency has fallen upon Hon. James
Buchanan, of Pennsy ylvania with whose name is
associated that Of Hon. Robert Strange; this
ticket having been preser ted by the Democracy
| Of Duplln, and having been received favorably by
various papers throughout the State.
l
JENNY GoLDscHMIDT AND THE BLACK SWAN
The Boston Post " records the following dia-
logue
lst cab-"say, Bill, did you know that
Jenny Lind gave thousand dollars to Mss Green
| field, last week."
ID, Cub" No; you don't say so! What for?"
Ist. CoG.--" Well, can't tell-spose though she
wants her to keep dark"
A correspondent informs us that there is Mt
Thompsonvle a knitting machine, haying 900
needles on its wheel each of which takes in six
threads at time, thus giving 5,400 stitches at
revolution The wheel will easily revolve twenty
times minute, thus making in that space of
time los, 900 stitches This machine is only one
of many in the same factory.
Springfield Republican.
The owners of the elephant Columbus have
| sued the town of Adams, in Massachusetts, for
$50, 600 damages, for the defective bridge which
caused the death of their elephant. According to
this measure of damages the life of an Elephants
worth that of four men, $5,0 900 being the maxi
mum of damages allowed by our laws for death
by railroad accident.
MORE GOLD DUsT.-The town of Parkersve,
! Mo-, has been thrown into state of intense ex-
citement by the arrival of n band of Indians from
a hunting expedition, who bring with them large
quantity of gold dust, finer than California dust
The Indian from whom il was purchased says he
obtained it on this side of the mountains about
! 700 miles west of Parkersville.
! AvALANCHE.--A mass of snow, weighing about
two TONS slid from the roof of two-story house
in Boston, few days since, falling directly upon
II lady named Farran, from Danvers, whom it
crushed to the pavement, completely burying
her. She was taken out very seriously injured.
NORFOLK AND PETERSBURG RAlLRoAp.-Mr.
Albert H. Campbell who has made the survey
and estimates of railroad from Norfolk to Peters
burg, Virginia, puts down the distance at q trhe
more than sevcntv-nine miles, and the cost at
1896, $50.
1t is estimated that 81 900 bushels of coal were
sunk by the sudden breaking up of the ice in the
Ohio river. on the 2d instant and that the loss is
about $4,000. Three men were carried
the falls in a boat but they we're all rescued with
out injury.
A Convention of Spiritualists is to take place
shortly at Cleveland, Ohio, mt the urgent request
of the spirits. The object is to call together the
mediums, compare notes, counsel together in re-
lation to recent manifestations, and strengthen
the cause Of spiritualism
STrMpfNG TOO FAR.-One of the best jokes Of
the season. is the statement that one Of the can
didates for Governor in New Hampshire, who is
stnn ninn the Stnte.N got some thirty miles into