davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21
A Terrible Tragedy.

A citizen of Louisville, and one of the unfortunate passengers who took that awful leap down tho precipice west of Cumberland, has so far recovered as to w,ite home to his friends. His experi- ence was one which few would wish to share in /:
 II was asleep when we first got off the track, in the first seat of the second car, Mr. H., of Walkers, sitting right oppo. site. l lhad t;ms to jump of had I known how bad a fix we were m but believing Il safer to remain. on second thought, did so. The track was only 10 l~2 feet wide. as measured after the accident.-- The cars immediately fell over the prec. ipice. l thought of God, mother and death. The first jump. about twenty feet. my hat saved me {; the secord I faintly remember seeing women tearing their hair. and children screaming. The third, fou'ih and last jump l know nothing about, only that fell on my head and saw a thousand pieces Of timber and iron flying in the air, and then tainted. When l opened my eyes Mir. T. who was lucky enough to have been in one of the cais that remained on the track. was at my tide-my hesd was bleeding profusely 1; with that exception l fel. perfectly we'll. not feeling tben what suffer now. Such a sight as l bebeld. would not look at again for all the world ld--mu,ila,ed bodies some mashed to atoms. lying under the wheels fifty or sixty mcn and women. their faces covered with blood. running as wild as demons mothers with bloody hands and faces kissing the bodies of their dead or crippled ohildren-- one woman with her dress torn of. screaming end trying to lft oG the stones that had crushed he. husband-- H.. q merchant oi Baltimore. his leg smashed. sitting on . rock-- one mrn. having lost all recollec~ iion. looking like an idiOt-- cries of agony and despair. and oashs. mingled in .he presence of death. God is msTciful that one out of us all escaped. A worst place could not have been found. Hs we snmbIed over rocks sharp and rugged. !"
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

Grace Greenwond writes We went, last Sunday, tO see the blessin9 of heas,s--an aRnual ceremnny, which takes place a, tue chwHch 0f San Antonio Aha,e. There was acr0wd Of all descriptions aud classes 0l people, aInOOg the rest, vas, cOnvOca ti,nl Of beRHsrs, the crippled and meined iil endless varieties, wreckS and remnants, divisi0ns aud snhdivsinns nf men. A priest stosId On she steps nf the church, with l,oly water sprinkler ln his hrnd, and n hI,e hoy at his side, ,bearing the teRiiier the animals were trn',ed up hei,sre h,m--he read i;,rml Of benedlciOa in Latin. si,nok tue sprinkler at them. and they were good far iwclve- m0nth. or cNurse, lhis is done for cnn sideraiin0--as what is nni, in ile way ol church parades. privileges aad immunnies. The lirst applicants i0r l,eacd,c,ion, after 0ar arrival. were iwO Riserable cid cal horses, which lDeked as though the bless 4siaas of all the fathers Hf the charch eauld not keep them on their legs i;1 iwea,y tour hours. ! fear ille rite was extreme uncsI,n t0 them; and yet She owner doub,less led them sway. rejoicing i0 the faith that the ees'Fs were cheated nf the pnnr skeletons }ssM year iO c0ine.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21
LTTcHFIEL0 ENQUIRER.
LITCHFIRID-ApFll 2I, lSsS.
Rnlrilmal RaunIngs.

The Association of Congregational Ministers of New York and Brooklyn have taken up this subject with a view of investigating and explaining it. Al their annual meeting on Tuesday of last week, Rev. Charles BeeChcr, who had been selected to prepare report on the subject, presented it for acceptancc-and after some discussion and reluctance on the part of the Association. the paper was read to the meeting. Mr. Bcecher stated that he had given several weeks to the examination of the subject. that he had been obliged to enter into vo- luminous correspondence, and to read books of fiummery and nonsense. and he was so careful about it that some parts had been written and rewritten upwards of five times. His conclusion is. that the Rappings are not mere juggle, or inten> Iional ,mposture; that they have not their origin :n any hitherto latent action of electricity, magnetism, or any other nat ural or phy sical force that they arc not caused by the unconscious involuntary mental action of person "in the body ;;
 that it is not true that disembodied sPir. it's cannot communicate with persons still in the flesh that tue Spiritual Rappings are really caused by the spirits of tine departed, but not by tEe spirits of the blest: that they are deneoniac-shat is, the wo,k of devils, ,and that this is deW on- stra,ed by their general denial of the In- spiration of the Bible and of the great fundamentals of Evangelical Christianity and by their disinclination to vital piety.
 The report is to be published, and we hope now that such a body as this has given their attention to the subject, the investigations may be continued until the controversy is settled to their satisfaction The two or three crafty women of Koch ester who first commenced cracking their toes never imagined their foolish vagaries would engage the attention of such a body of men as the Association of min isters of the churches of New York, or that 800 disciples from all parts of the country, made crazy by their freaks. should meet at Springfield to establish a new dispensation," in which all Chris ,ianity is plotted out.
 Day after day the papers chronicle the suicide of one, the insanity of another. or the murder of third-new victims of spir;tualisn,, a delusion which is working more mischief than it's followers can ever hope to repair.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

EH In addition to the efforts of the Roman Catholics in several of the West ern States 10 do away with the system of Common School Education, the priests of Maryland have presented to the Le. gislature bill to abolish the presen, P lie School System in that State. Great excitement existed in Baltimore, and ar immense mass meeting was held to con sider this bold assumption of the people,. rights. The Cel.. Catholic paper ir Buffalo. in an a'ticIe upon the subject says 10 I'ishmen:
 "Beuer languish und die under the rec flag of England, than hve iO begei childrel uf perdumn under the flag of pruselylins Republic"
 In other words. it is better to bc tht victims of famine at homs. than to live ii this land where an education is provided for all children who will accept It.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

ABDUcrIoN.-The Danbury Times of last week gives an account of the abduc- ton of a young woman from her home in that place. under the following circum- stances. About. six weeks since, George Johnson, a colored man, whose residence has la,erly been in the southern part of the town, called in !he nigh, at the house of a Mr. Heddy, man in humble circum- stances, who lives in a retired place, and asked admiLtance. This was refused by Mr. H. On the afternoon of the follow ing day. daughter of Mr. Heddy, aged sixteen, was in lot at so,ne distance from the house, when Johnson came towards her, and, as the father affirms, compelled and forced her to go with him. Johnson has been seen with the girl in New Mil> ford and New Preston. She is represen- ted as having appeared very much travel won. and her face screened by close bonnet and handkerchief tied over a portion of it; her father thinks she is kept under his influence by fear of person q injury from him. if she makes any attempt to escape. A warrant for Johnson's ar> res: has been in sheliff's hands several weeks, but up to the present time he is at large. Johnscn's appearance is sufficient ly striking to fasten it upon the bebolder his face is very much dis6gured and drawn one side, in consequences of burn received in his youth. Mary Ann, the girl, is short and thick set. with gray eyes. Whatever may have been the in faencs by which this negro has carried away white gi'l. the cause of justice will be subserved by his arrest. Any information of his detention or where abouts communicated to Sheriff Morris of Danbury will receive his immediate attention.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

TERRITORY oF WAsHIx TON. The new Territory oi aslin.,ni,, created hy ,hc last Congress, comprises that part oi Ore. Ion which lies north of the channel of Columbia river, to where il er0sses the 4(s,h degree Of latitude, and thence along said degree 0f latitude. |" the top of the Rocky Mountains. The land occupied hy msion ary stations, no, exceeding GAO acres ,o each, together with improvements, is ex. pressly confirmed !" the Missionary Socie iies which established the same. S,a,ions that were &" occupied prior la lhe passage "f the act organiz'ng the Territory of Or. eg"n, are also confirmed ,0 the Socie,ies which esia hlished 'hen, even though thev have since been sbandoned.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21
hope to repair

SOMETHING NEw.--Frcnch Broeatelles are now manufactured in the Naugatuck Valley. At Humphreysville machinery is in operation which executes the most complicated patterns with the incest pre- cision. This is the only instance in the world where this article is woven by machinery, and Yankee ingenuity will now compete with the pauper labor of Europe.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

CIrIzEN's BAxK-Ths books of sub. scription to the capital stock, of this Bank, to be>located in Waterbury. were opened on Wednesday. agreeable to notice. and the whole amount subscribed. The Di ,ectors consist of Messrs. James N. L. Scovill. Norton J. Buel. John 0. Booth, Charles B. Merriman. John S. Mitchell Abram Ives. Samuel w. Hall, Lyman ". COs. Frederick ]. Kingsbury.
 At a subsequent meeting of the Direc. tors. Absam Ives was elected President, and Frederick J. Kingsbary cashier.-- The Bank will so into operation on ths let of July nexl.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

Cool lMPUDENcE.-There is gentleman residing in Western New York, whom, in default of his real narne we will call the Colonel He has one son, Ned, rather a grAceless youth. full nf all the wild pranks in which students generally exceh Being home during vacation, 'he corresponded regularly wrh h,s chunl, who by q sreeneD,. WIS tO keep him p.'sled up' in regard .n everything that ,ransp.red with him wor- thy Of no,e. or course he was very care tnl to keep all his preciaus epsi:es from ii,e eye M the COlOneI, and as Ned was 'CJl. Jr.," tt became nesessarv lO watch the mail arrivals closely. ss his chum wasn't very particnlsr in adding ,ha, distinguishing Seaiure iO his name.
 Que day he rode around io the Post or. hce. ss usual. and found aN his d,sn,ay ihal J"e, the 4rAon, had taken the letter and le;i for hnme. He started al galIOp, bu, was unable ,o make up the time, i;,r Joe arrived ahead. Hnping that nothing yer! bad would cOuIe OI ii, l,e marched in ,t dinner as cavalierly as possible. Onc glance at the COonet's face revealed ,0 hiln ths he was in for ii.
 The subs,an,ials being disposed of, a usual ,le lady mother left ihe r,m,M, an ietl Ned and Colonel slipping their wine.-' Lelsnrely pulling the letter from his pocke, t.e Colonel passed it to Ned, and aske hun what he thought nl it. Ned qnie.l pernsed it, iis contents heinz an account , his chnM's duinGs. both Iawlnl and un.a " fal. and endm1 ny urging him ,o c,me [ him without delay. Ned linisled il in 6 lence. and hand'ng it back 10 his lalAev saMl: p
 ." Well. sir, considering your age sn staihon in lte think you keep very ba company !" and hrf0re the C0!one: cOut rsc'ver himself sufficiently to reply. he van ished from the apartment.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

Fire at the Navy Ya,d.-A fire broke out on Sunday morning last in the loft oI one of the timber houses in the Navy Yard, New York, and such was the fury of tine flames, that the whole building was speedily enveloped. and ultimately en> tirely destroyed. It is supposed the fire was caused by spontaneous combustion. The loss on the building and contents is estimated at over $lOO,OuO.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

@- In Italy and Hungary the state of excitement and terror continues. No ona retires to rest without the aPprehen, sion that he likewise may be reused from his sleep by the agents of arbitrary des. po,ism. to be dragged to prison. The panic by which tho mililsry rulers are seized. b 90 great that In Italy no Aus. uian officer ventures into the street with. out an escort. while as 0lmuls ilself-- n 1898 tho place of refuge of the lmpe> rIAl family--h has been found neoessary 10 protect the senlrles by sironR vAik from the ill feeling Of the pesplS.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

WASHINGTON NATIONAL NoNuMENr,-- George Wa'ersnn, Esq. Secretary of ,he Washington National Monument Sorieiy, in acknowledging the donation .nf SI ,O0O from lle Sansnme Hook aud Ladder Company, of San Francisco. says:
 The name of this company will, as i. deserves, be inscribed on the tablet in the mOnn ment, assigned to such as shall have contributed one thousand dollars. Madame B'scacc!anii. wh0 so pa,rolicaly v con,r,bu. ed the proceeds of concert given in San Francisco for Ina! purpose, of five hundred dollars, will also be hon"red by having her name inscribed on a ,ab able, in this structure. with others. who have contributed, or may hereafter contribute. sums varying fron "ne hundred tO ore thousand dollars, as an evidence of their love and admiration for the founder of the liberty of his cnun,rv. California seems SO far iO have taken lhe lead in the liherahty of her contributions. ,,
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21
NAVAL FORGE.

According lO lhe Navy Register for the curren, year, the following is the naval force of ti,e United States , Eleven ships of the line, carrying s60 guns; of these, three are ;n commission as receiving ships, three in ordinary, four il, stocks, and one preparing for sea. The Independence, a razee, carrying 54 guns, IS ..lsO preparing lor sea. ." .. Twelve frGs ies orlhe first md one of the second class, carrying 564 guns. Oi these five are iO cOmmis ;iOn, four in ordinary, two 'in the stocks, and two preparing for sea.
 Twen,y.one sloops of war, carrying 40o guns. or these, fifteen are ih commission, one n ordinary, and one preparing for sea Four brlIs, carrying forty guns Ol these, three are in commission, aud one preparing for sea. Also, four scI,ooners, carrying seven guns. w" of which are in commission, one in ordinary, and one pre-. parIng for sea.
 Five steam frigaIcs, carrying forty guns, all in commission; four s,eam mers of !he first class, carrying eighteen guns-tw0 of which re ID commission, one repairing, ,and one preparnH for sea and seven steamers less than first class, carrying five guns, three Of which are in comm ssnlI. two ore. pairing for sea, and two employed as | tenders.
 Five store ships, carrying twen,y>iom guns; ih:ee ol them arc in commission, and one preparing for sea.
 This gives a ,utal of fseventy-five vessels "i all k!nds, carrying two thousa nd guns.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21
HroH PRICED REL,elos.-Dow, IT,, Il

HIGH PRICED llELIGInN.-Dnw.J IT,, the eccentric preacher, tn allusion i0 the exclu> s's'n "i miamy w0utd.he church .g0ers from the sanctuary, hy reasnn of ihe enormously high pew rents in our fashionable churches, charac'er's'ically remarks: srhere is a h'Ih duty an lhe lashMnabls waters oi divine grace. and you have l0 pay al leas, a penny apiece far n,hhe q, the bread Oi Ute. T0 z" io church, In aHy kind ef lnl srsble style. cos's heap every year, and kaow very well why mai'Tiiy of voa 9o 'o Beelzebuh. because you caah afford ia gn iD heaven as the present exhorbilanl prices.'
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21
n+ The convicted murderer Spring is

n The convicted murderer Spring is now charged with two more murders one is of Mr.. Rink, killed in his store some time since, of which the evidence is strong ; the other that of Mr. Hope. who was murdered on his farm near Phila~ delphia ten or twelve years ago. This would make four murders he has com mitted.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21
APPLE TREEs Ku.LEn av Dc

APPLE TREES KILLED BY PorAsH.-- Medicines in excess 6eeope 2o,snns, The New England Farmer n,eM'ons the case M an ucl,ard 0f Hne hundred and six,v thrifty Baldwins, that were washed wuL n solnI'"n 0t pound I potash in a rallon "F water Tue owner found n two davs that he had killed the whOle af his heauii- lnl and valuable trees. Soap studs ar asnea 'n water are strong enough. Guano is an exceilsn, thing Iar trees, and salt is son,e- 'ln'eS Mn0di hut iI IS 0ne 0r the pasips, lh'nGs ID the world to kiIl trees with lhem to exceas.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

An" April Fs@l" document was received ai ,he Palmner Ps,s, Office un the Isl instant, addressed l0 OMe 0f ,he P.1l Office appl,. canIs, which he opened and found tO con. tain, instead Of . PlsImaaler's enmmissm'n, a--r'll nr wrapping paper. The other APpl'oaMia Er the sane place supposed the vlel'mised man had really seosivsd the sp' polEimont.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

vTLe Committee on Railways in the Massachusetts Legislature have reported a bill to charter the continuation of the Canal Railroad in this State to Spring. 6elj. The name is to be Tbe Spring field and Pennington Valley Railroad"
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

A Loaier ~ha had hs Chr .simas load on, - sleiclsed np' aaains. . house which had hesn newly painted. Shaving himself clear DyA vs9nFnas efisfs. he loak oMe glinpee at hle ahnulder. anasllrr at the hoase. aMd q third ai his llsnd and exclaimed s-sWell, ihaa isa GsrBd careless tuck iN wh0eSer painted ihsi h0ase. ." lsave !, slandnR 0u, sll ulghl liig ths peap!e to run agsinal.'
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21
A New York eoF.

WAsnIne BY S1EAM.--A New York cor -rtsIrsAlieni sal Iiia -Bus'on TranSer'pi. in describing the new SI. Nicholas Hotel iE that ei.v. thus refers IO tue steam washing u,achime in the basement Or the building:
 ",phis is something new under the sun.
 Four hundred pieces are IlIruwn into c'"i- ,nder, halt filed with water and soap sudS. This Is thrown into rapid revolution by a si,all steam enRne. Steam is then 'eI into the cylinder under the water aud clothes, whlcE ralses the clothes out Ol water, pass ing-Ihr0ugh the pores of the fabric, aud out al the top Ot the cylinder. The clothes are ,IhrOwn down agaIn by the pressure Ui sleam into the suds, and sU on. The chan
 ges thus produced by rhe rapid revolution, and by the passage Ot the steam through the clOihing, washes them perfectly clean in the space of ten minutes. Tue clothes are then thrown in body in another cylln' der, aud wruDg by Ihe revOluIiun of tue cylinder aud then hy ielling in hol air, ,wh hicI' passes through the clOihnS, they are per isc,ly drIed, ready tnr ironing in seven min
 utes. The whole time occupied tn waslIiIg wringing, aud Gryng, is bU, seventeen min, UIes. The advantages OI this apparatus are-6rSl, aH immense saving of tune and expense in washIn0-second, the finest cambr:cs can be washed without wearing them out Or injnrin1 the texture, as Is nee. cssarily done by rubbing.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

np Mr. Brooks. of the New Yo'E Exp'ess, writes home from Havana, that the accounls of " insulls Co our Bag" and OIher similar ouIrages ere found. upon exanlnAtiOn, to be greedy sxaggsTated.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

State vs. Ira Decker, Jr., ct. al.- Prosecution for burglary Verdict Guilty as to all but Ira Decker, Sen, and as tc him the Jury did not agree. For State, States Att'y and Peck. For Defts. Fl, more, Granger and Hitchcock.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

A Maine Yankee" announces, through the National Inlell'gencer, the invention nf form of road and improved locomotive, which, he says, will safely transpor. the mails and passengers al the rate of one Hundred miles per hour! The writer lur> ,her says he has been made acquainted with the de,a,ls of these improvements, which are so palpabiy c"rrec, in theory and feasible in practice, that every cIv'I en
 gineer and railroad man will, on cxamina> ''on,at once recognlze and admil,ss the de. s,deratum, even to the ex,en, of safety aud speed indicated" The mex, Congress, i, is said, is to be invited 70 secure it's sdop. lion, aud give 10 ,le world !he resul; of th. first experiment.. .u
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21
State vs. Thomas Riley. Plea Guilty for assault. .v. ..

StGte vs. OliVer B. EOitts.-Prosecu. ton for seduction. Plea no, Guilty. For State. States Atty and Treat of Kent. For Delft. Sanford and Hubbard.
 This case is still on.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21
COUNTY COURT.
APRIL TERM, 1858.

April 20M.--The following criminal cases have-been tried up to this date:
 StGtc vs. ZrG Decker, Jr., ct. GL.- Prosecution for stealing Verdict Guilty. For State J B. Harrison State Attorney. and Peck Of Norfolk. For Defts, Elmore, Granger and Hitchcock.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

A THRILLING INcIDENT.-The old flag s.aR al JeffrrsOn Barracks, Missouri, hay, ing becnme decayed, was ordered to be ia. ken down few days since, and, according
 ly, soldier UI Col. BraIg's battery named Mic. Gl MeAnallv, mounted lO the cross- ,iees and uushipped the inTmasi; Gron, some ca use It hecame unmanageabIe, and gi'ded through the platform ,o the ground. The man at the masthead kep! his post cOmpnsedly, and gave timely warning iO the parry below !" tO stand from .inder."- Most :l,en with Q spar Atty feet l0ug, shOOi- lng and raspIng like arrow through their hands, with an insecure footing al a dizzy height. would have "leii the yard," and lnmbIed from tie platform. While the party below were removing the top-masl, iO the dislnay and cOns,ernalion of the by~ islanders, the nain~lndst with the soldier sllll ;.,ised ai the Masl-hcad, now swayed over, broke sh0r, off al the base, and plum Ied with tremendous crash to the ground. The soldier, in the meantime, was seen to change h,s position as the masl went over, and circlng high through the air with fri9hIiul. veIorily. ne, with perfect selI:pos- sesson, adjusted himseli to clear the frame work of the crOss-i trees. aud as the mast neared the ground, he, evidently with a measured leap, alighled amidst his com radts All were startled with ans cement, as much by Ihe ,n,rep,di,y displayed, as by the i,nm'neni peril ii averird. The main- mas, was iHr.y eight leelhigh; the solder landed al fifty from it's base.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

A msn hnvlna asked, 't'ow many dog days fllege were ln yssr.' Freeivrd Er an ansWeFs aiaat li was impossible IN numhtF ihem, sns every dag hsd his day.'
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

1rMarcsllas Clark has been appoints cd Postmaster at New Britain, in place ot FEederick Knapp.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

CHINA.-Dstes from Hong Kong to the 2S'h Of January announce the arrival of the United States Minister, the Hon. Hum phrey Marshall. Accounts have reached Canton fiom the seat of the rebellion, and also frnm Shanghai. Both agree in the re- port "t, il'e rapid and successful advance oi lhe rebels |; ,he latter say that the rebels were ciuse ,o Han Row Chid, one of phe largest. marts ioI trade tn the Empire whlle the Cantun accounts state that a great part of the city had been des,rnyed ny fire and was in possession uf the rebels. 'rher object was to advance aud capture NaRkin, about 65O miles distant from Han Row Gnu. Other towns are said ,O have ialen t0 the rebels, and considera ble Qnan. ,liies ei military stores to have beem caps iureo by them; iley appear no, to m"lesl the penple, aud do not retain the places subdued, but keep advancing. ll is admit. led they are i1rn,I,la bie. and fight wonders tulIy.;" using big guns." It is stated lha, tue Impe. ial Treasury IS empty, and large contributions are exacted from all the provinces.
Litchfield enquirer., 1853-04-21

A Farmer, when A'Qgellaling two or his n.ru'v o"ys, was asked what ht was doing, ""SNaahing wild oats," wae his reply.