davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26
A FAST STORY.

| An Englishman was Dragging Of the speed
attained on English Railroads, to a Yanke e
traveller seated at his side, in one of fast train
| in England.
The engine bell was rung, as a train neaTed a
station. II suggested to the Yankee an op.
Portunity Of taking down his companion a peg
or two
What's that noise ? innocently INQUIRED
the Yankee.
We are approaching town. said the Eng
lishman they have 10 commence ringing
about ten miles b. fore they get to a station, or
else the tain would run by il before the bell
could be heard Wonderful isn't it? I
suppose you haven't nvened bells in America,
yet
Why, yes, replied the Yankee we We got
bells, but cant use them on our railroads. We
run so tarnal fast that the train always keeps
ahead Of the sound it's no use whatever the
sound never reaches the village till after the
train has passed.
Indeed, exclaimed the Englishman.
Fact said the Yankee, had to give up
BELLS Then we tried steam whistles-but'
they wouldn't answer either. was on loco
motive when the whistle was tried We were
going at tremendous rate-hurrcanes where
no whar, and had to hpld my hair on. We
saw two horse wagon crossing the track,
about five miles ahead, and the engineer let the
whistle or, screachng like trooper.
The next thing knew, was picking myself
out of a pond by the road side, amid the frag-
ments of the 'conotiye, dead horses, broken
wagon, and dead engineer lying beside
me. Just then the whistle came along, mixed
up with some frightful oaths that had heard
the engineer use, when he first saw the horses.
Poor fellow he vas dead before the sound of
his voice got 10 him.
After that We tried lights, supposing these
would travel faster than sound. We got some
so powerful that the chickens woke up all
along the road when came by, supposng it
to be morning. But the locomotive kept ahead
Of it still, and was in the darkness, with the
light close on behind it. The inhabitants petit
TONED against it they couldn't sleep with SO
much light in the night time. Finally we had
% station electric teiegraphs along the road,
With signal men to telegraph when the train was
n sight and hare heard that some eff the fast
rains beats the lightning fifteen minutes every
orty miles. But can't say as hatis Hue-
he Test know 10 be so"
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26

ADAMS AND Co. s CALIroRsIA ExPREssEs.-
In bringing in the returns of the last election in
California, the messengers ofth company made
the fastest time on record for such distances
In noticing the trip of Frank Ryan, one of Ad-
ans & Co.'s Express rider from Nevada 10 Sa-
cramento, distance of rs miles, which was
made in hours and ten minutes, the Nevada
Journal adds:
'Mr. Ryan made his return trip, leaving Sa-
cramento about hali-past six A. NJ, and arrived
in this city at IL O clock, NJ. Thus Mr. Ry
an has ridden I50 miles in 8 hours and so min
utes running time. We doubt if this feat was
ever equalled by white man.
Isaac w. Elwell. the rider of Adams & Co.'S
Express, from Placerv.le 10 this CITY, made
the trip in hours and 10 minutes-dislance "A
miles.
Sam White, the rider Of Adams IL Co. Ex-
press from Coloma to this city, made the trip in
two hours and fifty minutes.
/ Frank Ryan, messenger Of Adams & Co, from
Nevada, arrived here at l / o'clock 30 minutes.
being hours 20 mnutes-distance rs miles
his favorite horse Colonel lwell known for fast
running with Presidential news) made 90 miles
in 90 minutes
MIR. E. M. Hall, OF Adams & Co s Express,
brought the retorns OF Placer county from
Auburn TO this city, forty miles, in one
hour and hfty minutes, using only four hor-
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26

PoETRY.-What is Poetry? A smile. fear
glory, longing after the things Of Eternity
1t lives in all created existence-in man, and
every object that surrounds him. There is poe
try in the gentle influence of love and
affection, in the quiet broodngs of the soul ov-
er The memory ofearly years, and in the thou hts
OF glory chain our spirits to the ga'es of Para
disc. There is poetry in the harmonies Of ma
ture. 1t glitters in the wave, the rainbow, the
lightning, and the STARTS cadence is heard in
the thunder and the cataract-ts softer tones
gurgle sweetly up from the thousand voice
harps OF wind, and rivuet, and forest-the
cloud and the sky 60 floating over us to the
music Gifts melodes-and it ministers to Heav.
Ell from the mountains Of the earth, and the un
trodden shrines of O.ean.-Prentice.
Such unintelligible stuff is going the rounds
of our exchanges Nobody knows what it
means and most likely, nobody wishes to know.
The Louisville Journal has long been notorious
as Lunatic Asylum for poetry struck girls
and young men equally deranged, but the eds-
tor shows by this specimen of wordy fohy tha'
he deserves to be at their head. He has per-
feet right 10 The straw scepire, and each issue
Of his paper should be anHounced as in Sherl.
dams Critic. " ep.er Prentice, stark mad, in
white muslin. Poetry it seems, is "a fear, a
glory, . highfantin, Spanish cigar and q
hucklebery. ." Fellow" said an exquisite at
one Of our crack hotels, "some take Inc fob a
Spanyahd, some foh an Etalysh, some fob a
Fwenchman-what -~s0a take me fob -
" Why" said the Sophisticated bell-rnser,
/" take YOU f. purity considbal of a d
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26
From the Detroit Free Press.
THE PRACTICAL NECESSITY OF THE
PACIFIC RAILROAD


The democratic doctrine in regard TO the con
struction OF this work, it seems 10 us, is PLAIN
So far as the passage Of the road through the
States is concerned, there need be no room for
cavil, for the general government will not be
called upon to aid it, if at all, in any other way
than by the donation of lands. That this may
be done constituionally, one doubts And if
lands may be donated for its construction in the
States, the same thing may be done with even
more propriety in the Territories. Thus far,
there Is no difference of opinion among demo.
Gratis, wings, or abolitonis,s respecting the
question. Beyond this, in regard {, the appro-
priaiion of money to aid the building of the
road through the Territories, the single ques.
ton to be determined is, whether the road is
necessary for military purposes-for purposes OF
public defence. That it is neces sary for these
purposes does not admit of question and the
facts narrated By the Washin.to Union iucon
testably prove it. The manner of the approprI
a!ion, then, becomes a mere matter Of detail
The general government need not, and should
not, administer the road That would be utter
~ impracticable, if not unconstitutional But
money could be granted to company, on con-
ditlon that for all military objects, or objects OF
defence, the government should have the use OF
the road either perpetually or for definite peri,
Cd OF time A grant of money, under such re-
s''o'ohs, IL seems 10 US, Woulu De Iuiiy Winin
the purview the constitutional provision which
requires Congress to provide for the public de-
fence And by making it under the re s,rictions
and for the objects alluded to, no complaint could
be preferred that the government had engaged
| In works OF internal improvement. 1t has for
some time beer the practice of the country to
make grants Of money from the treasury to
steamship companies on the condition that they
should transport the government mails. If these
are legitimate granls-if such appropriations are
titutional-then most certainly grants to q
Pacific railroad company for objects of nationa
defence and protection must be legitimate and
constitutional
railroad to the Pacific is not merely neces-
sary; 1t has become indispensable, both to the
government and TO the people; and t is the duty
OF congress to lend its aid TO its speedy construc
tion IN every proper and constitutional way
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26

HORRIBLE MURDER At RIcHMoND.-Late
last evening we were put in possession of some
statements In relation to one of the most heart
less murders, according to the particulars given
us, that has fallen under our notice for some
time, which occurred at Richmond, in Ray
county on Monday last. MIR. Richard Allen,
one OF the best and most peaceable citizens OF
that county was shot aud instantly killed, by a
man by the name of Wingo.
1t appears from the statement furnished to us,
that Wingo had been intoxicated for about a
week Immediately preceding the day of the
murder, and had frequently announced his in
tention, during that time, of killing some one,
and that to this end, he had almost constantly
carried with him double barr-ed gun. On
Monday, Mr.. Allen, in company with MIR.
Burgess, was passing along the streets of Rich
mond on no rseback, and coming in front OF a
blacksmith shop, where young horse had been
thrown and bound down for the purpose of be-
ing shod, MIR. Allen observed that it was cruel
way Of shooting a horse. Mr.. Wingo being
present, asked how it should be done when
some words were exchanged, but not in anger,
whereupon Wingo left the shop.
In few minutes he returned with double
barreled gun, and asked Mr.. Allen to retract
what he had said Mr.. A. replied that he had
said nothing offensive and consequently had
nothing to retract. Upon this Wingo fired upon
Mr.. Allen, the charge taking effect in the FORE
head from which he instantly expired. Winyo
was arrested by the sheriff, and we hea that it
was with the greatest effoIt that the officer was
able to prevent the people from taking the law
into their own hands, and visiting upon the I'M
Fortunate nebriate that summary justice which
he circumstances would seem to have justified
If Lynch law is ever justifiable.
We give the particulars they were
furnished to us, without vouching 70: their
;orrectness.- Lexington Express.
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26

n 1t must be confessed that the lite of un
editor has, like every other, its peculiar annoy
ances and ve1ations. We have no more of
them, perhaos, than most of our brethren, and
certainly do not mean to put in here homily
Of lamentation over them; but we mean to
make an apology for putting on record the opn-
ion OF one of the Oldest and best known demo.
Gratis of Cedar county, in regard to the position
taken BY the Express in relation to the railroad
mania of the day. His friendly letter says:
Your views on the counties taking stock in
railroads meet my appreciation. Although you
stand, in the Language Of great statesman, SOL
itary and alone, at this time, yet the day VIII
come when the wisdom and principle of your
course will be acknowledged
For opinions such as these, and the hope of
their ful6llment, we can afford to stand the mis-
or abuse which attaches to all who
are not advocates Of what is progress "falsely
SO called"
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26
Saul Ste. Marie, Oct. 9, 1853.

GREAT FIRE-Our citizens can Judge some
thing ofthe extent of the fires in our woods in
the vicinity of Detroit, by the dense cloud Of
smoke which filled the whole atmosphere this
morning 1t is said that thousands of acres, oil
meadow and woodland, have been burned over
In the town of Greenfield several dwellings and
barns have been consumed, and The crops des-
troyed and wthered. The whole Of the Bio
Marsh is burned over, and has been smoking
and blazing for week past. The dry weather
and total absence Of rain for the lasttwo months
has made everything as" dry as powder
house" The fire is now reported to be within
four miles of Detroit, running towards Flat
Rock 1t has not yet crossed the Railroad,
but keeps southerly direction. We hear of
one man who succeeded only in saving horse
and buggy from his barn, which together with
his house and contents were burned to ashes
This is only one case out of score of others,
for several are in the same predicament.-
If we do not have rain soon, there is 40 know
ing where the fires will end. Cattle are said to
be roaming about the country in search Of food
and water, and many tinpbered lands and splen-
did farms are utterly ruined. The smoke and
fog filled the air with such density this morning,
that person could not see but few feet
abe ad.-Detrou Trib. i4th.
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26
ROCHESTER, Oct. 81

A mixed ticket tor State officers has been
proposed. meeting was held last evening,
Of business and influential men without distinc-
ton of party. They adopted an address to the
State Electors, and made up ticket from the
Wing, bunker and Barnburner tickets. The
obec. is to procure good men, and prevent any
one party from controlling the canal contracts,
and thus plumber the treasury. The address is an
able one.
Cook for Comptroller, Tuffar for attorney, Lee
gar for Trustee, Clark for Surveyor, Gates for
Canal Commissioner, Bennett for Prison In
spectop, Wood and Dennis for Judges.
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26

The MAIN Law IN MAINE.-Rev. }. ODon}
nell, Catholic priest al Portland, an activel
temperance man, and formerly strong suppor-
ter of the Maine law, is out in letter upon
that question, in which he states that drunken
ness, misery and crime, among his peopleI
have increased rather than diminished, by means|
Of this statute There is more sold and
used among the Irish population there now than
before.
1t is singular fact that in this city, where
there are fifteen hundred Catholics, and no tenn
perance agitation has been had among, them
none Of them have gone into liquor selling
We do not know Of an Irishnlan in town who
ellis rum -..Nep6urynert Union.
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26

The DUBUQUE LAND OrrIcE DEPOSITORY.
We had pre- spared an answer to certain COM
plants of the Burlington Telegraph in relation
to the deposits with the land Office of this dis
trict. But we find the matter noticed so well
by the Gazette OF that city, that we appropriate
its remarks. We direct attention to its article,
which, it strikes US, is most complete and
thorough justification Of the action of the Gov
eminent in the premises. 1t shows too, what
every examination Of his official acts will ce-
monstrate, the never ceasing attention Of Gen.
Jones to tine high interests of our young and
growing state. The action Of the Telegraph
editor In regard to the matter is exceedingly
well adverted to, and the Gazettes treatment of
it evinces that it sperfectly aware of the mar
row line which separates the keenly personal
from the abusive.
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26

One grain ,f chess will produce seven thous.
and grains. SO says Mr.. Grant, Of Conway,
Mich, he having had the patience to count
them, We do not doubt it.
Doc FIenr.-We learn that in New York
recently dog fight came off for $1,000 side
in which East Boston g Tige' was matched
against the New York dog g York Tige
was the victor, killed his opponent after fight
which lasted hours and ~ minutes.
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26
TELEGRAPHIC DISPATCHES.
For the Miers Express.
BY THE o'iEILLEY LINE.

BY THE o',EILLEY LINE.
WEHINsToN, October 10.
Levi B. Brown, Of Maryland, has been ap-
pointed IT, S. Consulat Bordeaux.
New YORK, October 10.
At a meeting of tie exiles in this city, it was
determined TO form ayolunteer legion, to be CON-
manded by Major Tuscrownski, to proceed to
Constantinople in case of war, to off its servi-
ces 10 the Sultan
The trial for man,laughter of the owners and
officers of the steamer Henry Clay, burned last
summer on the HUDSON, is now undergoing in
ves'igation before he U. S. District Court,
The Asia, with three days later dates from
Europe, will be up about 2 o'clock.
The steamship Arabia sailed to day with so
passengers, and 81 POO, 900 in specie.
Resolut ons endorsing the conduct Of Collect
or Bronson ana Disric. Attorney O'Connor,
were adopted last evening in the Young Mems
Democratic Club.
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26

STEAMBOAT ExPLosIos.-The .hiancsotidn,
learns that the steamboat Clarion, when on her
| down trip, burst one Of her boilers near LA
Crosse. Tw, Of the hands were badly scalded,
and others slightly. No one killed
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26
CINCINNcrf Oct 81

In the Matha Washington case to-day, the
counsel for defence made motion to quash
proceedings on the grounds that the u. S.
had no jurisdiction over land waters, and if
they had, the law giving it was unconstituion.
al.
Judge Mclean decided that the U. s. had
Jurisdictions, and that the law was constitu-
tiOnal.
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26
From the Norfolk Beacon
ORIGINAL LETTER FROM GEN.
WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON

Below we copy from the Newbern IN. C.)
atlantic the original letter Of Gen. George
Washington to the inhabitants Of that town.
The manuscript of the letter is in the possession
of James G. Stanley, esq, clerk Of the court
of Craven county, to whom it presented, in
1910, by Judge Francis Xavier Martin, on the
eve of his departure for Louisiana, to discharge
the duties Of Judge of that Territory, to which
he had been appointed by President Madison.
The Atlantic gives the circumstances connec-
ted with this letter, as follows: A convention
had been assembled in North Carolina to act on
the institution of the United States. That
convention rejected the constitution. After its
rejection, Gen. Washington was persuaded by
many, who were anxious to see North Carolina
adopted into the family of States, lend his
personal inf1uence to the attainment of that OBJ
ject. Hc tfrd so, ana came to Newbern, then
the capital of the State.) Immediately on his
arrival in the town, the citizens addressed him
letter, and the one we publish is his reply
1t has never been in print before, that we are
aware of.
Gen. Washington stiid in Newbern but
short time, and stopped at the house now occu-
pied by John Blackwell, esq, which is also rem
dered famous as having formerly been the
residence Of the ilustrious John Sianly,
one of the most revered Of Cardinals sons.
The following is the letter:
To the Inhabitants Of the Io,cn of .NepJcrn:
GINTLEMEN: express With real pleasure the
grateful sentiments which your address in
spires. am rouch indebted, in every personal
regard, to the polite attention of the inhabitants
Of Newbern, am less gratified by their pa
trioic declarations on the situation Of our COM
mon country. Pleasing, indeed, is me compare
ison which retrospect Of past scenes affords
with our present happy condition., and equally
SO is the anticipation Of what<we may still at
tain, and long continue 10 6rJoy.
A bountful Providence has blessed us with all
the means oil natona!atd domestic happiness
to our own virtue and wisdom are referred their
improvement and reaization.
That the town oflNewbern may cminently
participate in the general prosperity, and
its inhabitants be Individually happy, is my sim
ccre wish.
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26
THE RAZOR STROP MAN.

The following is good story of Smith, the
celebrated razor strop man, who so eternally shad
few more OF the same sort left We do not
remember to have seen it in print before
Smi had sold out his basket Of strops to a
''highy intelligent audience as he termed them;
and then, as he made it out clear case that
every man owning strop should have good
razor that tie strop might be used with proper
respect, he took out dozen of Rogers & Sons
best, and exclaimed
"Gentle- now let me sell you at auction
few OF the best razors that ever ucrc used,
ever were made to be used. or ever ,oiH be used !!
and how much am offered for one -
You can't (hic) never sell nothing if you
talk at that slow (hie} = -xci.imcd 'en..s-
pated, ragged habited disciple If Bacchus s. if
you ,hic} want to make EN- b'heve the (hc)
razor II cat quick. you ought TO sell 'em quick I!
That so, my hibity tp-toe, and I'm the man
that can sell 'em for ye, if (hic) ye only say the
word"
Seeing the man was intoxicated, Smith tried
hard to proceed with the sale, without appearing
to notice the interruption; but twas impossible
The fellow made some witty retori, that would
''bring down The house," to every remark that
Smith offered, and as human endurance could
stand it no longer, Smith suddenly turned to his
annoyer. and exclaimed
'Here, my good friend, you're SO drunk that
you don't know your wite's uncle from your
grandmoiher's aunt, and still you are talking to
me about selling razors that afe worth dollar
apiece. Why, sir, wish for people to shave
themselves, instead of doing you have DONE
let the rumseller shave you. And here you are
nterrupting me, and pretending you understand
my business better than do myself You had
better sign the pledge, old codger! you are too
drunk now to either buy SELL"
TRY me, Razor (hic) Strop Man! try me, y
was the cool rejoiner.
"Very well, says Smith; "here's an excellent
razor, and as you are anxious to exhibit your
skill in getting quick bids, you shall have fair
chance"
The old topper mounted the dry.goods' box,
swung the razor around his head few times,
and commenced
"Gen-erlmen! here pro-pub-lica bono
zor, an ow much am | offered fort /, Six cents
going, going once! going twice, and going
gone to me for six cents
Putting the razor in one pocket, and taking
from the other six coppers, and profering them
to Smith as pay, the old covy jumped from the
box, amid the crowd of convulsed spectators.
Smith laughed as hearty as the rest, refused
The coppers, gave the man cake Of soap and
strop, and acknowledged il the cheapest joke he
ever purchased in his life.
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26
G. WASHINGTON.

The CRYSTAL PALACE GARDEN.-As des-
cribed in a .ecep lecture in London, the gar
den will exceed anything ofthe kind conceived
in modern iimes In order to give some idea
Of The extent ofthe gardening operations, the
lecturer stated ihat 81, 900 scarlet geraniums had
been ordered 6r next years planting. These
would be reqared for the lialian terraces that
were laid ouS The old glass fountain had been
preserved. bN ii would be placed outside, and
greatly extedded in height. Passing on from
the fountaifdown the slope, h. described the
successinnbf water falls, which were made,
from distnce, to look like one, as seen, ON y
smaller sale, at Chatsworth. Then came the
lakes, wih their innumerable Jets, surrounded
with waks and green slopes, the latter being
sufficiealy extensive to allow 5000 to re.
cline atiheir ease and watch the effect of the
,founais ; and little further on, was the ter
minatag basin, in which there would be 100
jets. The water to supply the fountains was OBJ.
tainedfrom artesinn well, from which it was
forced 10 urge reservoir at the higher part Of
the gound, and smaller ones on the tops Of the
towr. From these elevations it would have a
force equal TO the delivery Of 1000 gallons per
secoad In another part ofthe ground there
wasa mound, surmounted by beautiful tenn
pie, ent,rely formed of trellices covered with,
roses. Many thousands Of persons could stand
upon the top Of this mound, and enjoy the
chsrming vistas it was intended to command.
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26

EF The weather begins TO be decidedly like
winter, and we are afraid that our Indian sum-
ner which has been so kindly with US for the
last two or three weeks, is a, last, packing up 10
leave
The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26

SISGULAR SUIT FOR THE VALUE OF Ne
GRo.-A MIR. johnson, who came passenger on
the steamer Arabic onher previous trip from
that boat for $ 900, the value ola negro boy
which Johnson had with him on the boat, and
who accidentally fell overheard and was drown
ed. The owner of the negro alleges that the
mate had ordered the boy forward to assist the
crew in ping wood the boilers, and that by
misstep while SO engaged, he lost his life
The action has been brought in one Of our
courts, and will come Up fer trial in February
ne ri