Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-12
ITEMS OF NEWS.

since the burning Of the Tunnel Bridge, on the
Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad about five
miles South Of York, and since learn taat the con-
aagraton came very near being followed by one
of the most terrible disasters that has lately oc-
Cured in railroad travel II is supposed that the
bridge took FIRE from the freight trains, which
passed about halfpast 7o'clock in the morning,
and the structure was totally enveloped in flames
before il was discovered by the rssissats in the
vicinity. AT about o o'clock the kame work Of
the bridge fell through, and among the spectators,
some twenty in number, was little boy about
twelve years of age, named Eli Rheem, who, re-
membering that the express passenger train was
then about due from York, started off at the top
of his speed TO endeavor TO stop the train, which
he knew must be close at hand As soon as he
reached the curve, about two hundred yards from
the BRIDGE he obsered the train coming on at full
speed, and fearing that he would be unable to stop
them unless by the use of extraordinary means,
the noble little fellow took his position on the
track, and running towards the approaching train
with his hands raised, caught the attention Of the
engineer, who Immediately reversed his engine,
and stopped within four hundred yards Of impend-
ing destruction, the piers being some twenty feet
from the rocky bed below, and the gap some sixty
feet wide. Had the boy not placed himself on the
track, he would doubtless have failed in his noble
effort, as the engineers are so often cheated by
mischievous boys on the route that they seldom
pay attention 10 them. Even when he stopped he
thought that he had been cheated by a youngster
with more daring than his associates, and was
surprised TO see the little faxen-headed fellow
stand his ground, and endcavorng to recover his
lost breath TO answer his question to the cause
of his Interruption, We learn that the passengers,
when they ascertaned the cause of the stoppage
Of the train, and viewed the precipice over which
they were near being dashed, literally rewarded
the boy for his presence OF mind and daring, and
that the Board Of Directors at their meeting yes
terday appropriated 500 as an additional recon-
pense. Eli Rheem, boy buttwelve years OF age,
was the only one Of twenty persons present, most
of them men, who had forethought sufficient for
the occasion. Baltimore american.
The RIGHTS OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS TO
SEATs.--The marine court of New York have
rendered an important decision in favor Of action
of railroad conductors in ejectng passengers from
seats into which they had obtruded themselves.
Two men sued the Hudson River Railroad Com.
pany for five hundred dollars damages each for
assault and false Imprisonment. The facts are,
that they came on the cars at Sing Sing, where
they had drank more bad rum ttan was necessary
to improve their manners. The seats in the cars
were all occupied but gentleman had left his
seat TO enjoy cigar in the baggage car, and this
seat the plaintiffs took possession Of and refused
to give 1t up when called upon, and when applied
to by the conductor used profane and obscene
language offensive to ladies'. Upon this the con-
ductor with necessary assistance, elected the
parties from their seats, and, to prevent their vo
lence, confined them in small room until the
train arrived in the city. For this action was
brought The court justified the action of the
conductor and dismissed the suit We hope this
will be taken as a precedent in all future cases Of
a similar nature. It was full time that the ques-
ton was settled, that "though passengers are
emitted to their seats, and not to be ruthlessly
thrust out by every interloper, drunk or sober,
that chooses to crowd himself in, as in the pres
ent case, TO the annoyance of alady.--Ncao York
Tribune.
CoLoRRD THEoLoGIAN IN TRoUBLR.-The ST.
Louis InteHigecey the 9th u says that the trial
of the Rev. II. r. Revels, the colored theologian,
for being in the State without license, has been
continued from day to day, until it seems TO have
become part of the regular business of the re-
corder's court All the cases proceeding out of
the late disturbances in the African Church pro-
coed slowly, owing TO the fact that one witness
will swear point black contrary 10 what another
does. Each seems TO think that he must testify
for his side right or wrong. As near as we can
find out, the whole row grew out of the minister
calling hard names, and especially his comparing
certain society in the church to tadpoLes. Speak
ing of this society, he says: This church was
never intended for any such society, nor for tad
poles I'd genus ozans." The calling them tadpoles
was hard lick but the Latin smashed them en-
trely; II adding insult to injury, and was not
to be endured. They took that for another epithet
so opprobous that il had to be covered upin Latin
and were probably affected by it as the billings
gate fisherwoman was by DIR. Johnson calling her
an article, noun, verb, pronoun, inteuection, and
so on through al the parts of speech. People are
usually worst affected by what they least under
stand. IN
IA SINGULAR ACCIDENT happened to the steam
boat Reindeer on the 18th ultimo, as she was
about to leave the wharf at Alton for ST. Louis.
Just as she was leaving, she blew out the star
board end Of her mud receiver; an unusual cir
cumsiance, the like of which, several steamboat
men informed US, has very rarely occurred. The
explosion was violent, tearing away the breach
ing Of the boilers, dispacing boiler used for
pumping out the main boilers, and hurting several
bales of hay, lying on the guard, into the river.
Bricks, mortar, fragments Of iron, and scalding
water were scattered over the forward part OF the
boat and on the wharf. Window panes in the
houses fronting the river, were broken by the
water thrown against them. Had il not been that
the guards ofthe boat lined with bales of hay
which, in a measure, received and warded of the
hot water and flying missiles, several lives might
have been lost, as quite number Of persons were
on the wharf, near TO the boat. Five persons were
injured more or less Three men--two of them
6remen on the boat, and the other bystander on
the levee-were scalded.
LEARNED, FAMOUS, HELPLESS, AND STARvrHe--
The Rev. DIR. Norman, formerly Of the Episcopal
Church Of England, in whose service he accepted
mission TO Africa, having relinquished his ar
duous duties, has resided for the last eighteen
months in Texas, where he met with the dreadful
misfortune, through long and severe illness,
Of being deprived Of both hearing and speech, is
now living in Cincinnati, mute, and in very des-
titute circumstances. Efforts are being made
there by the benevolent 10 relieve him. DR.. Nor.
man was born in London, and graduated at the
German Universities. He is the author Of quite
a number of essays in various languages, and is
conversant with and writes twenty-five different
tongues, acquired in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Fowl SALEs.--The beautiful and rare collection
OF foreign fowls which have been on exhibition in
the American Museum for some time past were
sold al auction in the Museum on Saturday morn
ing The sale was one of interest TO bird fancers
and there was large attendance. Over eleven
hundred tickets were sold previous to the CON-
mencement Of the sale. A pair Of Japanese pea
cocks brought 500, and pair Of Mandarin ducks
$3.50. Both were bought by Mr.. Billings, of Hart
ford, Connecticut A pair Of white swans were
sold for 500. A pair Of black ones fors99 One
beautiful black swan was knocked down TO Mr..
Everrit, Of Reading, Pennsylvania, for 500. -Four
silver seabrights brought $50. pair Of Egyptian
geese sold at So The finest specimens Of pleas.
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