Washington sentinel., 1854-03-02

| who, on the steamer Dresden in November last
attempted 10 protect poor woman from the IN
suits and lmpositions OF a gang Of Irishmen, and
was awfuly beaten after having killed fUe Of his
| assailants, and wounded two others, is getting
| well. The Smithlsnd Posfboy mentions that he
| came up on the Wnslow, on the last trip of that
| boat, ca route for Maysville, where he resides.
| The Post says that he is SCARED all over, and
that one of his is gone. 1t is something, how
ever for the gallant fellow 10 be alive. He fought
well for a poor defenceess woman, and his gen
erous courage has cost him months of dreadful sui
fering, and we trust that he will at least have the
recompense of appreciation by other generous
hearts He is a young man, and surely ihe ladies
will think none the less of him for the scars and
deformities which he must abide. Citizens of
Maysve. see TO il that he receives some appro-
pirate testimonial of consideration
A New MetaI.-The Paris correspondent Of
the New York Times makes the following state
ment:
"a very remarkable discovery was announced
TO the Academy Of Sciences. by M. Dumas, al lis
last sitting. He stated that M, Saint Clair Devile
had succeeded in obtaining from clay metal as
white and brilliant silver as maleable as goid
and light glass. II is fusible at moderate
temperature. Air and damp do not affect this
metal, which is called aluminium it retains its
brliancy and is not affected by nitric or sulphurc
acid, either strong or diluted if the temperature
be not raised. II is only dissolved by very hot
chlorhydric acid. Several specimens OF this metal
| were exhibited TO the Academy, and on the propo-
sition of Baron Thenard, il was voted unanimous
| ly that sufficient should be placed at the
disposal of M Saint Clair Deville TO enable him
10 make experiments on large scale"
| A Utica ShOt.-A statement that man bv the
| name Of Travis, Of New Orleans, was soon to
make the experiment of shooting at an apple on
mans head recently appeared in the New York
Spirit Of the Times. Upon reading II, Mr.
Lewis, of this city, volunteered to support an APP
| pie in the way mentioned, which offer Mr.. Nor
| gan James took advantage of by shooting at the
| mark at distance Of fifteen feet, with pistol
| hitting the apple twice out Of three times The
time he failed to hit it, the ball passed Just above
/ the apple Mr. James offers TO pay 20 cents at
! gold dollars, at distance of 20 feet, as many
| times and as long men can be found who can
| take delight in that manner Of Mrowing their
money apay-U Utica Observer.
Improved Cannon.-W. H. Harbaugh, Of Pi-
qua, Ohio, has invented new mode OF loading
and discharging cannon, which consists in having
a rod pass longitudinaly through the bore OF the
cannon. and of which rod is plunger cor
responding in size with the bore. The cannon is
/ loaded by attaching the cartridge TO the punger
| and drawing il inward to the breech, where il IS
exploded by rod inserted within the punger,
! said rod being, by striking against the breech
| forced against percussion powder at the end Of
the cartridge. The inventor has applied for a
patent.
Barnum's Last Speculation.-It is whisper
ed in knowing circles mot fowl ones) that Barnum
| made sine qua non, in the late chicken show at
his place, that he should have all the eggs laid dur
| ing the exhibition he means to have an assort-
ment on his own account next fall. We hear
4 about four hundred and seventeen eggs were col
lected. Stirring times among the hens and geese
| next spring; won't there be a scratching around
| in his barnyard when the young Bantams, Shang-
! has, Polanders, Spanish, and game chicks get to-
gether However, he will humbug them some
how.
! Terrible accident at Suspension Bridge
1 We are indebted says the Buffalo Eapress 10 kis-
socks Canada Junction Line for despatch which
states that yesterday afternoon, while the work
men were engaged in stringing cables for the new
railroad suspension bridge near Niagara Falls
carriage containg four of the laborers gave way,
and was precipitated to the river below. Two OF
/ the aborers, whose names are Charles ieabout, a
| German, and John Grady an Irishman, were in
stantly killed; the others saved themselves by
/ clinging to the cables, from whence they were
drawn up to the towers. Those who remember
| the dizzy height at which ihe bridge is placed
above the river will best appreciate the fearful fall
i Americans In Florence.-Among large num-
Der Of Americans spending the winter in Florence
are Mrs Page and family, of the District OF Co
lumbia, and Mr.. Mcfarland and Mr.. Newton, OF
i
American artists, with their families, among them
]. Robertson, Of the District Of Columbia.
Mr.. c. w. Held, of the National theatre
Boston, has come into the possession of 5000 O.
blythe dissolution of the Ednburg Dramatic Fund
Association. His parents, also members of that
association, have been the recipients of an equal
sum- They We're formerly connected with the
| fremont theatre.
A new Town Hall has lately been erected in
/ Greenfield, Massachusetts, capable OF containing
| about 2 600 persons. II was dedicated on the
i 22d ult. by a magnificent ball. at which were pre-
/ sent many Of the State dignitaries and Dion
Bourcicant One thousand persons participated
| in the festivities of the occasion.
1 The Colossal statue of Jefferson, of the
model of which Hiram Powers is the author, was
cas-, on the 25th ult., at Munich. 1t is thirteen
feet<igh, has taken ten tons OF metal, and Is one
of.tbe five statues which will surround the eques-
| trian one of Washington, at Richmond, which il
% feet in height. Mr.. Powers was present at the
casting
/ sa- In st al a iOn.-Rcv. ID. Gurley, pastor
shytrr