Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1854-02-11

RAIL ROAD BRIDGE.-0ne of the piers of the
New Orleans, Opelousas, and Great Western
Rail Road bridge, now in course Of erection,
about four miles below this place, YVES run into
by the steamer St. Charles, on Monday last,
and was considerably damaged. The pier had
just been completed, but had not sufficient time
to dry, else the damage it sustained would not
have happened. The space allowed for the pas
sage of boats between the piers of the bridge is
about seventy feet-entirely too little for the
class of boats now running in the Lafourche,
more especially if there be the least wind. Some
of our bayou boats are sixty-odd feet in width,
which only allows about five feet space ON each
side, provided they strike the center; and if
they do not, they are very apt to strike one of
the piers. We fear that we shall be called upon to
record some awful accident caused by this bridge
before the steam boat season Is over. 1t was
supposed by many, that the building of the
bridge piers in the bed of the bayou, would
have the tendency to back up the water above,
and cause overfows. We are happy to say,
however, that all apprehensiors on this score
have been dissipated. The butments or piers
have had no such effect
MELANCHOLY ACcIDENT.-It is our painful
duty to record an accident which resulted in
the death of the infant son of our fellow-citizen
Celestin Close, Esq, on the evening of Monday
last. The way in which this mournful occur
renee happened, was this: 1t appears that the
young child had been amusing itself during the
afternoon, with number of its little play fell
lows, on the levee, in front of the store of
Messrs. S. T. Daunis s. Brothers, where some
teamsters were employed in unloading sugar
from wagons. This operation is usually per-
formed by placing two boards or pieces of scant-
ling with one end on the ground and the other
on the wagon, when the hogshead is rolled upon
them, and suffered to run to the ground without
any impeachment or check; and they not unfre-
quently run from twenty to thirty yards after
tus acquired in the descent. 1t was in attempt
ing to escape from of these rolling hogsheads,
that the child lost its life. Not being fleet
enough to get out of its way, and without suffi
cient presence of mind to step aside, it was soon
oyertaken and instantly crushed beneath, man.
Cling its body in most awful manner. He
did not long survive-having died at ten o'clock
the same night. We sincerely condole with the
afflicted parents in the loss of this, their only
child. GERS
PoLITICs OF AUTHoRs.-The New York Tri-
bune, in referring to a boast which appeared
lately in an organ of the Democratic party, that
all, or nearly all, of the eminent authors of our
country belong to that party, makes the follow
ing pungent remarks:
Among the names of American authors who
are not taken in by the whited sepulchre in
Irving, Richard H. Dana, John Greenleaf Whit
ing, James Russell Lowell, Fitz Greene Halleck,
Jas. G. Perceival, S. G.. Goodrich, Richard
Hildreth, Horace Mann, and many more deser-
vedly honored by their countrymen. Of our
noble Women who worthily instruct the Anglo
Saxon race by their writings, we know that near
ly all are unswindled by the hollow professions
of Democracy; we do not know one of any con-
siderable repute who is taken in by them. II
Embassies and fat consulates were as inaccess-
ible to literary men as to literary women, per.
haps the former might be equally clear-sighted."
The SouLE DuELs.-It appears that the Soule
duels had an origin deeper than the one hereto-
fore assigned. A Paris letter dated January
End, gives the following us the primary cause
Young Soule, when in Paris, made, for
foreign Ambassadors son andIprivate Secretary,
some very imprudent remarks respecting the
Empress, which were heard of by the Duke
Alba, who is her brother-in law, having mar
ried her sister, By way Of having pretext to
punish him for these inconsiderate expressions,
the Duke made the insulting remarks about
Madame Souls, hoping they would be resented,
and they were. The Soules being French, a
great deal more interest was felt in what they
said, than if they had been Americans-and the
feeling about the starting remark, has given all
the proceedings the bloody look.
The accounts from NJ. de Turgot, wounded in
a duel with Soule, senior, at Madrid, are still
unfavorable. The ball still remains In his leg
Another duel was to have been fought between
the English and Austrian Ambassadors at Ma
drid, but the death of the mother of the former
caused it to be postponed This is probably the
projected duel in which the telegraphic dispatch
of the Niagara news reported Mr.. Soule to have
a part.
MRs. SoULE's DREss.-A good many, says the |
Washington Union, will be naturally curious to
know what sort of dress was worn by Mrs |
Soule at the French Minister'S ball, at Madrid, |
which led to such deplorable Consequences |
quarrel, two duels, bloodshed, and lasting enmi-
ties, as we suppose Here is q description Of
it, in French
& Tn robe de pelours 6leu decollete, avec rolans
en- dentegles dor, ct la tete uns torsade glands
dor s--z
: This we take to be, in English: A robe of
blue velvet, low in the neck, with founces Of
lace made of gold thread, and on the head
twisted turban with gold acorns, made Of gold
thread)
The London Times will not venture to trans
late the torsadc a glands dor; but it means about
what we say, we think. We express our opinion
difidently, however, for we are but little skilled
in the mysteries and technicalities Of millinery.
It will be difficult, it seems to us, to say
wherein this dress was SO 0utre or SO ridicu-