Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-10-10
DAILY VIRGINIAN.
Mike waloh Subtcfraneap

The Hon. A. II. Stephens, in late speech at
Griffin. Ga. chilled for three cheers for Mike
Walsh, and they were given from four thousand
throats.
Mike has certainly been true 10 the South, and
with all his errors, we believe him to be an hon
est man and patriot. We first saw him nearly
twenty years ago. when he wasn't moro than
twenty -one years old He came into our office
in an old suit of clothes, muddy from head TO
foot took u dollar from his pocket which he said
was all tho money hehnd in the world, and Of
frrod il to us to pay for advertising scoundrei'
who on his way up tho river had stolen every
thing belonging to him We couldn't tako the
poor fellows dollar, but we published his adver-
tisement. We had forgotten tho circumstance
until he recalled il 10 our mind, in tho presence
of some of his Congressional colleagues last WIN
ter.
II seems that Mike coming up the river
with few hard earned dolnrs III his fob. whonn
fellow, who claimed 10 be son OF "A Clergyman
in this city, rot into the the kind hearted youths
good graces by representing himself to be sick
and utterly destitute. Mike put him into his own
state room gave him part of bis money and
took onre of him When the boat stopped ut the
landing, the invalid professeda terrible desire
for milk and begged Mike to go to house half
mile oil and obtain some for him. Mike demur-
red. saying that the boat would leave him But
tho fellow made such piteons appeals to him that
he actually went. aud the bont left him sure g.
nouph whercupon the nvnlid. recovering sud
denly, took possession oi Mike = trunk ana all
his worldly posscssions except whnt he cnried
upon his bacs in his excursion nitcr the milk.
Mike went to work ehopping wood I'LL he got
enough To bring him To Louisville, aud, on nr.
rvng here. found, ns he Ind expected, that his
customer was unknown in these parts. With
out farthing about him, he went to shovelling
in the cnnnl. and the first dollar lac made there
was the one that he brought In Us. lie toird III
the mud ill he made enough to get TO Cleveland
on his way home. nnd there he met IN tho street
the ohnp that had swndled him. The swindler
run liken deer, bat Mike pursued him like
greyhound, caught him, and thrnshed him near
" 10 death in the street before nny one could in
terlere. Mike was sent 10 Jail for the assault
and battery, aud his victim wins sent 10 the penn
tentiary. Mike is trne-hearted, possesses very
considerable talent, aud ism utter stranger To
either personal ar political fear We say with
Mr.. stephens. "three oheers for Mike Walsh
Tin AnAucANlANs; on, Norrs or TouR
AMONG rHr INDIAN TRIBES OF SOUTHERN CHtI
BY Edmuud Rcuel Smith.
This is u narrative OF travels in region that il
rarely visited by white men. Mr.. Smith wns a
member Of the expedition which was sent out by
the United States government IN I5lo, under
command of lieut. Gilliss, of the navy, for the
purpose Of making astronomical and other sclen-
ilo observations to Chill The palty erected nm
observatory at Snntiagoand there remained three
years when they were called home. Mr. smith
however, was desiruns Ia mhke II tour through the
country and visit the territory Of the Arauonn'
inns, or Mnpuchcs, nn aboriginal race, who ARE
distinguished for their bold and successful resis-
tnnee 10 the SpnniartlS aud ARE still independent
of the Chilinns, though the hitter claim the nom
nnl sovereignty If their country. Forthls pur-
pose. he resigned his connection with the "xped-
lion and after several weeks travel through the
a Of fed
from Conception, ON the 9TH Of January, 1853 to
visit the land of Araucanin.
II appears that these Indians arc still avcrso to
the intrusion of foreigners. and have an espcela
hatred of the English and French, whom the Span
sh thought it polite TO teach them 10 hntc, tell
ing then horrible stories of those nations.
The most interesting portion OF the book Is
that in which Mr., smith describes his adventures
among these Indians, who whatever their ances'
tors may hnyo been, do not really seem to he II
very formidable or admirable rner. They are
polygamisis. and although the iniideity OF II mar
ried wonun is punished with death, II is not con
sidered very disgraeefu for I'm unmarried female
10 be unchastr. Tho itch il 50 prevalent that
There is not in the whole nntion scarcely n man
woman or child, entirely nnscalhcred by this re-
voting ulllicion" They never punish their
male children considering ohastlsemont degro-
ding and calculated to render the future man
pusillanimous aud unfit for the duties OF n war
rior. Although given To stealing, they are trust
worthy in business transactions. The females
do all the labor Marriages are usually effected
| by abductipg the girls by force, and afterwards
paying an indemnity to their fathers. 1t Is point
of honor with the bride 10 resist and struggle, how
ever willing she may be.
Sometimes n man meets agirl III the felda,
alone, and far awny from her home, II sud len de
! sire 10 better his solitary condition sezes HIM,
and without further ado, he rides up, lays violent
hands upon the dansel and carries her Off
Again at their feasta and merry makings lin
which the women kept somewhat aoof from
! the menu Il young man may be snitten with
sudden passion, or be emboldened by wine, to eX
press long slumbering preference for some dus
ky mad his eighs and amorous glances will per
! hnps be returned, and rushing among the unsus-
| nectng females, he will bear away the object OF
! his desire while yet she is in the melting mood
! When such an attempts foreseen, the unmarried
! girls form a ring around their companion and
endeavor to shield her; but the lover and his
! friends, by well directed attacks, at iength sue
ceed in breaking through the magic circle, and
drag away the danseln triumph; perhaps in the
excitement of the game, some oi her defenders,
too, may share her fate;in all such cases the usn
al equivalents is subsequently, paidt to the girls
father
The Auraucanian Indies, who are the objects
of such violent attachment among their country
men, would scarcely taseinate any one "i Euro
mean origin if those whom Mr.. Smith encoun
tered near the hill of lIariol were average speci
! mems.
The women of the company positively
ugly. with the exception of one bright-eyed little
souaw who was really quite pretty ty;but was soon
ont Of the concet Of her; for, the men gather
ed about rs To talk, the women drew off to one
side and having nothing better to do, began to
perform for each other service, in the absence