davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07
lFrom the Cincinnati Commercial, of Monday !
Strange Cases of Drowning.

Yesterday morning the baptismal rites
were performed in the Ohio river, near the
foot of East Row, Newport, by an associa-
ton of Mormons. An old man, aged fifty
years, named Alexander Williams, ventured
beyond his depth, and was soon struggling
for life in the current. His son, young
man Of twenty years, went to his assist
ance, but unfortunately with no avail, they
both sunk beneath the surface, and were
drowned. The body of the elder Williams
was recovered, but that Of the young man
has not been found. Mr. Williams was from
the city Of London, and arrived in this CITY
some weeks since; he resided on the corner
Of Front street and Western Row, and leaves
wife and two children. P. s. The body
of the young man was recovered yesterday
afternoon.
Saturday evening, about dusk, lad, per.
haPs sixteen years old, wearing blue pants,
a black coat, and soft black hat, took pass
age on the Ferryboat for the Kentucky
shore, and informed the collector, when that
parsonage came round, that he had no RI on
ey, and offered him black covered book,
resembling "pass book The collector
told him he did not want that, but took the
boys hat, and told him to get bis money
ready on the return trip, appearing in good
humor the while, and remarking, with q
smile, to friend who stood near, II will
have some fun" Just as the boat commenc-
ed rounding up towards the Covington shore,
probably three-fourths the way across the
river, the lad drew, his hand across his FORE
head, bit his lips, as if nerving himself for a
desperate effort, he plunged into the river
just where it is broken into waves by the
wheels of the boat. He raised to the sur
face in the wake of the boat twice-the first
time lifting his hand into the air, but there
were no means of assistance at hand, and
before the boat reached her landing, he sank
into watery grave. He had scarcely made
the unfortunate leap, when, before those
who saw it could give an an alarm, the COL
lector came back with his hat, and cautioned
him not to attempt to cross again without the
ferriage, but the wearer Of the hat was in
the swift current of the river, and gone for.
ever.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07
The Wheat Harvest in Southern
Illinois The Old aud New Crops,

The Alton correspondent of the st. Louis
Republican, writing on Friday last, says:
1.-The harvest is now progressing finely
and hands are wanted in every direction, and
wages are up to two dollars per day. A far.
mer Of Greene county says he never saw
finer, heavier wheat in his life, on general
average, than is to be seen this wear all
through Greene and Jersey counties The
wheat fields on >"timber farms" in these
counties are fully ripe and ready for the rea-
pers, but the wheat on the prairies is week
or ten days later.
However. out on the praires Of Madison
and Macupin counties the reaping machines
are laying low the golden grains this NOR
ming at a rapid rate.
Wheat "came down" yesterday with a
rush to 81 SO in our streets. Some stray
loads OF granary scrapings were sold at
that very mach to the dissatisfaction of one
old farmer who had refused So for the same
two months ago, and delivered at his barn
door, instead Of hauling twenty-five miles.
A farmer living eight miles in the interior,
brought in load of fine yellow corn in the
ear yesterday, stood about in the streets all
day, was offered fifty cents per bushel-re-
fused it, asking sixty, and at night drove
home with it. Several loads of corn were
sold at fifty cents per bushel within two days
past.
Have just heard of contract for a new
wheat-the first of the season-fifteen hun
dred bushels of choice, delivered ia fifteen
days hence, at 81 SO. This is merely q
starter, the opinion prevailing that prices
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07
Fusion ReHevO!ence.

We have been converssnt with many in
cidents showing the utter ncincerty OF the
fus;onists in their professions of love for
freedom, hut we seldom find one so striking
as that which occurred here on the Fourth" D."
A poor negro from Virginia who was desi-
rous to raise 5000 for the purchase of his
wife and family from slavery, appealed to
the people of the meeting, for assistance
His character was endorsed by the leaders
of the convention at the stand, and liberal
donation in his behalf requested. After the
collection was taken, the negro counted his
money and found that he had received e24
cents. Eighty-two and one.half cents do
mated 10 the cause Of freedom by conven-
ton composed Gas o. P. BRowN says) OF
$4,000 people! Eighty.two and one-half
cents then, is the measure of Fusion sympa-
thy in Portage county. won't some me
figure it up and see how much that would
be for each person in attendance.) What
liberal and philanthrOpic class of people
they are. They can spend hundreds of dol
lars in purchasing banners, getting up din
aers, and buying Offices, but when poor
fugitive comes along and asks their aid to
liberate his wife and children from slavery,
they can ont OF their unbounded liberality
furnish him s2l cents to aid him in his mis-
sien.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07

DOMESTIC DUTrEs-The most minute de.
tails Of household economy become elegant
and refined when they are eEobed by senti-
ment. To furnish room is no longer a
common place affair, shared with upholster.
ers and cabinet makers; it is decorating a
place where am to meet friend or lover.
To order dinner is not merely arranging a
meal with my cook; it is preparing refresh
ments for him whom you love These neces
sary occupations, viewed in this light, by a
person capable ofstrong attachments, are SO
many pleasures, and afford her far more de.
light than the games and shows which con-
sttute the amusement of the world Mary
Wortley Montague.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07
A Rich judicial Case up i'm Dayton
-Whig Party not yet Dead.

A man named Gillis, as we learn from
the Dayton Empire, lately brought suit a.
gainst some gentlemen in that city for bug
gy hire. The defendants were the Whig
Central Committee in Montgomery County,
in 1853 and 1854, and the conveyances
were for the use of that party. All of the
defendants made default except one (Mr.
Smith Davison) who appeared and filed a
motion to dismiss the suit on the ground that
the Whtg party was the proper defendant
that said party was dead and no administra-
tor had been appointed. But we will give
the principal reasons adduced by the defend
ant, as set forth in his written motion:
"And said defendant further says that the
'late Wing Central Committee mentioned
in said petition, was appointed by the late
Whig party to represent its interest while
said party was alive and recognized as a liv-
ing organization, having a habitation and
name, and that said committee is not admin
istrator or representative of the said Whig
party, defunct; that the said Whig party was,
and had become previous to the filing of said
petition, to all intents and purposes, deceas-
ed and entirely defunct; that a short time
previous to the fall election in the year of
our Lord eighteen hundred and filty-four it
went under,' and since then has had no tan
gible existene; that there had been no ad-
ministrator appointed to settle the affairs OF
said deceased party, but in the event of the
appointment of such administrator, this the
defendan twill feel it his duty 10 advise
the payment Of said bill if duly presented,
provided, always, that the property and eff.
fects ofsaid deceased party Consisting chief
ly of old lumber used in buildidg platforms)
can be disposed Of at fair price. The de.
fendant further states that he is informed
upon reliable authority that the said party
died insolvent,' &c.
The case was argued at length by T. B
Tilton, Esq, for the plaintiff, and by Mr.
Dawson in his own behalf. Both gentle
men, we are informed, acquitted themselves
handsomly, and afforded great amusement t.
the audience in attendance. The Cour
held that the "Whig party" was not dead
or, at least, that the evidence offered wa
insufficient to show the fact. Motion over
ruled. Judgement for plaintiff for $62 81
aud costs.--Er.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07
A Mayor Turned ImfOrmer.

The bar-keeper of saloon in st Louis
makas oath to the fact that Mayor King of
that city, came to the saloon on Sunday
night, the 18th inst, stepped up to the bar,
and called for some brandy. On being
told that they did not sell brandy on Sunday,
he asked for glass OF ale; and being de.
MED that, he then called for glass of lem
onade. This being also refused he left,
saying, ''it is damned hard a person can't
get anything to drink" He was not known
at the time, but was recognized as no other
person than WashingtonKing, the Hindeo
Mayor of the great city of st Louis. This
equals the performance of certain public
functionaries in the good city Of Cleveland
not wishing to allude to the traffic in
in second hand dogs, nor to any other legit'
innate transactions in the line of administer.
ing the law.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07

0F The following from old Knick, on
the death of miser is excellent:
"One day last Spring, death the inexor.
able, demanded his carcase, and it was found
that he had died worth nearly million
But the cause of his death.
"What could it have been!' was in eve-
ry body's mouth
"Ah! Mr.. b." says one, cold
H-has gone at last"
"No; you astonish me. What was the
matter!"
"Well it is hard to tell. 1t is known,
though, that he yesterday relented toward
a beggar who had ilnportuned him every day
for twenty years, gave him sixpense, and
took to his bed Immediately. Doctor c.
thinks it must have been enlargement OF
the heart.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07
English Humanity.

When Gen. Pelissier, in Algeria, in lS-
IS, smothered in a cave the Arab tribe known
as Quilted Riahs, the barbarous act excited
in England the utmost horror and disgust,
and there was scarce a newspaper that did
not exhaust the Queens English in denounc-
ing the murderous proceedings Now mark
how circumstances change opinions. The
London Globe, in an article in reference
to the appointment of Pelissier to the COM
mand of the French forces in the Crimea,
says Of that officer: He Is man noted for
mol letting his feelings interere irith his sense
Of duty" And then, instigated by describ-
ing his Algerian exploits, adds: SIT IS TO
BE HOPED HE WILL FIND SOME EQUALLY DE-
cIsIvE MEANS OF DESTROYING THE DEFEND
ERs OF THE RAMPARTs OF sEBAsroPoL."
This war it should be remembered in this
connection is, accordingto England, strug-
gle between Civilization and Barbarism.-
Which seems most barbarous, England or
Russia! The officer that the English once
sReered and shuddered at for his terrible fer
ocity, they now encourage in his very blood
thirstiness. Well, perhaps everything is
fair in war, even stink-pots. We must
have new metaphors. Instead of saying
"war to the knife" when we mean close
and deadly conflict, we should say "war
to the stink.pots." The Paris cores
pon1ent of the New York times says that, if
Gen. Pelissier should propose now to squirt
the smallpox into Sebastopol, the English
would hail the idea with enthusiasm. The
correspondent remarks, however, 81 doubt
whether it would succeed. We should read
as follows in Gortschakoff's serene bulletin:
The allies have commenced showering the
city with an infectious disease; 1t has done
us no harm, however, as the whole army was
vaccinated mig ht before last."- Cincinnati
Commercial
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07

o. There was meeting of the soldiers
OF the war of 1912, in Rsvenna on the
Fourth. 1t was appointed to be held in the
Court House at 10 O'Clock in the morning,
and due notice had been given in the county
papers. When the hour arrived, the old
veterans found the door locked against them.
After mach time and labor spent in search,
they found the key deposited in the Auditors
Office "a place certainly very unusuaD and
obtained an entrance. Some, think that
the door was closed against them by the Of
icers having the Court House in charge, for
the purpose of prohibiting their meeting
We hope not. We should regret to think
that any man and especially public officer
would ever do so small thing as that.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07

DEATH OF AN INDIAN CHErF.-HENRY
Two guns, head chef of the Seneca nation
died at his residence on the Cattaraugus
Reserve, New York, on the 18th inst, aged,
75 years. He was q step-son of the famous
orator RED JACKET; was engaged in the war
of 1919. espousipg the cause of the United
States; participated in the battles of Bridge
water an Chippewa, and for a long series of
years exercised controlling influence over
his nation.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07

FA letter from Texas to the Journal
of Commerce, says: "Our population is
now estimated at upwards of six hundred
thousand, and it will doubtless reach mil
lion befose 1860. Five religious denomina-
tionS are now represented in texas in the
department of religious newspapers. We
have two temperance and one agricultural
periodical. The various religious denomi.
nations and benevolent associations are all
succeeding WE'LL"
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07
ONE WEEK LATER FOREIGN NEWS.
Arrival of the Steamers Herman
and America.
IMPORTANT NEWS.
THE ALLIES DEFEATED!
An attempt to Storm Forts Mala-
kOG and Redan.
1900 English soldiers & 20 off,
GERS Killed.
CONFLICTING REPORTS.
RIOT AT COLUMBUS.
One Man Shot and the Rioters
Arrested.
THE LATE STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION
An attempt to Storm Forts MaIa
kOG and Redan.
1900 English soldiers & 20 on
GERS Killed.
CONFLICTING REPORTS.
RIOT AT COLUMBUS.
THE LATE STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION

New YORK, July 8.
The Herman arrived at O'Clock. She
has 240 passengers, and dates to the Goth.
Sales cotton for three days, 10000 bales,
market closing dull, Breadstuffs dull, and
trihe lower. Corn firm and unchanged.
Consols 81 l-2.
There was we'll authenticated report in
England that great battle mad been fought
in the Crimea, in which the Allies had been
defeated with immense loss. Particulars
will undoubtedly arrive in season for the Al
rica at Halifax.
1t was rumored al Southampton that the
French Emperor was suffering under the Ell.
feet Of an apoplectic fit,
The America reached Halifax yesterday
afternoon.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07
Thc rusic,, Mass Meeting.

Last Wednesday, the 4th, was great day
for the fusionists Of Portage county. The
fag-ends of every defunct party, and the ad-
vocates of every conceivable ultraism in pol
itics, assembled at the fair grounds for the
purpose of forming more perfect union"
whereby to gather to themselves the spoils
of Office. OLD wings who have wandered
disconsolate "like sheep without sheppard"
ever since the death of their Party-free
soilers whose Organization has lost its ideh.
tity, and who for the last year have been
lashed to the back Of the anti foreign, anti
catholic hobby-disalFecte democrats who
unsuccessful in their first connection, have
gone over to the enemy 10 search Of Office,
and Know Nothings, some natural and all
initiated" all met together for the purpose
of effecting fusion. Black spirits and
white, red spirits and gray" were mingled
together.
We had not the honor y Of being pres
ent. We understand that The crowd was
very large, probably numbering four or five
thousand persons including men, women and
children. Messrs. BRIGGS, CHASE and
WApk were present and addressed the con-
vention. The speech Of Mr.. BRIGGS (not
referring to the sentimenD was a good one.
In politics he is a whig, and in 1852 fought
against JOHN P. HALE and the free soil par
ty generally, with all the bitterness of very
bitter nature. CHASE and WADE are Meth.
er of them orators in any sense Of the word.
Their speeches were the same that they have
made at divers times for number OF years
past, with the variations of Nebraska and
Kansas. o. P. BRowN delivered a written
address at the time Of presenting the flag to
the banner township. He was brim full and
running over with patriotism. The picnic
lasted bat short time--the provisions be-
ing insufficient to satisfy one-:ourth Uf the
people who came to be fed.
We have not the names of the persons
chosen as delegates to the State convention.
O. p. Brown is the one from Ravenna.
There is one thing little singular about
their proceedings. Their speakers, we are
informed, never mentioned State and county
affairs at all. The rights and interests of the
hard working and tax-burthened people of
Ohio, were beneath their notice. The issue
before the people this fall, is one pertaining
entirely to home affairs. Not single Off
Ger to be elected can by his official action
effect the question of slavery one way or
the other. They have nothing to do with it.
Every topic which is Of real interest 10 u.s.,
and every question which actually concerns
the people of Ohio, was "skipt over" by the
convention and for the simple reason that
they are afraid to touch them. The fusion
lists know that if they come down to practi-
cal questions, such as bank taxation, local
expenditures &C., that there will be division
and discord in their ranks. They seek to
raise false issue and to cover up the real
question involved. This was the object of
the convention. Will the people allow
themselves to be deceived! Will they al
low themselves to be chattles in the market
to be bought and sold by few Office hunt
ing demagogues!
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07
COLUMBUS, Jnne 5.

Yesterday evening as q procession oi
firemen Turner'S, and others were parading
the streets, a difficulty arose between one OF
the Turner's and boy, when an alarm
was sounded by the Turner'S when they
rushed back assaulting and throwing stones
at people in the streets, and the riot became
general and the Turner'S being armed with
revolvers commenced firing on the crowd
About twelve shot were fred and one
young man was shot and died in about one
hour. Many others were badly injured by
shots and stones. but not fatally, it is be.
leved
The police have arrested tweny-four Of
the Turner'S. Public opinion is decidedly
against the conduct of the Turner's, but there
was no excuse for their conduct.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07
The Eject tits Producing.

The extract from the annual Report of
the Auditor OF State which has been publish
ed is producing an excellent effect upon the
snnd of the public. Those who have read
that extract are coming to tn, very just
conclusion that the Democratic State off,
GERS have been most shamefully abused in
regard to the subject of Taxation, and that
most especially has this been the case in
regard TO Auditor Morgan. They see that
the larger bulk Of the taxas are levied and
collected for local purposes-that is for city,
county, township, bridges, special school,
and new court house purposes, and not to
defray the current expenses Of the State
government. We wish that the Report
could be put into the hands Of every voter
in the State. II this were done, the dema.
gogue's Occupation would be gone," SO far
as it relates 10 the matter of taxation. The
voters would then demand to know for what
reason the State Auditor and State officers
should be displaced in consequence ofhigh
taxes, when they have not been in the
least accessory to the increase Of taxes
They would insist upon knowing the JUS
tice ofdisplacing them, and at the same time
retaining in place and power local authori-
ties under whose administration the local
taxes have been SO largely increased as to
swell the taxes, in the aggregate, to an en-
crmous amount that is anything but pleas
ant to the tax payer. The opposition jour
nails have not the courage or manliness to
publish that extract from the Auditor of
States Report. They know that to do SO
would completely disprove all that they have
charged against the State officers, and espe-
cially against Auditor Morgan, as to extra
vagance aud corruption. Their readers
would discover that they have attempted to
impose upon them imprudent and outrage
Gus falsehoods for truth. The more the Off
cial conduct Of the present State officials
is canvassed in spirit of fairness by the
people, the more satisfactory-the more
commcndable-does it appear. Such a can
vass discloses the fact that they have dis
discharged their respective duties as capa-
BILE and honest men-as men who have had
at heart the welfare of the State. To dis
place these men, therefore, on the plea that
it is necessary to save Kansas from the
"blightiDg curse of slavery is the greatest
nonsense imaginable. 1t is downright knave-
nv to contend that the coming state election
can affect affairs in Kansas one particle. But
what else is to be expected from men whose
conversation indicates that they have pre-
eminent regard for the black man?- ChiL
Advertiser.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07

0 The mosttelling answer to the charge
made by the Abolitionists, says the New
Orleans Visa Wis, that slaves are not pro-
tected by the law in the South, is the case
of the State of Louisiana Us. Hunter, in
which defendant is charged with selling a
slave, and separating the mother from her
children, contrary to the statute in such ca.
ses made and provided. On last Friday the
accused plead guilty, and was sentenced by
Judge Robertson 10 fine of one thousand
dollars, and six months Imprisonment and
forfeiture of the slaves.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07

0T A few days since spot Of land, more
elevated than any in the immediate vicinity,
in Walworth County, Wisconsin suddenly
sunk to the extent of about forty feet in cir
cumference, leaving small and very deep
lake or we'll in its stead. The water has
risen to within three or four feet of the sur
face of the earth surrounding it, and remains
at that point,
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07

KNlcKEBoKER--for July is received
The present number is more than usually
interesting. The essays stories and poetry
found in this magazine are always of the
choicest kind and the editors table, full of fun
and sentiment.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07

Or The liquor bill reported to the legis-
iature Of New Hampshire, provides for fine
Of $50 for the first offence and hirty days
impriaonmsnt. Every subsequent violation
subjects the offender to . fine of 800, and
ninety days imprisonment.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07
LOUISVILLE, June 4

The steamer Lexington was bonnd from
St. Louis, and her boilers exploded on Sat-
urday, 1T 8 A. M, four miles from Rome
The wreck burned with great rapidity to the
waters eege. 1t is believed as many as 25
lives were lost, and 25 or 80 others injured.
Among the latter, Capt. Thorp was badly
scalded. The boat was am old one, and her
cargo consisted of $50 bales of hemp.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-07
MJLwAuKFE- Iulv i

The schooner Mansfield, from this port,
bound to Oswego with ten thousand BUSH
els Of wheat, was run into and sunk by the
schooner Telegraph, thirty miles from Lani-
tou Islands. She was insured in the Mer.
chants Mutual Insurance Company of this
city. Her cargo was owned by Harrison &
Chaplin of this city. Vessel owned in Buf-
falo,