Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-10-04

Is a s1aaepes and 81. Paul
During the recent low water in the Mississipp
River, the navigation between St. Paul and
Shakopee has been rendered extremely di6icult.
| by tho presence Of the bar, Mt the mouth Of the
Minnesota. The steamer Wave has visited, orr r
evee two or three times, having experienced
great difficulty in crossing the bar. This tempo
rary suspension of trade with St. Paul has proved
| serious Inconvenience to the business of this
city aad the upper towns on the Minnesota river.
Very recently, however, the embargo upon our
river intercourse has been removed, by tearing
away wing-dam at the upper end Of Pike Island,
| thus throwing larger volume of water into the
channel, covering the bar to depth sufficient to
hoat the largest boats in the Minnesota river
trade. In consequence Of this improvement in
| the navigation, the boats have again commenced
to make their regular trips, much to the GOV and
convenience of the inhabitants of the river towns,
| and to The great pecuniary benefit of those who
have Investments in steamboat property. -Shak-
| opec Republican Advocate. ~ ai.l4 b1T
GY The Hoosac Tunnel through the Green
Mountain, to make passage for the Troy and
Greenfield Railroad, is being bored with wonder.
| full energy and perseverance. Two sets of men
| are engaged on it, one working by night and the
other by day, and there is no loss of time on ac-
count of the weather, summer or winter. The
bore has penetrated two hundred feet into the
mountain, and progresses at rate of between
four and six feet per day, leaving the walls and
ceiling in very smooth condition. The work is
| done by three gangs Of men one gang working
in advance of the other. The first party Of ten
men opens the Roadway at the top Of the tunnel,
six and half feet high and fourteen feet wide.
Then follow the second and third gangs, at inter-
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whole width and portionable share of the re-
naming depth. So that when the tunnel is COM
pleted the aperture will be twenty one feet high
and twenty four feet wide.-Bostos paper. 81.
Gy- German, named Frank Roedell, acci-
dentally fell overheard from one of Mr.. DeCamp's
lime boats, on the It'll September last, and was
drowned. Four days afterward, another Ger
man, named Arnold Sendelbeck, also fell off the
same boat, and sank to rise no more. Both were
in the employ of Mr.. DeCamp, who represents
them to have been exceedingly Intelligent, sober
and Industrious young men. The body of SEN
delbeck was recovered few days since and de-
Gently inferred. Shakopee Independent.
CyA gentleman was writing a note at cof-
fee house the other day, and perceiving an imper-
tinent fellow looking over him as he wrote, wound
up thus: r< q si'' "a-arf
"I should say more, were it not that an imper-
tinent fellow is looking over my shoulder"
"Upon my HONOR" said the man, 81 have not
read a word that you have written"
Burning Of the Niagara-Further Particulars. Z
We gather from the Chicago papers further
particulars of the burning of the Niagara, and
the terrible loss of life that occurred in conse-
quence.
The Niagara was coming TO Chicago and
had on board, to the best of our information,
about 200 persons. so of whom were cabin pas
sengers, 40 officers and crew, and the remain
der steerage passengers. 1t is supposed, that
was very cold, and cold wind blowing at the
time, so that many sunk from numbness, who
would otherwise have been able to cling to the
floats till assistance came. -
The boat left Sheboygan at about 9 o'clock,
and about two hours afterward, while four or
five miles off Port Washington, fire was disco
vered by passengers, In the cabin proceeding
from the engine room. The alarm was in
'stantly given by the passengers, but such con-
sternation seized every one that no efforts SEEM
ed to be made to stay the confagration. In a
few moments the whole cabin was in flames.
Captain Miller was asleep at the time in his
cabin. having been up all the night before. He
was Immediately awakened, and rushed out on
deck. ... e.q..,. II, l,.,.
Attemps were made to use the hose, but it
was found to be useless. Several of the pas
sengers, after recovering their presence of mind
somewhat, began to break down the doors and
other wooden work, and to throw it overheard.
The two boats upon the hurrican deck were i'm
| mediately ordered to be lowered, but in the ex-
element and confusion they were thrown over
board and Immediately capsized, and were rem
dered useless. e s.1ed ia 80 t
The stern and quarter boats were lowered and
all capsized bat one, into which about 90 pas
sengers got in and were saved. Large num-
bers OF the passengers, paralyzed with fear a,
the first announcement of the fire, jumped over.
board and were drowned Instantly. Mothers
threw their children overheard, and then wildly
jumped themselves. Every one seemed per-
| fectly insane with fear, and threw themselves
over without the slightes attempts to save them.
selves. ila 5@9q4l ~ 20 iii1 81
In regard to the origin of the fire nothing
definite is known, but allthe crew that we have
| seen agree in the statement that the flames frs
came from the after hatch from tlle,freight hold
and not from the furnaces or engine ROOM
| From that it would seem thatthe fire proceeded
from something combustible among the freight
or was set in that hold by design. 4. -. ....
The greatest heroism displayed on the oc-
casion, of which we have any knowledge, was
shown by mother in her efforts to save the
lives Of her eight children, the eldest Of whom
was only fourteen, and the youngest one yeal
old. She was picked up by the Traveller
insensble and nearly persisted, but was re.
stored by great exertions, and brought to thi.
city. She did not know last evening whether
or not any other children were saved, but heard
that three were taken ashore in the only boa
that pulled off from the burning steamer. 1
so, they will reach her this morning by the
Arctic. She and her husband are at the Mer
chants Hotel.
Curious HABIQs OF MAcKKREL.--The habits Of
these fish are very peculiar. And although they
have been taken in immense numbers for tire,
quarters of century, their habits are not vel
understood. They often move in immense mum
bcrs, apparently filling the ocean for miles in ex
tent. They are found near the surface. Some
times they will take the hook with the Creates
eagerness, at other times not mackerel will bit,
for days, although millions of them are visibl,
in the water. When they are in good mood fol
taking the bait, ten, twenty and even thirty bar
rels are taken by vessel in a few hours. The,
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