The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-01-22

NAV StSAf y 49, 49,
Man Is, wthout doubt, an initiative being. /
No sooner do our Reprsse natives at Wash
isgton set into trouble aboa, the election
af Speaker. than the Legislatures OF the
States begin to do so likewise. York State
Is playing, in miniature, the game which Is
being enacted at the federal capitol; ana
Gov. Clark threatens US with his message
shortly whether our Solons are or are not
presided over by a Speaker. At Washing
ION, the tug Of war is between the Demo-
Gratis and Republicans; At Albany. the Dem
ocrats and Republicans have joined IN oP-
position to the Know Nothings. In truth,
il may be said Of the former, that like the
2 in the nangsr, they cannot eat the hay
themselves and will not permit the hungry
OK 10 do So
The late severe weather has caused con.
siderable destruction among our coasting
vessels, as well as loss Of life. The pilot
boa, E. x. Collins went ashore on the dry
shosl in Fire Island Inlet with nine persons
on board, six of whom were frozen 10 death
before assistance reached them, three were
saved Ose OF the deceased had been thir-
/ ty-six hours in the water-his head only
| above the surface-and was yet living when
he reached the shore. Many other pilot
boats escaped with difficulty. Immense
masses OF ice come down the rivers into
the bay. The ferry boats ply with great
difficulty between this and the neighboring
cities.
We came near having scene from the
drama Of the Northern Light enacted on
board the Star Of the West previous to her
departure for Nicaragua. The Central
American Transit Company notified the
District Attorney of their intention to take
any person who presented himself and was
able to pay his passage, either to California
or port on the route. AS the vessel was
on the point of starting, officers went on
board and arrested and brought ashore five
persons for an intention to violate the Neu-
trality Laws. Unable TO obtain bail, they
were put in Jail where they yet remain =
The arrest and all connected herewith de-
tanned the Star of the West only about if
teen minutes. Ithss been rumored through
the city the last couple of days, that Par
ker H. French-the Nicaraguan Minister
was on the eve OF being arrested; but this
event has not yet taken place.
4 In connection with fllibustering events,
i may mention the perfection of another
fire-arm eclipsins Sharp's rifle, which has
jus, been patented by J. w. Pos, Of this
city. II is repeating rifle which can be
loaded and discharged thirty times in min
ute 1t is very light and convenient, has
but enc discharging barrel, and does not re-
volve. Under the barrel, the place OF the
ramrod in other guns, is tube which re.
ceiyes thirty acorn-shaped water proof balls
each containing within itself powder and
percussion for propulsion. The act of cock.
ing the piece places ball in the breech
and the whole thirty may be discharged in
the most rapid successios. At a late trial
the gun vas discharged ten times in ten
seconds. The ball is shaped like that OF
the Minnie rife, and the gun itself is cslcu.
lated as well for long distances as rapid
firing. With the use Of this gun new era
will open upon the hunters of the Western
Prsiries. II it has been enjoyment to fol.
!, low buffalo whole day 10 get second
shot at him, how bewildering mus, be the
excitement of shooting thirty gu. of herd
! before they have time to stir out of their
tracks. The gun has been patented in
England aud France, and both governments
have ordered them to be put on trial.
Since the celebrated fight between Tom
Hyer and Yankee Sullivan, this city has
been infested with class Of men whose
highest earthly ambition 10 to smash some.
body's head. The murder of William Poole
brought them more prominently before the
people of the United States. They have
become, at length so audacious, and have
entered into such perFec! arrangements for
the defence of each other, that the police are
afraid to arrest one Of their number No,
content with being let alone, they attacked
policeman last night and bea, him almost
to death. After our model Mayor gets
through Writing essays on the tariff and pub
fishing them as messages to our City Grand
| FATHERS, he VIII probably turn his attention
to devising means for the protection of our
citizens.
The Irish are catching the flibnstering
fever. Last night Col. Doherty and few
/! fire.eaters Of his stamp held 8 meeting at
! the Broadway Tabernacle in order to en-
courage ench other in some plan for the lib
Grafton OF iceland, and denounce all who
differed from them in the manner Of effect
I ing tile esurrection Of the "dear little Isle
of cur own" Ia characteristic speech
I the gallant Col. exhorted the Irish in this
1 country 10 20 STEADILY TO work, with their
/ teeth clenched, until an opportunity fitting