The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-11-13

alton of James Watson, near Port Gibson, Mis-.
sissip u, may be witnessed an exhibition of
mem ry that is truly remarkable. An African
girl, bout IA years of age, answers to the name
which, heads this article. 1t is the custom of
Watss,n to give rewards for overwork, and du-
ring ne contemplating season, the amount which
each ,and picks is weighed twice per day-noon
and ight. This girl stands by the overseer,
and stems to the number of pounds announced
to ca ii hand, and at night the result is report
ed W. tn the utmost accuracy. Her correctness
is re 2eatedly put to the test by Watson and
Others, who keep memorandums during the
weig ing, and a day or two afterwards she is
cate, hised, and her memory found perfect. Mr..
Wat on works from 60 to 10 hands. What sys.
tenn If association this girl has to remember alb
strat numbers, she is unable to tell.
F;oM HAvANA.-New Orleans, Nov. 5.-The
stea per Black Warrior, from Havana, with
dateJ to the I'd, has arrived. A Spanish brig
OF Far had sailed from Havana with six thou
SAINT stand ofarms for the insurrectionists of San
Don lingo. Active preparations were being made
to il wade Mexico.
A ETHICAL ICE-Prof. Merriam, of weather
note iety, is travelling, and has written letter
to Il e New York Commercial Aduertiser, from
the banks of the Cuyahoga, Ohio, dated the
3lst ult. We give the following extract:
This afternoon have been engaged in ex-
ami,ing machine made here for producing in
tenss cold by artificial means. The machine,
afte having been worked an hour, brought down
the mercury in the thermometer to the line of
twet ty-four degrees below zero, which was the
low, st degree marked on the scale. l cut an
app e, and placed it on the outside of one of the
met 81 pipes in which a current of ether was
MAE to pass through vacuum, and in a few
inmates it was frozen. This machine has been
two1'y years in being brought to its present state
of reat forwardness. 1t is worked by steam.
1t seezes water, forming blocks of ice twelve
inclses by six-that being the size of the metal
cell; in which the refrigeration takes place.
EaSh cell is separated from the others by what
ma be called fue. A large number of these
cell are placed in what may be called square
cist ,rn, and of sufficient number to produce
ton of ice in one operation. Clothing of per-
SON. coming to quarantine in vessels can be
frozen by this machine, and thus Invested of the
germs of pestilence. 1t can be made to frost
the entire inside of ship in few hours, and
thu, purify its hold and its other apartments !;
ant it is capable of reducing the temperature
of tone warehouses so low as to free the goods
sto ed in the refrigerated apartments from every.
thi Ig infected with yellow fever"
AMERICAN ORGAN.-We have for some time
contemplated change in our daily issue, in
two respects first, to make it a morning paper
ant, second, to enlarge it to the size of the Ma
to ,at Intelligencer. These changes will, how
ew r, only be made an the eoent of the election
Of Mr.. Fillmore, who, in our opinion, will be
ele cted if the election shall be thrown into the
Hs use of Representatives. If either of the op-
Pc ing candidates shall be elected, the daily
iss ,e will be indefinitely suspended. 1t is our
pr sent purpose to continue tn, weekly issue,
wi bout reference to the result If the Presiden.
tia contest 1t is impossible for a daily paper
to pc sustained in Washington without Govern
m, ut patronage.-Amer. Organ, Nov. 4.
ANOTHER DREADFUL SToRM.-BufaLo. Non.
5.'-There was another severe gale on Lake
En- last night; and, as large number of ves-
Sc left on the previous day, and IS but few of
til m have been heard from, it is feared that
M ny have met with disasters.
The barque American Republic, from Chica-
go on entering the harbor last night went against
tn, breskwater, and filled with water immedi-
at15. She was loaded with 1890 bushels of
wheat. The crew were rescued.
Che propeller st. Joseph, with full cargo of
merchandise, is ashore at Fairport, and in a
ds pgerous situation. Her crew have not vet
bs en- taken off. The sea is breaking over her.
81 veral schooners are reported ashore, and
m'sny badly damaged.
EXCITEMENT IN SALISBURY, N. C.-The Sails
b. ny Banner, of the 28th ult., has the follow
~ account of the reception in that place of ex-
P ,ofessor Hedrick, who was lately turned ont
o, the University of North Carolina for express
II z Abolition sentiments:
t'Our usually quiet town was the scene of
g. eat uproar and disorderly conduct on Tuesday
night last. 1t became known that Prof. He'd
T. * was In town as a delegate to the Educa-
tt nal Convention, which was then in session :;
q is was calculated to excite the indignant feel
lrgs OF many of our citizens, who determined
to disgrace him, and compel him to leave. An
eggy was prepared, and placed in front of the
Presbyterian church, where the Convention
was In session; and on the adjournment of the
z 5nvention, the etigy was burnt in the presence
OK the Professor and nearly every member of
tie Convention. This ought to have satisfied
tie crowd, but it was only the beginning of the
ri .,tous proceedings. They soon collected in a
letge force, and proceeded, under much excite
n ent and much uproar, to the Female Semina-
X, where Professor Hedrick was lodging; then
esme the tug of war; They halloed, Kissed,
gfoaned, and proceeded in a riotous and repre-
tSnsive manner to compel Hedrick to leave
t,e town. The excitement became more in
teSnse, and greater disorder prevailed, as they
proceeded. The rabble was finally quoted by
tle appearance of several of our citizens, who
+ ;evailed upon them to dispense"
SThe President has appointed Thomas Gun.
niugham, of Beaver, pa, to the Supreme
j udgeship of Kansas, to supply the vacancy oc-
cssioned by the death of Judge Burrill. Mr..
Cunningham is one of the electors on the Blu.
caanan ticket in Pennsylvania.
ESCAPE OF TOWNSEND THE MAIL RoBBER.-
4e,ocastte, DEL, Nor. TO- Townsend, the
\ oted mail robber, has again broke out of the
Newcastle Jail. He cut his irons and broke
trough the floor of the prison, and is now at
! berry. This is his third escape from prison.
(. SHIPwRECK AND PROBABLE Loss OF LIFE
f, )sioego, November lot is feared that the
ropeller j. w. Brooks was lost in the late gale
: n Lake Ontario, including the crew of about
wenty persons, besides several passengers.
everal men who we're reported in peril on Satur-
ay, on board the schooner Deshler, have been
escued.
q. FIRE AT SYRACUSE N. Y.-Syracuse, Nor.
AT three o'clock this morning, the largest
ire that has ever visited our city broke out in
ne first ward, and, in the short space of three
ours, over twelve acres were burnt, and about
ne hundred buildings consumed. The entire
PISS can fall little short of one million of dol
srs, and may reach more. Over one hundred
Asmilies have been rendered homeless The
re was undoubtedly the work of an incendiary.
ALEXANDER M. BEEBEE, LII. D., for thirty
ears past the editor of the Baptist Register, at
Utica, in this State, died in that city on Thurs