The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1857-10-07

. framed, and weighs about ITO pounds. He
is forty eight years old, but does not look te
be more than thrty-f Eve. He came to this
country in 1927, having run off from bis
employer, near Boonsville, Missouri, to whom
he was apprenticed to learn the saddler's
trade. The facts of bis life. are now in the
possession Of Washington Irving, and will
doubtlest be thrown into the form of book
during the coming winter.
SHOCKING TRAGEDy.-1Eurdsy and SUI
cide.-A terrible affair occurred at Glouces-
ter, Massachusetts, on Sunday week. The
Boston Herald says:
Mrs. Elizabeth Davis, wife of Mr.. Samuel
Davis, left her residence at East Gloucester
in company with her two sisters and Mrs.
Douglas, for the purpose of picking berries.
MIR. Davis soon followed, and after they had
got into the pasture, he deliberately drew a
small size five-chamber revolver and fred at
his wife. The ball took effect in the left
side, just below the breast, passing through
the heart and out at her back. She instant
ly fell dead.
One of the sisters, Miss Ackley, was near
by, and rushed 10 Mrs. Davis, and said.
speak to me, sister," She received no an
| swer. Mr.. Davis in the meantime walked
off rod or two, and Miss AckIey ran to him
and said-"you have shot my sister," He
repled-"don't interfere - and fred the see.
ond time. The bail took effect In the left
arm Of his unfortunate wife, Mr.. Davis,
then being about seyenty-fve feet from his
wife, deliberately put the pistol to his own
breast and fired. The bail took effect near
the heart and lodged. He fell on his face
and expired without a word from his lips
Mr.. Davis was thirty four years of age, and
his wife twenty-three. They were married
IN New York about four years ago, and thew
belong to Cutler, Maine. Both have rela-
tons there. The husband was always known
as quiet, respectable man, but had lived
unhappily with his wife.
MORAL CouRAGE.-Sidney Smith, in his
work on moral philosophy, speaks in this
wise OF what men loose, for want of little
more courage or independence of mind
"A great deal of talent is lost in the worI d |
for the want of a little courage. Every dav
sends to the grave number Of obscure men,
who have only remained in obscurity because
their tlmldty has prevented them from ma
king first effort; and who if they could
have been induced to begin, would in all
probability, have gone great lengths in the
career Of fame. The TACT is, that to do anv.
thing in this world worth doing, we must
not stand back, shiverng. and thinking of
the cold and the danger, but jump in and
scramble through as we'll as We can. 1t will
not do to be perpetualIy calculating tasks.
and adjusting nice changes it did very well
before the flood, where man could consult
his friends upon an intended publication for
a hundred and fifty years, and then live TO
see its success afterwards; but at present a
man waits, and doubts, and hesi,ates. and
consulfs, his brother, and his uncle, and par
ticular friends, till, one fine day, he finds be
is sixty years of age; that he has lost so
much time in consulting his first cousin and
particular friends, that he has no more time
to follow their advice"
MOUNTAIN OF SALr-Remarkubl Discoy-
ery-lt seems that the recources of our no.
bic State will never cease developing. Some.
thing new, great or wonderful is constantly
turning up The latest discovery is speci.
men of salt rock handed us yesterday by Mr..
Lettleton, clerk Of the steamer Garyin. It
was taken from hill, or mountain of the
same material, just discovered short dis
lance from the Mississippi river on the Mis-
souri, side, and about seventy-two miles from
St. Louis. 1t is situated on Saline creek in
Perry county, and almost on a line dividing !, !
hat country from St. Genevieve county,
Saline creek empties into the Mississippi riv-
er about three and half miles below St.
Mary's landing.
The specimen before us resembles a piece
If quartz rock, and is little mixed with
substance resembling iron ore. 1t has
pure, sweet taste, and when ground to pow
Ter is as white as any of the table salt now
n general use. If we are not misinformed,
his hill of salt will prove an immense specu- u
alton to its owners, and will cheaper the
Price of that article very materially in this
;ity.-St. Louis Paper. o
E- Out Of the 50 members of TIE Sen. f
ate during the past Congress, no less than
i've have already passed away, viz: Messrs. I
Clayton, of Del; Bell, of New Hampshire
Adams, of Mississippi; Butler, Of South Carl
'lina; and Rusk, Of Texas.