Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-03-04

there. For long time, It was the only one ot ~
kind known in the State, and from it's isolated posi-.
ton, it has always been cursed with sterlility u
reminds one of the warm cline of Africa or Asia,
and wears the aspect of stranger Of distinction
driven from his native country. Indeed, with its
sharp, thin foliage, signing mournfully under the
blast of one of our November northern winds, it
looks as sorrowfuIly as an exile. Its enormous
trunk is nothing but agglomeration of knots and
bumps, which each passing year seemed to have
deposited there as mark of age, and as protec.
ton against the blows Of time and of the world.
Enquire for its origin, and every one will tell you
that it has stood there from time immemoriaf.
sort of vague but impressive mystery is attached to
it. and it is as superstitiously respected one of
the old oaks of Dodona. Bold would be the axe
that would strike the first blow at this foreign pa.
triarch and if it Frustrated to the ground oy
profane hand, what native of the city would not
mourn over its fall and brand the act unnatural
and criminal deed? So, long live the date tree It
Orleans street-that time honored descendant OF
Asiatic anccsto s!
In the beginning of 1927, French vessel of war
landed ut New Orleans, man of naughty mien,
who wore Turkish dress, and whose whole at.
tendance was a single servant He was received by
the Governor with the highest distinction and was
conducted by him to small but comfortable house
with pretty garden. then existing at the corner of
Orleans and Dauphin streets, and which from the
circumstances of its being so distant from other
dwellings, might have been called a rural retreat,
aitnOuSn Sltuaeu III Tue MINUS OF the city. lnere
the stranger, who WAS understood to be prisoner
of State lived in the greatest secusion and although
neither he nor his attendant could be guilty of in
discretion, because none understood their language
and although Governor Perier severely rebuked the
slightest inquiry, yet it seemed to be the settled
conviction in Louisiana that the mysterious stranger
was brother of tho Sultan some great person
age of the Ottoman Empire, who had fed from the
anger the Vceregent Of Mahomed, and who had
taken refuge in France
The Sultan had percmptorily demanded the fugi-
tive and the French Government, thinking it dero-
gatory to its dignity to comply with that request,
but at the same time, not wishing to expose its
friendly relations with the Mosem monarch, and
perhaps desiring. for political purposes to keep in
hostage the important guest it had in its hands,
had recourse to the expedient of answering that he
had fled to Louisiana, which was so distant coun.
try, that it might be looked upon as his grave,
where, it suggested, the fugitive might be suf-
fered to wait in peace for actual death, without
danger offence to the Sultan. Whether this
story be true not is matter of so little
quence that it would not repay the trouble Of
strict historical investigation.
The year 1927 was drawing to close, when on
dark and stormy night. the bowling and barking of
the numerous dogs in the streets of New Orleans
observed to be fercer than usual, and some Of
that class of individuals who pretend to know every
thing, declared that by the vivid flashes of lightning
they had seen, swiftly and s;eal,hiy gliding towards
the house of the "unknown," body of men who
| wore the scowling appearance of malciactors and
ministers OF blood. There afterwards came also a
report that piraticallooking Turkish vessel lad been
lowering few days previous in the Bay Of BarIatar
Be it as it may, the next morning the house
of the stranger deserted. There were no traces
of mortal struggle to be SEEM but in the garden the
earth had been dug, and there was the unmstake
| able indication of recent grave Soon, however,
all doubts removed by an inscription in Ara.
| bic characters, which affixed to post and
which sent to France to be deciphered. 1t ran
thus: "The justice of heaven is satisfied, and the
| date tree shall grow on the traitors tomb. The
sublime Emperor of the faithful, the supporter of
the faith, the omnipotent master and Sultan Of the
| world has redeemed his VOW. God is great, and
Mahomed is his prophet. Allah!" Sometime after
this event, foreign looking tree seen to peep
out of the spot where the corpse must have been
deposited in that stormy night, when the rage Of
the elements yielded to the pitiless fury of man. and
| thus is explained in degree this part of the
inscription" the date tree shall grow the trail
| tors tomb"
| Who was he, what had he done, who had pro-
| vokcd such relentless and far-secking revenge?-
Ask Nemesis; or that hour when evil spirits were
allowed to roam over the earth, and magical nvoca-
tons made-go and interrogatc "the tree Of
DEATH" N. o. Creole.
Later from California, Nicaragua, DC.
| New YORK, Feb. 2S.-The steamship Illinois ar
rived last night from Aspinwal bringing considera-
| bly, million of dollars in specie, and the Cali
fornia mails to 5th February.
The committee of the Legislature had reported
that hundred and twenty -four thousand dollars
are missing from the treasury. The treasurer &C.
counted for the deficiency by exhibiting bonds Of the
Pacific Express Company to pay the next July in.
terest on the State debt. The validity of the bonds
is questioned, as the Company did not acknowledge
the receipt of the money. proposition was made
to impeach the treasurer
Cowa Hill, in Placer county, had been nearly de-
| NV fra Mpyic hanAitS DEVASTATING
the Southern counties and numbering the inl,abit
ants The Legislature had appropriated five thous
and dollars to extr,nnating the robbers and an ex
petition of 100 men had started for Sonora.
Business in San Francisco is dull, with no i'm
provement in prices. The mines are yielding large
! ly The receipts of gold in San Francisco were q
per cent. over the previous fortnight.
meeting OF citizens of Mariposa had resolved t.
resist Fremont's claim.
There had been great suffering from col d in Ore
gon. The soldiers at Fort Walla Wsa had beer
reduced to half rations.
The Isthmus news is unimportant. There is no
thing later from Nicaragua. Twelve deserters from
Walkers forces bod arrived at Panama. A vesse
belonging to the allied squadron had captured
schooner belonging to Chris Lilly, which con
veying supplies to Walker. Lilly and his p rtner
named Yates, had been made prisoners of war.
INCREASE OF PAY.-We are glad to see that tn
General Assembly of this State has voted to allow
the members something like reasonable compensa
ton for their labours. Under the old law each mem
Der received three dollars day for sixty days. afte
which they were entitled to only one dollar. Til
consequence that the Legislature generally ad
journed after session of two months, whether the
| got through with the business or not, since they
could not afford to work for so small amount
We had feared that many important matters wou
have been passed this session for that reason
But since they are now we'll paid, we presume "
| shall have quite long session and that a considera