davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-10-13
Excitement at Potosi. Wisconsin-Tho
fIgIIance Comm tee at Arms

We have only verbal reports upo,
which we make the following statement.
Early on Friday morning last, three
whea; stacks in field adjoining the vii
Iage of Poiosi, the property Of Mr.. Jo-
Seph Hall, were discovered nearly CON
sumed by fire, and too far gone to attempt
to save them. Suspicious of incendiarisn
were at once aroused, ana directed to ~,
Old man, named Branstetter, German,
as the incendiary, who formerly lived OF,
the farm. At this the Vigilance Com
mlttee set about examining The tracks
about the stacks, and also the boots oil
SAID Branstetter, and on comparing them
they were found TO match exactly.
Judge Lynch was called upon the
Bench, and decided that the criminal
must leave the place to return NO MORE,
He was accordingly taken across the
Grant and Mississippi Rivers, at the.
Landing, and DEPOSITED on the Iowa
side, with the solemn Injunction that IL
he returned, death would ensue - the
members of the Committee returning 10
their homes.
On Sunday afternoon rumors were rife
that large party of Germans had as;
sembled, aud proceeded 10 the River for
the purpose of escorting Branstetter IN
his home. The Vigilance Committee at
once gathered themselves together till
some 1.-TWO or three hundred were con-
vened, armed with guns, pistols, knives.
nc, and III bdty they went to tho
Landing on Grant River 10 await the pro-
missed coming of their condemned, deter
mined that if it was attempted to bring
hlm across, 10 resist 1t 10 their full
strength - AND FoLEo,v UP THE Corsk-
oUENcEs. However, it was wisely de-
cided by the threatened rescuers that
discretion was the better part of valor''-
night came and the rescued came not
the Germans recrossed-and all retired.
II Dunleith Advertiser.
Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-10-13
Execution of Jefferson Gray.

We alluded the other day to a charge
Of murder against jefferson Gray, for
shooting Robert Abernathy in Pontotoc
county, Miss, and his subsequent execu-
ton. The Examiner thus gives the clos
ing scene in this tragedy:
With a general hurrah and shouting.
the crowd marched their victim off in-
mediately to the woods About half a
mile frem the town of Red Land they
halted at hickory tree at the road side
tied rope around the prisoners neck,
and threw the other end of the rope over
limb of the tree.
They then gave him a few minutes to
say his prayers and speak what he had
TO say. He first called for n drink of va
ter, which being given to him, he said
they had one end of the rope around
his neck and the other over the limb, but
as there was God in Heaven and a hell
below, he was innocent of the charge
against HIM Some enc then cried out.
d" hang hIm up, he is determined 10 die
with a lie In his mouth" \ motion was
made to sewing him, when he cried 10
hold on, he would confess and tell all the
whole truth. 4 little time was given him.
He then confessed that he shot Aberna-
thy-that some difficulty had occurred be-
tween Abernathy IN the field and attack
ed HIM on the subject. Abernathy hav-
ing no gun, Acknowledged himself in
Gray's power-;urned his back to him to
walk off, when he sho, him in the back
After he had fired the gun, Abernathy
exclaimed, you have killed me, Gray,
but | am going to Heaven" He further
stated that 8 no one else was implicated
in the murder except himself-that his
wife was a good woman, and he hoped
she would be taken care of-that Aber-
nathy was Il good man, and he believed
&c was gone TO Heavens for himself,
he could then see the flames of hell blaz-
ing under his feet like dry broom sage
He then prayed for a while, aud called
for some one to pray for him.
Whereupon MAJ. Steele, by request of
the company, prayed a very solemn and
fervent prayer for the spiritual welfare
of the prisoner, and for the sanction of
Heaven upon their proceedlngs-th most
respectful order and silence being obser-
we'd by the crowd during the prayer
Some other remarks were then made by
the prisoner, mingled with prayers, etc.
He then called up the brothers present of
the man he had murdered, and desired to
shake hands aud bid them farewell. They
aII--being three or four, we believe
came up and gave him their hands
Here, or during the intervals of these
proceedings, a contribution was made up
by the company present, of about two
hundred dollars, for the benefit of the
prisoners wife and child, who were about
TO be left widow and orphan. After
which, the prisoner was mounted upon Il
horse, = handkerchief tied over his eyes,
made 10 stand on his fee, upoa the horse,
the rope tightened over the limb, the
horse led out from under, and the unfor-
tunate victim OF the terrible vengeance Of
an outraged community, left to swing aud
quIver between Heaven and earth, as if
unfit fer either.
Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-10-13

Kit Carson.
[ From The Santa Pc Correspondence ofthg Wash
tpgto1t U5sto7,"

THIS day lad the pleasure of seeinr
and conversing with the far-famed XII
Carson. He is mild, pleasant man in
the expression of his face, and one would
never suspect him OF having led the life
OF daring and adventure which distinguish
hIm. He Is refined in his manner, and
very polite IN his intercourse his con-
versatlon Is marked by great earnestness,
and ms language is appropriate and well
chosen, though not pronounced with cor
rectness. He has strong mind, and
everything he says is pointed and practical,
except when indulging in a vein of humor.
which IS not unfrequent. No one can
converse with him an hour without being
tavorably Impressed; he has a ioviaI,
honest, open counten.nce, and kindness
OF heart almost feminine. He is univers-
ally beloved here, and favorite with all
classes, Indians included. He never al
iudes to his career as an adventurer, un-
less questioned relative to it. Although
he IS free and easy IN his conversation,
everything he says IN regard to himself
partakes Of a degree of modesty almost
Incredible in one whose life has been an
ul5roken succession Of hardships and
dangers. You may have seen small
periodical floating about Washington, CAL
Id KIT Carson, the Gold Hunter.
had read 1t, and IN the course of our con-
versation | asked him if it were true.
lie said 1t was not; every statement
made is false. He IS represented in this
pamphlet as colossal figure, when he is
not over five feet, eight inches in hight
lie Is heavy framed, and weighs about
40 pounds, He is forty-eight years old, ,
but does no; look more than thirty five
lie came TO this country in 1927, having
run of from his employer, near Boone
vile, Missouri, to whom he was appren-
ticed to learn the saddler's trade. The
facts oS his life are now in possession of
Washington Irving, and will doubtless be
thrown into the form of book during the
coming winter. He is a strong State
Rights Democrat.
Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-10-13
a School Incident.

In my early years, | attended the pub
lie schools in ROXburV, Mass. Or. Ma
tlaniel Prentice was our respected teach
er, bat his patience, at times, would oct
nearly exhausted by the ;ntrac.ons ofthe
school rules by the scholars. On one oc-
casiJn in rather wrathy way. he threat
encd to punish, with six blows Of a heavy
ferule, the first boy detected in whisper
ing, and appointed some as detectors.-
Shortly after. one Of these detectors
shouted
Master, John ZeigIer is Whispering. -
John was called up, and asked if it was
Il fact. (John, by the way, was a favor
tie, both Of his teacher and his school
N lles.)
Yes answered John, i" / was not
aware of what was about. was intent
in working out Il sum, and requested the
one who SIT next to reach me the arith-
uetlc that contained the rule which |
wished to see.
The doctor regretted his hasty threat,
but told John he could not suffer him to
escape the punishment, and continued
Z" wish | could avoid it, but | cannot
without a forfeiture of my word, and con-
sequent loss of my authority. / will,
continued he, ''lcave it TO any three
scholars you may choose, to say whether
or not omit the punishment"
John said he was agreed to that, and
immediately called out O.. s., T. D., and
ID. p. ID. The Doctor told them to re-
turn a verdict, which they soon dld, after
consultation, as follows:
:" The masters word must be kept in
violate. John must receive the threaten
ed punishment of SIX blows Of the ferule:
but it must be inflicted on volunteer prox-
les, and we the arbitrators, will share the
punishment by receiving two blows each.
John, who had listened to the verdict
stepped up-to the Doctor, and, with out
stretched hand, exclaimed-
! Master, here is my hand; they
I sha'n't be struck blow; [ will receive
the punishment.
The Doctor, under pretence of wiping
/ his face, shielded his eyes, and, telling
I the boys to 90 to their seats, said he
would think of it. | believe he did think
of 1t to his dying day; but the punish
ment was never inflicted.
Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-10-13

TREASURE FoUND NEAR OSw EGd. Tvs
men by the name of Ward and Hall. who
reside IN Oswego. while at work down or
the Lake shore, some miles from that
city, getting out hoop stuff, discovered Il
small bag bur. ed in the sand, This they
dug up, and upon opening it found it to
contain "sixteen hundred pieces of silver
The coins were of an ancient French cast.
and of the denomination of 5franc pieces,
valued at 81 % each The two'men with
their treasure have left for Philadelphia,
where they intend to change their coin
at the mint. 1t is probable that the money
was secreted in the place where it vas
discovered, by some French officer dur
ing the French war, aud afterwards the
officer may have been killed, leaving no
trace where the treasure was concealed.
- Oswego Times
Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-10-13

fsE@ The following is the latest joke
on John Bull:
John was travelling on some western
railroad, when a tremendous explosions
took place, the Cufs at the same time coln-
ing TO a sudden halt. The passengers
sprang up in terror, and rushed out 10
acqualnt themselves With the mischief, all
but Mr.. Bull, who continued reaGing the
newspaper. In a moment somebody rush
ed back and informed him that tie boiler
had burst
Awe grunted the EngIishman.
Yes" continued the informant, " and
sixteen people have been killed"
Awe" muttered the Engishman a.
gain.
''And-and'' said his interloculor viii,
an effort, your own rran-your servant
has been blown into a hundred pieces
cave, bring me the piece that has the
key of my Portmanteau."
Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-10-13
pOGtrn.
NY M0THER SMILE.


The blush has left her check,
Her voice is soft and low,
Her step is trembling now and weak,
Her locks are like the ow.
The mild blue no longer beams
With light as once ercwhile,
Yet swecter than an angels seems
Ny gentle mothers smile.
Though wrinkled now, love to dwell
Upon her thoughtful face,
Where fingers more than Bea lty's spell,
Or blush Of youthful grace
For there affection ever CLEANS,
And love that knows no guile,
And brighter than an angels seems
Ny dearest mothers smile.
When far away. and thoughts OF home
Fill my dreams At night,
And mid bright angel throrgs l roam,
| see her form of light
The first TO come. the last to GO,
And fIirest all the While
1t greets me With heavenly glow,
Ny tender mothers smile
On earth its light shall cheer ny way
And sweeten all my care,
And when comes death its purer ray
Shall beam around me there:
And as | yield this mortal state.
This thought shall still beguilc.
Twill be 50 sweet at heavens gate
To meet my mothers smile.
Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-10-13

STATE HisToRICAL SoctETY.-Therc
is reason to believe that the mass Of our
present population fail to appreciate the
value Of the large amount Of statistical in
formation respecting the pioneer history
of the Norlhwes,, which from year to year,
Is collected by this Society; and it il to be
regretted that the press eviuces 50 little
interest in furthering the objects of the
organization. Through the interchangeable
exertious of a few individuals, but chiefly
Of the devoted Secretary, an almost unlim-
tied number Of facts has, within a few
years, been recued from oblivion, and
placed in enduring form for the future use
by the historian; yet there Is abundance
Of valuable material still resting III obscu-
rity, which would add much to the inter-
est Of future generations respecting the
early setllemeut Of the STATE, if properly
coIIecte aud preserved IN the archives Of
this Society. Let us hope for an increase
of interest in its fabors. II Rara Avis.
Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-10-13

How TO TAKE OUT THE ScENT.-SIt-
ting on the piazza Of .he Cataract was Il
young, foppish looking gentleman, his
garments very highly scented with
mingled odor of musk and cologne. 4
solemn faced old man, after passing the
dandy several times with look of aver
sion which drew general notice. suddenly
stopped, and In a confidential tone said
Stranger, | know what'lI take that
scent out of your clothes, you
sWhat do you mean, sir!' said the
exquisite, ited with Indignation, starting
from his chair.
"Oh, get mad now = swear, pitch
around aud fight, because man wants TO
do you a kindness y = replied cooly the
stranger But | tell you, / tell your
| DO KNOW what'll take out that smell -
phew - You mus. bury your clothes
bury them day or two. Uncle Josh got
afoul of a skunk, and he -"
/ AT that instant there went Up roar os
merriment, and the dandy very sensibly
cleared the coup and rushed up stairs.
Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-10-13
I WISH HE WOULD MAKE UP HIS MIND

L wish he would make up hi. mind, ma.
For | don't care much longer to wait;
I'm sure have limited quite strongly
That 1 thought about changing my state;
For sweetheart he's really so backward;
1 can't bring him on though 1 try;
own that he's very good-tempered,
But then he's 50 drcadfully shy
When l speak about love and cottage,
lie gives me glance Of surprise
And if but hint about marriage,
He bushes quite mp to his eyes,
cant make him jealous-Tyo tried it,
And tis no use being unkiud,
For that's not the way. l am certain.
To get him to make up his mind.
I've sang to him love sonuets by dozens,
I've worked him both slippers aud hose.
And we've walkei ont b. mpoaIight together
Ge, he never attempts to propose
You really must ask his intentions.
Or some other beau | must fad
For, indeed, l won't rarry much longer,
For, one who can't make up hi. mind
Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-10-13

A BLUNT CoNCLUsI0N.-The II. York
"Sun" declares clearly, but with great
calmness:
1--WE are becoming nation of vain,
extravagant fools. From January Ist to
this date we have imported foreign nier-
chandise TO the value of $4,000 900
about Ia millions more than our imports
amounted to for the same time last year.
The value of our exports since Janu-
ary Ist is about $50 900, 600, or mil
lions of dollars less than our exports for
the same tinie last year. We have run
into debt this year aiol.e about l25 mil
lions Of dollars, and by the end of the
year our foreign debt for imported goods
will be much larger.
Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-10-13

\ CoSrRAsr.-The Editor of the Jour-
nal At Indianapolis, speaking Of the deaths
Of Dr.. Dick and Eugene Sue, says:
Dick, though he worked away a long
life for the good of the world, lived poor,
and mainly by contributions from his ad-
mirers in this country and in England
His works did not earn him even Il COM
petence. Sue was paid dollar line
for his stories, and spent his vast earnings
in self-induIgence. Aad these two men,
the English christian and the French de-
bauchee, both known to the uttermost
parts of the Earth, have passed the
boundary of eternity together. Death
never spread his hands SO wide before as
when he seized these two men IN the
same grasp"
Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-10-13
E- Much has been written and wei

E Much has been written and well
written, on the subject of music; and
much requires to be written, that we may
be awakened to all its holy and happyfy-
ING influences, and that we may rightly
appreciate and cluyate il. Who among
the many that listen TO well sung hymn,
can faii TO have their hearts awakened,
and feel a desire creeping Ger them 10
be better men? WAo listens to an old
hymn bat recalls the dear ones with whom
he sang it in by-gone years. Muslc's
tone, faces long since mouldered to dust
come again, smiling as they did IL the
social circle IN days long by-gone.
Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-10-13
4 Coyso1stUn y ARr.-The Boston

4 CoSSoIsEUR ~ ART.-lhe Boston
Herald IS responsible for the following
A dewn-easter -trayed into the square
ia front Of the City Hall, lately and pian-
ted his brogans in front Of the bronze
statue Of Franklin. looking upward to The
benignaut face of the Old philosopher with
great apparent interest. What ole fell
Ier's likeness is that?" asked he OF a by
stander. That, sir, is a statue of Ben.
Franklin =" Statew of Franklin, oh :
Wall I've read all about him. Puuy good
ole feIler. in his way. Never fit much
in the reveIushun, but was great on soft
sodderin the French. Bu say yeou, how
darned yaller he was! "
Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-10-13
RATES OF INTEREST IN M,NSEsort

RATES OF INTEREST IN M,NSEsoTA
AID ELsEwHERE-TheS Sabbath evening
meeting al the Methodist church, is a ia
nous resort for the young people, lnClu-
ding the girls The church don't always
take them all in, and some of the - boys
have to stand under the window outside.
Old Deacon Das Is an excellent man IN
his way. He IS a . Money lender, " get
tug :. ol(ired big rates" Wen, the old
man was down for a prayer the olher
night. The brethren were putting on
their ti,lIesl king Of amens, and the old
man getting on Il powerful JUNCTION, when,
lifting up his voice like a western thun-
der, he roared out: " Oh, Lord, give
us greater interest IN heaven" A young
rascal outside, under the prompting5 of
the moment, in reply, sung out At the
very top Of his voice: @ Hold on, old
man, You're in for FIVE per cent month
down here, and, In Gods name, don't cry
out for anything worse up there Inc
deacon did not rise any higher on that oc-
casion.-TSt. Anthony Correspondence
of Portland Advertiser.
Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-10-13

lWETTY-FouR FEARS ACo.-On the Goth Of
September, 1888, the treaty between the Potta-
watomee Indians and the Unucd States was
signed, by which the Indians ceded TO the Uni
ted States all their territory r northern Illinois
and Isconsln, amounting ia about twenty mil
lions of acres. What changes have been wrought
on that land in that twenty-four year,l
Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-10-13
Brougham and Burr.

Lord Brougham, in his address the
other day before the Mechanics Institute
at Manchester, used the following Ian
guage
The first duty of man is to provide
for his own independence by his own
work, and not either to amuse himself or
indulge IN any gratiicatiou-not even in
that more than innocent, most sacred graft
Ificatlon, Of assuaging his thirst for
6nowledge-unGi he has done his DAVIS
work, and done that which it is his boun-
den duty as well as his highest interest
to do, work with his own hands for the
provision of himself and his family. And
when | talk of working men, am myself.
and have been all my life, a working
man-aEd as long as | am blessed with
health enough to continue, even at my ad-
vanced time Of life, shall continue to Ia
bor and | shall never henceforth. anv
more than have hitherto done, partake
OF any relaxation, not even in gratifying
my thirst for knowledge, until | have
earned the right to do il by having done
my days work. There are other rules
as to which would allow no compromise,
no middle course whatever, and they are
the maXims which ought to preside over
a mans whole employment Of his time.
The one IS, TO do one thing al a time only;
the next Is, never to put off till to-mor-
row what you can do to-day; and the
third, always to finish one thing before
you begin another. A very great and
most celebrated man in HoIand-DeWitt
was once asked how it happened that
he got through so much business and of
such varied kind, for he was not only q
great statesman and minister, but also
most eminent mathematician and lit
erary man; and his answer was that it
was by two rules which ne always obser-
ved-to do one thing only at time, and
never to put off till tomorrow what he
could do to-day These were his golden
rules. L knew great statesman, now no
more, of another country who used to say,
on the other hand, his principle was,
Never to do to-day what you could put
off till Tomorrow And when | cried
out against this as a most heterodox pO-
iItlcal doctrine, he gave me half a dozen
instances in which much advantage had
occurred from his continual procrastina-
ton of measures that were pressed upon
HIM. These were certainly the excep-
tons to the rule. | admit that he urged
his perverse maxim rather by way Of
pleasantly than anything else, and |
think 1t was no recomm ndation OF it that
he could produce SO few instances in its
favor"
We were at first disposed to think that
the statesman of another country was
Aaron Burr, who is the author Of an aph-
orisn Of which the one quoted by Broug-
ham reminds Us. Burr used to say, " |
never put of tiIl tomorrow what can do
today, and l never came to a conclusion
upon anything today which | can put of
till tomorrow. Ii is dllfi:utto say which
Of these rules Of action 1etray most sa-
gacity,- n. Y. Eve. Post.
We think the statesman Of another
country, alluded to by Lord Brougharn,
was TaIiyrand. At least, we have heard
the principle mentioned ascribed to him.