Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-07-01

70 death when 1Ouno. Ioo W00oos
pressut the appearance ofhsving been
eives with . very heavy bowie knife,
though he sAys that WsFe given him
with Z cutlass.
The following account Of the cause
Of the explosion Of the Pennsylvania,
by which two hundred persons lost
their lives, is given BY Mr.. Campbell,
one Of the survivor
On the morning Of the explosion,
NJ. Campbell was up early, and, hav-
ing an acquaintance among the deck
passengers, who was sick, he descend
ed to the main deck to pay him . visit,
On reaching the engine-room ne found
that the engineer WAS not at his post.
so struck was he at this instance Of
negligence, and its possible conse
ouence. that be was about to try the
water, but dessted, knowing the engi-
neer would look upon such an act as
disrespectful. lie then discovered that
the engineer was aft, where be had
been in company with some women
As he advanced, the engineer ap-
preached, "a if to try the water. AT
that moment the catastrophe occurred.
This statement, we learn, 10 support
ed by that Of persons among the deck
passengers.
An experiment was successfully
made a day or two since. at the foot
Of Wall street, New York, in the o
struction Of a raft useful ia cases Of ship
wreck, the raft being formed from sew
eral Life Preservers joined together BY
n few strips of board. 1t required no
mailing or other fastening than is al
ways at hand on sh'pboard, and is 60
easily made aud SO light to handle that
a couple of boys a do everything
necessary. For the experiment, Capt.
Bunker put together thirty-two Of bis
Life Preservers in less than fifteen min
utes. threw the raft so made overheard,
rugged a mast and sail, and, in compa-
ny with some dozen Others who jumped
on with him, went sailing down the
bay. This Is an invention of impor-
lance to the public.
W. learn that tie Newt ranadian
House of Representatives has accepted
without alteration, the Cass llerrsn
Treaty, though the Senate had not yet
receded from its amendments. 1t was
expected. however, that, through the
the influence of President Ospina, the
two houses would, on joint ballot, pass
the treaty without any material modi-
fications.
A short time since it was announced
in the London Anthenaum, that Pro-
fcsssor Agassiz had been induced by
the liberal offers of the Emperor Of the
French, to consent to 60 to Paris; but
We are happy to learn from a reliable
source, that the great naturalist has
determined not to leave his adopted
country, ever for the honor Of becom-
ing a French Senator and director Of
the Jardin des Plantes. He prefers
Boston to Paris, and Republicanlsm to
Imperialism.
Recently a law has been passed BY
the Legislature Of California, absolute
ly prohibiting the immigration Of Chi
pese and MongoIians into that State
This statute takes effect on the lat d
October next, aud has been printed in
the Chinese language for distribution
in Asia, in order to prevent future emf
grafton. After the aforementioned
date any persons landing emlgrants
from China will be punishable with q
fine of six hundred dollars, or with i'm
prisonment from three to twelve
months, for every emigrant landed.
This legislation may seem to thee
rists a species Of unjustiiable exclusive
ness little better than that SO lone
practised by Japan. But no n wht
understands the intense deba>ement o
the Chinese character will censure thu
Legislature Of California for the step i
has taken.