davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03
Mint Mnffera.

The statement recently made by the Super
intendent of the San Francisco branch mint,
requires some explanation to be generally un-
derstoOd by the people. It is known that the
officers who have charge Of the refining and
coming departments are allowed certain per-
cent. for wastage. At the annual settlement
made over year ago, the loss in the refining
department, was about 5000, 700, being about
$3.50, 900 more than the legal wastage. This
loss was so enormous as to attract attention,
and an investigation was instituted TO ascertain
the cause. Harazthy, the Refner, contended
that the gold had gone up the chimney, 10 the
form of vapor, but the people have generally
settled into the belief that he appropriated it to
his own use.
At the settlement recently made, the wastage
was but mere fraction of the amount allowed
by law, and in some cases there was an excess
returned of the amount given in to the refining
and coming departments. For instance, du-
ring the year about half q million of dollars
was delivered to the Redner, and that officer
returned some three thousond dollars more
than was delivered to him. How the officer is
able to do this, except he either makes up the
excess from his own pocket or else puts In more
alloy than allowed by law, is what we are not
able to understand. The matter is no doubt
susceptible of an explanation which would be
ineligible to common people, and we confess
that we have curiosity to know how silver
and gold can increase in weight while undergo
ing the process Of melting or coming. An ex-
planation of this matter would satisfy the curl
osity of quite number up this way who are
equally ignorant with ourselves in regard to
mint affairs.
The Marysville Express says that some Of the
San Francisco papers have accused the mint
officers of debasing ''the coin of the realm !"
but that paper instead of explaining the matter
induIges in a general philippe against the jour
nails that made the accusation. 1t is not pro-
bable, however, that the officers of the mint
would debase the government coin, as they
would surely be detected in such fraud; and
it is still less probable that they would throw
their own money into the government crucible.
But If some metallurgist will inform us how the
weight of gold and silver can be increased by
the process of refining we shall be thankful for
the information.
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03
T,. nTu-.I.r Gases Disposed of.

We gave last week, brief account Of the
trial of L. P. Stone in the Di strict Court, up to
Tuesday evening. The evidence Of Pascoe,
which was directly to the point, Tailed SO well
with other circumstances as to leave no doubt
that he told the truth. The case was given to
the jury on Wednesday afternoon, and after be-
ing cut some two or three hours they brought
in a verdict of guilty of murder in the second
degree. 1t was generally supposed, by those
who heard the evidence, that the verdict would
be for murder in the first degree, as the China
man was killed while Stone and his party were
endeavoring to rob the camp. 1t seems, how
ever, that the Cinnamon first fred at Stone,
who then endeavored to get away, but was
caught and held. 1t was also shown that the
balls which caused the China mans death were
fired from Pascoe's pistol.
On Thursday, Spanish John, who was indct-
ed with Stone and Pascoe, withdrew his plea Of
not guilty, by leave of the Court, and plead
guilty to murder in the second degree.
The prisoners were called up for sentence on
Saturday. Stone, on being asked If be had
anything to say why sentence should not be
passed upon him, remarked that he had been
raised by religious parents. but had sadly stray
ed from their teachings. He acknowledged him
self to be bad man, but said that he had nev-
er committed o murder, and asked the forgive
ness of the Court and every body else for his
crimes. Judge Searls then gave him short
lecture, and said, that had he been one OF the
jurors be could have brought in no other ver-
dict but for murder in the first degree that al
though he had no legal evidence Of the fact, yet
be believed if the dead could speak, that others
would point to him as their murderer. He then
sentenced him to Imprisonment in the State
Prison for thirty years. During the trial Stone
brought out to receive sentence, his courage
had evidently left him. His future prospects
are certainly not very fiattering. He has resi-
ded in Nevada for some years, and has long
been suspected of being connected with gang
of robbers. He is about thirty years of age, is
said to have wife living in the States, and has
had another in this country.
The Spaniard was sentenced to Imprisonment
for the term of fifteen years.
During the late term of the District Court,
ten murder cases have been disposed of. One
was acquitted by the jury the indictments
against two were dismissed by order of the
Court, and seven were convicted of murder in
the second degree. The aggregate of impris-
onment to which the seven were sentenced, is
one hundred years
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03
NEVADA, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 8, 1868.

SUIcIDE.-A man named Daniel s. Morgan
committed suicide at Grass Valley, last Sunday
evening. Coroner Bazely held an inquest on
Monday, and the following particulars were
elected He went from the Hotel de Paris to a
barber shop below, and asked for pistol,
which was refused him. He then went back to
the kitchen window of tho hotel, reached his
hand through and picked up carving knife,
with which he stabbed himself in the left side.
He had pulled up his shirts and placed the point
OF the knife near the Afth rib. The principal
arteries near the heart were severed and he
died Immediately. The jury returned ver-
dict that he committed suicide while laborng
under temporary insanity, caused by intempe-
rance. Morgan was an Irishman by birth, and
had been with Wnlker in Nicaragua. He came
to this country rom New Orleans, in 1s49, and
has resided some years in Nevada county.
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03

BENJAMIN PAscoE.--This fellow, who was in
dcted with Stone and the Spaniard for the
murder of the Chinaman on Bear river, and al
lowed to go unpunished in consideration of CIV
ing evidence against his companions in guilt,
was suffered to 60 at large after having done
the Estate some service" He still seems to
have an affection for the vicinity of the jail,
and for the past few days has taken up his res
idence on the southeast corner of the Court
House steps, 1t is generally believed that his
former companions would handle him rather
roughly if they had an opportunity, and for
this reason it is said he intends to leave the
State at an early day. He stated in his evi-
dence that he was nineteen years old, and we
are informed his parents reside near Grass Val
ley.
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03

MINING AT SAN JUAN.-Ws gather the follow
ing mining items from the Hydraulic Press, of
Saturday:
The experiment of blasting banks to procure
q fall of earth for hydraulic washing. is about
to be tried in the claims of the San Juan Com
pany at Grizzly Hill.
At Junction Bluffs, one-half of the Trevethick
claims sold recently for $4,000.
Good prospects have been obtained in the
Wyoming claim on San Juan Hill, at point
further back than it has been thought the hill
would pay to work. The dirt prospects as we'll
as that at the same depth in the rich Deadman
and Gold cuts. The miners are apt to form
very arbitrary theories concerning gold depos-
its, the direction aud extent of paying leads,
&c., and have often, by following them too
closely let fortunes slip from their grasp. The
discovery Of the Wyoming boys goes far TO dis
prove the received theory concerning the ex-
tent of paying ground on this hill, and leads to
the belief that the diggings surrounding the
town will endure beyond all previous expecta-
tion.
Prospecting, however is rarely ever practiced
in this district. 1t is assumed, as q general
thing, that any dirt will pay if there are facili-
ties for washing large quantities of it by the
hydraulic process; consequently the miners
search for deep banks, plenty Of fall and water,
hardly ever for rich prospects.
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03

ANOTHER ANTEDMUvTAN.-The Evansville
(Ind.) Journal says that Mr.. Potts, miner, at
work in the Bodian coal mines, three hundred
feet below the surface, threw out by blast a
large mass of coal. While breaking it up to
fill into his car, living frog, beautifully form
ed and active, and about the size Of ones two
fingers, leaped out through one of the fractures.
The Journal says:
This extraordinary curiosity we have now
before US, pert and active as youth of his spe-
cies six months old; yet, as we hold him in our
hands, we bend in reverence, almost awe, before
the venerable patrarch-This almost first ami
NAL eXstance of creative power
"Over the vein of coal in which this little
animal lay imbedded, are two other strata of
coal separated by solid stone Of one hundred
feet in thickness from the bottom one and fifty
feet of like rock between each other. Between
the seam from which the frog came and the sur
face there are two hundred feet of solid sand
stone and coal, and about forty feet of coal,
slate and common coal, and about forty feet of
coal and common clay. These are all regular
stratiiications, that must have required ages,
beyond the power Of human comprehension to
compute, to have formed them"
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03
Another Stage Robbery.

A telegraphic dispatch was received in this
place on Monday. stating that stage robbery
was committed near Rattlesnake Bar, carly
that morning. The stage had started before
daylight for Sacramento, the only passengers
being Chinese. Soon after leaving the Bar,
the horses were stopped by three robbers, and
the driver received the usual order to ''pass
down the box" which demand was complied
with The box belonged to Wells, Fargo Il Co..
and contained $4,SO0 The driver Immediately
drove back to the Bar and raised the alarm,
and the residents of the place Immediately
started in pursuit of the robbers, but they had
not been captured at last accounts We I'M
derstand reward of $1,000 has been offered
for the arrest of the robbers and recovery of
the money.
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03
Mrs. Annn Cora Weeks In Australia.

Mrs. Anna Cora Weeks, whose career in this
State in connection with that "purely literary
paper" The Ahaneum, is familiar to the public,
has turned up in Australia. 1t will be rcmem-
bcred that Anna Cora, in company with her
husband, left San Francisco between two days,
having first, through her talents and insinuat-
ing address, collected several thousand dollars
in advance subscriptions for her paper. Their
destination was Australia, q country presenting
an unbounded and unoccupied field for the dis
play of their peculiar talents. At Sydney they
issued two numbers of periodical, called the
Spectator, "owned, edited and managed by la
dies" when Mrs. Anna Cora LETT for Melbourne
to canvas for subscribers. During her absence,
an arrival at Sydney had brought California
papers, containing full accounts of her financial
operations here, which, being re-published in
the Sydney papers, were likely to materially
injurc her prospects in that country. Geo. W.
Weeks, her husband, replied through the Sgd
ney Empire to the charges contained in the Cal
fornia papers He says that from the first ap-
pearance Of the Ath@neum the most determin-
ed effort was made by the other San Francisco
papers to destroy it that they published the
most outrageous lbels upon Mrs. Weeks, and
he was not surprised that they continued their
malignant attacks after her departure. He
says further, that Mrs Weeks openly and fairly
disposed of her interest in the Athrneum to Mr..
Galacar for FIVE hundred dollars, and settled
to the last farthing every debt she had contact
ed in California. Thus matters stood at last
accounts. Mr.. and Mrs. Weeks were undoubt-
edly engaged in the same game in Australia
which they played so successfully in Louisiana,
Texas and California, and the next arrival from
Sydney will probably bring intelligence of a
similar announcement,
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03
Rurn,pr OF the steamer Austria.

The burning steamer, discovered by the Ara
bia. Sept. 18th, proves to have been the Austria,
hound from Brem en- to New York. She is sup
nosed to have had on board about $50 persons.
including passengers and crew, nearly all of
whom we're lost. Only sixty-seven are known
to have been saved, twelve of whom had arriv-
cd at Helifax, from whom the following par
ticuars were obtained:
At little after two O'Clock, on the 18th,
dense volumes of smoke burst from the after
entrance of the steerage. The ship was instant
Iv mt at half speed, at which she continued
nntil the magazine exploded. The engineers,
II is inferred, we're instantly sufOcated. Fire
was next seen breaking through the lights amid
shins and travelled aft with fearful rapidity.
Some persons let down a boat from the port
side of the quarterback, and she was thought
10 he crushed under the screw. An attempt
was made to launch boat on the starboard
side. but it was swamped from the numbers who
rushed into it and all were lost. AL the first
cabin passengers were on the poop except few
gentlemen who must have been smothered in
the smoking room.
MANY secOnd-cabin passengers were also on
the POOP but number of them got shut into
their cabin by fire. Some of them were pulled
up through the ventilator, but the greater num-
ber could not be extricated. The last woman
drawn up said there we're six already suffoca-
ted. The ladies and gentlemen ION the poop
jumped into the sea by twos and threes, some
of the ladies in flames. Several hesitated but
were driven to it at the last moment. ln half.
| an hour not soul was TO be seen on the poop
The French bark Maurice, Capt. Ernest
Bruce came alongside the steamer at about 5
O'Clock, p. NJ, and rescued forty passengers,
chiefly taken off the bowsprit. A few were
picked up floating around.
At about 8 o'clock one of the metallic boats
came up with about twenty-three persons, in
cludng the first and third officers. Afterwards
three or four men were picked up floating on q
piece Of broken boat. The second officer was
taken up, having been swimming six hours.
He and the third officer were severely burnt.
One male passenger was burnt frightfully and
others slightly. There were but six women
saved. three of whom were burnt.
A Norwegian Lark came up with the steamer
next morning, and boat was observed going
round the burning ship. They may have pick
ed up few persons, but only a few.
The Maurice had no communication with the
Norwegian bark.
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03

DEATH OF PIoNEER-Thos. o. Larkn, one
of the eraliest American pioneers in California,
died at his residence, in San Francisco, on
Thursday last. Mr.. Larkin was born in Massa-
chusetts, in 1902 and at the time of his death
was fifty six years of age. He settled in Mon
tercy in 1882, and was engaged in Commercial
pursuits up to the time of the Mexican war
In 1874 he was appointed U. S. Consul for the
port of Monterey, which Office he held until the
country was ceded to our government. He
was buried by the Society of California Pho.
necrs, at San Francisco, on Saturday.
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03

GOLD DISCOVERIES IN ARIZoNA.-A cores
pondent of the S. F. Herald, writing from Fort
Yuma, Oct. 2lst, says:
On visit Of three days to the mines on the
Gila river, about fifteen miles from this place,
the following facts came under my observation.
Gold has been found for distance of three
miles on either side of the river, varying from
a quarter to half mile from the banks.
No point has yet been prospected that has
not yielded paying dirt. The lowest yield, per
pan, five cents; the highest, eight dollars.
The Rev. Mr.. Riddle of Texas, on his way to
California, stopped there some four weeks
since; he has already cleared six hundred dol
lars. Mr.. Weinenger, an old miner, two miles
up, has discovered claim which yields him
forty dollars per day.
1t would be advisable for any one coming to
bring necessary supplies, as there is but one
store here and everything, consequently, at the
most enormous rates.
This point is now readily reached by land or
water. By land twice week from San Fran
cisco, by stage coach; by water, by sail OF
steamboats,, to the mouth of the Colorado river,
thence to this point by two steamers now ply
ing on the river The road from this point to
the mines is capital.
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03

SACRAMENTO SENATORIAL CANDIDATEs-Thre
candidates are before the voters of Sacramento
county for the Office of Senator, to fill the va
cancy occasiOned by the death of W. 1. Fergu-
son. r. d. Ferguson, member of the last
Assembly, was placed in nomination by the
anti-Lecompton County Committee Johns IN
Price, an old line Whig and ex-Know Nothing,
was nominated last Saturday by Lecompton
County Convention, and VIM. Bausman has
been brought out as an independent candidate
by some two or three hundred business men of
Sacramento. The election takes place next
Saturday.
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03

The New ALMADN MNEs.-Judges McAllis-
ter aud Hoffman, of the U. S. Circuit Court, in
the case of the United States against John Par
rott and others, for the purpose of testing the
title to the New Almaden quicksilver mines,
have granted an injunction restraining the de-
PENDANTS from working the mines until the right
of property therein is decided. Should it be
necessary to secure the property from waste,
the Court will appoint receiver. The U. s.
Supreme Court will doubtless have to decide
upon the title to these mines, as the property is
said to be worth ten millions of doll ars.
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03

EXPRESS TO LITTLE YORK TowNsHP.-Mr.
Sam. Hervey has purchased from the former
proprietor the express route from Nevada to
the principal points in Little York Township.
He leaves Nevada every Sunday and Wednes-
day morning, passes throug gh Camden, Red Dog,
Waloupa, Little York, Liberty Hill, Lowell
Hill, and Remington Hill, from whence he re-
turns to Nevada. Mr.. Hervey has a peculiar
faculty for attending to such business as is usll-
ally entrusted to expresses, and we can assure
our friends on his route that orders sent by
him will be attended to with promptness and
fidelity.
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03

COUNTY BUsNEss.-The County Supervisors
met to transact County business on Monday
morning Thus far the Board have been en-
gagged in examining and allowing accounts at
tending to road matters, DC. A petition, sign
ed by about two hundred citizens Of parts Of
Eureka and Bridgeport townships, is before the
Board, asking for a new township to be set off
on the ridge. The proposed township will in
clude Humbug, Relief HILL Columbia Hill, and
other points, and has about the same popula-
tion as Washington township. The prayer of
the petition will probably be granted
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03

ACCIDENT TO GEN. ScoTr.-The New York
Express says that Gen. Scott had very severe
fall on the stairs at Cozzen's Hotel West Point,
last week. He was about attending Dime r
party given to him at Col. Delafeld's when
the accident happened. Having had q bullet
through one shou lder, and sword thrust
through the other arm during his campaigns,
he was unable to break the force of the fall by
his arms, and his back was severely injured.
He cannot move without great pain. He had
been cupped and leeched, and is somewhat bet
ter, but suffers intensely. At his age, and with
so pondrous frame, it is a serious affair to
with life
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03

AcCIDENT.-Mr. Elias Rose, miner of Gold
Flat, was severely injured last Saturday night
by falling into q cellar which had been dug on
a vacant lot on Broad street. His injuries were
internal, and he was confined to his bed until
yesterday. The cellar is left in dangerous
condition, as pedestrians are liable in the night
time to step directly into 1t from the sidewalk.
The owner Of the lot, whoever he is, should be
required to cover it over.
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03
Treaty between Great Britain and NIcarO-


RuNs
A Commercial convention" has recently
been concluded between Great Britain and Nj
caragua which in some of its features is highly
Objectionable to the United States. By this
convention Great Britain guarantees the neu-
tralty of the inter-oceanic route through Mica
ragua, and promises to use its influence to in
duce other nations to do the same. But the
most important stipulation, which has excited
considerable attention, and which will undoubt-
edly be resisted by our government, is con-
Britain the right to land troops on the Isthmus
for the purpose of protecting the route, in the
event o: Nicaragua failing to provide such pro-
lection. OF course Great Britain would be
the judge as to whether or not Nicaragua had
failed to protect the persons and property of
passengers on the route, and the most tri1ing
difficulty would be sufficient excuse for the
Ian ding of British troops on the Isthmus; and
if Great Britain once gets foothold on the
transit route, she will never surrender it,
except by compulsion. The New York Times,
in commenting on this clause of the treaty,
says:
In a question where American interests so
greatly predomnate-where the point at issue
is the freedom of highway between our At
lantic and Pacific possessions-we can hardly
consent that any European power shall stand
on political par with ourselves, though we
are willing to concede, fully aud fairly, COM
mercial equality in its broadest sense. For
this reason we believe that the clause in the
Ousley Convention, which permits Great Bri
tain, at her own option. To employ an armed
force for the protection of the Isthmus, will be
steadily opposed in this country as inimical to
our interests, and undoubted Infringement Of
the Monroe doctrine.
The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-03
Axr,x.I or the Mail steamer Sonora.

The mail steamer Sonora arrived at San
Francisco, on Sunday last, bringing dates from
New York to Oct. 7th-three days later than
received by the overland mail.
Efforts were being made in New York to eff
feet fusion of the Republicans and Ameri-
cans, on the State ticket. A Republican mass
meeting was held at CoOper's Institute, which
was attended by two or three thousand persons.
Resolutions were adopted favoring fusion.
The famous Crystal Palace, at New York,
was destroyed by fire Oct. 5tb The fire broke
out at five o'clock, P. NJ, and in less than one
hour the building was in ruins. The FAIR OF
the American Institute was consumed. Loss
over 81 ,OOO, 600; $500, 900 loss TO the American
Institute. The statues of Daniel Webster were
burned. In a short time after the fire broke out
the dome fell in with fearful crash. At the
time of the breaking out of the fire some TO-
900 persons were inside and strange to say all
escaped; only few slightly injured.
Nothing new is received in regard to the At
lantic Telegraph Gable.
VIM. Preston. of Kentucky, has accepted the
position of Minister to Spain.
The steamer Washington is advertised to sail
from New York the goth of Oct, to connect
with the Hermann.
A large magazine, filled with powder, shells,
and rockets, exploded at Havana on the night
of Sept. 25th; "a persons were killed and los
wounded. Many more were supposed to be un-
der the ruins. There were 80 new sugar hou-
ses totally destroyed. The gas was rendered
perfectly useless, and the city was left in dark
ness. The police and troops were guarding
many of the buildings that were damaged The
entire city was affected by the shock. General
Concha was the first official on the ground, and
did all in his power to aid the unfortunate.
The cause of the explosion is unknown.