The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-04-15
A motion to leeon.ldsr 81. l.id % q,

ing the Committee Of Ways and Aeaes to
report six bills, thus separating the items In
the Deficiency bill rejected in the morning.
He said that the army was now far beyond
the frontier, and canuot receive supply, nor
advance nor recede unless Congress appro-
PIRATES money. He presumed that no gen
tleman desired the army to be cut to pieces
by fierce fanatics, nor starVe for want oi
provisions.
Mr.. Campbell opposed the recommitmenl
Of the bill to the Committee of Ways and
Meane, and so far as he was concerned, he
was willing it should be passed, il the
friends Of the administration take the re-
sponsibility. -
Several Democrats explained why they
voted against it, on account Of the subie Ct
introduced not coming under the head o.
deficiencies.
Pending the motion to reconsider the vote
rejecting the bill, the House adiournd.
Sad Calamity in Jefferson Comfy
Burning OF a whole Family
Heroic Conduct OF the JailOr'a
Wife.
WATERTowK, N. Y, April 5.
The inhabitants Of this place have had
two important topics on their tongues fol
the past few hours, the first relating to a
shocking affair in the adjoining town OF LIE
Roy; the second to another affair not SO
shocking in our own own neighborhood. l.
The first is, as learn by actual personal
nves'igation, somewhat thus: A farmer
named Daniel Comstock has been Ewing
with his four little daughters, Mary, Maria
Colona and Cora, alone in his house, which
is located fourteen or fifteen miles from
here, Oh what is known as the Philndelpha
Road. His wife has been absent some two
months, in Auburn, under medical treatment
Last (Sundsy) night, about 8 o'clock, it was
discovered that the residence Of Mr.. Com
stock was in fumes, and before assistance
could be rendered il was burned to- the
ground, together with its FIVE inmates [!
1t would seem from the position OF afflirs
as found them to-day, on the ground, that
Mr.. c. and his four daughters (the oldest oI
whom was only ten years) were all asleep
together in one bedroom, in a corner OF the
house. The first indication they had of the
fire was, probably, not until the building
was full Of flames, for it is apparent the fire
"took" from keg of ashes in the wood
house, which is some distance from the bed
room in question, and, burning its way 10 the
bedroom, it must have enveloped everything
in flames. Rushing in the darkness forth
from the bedroom, the frantic children flew
in different directions, blinded by the smoke
and flames, while the unnatural father, who
loved his money more than his offspring, ran
up stairs to get his valuables, while he might
have easily opened the bedroom window ut
the outset, and placed himself and children
beyond dOnger-for the bedroom was on the
ground floor. But, alas for human fraility
his miserly habits ruled him, and his
blackened bones and ashes were found after
the fire, lying across his box in the cellar,
where he hae fallen.
AS If this affair was not sufficiently shock
ing enough in itself, we are compelled to
turn to the poor wife, who, away in Auburn,
is contemplating the happiness of her little
ones, and the prospect of speedy re union
with them. Before left that vicinity to
return to Waterloo tonight, letter was
placed in my hands, which had just been re.
celved from the poor woman, addressed to
her husband, and dated at Auburn, last Fri
day. extrect for you these portions:
my DEAR ONES AT HoME:-You will all
be surprised. and trust, like me, you will
be Joy 'ully surprised, when tell you that I
am coming home next week. II
should have started this morning, if | had
had an answer to the letter on Tuesday last.
feel as if 1 cannot possibly wait till it
comes. X am not strong enough
70 endure much, though am gaining. lam
'ery much excited nt the prospect Of going
lome; hope shall get calm before start.
think | see you all looking very happy,
ny dear children, when pa reads this to You.
Be good children, and hope before smother
Friday noon to b, with you.
Your fectionate mother, A. NJ. c."
Alas! alas! for this poor woman, when
he learns the true fate of her "dear ones"
md realizes that after all she is alone in
he world May God pity and strengthen
Ter
The second tDpic of which spoke is
nore agreeable to dwell upon. E.rly on
sunday morning, four pris ,ners, named
wilson, Eddy, Missile and Ward, by feign-
1g sickness of one of their mum Der, got the |
allor at this place, Mr.. B B.ker, in their
over, gagged and bound him, and locked
i'm in cell. This done, they robbed him
his money and the keys OF the pris N, and
7ere calmly taking their leave when they
zero drought all up standing" by beholding
le laior's wife pointing at them a loaded
sVolver, and calmly informing them that
he would put bullet through the FIRST
ian who attempted to come forward. A
onversation something like this, followed:
Prisoner--The devil you will! You
ont know how TO shoot il.
Mrs. Baker--Try it and see, if you like
have been practicing with this pistol for
ae past few days, and promise you will
III the first man who comes forward.
PrIsoner--Well, ifthat's your game, we'll
quits with you. Now, take your choice.
oung woman--either let Us pass out in
eace, OF submit to have your husbands
roins knocked out against the walls of the
II. Which do you like best 3! Perhaps
lat won't be gay, nor nothing, just to see
IN laying out there cold and stiff, with his
aims laying around. Hu! ha!--d--d pretty 8
cture, amt it! D--d pretty wife ou are, .
mt ye, to get your husband killed! Come,
wv, what dye say? Let US out nd it'll be
| right--won't ye! land the speaker
owed forward s!ep.] .t.
Mrs; Baker--Ihe first man Oho steps over 6
at sill dies 4! 3,
And there that brave woman held those
en- at bay for something like half an hour, I
It'll help came, and they were driven into
cir cells.
--------+ASASA------4------
WASHINGTON Cry, April S.-Enough is :
lown to warrant the assertion that Cover. /
II Powell and Major Mccullough, the .
sace Commissioners to Utah, will be in.