davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02
Snake story.

We have frequently heard of snakes VS.
ting houses, and OF their sometimes having
been found in aud under beds, bu! We do not
recOllect ever having heard ofss remarkable
an escape from an awful death from q snake
as the following, related TO US by Mr.. L. W..
Bliss, who was present when it occurred
About five weeks ago two children of Mr..
Jacob Schell, living about three and half
miles west from Washington-the one aged
nine and the other four yesrs-becoming
weary from the excessive heat, laid down on
the bed shortly after dinner and were soon
fast asleep. Some time during the afternoon
Mr.. Schei and our informant, who had been
ut work in the field, were compelled to seek
the house for shelter from heavy shower
They had sccrcely entered when Mrs. Scbell
went to the bed to replace some Of the cover
Jog which had become misplaced, when the
horrible SIGHT met her eyes, the head OF
huge rattesuake projecting from between the
children, and It's body in close proximity to
theirs. Mrs. ). was Of course much fright
ened, and there is not much doubt but that
il would have terminated fatally to at least
one of the children, had it not been for the
presidential arrival OF the two men, who,
with more presence of mind, quietly removed
them from either side Of the bed at the same
time without alarming the snake, thus uu-
dou6tedly saving their lives. His snake
ship" was then unceremoniously dispatched.
1t proved to be very large one, with six
rattles in its tail How he got there is
mystery.-ISOTid JnOn Of the ljM uH.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02
u. 8, Live Oak.

A letter published 10 the New York Her
aid from the Uuited States steamer Dispatch,
Pensacola, July Is, makes mention OF sub
ject which ought to receive the instant atten-
ton of the Government. The writer says
that Uncle Sans magnificent live oaks, which
have made our government vessels 50 admir-
ed through the world, is spirited off from the
national reserves by wholesale; that there Is
no authority provided to prevent or intercept
the robbery; that it il transhipped to French
barks principally from sloops and schoon-
ers, who make good thing of it; that thou
sands of tons of timber-knees lie cut and
ready; that the federal authorities have want
I'd to organize force to take possession Of
it, and that Washington influence has thrown
cold water on the project. These things
ought to be looked into, and the finest live
oak in the world saved Is the Government,
before it ia too late.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02
Growth Of Portland, NE.

The rapid development vi this prosperous
port of Maine is attracting much attention
The connection of tide water at Portland with
the ST. Lawrence has given an impetus to the
growth and trade of that city which its mos;
sangune citizens had not anticipated A
correspondent Of the New York Journal Of
Commerce speaks Of large warehouses, regu.
lar lines of steamers from Europe and the
British Provinces, magnificent blocks of bust
ness buildings, beautiful and superb pri-
vate edifces, the surrounding hills built over,
aud more than all, connection by railway
within few hours Of Detroit and Chicago
on the one hand, and Quebec on the other.
Thousands upon thousands Of barrels of -four
reach the Atlantic seabord at Portland, from
the Great West, while the distant prairies OF
Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota, are being
peopled by New England emigrants, who,
having abandoned tue former more Southern
routes, 90 by the Grand Trunk Railway to
their new homes.
Gen. Cass, who recently passed over the
Grand Trunk Railway to his western home,
writes letter, in which he makes some start
ling estimates of the future Importance OF
Portland. lie predicts that "ten years hence
Portland will want more than one hundred
acres of freight car room, aud several LeVia-
thans will probably be regularly plying be-
tween it aud Liverpool aud the tide of for
eign immigration will be TO and through
Maine, and not New York. In fifty years
from this time, Portland will rival New York
in population, commerce and wealth. and in
one hundred years exceed her in all these
things
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02
New Orleans.

New Orleans, even as the calendar would
declare it, is now at the height of her sum
mer condition. Several OF the best frequent
ed saloons of the city have been closed, as is
their wont. Business, although much more
active than has been usual at this period
of the year must be admitted to have reach
ed it's lowest mark. Omnibuses ply along
the streets, much as usual, somewhat more
lazily, and on some routes not so frequent
ly. Furniture wagons, cabs, and drays
are slarsely seen and generally by no means
overburdened or in any dangerous bury
Guests at the hotels and bar rooms are not
Inconvenience with crOwdiug. Mos: of the
bsbitual birds of passage" have taken their
fgbt and day by day the few yet left follow
then, by the various routes now open to them.
NM Orleans Picayune.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02
ChInchH Islands.

GUANopoM, CHINcHA ISLANDS, June "a,
lS5s.-Last year this month there were up
wards Of one hundred and eighty vessels ly-
ing here, waiting to receive their cargoes of
guano, and at the present time there are only
thirteen. What falling off, To what do
you attribute III Probably the great panic
througLout the commercial world has had
something to do with it. We have been ly-
ing here forty three days, and during that
time not ten vessels have arrived, while about
thirty have lett Ten days more will proba-
bly, complete our stay, when We spread our
canvass again to the breeze, bound Tor HamP-
ton Roads, for orders.
am not aware that freights b ave inprov-
ed any at Cu!lao since my last. | am led to
believe this from the fact of so few vessels
arriving here. II freigbts had increased it
is reasonable to suppose that out of the large
number lying there some six weeks ago, and
all waiting for freights to advance, large
feet would lie here. Such not being the
case, deem it advisable not to alter last
quotations.
Of tue thirteen ships here at the present
tine, seven are American, and the remainder
English and French.--N. Y. Herald.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02
A Common Misapprshension.

4 writer in BlaCkwood says that he has
read somewhere, and pr olesses his inclina.
ton to believe it, that "sny woman, three
removes from Gorgon, in personal attrac-
TONS can make any man propose to her, II she
has the chance ofliving 10 the same house with
him for q month" We are also inclined TO
Think the proposition a correct one. There Is
a great deal of nonsense in the customary
gossip on this subject. If we were TO credit
the daily teatalk and drawingroom chatter,
tuching the marriage engagement and the
preilmlnaries leading thereto, we should feel
convinced that it is always the man that 10
after the woman; that the man always
begins the attack, and pushes 1t, of his
own personal iustiga.ion, and that the wo-
man is reluctant, retiring and generally
Indifferent and aVerse to the whole proceed
ing. Ii may be so in some cases, as we
know well enough il is. But he who regards
this as the ordinary and prevailing history OF
the Innumerable cases of courtship and en
gagement going on daily in the many varied
circles Of society, is deluded by specious sattle
and altogether mistakes the true condition
and relation of the parties, as be may convince
himself by a little Of that 'sharpened, nice
inspection" 50 useful in all the intricate
affairs OF life. Whoever will make the obserS-
alton will ia u little time be surprised TO dis
cover how many relations of this sort are
begun, Continued and ended" by those 50
enormously supposed to be mere passive vic.
tins to the persuasions and entlcemsnts OF
their great natural and prosecuting enemy,
man. ErchaHge.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02
LoudOun County.

The commissions for the militia officers
have been received and with them circular
from the Adjutant General. stating that the
organization Of all volunteer companies was
illegal until the militia had been regularly
organized, and that the commissions fur the
officers Of such companies could not be sent
until they we're legally formed.
The Rev. c. W. Harris, of the Baptist
Church, preached series Of able aud im-
pressive sermons in this town on Sunday
and Monday of this week, in the Court
House and the Southern Methodist Church.
The ordinance of Baptism was administered
to one candidate, on Tuesday morning, in
the Tuscarora below Lccsburg. \ numcr-
Gus audience assembled to witness the cere-
mony.
The fruit crop is represented to be very de-
fcient in this county. The wet weather this
spring is thought to have been fatal to it,
LccsJurg UaShingtOnidH.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02
Eating Dog Meat.

On Saturday afternoon, complaint was
made at the Twenty Second Precinct Station
House, n. Y, that very dlsagreeabe and
Bauseous smell emanated from the premises
of German, named Brasen, in F.fty-fourth
street, between the Fifth and Sixth avenues.
Officer Wilson repaired to the premises and,
and upon entering, found the occupant en-
gagged in dressing large dog. Several
steaks had been cut off, and portion Of them
were being cooked in a frying pan. The Of
ticer asked Brassen what he did with the
meat, when tie latter replied that he was a
poor man, and that he ate tho meat; it was
very good and be liked it. The meat was
seized, and the man arrested and taken be-
fore Justice Kelly. As it was supposed that
Brassen sold the meat, be was detained by
the magistrate for tx animation.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02
Militia Of the state.

About 10 Regiments have been already
commissioned by Gov. Wise, and all that
have made their elections will be commits
stoned in the course of few weeks.
The G ,vernor has this week made the fol-
lowing appointments Those marked are
graduates of the Virginia Military Institute.
CO.. Cummings graduated at West Point,
aud was wounded during the Mexican war
at the National Bridge.
Robert A Banks, Madison, Major General
% Division, vice rdon, deceased
Geo. Bow, jr., Norfolk City. Brig. Gen.
9th Brig lde, vice M!!lson, resigned.
James l. Kemper, Madison, Brig. Gen.
lst Brigade, vice Banks, promoted.
CAvALRY.-2d RegImen,-Charles Green,
Rlppahannock, Colonel; John 5. Barbour,
Cupeper, Lieut.. Col; Alex. 6. Taliaferro,
Culpeper, l,t Major; j. z. MARI Fauquler,
% Major.
Sd Regimept--Rotert ". Baylor, Jetfar-
son, Colonel; Benz. S;rickler, Page, Lieut..
Colonel j. NJ. Lghtner,* Pocahontas, lst
Major; +. C. Bunker, Monongalia, u Major.
4th ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS McRae, HenrlcO,
Colonel; J. Lucius Davis,* Henrico, Lieut..
Colonel; VIM. III. RlcbaTdsOn," Jr., Henrlco,
lst Major; John j. Wertn, Richmond, 2nd
Major.
ARrILLERY-2i Regiment-JOhn II. Lee,
Orange Colonel; John b. Strange Abe
marie, Lieut. Colonel; George Duffy, Alex
audria, lst Major; j. e. Moncure,* Stafford,
y M.jor.
81 Kegiment--J. W. Ware, Clarke, Colt
mel; John c. Campbell, Brooke, Lieut.. Colo
mel; George W. Anderson, Frederick, LIST
Major; j. F. Nsf', Shenandoah, > Maj3r.
Vacancies exist in the Sth Brigade, ty the
resignation OF Gen. Boykln; in the 20th by
the death of Gen. Book, and in the 18th, "a
new Brigade created at the last session Of
the Legislature, composed of the militia OF
the coupties of Tazewell, Mcdowell, Buch-
anan, aud Wise.
Captain Richardson, son of the Adjutant
General, has been appointed to the Majority
in the 4;h Dragons. The Captain until
! this appointment commanded the HeDrico
Dragons, aud is as Dragon officer unex-
celied by any in the State. He is grad
uate of the Lexington Military Institute,
and an excellent tactcan, aud though a very
strict discipiinarian, is very popular with his
tIoop.--Rich. .SVutA.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02
singular Hare Hunt.

\ few days since as Mr.. Charles Warner,
of this city, was going short dista nee in
the country on foot, to visit friend, he Oh
served hare in the road, just beyond the
bridge which crosses Lieutenan! Run, in the
rear of the heights, that appeared to be lis
tening, and looking back for something which
pursued it. He stood still, and hearing no
dog, was curious to discover the cause OF its
alarm, when, to his surprise, be discovered
the object of it to DO q small brown animal
which he took to be a weave, and when hunted
the footsteps of the haze with the utmost preci-
sion. Mr.. Warner wishing to know if so di-
mnutive an animal could cope successfully
with the speed of the hare, re;rcated to
bush near by, where he was an attentive Oh
server Of the hunt, for nearly two hours.
during which time be is certain he saw both
the hare and the weazel at least iUrty times.
They were frequently out OF sight for seve-
raj minutes, but the hare still unwilling to
leg7e the place where it was tound, came
round again, snd with the little enemy some
times close at its heels. Toward the end of
the remarkable chase, which became uncom-
monty interesting, the hare took advantage
Of the thickest cover that the place afforded,
and made use Of all her cunning to escape,
but Without effect; until at length wearied
out by the perseverance Of her pursuer, it
was heard to cry for some time. AT last the
cries coming from one point he concluded it
had become the victim of the chase, and
went to the spot where he found the hare
quite dead, and the weazel so intently fast on
to its neck, as not 70 observe bis approach,
and which became victim to his cspc.-
PetaSJWg Democrat.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02
A California Orchard.

G. G. Briggs, esq, near Marysville, has
the largest and finest fruit in California;
HIS grounds, now employed as permanent
orchard. cover l60 acres, and have been pre-
pared with great care, and planted with the
beat varieties of fruits. The primes pal varie-
ty consists Of peaches, Of which he has now,
mostly in bearing, about fifteen thousand
trees; 5 900 apple trees, and three hundred
10 bearing; $500 pear trees, several hundred
in bearing, some Of them the largest and
best 10 the State; 3 600 nectarine; 5000 april
cot; $500 cherry; 100 fs; $500 grape, aud
others, making nearly forty thousand fruit
trees in one orchard 1t will be recollecled
that Mr. Briggs now occupies the grounds SO
long celebrated au Briggs melon patch Of so
and 80, when aud where be sold melons at
IS a piece California Farmer.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02
The Tiger Seeing the Elephant.

Sir z. j. Napier, in one Of his lrdia let
ter-, says: "Fiizgerad has killed fifteen
tigers in the Del ,rat. Oue fellow got up to
the howdha, aud the elephant shook himself
50 that one of Fitz's guns was broken
against the howdha, and nothing but Fltz's
great strength saved him. lie held Oh by
one hand, aud with the other shot the tiger
enough to make him fall, and then the ele-
plant kicked the beast between his fore and
hind legs, like o shuttlecock, till every bone
was broken"
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02
A Good RcIoft.

Hon. Alex. Ii. Stephens, of Georgia, was
once running for Congress with ali opponent
of unusually large stature, and on the stump
one day the discussion became exceedingly
warm. Whereupon the large man said to
Stephens, who is small and delicate, why,
could button your ears back and swallow
you whole, sir" To which rude remark
Stephens retorted, And if udid you would
then have more brains IN your stomach
than you ever bad inyour head" The laugh
ter which followed efFectualIy dissipsted the
jlI-humOr which Was gaining ground.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02
The Future Queen OF England.

The English papers have discovered that
the Prince Of WaIes--poor sou.-hss, in all
this wide world only seven ladies among
whom be must take bis choice of q partner
for life, and also that Of this seven the most
eligible ole will be the Princess Alexandra
Of Denmark, whose father, Prince Christian,
is heir presumptive to the crown. The
Prince Of Wales was born Nov. 9th, 1871,
and the Princess Alexandra on Dec. l, lo44.
Sac will thus be Is when the prince a.tains
his majority.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02
The Nicaragua Line.

The New York Journal Of Commerce says:
The Nicaragua Line, after having been clos
ed for many months, is about to be opened
again under the practical management OF Mr..
Joseph l.. White and party OF go-abead
gentlemen. Negotiations diplomatic aud
financial, have been going on for a long time
to this end. One OF tie principal points to
gain was an assurance tr, nj the United States
Government that its citizens would be pre-
tccted in their rights in Nicaragua. ibis
has been obtained
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02
All bout IL Woman.

At Portsmouth,, Ohio, they have bad an
amusing lawsuit. Three ladies were passing
q store, before which several gentlemen were
standing The store-keeper said one OF the
ladies' whose face he had not noticed, was
not Mrs. Ii. One of the party said it was;
another SAID it wasn't. The merchant said
lie would give him sack Of coffee if be would
go and see. He went. saw, returned, and
said the lady was Mrs. IL. of verify. In the
morning he claimed the sack OF coffee, send
ing over u horse and cart, when little sack
holding an ounce or Two, prepared Tor the
purpose, was laid on the cart aud duly delv-
cred by the cartman to the astonished
Holmes. Holmes repaired to the store and
claimed q regular sack OF coffee; it was refus
ed. lie brought suit; jury was empanneled
and rendered q judgment against Hyatt, or
dering bin to deliver TO Holmes fifty pound
sack of Java coffee, worth eighteen cents per
pound.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02

The railroad companies with whom con-
tract was made to carry the mails between
Washington and New Orleans, iu four days,
commencing with the present month, have
not yet performed the service within that
time. This failure will doubtless engage the
attention of the Postmaster General when
he returns to Washington. 1t is caused
partly by an insufhciency of the means Of
transportation over about 10 miles Of coun-
try between the unfinished railroads from
Goodman's Depot and Water Valley, in Mis-
slssippi. The large amount Of mail matter
which there accumulated has, By telegraph,
been directed to be sent to New Orleans by
way of the Mississippi.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02
PUBLISHED DAILY AND TRI-WEEKLf By
EDGAR sHOWDEN.
ALEXANDRIA,:
MONDAY MORNING, AUGUST 2, 1855

Senator Hammond, of South Carolina,
lately made speech to portion OF the pee
pie of that State, 10 which he declared THAT
the X al sas. N ebrasks bill was delusion and
deception from the beginnings" that he was
opposed to any further annexation OF terri
tories; that he wished our country to have
nothing to do with Mexico or South America;
that the results of the Mexican war have
proved injurious; and that the opening OF Cali
fornia routes has created Oh unprecedented
expense to the country, aud is the cause OF
more corruption, deceit, and profit gacy, than
has ever been known before, both In aud out
of Congress.
With a candor which does him honor, Mr..
III. alludes to the historical fact, that most of
the measures of which the South, as section,
has complained during the last thirty years,
were inaugursted BY Southern statesmeu-a
fact which he justly argues should inculcate
a lesson of forbearauce, while the subsequent
reversal or modification Of these same mea-
sures, in compliance with the wishes Of the
South, serves only the more to demonstrate
her political power in the Uuion. 10 the
course of his speech, the Senator said:-
"IIe did not heed the boast of Northern
supremacy. Yet he would say to the people
of the South, be prepared; for if the North,
in order to subserve her purposes of ambi-
ton or fanaticism, should attempt to re-or-
ganize the Federal Courts Of law on the repre-
sentative basis, and thus destroy the conser-
vative nature Of that court, aud thereby get
the Government into their own hands, then
the people of the South must dissolve the
Union. We must dissolve the Union i! they
effect any one Of their aggressive purposes
tariffs, banks, or direct ampering with slaves.
But he did not think to-day the North could.
Even if at the next Presidential election the
North should, by combination, elect an aboli.
ZIONIST, be did not think that On that issue
the great body of the South would 60 out Of
the Union. But if this were followed by a
second election of the same kind be thought
they would. He feared nothing now. Ye,
be would cay to the people of the South,
there may be danger yet; stand to your
arms, mark time, aud We ready, under any
circumstances or terms, to act promptly III
resisting any actual interference with our
rights"
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02

Several of the Northern Railroads have
made satisfactory experiments with CumbeE-
berland coal, and the immense economy of
the substitute, as we'll as its practical advsn-
tages 10 other respects, have induced them
to convert their engines into coal burners,
and will use the Cumberland coal. When
this shall have been fully consummated. the
demand will DO much increased. The sup
ply will keep pace with it. and uninterrupted
heavy shipments must follow.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02

The Richmond Enquirer has interesting
notices of the Iron Furnaces in Augusta,
Rockbridge, and Allegheny counties, in this
State. What wealth of iron there is-what
wealth of coal-what power for Manufac-
tories of all kinds
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02

The steamship Hammonia, with London
papers of the evening Of the 18th ult., has
arrived at New York. Consols were un-
changed. Turkey, besides promising to pup
ish the authors of the Jeddah massacre, offers
10000 francs to the families of the British
and French consuls who were murdered on
that occasion. Ilostilities had commenced
between the Mussulmen and Iayahs in Bos
MIA. 1t was reported at Warsaw that there
would be general uprising in Turkey. The
Russians had been beaten by the Circas-
slams, with loss Of l,lS0 men and eight pie
ces of artillery.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02

Mr.. John Mitchell, now declares explicit
~, that he will not come under the inexora-
BILE drill of the Democratic party"
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02

Prayer Meetings are held daily at several
of the Northern fashionable watering places
At which the New York Herald is much re-
joioed, and hopes, especially, that some Of the
hotel keepers at those places" may be con-
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02

Peter Dawson, just sentenced to Black
wells Island, New York, for keeping house
Of iufamy, was member Of the New York
Legislature in 1855.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02

A number of citizens contemplate Wis
iting the Falls of Niagara in the course of
week or two. The price Of round-trip tick
ct from Baltimore to Niagara and back isnow
only Sl3.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02

The August number Of the Southern Plan
ter, foil of Interesting Agricultural matter,
has already been issued.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02

Waldegrave II. Luckett, Of Middlehurg
Loudoun County, received the degree Of A.
nj. at the Commencement ct the University
of Virginia.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-02

The ridiculous reports set afloat in some
of the Northern papers, relative to the sale
of Mount Vernon, and contemplated reno
val Of the remains of Washington from the
vault, &C., are unworthy even Of contradic-
tion. We suppose no intelligent person will
believe thom.