davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

A MuRDEREn's FArE.-A few years since,
John Higgings, a citizen Of Alabama, COM
mitted a cruel murder, but on the trial for the
crime he escaped, owing to some link in the
chain of evidence being needed. Public opn-
ion was against him, and he soon after left and
took up his residence in Attaa county, Miss
1t is related of him that, having experienced
the most horrible agony for many months. be
procured barrel of whisky and, excluding
himself from society of man, where, solitary
and alone, he plunged into the deepest and
most thorough state Of intoxieation. drinking,
it is said, quart Of liquor at one draught. In
this gloomy and miserable condition he linger-
ed for the lapse of two or three months, and
finally died, November Sth, in the most intense
mental agony, calling upon the bystanders to
take away from his bedside the victim who
had SO long haunted his memory and agonized
him In his dreams
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

The OLD Folks Roon-The old man sat
by the chimney sidc-his face was wrinkled
and wan, and he leaned both hands on his stout
oak cane, as if all his work were done. His
coat was of good old-fashioned gray, the pock-
cts were deep and wide, where his specs and
his steel tobacco-box lay snugly side by side.
The old man liked to stir the FIRE, so near him
the tongs were kept: sometimes he mused as
he gazed on the Goals, sometimes he sat and
slept What saw he in the embers there? All!
pictures of other years and now and then
awakened smiles. but oftener started tears.
His good wife sat on the other side. in high
backed, flag seat chair; see meath the pile
of her muslin cap, the sheen other silvery hair.
There's happy look on her aged face, as sha
busiIy knits for him, and Nellie takes up he
stitches dropped, for grandmother eyes are dim.
Their children come and read the news, to
pass the time each day how it stirs the blood
in An old mans heart, to hear of the world
away. lis homely .ccne-I told You So
but pleasant it is to view at least, thought
it 50 myself, and sketched it down for you.
Be kind unto the old, my friend they're worn
with this worlds strife, though bravely once
perchance they fought the stern, fierce battle
of life. They taught your youthful feet to
climb upward lifes rugged steep; then let US
gently lead them down to where the weary
sleep.-Anon.
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

MISFORTUNE AND DEATH.--The Cincinnati
Times says: November Sth the body of a
ma ch pedder, named Henry Brant, was dis
covered in the Miami Canal, at this place. The
deceased was about twenty-eight years of age,
and emigrated from Germany with his family.
He and his wife were of highly respectable
families, and he brought to this country with
him S4S,00O in cash. He purchased an estate
not far from this city, in the State of Kentucky
paying $4,000 cash for it. There he resided,
surrounded by all that the heart could wish,
and apparently happy in his domestic relations.
While residing there libertine won the affec-
tions of his wife. He persuaded her to seize
all her husbands ready cash and elope with
him. She did so. The news of the elope-
ment came like death to the unfortunate hus-
band and his children. They did not pursue
the erring one, but spent days and weeks in
silent grief At last the father proposed to
the eldest son to complete the domestic ruin,
and cover themselves with lifelong misery.
The son assented. They prepared the torches
and in the darkness OF the night they fired the
farm house, the barn and every improvement
on the estate. Houses. grain, fences and every
article on the farm were destroyed. The morn
ing sun arose on desolated estate. Brant
then came to Cincinnati. He plunged into
drink, and what little property be had was soon
gone. He then took to peddling matches and
backing to sustain himself. For several years
he las lived vagabond life, and whatever he
made By peddling he expended in drink"
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

WHAT WINES ARE MADE or-Hiram Cox,
Esq, Of Cincinnati, has made the following
startling statement During the summer Of
1856, anavzed a lot of liquors for some con-
scentious gentlemen of our own city, who
would not permit me to take samples to my Of
fee, but insisted on my bringing my chemicals
and apparatus to their store, that they might
see the operation. | accordingly repaired to
their store and snalyzed samples Of sixteen diff
ferent lots Among them were Port wine,
Sherry wine, and Madeira wine. The distilled
liquors were some pure and some vile and per-
niclous limitations, but the wines had not one
drop Of the juice of the grape! The basis Of
the Port wine was diluted sulphuric acid, col
ored with elderberry juice, with alum, sugar,
and neutral spirits. The basis Of the Sherry
wine was sort Of pale malt, sulpuric acid,
from the bitter almond oil, with percentage
of alcoholic spirits Of brandy. The basis Of
the Madeira was a decoction Of hops, with sui
phuric acid, honey, spirits from Jamaica rum,
&c. The same week, after anayzing the
above and exhibiting the quality and character
of the liquors to the proprietors, a sexton OF
one of our churches informed me had purchased
gallon OF the above Port wine, to be used in
his church. on the next Sabbath, for Sacra-
mental purposes. and that for this mixture Of
suphuric acid alum, and elderberry juice be
paid 81 rs gallon"
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

A HORRIBLE OurRAGE.-At a late hour on
the night Of November 10th, two infamous
scamps from Philadelphia proceeded to farm
house short distance from Newcastle, where
most estimabe lady resided, and after arous-
ing the inmates, informed her that her brother,
who was employed at Philadelphia, was lying
at the point of death, and if she was desirous
of seeing him before he breathed his last, she
must accompany them to that city in cover
ed wagon, which they alleged they had brought
with them for that purpose. She at once con-
sented to the arrangement, and soon after de-
parted in company with them, as she supposed
for the city. The wagon was driven to a
thicket about two miles from her residence,
when they forcibly seized her by the arms,
dragged her out of the wagon, violated her
person, each of them, then drove off in the
wagon, leaving the poor creature to find her
way home as she best could. The affair natur-
ally created the greatest excitement in the vi
cinitv of Newcastle and Wilmington, and if
the scamps had fallen INTO the hands of the
citizens, an expense of an execution would have
been saved the State. Search was made for
the ofe 9ders, and finally, $500 reward offered.
Information was lodged at the Mayors Office,
and Alexander Robinson was arrested. The
accused did not deny that he was one of the
party; the other scoundrel is at large. This
Is one of the most Infamous outrages that has
been recorded in months.
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

PIccoLoNINL-N. p. Willis has been to
hear Piccolomini, and thus he writes to the
Home Journal in regard TO her: "But how
can describe what is Piccolomni's great pc
culiarity? Her mouth while she sings plays
the most delicious pantomine possible to con-
ceive. The eye of the spectator is so pelted
with kisses, exqnisitely represented in sort oil
alto rei,ero, that it is absolutely bewildering.
The natural action of the lips seems positively
that, and nothing ese-kisses caught and put
into harness, and made to DO duty like sunny
words 1t is most difficult to realize, as one
looks and listens, when she leans over the foot
lights-(with anything of habit of kisses
seen done that is to sav)-that the rest of
the audience has not mysteriously disappeared,
leaving the matter entirely between ones self
and her. And then the absolute innocent con-
fdingne,s of the whole play and pout of those
pulpy little red lips-looking so as if they i'm
plicity trusted and believed in YOU while they
tried to reach you--make it still more abso-
lutely personal and private do not think
there ever was before such an actress on the
stage-one who was unequivocaly stamped
with the innocence of child, while she left
upon every aud tor the mysterious memory of
a kisSl'
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

A PRINTER IN ScRAPE.-A short time
since, typo styled William De Garrls, who
had worked for some time in Nashville, went
to the town of Woodbury. for the purpose of
engaging professionally at that place A few
days ago. after locating there, be became sud-
denly and passionately enamored of beauti-
ful and intelligent young lady, who, in due
course of time, he woed and we'd Shortly
thereafter it began to be whispered around
that this beautiful and intelligent young lady
was not De Garris' only living wife The rel
atives of the unfortunate lady, for this reason,
insisted that she should leave De Garris, and
have nothing further to do with him, unless he
could establish his innocence of the charge
She assented to their wishes, and addressed her
new lord a note to that effect. De Garris had
not enough philosophy to bear this reverse
with 4 conmendable degree of calmness and re-
slgnation. He threatened the drest vengence
upon those who had stepped between HIM and
his beautiful Young love. The issuance of
peace warrants enSued, and the last heard OF
the wayward De Gairis he was closely confin-
ed in jail, awaiting the development Of the fu-
ture.
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

A Novel METHOD OF KILLING Crows -
A friend of ours whose fields were SO infested
with these pests that he found it difficult to
procure more than half a crop, conceived the
bright idea of giving the illomened birds a
dose that would last them some time. He ae-
cordingy bought an ounce of strychnine, and
dissolvIng it in water, soaked quantity of
wheat in it and scattered it where the crows
would be likely to get it. AS might be expec-
ted, they greedy devoured the seed, and in
less than two hours there were enough dead
crows to literally cover the ground in the vi
cinity of the roost. Our friend says that all
that were not killed were so scared that they
staid no longer in that place, and he was never
again troubled by them Tetama Gazette.
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

superb. Every blow of the stick sent coveys
OF rats-one might have said patridges-fying
The dogs snapped them up in mid-air, COM
pleting sthe Illusion The rats, exasperated
despairing, bounded oyer The backs of the dogs
climoed up the men, ran into their boards and
hair, round their necks, between their legs,
over their shoulders banted whistled, clung
together, and bit the sticks with such fury as
to leave their teeth in them. Many broke
their necks by a rush against the wall, commit
ting suicide rather than yield. Naturally the
victory remained on the side of the men: but
1t cost them dear A duel fought with sabers
with their fellow-men would not have put them
in more pitiablc condition.
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

sA- A New York paper gives curious
case of fraud, by woman, that recently oc-
CURED at Stemarts famous dry goods house.
The woman entered, and desired to look at a
shawl. After examining several, she fixed up
on one, the price of which was $500. A
$4,000 bill was offered in payment. which the
clerk, after examination took to his employer,
whereupon the lady became very indignant,
and demanded her money. which was soon re-
turned to her, and pronounced genuine.
Snatching it from the hands o. the clerk, she
walked towards the entrance; but before reach
ing it, concluded, as shc could find no other in
the city that suited her, she would take the
shawl, Notwithstanding the indignty which
had been practised. A bill was again offered
by her of the same amount and 81 800 in
money aud the shawl handed over This time
the bill proved bad, not being the one first Of
fered
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

DREAMING MATcH.-Sir William Johnson
who was superintendent of Indian affairs in
America previous to the revolution, received
some suits of clothes from England, richly
laced, when Hendrick, king of the five nations
of Mohawks, was present. The chief admir-
ed them much, but did not say anything at the
time. In few days Hendrick called on Sir
William and acquainted him that he had had
a particular dream. On Sir William inquir-
ing what it was, he told him that he had
dreamed that he gave him one of those fine suits
which he had received from over the great
water. Sir William took the hint, and imme-
dately presented him with one of the richest
suits. Hendrick, highly pleased with this
generosity, retired A short time after this,
Sir William happening to be in company with
Hendrck, told him that he also had had
dream. Hendrck being very solctous to
know what it was, Sir William informed him
that he had dreamed that he (Hendrick) had
made him a present of a particular tract of
land tthe most valuable on the Mohawk river)
of about 5000 acres. Hendrick presented him
with the land Immediately, with this shrewd
remark, Now, Sir William, | will never
dream with you again; you dream too hard
for me- The tract thus obtained. is called
to the present day, SIR Williams Dreaming
Land.
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

DEAFNESS CURED By ELEcrRIcIrY.-The
Altoona Tribune notices remarkable cure of
deafness by electricity. A citizen of that place
suddenly lost his hearing, and after every means
known TO the medical fraternity had been ex-
hausted, electricity was resorted to. An in
strument was produced. and placing the ends
of the end of piece of wire in each ear, the
electric current was let on lightly at first, aud
gradually increased. After continuing the
operation for some time the hearing of the man
was so much restored that he could hear
heavy rap upon the table. Again the wires
were inserted IN his ears, and the fluid applied
On removing them second time the patient
could hear loud talking in the ROOM This
operation took place in the afternoon and the
patient was then allowed to rest till the next
morning. when the wires were again inserted
and after applying the fluid few moments,
the hearing of the man was perfectly restored.
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

An EysHY's CoURrEsT.-When the Cru
saders under King Richard Of England defeat
ed the Saracens, the Sultan seeing his troops
nv, asked what was the number Of the Chris
tians who were making all the slaughter? He
va. told that it was only King Richard and his
men, and that they were all on foot. "Then,
raid the Sultan. "God forbid that such no.
bic fellow as King Richard should march On
foot" and sent him noble charger. The mes
senger took it, and said, "Sire, the Sultan
sends you this charger, tnat you may not be
on foot" The king was as cunning as his enc
nv, and ordered one of his squires to mount
the horse in order to try him. The squire
obeyed but the animal proved fiery; and the
squire being unable to hold him in, he set off at
full speed towards the Sultan's pavilion. The
Sultan expected he had got King Richard
and was not little mortified to discover bis
mistake.
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

THE CoNoUERIyG HERo.-Morrissey, the
conqueror of the "Benicia Boy" arrived in
New York, November 9th His arrival was
speedily telegraphed to divers members of the
fancy and all the notable fighting men of
the city, and others of that ilk, have been vie
ing with each other to see which of them could
most honor the American champion He
spent the afternoon and evening at Florence's
Hotel. During the day and evening he shook
hands with more men than ever did any guest
of the city at the Governors Room. Morris
sey bears his hsnors meeky, and endures the
sharp shaking he received with remarkable
complaisance. He quotes himself in "tip top"
condition, and has not Il mark upcn his face
of the late fierce contest. He repeats his fixed
intention never to enter the ring again.
Morrissey's Sparring Exhibition and Grand
Complimentary Benefit came off November
10th, in Hoym's Theater, Bowery, New York
city. Two thousand FIVE hundred tickets were
taken at the doors. The crowd and enthusi-
asm were fattering to the bene6ciare In ad-
dition to the presentation of the $4,000 stakes,
he was presented with handsome emerald,
set around with sixteen diamonds, encased in
gold, manufactured in New York at cost of
$500.
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

A LITTLE DIFFIcULTY IN THE WAY.-An
enterprising travelling agent for we-known
Cleveland tombstone manufactory lately made
a business visit to small town in an adoin-
ing county. Hearing in the village that man
in remote part of the township had lost his
wife, he thought he would go and see him, and
offer him consolation-a grave stone-on his
usual reasonable terms. He started. The
road was horribly irightful one, but the
agent persevered, and finally arrived at the be-
reaved mans house. Bereaved mans hired
girl told the agent that the bereayed man was
splitting fence rails 'over in the pastur, about
two miles The indefatgable agent hitched
his horse and started for the "pastur," After
falling into all manner of mudholes, scratching
himself with briars, and tumbling over logs,
the agent at length found the bereaved man.
In a subdued voice he asked the man if he had
lost his wife. The man said he had The
agent was very sorry to hear of it, and sympa
thized with the man very deeply in his great
affiiction but Death, he said, was an insatiate
archer, and shot down all, of both high and
low degree. He informed the man that what
was her loss was his gain,' aud that he would
be glad to sell him grave stone to mark the
spot where the beloved one slept-marbe or
common stone, as he chose-at prices defyipg
competition. The bereaved man said there
was "a little difficulty in the way" "Hav'nt
you lost your wife? ?" inquired the agent
Why, yes, | have" said the man 'but no
grave-stun aint necessary, for, you see, the
cussed critter aint dead she scooted 1rnh an
other man p The agent retired.
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

EG% A Cincinnati fireman has been gather
ing imperishable laurels. An exchange paper
says :-"LooE at the hero, Carr, of Cincinnati,
who mounted the ladder, and forced his way
through raging flames aud binding smoke, un-
til he bore out mother in his arms. Again
he plunged into the fiery abys. and brought a
child again another child. There j. no such
hero as that man on military record. He is
worth all the heroes that stormed the Malakof.
The firemen of Ohio should raise monument
to his fame. But then, he didn't kill anybody,
and he only saved a vile and two children"
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25
The Light at Home.

The light at home how bright it beams
When evening shades srou nd ns fall;
And from the lattice far II CLEANS,
To love, and rest and comfort all.
When wearied with the tolls of day,
And strife for glory, gold or fame;
How sweet to seek the quiet way,
Where loving lips will lisp our name
Around the light of home
The light of home, how still and sweet
1t peeps from yonder cottage door,
The weary laborrr to greet
When the rough tolls sre DER
Sadis the soul that does not know
The blessings that the beams impart,
The cheerful hopes and joys that iior,
And lightens up the heaviest heart
Around the light at home.
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

STRANGE STATE OF THISGs-A widow,
about thirty-two years of age named Mary
Liverman, residing at Rochester, preferred a
complaint against William Liverman, her step
son, young man of twenty-one, for assault
and battery. The latter was arrested and ar
raigned, but when the affair came to be inves-
tigated. it appeared that she was the agrees
or, and assaulted him first Finding she could
effect nothing against the prisinor by the as
sault and battery charge, the stepmother pre-
ferred against her husbands son another-that
of bastardy. To the astonishment of all pres
cnt, the accused admitted the fact with per-
feet readiness, and did not appear to have the
slightest idea that there was anything unusual
ly shameful in the circumstance that he was
about to become the father OF child by the
widow of his father. The story of the hope
ful twain is that Liverman, the father of the
young man and the husband OF the woman.
died in May last, and since then his son has
taken his place in all respects-lying with the
widow as his wife, and providing for the fami-
ly, which included several small children, upon
whom the example of their mother and elder
brother must be remarkably edifying This
debased pair appeared TO have some idea OF
getting married, but the Police Justice obec-
ted to performing the ceremony not being
willing to abet the enormity of a man marry
ing his own stepmother
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

kIDSAPPISG.-Somet time ago slave, who
called himself George w. Ferris, ran away
from Tuscumbia, Alabama. Ferris was so
white that any one not knowing him would
not suspect him of having negro blood in him.
He went TO Pittsburgh, where he passed for q
white mau. worked at his trade, which is that
of bricklayer, and married white woman,
by whom be had one child. A white man,
named George Shaw. also brickIayer, arrived
at Pfttsburg, and having known Ferris in Tus-
eumbia. recognized him, He informed his
master OF it, and then enticed Ferris into Kan
sas. where be was arrested as a fugitive from
Alabama and taken back to his owner. Sha-'
was tried last week at Pittsburg and convic-
ted of kidnapping.
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

DRowNED.-A sad occurrence took place,
November 4th, on the Tallahatchee river, thir-
ty miles above Greenwood. David Csrne
went out in skif with two ladies, Mrs. Welch
and Miss Henrietta jenkins, on q fishing ex-
cursion When in mid river the skiff upset
Carnes, who was an excellent swimmer, sue
ceeded in righting the boat. rescuing Mrs.
Nelch, and then turned his attention to Miss
jenkins. When approaching her she clasped
him so tightly that be could swim no longer,
and they both sank to rise no more. Carnes
was young man, twenty-one years Of age. and
leaves behind him family TO mourn his un-
timely end.
The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-25

ARREST OF CoUNrERFEITERs.- Novem.
Der l2th a body of Brooklyn police, headed
by Capt. Halliny, made q decent upon fine
looking Gothic house in Myrtle avenue, which
has for some time been under the surveillance
of the police as a suspected den of counterfeit
ers. The inmates of the house, consisting of
persons calling themselves Mr.. and Mrs Ed
wards, Edward Cook and Samuel James. were
arrested. The officers searched the house from
top to bottom. Upon bursting open a door in
the basement they found a model mint for the
manufacture of bogus coin. In one corner was
splendidly finished lathe in another press
tor making impressions; and scattered around
were the various implements of the coiner scraft.
In the closets were found finely cut dies for
gold dollars, two dollar and half gold pieces.
quarter dollars, FIVE and ten cent pieces In
the crucibles, over the furnace, was quantity
of molten stuff used in making coin. In other
places were found bogus coin, in finished aud
unfinished state, to the amount of about $500
Under the work-benches were bundles OF tin
metal, having the appearance of Guide The
gold dollars finished were dated S54 the two
and half pieces, 1856 the quarter dollars,
1858, and The ten cent pieces the same date
With the lathe the counterfeiters manuiactur-
ed their own dies as pieces Of steel used for
such purposes were found in the apparatus in a
half finished condition. The dies for the coins
above mentioned, were all we'll cut and some
of the coins, gold and silver, so perfectly made
as to battle detection. The weights of the
respective gold and silver bogus corresponded
with genuine coin. All the the implements
were conveyed to the Police Office The pris-
oners were taken TO New York.