The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-10-20
The "Potson Wind.


scholarship to young ladies, and to young gentle-
men, at degree of cheapness that, We believe, has
no parallel in the State. SKYLARK.
The Poison Wind"
Russian nobleman, who has been travelling
in Africa gives the following account Of the Sam
ieli, Simoou or Poison Wind, which 10 such au OBJ.
Jsct OF interest and terror to all classes and all
tions. He says:-The Sameli 10 felt in the Desert
from about the middle of June to the 21st Of Sep
tember. II is experienced with a worry violent
south west wind, and on those days when the heat
OF the sun is the most ardent. 1t is burning; it
comes in gusts more or less scorching, of more or
less duration; each Of them, however, even the
shortest, exceeds the time that man could hold
his breath. This wind consists in succession Of
burning and cool gusts. In the first there is frs-
quently double degree of heat and impetuosisy -
The difference between the hot and cold gusts
according to my observation, is from to 10
degrees Thehighest degree oil the hot gusts was
13 deg. of Farenheir, the temperature in the sun,
without the Samieli, having been constantly from
50 deg. to 81 deg. l thought could observe that
when this wind blows, yeliowish tinge, in
clining to be livid, is dfused through the atmos-
phere; and that, in It's most violent periods,
the sun becomes of a deep red. Its odor is
infectious and sulphureous, it 10 thick and heavy
aud when its heat increases, 1t almost causes suf
location 1t occasions pretty copious psrsrira-
tion, partly excited by the uneasiLess which one
feels, and the difficulty with which one breatheS,
on account Of its fBtid quality. This perspiraton
appears to me more dense and viscious than she
natural perspiration the wind itself deposits an
unctuous fluid. The better to examine its quail.
lies and its nature, opened my mouth to inhale
1t; the palate and throat were instantly parched
Ii produces the same effect when inhaled through
the nostris, but more slowly. To preserve ones
sell from it, and keep the respiration more free,
it is usual 20 wrap up the face with a handker-
chief. In passing the tissue 1t loses part of ito
action and of lis destructive principle, aud be-
sides, the breath keeps up degree of humidity,
and hipders the burning air from suddenly pene-
trating into the mouth and lungs. The Arabs
therefore, are accustomed, whatever the heat
may be, even in the shade, to wrap the
wnois body, not excepting the head, in their
Mesehtah, (cloak,) II they desire TO sleer -
This wind causes, by the rarefaotion that ~.
tenas 1t, pretty strong agitation in the bood !;
ana this Increased movement soon brings on weak
ness. 1t in general produces on man two effects
distinctly characterized. 1t strikes him mortaiiy
with kind OF asphyxy, or cause him great do.
Dilify. The corpse OF person so sutfocated has
this peculsrity, that In a few days, or even hours
as rome Arabs affirm, the limbs separate at the
joints with the slightest effort, so powerful is the
action Of the poison on the muscular parts, giving
an astonishing activity to the progress of putrefac
tion. Such corpse is reported contagious.
know nothing so terrible as this wind; / felt it
almost constantly in the Desert batting some in
ruptions, one of which was for three days and
three nights successfully. My interpreter, Mr..
Rossel, was struck by it, but escaped death by a
discharge of blood. That which confirms what
have said Of the separation of the limbs is, that,
having been struck by this air. was affected for
some weeks with an extreme weakness; and
whenever the least warm wind blew on me, felt
great faintness. and perceived in my joints a re-
Taxation of the muscles.
The dangers of this wind are guarded against by
inhalIng the fumes of good vinegar, aud covering
the face with the handkerchief L asked the
Arabs il lying down on the ground was pressrva.
tive against it: they assured me it WAS not.
should be inclined myself to think it prejudcial.
LATER PROM PARAGUAY-The schooner Mary
Beutly, at New York, brings dates from Paraguay
to the 9th Of August:
The news from Paraguay is that Lopez was busy
preparing to lay railroad from Asuncion to Vita
i.ica,-the centre of the tobacco region-under the
direction of William Withers and Paddison, his
English engineers The hull of the Little Polly
The English steamer nn down by the Paraguayan
steamer Of war Tacuar had been sold as she lay
in the stream for $4,000; but as yet it has been
impossible to raise the wreck. Lopez has con-
demued to death in contun1dcidn. Dr. Don Manuel
Pedro Pena. distinguished paraguayan, who is
President of the Parsguayan Liberating Junta,
and prominent anti-Lopez writer 10 Buenos
Ayres. There was not much danger that DIR. Pena
would return TO Asuncion to undergo his sen>
tencs.
The papers give an account of two exploring
expeditions. That of Sr Rams on the river SaIad0
has been frequently alluded to. Sr. Rams thinks
that he will succeed in making the river nayisabe
Capt Lavare!lo bad lett Buenos Ayres to exp xplsre
the upper waters of the Parana. His vessel is a
thirty cared barge Of light draught of water.
kareys pamphlet had been published in the
Buenos Ayres papers, and all the gauchos imme-
diateiy set to work to practice colts. The
Orden states that some enterprisiDg native had
discovered secret as good as Rarey's, and had
succeeded in tanning wild mare to such an extent
that she would lie down and permit bunch of
dre crackers to be exploded between her feet
Tbs LAST MAN.-The Cincinnati Commercial no.
tices a curious organization of seven Young men
into society, on the Both September, 1882, while
the cholera was raging in that city. Their names
were Joseph X. MxsoD, VIM. Stansberry, VIM Dis
ney, Jr, DR.. Jas. NJ. Mason, FeBton Lawson, ,He enry
l.. Tatem and DIR. John j.. Vattier. These seven
young men had met at the studio of Joseph R.
Mason, who was then portrait painter, when the
conversation paluratly turned on the ravages ct
the cholera, and they got into controversy,
whether the disease was contagious or non-conts-
gious
From this they entered into solemn compact
to meet annually, and dine together rs long AS
they lived, and that bottle of wine should be
sealed and drunk IN nsemoftdn by the last snryi-
yor The 9th of October was agreed upon as the
day on nich to hold the anniversary. Tho bottle,
of an octsgons shape, was filed, sealed aud placed
ia casket and each of the men kept the key year
about Within the casket, besides she bottle, were
small slips Of oiled paper, on which each OF the
men had written his Dame, place and time OF
birth, ana place Oh reelucuCe at thdt Imc, u5 age
and occupation.
Whoever held the key for the year was to pre-
vide the banquet, whether rich or poor, even If it
consisted only of a loaf of bread and cup OF wa
ter and it was arranged that, however the num-
ber might be reduced by death or absence, seven
chairs and seven plates should be set al each ban
quet. Should any be absent, those present were
bousd 70 make inquiries as to bis whereabouts
Lots were cast for the keeper of the casket for the
first year. and it fell TO DR.. Vattier. The fret an.
uual reunion was held on this 9th of October, 1882
since which time the full number has never been
present. On the 18th of August, 1858, Henry L.
Tatem died, leaving Dr. yattier the sole survivor
of this singular club, and on the 9th of October,
1885, the Dr. took the last solitary banquet, there
being set six empty chairs, and as many empty
plates
POSTAGE srAMps-The Stamp Bureau of the Post
Office Department, which is under direction OF the
Third Assistant Postmaster General. John Murrop,
quarter ended the 30th September last, there were
issued from this bureau the following:
One cent ,fy.00o
Three Ger ~, ,f4o 600
five cent STAN ~ ,ooO
Ten cent 3.oS
Twelve cent stamp .Slo
h.iss,cso
Stamps returned. 62,9o0
Total ~ u", ,iU
OF stamped envelopes there were issued IA lou
note size three cents; letter size, thref
cents; 42,s50 ten cents envelopes; 100 ofneaal
stanps.
The mott revenue accruing from this source
amounts to an aggregate Of about 81 ,334,a96.
TIE Coax TREE.-The cork tree Il being Ok