davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30
Hard Times Mt the West-EneCt OF
Speculation.

The late commercial revulsion laid its han,
heavily Upon many Of the cities and towns o
the West, where the credit system was ex
psuded to an enormous extent, and now no
thing 10 heard from them but terribly earn
est CRY of "hard timRs." The Boston Jour,
nal says:
The city Of Chicago, which has been the
great head quarters of speculation at the
West, and where store lots two years ago
were worth almost untold gold, fsels the re.
action with great severity. Business is EN-.
phstically down to the "hard pam" What
trade exists there 10 limited to the actual ne
cessities Of commerce, and the "improv6.
ments," which depended on flush times are
greatly retarded. The price Of labor, build.
ing materials and produce OF oil kinds has
fallen one hundred per cent. in year and a
half. Real estate is kept mp by making no
sales, except forced ones. Mortgages are
not 'oreclosed by land agents, for the reason
that It would prove a loss to the holder, as
not enough has been paid by the purchaser
to make up the difference of depreciation in
value since the purchase was made, TO the
present time. Hence it is for the interest of
the creditor to obtain another payment on
the land. The number OF unoccupied stores
and houses, already counted by hundreds, is
increasing daily. ........
At st. Paul, Minnesota, rents have declin.
ed twenty-five to fifty per cent, while real
estate has, on an average, lost one-third OF
last years valuation. Outside Of the city
the decrease has been greater. Wages have
pnrtaken Of the downward tendency, and Ia.
borers who last year obtained 81 so per day,
are this year forced to be content with nine
ty cents. From Iowa, too, there is gener.
al cry of hard times. We hear of young
men who have gone from this section West
during the last six months, to seek employ,
ment, who came back with very different no.
tions Of the resources of the West from what
they had when they started, and purses sadly
depleted.
These evidences Of pecuniary suffering at
The West are by no means pleasant to re.
cord. Not only are many Of the sufferers
Dur old friends end neighbors, but their mis-.
fortunes react upon us. We trust, however,
hat the rampant spirit Of speculation, which
has been so rife in that section OF the country
If late years, has received a check which
will lead the people to adopt more cautious
policy and confne themselves more closely
o legitimate operations. .s. |
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30
The Presidency.

We see It stated that private meeting o
the Opposition" friendly to the nomina
tion of Hon. John J. Crittenden to the Pre-
sidency, was held in Washington on the l5tl
inst. Although no definite action was tax
en-, yet it 10 said that friendly feeling wal
manifested BY all those present. Who The
leading spirits of this meeting were is moi
stated /; but we presume the friends of Sew.
ard and Chase, the representatives of the
Abolition wing OF the opposition, were
among the uninvited.
To attempt to unite the Abolitionists upon
Mr.. CritteDden, or any other Southern
STAKEHOLDER, is absurd and impossible !; and
on the other hand, 10 attempt to induce the
Southern Americans to support Seward is
preposterous. The truth is, there can be
no union, under any circumstances, between
the opposition, North and South and it fol.
lows, as matter of course that the nomi.
nee Of the Charlestown Convention will
walk over the course without encounterine
any serious rivals.
The most powerful organization ever eff.
fected by the enemies of the Democratic par.
ty was that which nominated and ran John
G. Fremont for the Presidency in 1885,
With their "bleedins Kansas" issues. and
similar humbugs to deceive the people, the
AbolitionistS managed to form pretty pow.
erful party in the Northern States; but their
shrieking is all over now--peace dwells in
Kansas; and the Abolition hulk is at sea
without pilot or a sail 4! 1t will soon 60
to the bottom /; while the good old Demo.
cratic ship CONSTITUTION will sail in
beauty and majesty and triumph over the
deep waters Of the great political ocean.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30

Alta regular meeting of Ravenna Lodge
No. IS, |. 0. o. F. on Wednesday evening
December 18th, 1858, the following resolu'
tions were unanimously adopted:
Whereas, 1t has pleased an All Wise Pro-
vidence TO remove by death, one Of our mem
bers, Bro. E. N. ,Whittlesey, we bow 10 sub
mission to His dispensation.
That, in the death OF Bro. E. NJ. Whittle.
sey, this Lodge has lost faithful friend ant
useful member; society an upright and hon
est citizen; andhis family faithful and devot
ed parent.
To the widow, children and relatives o
our late Brother. we tender our warmest
sympathy and commend them to the All
Wise Providence at the source for consola.
ton.
Resolved, That copy Of the shove be for.
warded to the widow OF our deceased Brother
and also that a copy be furnished the village
papers for publication.
J. G. WILLIS, Ac'y. Sec.
H. s. Doty N. G.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30
A Horrible COtastrOphe-Threc
Children Burned.


A hre broke out on Friday morning last
in dwelling occupied by William L. Ben.
der, at Fostoria, Cambria County, Penusvl.
vania, and consumed three little Children
The mother, to prevent the children from
getting to the railroad while she went to the
stable to milk, locked the doors. Some of
the neighbors who saw the fire, attempted to
break in and rescue the children, but failed.
as the fire was SO great in the house when it
was first discovered that they found it i'm.
possible to enter. The younger was wrap
ped up in feather bed, and on effort was
made to save this child by breaking in at
window, but too late; life was extinct be-
fore it was got out. This little one had it.
face and legs burned IN a shocking manner.
The other two were almost entirely consum.
cd. This is q heart rendins circumstance
indeed, and the unfortunate parents are real.
ly to be pittied, ss they have thus suddenly,
and in horrible manner, been deprived of
all their children. Another house alongside
was also consumed; it might have been saved
but the excitement created for the safety OF
the children was SO great that property was
not thought of.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30
Negligence iD Drugs,

A case was tried 10 the Supreme Cour,
Of Cincinnati, a few days ago, in which Geo.
W. Quinby recovered $25O0 of F. Eckstein
for damages resulting from negligence in
making up q prescription. The pIa intifr al
legged that In 1866 he gave a prescription
for extract Of daDdeliOn, to an agent or clerk
OF defendant. That an article wss returned
to him that was not dsrdelion but belladon.
ne. From taking this Extract of beliadonna
the plaintiff was poisoned. He lost the use
Of his limbs and reason for many months -
After hearing the evidence, and lengthy
charge from the Court they found for the
plaintiff, damages $4,000. This IL Gaze
which should induce greet care on the part Of
those engaged in msking UP prescript ptions in
drug stores. a
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30
Death Of q Pioneer.

Abraham Miller, one Of the Oldest citizens
Of Licking county, died at bis residence In
East Newark, on Saturday last. If we mis-.
take not, Mr. Miller was native of HARDY
county, Virginia, and had seen we'll nigh
iour score years. Though so advanced in
life, he retained remarkable activity of bodv
and persisted to the last in discharsinp ali
his business obligations with that promptness
and fde lity for which he had ever been su
noted. He settled near the spot where he
died. long before Newark bad an existence,
having located there early in the present
century. Within the past year, we have
more than once listened to the old man re.
late HE early experiences in frontier life,
when the face of the Indian was almost az
familiar as that of the white man. We had
hoped yet to hear him again. But he was
ripe for the sickle, and he has been gathered
to his reward by the great husbs sndmen "who
doeth oil things l."-Ne,cGrk Advocate.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30
A spuusIky DivIusc.

An amusing incident, says the Louisiana
Courier, occurred in one of the New Orleans
Churches on Sunday Of last week. The
pastor and congregation are Germans, and
their mutual relotions have always been oil
an nmicable nature but at evening service
he took some theological stand which dis
pleased portion Of his congregation, and
they openly commented upon it In an unia.
vorSble ,msnner. Rev. Mr.. Pressly stopped
in his discourse and gszed upon his flock in
astonishment. Could it be possible that the
faithful would differ from him on subiecl
which he had made the study of his lifetimei
Again he thundered forth his position in tones
that should have intimidated any one into
conversion, but his stubborn congregation
egain differed from him, and several told him
from their seats that he was entirely ,nistak.
en-. .r e. t..f.ss. .-g.sa-4ts> e5ii! NJ
His professional character was at stake,
so down he marches from the pulpit, through
the middle aisle, and out Of the front door,
The members OF the congregation looked
round at each other with blank faces, con.
vinced that their pastor had resigned bis post
rather than any Of them should be dissatisfied
with their spiritual counsellor but they
were much mistaken in his character and in.
tention, for ina moment Iorehe marched in
again, and with policeman at his heels. -
"Arrest him, and him, and him." said. he to
the officer, until he had pointed out between
twelve snd fifteen Of the congregation, "and
take them to the lock up | charge them
with disturbing the peace of my Church,
Quite coolly the reverend gentleman reas.
cended bis pulpit, and took up the thread ol
bis discourse from where Il had been broken,
after having fret repeated the Objectionable
passage In "a emphatic and triumphant man.
ner. For the balance Of the evening, bic
congregation kept qniet, ssp . e,.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30
Our Mexican Difficulties.

Notwithstanding the official information
given by the Spanish minister, that the diff.
ficulties at Tampco had been settled it an.
pears that the settlement is one in which
the injured citizens of the United States,
have been almost, if not altogether, disre.
garded. The special correspondent of the
New York Herald at Washington says:
Parties intimately connected with Mexico,
and having widely extended knowledge OF
Mexican affairs, are urging upon our govern.
ment the sending of several vessels of war
to Tampico, with positive orders 10 compe
Garza to restore what he has plundered from
American citizens, in the same way that he
was compelled to make restitution to the
Spanish merchants. =.
Five American vessels have been fired in. =.
to, detained and robbed by him, and the car.
60 Of one was ordered to be discharged on
the beach while he was besieging the city,
and was then sent by him into the interior
on his own account. The vessel was then
made cover to his launches in an attack
on fort, was perforated with shot holes,
and the chief mates hand shot away. Her
commander, Capt. Travis, was imprisoned
for eleven days, and only released on the ar
rival Of the United States steamer Fulton /;
but no indemnity was exacted. Strong pro-
tests have been made before Mr.. Chase, the
Consul but he, Of course, has no means OF
enforcing them, while the want OF action
on the part of our government renders his
official protection Of little avail, md bis in.
iluence daily weaker. The Spanish Consul
ls now tbe only strong man in Tampico, and
Spanish interests the only ones respected by
Gov. CARA. ;. -.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30

GTA porter in New York was accidental
ly thrown from cart last week, and while
lying insensible on the pavement, police.
man picked him up, carried him before q
justice and entered complaint for intoxica.
ton. The poor porter having had his skull
fractured, was unable to give his name OF
utter any intelligible words, and the wise
justice had him committed for examination.
He was then Placedin cell; before he was
again taken before the court, he had passed
to his final examination before the grea,
Judge of the Universe. .... 7.... .....l-..s
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30
IsObbing a JewelIer and Hiding
the Jewels i'm n WOman's Mouth.

About 6 O'Clock on Friday evening mar
and woman called at the jewelrY store of p
Ford. l02 State street, and desired 10 look
at some jewelry. After some delay the Gus.
toners went out without purchasing. They
had not been gone long before the clerk dis
covered that seal, worth five or six dollars,
was missing from the box which the last Gus.
toners had examined. He ran to the Police
Office and informed the officers OF the theft,
and also gave description of the suspected
thieves. Some time late in the evening a
party of policemen repaired to the house Of
a peddler named James Gavan, or Gavinah,
in Toronto block, State street, and arrested
him and his wife. They were taken BY sur.
prise, and had not time to conceal the stolen
articles. During a search Of the woman,
seal, stolen from Mr.. Ford, dropped from her
clothing.
This settled all doubts as to the guilt OF
Gavan, and the Police told him that he must
go to the Station. AS he was about TO leave
the house he begged to be permitted to give
his wife q parting kiss, supposing that she
was to be allowed to remain in charge of the
premises. AS they were in the uct of ex.
changing tokens Of affection upon the lips,
the officer saw something glisten, and imme.
diately demanded of Mrs. G. what foreign
substance she had in her mouth. She denied
that she had anything concealed there ex-
cePt what nature had given her but this
would not satisfy the Police, who at length
persuaded her to disgorge another seal,
which had been stolon from Mr.. Ford, but
which he had not previously missed. It is
supposed that Gaven put this seal in his
mouth when arrested, to hide it, and ex.
changed it with his wife while in the act of
kissing. -
Both were taken to the Station, and fully
committed to answer.-Rochester Union, l8.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30

GThe Sons OF Malta in Cincinnati, say.
the Commercial, "on Christmas took the In.
dustrial Palace and distributed bread like
manna' but so bountiful were their prepara
tions that their generosity was compelled tc
seek objects of mercy. Not half their five
thousand loaves were called for, and to &C
comPlish their noble mission, vebic les were
employed, and the Sons spent the day driv.
ing cart'loads OF bread to the novels of the
children of poverty, wherever they could be
found"
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30
Cattle Market.

"a. The receipts Of leef cattle at the Yards
during the past week amounted to ,s44 head.
en- increase Of 2S9 head as compared with
the week previous. The average quality Of
the stock offered was very faif, and with q
brisk demand prices advanced fully hall a
cent per pound, the range being from 20 to
lie, with an ample supply and moderate
demandy Cows and calves sold at s2O@2 as.
according TO quality. Veal calves sold readi.
ly at 34@7c. though, the demand was only
tair, with moderate receipts. The stock Of
sheep and lambs was .scant, and those ofIer.
ed sold readily at % 5o@7. Tie swine
maTkes was active? and ,pficeS advanced 4
,triRe.--N y. Her0Ia, ~ =, - : - =
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30
A Boy ties himself 20 a Cows Tai

A most distressing death occurred in Rap
pohannock county, Virginia, lately. A littl.
son Of Mr.. John T. Corder, near Flint Hill
left the house with q negro to drive some
cows to point not far dist tant. In a few
minutes the negro returned and stated that
the little fellow, who was about nine years
of age, had tied himself to cows tail and
had been badly hurt. The father proceed.
ed 10 the spot, about mile from the house,
and there found the little boy tied to the tail
of a cow by rope around the waist. He
was dead. having been dragged some dis.
tance, and his body shockingly mutilated.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30

OF Forgeries amounting to several thousand
dollars have been recently perpetratsd sue.
cessfully at ST. Louis, by sharper dressed
as countryman, who obtained, ingeniously,
the checks of various firms, for small
amounts, in exchange for specie, from which
he afterwards sdroitly forged checks for
large sums. He escaped with bis plunder.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30

6JGen. Houston, now in his Goth year
has signifed bis intention to retire from
public life on the 6.hof March next. The
General has purchased extensive lands on
Galveston Bay, whittier he will remove to
engage extensively 10 sheep grazing.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30

@A dangerous young widow of 80, in
Ludlow, Mass, with four dead or discarded
husbands has torn young lad of ls years
from his afflicted parents in the came town,
and taken him to bed and board as No. s.
The parents locked up the boy, but the
widow was too smart for them, got him out,
and fed with him to Pslmer, where they
married.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30

Z 9The most extensive arrangements are
now in progress II Boston. for the celebra,
tion Of the birthday ot Daaiei Webster, oh
the 18TH The Hon. Caleb CasbinR he's
been ssleeted as the presiding ofEicet, aud
the Hon. Rufus Choate will be present.
The Pfesident together with the. Cabinet
and the mort distinguished Cong essmen are
10 beinvised, ~ 2F21 'gI .!G n 3f
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30

0Flt is estimated that the cargo of the
Peter TeIlon which sunk with the boat.
near Greenville, on the Lower Mississippi,
few days since was worth one hundred
thousand dollars. It included four thousand
barreIs OF flour, and large lot Of lard, &c,
which, as also large quantity Of live stock,
she received at Eyansville and points below.
for a southern market,. .s..,.,..s ....,.,. >.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30
The OhiS Legislature.

On Monday, the Sd of January, the ad
jOurped session of the Legislature Of Ohio
will convene a. Columbus. Asthe proceed
ingS will be looked for with interest. we
shall sndeavor to keep our readers thorough
ly posted in regard to itS doings,e 90
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30
!: !: !: $iSss$s, + +: Ss5s$s1' $Ss$; o'""''''
Edinburg, Dec. 2Oth, lS5S,

HVIHUUISS DCCs SVINJ IOJO.
The above committee would also recon
mend that each township appoint delegate
to meet in Ravenna, on Thursday, the 29th
day OF January, 1859, to make arrangements
for County Convention, and also to draw
up petition to the Legislature, in accord
ance with the public feeling, so that the
sane petition may be circulated throughout
the whole County.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-30

AccordinR to notice heretofore given In
this paper, . special meeting Of the Edin.
burg Farmers Association, was held on
Monday evening Dec. goth, to take into con.
sldsration the cause Of our already exorbi.
tant and continually increasing taxes. The
meeting was large and after q spirited dis.
cursiOn the following resolutions were adopt.
ed:
ResOived, lst. That, we % taxpayers have
reason TO complain Of our heavy State,
County and Township taxes, alleged ss be-.
ing merely snficienr to sustain the govern.
ment machinery, while ct the same time our
taxes are annually increasing in q greater
ratio than our increase Of real estate and per-
sonsl property. -
Resolued, and. That we are unable to See
why il is that we are annually called upon
to pay an increased tax for State, County
and Township purposes, unless it may be
through the perfect recklessness and prodi-
gslity Of our officials.
Rssolued, 3rd. That the appropriation OF
nearly eighty.foUr thousand dollars, for the
School Libraries is useless expenditure.
Resolved, 9Th. That il 10 expedient to peti.
ton the Legislature to enact law making
it the duty of the proper County officer to
have printed upon the tax receipt the per.
centuge, going to Stute, County and Town
ship.
RssOlpea, 9th. That we have reason to
complain Of the indiscretion of our County
Commissioners, in imposing 90 heavy q tax
upon the taxpayers Of Portage 60. We
would ask them il they msnage % closely
for the County, as they are known to for
themselves. Praying that the new board
may not disuppoint1 the high expectations of
their constituents.
Resolved, 9th. That we cordially invite
The Taxpayers Of the several Townships of
Portage Co., to call Township meetings, to
lake into consideration come means to relieve
rs OF our exorbitant taxes.
Resolved, 7th. That as these resolutions
ire in part In accordance with our views of
, reform in State and County finances we
10 most heartily recommend County Con-
'ention of taxpayers, to be held in Raven.
Ia, where a more public dem onstration of
ceiling may be expressed. at which time
md place, such means may be used as will
'e instrumental in securing a relief of our
,rievances.
Resolved, 9Th. That we appoint commit.
ee Of three, whose duty it shall be to send
copy OF these resolutions to each county
oper for publication. Also to issue call
Or Convention of tax payers, to be held in
savenna at some future day, and, also 10 see
'at our own citizens have an opportunity to
ign the petitions to the Legislature, as spe.
fled in the 4th resolution.
!: !: I: SiSSH5s, f +: SSIs5iSI' Committee.