Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-02-13
Daily, 9Th.
SUDDEN DEArH,-Alexander Dunsmore,

SUDDEN DEArH-Alexander Dunsmore,
old and much esteemed citizen of place, died
very suddenly at his residence, between 10 and IL
o'clock this morning He had been at his store and
about town during the morning, but feeling unwell,
had taken dose of magnesia and gone home, wheu
he was seized with commissions and scon expired.
The symptoms of his expiring asSnies were similar
to those produced by poison This has given rise
the painful suspicion that poison was taken with
the magnes.a, but whether by accident or design no
one .an divine. His friends do not entertain the
idea that he committed suicide. True, his mind
had been for some time depressed about his business
but not the slightest fear had been excited by
his conduct that he would release himself from his
troubles by "shufiing off this mortal COLL"
Mr.. D. was upwards of 40 years of age, and leaves
q wife and family of six children. He was engaged
in the mercantile business (of he frm of A. Duns-
more Go. } and was universally esteemed by those
who knew him for his strict business integrity and
kind and humane promptings OF heart: His sudden
death falls as heavy stroke upon his relatives,
and casts gloom over the minds of our citizens
Daily, sth.
GRAPE CULTURE IN IowA.-We direct at
tention to the advertisement of Mr.. Horn, in anoth-
or column, hoping that many Of the farmers of this
county will improve the opportunity afforded OF
engaging in the culture of grapes on their horicu-
tural grounds. We are not prepared to endorse the
opinion expressed in the communication below from
Mr., H.-that lager beer and the wine Of the grape
can be mado to supercede entirely the delaterious
.lcsbolic drinks-not being "posted' in such mat
49,. hut "a ohsarvs that many ST r0np tempcrance
advocates, including the great orator, Cough, held
similar view. We think, however, that the trou-
bic and expense of cultivating the grape will be
we'll repaid by the fruit which it yields, even if it
il not manufactured into wine, and we hope to see
the suggestion OF Mr.. Il. followed. Below will be
found what he says.
1-Our syoAng State has in the past eight years
made considhable progress in raising the Catawba
grape, and pruccd aimest equal to any other State
where wine is raised, in proportion to the amount
planted, in quantity and quality. The sunny hills
of our sister city (Buringtcn) stand proudly, COW
cred with that delicious fruit, and its owners re-
seive a rich reward Already for their toll Ii is
truly said Iowa is cold climate and hence great
many are afraid from. that reason alone to engage
in the enterprise, but it lies in the same latitude As
Northern Ohio, Tin the ncighborhood Of Lake Ere,)
and from there receive he most fattering reports
Of the growth and well doings of the Caawba grape
1t therefore admits of very little no doubt that
here in Iowa, and especially in Mussstine county,
the grape can be cultivated and raisaa>~ith equal
success. The past year gave an abundant crop in
America as well as all Europe, and the glorious
hope for the future is entertained by the wine
growers, not alone on account Of them reaping Q
a rich reward for their labors, but for noblel
purpose-to wit, they believe by the introduction Of
the grape juice and the lager beer the destroying
alcoholic liquors, such as whisky, brandy, GIN &C.
will be entirely discarded, and drunkenness thereby
banished from the land. Besides all these advanta
ges, the vineyard is as much or more IN ornam' n
to . farm a. a splendid orchard, when both, side b,
side, as it were, stand Astounding with their rcl
and delicious fruits in the Autumn"
TIE DEATH OF Mr.. DUNsMoHE.--An inves
tisatien as to the cause of the sudden death Of A
Dun.more which we noticed yesterday, resuli ed il
establishing the fact that he could not have die
from poison, as no poisonous substance was foun'
on his stomach. 1t is supposed that mental depres
sion, acting on his nervous system and brain, pro
duced his death. Although his affairs we're not at
fected BY the stringent times worse than most othe
bu,iness men, yet having an exceedingly keen sens
of honor, he was unduly troubled in mind because
could not meet his obligations with his accustome
promptness. This, in all probability, preyed on hi
mind and produced the melancholy result alread
narated.-Daily, 9th.
TThe Davenport Gazette acknowledge
that groceries do not sell as cheaply in Davenpor
as in Muscatinc-or, what signifies the same thing
it quotes our paragraph giving prices here, and trie
to mako its readers believe that the merchants o
neither place can afford to sell at such rates. w
acknowledge that they could not afford it if they al
used such a deprecated currency Florence. Blu
VIZ assure the Gazette that it is mistaken when
saws we shave probably quoted the shiugle Of som
chap just on the verge Of bankruptcy who is VIII
ing to sell at any price to raise little of the ready
or who ksers such inferior groceries that ne can al
ford to sell them below the market quotations.
It is not one groscr alone who selling at the rat
We quoted, but every one in this city SO FAR as
have Observed and they do not keep inferior article
either. Their sugar is just as sweet as that ofsrs
by the Davenport dealers at or pounds Tor
Florence dollar. We observe that some OF our dea
srs ore selling sugar at even lower rates than u
quotation copied by fhe Gazette. At least one hou
has its sign up offering l2l lbs. for Ndoilar: "
presume, of course, as they sensible men, th'
thoy know their own business, and can afford to r
tail their goods at these low rates. The fear whic
~ Gazette Gays it entertans that the editor Of II
..Jourual' is not fully posted as to the grocer
market may with proprety be felt concerning tn,
paper. 1t seems to be ignorant Of the fact Thu
groccri., have recently declined in the southe'
markets nearly 100 per cent. below former prizes
and that such merchants as have HoSsY-not shi
rla.ters--to pay 70. them Gao afford to retail at
dased ratee.