davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02
Burning of the Sarah Sands.

letter from Captain Castle commander of the steamship Sarah Sands, is published de- scribing the partial destruction of the ship. and the escape of the troops and crew. She was at the time bound for India with British troops The fire was discovered at 3:45 F. NJ. The flame burnt through the upper deck, and at about F. M. fearful explosion took place in the port magazine.
 By this time, says Captain Castle, the shin was one body of flame from the stern to the main rigging; and thinking it scarcely possible to save her. 1 called Major Brett, in command of the troops, forward, and told him my opipion requesting hm to keep order among the troops until the last, but at the same time to use every exertion to check the fire. No person can dc. scribe the manner ill which the men worked to keep the fire back. One party were below keeping the bulkhead coal from burnino several of whom were dragged up senseless, when fresh volunteers took their places, but soon in turn again had to be dragged up in the same state
 At II p. m-, the maiatopsail yard took fire. MT. Welsh, quartermaster, and four or i've soldiers went aft with wet blankets and suc. ceeded in extinguishing the flames there. but not until the yard and mast were nearly burnt through About midnight we appeared to have made some impression on the fire, and after that, drove it back inch by inch until daylight, when 1t had been completely got under The ship now appeared in fearful plight, merely the shell remaining. The port quarter was blown out by the explosion, fifteen feet of water was in the hold, and the ship was rolling heavi- ly and taking in large quantities of water aft.- She finally reached Mauritas.
Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02
Taxation of Swamp LandsLSupreme
 Court Decision.

Below we give an abstract of the points decl- ded in the case of "The administrator and heirs of George w. Underhill, deceased, vs Lafavette county" The question was, whether the swamp and overhowed lands entered under the act of 9th of anuary, 1851, could be taxed, as reouired by the act of 11th of January, 1855.
 The l4th section of the act of January, 1854. provided as follows: 75 encourage Jy cU just naeans the progress and compilation of tie reclrmation, by tfering inducemsnts to pHr- chasers and contractors to take up sa'd lands that the stcam,p and Ove1iosced lands shaA 6e erenapt from taration for the te'n' cf ten years or until soid lands are reclaimed"
 By the act of 11th Janury, 1855, the l4th section of the act of 1851, exempting swamp lands from taxation, was repealed, and the 2d section declared, that aN oonfrmea s,oamp land sold or located, shall De subject to ta1ation ID the same manner as other iands are tq1ed un : der eris.ing taCs cf tie State"
 In the case above mentioned, the Supreme Court decided the following points:
 1st That the swamp and overtlowed lands sold by the State, under the provisions of the at of 9th of January, 1851, while the 14th SC ,tion thereof was in force, are by contract be- tween the State and the purchasers exempt from taxation.
 2d. That the period of exemption begins at the date of the purchase from the State, and continues for ten years, if the lands are not  sooner reclamed; and, if they are, ceases upon their reclamation, and in 10 event continues longer than ten years, no matter whether re- claimed or not
 Sd. Whenever any of the levees and drains provided for by the act were completed, the lands intended to be protected or drained there by were, within the meaning of the law, re- claimed.
 4th. That the lands cannot be taxed until af- ter the expiration of the period of exemption, and so much of the act of 11th January, 1855, as provides that they shall be, is repugnant to the constitution of the United States and void.
 Thus this question is settled. Under this decision, if the assessors do their duty, it will be found that the greater part of the swamp lands entered under the act of 9th January, 1851, has been reclaimed, and is, therefore, sub feet to be taxed
Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02
Arkansas in California.

The following extract is from the letter ot W. F. Hicks, formerly of this place, to one of our citizens. It will be interesting to all who remember the writer and those associated with him in the publication of the Express. It is dated Marysvlle Dee. 17, 1857:
 It may not be entirely uninteristng to you to know what all old .owrsman is doing in Cal ifornia. 1 came here iu 1854 ard bave done as well as l could wish. I am now publishing daily democratic paper, the Express, and a weekly also. Our daily is as large as the True Democrat of your city. This city contains be- tween eight and ten thousand inhabitants, is situated in Tuba county, at the junction of the Tuba and Feather rivers, and is at the head of navigation, has daily steamboat communication with San Fraclsco and also telegraphic commun- ication. Twenty-seven stages leave here daily for all parts of the mines, and We have d good prospect for railroad to connect us with the San Francisco bay. Our houses are mostly beautiful and substantial brick structures. In my opinion we have the handsomest town in Cali fornia-certainly the most fourishing one
 J. R. Ridge, known as Yellow Birdo in Arkansas is the editor of the Express, and Lloyd Magruder of Batesvile is one of the partners in the concern, which is valued at S20,OOO.-- So you see the Express is sort of an Arkan- sas institution.
 send the Express to the True Democrat, and if it is not too much trouble tell Johnson to exchange with us."
Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02

Mr. EDIToR-In the last number of the True Democrat. Mr. Moore complains of my stric- lures upon his article of Dec. 18th, upon the English Bible and new translation.
 My remarks were neither conceived nor brought forth in a spirit of bitterness and l can only account for such charge being made upon the ground that there were some truths pre- sented which cannot be successfully controver- tel-snd historical facts which must go home to the conviction of all who will take the trou- ble to examine them. My only apology for writing under an unknown signature IS the ex- ample given me by MT. Moore himself. When I wrote most of my article, of which he speaks I knew not whether l was opposing J. w. Mitchell J. w. Moore, or J. w. any other name which might commence with the letter M, nor did I care as it was with facts that wished to deal and not with men or names; l therefore plead ignorance of the fact that all articles published over those initials are to be ascribed to Mir. Moore, as he seems to clam It from his being known under that signature for twenty or thirty years.
 After the editor of the Gazette & Democrat published to the world who J. w. M. was, little did 1 expect that he would come out under hls real name, complain of my unknown signature, and refuse to answer my article upon the ground of its having an anonymous author-thls is like begging the question.
 If Mr. Moore will attempt to defsnd h'ng Jdn,es uersion ef hse Bible as q correct transsa tio, according to the inspired original, and oppose the present efo,t at revision, aoH sag to him that my nane IS in he hands cf the editor, and he shatI hue an opponent ,0orthy cf his steel.
 ARKANSAS.
Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02
V-II IIIN tT WF TIT7--E- " V Growing Irish Potatoes,

1 promised, some tune ago, to give tk of an experiment in growing Irish potaa which 1 was al that time trying. By of patch planted, mauured and worke usual way, l planted several rows with is usual with sweet potatoes ill this see had previously made in hot-bed, in put about half bushel of potatoes b i the slips or sprouts. IL s1 happened, b that the hot bed was made much later should have been, and d.d not have sLs as soon as ought to have had them bys weeks, and consequently the yield was than 1t would have been, on account oft weather which in mid summer lOllovs copious rains of the earlier part of the s Those which were planted In the usual with whole tubers, CT pieces with one G eyes-had the start of them, and y.el ter, because they had the advantage of t Yet my experiment, in connection WILL of some of my neighbors, has conviLa quite satisfactorily on the following pom
 l. In this way one bushel of potatoes as far as three or four planted in the usGi One bushel will furnish slips for large ? ground.
 ?. A crop can be raised from the slip as early, and l am confident eariier, Ia planting the potatoes, because the hot-os be made in February and the sprouts k ing before 1t would be practicable to p the open ground. A little brush or stu protect the hot bed in hard weather
 g. l found that the slips on being tn ted lived with little or no care, hardly O hundred dying.
 f. The potatoes grown from slips will be larger and of more uniform size thl. raised in the ordinary way, but not 50 2 hill-the yield in the aggregate fully 3
 hope some of your readers will try t- and report. Let the ground be rich q oughly manured, and, with tolerabIe the trial will be satisfactory, l am sure.
 Virginia, Dec. p, 1858. AGR0
Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02
Later from Kansas-Slections.

St Loas, Jan. 20.-The D Democrat has let ter, of the l4th from Kansas, showing the re- turns of the late elections. For the constitu- ton with slavery, 6.o63; without slavery 3,562 this number is doubtful. Smith, the free State candidate for Governor received 6. 23S votes. Marshall, the democratic candidate. 6o23. Parott for Congress 6,62O; Carr, ,563. The Senate, State, 13; democratic, G. House, State, 29; democratic, 14 The ter ritorlai legislature, on account of frauds, will provide tor another constitutional convention
 D. Lotus, Jan. 2l.-Later.--The votes for the constitution, as published over Gen. Den vers signature, are for the constitution with slavery, b, 43; without slavery, 569o At the election oi the 4th the free State party elected all their State officers by an average majority oi 4lo Senate, Is free-State to 6 democratic. House, 29 free-State to 15 democratic.
Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02
From Green County.
Oak Bluf, Green O., A,ks., ali. 1858. To his Excelency,

Oak Blg6, Green O., A,Es., Jan. 1858 To his Excellency,
 E. N. CONWAY, Governor of Ark
 Suffer me to call your attention to the situa- tion of the State lands in our county, and in doing so, will say that the good people of our sister State Missouri, have (to their credit be it said,) leveed the St. Francis river on their side where it is the line between us, and have there by reclaimed thousands of acres of valuable lands, which, if not done, would have been of no use to them, but in doing so, have thrown the whole volume of water that hitherto spread out on both sides of the river wholly on our side, and in this way at every overflow, plays havoc with our bottom lands which is mostly of loose sandy nature, and the more easily washed away, and if suffered to continue so will in very short time completely ruin the bottom, and the homely proverb, "a stitch in time saves nine" applies with peculiar force in .his case, the filling up the mouths of few sloughs, (which now acts as flood gates to the waters) and small leyee from near Chalk Bluff to the Sunk Lands," and then (as wisely suggested by the State Rights Democrat a few weeks ago) restore the St. Fraucs to its original channel, or cut a canal in time of low water through the sunk lands, would not only make that river navigable from its mouth to the Mis- souri line, but would reclaim vast body of as rich lands as perhaps the world ever saw. The simple facts here set forth are known to hun- dreds of our citizens living near the river bot tom.
 We do not ask this as favor at your hands, but claim it as our right, and that the revenue from the sale of lands in our part of the State, shall not be taken to levce rive.s in other DOT tions of the State.
 The next census (soon to be taken) will show an increase of inhabitants in Greene and Pon- sett counties, not inferior to any portion of our State. To accomplish the object here spoken of, and finish our-long- talked of railroads, and our end of the State will hardly be surpassed, for health, richness of soil, and convenience of market by any other county
 The great necessity in the case and, the vast results of good that would be accomplished, must be the apology Cf any is required) for an humble citizen thus addressing you.
 Most respectfully yours, etc,
 H. w. G.
Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02

"Senators Robert Johnson and Cameron, comprising he majority of the printing com mittee, have given the binding of the Senate to Charles Butler, esq, leading and popular American politician. They have prescribed such reductions of price as to save $26, GOO on the rates of the last Congress" ."- Washington City Hem.
 Well, if 1t is no honor to Arkansas for one of her Senators to be chairman of the committee on printing, at least that Senator is djschargmg his duty, in his very humble position, in an hon. orable and honest manner. H has say ed to the government in the single item of the Senate printing, the snug little sum of S26 6,OOO.-one thousand dollars more than the yearly salary of the President of the United States What says the Hampstead Democrat? II Mir. Johnson's position Is no honor to his State, is he not likely to do both her and himself honor, by his watch fulness over the interests of the whole country? lie that is careful of small things will be care iul of great things! Besides MT. Democrat, the lowliest position in life. may be made honorable by al honorable and honest employment of its duties. Don't you think so?--Aykansatc IiaU- eier
Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02
From the Pc
From tllo ON uAtaL Ad'a' Der fest, Dewtay Township, Jennyvl fust, Is hundred & fifty s, Lawrancs!

Der lest, Dewtay Township, Jennyw
 fust, Is hundred & fifty s, Lawrancs
 tay, Ark.
 Deer mis betsy seein as how you hev ted mr adams we're aglut tew supennfeL glttln of yerselt and other gals husa these here parts, and bein as 1 am one tO . l hev thot proper to dress you foo ha inform ye that in awl probability, wO. ye to a dinktum. Eli you wish to teW antyseedants will not nur cauknot giN, ye, but so fur as my past life is kousernel trelay give 1t. 1 was bornd ill the Stalt oktowbar IS hundred and 2U seven 2sl of tha muuth about ata miles lest of Msz eye gradated with honor at the blg b& skool at the age of 20, 5. Bein as ysi market and okypi the persition of per- would to Ike strike bargin with ye, yoGs about thourty ears of age, and kUnSldsr@ lookn by sum of the far sex. kan 4S kints ol farm work and hev a smalls makaniks, some tast for tha fine arts $ clsslng, Squeeslng, eatin and pantelug t- do not admire red har you uld not sl. kuller your har was if ye are red heada hands oil Polly Gaps, your bein in a Ooa anksyltyeS don't understand, hope ye' this time, your beln un common tnlcE si stlkel. Then wood say to you hold , In redynesS, for shall be over the hll | year!lest convenyants. l hope we mG no distant day better aekquauted and ;la thoughts only where no year can hear alt l can see. Yours trooly,
 S0RGHO SUCG
Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02
The Election on Monday.
Ihe American Party Defeatedt-Me Demo- H1amPhant-- One Hundred and !Seuen { c7-nfic MniOy.gt,y

Ihe American Pa,ty Defeatedi-he Democrasy r 1'1amphant-- One Hundred and Seven Demo-
 cratic Majority.
 Atlanta stands redeemed, regenerated, disen- thraled, from American or Know Nothing rule The contest that has resulted in this glorious triumph of liberal principles over prejudice and intolerance, and that is to give to the city sound and economcal government, was the most ex- citing that we have ever witnessed. In the contest the democracy bore themselves gallanlly during the whole day, and in it. too, their op- ponents strained every nerve to hold on to the last citadel of their power in the county of Full ton. They are routed, however, horse foot and dragoons,' and over our city the flag of the democracy will henceforth trumphantly wave, bearing upon its ample folds, "equal rights to all, and special privileges to none.'
 Most heartily do we congratulate our city upon the result! Freed from its so called "American' rule We shall feel confident that its every interest will be advanced, and that it's plumber, (with which the democracy have been chargedD will be preserved henceforth to the city. We have no time to say more at present but to call the attention of our readers at home and abroad to the official statement of the polls which will be found below, and to invoke for our gallant leader in the contest, LUTHER J. GLENN and every candidate on ourricket for aldermen, three chrees from the democracy of Georgia. -Atlanta Iateliqencer.
Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02

NOBODY Bur PRINTER.--Such was the sneering remark of person residing not thou sand miles from our sanclum, in referring to the profession we follow in pride. Nobody but a printer, in soothl It makes our blood run ram pant through our veins, to hear such expressions from the lips of those nursed on republican soil. Nobody but printer, anyhow. What was Benjamin Franklin? Nothing but printer.- Who Wm. Caxton, one of the fathers of literature? Nobody but printer. Who was Earl Stanhope? Nobody but printer. Who was Gov. Bigler of Pennsylvania, and Gov. Bigler of California? Nobody but printers.- Geo. P. Morris N. P. Willis, Joseph Gales, Charles Richardson, James Harper Horace Greeley, Bayard Taylor, Robert Scare, Charles Dickens, M. Thiers. Douglas Jerrold, Geo. D. Prentice, and Senators Dix, Cameron, and Niles? Nobody but printers. And last though not least, who is Buchanan, who occupies the most enviable position on earth? Nobody but a prin- ter One thing is certain, every printer who chooses can make blackguard, but every black guard cannot make printer,--brains are neces- sary.-Er.
Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02
S0RGHO SUC2
Bold Surgical Operations-Man's
 Removed

The Edinburgh (Scotland) Adyertissi- following;
 On the 0th ult., at noon, there was D amount of excitement exhibited in the $ ward and operating theater of the Royi mary, Edinburgh, resulting from the q tion of very formidable surgical opersg~ ing place that morning. At twelve o'cN room was crowded to excess, and nuno medical men from all parts were aSsemA witness 1t. The patient had for a long suffered from cancer of the tongue, and 2 sor Syme had determined upon remOv+ organ bodily. Shortly after twelve o'coe man was led into the theater, placed uP table, and quickly rendered powerless iS the potent influence of the clorotorm was administered to him. Professor Syn' menced by making vertical iucisiOu iI' the lntegument covering the chin, a1l sawed through the lower jaw at the symPD The division being made, he next procea cut away the tongue at the very root e' the hyoide bone. The arteries were 2. tied, the hemouage was paratyely the man having lost only very few oaH' blood. The jaw was again placed togeths- the integumeut sewed up. The man w tually able to walk out of the room. close of the operation Professor Syme rei> that the removal of the tongue bodily hai successfully performed in Italy, but the z operandi was of different nature, the ia's having been made entirely ill the thFoa1 he Professor Syme) considered that tha'D was attended with more danger than the oy had chosen to adopt. This operation haS ' yet been performed in Great Britain, and, 'S the patient recover, which is earnestly y and believed, the highest praise will be d. Professor Syme for having so skillfuly " taken that which no surgeon of the count! formerly ventured upon.
Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02
From Kansa 5.
ST. LOUIS, January 25.

DI. AoUIS, u iIIudIy -O Advices from Kansas state, that an act had passed the lower branch of the legislature abol- ishing slavery from March lst Disturbances existed between settlers and Indians at Shawnee reservation. The Indians were driving of the settlers, burning their houses, and destroying their crops The advices Co the New York Times say the Mormols will coufine themselves to guerrilla warfare. Every able bodied man wiii be nnder arms in the spring. Said to have plenty of spies in our army.
Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02
A Curiosity in Iowa

A correspondent of the Cincinnati q writing from Grundy county, Iowa following account of one of the most ??,N most interesting relic of the civlizatiou. bors of former age that can be fourJ continent:
 have for some time intended to readers of the Gazette description ot. Lake, which is situated in Wright com. To me it was one of the greatest cn. had ever seen-enveloped as its bist,. mantle that will probably never be vil This lake lies in the midst of vast rl. rich, gently undulating prairie extens.. miles in every direction. The lake area of about 1900 acres. The wa,s and cold, from 2 to p feet deep. vi,. sandy bottom. A strip of timber ev,.. way round it, probably ten rods wide ' only timber within many miles. r wall of heavy stone all around it.
 It is no accide al matter. It ha, with human hal ds. In some places is higher than the lake, ill which ca,s ss only amounts to something like yin lection. This, 1 believe, Is what end,. it. But in other places the water is N the lake than the prairie outside of \ The wall in some places Is 10 feet N 13 feet wide at the base, sioping m lo. to 5 feet wide on the top. The wall entirely of boulders, from three i'm, down to fifty pounds. They are all i, called lost rock. am no geologist a,. ouently can give no learned descnption Y They are not, however, natives to b. born" Nor has the wall been mad. washing away of the earth and leavingb There Is no native rock iu this region ! this, is a continuous wall, two miles If at least, is higher than the land. Tb. the wall is level, while the land is updr,. so the wall is in some places two fps, others ten feet high. These rocks n. them at least, must have been brougb, distance-probably five or ten miles. | I county the best rocks are scattered prer, but as you approach this lake they d. showing that they have been gathered ! agency-when or by whom history vii unfold. Some of the largest oaks in A are growing up through the wall, push rock in, in some cases, in others accomm their shape to the rocks. The lake with excellent fish. The land in that h yet belongs to the government.
 When I was there in the spring of l3 wind had blown large piece of ice aga south west part of the wall, and had it down, so that the water was running. they were about to repair the wall to their crops. It is beautiful farm land D: around this lovely lake.
 The readers of the Gazette should agine that the wall around the lake s lar and as rice as the wall around the in front of the city hall, in New York, any entertain the theory that 1t Is anarr but it has been built hundreds and thousands of years. The antiquarian ma late by whom this mighty, as well as [ tai. work was done, but 1t will only be tion.
 Notwithstanding the water in the pure and cool, there Is To visible feeder let. This lake is about twelve miles the located line of the Dubuque and railroad, and about one hundred and f west of the former place The time i when this lake will be great place resort.
Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02
.>ee~<e-

FLOuRIsHING.-Th Van Buren Intelligencer boasts the hourishing condition of that place at ths time; and we think not without some good grounds; as We notice the arrival there of five steam boats in aS many days.
 Well friend Clark, it takes steanaJoats to i'm part to your place iourishng appearance does 1t? Why man, we can boast on Philadelphia, increasing iu business of every description,- trade and commerce. mechanism, etc. and goip Z ahead like young giant oi the west and nary steamboat have seen here for years. Steam- b'at- nsakes your town--but Arkadelpha is q tol0a without any such artificial aids.-Arkansal0 IrdUeley