davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27
Indian Stone Arrow Heads.

The heads of Indian arrows, spears, lave-
Inns, &C., often found in many parts ofour con-
tinent, have been admired, but the process
offorming them only conjectured. The lion.
Caleb Lyon, on Il recent visit to California,
met with a party of Shasta Indians, and AS
certained that they still used those weapons,
which in most tribes have been superseded
by rifles, or, at least, iron-pointed arrows and
spears. lie found a man who could manu-
facture them, and saw him at work Mt all
parts of the process. The description written
and communicated to the American Ethno-
logical Society, through DR.. L. Ii. Davis, we
copy below:
the floor, and laying the stone anvil upon
his knee, which was of compact talcose slate,
with one blow of his agate chisel, he sepa-
rated the obsidian pebble into two parts,
then giving another blow to the fractured
side, he split off a slab SON fourth Of an
inch in thickness. Holding the piece against
the anvil with the thumb and finger Of his
left hand, he commenced 4 series OF contin-
nous blows, every one of which Clipped off
fragments of the brittle substance. 1t grad
ually assumed the required shape. Altar
finishing the base of the arrow head, TN"
whole being little over an inch III length
he began striking gentler blows, every one
of which | expected would break it into pie
Cos. Yet such was their adroit application,
his skill and deyterity, that in little over an
hour he produced a perfect oLsldian arrow
head. Ithen requested him to carve NE one
from a broken porter bottle, which latter two
fa%ilures) he succeeded in doing. He gave as
a reason for his i'll success, he did not under
stand the grain of the glass. No sculptor
ever handled chisel with greater precision,
or more carefully measured the weight and
effect of every blow, than this ingenious In
dian, for even among them, arrow making Is
a distinct trade OF profession, which many
attempt, but in which few attain excellence.
He understood the capacity of the material
he wrought, aud before striking the first
blow, by surye; ing the pebble, he could
Judge Of its availability As we'll rs the scuip,,
for Judges of the perlectness of a block q
Parisn. In n moment, all that had read
upon this subject, written by learned and
speculative anticuatians Of the hardening OF
copper, for the working of flint, axes. spears,
chisels, and arrow heads, vanished before tha
simplest mechanical process. felt that the
world had been better served had they driven
the pen less, and the plough more
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27
Later From Texas.

We have the Galveston papers of the 18th
of May. An extra of the Austin State Ga
zette, dated May II, furnishes the startling
annexed intelligence:
We learn from Col. Burney, who has Just
arrived from Waco, that Capt. Baylor enter
ed the Upper Reserve on the Sd inst. with
fifty men, and killed fifteen Indians, and then
fed. ,
Capt. King with one hundredd ra goons and
one hundred mounted Indians, startedi in pur-
suit in four or five days.
The Indians On the Lower Reserve have
quit THEIR farms and encamped in Capt. RosS's
yard.
Great excitement prevails on the from
tier, and the citizens of the counties are IN
arms.
1t is believed that the war is now open,
| and what the issue may be, God only knows
A number Of citizens of the frontier coun,
ties have sent n petition TO Major Nelghbors'
Capts. Ross and Leeper, demanding their IN
mediate resignation.
The cause for this summary attack Is un-
known.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27
Deplorable Condition Of the Pixies Peak Emf.

ST. LOUIS, May 24.-The regular cores
pondent of the Democrat, writing from Den
yer City, on the 9th instant, recounts the
most deplorable condition Of affairs on the
Plains. Many Of the emigrants are dying
from starvation, while the others are sub
sisting on prickly pears and wild onions,
found along the road.
The stage agent reports picking up a man
named Blue, who was reduced to a skeleton,
from starvation. On recovering ne gave a
most ~lamentable account of his adventures.
lie started in company with two of his
brothers for the mines. One of them died
on the road, and the remaining two were so
far bordering on Il state of starvation, that
they ae lis baby. Another died and he IN
turn was nearly deyoured by the survivor.
4 man named Gibbs had reached the
mines in 4 starving condition, and expressed
the opinion that his party, nine in num-
Der, had all persisted. Many graves were
seen along the route. Much property has
been destroyed or abandoned on the road.
The writer of the letter before referred to,
says the number of departures from the
mines is about equal to arrivals. About five
hundred of returning emigrants reached st.
Joseph on Saturday, all Of whom confirm
the previous accounts of the sutferings and
privations en- the Plains.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27
The English Grain Market.

The Mark Lane Express, of the 9TH, o.
The very general dssirc e'inred IN this
to be in no way committed To the diSturha- .
the continent has tended considerably 10
the excitement consequent on the hrSt d"'iai
of war. The direct contradiction 10 Kus.a' 20
already embroiled has had II Yet more 'r
effect in bringing about u calmcr state Of o..
In fact, the spirit VI intervention mU''
the tOue VI the market rs assurGdly ~ II &C."
feelings OF the people. When We ass"rin''
this tho readiness of the producer to avail Dr.
of 70 welcome an Improvement, il is nor sur
that We have even thus early To report some
Of IA reaction. This rise or fall will, o' '.
now much depend upon the receipt Of inir...a
from abroad; while, with some margin, thu
pears no immediate possibility Vt Vur TctsfD.
the range of low prices so long prevalent
past week was mostly cold and dry, sul hu.
progress has been iuade in vegetation. ~,
and grass lands, in some instance, have Be-
rather yellow, and been kept in check. I"".
this is more likely to prove sersIrenbIc thai D
full, though il abates the prospect ot as "i
harvest "a was ut one tirHO 20 confidently rAl
The long threatened war IN Europe having"
commenced, those who were slow ~ bclir'tu
Il result have been taken quite by surpr'r, be-
new range OF prices have suddenly been ''.a'
ed. The extraordinary rise, however, oi isa
limgs on wheat. at the beginning OF the "rr'
boen followed b. Il fall ut the close, an
several shillings less must have been Gus!i,
ted. The rates having greatly varied ~ ID.
localities, no certain medium gain can BE- 20
quoted, but perhaps Us. e. Or. may bs taken q
further advance throughout tho country.
reaction we noted as probable III our i"''
much further continued decline seems Iml
though speculation sales, for clearance uhd" F..
ctary pressure, may sometimes present "lI
ties 10 those out of stock. On the '"h'h'-
yet, there has not been an equal impr''
and some shipments may now he expect
countries lately importing, TO take the Gu.
British markets. Such must have the r'.
producing cautious purchases and n sl""
but n return 10 previous prices cannot hc ,N'
till abundant new crops are reported. '.
with tho re- establishment Of peace. FIJI
are now likely, but the probability Of '"-
range hinges on the extent and durnu"r
war. All cereals have felt the rise, but tho
influenced have been boiling Poas lthe az
recently most neglected. and the light de'.'
Of foreign Barley, the former being r"Id"
our own navy, aud the latter for French .'.
England's neutrality may yet preserve o.
rates, rs a good deal Of old Wheat remf
hand, with US ~ well as ia France. o.
change, while il has distanccd Europ', h''
ly brought us to q parity with Amerlcan
though they are somewhat easier and hI".
cannot, however, fail to sympathlse Oh r.
the news. In Scotland there has been 'i'
movement.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27
Prince Georges County. Nd.

CASUALTY BY FIRE-ARYS,-We learn that Il
severe accident, from the imprudent hand
ling of firearms, occurred ut the residence of
Mr.. Robert 4. Clagett, near this place, Il
DAYS since, which resulted in severely, ifnot
fatally, i~niuring a valuable servant woman.
1t appears that some Of his own servants,
and those of a ~ncighbor then at his house,
were playing with a gun, that CHANGED to be
loaded with large shot, when it was accident
ally diScharged-the contents entering the
left arm and side OF the woman, producing
terrible wounds, from which she is still ling
cring.
BIrrrx BY A SxAKE.-Miss Matilda Cur
tain, living near Groom, in Nottingham Dis
trict, was bitten by Il viper snake on Monday
the 10th instant. The circumstances, detail
ed to u. were rs follows: Miss Curtain went
to the woods for the purpose of getting scme
fuel. and, on raising some brush from the
ground, the snake was found coiledup under
meath. She was bitten both on the fingers and
arm. and Of course suffered great pain. The
arm and hand became very much swollen and
infamed; and, although medical aid was not
called in till some thirty-six hours after the
occurrence, she has been entirely relived.-
She was attended by Drs. Eyerstield and
Scott-WQHtcyS .1drOcdt6.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27
The Russian Hrigate General Admiral.

This vessel, built in New York for the
Russian government at an expense Of about
81, 200, 000, went on her trial trip on Thurs
day week, having on board from six to eight
hundred invited guests.
The building of the General Admiral was
commenced September q. 1857, when, the
keel having been laid, the Russian ceremony
of raising the stern post was performed.
The occasion was the anniversary of the
Grand Duke C~onstantine's birthday, and the
Russian Minister to the United States, Ba-
ron de Stocked, Capts. Shestakoff, Schwartz,
I~vastchenko. Sererllanoff, and Lieutenants
Moiaiski, Belevanitz, and kolebin, besides
other distinguished personages, were pre-
sent. The Russian Minister placed a silver
plate in a cavity in the heel Of her sternpost,
on which was the following inscription in
the Russian language: General Admiral,
commenced September 2lst, lSj1. in the
presence of Baron dc Stoeckel. Russian Min
lister in the United States, on the plan of
Vim. II. Webb, American ship builder, Of
New York"
On September 81, 1888, Just one year at
ter the above ceremony, the General Admit
raj was launched.
The length of the spar deck is 301 feet;
width 55 feet, length over all about 325 feet;
and depth to spar deck "a feet. She has "A
side and two stern ports on the lower deck,
and on the spar deck 80 side ports, four for
ward and four after ports. Her armament
will consist of seventy forty pound guns,
and two large eleven-inch shell swivel Dahl
gren guns. This size forty pounders) is pc
culiar to Russia, and the guns will be placed
on the vessel on her arrival at Cronstadt.-
Her crew will consist of 500 men, and she
has capacity to carry water and provisions
for their s%ustenance for six months, and
stowage for 200 tons of coal, and will not,
when fully loaded, draw over % feet. The
sheathing of the vessel is Of cold-rolled cop
per, value $4,000. There were 5,l5O
sheets of copper, weighing 10000 pounds,
each sheet requiring 40 nails to secure it,
so that 72l 900 nails weighing 5000 pounds,
were used in %coppering alone. The whole
vessel, at the time of launching, weighed
$3.50 tons.
The General Admiral will, probably, sail
for Cronstadt about the middle of June; she
will touch at Cherbourg on the way. She
will 60 out in command of Captain Joseph
| Comstock, with Capt. Cavendy as Sailing
Master, Capt. Fletcher as Chief Officer, and
Mr.. Williams, late of the Adriatic, as second
Officer.
This ship is the largest wooden vesse!
aaoat. Everything pertaining TO her is OF
American production, even to the china
glass, and porcelain.-N. \. Com.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27
Prices OF Rreadstuffs.

Some ofthe interior journals look upon the
recent rise in breadstutfs, in consequence of
the war, as 4 splendid opportunity for the
farmer to get rid Of his stock on hand
They say the rise will probably be but
temporary, for the reason that the crops in
Europ" last year were worry large. But
while the price is up the Western dealers are
taking advantage Of the figures, and get rid
fall they have on hand or can get hold OF,
in the way Of produce, and will fob the
money for the same, while the losses to be
sustained hereafter, if any, will fall on the
spectators of Boston and New York. The
Quincy, Illinois, Herald says:
Within the past ten days, men who were
not worth half the money they have man
aged To borrow to invest in hreadstufs, grain,
provisions, &C., hero on the banks Of the
Mississippi, have become comparatively rich.
We heard yesterday Of adealcr ut Canton,
Missouri, twenty-miles above us, who, with
in the last three days, has pocketed twenty
thousand dollars in one operation. The
more shrcwd of our Western operators will
thusprotit by the commencement othostilities
i'm EurOpr.'
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27
Slight Mistake.

The last number of the Edinburgh Re
view expresses some qualification that its
views ON the subject of Liberia are corrobo-
rsted by the speech delivered by Senator
Hammond. at Barnwell Courthouse, New
York: and the last number of the Westmin-
lister Review o~racularly approves the WIS
dom of the Legislature of fhlladelFan IN
determining, as it did, in the year 1885, OF
a geological and mineralogical survey OF
that State!'
Were we, on this side of the Atlantic. to
write of the speech delivered by Lord pal-
merston at Tiverton Courthouse, London;
of the Legislature of Dublin; and the geo.
logical survey of the kingdom of Edinburgh,
what wonid the sapient editors of the Edln.
burgh and Westminster Review say about
us9- Constitution
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27
The Position of England.

The London correspondent of the National
Intellisencer, in his last letter, says
"All political parties in this country are
happily completely agreed on the policy
which, Tor The present at least, it is the IN
terest and duty Of England to pursue. Her
neutrality is not only wise and prudent, but
also practicable and easy to maintain. We
dare not absolutely assert that France and
Russia do not entertain any designs against
England which may eventually force this
country into war, but We feel that we have
the best authority for saying that there IS no
evidence at present of any thing concocted
or concocting between France and Russia IN
the least ~endangering the future peace OF
England, but that, On the contrary !Ie later
is striving, with the concurrence OF france
r. tote such measures as should prevent the
war spreading into central continental Flu
rope, and involving other nations ii its terri
BILE infections"
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27
Presbyterian General Assembly 0 s

We have the fourth days proec.l.n,,
this body.
Rev. Doctor Palmer, chairman. ,ulm,
the conclusions of the committee t. w.
was referred the overture from the tru-,e-.
the Northwestern PRESBYTERIAN Thrul d,
Seminary, to transfer that institution I,
General Assembly. The sum of Slwu.r,
promised by c. III. Mccormick in instalm.
of $4,000 yearly, provided the ~tgan,i.
made, and the seminary located at Chic.
in addition forty-five acres of land are q
in the vicinity Of that city. In favor %,
location ut Indianapolis, certain person,
Indiana guarantee $4,000, bearing +
cent. interest from the date Of the location
gether with an ample grant, and Il tur.
subscription by citizens of lndiauvr
which together with an additional dona,
Of : 5000, make an aggregate OF som" =
600.
The report concluded with resolutions
commenting the acceptance of the oyer,r
of the board of directors of the Northwr>,,
Presbyterian Theological Seminary. an
viding for proceeding at some future 3
to fix the location.
The first resolution, accepting the tran,
of the Northwestern Presbyterian Thee
cal Seminary, was unanimously adopted
it was resolved to proceed at once TO tiNu.
a location, either at Chicago or Indiana
a protracted debate then ensued bcuv.
the friends of the respective sites. which 2
tinued up to the adjournment.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27
John Mitchell on the NATIONAL Democracy,

The editor Of the Southern Citizen, who be-
longs to the Democratic Party. and is there
fore competent to speak Of its character says:
MY own decided opinion is, that at the
present moment the S0uthcrncrs who are the
most effective allies Of Mr.. Seward and the
North, are those who call themselves Nation-
n Democrats. These men are not the worst
people at the South, and most of them mean
well; but they cannot discern the signs Of
the times. rh"ir party at the North IL
wholly a Free soil party-is as resolutely
NGrtbrrn, for all Northern purposes, As the
abolitionists themselves. but infinitely wiser,
and therefore more fatal
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27
Death from q %Stingray.

I valuable negro man, belonging to James
S. Garrison. esq, of Princess Anne, while
HAULING the scina on Lynnhaven Beach,
about ten days ago, was f:@rced in the leg by
the sting of a fish, called stingruy the s't"g
being q sharp, barbed bone, growing ltder
the long tail'& the fish, about the Length .,
a mans fore finger. The wound it inflicted
was painful and danse.oas, and although
the best medical skill and attention were be-
slowed upon it unremittingly, the poor fellow
died on Sunday morning last.
The immortal Capt. John Smith, while eS-
piorins the shores of the Chesapeake lost
one of kis companions by the same mlsha.p'
and the place who're it happened Iat the
mouth of the R~appaiahnork) goes by the
name of "Stingray Point ss this day
Norfolk Hsr0id.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27
The Duel.

Notwithstanding the magistrates r"cngnI-
zancc, the intended h.sti!c meeting between
Mesers. II. VI. Waller and Bev. b. Douglass,
spoken of in our last, took place on Satur-
day, according 10 appointment, TO settle the
difficulty between them: but betorp pro-
csading 20 extremitie-, the seconds amicably
adjusted the matter, and tho parties returned
home rroonciled. The difficulty, We under
stand, arose from soma dispar9ging remark
applied by Douglass 10 the city ot Williams
burg. construed by Waller To have a per
sonal a,Iusion. -.NoLt6N Hardij.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27
Rise and Fall of Government Finance.

Our commercial community were >hr,
Yesterday with the announcement Of thc
ure of one of our largest, oldest and mos
pectable mercantile houses. which has
been connected with Mexico and the Mex
trade.
1t is supposed that the delay and dr.
attending all enterprises nthat revolutiol
country, and the completion ofobligation,
the part of its declining government, D
brought about this result to one Of the d.
wealthy and best managed concerns il
city. 1t is a well attested fact in hi,
that the financial agents Of every GOV.
ment rise and prosper, or decay and (.
with the advancingo or receding systems wi
they uphold. And indeed no other r.,
could be expected. Extensively enga.
in contracting and disseminating among
people the burthcn of loans and cOntr.
upon which all governments have for tn
hundred years relied for relief, their cryl.
always staked to a much larger amount .
that Of their private fortunes. Matte,
along well, and the profits continual!
crue Us long AN the government can con.
measurably with its obligations, an!
confidence of tho community continues
pose in the system. But as soon asrhisc Co.,
the tide turns and no human power ca
vent the ruin.-N. y. Hrrdkl.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27

MYSTERIOUS IsAPrEARANcE.-Howard Alb.
bolt, a member Of tie Junior Glass of Bow
doin College, and a SOC OF Hon. Nehemiah
Ahhot n. C., of Belfast, suddecly and mys-
teriorsly disappeared on Friday ,sfs?mg'
OOH instant. and has not been heard OF since.
Abbott was last seen about ten o'clock, p. n.
by one of his classmates walking slowly
across the College grounds ip the direction OF
tss village. The next morning ne was mis-
sed at recitation, and on proceeding to bis
room it vas found open, the bed made up
and q light still burning on the table, No
further pace of him has peap discovered,
though the woods in the vicinity haSa been
thoroughly searched aud the banks Of the
river carefully explored. The greatest ap-
prehensions for his safety are entertained.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27
Intervention in Kentucky.

From the National American of Ovens
tora, nv rn loarn that the question of
Intervention for protection Of slave property,
during a territorial condition, enters into the
canvass for Governor. slr. Bell, the candi-
DATE Of the Opposition, is the advocate OF this
intervention, 'The following extract from
the Owcnsboro' XVI American pays IL
LonJSona comnI;mcnt 10 Mr., Douglass TYLER.
i"ta - Eaunm;nr rountv. in This State, which
Wv" II 10 rsGJ with Measure by his many
friends in this section of the State:
"Cnrccrn;nc the subject Of slavery in tho
rcrrirori.s. MI. Bell explained his position
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27
WEARING the Breaches

At a private boarding house i'll this city,
Z few nights ago, two young ladies, OF VIOLA
tile dispositions, determined to have som"
fun to themselves All the masrulIne+ be,
Ing absent, rs they supposed, ~ = rM"i'tcal
meeting, the girls found their way I" the
warjro,.a Of a young man who boarded III
tha house, and Gnr Of them attired herself IN
his Sunday suit-coat, PANTS ana vest
They then proceeded to the parlor where
the other ladies of the hogse were assem-
bled, and the party had a merry time OF 1t
for several minutes. Very unexpectedly, tn"
owner Of the cloth suit made his appearance
ar the door. One Of the ladics-the psr"Io
wan--inst4phy ,o,t Der merrlm"nt, deep
biusbas .Ifused her bs*+tiiu' cheeks, and
gravity displaced bar gayety. bnt shs Odd
not sit still TO be gszed 1T oF laughed ct
The carpet on the floor was not lacked down,
and remembering this, she lifted up one cor
ne: IF i. and with the quickness ot thought,
GnssoDcGd' b,rself beneath the 'thres-ply,'
where the d4st wss IN eighth of an inch
thick. We will not harrate tbs t'taI" OF the
incident, but will ''adorn tnn tate' y,th an
.dmonition to young men, which Is; Don't
leave YOU, Sunday clothes within the reach
Of frolicksOme young ladies', lest, perchanc',
they NAV be used to remove du~t from the
carneted eo0rs. We venture to say, however.
that tho III gentleman above alluded to
wore his pants. wheu ae1t he put them on,
with more peculiar satisfaction than rs Ead
ever experienced before.-hirh. bhIg.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27
Coal Trade.

For the week ending Saturday, N"? 2.
j7i.O9 tons Of coal were shipped oyer IT,
land and Pennsylvania Railroad, AMI ''
over the road IF the George, Greek Coal i".
Company, Making u total for the week '''
enti5e ;sgion Of s,f52. OF tons.
Total shipment. for the yea; from n" ''.
gion, l6f,j0l.i7 tons.
II boats cleared this port during tho "''
ing Wednesday, the 18th int, carryins
tons Of Coal.
During tho season Gs2 bost. cleared ''m
carrying 71,399.l2 tons OF Coal.-t'"..
Girilian.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-27

a petition to Congress is now circulating
among the army officers, asking for the re-
tirement from active service of such officers
as have become, from any cause not dishon-
orable in itself. unable to meet all the requi-
sitions of such service.