davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-16
The InsanIty ofNGerrIt smllh.

A gentleman whosaw and conversed with
Gerrit Smith, shortly after the sffair at Hhr-
per's Ferry told US that he was insane--not
merely excited by fear and agitation by the
emotions which his completely in the affair
might produce, but mentally deranged. His
eye was wild, and his appearance haggard.
and his motions spssmodic and uncertain, but
increasingly restless.
He was in constant fear OF being arrested
and carried to Virginia-and suspected his
friends of an intention to betray him into the
hands of justice. When the cruel election.
eering hoax was circulated that Gov. Wise
had issued a reguisition upon Gov. Morgan
for him as a fugitive from jnstice, he seemed
to be so frantic, that his friendJsa no other
hope than 10 send him to an asylum.
We make an extract from private letter
upon this subject, which gives some particu-
lars Of this sad end of well.meant but mis-
directed career, fatal in its consequence
alike to him, and to all whom he involved in
his lana,icisms.-ADany AAas: ...
... UTICA, Nov. s, 1859.
My Dear Sir :-Gerrtt Smith was brought
to our Asylum yesterday, and is quite de.
ranged Intellectually as well as morally I;
and is also feeble physically. He refused
to take an anodyne, alleging that they only
wanted to put him to sleep for the purpose
of boxing him up and taking him to Virginia.
When informed that he must take it, voInn.
tariy or by compuision, he opened tho door
and screamed Onto the haID 81 protest -
He then took it. deem his madness a sign
of the times. He is victim TO the excite.
ment which he heI ped to make general, and
which, in various degrees, is now pervading
all the free State. 1t is much akin 10 the
excitement against witches that prevailed at
Salem and other parts of New England, and
the time will come when our descendants
will look back at it, as we look back on the
doiDgs in Salem. | sm not sure but that the
Harper's Ferry outbreak will intensity the
excitement.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-16
In Fun CommnnIon

The Chiesgo Democrat, a staunch Re.
publican paper, in defending Brown and HE
companions, exhibits the most perfect con.
tempt for that portion Of the Republican
press that now back out of the difficulty, 10
which they find themselves. 1t says:
"This cry of hunting the party used to
alarm us. We used to see its ghosts se
night but now we care only for principles !;
and we are going wherever those principles
lead US aGd there is nothing tbat Old dQs-
sawatomie Brown can do will throw the
least spot or blemish upon those principles.
l.
Thanks to Old Ossawstomie Brown for
teaching the slavery propagandists, the null.
lifiers, the disunionists, the secessionists, the
kidnappers, the stealers of negroes Ifom the
coust of Africa, the Cuban putriots, and the
Walker fillibusters, that 'what iS sauce for
the goose is sauce for the gander'"
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-16
How q TaaG Gathers.

From the Oshkosh Democrat we learn
that the first news of the terrible disaster tc
the excursion train that had many OF its cit
zens on board was brought to that place by
freight train-there on being telegraph tc
that point-and the tale, as brought, wa.
that one hundred had been instantly killed
of whom twenty. five belonged in Oshkosh.
The Democrat says:
The intelligence spread through the city
like fire. Scarcely family but was repre-.
sented by one or more loved ones on the
train. Who WAS lest who was safe None
could answer. In n few minutes the CITY
was the scene Of the widest excitpmeat.--
Persons distracted with ieqr, ran hither md
tither, shouting the alarm ut the top OF their
voices, others were wringing their hands
and waiIing in perfect desp1ir, while Others
were talking measures to prevent friends
from having their fears unnecessarily excited
IL was known that the train was on its
way blck. No more Intelligence could be
had until the cars arrived. They were due
al half past six, and by TINT hour thou ands
crowded the Station and the grounds around,
in every stage of excitement, waiting the
confirmation or the dispeIIng Of their fears.
Hall past six cnmn, seven, eight. nine, the
crowd only augmented, the feeling grew
more intense. Ten o'clock struck. Tne
suspense was becoming inloerA5e. Tears
stre0med down the brorz checks of har-
( dy men, who would have faced death them
selves unmoVed. EXcamptions wfun! from
the bottom of breaking hearts burs from
trembling lips. "Oh, Gyd my vile is there,
and urged her to go J" "Oh, my children,
my children ! would 10 God had been there
insteld Of YOU"
The scene bcgsars any decripIion. The
heaviest curse one could wish deadly en-
emy, would be that he might endure such a
six hours OF harrowing, dca,hly suspense. as
the thousands Of pale, anxious watchers
about that Station endured last Tuesday
night. About eleven O'Clock the rain came
in sight. Slowly and silently, without
whisting or noise, like funeral procession
it crept up to the Station. Then came the
wild rush for tho cars, the eager, anxious,
often frantic enquiries for friends, while the
heartfelt "lhanK God,' followed the answer
"al saIc,' and mingled with the crushing
sob aud low wall OF those whose dear ones
they would see no mora~alive. And tEus
ended the day, begun with the highest anti
clpatlons of pleasure, with joy and laughter
and song, and closed with all these bright
hopes dashed down, with sorrow ard mourn
ing and woe, too deep for utterance
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-16
Great Fire at BuEiialO-E4Oss Es4i.
mated at 100000.

We clip the following particulars from the
Buffalo Express Of the 18th
A destructive fire occurred last night, be
tween the hours of ten and twelve O'Clock
which consumed the large grain elevator and
warehouse adjoining the New York Central
Railroad Freight Depot, on Ohio street, to.
gether with an immense qoantity of gruin,
| and some other property stored within. The
building or buildings belonged to the Cen
'ral Railroad Comp1ny, and were valued at
$500, 900, and upln which there was no in.
surnnce, we understand Something over
200 0O0 bushels of grain, mostly wheat, were
stored in the elevator, the value Of which
cannot vary much from $4,000 Asnear-
ly as we could learn this was all insured -
Such is probably the case, for grain is seldom
stored without insurance.
About the quantity and value of other pro.
duce and freight in the warehouse We ,uld
ascertain nothing definite, but it was incon-
siderable, compared with the remainder of
the loss. We set down the total destruction
of property Ut about $4oo oo0-rather over
than under that amount, probably.
The Freight Depot of the Central Railroad
is built up to and against the elevator de.
stSoyed, and the contiguous end was in im-
nent danger from the fire but though the
roof was burned somewhat, the frenen pre-
served that building. OF the elevator and
warehouse nothing remains but the walls,
which are of brick, built very sotidy, and
which, notwithstanding the immense pres
sure upon them from the grain in store, stood
firmly.
OF the origin of the fire nothing could be
learned last night. 1t became apparent
about ten o'clock, and was under consdera.
Bile headwoy before the alarm was given
Before the tiremen could reach the spot it
was beyond c..trol. The steam fire engine
did not make it's appearance on the ground
at all. We would ask whether it has been
rented at $1,000 for six or seven months
merely for display on parade days!
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-16
TIlc Way to Stop Dueiling

If every State in the Union would but fol-
low the example of Illinois, the time would
soon come when such tragedies as that in
which Senator Broderick lost his life would
be unknown. The Chicago Press and 7't
bune revives the history of the first duel tha
was ever fought in that State. In the yeur
1920. lpheus Stewart and William Bennett
fought with rifles in St. Clair county, and
Stewart fell mortally wounded on the first
fire. Bennett made his escape into Arkan.
sae, where he remained two years. His
whereabouts was discovered, he was arrest.
ed, brought back, indicted, tried, convicted
of murder aid executed. Bond, who was
then Governor of Illinois, was necessarily
besieged by the friends of Bennett and the
advocates of the "gentleman's CODE" who
prayed for his pardon. But the Governor
turned o deaf ear to all their cIamorings,
and The majesty Of the offended law was win.
dicated. Bennett was publicly hung, and
duellng in Illinois was crushed out. 1t is o
bloody practice and requires rigid treatment.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-16

Yesterday noon, Mr.. MATTHEWS, LONG
knows in this city, fell dead ut the junction
OF Lighthouse street and the C. C.&C.
Roiroad track. AT one timc Mr.. Mutthews
was prominent business man, but haviHp
lost his wi and nearly all his family with
the cholera, he became respondent, neglect.
ed his business, and tcII into habits of hard
drinking. Lately he attempted to reform,
but it is supposed TINT the effects of his for.
mer herd drinking brought on a fit, and
caused his GeGth. He was in bad circum-
stances at The time OF his decease, and had
been boarding at a sailors boarding house
on River street. He was 40 years old, and
leaves three chIIdfes, two of them being in
the Orphan Asylum Cleve. Herald. ,
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-16

The Executive Committee of the American
Anti Slavery Society, having their head quar-
ers at Boston, are bound to make the greu
insurrectionist saint in their calendar. The
ceremony of cononzation will probably take
place on the day of his hanging in Virginia
We give below the official report of the
Committee, Os a part of the history OF the
times:
EXECUTION OF CAPTAIN JOHN BROWN.
At a meeting Of the Executive Committee
of the American ADti.Slavery Society, held
in Boston, November LIST, the following res.
clutions were adopted:
RESOLVED, That it is recommended to the
friends of impartial freedom throughout the
free States, in case Of the execution of Capt.
John Brown, now on trial for his life in Vir.
ginla, to observe thut gical event, on the
day OF its occurrence, in euch manner as may
be deemed by them. most appropriate in their
various ocalities-whether by public meet.
ings and addresses, The adoption of resolu.
tlons, private conferences. or any other JUS
titable mode Of Oction-for the furtherance
OF the anti slavery cause, and renewedly to
consecrate themselves to the patriotic and
Christian work Of elfecting the abolition Of
that most dangerous, unnatural, cruel and
imPious system of slavery, which is the fruit.
full source of all cur sectional heart burnings
and cotfiicts, which powerfully and incress.
ingy tends to promote servie Instructions
and civil war, which cannot he more truly
or more comprehensively described than as
"the sum of all villainies," which is burn.
ing disgrace and fearful curse to the whole
country, and by the speedy extinction of
which, alone, can the land be saved from vi.
olence, blood aud utter generalization.
In behalf Of the Executive Committee of
the American Anti Slavery Society.
WIN. LLOYD GARRISON, Pres't.
WENDELL PHILLIPS ! Secretaries.
CHARLES c. BURLETGH,} 00'''''''e''
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-16

6TThe New York Tribune publishes
long letter from the notorious james Red
path, one Of the vilest of the pack of Aboli
tion emissaries who was active with the pen
and not the sword in the Kansas troubles
the object of which is to attack and weaken
the testimony given against John Brown by
the editor OF the Herald Of Freedom, 10 the
article lately published in that paper. He
unblushingly avows that he was one of the
members OF the "Secret Oath. bound Order''
referred to in the article, whose password
was "Land," ard whose object was the cold
blooded assassination of unarmed men. He
also avows that Old John Brown had no hand
in the murder of Doyle and his companions,
and assigns as reason that he has been told
so by man who was one OF their murdereys,
and sOho confessed to him all the particulars o,
the transaction. What reliance is to be
placed on the statements Of man who thus
acknowledges himself the associate and con.
fdant OF assasins
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-16

OF James G. Hendrickson died at his
residence, at Blacks Mills, New Jersey, on
Saturday last, in the 69th year Of his age.
The last forty years of his life he was en-.
goged in the pursuit of the perpetual motion,
and be succeeded in constructing machine,
very simple in its arrangement, which up.
pears to realize the idea. It has been ex.
hibited in various prrts of the country, and
10 several Of the large cities, and so far has
deied the closest scrutiny to detect In It the
imposture. Of late years his attention has
been absorbed in the one idea Of his life, to
the neglect Of the ordinary means of obtain.
ing livelihood, and he eked out scan,y
support by the proceeds Of the exhibition Of
his machine.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-16
l7l.266
The official Vote Of Ohio.

The Ohio Statesman makes the following
compilation of the result of the elections in
Ohio since 1855. From this it will be seen
that Judge Ranney ron ahead of our ticket
some 600 or 700 votes:
The total vote cast was large for an ordi-
nary Stale canvass, being 355,768 votes
! OF these VIM. Dennison, Jr., received 1884,.
502, and Rufus p. Ranney received l7l.266.
In 1857, the total vote cast was 328.896, OF
| which Gov. Chase received l6O 568, Mr..
Payne received l59 ,065, and Mr.. Van Trump
received 9 1853. In 1858 the total vote poll.
ed was 345,562, OF which Judge Peck re-
ceived 1872 ,952, and Judge BARLEY received
: l62,60S. At the Presidential election in
1856, the total vote cast was 3S6,652, of
which Mr. Fremont received 7,497, Mr.
Buchanan received 9.874, Mr.. Fillmore
received 2S,l25, and Gerrit Smith received
l56 votes. The Democratic vote ON the I'd
Tuesday of October last, was the largest
vote we ever cast. In 1856 the aggregate
vote for President was 3O,8S4 votes more
than the aggregate vote at the late October
election, and yet the vote Of Judg ge Ranney
is 392 more than the vote of Mr.. Bnchanon,
while the vote of Mr.. Dennison is 1895 short
of that given to Fremont. The majority
against Judge Ranney is 1926, with over
80, coo votes at home, three-Iourths OF whom
it is fair to presume, sympathize at this time
with the Democratic party as against the
Republican party. Such being the fact, we
enter the great contest which is rapidly ap
preaching with lew hundred votes the ad-
vantage of the Republican party, they hav-
ing the responsibility OF the present phase
OF the "irre pressible conflict" and the odium
which will surely follow their legislation OF
next winter, to weigh down and PROSTATE
them. Let our Democratic friends and such
other conservative and union loving men as
are willing to cooperate with them, prepare
at once for the campaign Of 1860. Let
them make efficient local organization with
out delay and put the people in possession
of such papers and documents as may inform
them Of the importance of the contest end
the issues involved in it, and thus during the
winter let there be thorough understanding
among the voters OF the State, and the re.
suit OF the campaign Of 1860 will then have
been determined. 1t is within the power OF
the Democracy to give the vote OF the State
to the nominee of the Charleston Conven.
lan. Let them at once 60 to work for that
object.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-16

OFA man named Crul was soldier
in the war of 1919, and his wife heard
he was killed and then she moved awav,-
Crull, alter his term OF service expired, Wis.
tied his former home, and learned that his
wife and children had moved away and had
subsequently, died. A short time since Mrs.
CruIl' living in Iowa, made exertons to get
her dover in certain soIdier's lands-9nd
ln gathering proof Of the death Of her hus-
band ascertained that he was still, alive iu
Clayton. Jefferson county, N Y. A few
days since the two, who had neither married
since the separation, joined each other in
Wappello, Iowa, after separation of forty.
seven years. Neither could recognise the
other, but were introduced. - .,,,,-
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-16
RA va NJ N "A, OHIO=
TO the Democracy of Ohio.

The Democracy of Ohio are hereby mott.
fed that at a meeting of the Democratic
Stste Central Committee, held in the City
OF Columbus. on Tuesday, the 18th day oil
October. 1859, It was resolved that il be re.
commended to the Democratic voters of the
several Congressional Districts in this State,
to hold District Convention at some suit.
able place in their respective Congressional
Districts, on
THURSDAY, THE lsT Day OF DECEMBER,
1859, and then and there to elect two Dele
gates to represent such District in the Dem.
ocratic National Convention to be held ct
Charleston, to nominate Democratic cUndi.
dates for President and Vice President; the
Delegates TO such Congressional Conven.
ton TO be elected in the same manner In
which the Districts respe ectively Usually Sc.
lect Delegates to a Congressional Conven.
tion 10 nominate candidate for Congress,
and the basis Of representation in such Dis.
trict Convention, to be one vote for every
100 Democratic votes, and on additional
vote for every fraction Of so votes and over
cast for RUFUS p. Rsnney, on the second
counties or subdivisions of counties in such
District.
1t is further recommended that after tie
selection of the two Delegates aforesaid
the officers OF the Congressional Distric,
Convention will certify the proceedings
thereof. with the names Of the persons duly
elected, ard sign the same, and transmit
such proceedings thus certified, under q
sealed envelope, to the Charmcn of the
Democratic State Central Committee at
Columbus, Ohio, endorsed "ProceeainoS of
the Democratic District Conrentioa, for The
- District, in the State Of Ohio" TO be by
him submitted 10 the Democratic Stste Com
mittee, 10 the end thot proper credentials
msy be issued to the persons elected as such
delegates.
At the same time and place, 1t wus further
resolved by the Democratic State Central
Committee, that Democratic State Con-
venton be held at Columbus, on
THURSDAY, THE 9TH DAY OF JANUARY,
1860, ior the purpose of appointing four
Delegates TO represent the State Of Chic at
large in the said Charleston Convention,
and tbnt the different counties in the State
be requested to appoint Delegates to said
State Convention, in the usual manner in
which they have heretofore appointed Dele.
gates TO State CoEvertiors, and on q ratio of
one Delegate for every 500 votes, and one
Delegate for fraction OF $50 votes and over
cast in each county for RUFUS P. Ronney on
the second Tuesday Of October, 1850
The Democratic voters OF Ohio IRE, there.
fore, in pursuance Of the foregoing recon-
mendstions of the Democratic State Central
Committee, requested TO proceed to tuke the
necessary steps to appoint Delegates to the
several Congressional Conventions to be
held on the lst day Of December next, and
to the State Convention to be held on the
9th day of January, 1860, in pursuance of
the recommendations of the State Central
Committee IS aforesaid.
GEO. w. MANYPENNY, Chr'n.
A. McGREGoR, Secretary.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-16
The Great Eastern n FatInre.

The following extract we take from the
letter of the London correspondent Of the
Boston Post /: aa,
"The Great Eastern has Aummuxed -
The leading journal records its trial trip as
'only partial success.' We all know whot
that means. She rolls like u porpoise on q
log canoe, the decks leak, the iron plates
don't fit, the decorations crumble end disop.
pear, and-the worst remains behind-she
can only 60 little more then half the speed
that was expected of her /! The very best
that can be got out Of her under the most
favorable circumstances Of wind, water and
coal, Is thirteen miles an hour. So say
aome knowing engineers who were on board,
and who wished and hoped the most favora.
BILE result. There 10 no disgusting it. The
great hull is werth all it would bring fer cid
iyon."
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-16
Cold in Ohio.

Great excitement exists Ottowa county on
account of the finding of uuriferous deposits
on the Peninsula. The Port Clinton Demo.
crat says that Mr.. Walter Smith, OF Van
Renssaler township, discovered, some two
weeks ago, on the part of his farm border.
ing on the lake, stone which he thought con.
tained gold. Since then he has exhibited
several specimens 10 citizens, and two Of
our best naturallsts, or geologists, have test.
ed, and found it to be qlurIz rock, in which
was imbedded large quantities of gold.
which was extracted in fakes similar in
shape aud size to common snow fakes, and
which was ascer!uined to be very fine gold.
Mr.. Smith informs US that tons of this quartz
rock can easily be got, about four feet below
the surface Of the gronHd-in fact he thinks
it exists in almost endless quantities. San.
duSky Register.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-16
WINNER arc We DrInlng !

The ending Of the recent insurrection st
Harper's Ferry is appalling. Five of the
participants in that treasonable act are now
under sentence of death, and the probabiIi'
Ties are strong that before many weeks have
passed they will have paid the penalty due
to outraged and violated laws. 1t almost
freezes the blood to think Of the conss.
quences which might have followed had the
ringlsaders been able to cOnsummate their
6endish design. Men, women and children
would have been massscred indiscriminate-
Iy, and our Southern States would have "ran
oceans of blood" And as it is, who can
say that dreadful events may not follow in
the wake OF this emeute? Who can say how
far this murderous feeling has spread how
deeply and thor oughly the negroes have
been inoCulated by the virus of the men
who were at the head Of this Virginia out.
break! Those who have heretofore scofed
at the idea of a civil war should hold their
peace after reading the details of this at.
tempt--its failure does not change its char
acter. When we see the names Of promi-
nent politicians connected with the affair."
when we learn that, from intense thought
upon the subject, one has actually lost his
reason--when we are told that the traitors
had pecuniary means and munitions of war
furnished them from various sources--it is
and should be sufficient to make the conser.
vative element of the North pause, reflect
and shudder to think whittier they ore drift.
ing.
Let those who have been drawn into this
anti slavery excitement change their course
--et the negro be dropped, and let us look
loo k out for ourselves, Tor it seems indeed
high time. Let US no longer brook the in.
cendiory teachings of such men as Giddings,
Seward, Smith, Wilson and Greeley, who
have incucated the very doctrines which
Brown ard his associates have attempted to
carry cut. That civil war, with oil its at
tendant horrors, may not overtoke us, it is
the duty of all true und loyal citizens to put
The seal Of condemnation upon the teachings
Of these bad men. We have confidence in
the patriotism of cur Northern fellow citi
zens, and believe that, as the developments
of this dreudful plot disclosed to them the
effect of the doctrines of their leaders, they
will turn their bucks upon them and seek
wiser and better counsels.