The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-17
FOREIGN ITEMS.


ing been put up the Thames. in London, it has
furnished theme of admiration to several of our
contemporaries of that city. To test its powers, a
Norwegian vessel of 900 tons was recently laid
alongside of it, and three chains were rapidly
passed under the bottom and connected with the
lifts of the derrick. When all secure the ma
chinery was set in notion and the vessel was
steadily lifted from the water at the rate of about
foot per minute When raised 20 feet small
steamerpf sixty tons was fastened beneath her. and
both vessels were raised high into the air present
ing a most singular appearance There was scarce
ly any oscillation as the two vessels hung, and the
weight OF both, with counterbalancing weight of
water pumped into the derrick the other side,
only brought herdown about l3 inches lower in the
water. The derrick is also provided with locomo-
tive steam-poTer, which enables her to move with
any vessel she has raised, the rate of three OF
four miles an hour. The greater part of this der
rick is OF iron, and it is equal to raising weight Of
l,OOO tons from the water. It's introduction into
England IS likely to be very successful.
A new fossil has been discovered in Ignite, near
Banbury. 1t IS found in fragments of the size of a
mans fist, of light yellow greenish hue, trans
lucent, somewhat ductile and elastic, and with
density Of 0968. 1t melts at 225 degrees cent?
grade, and at 300 degrees a brownsh oil is disti-
ed from it. 1t burns without leaving any residue
ether dissoves six and alcohol four per cent of it.
merchant of Russia announces the sale, in his
warehouses at Odessa, Nicola'ef and Sevastopo of
l,S5l tons of iron and cast-iron, coming from pro
Jectiles picked up in the Crimea after the war,
which gives some idea Of the prodigious consump-
ton Of shot and shells in the siege of Sevastopo
The South australian Gazette states that the total
quantity of gold brought from the mines by escort
up to the 18th of April, 1859, G23 800 ounces,
against 629,9l8 ounces during the same period in
1858. The quantity exported this year has been
643,oiS ounces, making the total quantity export
ed since the discovery Of the gold fields Is 253 G20
ounces, representing at 81 per ounce, the cnCT-
nous OF 3,0l4,4S0
An alarming illustration of the dangers attend
ing the absence Of communication between railway
passengers in the cars and the engineer recently
took place on train running between Manchester
and Chester. The passengers luggage in the first
class car took fire and spread rapidly, while the
engine sped with tremendous velocity The
passengers were in dreadful state of excitement
and could not give alarm either to guard or en-
gineer. Fortunately, the latter looked behind at a
hat that was lying on the track and saw smoke ia
suing from the roof of the car, when he at once put
down the brakes, stopped the train, and the fire
was put cut. passenger writes :-'I never saw
such a scene in my life; fit had been an express
train we should all have been burned to DEATH" II
is really stupid, in conducting the trains on English
railways, thata chain or rope, for ringing bell,
on American railroads, is not used to communicate
between the cars and the engineer
The following is condensed from the New Haven
Daily Star:
A NIGHT OF CRIME.-The town of Preston, Con
necticut, last Monday light was the scene of a
wholesale incendiarism, which is unparalleled in
this country. 1t seems that named Chap
man had quarreled with and abused his wife in
such manner that she could not live with him,
and returned to the house of her father, farmer
named Wheeler. A short time since he drove to
the house of his fathcr-in-law and stole away his
son, lad seven years of age, whom he ill
treated for several davs during which he was pur-
sued. An officer finally overlook him at place
! called Noank, took the boy away from him, and
served on him petition for divorce, his wife hav-
| ing resolved upon such step. On Monday night
he returned from Noank in a perfect rage, not only
against his wife and her family, but against the
whole town for taking her part. At a late hour he
commenced his iendsh career, and, as he passed
along the road, he tirea nine buildings, most OF
them barns, full of grain, wagons, farming tools,
&c, which created loss of many thousands of dol
lars to the different owners. At length the steal
! thy villain came to the house Of Mr.. Wheeler, his
father-n-aw where the closing scene of this drama
of devastation was enacted, and where he no doubt
intended to murder the whole family. The Wheel
er family aroused by the son of one of their
| neighbOrs whose buildings had been fired, who
came there for assistance. Before they could get
ready to depart to the assistance of others they dis
covered their own out buildings on fire. ard while
they were carrying water to extinguish the fire in
! the barn, one of the boys discovered Chapman at
! the of the heuse attempting to set fire to
some dry brush lying against the house. He i'm
| mediately gave the alarm. 4 regular fight now
| ensued and Chapman snapped pistol twice at the
| head of Mr.. Wheeler, but the weapon missed fire.
! The contest was finally ended by of Mr..
! Wheeler discharging musket loaded with shot at
! Chapman; the latter fed. 1t was afterwards dis
covered that this shot proved fatal to the wretch
! for when parties went out to scour the woods the
next morning his body was found near spring,
| where he bad gone to bathe his wounds In his
abdomen were found about hundred shot
wounds. A general feeling of relief followed when
! it was known that the incendiary no longer lived
! to prosecute his tiendish revenge
A MADMAN AT LARGE.-A writer in the Bridge
! port Advertiser states that has assumed
armed occupation of a portion of the road from
! Bridgeport to Stratford, and that he renders
! travelling unsafe. The following are among his
! leats:
| fEA short time since n lrilkman who yvoS rid;ro
along attacked by this person, hauled out ui his
wagon until he hung by his feet, and in this help
| less condition was numerically beat in the head
| and body; the poor man made the best of his way
| home and applied to the proper authorities for
dress, but never received any satisfaction. \ few
days since a gentleman with his wife and family
| We're passing the place where TINS insane man re
| sided; he rushing at them armed with
| hatchet he made directly for the carriage but
when within few feet OF it he suddenly turned
about, and started for another carriage that was
| approaching.
''The persons in the last vehicle, seeing him com
| ing, urged their horse into a run, and by so doing
managed to escape. Shortly after this another car
riage came along filled with ladies; they were less
! fortunate; armed as before he attacked them, and
not being able to overtake the carriage, he threw
his hatchet at it; the weapon struck on the panel
and the lady who was sitting by it had narrow es-
| cape. Several other persons who were walking.
| that way also attacked the same day. but be-
ing swifer of foot than he, they managed to evade
him."
Inc selecLmen OF StGauOru nau the man taken to
the poor house: not being confined he STAYED there
one night only, and then at his post again. He
was again taken to the poor house, but again re
turned home in a short time.
The Americans of Dorchester county have made
the following nominations:
For Senate-Charles +. Goldsborough.
House OF Delegates-John r. Kcene, John Webb,
and VIM. X. Traverse
States Attorney-George W. Jefferson.
Sherlh-Josiah Kerr. CcRtrcriHe Times.
COuRT ETIQUETTE IN SPAlN.-The following may
! appear somew hat foolish to American eyes
> The Madrid journals ofthe 10th, state that a
number of deputies now at La Grania, had waited
on the Queen to congratulate her on her preg-
nancy.
: The CLAM BAKED WArcH.-Mr. Dennison writes
s to the Norwich Bulletin a note confirming the mar
. yeous story that his watch fell into the heap with
e the CLANS at bake, and was taken out with the
+ CLANS, and found uuharmed and going. This con.