The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-11-01
A HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR.

Remurka,te 2nmor-d New Steamer Enter
prise. ~
The Courier DIES Etats Unis publishes the
Acknowledgements item "Mr. Willard Fill
more, Ex-President of the United States, has
lust addressed a letter to NJ. Roliin German,
asking him to explain at public meeting
the principles on which this Ingenious inven-
tor believes he can build a steamship
which will make hundred miles an hour,
and whose strength will resist all the fury
of the ocean and even the shock of coils
sion with other vessels. When this steamer
is laden with passengers, freight, provision
and coal for q voyage around the world she
will only draw, at the most, twenty two feet
of water, and-a singular fact indeed-the
expense of the voyage will be only about one
fifth what it would be in the steamers now
ahoat For thirteen years M. Rollin Ger
main has been secretly studying his new sys-
tenn of mechanism and building, and emf
nent engineers in the United States have as
sured him that his discovery is destined to
make an epoch in the history of steam navi-
CATION"
A Determined SWctde.-A case of suicide
occurred in Boston recently, in which a
most extraordinary cenacity Of life vas
manifested. The particulars are as follows !;
An aged gentleman named Charles Knapp
who has ben boarding at No. l Bumstead
place for some time past, retired to his room
and made preparations TOR committing sui
eide. He first wrote two letters, addressed
to relative residing in Roxbury cont tanning
directions in regard to the disposal OF his
property, and then swallowed large dose
OF laudanum. Before the opiate had operas-
ed, he took razor and drew it across the
right side Of his neck, making q CHASTITY
wound, bat not severing the juglar vein.
Not satisfied with the result of this wound
be took large butcher knife, with which he
had provided himself, aud cut the left side
OF his neck audsthroat, from which the blood
flowed most cepiously. His strength still
remaining, and, as it would seem, his reason
also, he walked to the table where he had
laid loaded double5arrelled pistoi,took up
the weapon and fired the contents of one bar
rel into bis head. The contents of the pistol
charge entered his forehead between his
eyes, making hole Of nearly az inch 10 di-
ameter, and breaking out several pieces of
bone, which were found on the floor of the
room. After this last effort at self destruc-
ton, he crawled to the spot where he had
laid the butcher knife, seized it and drew the
blade across his forehead several times, in
hicting terrible gashes.
!. ne aow Tell upon the t1o0r, c,asping the
butcher knife in his hand and torrents OF
blood flowing from his wounds in which
condition he was found by a servant who
was sent TO call him to dinner. Physicians
were instantly summoned aad. notwith-
standing the combined effects of poison,
knife and pistol he survived until late in the
evening, when death, which seemed 30 re!uc.
tant at first, came to his relief.
Mr.. Knapp bad been sea captain for
many years, in which avocation he had ac-
quired handsome fortune, ana had retired
from active life with the intention of spend
ing his remaining years in comfort and quiet
ease. He was, we understand, a year rela-
tive of Chief Justice Shaw's, snd has left
maiden sister who resides in this CITY,
1t is thought temporary insanity was the
cause OF this melancholy case of selfdestruc
ton.