davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26
MUSICAL.

Gazzaniga has met with flattering success in
Havana. Bertucca- Maretzek accompanies her
on the harp to the great song in the last act
At recent performance of this opera at
Havana, Gazzaniga was called upon the stage
and presented with silver Tyre with golden
strings, and golden crown. These she will
hereafter use in the ride of "Sappho," Tyre,
and a crown being some of the essential prop
critics of the piece
A Florence correspondent of the Providence
Journal says; "The musical papers here are
praising warmly an American cantatrice, Miss
Hinckley, who has recently sung in concert
music, under the auspices of the Philharmonic
Society. DR.. Tuckerman, one of the most
learned of our countrymen in ecclesiastical
music, is also here"
Signora Mario-Miss White that was-the
admirer Of Mazzini and friend of Italian liberty,
according to the New York Tribune, has gath
cred up from the streets about two hundred and
fifty organ-grinding, image-vending Italian
lads, and is striving to educate them into good
men and patriots.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26

CoNNEcTIcUT.-The stone mandatory OF
Backus & Barstow, in Canterbury was partly
destroyed by fire on Sunday morning. Loss,
81 300.
A wild fellow, named Michael Harnett en-
tered the eating-house of Phineas Stedman in
Hartford, on Monday evening" and when or
dered out, jumped upon Stedman, threw him
down, broke his shoulder blade, and stabbed
him in the neck. The stab came near proving
fatal. Harnett has been arrested.
The schooner Eudora Imogene, Capt. Allen,
from New York; for New Haven, has been
missing two weeks. Supposed to have been
lost, with all hands.
John Haggerty was suffocated by gas, in
Ives & Smiths machine shop, New Haven, on
Friday night. He turned the damper of the
engine, went to sleep, as is supposed, and
awoke no more.
Mrs. Justis Francis, of Hartford died in a
fit on Saturday night, just as she was disrob-
ing to go to bed.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26
THINGS IN AND ABOUT BOSTON.

The Jews of Boston held spirited meeting
Sunday evening in relation to the Mortara af-
fair, in which they resolved to unite with the
Israelites of New York and other American
cities in sending delegate to Europe to aid in
regaining the child.
The eighth lecture of the series before the
Mechanic Apprentices Library Association
was delivered Monday evening, at fremont
Temple, by DR.. j. G. Holland of Springfield
the humorous writer, the racy editor, the pop
larlecturer, and the genial man. His subject
was, Social Life in America"
FRAUDULENT RETENTION OF LOST MONEY
j. c. Churchill of Charestown was trading in
Quincy Market, in Boston, on Friday, when he
accidentally dropped his pocket-book contain
ing $500 in money and nearly $1,000 in notes.
The prize was seen and appropriated by one
Martin LAWYER of West Roxbury, who dis
bursed part of the money in purchasing meat
at the market, and, after arriving home, dis
played the balance in the presence of his
friends. He did not advertise the money, and
on complaint of Mr.. Churchill Lawler was ar
rested, and brought before the Police Court, in
Boston, to answer to a charge of fraudulently
retaining possession of the money. A number
of witness were examined, but, in the absence
of important testimony, the case was continued
to future day.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26

NEW ERUPTION OF VEsUvIUs.-The Wash
ington Intelligencer Of Monday publishes a
letter from Hon. Joseph r. Chandler, dated at
Naples, Dec. 16, from which we make the fol-
lowing extract:
CAT the present moment the people of this
city are in great excitement at the indications
of dangerous eruption from Mount Vesuyi-
us. For a long time great masses of lava have
been issuing from apertures on the side of the
mountain, about half way up; and these aper-
lures have been augmenting in number and
size so rapidly that not only is there apprehen-
pressed that the sides of the mountain will
soon be so worn and perforated as to be no
longer able to sustain the superior portion, and
people are leaving the vicinity and coming into
the city proper.
Last night the mountain was truly grand.
The hundreds of great fires on both sides of
the mountain (red-hot Laval were terribly bril-
liant, while the volume of smoke that rose
slowly from the crater and from its side, illu-
minated by the fire on the TANKS, presented an
appearance of indescribable grandeur /, Of
course, am unable to say whether these fears
are well-founded, but they are entertained by
men of science and experience here. To-day
the people of the city are concentrating the
first anniversary of the awful earthquake of
1857, and they are all going to church. We
seek God when we find no help in man, and
perhaps it is part of Gods providence that
we should be visited with scourges that man
cannot direct or withhold"
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26
THE COMPETENCY OF WITNESSES

One more unsuccessful effort has been made
In the Legislature, to remove from our statutes
that relic of prescription which disqualifes
men from testifying in our courts on account of
peculiarities in their religious belief. That
feature of the law has for a long time been
deemed arbitrary and oppressive which declares
that the affirmations ofmen cannot be believed
whose intellectual convictions are not like 9th
er mems. To large and intelligent portion of
the community it has seemed palpably absurd
to shut the doors of justice against theoretical
atheists, while they are thrown widely open,
without a doubt or question, to witnesses
who never rose to the dignity of an opinion,
who commit qualified perjury in saying that
they believe in God, to ignorant men and con-
victs, and to practical atheists whose whole
lives are spent in defiance of the moral govern
ment of the world. But neither the injustice
nor the inconsistency of the discrimination
which the law makes between witnesses has yet
been made sufficiently apparent to secure the
repeal of the law.
The object Of having testimony at all, is, to
arrive at the truth-to know whether a man
on trial is justly or unjustly accused. The
ends Of justice are not served, if any witness,
cognizant of important facts, is not allowed to
testify because he cannot say that he believes
in a God. What could be more reasonable, or
more just, than 30 receive his testimony under
the restraints and qualifications with which all
other testimony Is received 1t is less as an
act Of consideration for the Atheist than of
justice to litigants, or to those who may be
charged with crime that the stigma of false
hood, which our law fastens on those who brave
the public faith in Divine Providence, should
be removed. For it does not follow that an
unbeever win necessarily lie. The vice
against whiehAthe witness stand needs especial
protection, is not one of the peculiar develop
ments of atheism. Whatever else may be said
Of that dark and hopeless belief in which the
life of the Atheist is shrouded, it is as rarely
associated with the vices of falsehood and dis
honesty, as any Of the multitude Of faiths with
which the world has been filed.
1t is possible that an instance where the tes-
dmony of an Atheist would establish the guilt
or the innocence of q party accused, would
not occur once in a hundred years. Forum
ately, the fools who say in their hearts, there
Is no God, are passing away, as Christianity
and Reason grow fraternal. SO much the
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26

FROM WAsHINGToN.-Senator GUMS Talk
,1lh Buchanan Grow's Public Land BM-The
Senate is engaged to-Gay strangling the Pacific
Railroad bill. The President asked Senator
Gwin the other day, Chow comes on the Pa
cifc Railroad bill % The senator replied, "a
good deal mixed, Mr. President. | am GER
tain, sir, if You had done half as much to for
ward the measure (the business of which you
never expressed doubt about as you did to
urge the passage of Lecompton 1.-THE righteous
ness of which you did think doubtfuD Pacific
railroad would to-day be a reality, so far as its
passage is concerned" The President changed
the subject.
The select committee, appointed at the last
session to investigate the whole subject of the
public printing, have unveiled some more adj
mlnlstration plundering schemes, which, at the
present time, cannot be made public The
Union newspaper-Mr. Buchanan's organ
may "feel relieved" by this information
MIR. Grow has achieved a noble triumph in
the House, to-day, in procuring the passage of
his bill, which was substitute to a bill renort.
ed by Mr.. Cobb, Chairman of Committee ON
Public Lands. Itgives the actual settler ten
years advantage over the Spectator, by leav-
ing the public lands open TO pre-emption for
that period of time They cannot be sold TO
any one during that time, except to actual set
tiers. The vote for the passage of the bill was
~ to 81 All the Republicans voted for II
The Democrats are filibustering against il. n
is n just measure, which will be welcomed nv
the people, and 1t remains to be seen whether
tne senate Will concur in its passage Cor of
~ y. Post
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26

SUFFERING FROM COLD IN THE FRAZER
RIVER GOLD REG1oN.-By the overland mail
we have accounts of intense cold, and conse-
quent suffering and death in the Frazer River
county. The following particulars, from the
Victoria Gazette, have been briefly referred to
by telegraph
"The Gazette publishes reports that three
white men were found frozen to death in a
canoe, on Frazer river; and that a German
and his wife, who left the Enterprise, (when
she was frozen in as hereafter to be related,
and attempted to reach Langley in a small boat,
were also frozen to death.
VIM. Longworth, formerly of Iowa Hill,
California, had been found near Fort Yale, de-
hrious from suffering. He had one hundred
ounces of gold dust.
The weather was intensely cold on Frazer
river from the 9th to 18th inst. The river had
been frozen over and the people had suffered
severely, many of them in travelling to Lang
ley from Fort Hope, with 125 passengers, were
frozen fast near the mouth of Harrison river,
and many OF the passengers who left her, in
tending to go by land to Langley, endured
great hardships.
There being no provisions or accommoda-
tions on board for so large company for any
length of time, about 100 of the passengers,
and one or two of the officers, deserted
tle StedHler, determined TO make their way In
to Langley on foot through the woods. With
out food, in many instances poorly clad, with
snow and ice on the ground, these desperate
men commenced their sad journey. For three
days they wandered through the woods, shiv-
ering, toot-sore, and almost starving, in rain,
and through the sleet and ice. In the mean
time the weather had moderated a little, and
the rain had softened the ice in the river The
Enterprise got free again, and ran up and down
the river blowing her whistle and firing the
guns to attract the attention of those on shore.
Here and there she picked up straggler, who
had wandered to the river banks, perhaps to
die. On the third day, when about five miles
from Langley, she came up with the great ma
Jority OF her passengers, who, feeling it impos-
slble to proceed further, had camped on the
bank to await assistance from the town, for
which they had sent by four of their hardest
men. After taking up her passengers, the En-
terprise continued on to Langley, where she
arrived IN couple ofhours. Many of the pas
sengers had some of their limbs frozen, others
have their feet and hands frost-bitten, and all
agree in saying that they experienced the most
intense and horrible suffering it is possible to
conceive"
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26

SHAFFNER AND THE ATLANTIC CABLE
Tai. P. Shatfher writes from this city, under
date of 10th, to the New York Times, respect
ing The Atlantic Telegraph. He says the
Company are in such pecuniary difficulty, that
it will not be possible for them to attempt to
lay another cable before 1850. In the mean
time he thinks an effort will be made to secure
the present cable; while the friends of other
routes will proceed in the consummation OF
their respective enterprises. He says that
during the coming Summer, with engineers
anime the route ria. Greenland, Iceland and
the Farce Isles, which, in his estimation, is the
only one practicable for Telegraph between
Europe and America
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26

AN ARGUMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF
CUBA.-The Albany Atlas thinks we should
acquire Cuba for the purpose of reducing the
price of sugar 1t says the annexation of the
island would reduce the price one-thud; and it
calls on all those in favor of cheap sweetening
to advocate the acquisition The Evening
Journal very aptly replies that this end can be
achieved in shorter and cheaper way-by re-
pealing the duty of thirty per cent. on the i'm
ported article. The Atlas logician probably
never thought of this. He is like the Chinaman
who discovered that roast pig was eatable
through the accidental burning of pen con.
tanning litter of fine porkers. Thereafter,
when he wanted roast pork, he invariably set
fire to the piggery.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26

stronger is the reason why the law should be
removed, which, in its indignation over their
SEXUAL folly, brands them, by implication, and
at the expense of justice, for offences of which
they are not guilty. We trust that some fu-
ture Legislature, at no distant day, will see the
wisdom of placing all men, of common hon
esty and propriety of life, on an equality,
as to their right to testify. That is short
sighted and ungenerous legislation, in which
feeling against obnoxious opinions is allowed
to manifest itself against those who hold them,
and especially in those spheres of activity,
where merely speculative opinions have little
or nothing to do
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26

DEATH OF "HERoULEs. Mr.. Mcknight
the once famous Hercules" of Turner's Cir
Gus, who, some years ago, used to astonish
New Englanders by resisting with his own legs
and arms the pull of four horses, lifting I'M
heard-of weights, &C., died in Middlesex Co.,
Va, short time since. In one of his feats
with the horses he strained some vital part,
and retired, fated man, to an out-of-the-way
place in the Old Dominion, where he lived the
life of a hermit Mcknight was native Of
Rhode Island where he has wife with whom
he parted in a day of anger. He had form
like giant, such as would have won personal
preferment and renown in the days of the
Knights and Barons of old
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26

0ZAn order was introduced into the House
of Representatives, on Monday, and adopted,
instructing the Committee on the State House
to consider the expediency of providing each
member with a suitable desk. We trust that
the Committee will promptly report against
the proposition, and that the House will accept
such report. The desks would undoubtedly
be personal accommodation to members, but
they would be great detriment to the bust
ness of the House. 1t is already quite difficult
enough to confine the attention of members to
the business before them, without adding to
the almost innumerable objects by which their
minds are diverted from it. The greatest him
drance to business in Congress is confessed to
be the convenience which the desks of members
afford for carrying on correspondence, or study
ing during the sessions of the House. We
should greatly regret to see the obnoxious fea-
ture introduced into the Massachusetts House
of Representatives. In small body, like
our Senate, where every member has oc-
casion constantly to feel his individual respon-
sibility, not only to his fellows, seated around
him, but to that public, portion of whom are
always present, there is less danger of abuse
from such an accommodation. The seats and
accommodations of the Representatives Hall
are palatial, compared with what they were
twenty or more years since, when some six or
seven hundred men had to be crowded into the
space now occupied by half the number, and,
as short sessions are now in vogue, we think
the members can get through the six weeks
they will be required to stay, with such accom-
modations as have satisfied those that have
preceded them.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26

FROM CALIFoRNIA-Oceriand Louis,
Jan. A.-The overland mail, with San Fran
cisco dates of the 31st ult., has arrived here
A discredited rumor prevailed at San Fran
cisco that Senator Gwin would resign his seat,
for the Secretaryship of the Treasury. In con-
sequence of this, some stir was noticeable
among those ambitious of succeeding Mr..
Gwin.
The overland mail from Kanzas had arrived
at Stockton.
100000 prize in the Havana lottery had
been won by some parties in San Francisco.
The steamer Hermann had been advertised
for sale by the u S. Marshal, to satisfy judg-
ments obtained by the crew against her
Dexter Brigham, Jr., had failed for $4,000.
Business at San Francisco was very dull,
and rice, sugar, and candles, had seriously de-
clined.
The dates from Victoria are to the 9th of
December. The Fraser River was open again,
and late discoveries had increased the faith in
the richness of the gold fields in that region.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26


TERRIFIC STEAM BOILER ExPLos1oN.-A
terrific explosion of steam boiler occurred at
Hampstead, at the residence of Mr.. Henry
WEBB, In the upper end of New Kent County,
Virginia, on Monday last, killing almost in.
stantly five valuable slaves. Mr. Webb owns
grist and saw mill, the machinery to both of
which was driven by steam. On Monday last
his servants, as usual, went to the mills to
commence their labors, and proceeded at once
to get up steam. The weather being excess
lively cold, they all kept near the engine, and
not thoroughly understanding its operations,
failed to see that the pump was at work. Tn.
fortunately, the pump was not operating, and
before they had the least warning, the boiler
exploded, killing five of them instantly, and
hurting its iron fragments in every direction
A gentleman who visited the scene, after the
accident, says large piece of the boiler was
thrown four hundred yards from the mill by
the force of the explosion, the report from
which was terrific. The building was slightly
injured
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26

1t is rumored-but we don't believe it--tbat
Mr.. Bonner of the New York Ledger has en-
gagged Mr.. Cobb-not Sylvanus, of course-at
a fabulous price, to write an essay upon carry
ing on government without means, and upon
the political Interpretation Of the divine in.
Junction to take no thought of the morrow =
II Is further rumored that the liberal compen.
sation which Mr.. Bonner always makes for
literary novelties will, in this case. be apnlied
to the relief of some of the more needy OF the
creditors of the government None of Il will
be appropriated for the purchase of Cuba
Providence Journal.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26

This great country is in an alarming
predicament. England is to acquire Maine
vide New York Tribune-and Mons Belly has
written pamphlet addressed to the French
Emperor, asking him to take the rest of us
Hear him:
"The United States only live on the condi-
ton of foreign encroachment; like bandits
their inhabitants cannot exist but by frequent
ly emerging from their caverns. Put wall
around them, Sire, and they will eat each other
up, and they will devour each other like saw
ages as they are"
Monsieur Belly evidently thinks Louis
Napoleon's belly is as big as his own.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26

Terrible, IF TRUE.-The Calais Adver-
tiser of Thursday says "A report has been
IN circulation in this city for some days past
that those boys who had broken into Mr.. Todd's
store IN Midtown, st. Stephens, about fort
night ago, and stole some articles of clothing
theretrom, and had been detected, tried. con.
yicted, and sentenced to ST. Andrews Jail for
the crime. During the cold night of Tuesday
or wednesday, one of them had frozen to
death. Two of the boys were of the name of
Dean, one Of whom it was that died. We
have not heard the name Of the other. 1t is
said the boys cried murder, and did all in their
power to make the jailor hear and liberate
them, and let them go where there was fire,
but he could not be made to hear, or, if he
heard, did not heed them. 1t is awful, that a
human being should be allowed to perish in
such manner.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26
FACTS AND FANCIEs.

'Touch not, taste not handle not;' this will apply
to great many things-among the number are
brandy cocktails and painted women
The superb gallery of pictures known as the Man.
tua collection of King Charles l. was recently sold
by the young Duke of Mantua-who was 'hard-up"
and needed the spelter-for 900 scudi nearly $780,
600.
The introduction of crinoline has had disastrous
effect the starch trade. starch factory in Buffa
To- recently put in operation, with capital of $780,
900, finds no demand for its manufactures, and fac
tories at oswego and other places have been COM
PEELED greatly to reduce their operations.
a horrible murder was committed at Poughkeepsie,
Friday night last The parties were Lewis Gould
and Eliza Lawrence. They had been living together
and wife, it is said for several years past.
Jenkins the brilliant personal paragraph writer of
the newspaper press, now calls Miss Hosmer
''sculptressn For the benefit of those who do not
understand the jenkins vocabulary, we will say that
a sculptures is one who ''sculps.n
divorce case is on the legal taps in Cincin-
natl between two parties, both young and married
but three years, whose disagreement arises out of
night-cap which the wife insisted upon wearing in
spite of her husbands wishes, petitions, tears,
threats, oaths, and commands.
Digby sat long time very attentivey considering
cane-bottomed chair. AT length, he said, 81 won
der what fellow took the trouble to find all them
holes, and put the straw around them"
On Sunday morning, about O'Clock, the dwelling
house of Walter Blankenship in Marion, Mass, was
destroyed by fire with nearly all its contents The
inmates had escape with their lives
brother of the occupant, Mr.. Stephen Blankenship,
leaped from the chamber window.
On Sunday evening the body of Almira CALI
han, Scotch girl, about 20 years old, employed in
one of the Lowell factories was found in the office
of DR.. jackson, Fayette street, in that city. A
post norton examination was held, which afforded
evidence for belief that she killed by attempt
to procure abortion Yesterday, Dr. Jackson deliv-
cred himself into custody.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26

WHAT REPORT OF A BANK FAILURE WILL
Do.-The Observer says that bet was made
at Albany, on Wednesday, that of a large
crowd of applicants for relief at the office of the
Overseer of the Poor, at least half a dozen had
money in the Savings Bank and, to test the
matter, report was circulated that the Com
mercial Savings Bank had failed. In an in
stant thirteen of the beggars were rushing
mady for the bank, in order to save their mon,
ey from the wreck.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-26

VIcIssITUDEs OF FoRTUNE.-Madame Du-
mas de Maselhargue died in INDECENT circum-
stances at Baltimore last week, aged SO years
Her husband, at the commencement of the
century, was worth five million of dollars but
during the last war between England and
France, fourteen of his vessels were captured
by the English, and he was made beggar
He died of broken heart His wife was of
late years supported by charity.