Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-10-10
At the Plymouth County Fair, Mass, on

Wednesday last, "spading" match occurred
which attracted considerable attention. A
ring was formed, and lots of land, ten feet
square each, were marked for six stalwart
Irishmen, who were the competitors for the
prizes. The time allowed for the work to be
done was twenty minutes, and the depth to
be spaded was nine inches. The quickest
time made was fourteen and half minutes.
The contest was an animated one, and the
men worked until the perspiration rolled OF
their faces. The crowd cheered them on,
and laughed at the ludicrous attempts made
by some to drive through the work. One
man only used up the whole time. The vic
tor is certainly a trump and worthy the title
Of Jack of Spades"
On Tuesday night last, sailor named
James Williams got into fight with bar,
keeper named Collins, at Norfolk, Va, and
after the ARRAY had continued some seconds,
they were separated. Williams went into a
store at hand TO procure shovel, with
which, to renew the fight, but before he
reached his enemy, he fell to the ground ex.
claiming al am done for" 1t was then as
certained that he had been stabbed in twc
places. lie fingered till Thursday morning
when he died. Collins acknowledges and
even boasts Of having killed the deceased.
For several weeks past the largest portion
of the pews in the Methodist Church at the
head of Acushnet, near New Bedford, Mass
have been nailed up to prevent them be
ing occupied, owing to difficulty be
tween the committee who built the church
and the congregation. There are 53 pews
in the house and AZ of them are boar
ded." Services are regularly held in the
church on the Sabbath, the congregation
occupying the | slips not nailed up and the
aisles and other standing places.
The city of New Orleans is enduring al
the ills of disagreement, and to such al
extent that an independent movement in op
position to the dominant party has been in
augursted On Thursday week, the mate o.
a vessel, named Barry, was assaulted and
shot BY three notorious rowdies, without the
slightest provocation, and, though he point
ed out his principal assailant to policeman
standing by, that official declined making
any arrests, and permitted the parties to es
cape.
While the Rev. S. B. West, of gainesville
Ohio, was preaching before the Grand River
Association, last Wednesday evening, and a
the moment while he was illustratinga truth
by startling allusion to burning dwelling
the flames were actually consuming the dwell
ing of an aged couple, who were listening t,
the preacher. When they reached home
they found their house on fire, and one o
their grand children dead.
The Baton Rouge La Gazette, speaking
of the office of superintendent Of public edu
cation in that State, says: This is a very
onerous office, requiring the occupant to sigr
his name as many as four times during the
year. Now, the salary is $1,000, 80 that tho
lucky incumbent gets $3.50 every time he
signs his name"
Nathan Sargent, of Charlestown Mass.
claims as new article of manufacture, "A
Panoramic Tabletop" which consists of .
table having suitable mechanism attached, t.
exhibit long canvas, by passing it over 1t:
top, thus changing the appearance OF the
top, or table cover, without changing tho
cloth itself
The Norfolk Board of Health has applied
to the court Of Norfolk county, for permits
sion to locate the quarantine ground accor
ding to their best Judgment; which was grant
ed, with provso that its upper limit should
not be less than mile below fort Norfolk
(which is about two miles below Town Point
La Mountain arrived at Watertown the
evening Of October 4th, and was received with
great enthusiasm. There were rockets, bon
fires and Examinations. An immense audi
ence was addressed by him at the Hall, Civ
ing the details Of his perilous adventures
He appears nearly worn out with fatigue.
There are no buffalo robes now in first hands
in the country The last lot of $4,000 were
sold in New York, n few days since, ranging
form % cents up to 1913 each. Bates 4
Son and Kendrck & Co., of Boston, are now
the largest holders.
There are colleges and 10 high schools
in Alabama, besides University, and yet nc
State in the Union sends more of her children
out of her limits to be educated. Why is
this?
The colored people of Canada, have been
holding public meeting to consider the ex,
pediency of seeking home" in Jamaica
West Indies.