davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03

CoNNEcTICUT.-The Norwich Courier has
been purchased by Geo. B. Smith, recently
connected with the Springfield Republican.
He will assume the responsibility about the 1st
of March. Mr.. Smith is young man of tai
ent and industry, and has our best wishes for
his success.
The Republican Convention in the Third
Congressional District assembled at Norwich,
yesterday; and, by special dispatch, we learn
that Hon. Alfred Burnham, of Windham, re-
ceived the nomination He received fifty-two
votes, just the number necessary for choice.
The body of Mr.. Phelps, who was buried in
a well, twelve days ago, in Derby, was reached
on Monday morning. 1t was in an erect po-
sition, with hands grasping the rope, and the
right foot raised, as if in the act of climbing.
He was doubtless Immediately suffocated by
the great body of sand which surrounded him
Rev. Walter Clarke, of the South Congre-
gational Church. Hartford, preached his fare
well discourse on Sunday evening.
G. w. and Whitman Phillips, of Putnam, a
few days since went a fishing on pond in
Union, and in four hours caught one hundred
and three pickerel and perch, the weight of
which was seventy-fYe pounds.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03
pER1LoUs ADVENTURE ON THE pRA1RIEs.

S. H. Packard, lawyer of Dubuque, gives
the following account of a fearful adventure,
experienced last month, on the prairies of
Iowa Both feet were so badly frozen as to
require amputation:
He left Sioux Rapids on the Little Sioux
river, where he, in connection with others,
started from town, to go to Dubuque on business
on the ID day of December. The sloughs
having been open few days before, it was
thought the safest way was to go to Fort Dodge
on horseback and thence by stage to Dubuque.
About three hours after he started heavy
snow storm burst upon him, accompanied by
high winds from Northwest Knowing the
danger of attempting to cross the prairies in
such storm, he turned back and attempted to
retrace his steps, but soon found that it was
impossible for man or beast to face the storm
he therefore proceeded on his journey, conf
dent that he would ride to the next house 40
miles, by nightfall. But his horse having
broken through the ice several times, became
afraid to go on the ice, and he was delayed
many times at sloughs until night overlook
him at a slough about half way across the pra-
rie. Here he found it impossible to induce the
horse to go upon the ice, and while searching
for better crossing the ice broke with him
and let him into the water above his knees.
broke under him at every step, and he strug-
gled on through the ice snow and water a dis
lance Of twenty to thirty feet before he came to
firm ice
He at once attempted to remove his shoes
and stockings, but they were so encased in ice
that it was impossible. Convinced that he
must remain where he was until morning, and
that his only safety was in keeping in motion,
he commenced running upon the ice, and con-
tinued to do so until daylight the next morn
ing, when, having succeeded in getting his
horse across the slough, he started on foot, as
he supposed, towards Fort Dodge. After
walking two miles and a halt, he found he had
turned around and was going wrong he i'm
mediately retraced his steps, and walked all
day, dragging his frozen feet through snow
ankle deep, his horse following him, and was
again overtaken by night about three miles
from house. Here he left his horse, and
started on, hoping to reach the house in an
hour or two, but he was so faint and weary
that he fell frequently, and was nine hours in
walking the last three miles. His sensations
during this time, as described by him, were
peculiar and strange the road appeared to
be embroidered in most beautiful coors and
he stopped to pick up specimen several
times, Satisfied that his mind was wander
ing, he endeavored to divert his mind from
the consideration of this subject, but in vain;
if he looked at the side of the road it appeared
to be walled, and to be covered with hogs ly-
ing on their backs
Raising himself, he proceeded, and at length
reached the house of Mr.. WEIGH about four
O'Clock in the morning.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03
MASSACHUSETTS LEGIsLATURE.
BosToN, February l, 1859.
GEN AHE


The House resolve authorizing the Treasur-
er to borrow money in anticipation of the rev.
enue, with an amendment authorizing the
Commissioners of the Western Railroad Sink
ing Fund to loan the Treasurer such moneys
as they have on hand uninvested was passed
10 be engrOssed.
Bills relating to the printing of the docu-
ments of the public series, to incorporate the
Roxbury Mechanics Institute, authorizing
Samuel r. Edwards and others to widen
Town River, in Quincy, in addition to an act
to incorporate the fremont Improvement
Company, were passed to be engrossed.
Reports, inexpedient, OF an order in relation
to the weight OF cats ave to withdraw, on
the petition of committee Of the town of
Scituate, were accepted.
Bills TO incorporate the Oriental Fire and
Marine Insurance Company, and in relation to
the Eliot Fire Insurance Company in Boston,
were ordered to third reading.
HOUSE.
Petitions Presented and ReJe7rd-Several
against the annexation of Roxbury to Boston :;
several in aid of Wesleyan Academy of j.
S. Elliott, late guardian of Dudley Indians,
for allowance of claims.
Ordered.-On motion of Mr.. Brownell, of
Westport that the Committee on the Judiciary
consider the expediency OF amending clap.
123, sec. 4, Acts 1858, by striking out "sufier
the penalty of DEATH" and substituting i'm
prisonment for life without reprieye or par
donor, if necessary, in order to preserve
adequate punishment for degree of crime, 10
report bill with the above named modification
contained therein.
Reports Of CammitteeS.-By Judiciary, leave
to withdraw ON the petition of James L. Lynde
for an act to dissolve the Templeton Chair
Company iEexpedient, on the subject Of pro-
viding by law that Overseers.o Of the Poor may
remove by force, State paupers to the State
Almshouse; inexpedient concerning further
notice to nonresident taxpayers, of taxes as
sessed on their property
BY Finance, a resolve in aid of the Massa-
chusetts Teachers Association, appropriating
$500 to the Association, to be paid in August,
1859, out of the moiety OF the income of the
School Fund applicable to educational purposes
By the same, ineXpedient to legislate relative
to fixing the salary OF the Sergeantat-Arms at
81 800 year.
BY the same, an act making appropriations
for the expenses of the State Almshouses, and
the Hospital at Rainstord Island.
Orders Of the Day-Several reports of the
Committee on Mercantile Affairs and Insur-
ance were taken from the orders and recon-
mitted, with instructions to hear the parties
The bill relating to Charles River and War
rem Bridges was ordered to a third reading, and
the bill in addition to an act relating to the
Boston Dispensary was ordered to be en-
crossed
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03

HOMESTEAD ExEMPTIoN-We congratulate
the people on the passage ION Tuesday, of Mr..
Grows Homestead Bill in the lower branch Of
Congress. The vote stood 120 to rs. OF
those who voted for the bill, 80 were Republi-
cans, and 3S Democrats. OF those against 60
were Democrats, Is Americans, and Repub-
hcan. About twenty Northern Democrats
lodged the question.
Mr.. Grows bill, which we hope will pass the
Senate, gives to every head of family, who is
citizen or has declared his intention to be-
come such, one hundred and sixty acres from
any unoccupied land belonging to the United
States, on the simple condition that he shall
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03

MASSACHUSETTS HIsToRICAL SOCIETY,"
AT special meeting of this Society, on Tues
cay evening, Hon Robert j. Winthrop, Presi-
dent, in the Chair, called to consider what ac-
ton should be taken on the occasion of the
death of VIM. H. Prescott, eloquent and feel
ing tributes to his memory were made by the
President, Professor Ticknor, President Sparks,
President Walker, Hon. Josiah Quincy, DR..
rockingham, Professor FELTON,, and Others
Resolutions were also adopted, appropriate to
the occasion, and expressive of the senti-
ments, of their attachment to him, and of their
admiration for one, who, "by the force of ge-
MUS, courage, and of a cheerful patience,
achieved for himself, with the full assent Of
Christendom, an honorcd place in the company
of the great masters of history, in all coun-
tries and in all ages"
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03

The Posi- OFFICE SELF-SUsTA1NING-T
Washington Union takes strong ground against
the dogma that the post office should be
self-sustaining, and justly says, as we have of
ten said, that it would be little more absurd to
demand that the army and navy should be self
sustaining than to make this requirement of
the post office. Ifso injurious and illiberal a
principle should be adopted, it would be but
fair that the postage on each route should be adj
justed to the cost of carrying the mails over it,
If letters can be carried from new New York
to Boston for cent, let the postage be a cent !;
and fit costs sos to carry letter to San
Francisco by the overland route, let the post
age be $50. This would be the only fair way
of making the department selfsustaining. The
argument Of the Union against the abolition
Of the franking privilege is not so sound. The
privilege itself is of little consequence, but the
printing abuses to which it leads are enormous
The free communication between the represen-
tative and his constituents, which is the legit-
mate object of the franking privilege, might be
preserved if letters addressed to members of
Congress were sent free, and letters from them
paid in the manner proposed in the bill before
the Senate. The privilege ought not to be ex-
tended to printed books. All that these books
contain Of popular value is now published in
the wspapers.-PrOcidence Journal.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03

TRANSATLANTIC TRAvEL.-A recent pub
lication by Pliny Miles, designed to promote
the interests of the Galway line of steamers,
contains the following paragraph showing the
great increase of travel which followed the es-
Enlistment of Transatlantic steam lines:
The great tide of American travel did not
set in until after the commencement of the
American ocean mail service by the Collins,
the Bremen and other lines of steamers. Up
to 1850, the average number of Americans that
went abroad annually was only 5492, and new
er did it exceed 1900. In 1850 the Collins
American) line of steamers was started, from
New York to Liverpool and soon after lines to
Southampton, Havre and Bremen. La 1851
the number of American travellers to foreign
countries was 2O362; in 1854 it was 92,641 ;
in 1856 there were 39,3l9, and last year over
$4,000 For thirty-three years, ending with
1850, there were 100, 534 Americans who visi-
ted foreign countries and returned, while in
the next SIX years there were 18S,998. 1t is
estimated that at least two-thirds of all Ameri-
can travellers who go abroad visit Great Brit
ain. The entire number of Americans coming
to this country cannot fall short of 10000 a
year.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03

There were in January 50, February SO,
March 46, April SO, May 46, June %, July SO,
August SO, September 81, October Al, Novem-
Der 40, December SO.
The nativities of those who died were as
follows: of Massachusetts 3S8; other New
England States %; other States out of N. E. 9;
Ireland IS; British America, chiefly in Canada
s; England and Scotland 5; Germany g. A
large number of those who were born in this
country were of Irish parentage, especially the
children; and some, also, of other foreign pa
rentage
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03

John e. Gowen writes from Sebastopol that
he is progressing finely in the work of raising
the sunken Russian ships in the harbor. He
says
81 have recently had important concessions
granted by the government, having just COM
pleted the contract, by which they give all the
property, instead Of one-half as heretofore, the
above arrangement to commence from the 10Th
of last June therefore, all the vessels and
property recovered since that date belong to
the company.
We are now busily engaged in the various
branches of the work. We have sixty carpen-
tiers engaged on two immense caissons, under
the superintendent Of an cd Bostonian-
Capt Samuel f. Hobrook. They will be
completed early in the Spring when we shall
raise some of the largest ships, which are esti-
mated to be worth 100000 silver roubles each;
and Of the raising of them there is no possible
question. ! have contracted to entirely clear
the harbor in two years from this time, and
the work shall be promptly done. There are
five fine war steamers, with copper boilers
that shall take up in the Spring. The boil.
ers alone weigh forty-two tons each, and are
worth $50 900 each for old copper"
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE Boston AND
WORCESTER RAILROAD The annual meeting
of the Boston and Worcester Railroad Corpo-
ration was held at Boston yesterday, Ginery
Twichell, Esq, President of the corporation in
the chair. The meeting having been called to
order, the annual report of the Directors was
read which showed most gratifying exhibit
of the affairs of the Corporation, The Presi-
dent stated that there had been gain in the
receipts in November December and January.
The freight department shows gain over last
year of $4,000 monthly; the increase in the
passenger department has been slight. He re-
marked that the last year had been a trying
one, and had taught the Directors to curtail
the expenses as much as possible.
A committee was appointed to collect and
count the votes for Directors, who subsequent
ly made the following report
Whole number of votes 1886, necessary to
choice 1913, of which nearly or quite all
were given to Ginery Twichell, Daniel Denny,
Nathaniel Hammond, Benz. f. White, Emory
/ Washburn, Israel Lombard, Peter T. Homer,
Isaac Emery and ID. Waldo Lincoln
Mr.. Bemis, of Watertown, called for some
statements from the President respecting the
suit lately decided against the Corporation in
the Supreme Court
The President then went into full and mi
mute history of the case, the purport of which
was, that every effort had been made, by the
Directors, for an amicable settlement, but that
the liberal proposals made by the Corporation
to the former counsel Of Mrs. Shaw (Mr. Du-
rant had never been made known to that lady,
as she herself had informed him. AT the close
of Mr.. Twichell's statement, which was very
clear, and apparently very satisfactory, reso.
tuition offered by Mr.. Bemis, of Boston, fully
approving of the course pursued by the Di-
rectors, was adopted and the meeting adj
journed
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03

Mrs. SINcLAIR's ENTERrAINMENT.-T Those
who were present at Washburn Hall, last
evening, enjoyed rich and rare intellectual
treat, in listening to the readings by Mrs c.
n. Sinclair and Mr.. Henry Sedey, Of some of
the finest passages from British and American
poets. Mrs. Sinclair proved herself worthy of
the high enconiums that have been paid to her
histrionic powers; and in Mr.. Sedley the audi
ence were most agreeably surprised, for II is
very rare to find, either upon the stage, or off
of il, a person who can speak our mother
tongue with such ease eloquence, and cor
RICHNESS. The audience appeared to be highly
gratifed with the entertainment, and the desire
for their second appearance, seemed to be very
earnest and general.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03
@itp ann county sntelligente.
STATISTICS OF WORCESTER.

We have prepared, with much care and
labor, the vital, marital, and mortuary statis-
tics of this city, for the year 1858, which we
think will be found interesting to our readers.
They are as follows:
BIRTHS.
The whole number of births, during the
year, was 1888, of which 1917 were males and
1856 females; 769 were single births, and there
were pair of twins. They were distributed
through the year as follows;
In January 70, February So, March 81, April
90, May SO, June 48, July SO, August 81, Sep
TENDER 68, October Ga, November rs, Deem
Der g.
The nativity of the parentage of the child
rem was as follows:
Both parents American, 30S; father Ameri-
can and mother Irish, 9; father American and
mother British, I father American and moth
er Canadian, 5; both parents Irish, so; Irish
father and American mother, 5; both parents
Germans, q; German father and English moth
er, l; German father and Irish mother, l /;
German father and British-American mother,
l; both parents British Scotch and Englsh)
10; father British and mother American, 10 ;
father British and mother Irish, 5; both pa
rents Canadians, II father Canadian and
mother American, 3; father Canadian and
mother Irish, q both parents French, l.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03

STATUE OF JOHN ADAMs.-It will be recol.
lected that the statue of John Adams, designed
to illustrate the revolutionary period of our
country's history, and which was to occupy the
northeastern niche of Mount Auburn Chapel,
was lost on its passage from Leghorn to this
country, in the ship Oxford, over one yearsince.
We learn that Mr.. Rogers, the sculptor, has
executed a duplicate from the original model,
and that the invoice has already been received
at New York. When the statue arrives the
gallery will be completed. Winthrop, Otis,
Adams, and Story, forming the finest group Of
statuary in New England
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03

MYsrERIoUs CAsE-A Mrs. Bunny of Tip
pecanoe, Harrison county, Ohio, a highly
respectable lady, and member Of the Presbv-
terrain Church, during peculiar condition of
her physical and mental organization, has
preached sermon half an hour long, every
other Sunday at 10 O'Clock for eighteen years.
While preaching she recnes upon bed Her
instructions are generally excellent, and a.
bound in scriptural quotations but when she
RECEIVERS her consciousness she has no recollec-
ton whatever Of what she has been saying.
Several years ago her case excited the atten-
ton of several medical gentlemen, who. while
they had the utmost confidence in her sincerity,
could give no satisfactory explanation of the
mystery.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03

RHODE IsLAND-The number of births in
Providence last year was 1,724; marriages,
$50 deaths, 1,0l7. This is an" excess of 707
births over the deaths within the year. The
number of marriages was 81 less than in 1867
The Providence Journal says the actual loss
by the Harnden Express robbery, in that city
on the 10Th inst, amounts to only $500.
Gov Dyer, it is announced, will decline a
reelection in April. The ostensible cause is
poor health to which should be added dissen.
sions in the party.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03
New neatord on nrnrkst.-1an. 81

Sperm-The market for sperm oil remains firm. although
the transactions have been considerably less than those
ofast week The sales since last embrace 635 bbs
IN parcels as follows lao bbs dark at 81 30 40 do at
81 50 q gallon.
Whale is in active demand and we notice an advance
on last week quotations The transactions include sales
ot6,93O bbls to manufacturers. We quote S35 bbs at
55c 1900 do at 55c 500 do at 569 II gallon Also $50 bbs
dark at 49c 10 do do at Soc 200 do brown Soc $50
ther inquiry.
Whaebonc-The market is quiet and without transac-
tions.-[Shippipg List.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03

Is THERE A DEMOCRATIC PARTY 1.-The
Washington States Roger A. Pryor, editor)
has an important article declaring that there is
no longer Democratic party, and cites, in
proof of its assertion, the dissensions between
President Buchanan and Secretary Cass on the
question of squatta sovereignty, between Blu
chanan and Floyd on the question of the Pa
cific Railroad, and boeween Buchanan and
Cobb on the tariff question. 1t says that on no
single issue is there concord in the party, and
asserts that the confusion of Babel was not
equal to the present discords of the Democrat
cy. The States being understood to express
the views Of Judge Douglas, the article attracts
great attention.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03

AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVES IN EGYPT.-The
Taunton Gazette gives a very fattering &C.
count Of the success of two locomotives, built
IN that town by VIM. Mason & Co., for the Al
exandria and Suez Railroad, in Egypt. One
OF them drew train of seventy-ive heavily
loaded cars from Suez to Alexandria, a dis
lance o.. 200 miles, in twelve hours, including
stoppages The Pasha, who was on board,
and who is President, Superintendent, and
stOckholder, was agreeably surprised, and ex.
claimed, "God is great, but the Yankee is very
near perfection r.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03

CRIMINAL CoURT-Betore Judge Norris
Edward Hynes of Clinton, for manslaughter,
in killing his wife, on the 18th of October last,
: is still on trial The evidence on the side of
the government is all in, and Mr.. Swan com
menced the opening plea for the defence last
evening
VIM. Farrell of Fitchburg pleaded guilty to
an indictment for assault upon an officer, and
was sentenced to pay fine of SIS.
John Ryan Of Fitchburg for assault on an Of
ficer, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to pay
a fine.
Betsey Shea of Fitchburg was complained
of for selling intoxicating liquor, and convicted
before the magistrate, appealed to the Court.
AT the last term of the Court she was default
ed for non-appearance. She was brought into
Court, yesterday, on capiaS, for sentence. In
consequence of certain representations made
to the District Attorney, he made a written
motion, that the defendant be discharged, and
the complaint laid on file-setting forth, in his
motion, that the defendant was a widow, GO
years Of age, with an imbecie son, dependant
on her for support; that she being poor, pro-
cured a small quantity of intoxicating liquor,
by the advice of some friend, hoping to realize
some little proftfrom the sale that she is I'M
able to speak word of our language, and is
ignorant of our laws.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03

G5- A new religious sect has sprung up in
the vicinity Of New Bedford, as we learn from
the Standard. Among their peculiarities is,
that the minister salutes the sisters with kiss
The writer says he recently saw "a brother kiss
ing the sisters with an junction. and warning
their husbands to fee from the wrath to come
We should think this course would bring wrath
less distant than the future world.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-03

EXTENSIVE FRAUDS IN MuTILATED GOLD
Coins have been discovered in New York.
The Tribune thus describes the way the fraud
is perpetrated
"From close examination, it appears that
the coin is placed on lathe and made to re-
volve. A keen, narrow chisel is set against the
edge and, as the coin revolves, the chise turns
out the inside of it, and penetrates nearly to
the centre, leaving but two thin shells, as it
were, connected at the centre. The cavity is
then filed up with base metal, the coin is mill
ed over again and the edge galvanized show
ing as perfect specimen of work in fraud as
was ever conceived or executed. The mutila-
ted coin weighs some nineteen grains less than
good coin, and it is estimated that each five
dollar gold piece so mutilated is decreased in
value to SO 75."