davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

EN An eccentric old fellow named King
ston, in Tennessee, told his roommate, ma
med Chyrack, that he was going to kill him
self one night.
Kingston had as the last eecentricity of
his life, taken chisel and mallet to bed
with him, and with desperate resolve, he
seized the extraordinary tools Of death, and
in an instant drove the blade Of the chisel
into his breast
The hair rose upon Chyrack's head, and
fright spread like sheet of snow over his
face.
Livingston! Kingston! my dear fellow !!
You rascal, Kingston !! do you want to have
me hung :? Hold on don't die till [ call
somebody
Chyrack ran to the door, and called like
a mailman to some people across the street
''Hallo! here say you, mister all you
stupid people! Make haste over here, or
there will be murderv'
The people crowded into Kingston
house.
"Don't die Kingston don't chisel this
way! Don't die till you tell who did it !?
Kingston with difficulty articulated the
words, II did it myself" Il
''There that'n do; now my dear fellow
you may die, replied Chyrack taking a long
breath and wiping the perspiration from his
forehead.
And Kingston did die in that extraordi-
nary manner, leaving his fate to be recor-
ded as suicide that was almost murder.
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08
A Funny Scene.

We happened to be at our depot few
days ago, when the mail train arrived from
Bristol. As it moved off in a hurry, we
observed a young gentleman standing upon
the track in rear Of the train, bare headed,
and with evident disappointment depicted
on his countcnance. Remarking that pas
senger had been left, by-stander, with a
knowing wink, replied that the bare headed
man upon the track and young lady upon
the train had intended to stop at Abingdon,
with the design Of committing matrimony. a
The young lady was in charge Of her moth
er, woo was taking her eastward from Bris-
toll to prevent the marriage. The young
couple had arranged the matter shus: The
expectant groom without the knowledge Of
her mother, was to come as far as Abingdon
in the baggage car, and then, about the
time the train was to start he was to run
to the back platform Of the rear car, where
his lady love was to be standing, and as the
train moved off he was to lift her down, and
let the incorrigible nanny 60 on. with am
pie time for rejecting upon the uncertainty
Of human calculations. The arrangements
were understood by the Engineer, who was
to move off as rapidly as possible as soon as
the hatless gentleman disappeared behind
the train. The mother, however, having
seen him making his way to the rear Of the
car, looked around for her daughter, and
seeing her about to pass on to the platform,
rushed towards her and grasped her tightly
by her clothing, just at which moment, the
lover having reached the signal post, foot
toot sounded the whistle, and away went
the train, with the mother holding on to the
daughter, and the young gentleman as be-
fore remarked, standing bare headed upon
the track, looked very much as if he had lei
bird go.-Abingdou Tirginian.
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

Coon OLD AGE.-Mrs. Rebecca Outright
died in Upshur county, Va, on the 9Th inst,
at the extraordinary age of one hundred end
sig gears. An obituary Of her Says:
She was the first white woman who settled
in the Valley of the Buckhannon River,
coming to western Virginia when quite
young, and living with her husband in a
hollow tree at the mouth of Turkey Run
in what is now Upshur county The de-
ceased retained all her faculties in vigor I'M
til the close of her long and eventful life,
and on the morning Of her decease was ca
ressing one Of her great grandchildren,
when, feeling weary, she requested the
child ito be quiet, while granny would lay
down and sleep T." The venerable old lady
then laid down upon her bed and "slept the
sleep that knows no waking" vital
spark had flown, and without a sigh or strug-
gle the old lady passed from earth to Heav-
en-. Her descendants number between four
and FIVE hundred souls.
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

She came among she gathered crowd,
maiden fair, without pretense,
And when they asked her humble name
She whispered, mildly, Common Sense"
Her modest garb drew every eye,
Her ample cloak, h er shoes Of leather;
And when they sneered she simply said,
~ dress according to the weather"
they argued long and asoned loud
In dubious Hindoo phrase mysterious
While she, poor child, could not divine
Why girls so young should be SO serious}
They know the length of Plato's beard,
And how the scholars wrote in Saturn;
She studied authors not so deep,
And took the Bible for her pattern,
And so she said, "Excuse me friends,
find all have their proper places,
And Common Sense should stay at home
With cheerful hearts and smiling faces"
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

RATHER MAL-A-pRoPos.- One day at the
table Of the late DR.. Pearse Dean of Ely }
lust as the cloth was being removed, the
subject Of discourse happened to be that Of
the extraordinary mortality among the law
yers. 1--WE have lost" said gentleman,
"no less than sic prominent barristers in as
many months" The Dean, who was quite
deaf rose as his friend finished his remarks
and gave the company grace. .'For tAis
and every other mercy, the Lords name be
praisedv' The effect was irresistible.
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

MONEY IN LETTERS. - The dead letter
branch Of the General Post Office has just
closed another quarters work, During the
three months which terminated on the 30th
ult., there were found too thousand seuen
hundred and tuenty-mine letters, which con-
tanned money amounting in the aggregate
to $1,000 SO. For the quarter which
closed the 30th of June last, there we're re-
ceived four thousand flee hundred and for
ty-nine letters, and $2l, 49S IS in money
For the quarter ending the 3Oth Of March,
t,co thousand and seyenty-two letters and
$l3, 475 Is in money. Quarter closed 3lst
December. t,oo thousand, three hundred and
|tVy-taco letters and 81, 1861 So in cash.
Total, in the year, tacelue thousand one hun-
dred and t,oo letters, and 1851, 239 y in
money. It's gratifying to state that un-
der the efficiency and promptitude which
characterize the finance bureau, over nine
tenths Of the whole amount in cash has been
returned to the original owners.
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

A juror CORRECTING JUDGE. "A judge
in Cincinnati, last week, had just charged
the jury in very important case, when, to
the great establishment of all present, pro-
fsssional juror who happened to be on arose
from his seat and begged to call the atten-
ton Of His Honor to slight mistake he had
made in his charge, and actually quoted au-
thorities to sustain his opinion. Upon re-
ferring to his citations, it was found, to the
no small amusement Of the spectators, that
iuryman was right and His Honor was
wrong; whereupon, with all due gravity,
he informed the bench that he knew he was
correct, as he had been charged at least
forty times on the same point. in the last
four months, and couldn't be mistaken
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

NORTH 1NA.-Gold.-We- were
shown on Saturday, says the Richmond
Wing Of yesterday, specimen Of North
Carolina gold, weighing ten and a half oun-
ces, and almost perfectly pure. It was ia
ken from the mines belonging to Mr.. Chris
tian, in Montgomery county, and is GER
tainly the handsomest specimen we have
ever seen. Mr.. Christian has taken out
thirty thousand dollars worth of ore in the
course of three months, and at a cost Of only
a few hundred dollars His mines are be-
lieved to be almost inexhaustlble. They
were discovered in August last. and he has
just been offered for them, in New York,
$500, 900, which he refused to take.
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

A LOGICAL BAaGAGE-M MASTER The post
Of baggage-master on railroad train is
not an enviable one. There is often wide
difference between the Company's regula-
tons and the passengers opinion Of what
articles and what amount Of them, proper
ly comes under the denomination of bag
gage, and this difference of opinion fire.
quently subjects the unlucky official Of the
trunk and handbook department to ANNA
tied discussion with certain class Of the
travelling public We heard lately an an
ecdote Of George" the afable B. NJ. on
Captain Cobb's train on the Virginia and
Tennessee Road, which is too good to be
lost:
A passenger presented himself at the
| way-station on the road with two trunks
and saddle, for which he requested checks.
The baggage-master promptly checked the
trunks, but demanded the extra charge of
twenty-five cents for the saddle To this
the passenger demurred, and losing his tenn
| per peremptorily asked
| "Will you check my baggage, sir ?"
Are you horse?" quietly inquired
George
'What do you mean, sir?" exclaimed
the irate traveller.
''You claim to have this saddle checked
as baggage p
| Certainly is baggage" positively
returned the passenger.
"Well, said the impurturable George,
by the Company's regulations nothing but
wearing apparel is to be admitted as bag
gage; and if the saddle is your wearing APP
parel, of course you must be horse. Now
sir. just allow me to strap it on your back
and it shall go to the end of the road with.
out any extra charge whatever
The traveller paid his quarter, and offer
ed George his hat Bristol News.
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08
The Ancient Monster.

The animal whose bones were recently
found embedded in mari, in South Jersey,
is thus described ~
.sThe creature was evidently of unimagi-
ned dimensions. It's hind leg bones, when
put together, would reach seven feet, upon
which the pelvis and back bone and upper
skin would still 60 on, making it nine o.
ten feet high upon the launches. On the
contrary, the fore legs were 50 dispropor-
tionately short, that, had they been found
at different place, no anatomist would
have hesitathd to assign them to animals Of
different kinds, or at least to different indi-
viduals, but the animal which this most re-
sembles, discovered in an English rock Of
the same age, by Mr.. Manteli, shows the
fore and hind legs equally dissimilar.
The fact no doubt is, that we have here
the relics of kangaroo like alligator, of
more than mammoth size, living near the
great tertiary rivers and lagoons, and feed
ing on the vegetation as it sat erect on its
vast hind legs, supported by its tail. To
get at its length, DIR. Lsidy took the num-
Der of neck and back vetrebrae common to
all kinds Of reptiles, and averaged, the
number of tail vertebrate between the hum
dred in tail Of the iguana, and the TWEEN
ty or thirty in the tail Of the crocodile and
thus fixed the probable length of the whole
creature at twenty-five.
It's tail must have been three feet deep,
it's neck thin, and its head no doubt small.
It's teeth are but two inches long, but set in
such .esselated wall around the mouth, as
to make a formidable cutting and grinding
apparatus. The family must have been
very extensive, for DR.. Leidy is now able
to recognize its representatives by some be-
fore enigmatical fragments from Nebraska
and the lower Mississippi.
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08
Yroftssiolral GatSs.
rIos. !. MIcHrE. JAS. H. SKINNER. &c. NICHE
NICHE, SKINNER & NICHE.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW,

r STATION, VA.
TIAVE formed partnership for the practice of
II Law in all the Courts of Augusta county, and
the q S. District Court for Western Virginia.
Mr. Niche willattend ,as heretofore the Courts OF
adjoining counties.
JAMES HI. SKINNER will practice In the
Circuit and County Courts Of Highland.
All business entrusted to him viii be promptly at
tended to. July 8, 1S56-6mo.
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08
CannibatiSm in the Feejee Islands.

A Nsy Yorker end a Prmssian eaten up
fioht 6etuceen the Cawmibuls andthe Uni-
ted States Marines. $500
From the San francisco Herald, December 81
The United States ship Vandalia, Com
mander Sinclair, arrived in port on Friday,
from a cruise tbresgh the South Pacific.
Lieut.. j. Hogan Brown gives US some in
teresting Information about a deed Of can
nibalism and its punishment. While the
Vandala was at Ovolau, in the Feejee Is
lands, information was communicated to
Commander Sinclair, by the Consul at Lee
vuka, that the inhabitants Of Lomati, on
the Island Of Ways-a tribe of ferocious
cannibals had surprised small vessel, and
murdered, cooked and eaten the crew.
Thereupon, an expedition, consisting of
sixty men, was fitted oct, placed in charge
of Lieutenant CALDWELL, with Lieutenant
Ramsey, of Marines, Assistant Surgeon
Trist and Masters mate Bartlett, and sent
against them.
The natives refusing to give up the MUIR
derers, and taking advantage of their strong
position Ga town situated on the top of .
high mountain, 1900 feet above the level of
the sea) to defy the party sent against them.
a landing was effected at daylight on the
morning after reaching the Island and af-
ter a most fatiguing march Of several hours.
over declivities, precipices, rocks, and thro
ravines, the expedition arrived opposite the
town. A long halt was made to refresh
the men. who were almost Frustrated by
their exertions. :.
After resting, the town was assaulted and
carried by flank movement, the natives
fleeing to the rocks and Businesses the town
was nearly destroyed, lis houses having
been fired and consumed. On the return
of the expedition they were attacked in the
most furious manner in one of the ravines
by 300 warriors. who were repulsed with
heavy loss, after severe action Of above
half an hour, the natives losing nearly
| fifty in killed and wounded, including two
of their principal chiefs. The Americans
had six wounded, one man very severely.
The seamen and marines behaved in the
most gallant manner. The anomaly Of
their situation (attacking powerful and
courageous mountain tribe in their fastness-
esq not moving them, except perhaps to
more steady and daring conduct. The Anne
ricans murdered and eaten were Louis
Brewer, Prussian, naturalized, and Hen
nv Homer of New York.
\
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

A YOU'VE GIANT Master NJ. r. Tuck
err, aged IA, Of Todd county, KY, meas
ures feet inches in height.
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

SURE CURE FOR CoLD.-The following
cure for cold has been on record since
1880:
Put your feette in hot water
AS high as your thighes
Wrappe your head in fannelle
As low as your eyes;
Take quart of rum'd gruelle,
When in bedde, as dose;
With a number four dippe
Well tallowe your nose.
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

W- Do thou but do thy best, and then
thou may'st defy the devil to do his best
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

All advertising for less time than shree months,
ao;U Be charged for at the usadl rates-S1 90 per
square for the first three insertions, and twenty-five
eents for each subsequent issne. -
Tis above rates riH be strictly adhered to-. The
circulation of the VINDICA TOR, Is one the lar
acct in the State and hence Of the best adeertss-
;nq mediums.
~ JOB WORK, of &H descriptions promptly
offended to.
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

Hon. STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS AND LADY IN
New YoRK.-The Hon. STEPHEN a. DoUG-
LAS arrived in New York on Thursday
night, from HAVANA, in the steamer EN-
pIRE Cry. He is looking remarkably well,
but Mrs. Douglas was pale and haggard,
having suffered terribly from sea sickness.
Alderman Bradley, of the Committee of
Reception from the Board of Alderman, was
the only one of that Committee to welcome
the distinguished Senator on his arrival.
The Alderman boarded the steamer as
soon as she was made fast to the pier. and
welcomed the Senator to New York in the
name of the city authorities. Before the
trunks and the baggage Of Mr.. Douglas
were permitted to be taken away they had
to undergo an inspection by Port Inspector.
Van Buskirk, and Mr.. Douglas will have
to pay duty on SIS worth Of Sugars which
he purchased in Havana, and which the
Inspector found in his trunk. Two carria-
ges were brought into requisition to trans
port Mr. and Mrs, Douglas, and effects to
the Everett House. Mr.. and Mrs. Doug
las, the captain of the steamer, and Alder
man Bradley rode in one, and the children
and nurses occupied the other.
Mr.. Douglas states his intention to re-
main in New York until Saturday or Mon
day next, when he will proceed Immediate
ly to Washington. He will receive his
friends publicly at the City Hall some day
during this week
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

w To TIE Pure Alt Is PURE. The putrid
spider converts that to poison which the
bee works to honey; and it is thus that man
has, at different times, debased and injured
all he has touched, and lowered the most
glorious pursuits to the level of his own
corruption. Music, fit amusement for an
gels, has lninistered to voluptuousness ;
painting to the sestimpurity; poetry has
forgotten it's noble nature to sing of forbid
den things; and even botany, astudy which
unfolds the wonderful economy Of nature,
displays its beautiful regularity, and is con-
versant with those lovely and harmless
things, the flowers of the field, conveys to
some unhappy minds thoughts most unlike
the pureness Of the lily, or the sweetness Of
the rose. There are minds, however, Of a
different stamp, minds which adorn and en-
rich all they touch, which can learn Wis
dom from flower, piety from blade of
grass, can find sermons in.stones, and good
in everything"
! GERMAN PROVERBS. Women have long
hair and short wits. There is only one bad
wife in the world and every one thinks he
has her. When the man spoons in, and the
woman shovels out, the household must
soon fall through. A woman spills NOR.
with a thimble than man can draw with
bucket. A woman always keeps secre
what she does not know. Rich wives max,
poor children. There is only two good wo
men in the world one is dead and the othe1
not to be found. Like an echo in the woods
rainbow in the sky, a woman's beauty sool
pass by.
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

THE FAMOUS DEAD OF 1S58.-The necro-
logy for 1858 isdistinguised by many noted
pames, but upon the whole it may be re-
marked that death has eontented himself
with fewer .'shining marks" than usual
Among American statesmen the most emf
nent deceased for the year was Thomas h.
Benton. With him have departed Senator
Evans, Of South Carolina, Senator Hender-
son, of Texas, ex-senator Bagby, of Ala
bama, General James Gadsden, of South
Carolina John A. Quitman, of Mississippi,
Thomas L. Harris, of Illinois, and ex-Pre-
sident Arson Jones, of Texas. Among
lawyers have died Benjamin f. Butler and
Chief Justice Duer, of New York. Among
authors, VIM Henry Herbert, VIM. Jay
and Madame Ida Pleiffer. Among mer-
chants, Anson G.. Phelps, of New York,
and James Adger, of Charleston. Among
mechanics, Isaac Newton and John P. AL
laire Among scientific men, Boapland,
the naturalists, and Robert Brown, the boz
tanist Among painters, AIRY Schaffer'
Among the sculptors, Edward s. Barthol-
omew. Among theatrical characters, the
great Rachael, and Lablache, the singer.
Among soldiers, Field Marshal Radetsky,
of the Austrian army, and Major General
Pursifer F. Smith, U. S. A. Among ma
val commanders, Admiral Lord Lyons, Of
the British service, and two American Com
modores, Mathew c. Perry and 7. ApCates-
by Jones. Among philosophers, Robert
Owen. Among prominent characters at
the European courts, the Duchess Of Or
leans, Redschid Pacha. Grand Vizier of
Turkey, and Baron Ward, (the Yorkshire
hostler, Prime Minister of Parma. Among
other notorieties deceased may be mentioned
Soyer. the prince of cooks. bred Scott,
whose name will be famous one in the an
nails of the country, and Eleazer Williams.
| the reputed Bourbon st,
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

DOCKET CUTLERY have just received a
L verv large assortment of Pocket Knives, of
all qualities at very low prices.
Staunton, Oct. 80, '58. GEO. E. PRICE.
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

E00 PIECES VELVET RIBBONS.--Fringes,
COO Buttons, French Work Collars, Nurseries
do, Kid Gloves, Linen c. Handkerchief. Hosiery,
&C., at PIPER g. FUNKHOUSER'S.
Stauntor, Oct. %, 1858.
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

A THRILLING NARRATIVE. -'Twas fear
full night; the storm king, out Of humor, let
the bowling wind and pelting rain and cloth
ed the earth with a pail Of darkness as dense
and impenetrable as an Egyptian sepulchre;
all instructive life was hushed, save the
tempest bird, whose shrill screams mingled
with the crashing blast and made it yet
more terrible in its mighty frenzy.
Twas dark as midnight; the trees whose
huge limbs moaned and sighed piteously,
were rudely tossed about, and ever an an
on great masses Of mutilated timber fell to
the ground. Before an opened window
stood beautiful girl; her exquisite form,
which bore the impress Of nobleness innate,
was splendidly erect, and her flashing eyes.
full Of excited lustre, shone brighter still
through the impenetrable darkness. Proud
" she stood, defying the tempest in its
wrath See, her rosy lips separate like the
leafet Of the morning rose, and with one
tremendous effort she screams out at the
top Of her voice:
Jim, if you don't let that pigs tail 60,
man will thrash you like thunder.
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08
Common Sense.

*Who fell in the battle of Corunna, in Spain, 1908
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

ATTORNEY AT LAW, COvINGTON, VA.
TWILL practicein the Countyand CircutCourts
w of Bath Allegheny, Pecahontas, Highland,
and Augusta.
To his aid ciientsin Augusta, he would say that
lie will always be in attendance upon the COUNTY
and UNIrEDSrATEs CoURTs HOLDEN At STANTON.
May 5, 1856-Town papers copy
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

TONS BAR IRON assorted, on hand and for
II sale by TAYLOR, HOGE 4 W.
stadatss, nov. ~. 1sss:-srss esy
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08
t3R. JOHNSTON fNv1GORATfNG
REMEDY FOR ORGANIC WEAK

Bv this great and important remedy, weakness
of the organs are speedily cured and full vigor res
tored Thousands of the most nervous and deolllta-
ted, who had lost all hope, have been immediately
relieved. All impediments to Marriage, Physlca
or Mental disqualification, Nervous Irritability
Tremblings and Weakness. or exhaustion of thu
most fearful kind, are speedily cured.
YOUNG MEN
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08
BALTIMORE LOCK HOSPITAL.
DR. JOHNSTON

TvHE founder of this celebrated Institution, tns
i only regularly Educated Physician aav ,,e "
sing, offers the most certain, speedy anu on'y 81
fectual remedy in the world for
Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08

vXyEbay removed to the rooms formerly occu-
w pied by STAPLES, MARTIN 4 Co., where we
will be happy to see our old customers ana the puo-
1ic generally. TAYLOR, HUE q W.
Staunton, Oct. 2, 1858.