The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-12-02
Our Own State.

The Hastings Independent says they were
too fast closing navigation at that place.
The ice had gorged just above the city, but
few warm days rendered the gorge but
temporary, and now the passage is open for
boats from st. Louis to St. Paul. But few
boats are running however, the appearance
of the few floating fields of ice being sufi-
cient to frighten steamboat men to more
southern cline. The people of St. Paul
have been led to believe that the fears of
steamboatmen have been enhanced in some
instances by the reports given them in cities
below of the state Of the river above.
The land sales terminated at Chatfeld on
the 10th inst. The Democrat is informed
that but little land has been sold in conse-
quence of the rule that all land bid off at a
public sale must be paid for in cash-there-
fore most persons who are DESTROYS of pur-
chasing any lands thus offered and sold, can
do so in two weeks after the commencement
of the sale, and for which they can pay one
half in Land Warrants and the balance in
cash. Considerable business is anticipated
in the private entry of these lands after the
close of this week.
The Mankato Record states that there
are forty pupils in daily attendance in the
graded school in that town. Messrs. AN,
DREws & Co., announce that they are man.
ufacturiDg whisky at their new distilery.
If people will drink it, we think home
made article, free from poisonous adultera-
ton, is preferable to that at present in use.
Trapping promises to be quite profitable
this season, and an unusual number of per-
sons are engaged at it. Pheasants are re-
ported to be very plenty around Mankato.
The troops ordered to jackson county, after
spending few days in accommodating the
country around Spirit Lake, have returned
to the Fort, no Indians having been seen.
The Wabashaw Herald contains the fol-
lowing sad accident in the town of Bear
Valley:
On Tuesday of last week Mrs. Crump, an
elderly lady, residing with her son in the south
east part of town, went with him to Lake City,
arriving home something past midnight. The
son soon retired. leaving his mother sitting up.
In a short time he was aroused by her cries,
and on arising found that either from being
overcome with sleep, or fit, she had fallen
into the fire, in such position as to burn her
head, neck, and shoulders in shocking man.
ner. She still remains in critical situation,
but hopes are entertained of her ultimate re-
covery.
G. C. HEMPH1LL, of the Chatfeld Demo-
crat, has recovered one hundred dollars of
II. w. HoLLEY, of the Republican, in suit
for libel.
We copy the following particulars of a
dreadful accident in Winona, from the
Republican
On last Thursday afternoon our community
was startled at the report of the burning of
| Mr. Josne's extensive Brewery, at the upper
end of our prairie, in the mouth of Gilmore
| valley. The particulars of this appalling dis.
aster, We obtained from Mr.. Josue himself
! Mr.. j. and his whole family had come to town
on Thurday morning, and returned home, leav
ing his children-boys-in the city. At about
| three o'clock the remainder of the family were
gathered around the table in the upper story,
drinking their coffee while Mr.. j. lay down
upon his bed to take nap. Mrs. j. hearing a
noise below, asked the eldest girl if anybody
was working below stairs. She replied "no."
The mother then smelling the smoke, aroused
Mr.. j., who rushed down stairs, and on open
ing the door, was at once enveloped in flames,
which burned his face and singed his eyebrows
and whiskers. Thinking to obtain the mastery
of the devouring flames, he rushed through
them into the open air, and called loudly to his
x,ifo nd obi1drpn n nv fho ind
| But alas the open door gave free passage to
fire, and the upper rooms were instantly filled
with suffocating smoke. The eldest daughter
succeeded in finding window after some min
utes, and sprang to the ground. Mrs. j. sought
for the two small girls, Adele and Mary. aged
seven and twelve, but they had got bewildered
and could not be found. Self preservation
urged her at last to make her own escape, and
she reached the ground bruised and half suffo-
Gated. The poor husband and father, frantic
with despair, in one short hour beheld his late
happy home in ruins, and of his two darling
children, whom he idoized, nOught was lett
but few charred and tieshless bones.
Mr.. Josne's loss in property he estimates at
$4,000. A large amount of valuable jewelry,
a splendid gallery of rare pictures besides
quite sum of money swelling the loss ma
terially.
The Republican gives the following table
of the opening and closing Of navigation at
Winona for the last four years
1855 opened April 9Th, closed December Sth
1856 = 5th, g November Goth
1857 4" Sd. GO ' Goth
1853 March 18th, g December 9th
1859 4" 18th.
We copy the following items from thu
Rochester Post:
The Boston Company, through their Agent
Mr.. Lindsey, are repairing the damages to tn