The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-11-02

OF all the rumors OF incredible atroci
ties, OF foolish outrage, of those worst Act
of eowardice that are born of cruelty, an,
of barbarsm that just stops short Of can
nibalism, to which the expedition of Johl
Brown into Virginia two years ago CAV,
rise, the story that the skin of his sol
was taken from his body and tanned
seemed the most unnatural and improba
I BILE, and was therefore received With tn,
! least attention, Notwithstanding It's posi-
tice assertion. Are not these the Unitce
States, land of common schools ant
churches, and is not this the Nineteenth
. Century of the Christian era was the
instructive response which We all made tx
a statement so revolving TO the spirit anc
culture of our time, our country and oul
race. But read this letter from a General
In the L. s. Army, now serving III Vir
ginia, to a friend living in this city--s
witness on this point as impartial as he is
| distinguished.
Camp ut ----, Va, Oct. S, '61.-To
show the refinement of Virginia gentlemen,
inclose to my friend, Rev. b. N. Mar
tin, Professor, New York University, q
piece of the skin of the thigh tanned by
those gentlemen) of the son of John Brown,
who was killed at Harper's Ferry.
"This is fragment of the skin which,
thus prepared, was distributed in pieces
over the Southern country, and was pre-
sented to my present Aid in Richmond
last April by a Capt. Sommers of the Con-
federate States army, and friend of the
doctor who has the skeleton, and who
fayed and tanned the skin.
"My Aid informs me that every psepa-
ration was made to treat the remains OF
John Brown in the same way, BY having
them thrown from the car before reaching
Baltimore, and substituting false coffin,
but that the plan was frustrated by the
sickness or finching of the railroad con-
ductor. -, Brig. Gen"
Professor Martin has shown us this bit
Of the human remains prepared by some
skillful taxidermist in Virginia. 1t is a
minute portion only, for though there
are many superficial inches Of cuticle Oh
| the body of man Of ordinary size, the
number of persons in Virginia who covet-
ed bit of SO precious a relic was very
many. A ruder barbarism carries the
scalp ola slain enemy at the girdle, makes
drinking cup of his whitened skull or
strings the teeth and finger bones into an
engaging necklace; but j ohm Brown, ire,
was not the prize Of the bow and the spear
of any single warrior a whole common
wealth claimed him as its own. Mere
savages, If they use the human tissue of
the slaughtered foe at all, can only eat
ia wasteful use of such precious ma
terial Science enables them in Virgins
TO refine upon this barbaric extravagance
Learned professors, skillful in the arts,
lend their knowledge TO the public service
and feed the patriotism OF the State with
bits of epidermis, imperishably prepared
Of the dead, to be worn as amuets and
mementos to keep ever green the mem,
DRY of sweet revenge, and the duty OF q
citizen to a Christian State They MAY
laugh in Virginia at the untutor9d ignor
ance of the savage who can only rattle The
! dried scalps and bones Of those he ha,
slaughtered, while they point TO the curl
ously tanned skin Of their dead enemy al
the evidence Of the march Of civilization
! and refinement in that ancient and prouC
: Commonwealth New York Tribune
Coon FOR DUBUQuER -Perhap
many Of our readers will remember gen
tleman named Livingstone who mounted
rifed cannon, and made working mode
/, at Rouse Il Williams foundry last winter
Livingstone took his cannon To Washing
ton, obtained patent, and made fou
pound gun. Upon the trial in the pres
ence of the military authorities he hit
target at three miles distance within fe,
: inches of the center. The ball went thrc
+ the target and mile farther. 1t wa
/ thought with 80 FOUNDER he could thro,
: ball FIVE OF six miles with accuracy
: Gen. Mcclellan was not present.
Livingstone was offered 500, 900 70
S the patent, and the Russian Minister as
: sured him that he could realize $4,000
: if he would take his gun to Russia.
: The fortunate inventor started for HON
here in Dubuque, when a dispatch iron
: Gen Mcclellan overlook him at Pittsbur
e recalling him, and offering him the posi-
D ton Of Master of Ordnance in his army
He accepted the appointment, and has en-
\ tered upon the discharge Of his Duties
dubuque Times.
About Eren onl,s Removal.
J Rev. Mr.. Eliot, Unitarian minister {
st. Louis. passed through this city, yes
terday, on bis return home. He went
: Washington not long since for the expires