Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-08-04
General News Summary.

ne Dllllsu snip DdnShee, Il prize TO the
United States steamer Niphon, arrived in
Boston on the Sd inst. She was captured off
Wilmington, N. G., Both ult., and was in bal
last. The Banshee cleared at New York for
Matamoras short time since.
The long needed improvement in the steps
at the Boston custom house was commenced
on the 3D.. Other changes are to be made,
which will admit more light to the basement
story, and thus improve it very much The
changes will be completed by the LIST Of No
vember.
Great improvements are making at the
Providence railroad depot in Boston; an ad-
dition is to be erected, which will render it
one of the most convenient depotS in that
city.
William Batchelder, a bugler of the Sth
regiment, was robbed of two hundred dollars
on the passage from Baltimore to Boston by
steamer.
Col. John ID. Campbell, general superin-
tendeTt of the Michigan southern railroad,
died at the Revere House III Boston on the I'd
inst, after brief and severe illness OF milan.
nation of the bowels. He was II native OF
Lebanon, N. H., and was returning from ii
visit to his native state.
MlDDLEsEX COUNTY.
man named Taylor, on the ID inst, fell
through the new bridge now building at the
crossing of the Lowell and Fitchburg road at
SOmervillG, mJurng him severely.
On the LIST inst Il large elm tree, situated at
the east end of the house occupied by the
Misses Hartshurn, i'll the easterly part of
Reading, was struck by lightning and badly
shattered. The fluid passed from the tree to
the house, and tore the adjoining end almost
entirely out. A calf near the tree was killed,
and horse standing near by was Frustrated
by the shock. AT about the same time the
barn OF Mr.. Dana Parker, near the village,
was struck, but sustained slight damage.
ESSEX COUNTY.
harvest mousse The mus mihutus, an ami
NAL rare in England and scarcely ever found
in this country, was caught the other day by
cat at Byfield. 1t is an inch and half long,
exclusive Of the tail, and weighs an eighth of
an ounce, being the smallest quadruped in the
world, Its color is brown On the back and
sides, and white on the belly and inside OF the
legs. The head is very small, with short ears
and large, prominent eyes. The feet are pro-
portiOned like those Of kangaroo, the hind
ones being the longest and strongest, and pos
SeSSing five toes, while the fore ones have but
four. Its nest is made OF grass, in the form
of a ball. being completely closed on every
side. When the mother wishes to perform
maternal duty, she tears open place to get
access to the young hopefuls, closing it up
again when her important mission is ended
As Mrs Susan Lindall, on the 22d ult., was
going to Il neighbours through some woods in
Beverly, bullet whistled past her. On her
return she was accosted by a man who grasped
her by the throat and threw her on the ground,
when she exclaimed, ''For Gods sake don't
kill me-" The man said, 'Damn you. die!"
and pointed a pistol at her head, when Mrs.
I .ipl-lx In nI1nr
took place, succeeded in knocking the weapon
aside, thus saving her life, as the ball passed
through the rim of her hat. The man then
fled. She describes her assailant as being
man some 40 years of age, well dressed, with
large scar on his left cheek.
On the 3lSt ult. a party of four ladies, be-
longing to Salisbury Point, started IN wher'
ry and rowed all the way against the strong
current from that place to Newburyport, in
the short space of two hours. This is a sam
pie of the pluck Of our New England women,
and shows what they can do when the men are
not on hand to assist them.
Since the battle of Gettysburg there has
been confined in the old capitol prison, at
Washington, a man named James Plummer,
well known in Lynn, where he had resided I'M
til about eight years since. He went to Nor
folk, Va, in 1866, and abouta year before the
ization. When Sumter was attacked his
company was called into service for three
months, and was not discharged for year,
and only then to be Immediately conscrpted
for the war. He has been in all the great
battles from Bull Run No. l to Gettysburg,
has had his clothes perforated with bullets,
but never received a wound. At the last
named engagement he seized the first oppor-
tunity to allow himself to be captured, and will
now willingly take the oath of allegiance and
return to his home and friends. When taken
he was barefooted, and only partially clothed
otherwise, and he says his condition is only a
fair sample of at least one-half of the rebel
army of the Potomac. He has wife and
children in Norfolk, and mother and cou-
pie of sisters in Lynn.
DUKES COUNTY.
The camp meeting at Martha's Vineyard
will be held the present year at the old place,
commencing August Is and continuing one
week Rev. Paul Townsend of Providence
will preside.
HAMPDEN COUNTY.
Seven funerals were attended in Springfield
on the Sd inst.
The rain of Wednesday morning of last
week did considerable damage at Palmer De-
pot. The stone dam on the state almshouse
farm went off, and the bridge below, as well
as the dam at Major Morgan's saw mill, were
swept away, the lumber in the mill yard being
carried into his moving lot below, damaging
it to the amount of several hundred dollars.
ton and half of hay belonging to John NJ.
Converse was also swept away.
The U. S. armory at Springfield continues