The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-31

q COW near the Four Mile House, Ned giving him
the two hind quarters as his share.
Parties keeping COWS cannot be too careful OF
them, as if they are allowed to roam in the streets
unnoticed they are Immediately taken in charge
by some vagrant negroes, and the owners seldom
see them again. A number Of COWS have been
butchered in this way, and as the thieves can
easily dispose of the meat, the temptation to
sequester the stray bovines is almost irresistible.
A MONUMENT TO COLONEL THos. NJ. WAGNER
The friends Of Colonel Thos. NJ. Wagner, who
was killed at Fort Moultrie during the war by the
bursting of a gun, have placed a neat monument
over his grave in ST. Michael's Churchyard. 1t is
of pure white marble with a plain base, from which
rises a Huted column, the top Of which, though
broken and jagged, is crowned with a laurel
wreath. The front panel of the base bears in
raised letters the following inscription:
Sacred to the memory
Col. THOMAS NJ. WAGNER.
Died July II, 1862.
Aged 81 years and "a days.
Colonel Wagner was in command of Fort Moul-
tis at the time Of his death and was superintend-
ing the trial of the gun which burst and caused his
death.
ROBBERY CT IRON ON THE SAVANNAH AND
CHARLESTON RAMRoAD.-The officers of the Savan-
nah snd Charleston Railroad have, for some time,
missed quantities Of railroad iron from the Savan-
nah end Of the road. These thefls were so fire.
quant that Mr.. Ryan, the Superintendent, secured
the services Of officers Myers and Gray, of the de-
tectve force, and, in company with Mr.. John
Flynn, went to Savannah to ferret out the robbers.
The ability of the Charleston detectives was at
once made manifest, as they succeeded in recover
ing forty tons OF the iron, and brought With them
one prisoner by a requisition FROM General Candy
on General Pope. In searching for the iron i'll
Savannah only twenty bars were found in one
prominent ~junkshop by the Savannah police, but
thu detectives from Charleston continued the
sarch, and soon found where near four hundred had
ben concealed. The investigations will be con-
.tnued until the thieves are all brought to justice.
NEW YEARS EvE.-The close of the year brings
-Rth it mingled feelings OF gladness and melan-
.noly-gladness in the anticipation Of brighter days
u come, and melancholy in rejecting on the
4hanges that have taken place in the past.
New Years Eve, though not a general holiday,
las certain observances connected with it by
which it has always been distinguished. One of
the most general customs is that Of sitting up I'M
til u o'clock, and opening the door to the new
year. This practice ID common among the colored
class in the South, and their various places Of
worship are opened and religious services held,
the last day Of the year being deemed peculiarly
adapted for pious meditations. In the country
the negroes from the neighboring plantations col
iect on this night at scne stated point, and their
rude melodies are often heard, rising and falling
in musical cadence, until daylight appears. The
week of Christmas holidays closes with New Years
Day, and the Eve is a favorite time among all
classes for social gatherings, when the tlme-hon-
ored "nogg' is prepared, and the birth of another
of Father Times progeny welcomed.
The CHANGE IN TIE WEATHER.-The sunny skies
and warm breezes of the past few days were forci-
BILE reminders of Spring, and caused some to be-
heve that old Winter had departed. The sequel
proves that the old fellow was merely mapping,
and yesterday he convinced al unbelievers OF his
real and actual presence. Instead Of q cloudless
sky and q balmy air, we are now treated to furious
blasts from Boreas, and the sky covered with dull
leaden clouds that weep over the close OF the Old
Year. During a portion OF yesterday it was a diff
cult matter to walk the streets, for the rain and
sleet beat f~uriously in the face, and the wind rem
dered all efforts at umbrella carrying abortive.
The weather wise have predicted snow, and say
that the Old Year will be shrouded Will his wintry
yesture before he breaths his last. The truth OF
this assertion we leave the public to determine.
We are neither a prophet nor the son OF a prophet,
but if sleet is a forerunner Of snow, then the hat
has gone forth, and the snow will eventually fall.
If this should be the case, we eau then say, IN the
beautiful language Of q backwoodsmau, sit blew,
it snew, and it fried, until the Old Year gin clean
out"
THE ALLEGED MURDER ON THE BARK ALExAN-
DER MoNEn.-The sailors who made the charge
against the first and second mates ofthe Mcneil, had
ahea1ing before United States Commissioner Prin-
gle Yesterday. FroIl their statements, it appear
ed that the vessel left Philadelphia on the 18th,
and anchored that same night in the Delaware
River. after several Intellectual attempts to sail
down the stream. The men were ordered by the
first mate to go aloft and reef the sail, and all
obeyed except the deceased, John Toole. The
SallOlS VINO were dlOlI al luS tlmc StabO IAoI ~
first and second mate beat and kicked Too!e about
the deck, and that they could see this by means Of
4 lantern which the mate carried. Toole complain
ed very much of being sick, but said nothing about
the beating, and died the next morning. His
body was thrown overheard, With weights attach
ed to the feet, as is usual in such buriais. Toole
hciled from New York. The captain was in the
cabin, and did not see the Transaction, but the
mates deny beating and abusing the man. They
state that he refused to go aloft, but subsequently
did so, snd died the morning after OF Asiatl(
cholera. He was found on the floor, outside Of
his bunk, and looked as if he had died in a tit. II
became necessary to bury the body, and the usua
p~ractice was adopted. After the testimony was
taken the first and second mates were admitted tt
bail. TO answer the charges preferred against then
by the seamen.
The whole of the evidence was vague and con
Trajectory, and it must not be forgotten that INT
of6ceas, who enjoy 8 favorable reputation ha''
not vet been heard in their own behalf