davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1868-09-15

anu IuNUlllS ~ olu ny . OhO NU AOHS -
siding within its ancient bounds.
The greater number of the store-houses have
been overlooked, causing the almost total loss
Iof the merchandise and grain contained in them.
The water dashed through the streets dragging
with it furniture, merchandise and all that the
houses contained. The loss will be at least
800, 900 dolls.
The authorities have shewn the most praise
worthy zeal and courage on this occasion.
The most singular feature of this catastrophe
is that it was not preceded by an earthquake
or by a wind.
In Tome the town was likewise inundated,
but the particulars have not yet come to hand.
In Constitution the vessels anchored in the
port We're swept up the river, some of them
being left aground and others sustaining con-
siderable damage.
The West Coast Mail of Valparaiso has re-
.ceived intelligence of the inundatiOn of IaIca-
Ihuana from the officers of the steamer "Guaya-
quill" which was anchored in that port at the
time of the Occurrences. 1t says that on Thurs
Idav, the 18Th inst, at about a quarter to 9
Io'clock, p. M, the weather being fine, the sea
calm, and the night clear and starlight, 1t was
observed that the water was running out so
that in a few minutes a large extent OF
the beach covered, but a few minutes before,
was lying bare. Alarm was Immediately given,
and the inhabitants, apprehensive of an earth
quake, began to make for the hills, shrieking
for m~erry.-About 9 O'Clock the return wave
began to roll in a huge sea some twenty or
more feet deep, which scarcely allowed the
more careless or daring who had remained in
the lower town time to escape before it arrived
at the beach and rising beyond it overfowed
the town to a depth of several feet, reaching as
far as the Plaza. Of the three mOleS formerly
boosted by Talchuruaro, not one has escaped;
the Government mole has most sticks standing
yet, but they consist only of a few of the utter
most series of piles, the rest being carried away,
all the flooring burst off and washed no one
knows whittier. The two moles belonging to
private individuals have been swept away bodl-
ly, 'leaving not a wreck behind" There is
a boat or barge that has not either
been knocked entirely to pieces or seriously
damaged. The first row of houses facing the
beach of course had to bear the brunt OF the
heaviest shock, and as the greater number OF
them consist of slightly built dwellings chiefly
owned or inhabited by poor people, they all
suffered to a greater or less extent. the crash OF
the falling timbers ard roofs adding its din to
the hideous roar of the sea that echoed in the
, 1868-09-15


On Friday morning, the 14th inst, a great
wave, or properly speaking a swell came roll
ing into the Bay of Valparaiso, causing quite
"a commotion among the shipping and driving.
several launches up on to the beach, and as it.
at once receded they were left high and dry.
There must have been an upheaving far out
i'm the ocean to cause it, and we expect to hear.
IOf its effect elsewhere.
The ship 'Westtrn Continent" which sailed.
from New York ii in February | think, and which.
has been expected here for the past threcI
months has finally been heard of at MOntcvideo,'
where she has gone for repairs having been,
greatly damaged in a storm. Her owner was
here awaiting her arrival, and had sold her.
cargo of lumber at a high price. Of course he.
lis a large loser. The vessel and cargo We're
insured for $4,000. and he had sold the cargo.
alone for S45, 600, and the ship for about.
$4,000 more.
We have had a good deal of rain the present
winter, and the country looks pleasant, there isl
every promise of an abundant crop the cOming'
Here is what a correspondent in Talcahuano
communicates respecting the disaster, under
date of the 14th inst.
81 am writing with feelings of the Sharpest
pain. Last night the sea came forth from its
depths destroying all it met with in its path.
entire city has suffered fearful damage.
and scarcely a single house has not been
flooded.
At 10 O'Clock at night a phenomenon was
noticed. The sea had gone back over two
hundred and seventy yards, and this in the.
opinion of those who had witnessed the des-j
~truction in 1885, was the forerunner of an i'm
mediate deluge. In fact, q little before II
O'Clock at night the sea seemed to swell and
rise some three and a half or four metres above
its former level and dashed upon the beach
with an awful roar.
Fortunately for the inhabitants of the port,
who know either by their own experience or by
the traditions handed low by those who saw
the flood Of 1885, that they should not confde
in the usual calmness of the waters of our bay,
they fastened up the hills the first moment the.
sea went out, and, thanks to this foresight, we
have not now to lament the loss of hundreds of
lives. But in spite of this it is known that four
have been drowned, and it will not be
strange should other accidents have happened
which are as yet unknown.
From twelve at night until two in the morn
ling the sea was in great agitation, retEeatingI
, 1868-09-15

Another correspondent writes from the same
Valparaiso, Aug. II, 1865.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-08-26

THE THIMBLE.-The name of this little
instrument is said to have been derived
from :" thumb-bell," being at first thumble
and afterward thimble 1t is of Dutch in
vention, and was brought to Eng land about
the year 1905, by John Lofting, who COM
menced its manufacture at Islington, near
London, and pursued it with great profit
and success. Formerly iron and brass
were used, but latterly steel, silver and
gold have taken their places. In the Or
binary manufacture, thin plates of metal
are introduced into a die, and then punched
into shape. In Paris, gold thimbles are
manufactured to large extent. Thin
sheets of sheet-iron, are cut into dies of
about two inches in diameter. These be-
ing heated red hot, are struck with punch
into a number of holes, gradually increas-
ing in depth to give them proper shape.
The thimble is then trimmed, polished, and
indented around its outer surface with
number of little holes, by means of small
wheel. 1t is then converted into steel by
the cementation process, tempered, secured,
and brought to blue color A thin sheet
of gold is then introduced into the interior
and fastened to the steel by means of
polished steel mandril. Gold leaf is then
applied 10 the outside, and attached to it
by pressure, the edges being fastened in
small groove made to receive them. The
thimble is then ready for use. Those made
in this manner do not wear out, as so many
ordinary gold thimbles do, but will last for
years. The gold coating, if cut away by
needles, may be easily replaced, but the
steel is of an excellent quality and very
durable
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-08-26
Ignorance in EurOpe,

The French statistician Manier has Just
published records, not of the culture, but
rather of the general ignorance of Europe.
No European who examines his figures can
have much to boast Of At this day near
ly three-fourths of the population of Eu-
rope are ignorant of the alphabet. We
should despair of our future were it not for
our vivid faith in the progress of human
ity.
The base in this dreadful pyramid of ig-
norance is represented by seven States,
namely The Papal States. Spain, Portu-
gal, Moldo- Wallachia, Russia, Poland and
Turkey.
In Russia in 900 only can read and
write In Poland 81 per cent. are ignor-
ant of the alphabet. For every scholar
Russia annually spends 90 centimes,
(about six cents,) while for each of her
scholars Switzerland lays out l franc 10
centimes (about "a cents.)
In Spain, IS per cent of the population
are ignorant of the alphabet.
In Greece there is one scholar to every
Is souls.
In Southern Italy 10 per cent. ig-
norant of the alphabet. In Northern Italy
there is one school attendant to every 8
souls.
In the German Provinces of the Aus
trian Empire, of every seven inhabitants,
one scholar attends school, while in Croatia
but one child in five goes to school, and IN
Hungary not even as many.
The three nations in whom the proper
ton of illiterates is under fifty per cent.
are Great Britain, Belgium and France.
England herself is not far advanced in
hundred imprisoned on various charges, it
was discovered that two-ffths were lgnor-
ant of the name of Christ, and three-hfths
of the name of the Queen. Of one hum
dred seamen twentY-nine only could write
their names In Ireland, thirty-four per
cent of males and forty-two per cent. of
/ females were unable to either read or
write.
In Belgium, one-third of the conseripts,
of the age of twenty, can neither or write
At Ghent, forty per cent. were unable
to write their own names in the registry at
their marriage.
In the eighty-nine departments of France
| from thirty In some, to seventy-hve per
cent in others, are ignorant of the alpha
! bet.
The Scandinavian and German nations
are conspicuous for education. There, ut
ter ignorance is exceptional.
In Prussia, in twelve years, the Minis
ter of War only discovered three soldiers
in the Landwher who could neither read
nor write.
In Denmark aad Sweden, one in a thou
sand only, are ignorant of the alphabet
/ In Holland, these illiterates amount to but
three per cent.
/ In Saxony, it is no easy matter to find
man ignorant of his letters. Three years
ago an order OF the day was issued calling
for an army educational return. 1t was
reported that two soldiers only were una
BILE to read, and to spare them public con-
tempt, their names were concealed.
To these terrible figures Monsieur Man
s5 sa5 aded Of dd drSt States dayotsdp h sdpe e
the army, in proportion to that devoted
to education. 1t is as follows:
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-08-26
Gen. Sickles upon the Campaign

Gen. Sickles was serenaded at Saratoga
on Monday night, last week, and in re-
sponse made speech, the closing part Of
which was as follows:
II thank Vallandingham, Wade. Hamp.
ton, Gen. n B. Forrest, and the World
newspaper for the unsolicited aid they are
giving to insure the election of Grant, and
if they will only continue in their present
work, very little will remain for the Re-
publicans to accomplish. Great laughter.
Indeed, l do not see why most of my old
Democratic friends may not follow the
same direction. Grant is for peace, and
the Democrats were for peace all through
the war. Naughter.) Grant is for econ
omy in the political expenditures, and the
Democrats of New York city are certainly
in favor of economy as well as an intelll-
gent suffrage, and an honest ballot. (Great
Iaughter.) Grant is for ameliorated taxa
ton, for amnesty to those who have COM
mitted political offenses, for a speedy re.
turn to specie currency, SO that everybody
may be paid in gold and silver, and for
universal suffrage. If these views are not
now acceptable to the Democratic party, l
remember time when they were accept
able. My friends, let us remember the
sacrifices of the past seven years, made for
union, order and tranquility, and let US SO
act that these shall not have been in vain.
We all desire peace and prosperity, and |
will tell you when we shall have these
blessings. When all sections of the coun-
try, all clases, and all parties accept the
situation; when, throughout the length
and breadth of our country, every law
abiding person, no matter what may be
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-08-26
How Long we might Live.

Professor Faraday adopts Fourin S
physiological theory that the natural age
of man is one hundred years. The du-
ration of life he believes to be measured
by the time of growth. When once the
bones and eiyphysus are united, the body
grows no more, and at twenty years this
union is effected in man. In the camel it
takes place at eight; in the horse at FIVE !;
in the rabbit at one. The natural termin-
alton of life is five removes from these
several points. Man, being twenty years
in growing, lives five times twenty years,
that is, one hundred; the camel is eight
years in growing, and lives five times
eight years, that is to say, forty years !;
the horse is five years in growing, and he
lives twenty-five years; and so with other
animals. The man who does not die of
sickness lives everywhere from eighty to
one hundred years. Providence has given
to man century of life, but he does not
attain it because he inherits disease, eats
unwhole.,>.-.~ r~~d, si,Uo Iroense 10 pas
sions, and permits vexations to disturb his
healthy equipoise. He does not die; he
kills himself. The learned professor di-
vides life into equal halves, growth and
decline, and these halves into infancy,
youth, virility, and age. Infancy extends
to the twentieth year; youth to the fif-
tieth, because it is during this period that
the tissues become firm virility from fifty
to seventy-6ve during which the organism
remains complete, and at seventy-fve old
age commences, to last longer or shorter
time, as the diminution of reserved forces
is hast ened or retarded
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-08-26

to an Indictment for any wilful and corrupt
perjury he may commit but, since Bush
ellis time, complete safeguard has been
brown around those who "a true verdict
give according to the evidence :.
" If jury cannot agree upon verdict,
it must ultimately be discharged; for, in
criminal cases, at least, the whole twelve
must be unanimous, as they must also be
in civil causes, unless both sides agree to
take the verdict of the majority. 1t is in
the power, though scarcely in the discretion
of the Judge, to punishH jury for not agree
ing by ordering them to be locked up
in room without fire, or food or bedding,
till such time as they do agree. Formerly,
this used to be done, and
Prisoners hanged that jurymen might dine
The Judge of assize used also to have the
power, if jury on circuit proved untracta-
bic, to take them with him in a rough cart,
with springs, to each remaining town on the
circuit; and if, by the time he reached the
last place, they had not agreed, to shoot
them out of the cart into a convenient ditch,
and there leave them"
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-08-26

TYRoLEAN SINGERs-We went into the
Kursaal to hear a special concert from a
choir of Tyrolean singers. They were peas
ants refined by travelling; three men and two
women; all stout, mountain-grown persons
broad in the shoulders, erect and vigorous
in the extreme Their voices were truly
national and characteristic, as if formed to
drown cataracts, out-distance dividing
valleys, and reach from lower to upper pas
lures. The women possessed a quantity
and quality of voice such as L never heard
proceed from female lungs before. With
as much body as any masculine voices, they
were clear as bells and capable of shril!-
ness that pierced your marrow. The
contralto might have beat Alboni at her best
in prefundity. Their songs were all Tyro-
lean, and they gave us every variety of the
iodel. The either, a sort of vio-
lin without hollow body was very skill
fully played by one of the company. 1t
has great plaintive power, but little body
sound. An instrument made of bits of
resonant wood, with tones like the babbling
of water over stones, was very pleasantly
beaten with two little,mallets in waltz-time,
and made curious variety in the concert.
The natural unpretending, yet self-pos-
sessd manner and bearing of these sing
ers was thoroughly prepossessing."
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-08-26
The New Tax Bill.

There is much inquiry for the action of
Congress at its recent session in reference to
the Internal Tax laws. We have received a
copy, covering some sixty closely printed
pages, and give below abstract of those
sections of the new law of particular general
and local Importance
Sec 45 Distillers, rectifers and whole
sale liquor dealers, mixers of liquors, to
keep books of daily purchases and sales,
names of parties from whom bought and to
whom sold, with all details of proof, packa-
ges, works, numbers, &c. Penalties denoun-
ced-
Sec. 46. Receipts of spirits in less than
20 gallon packages withheld from any but
authorized dealers, rectifiers, &c. Penalties
denounced.
Sec AZ. Reinspection of spirits On change
of packages in not less than ten gallons alb
sence of marks evidence of fraud
Sec 48. Imitation wines sparkling wines
and mixed liquors, liable to So per dozen
quarts, and So per dozen pints, or at those
rates in whatever package put up. Spark
ling wines made from native grapes, exempt.
Returns to be made semi-monthly, without
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-08-26
A NASHVILLE ENTHUSIASTICALLY

a NASHVILLE REMINISCENCE.-Ihe
Nashville Banner says:
Tennessee, before the invention of
railroads and telegraphs, abounded in in
cldents and "reminiscences of public men
which, while often amusing, are full of
instruction and dpropoS of current events.
Long ago, it is related, that there lived in
Nashville two highly respected men, each
characterized by eccentricities that marked
them as opposite in social habits The
one, an old bachelor and long time
treasurer of the state, boarded at the old
Nashville Inn, where he was at all times
approachable by his acquaintance high
and low, rich and poor, with whom he
freely interchanged ideas The other, once
a minister to Russia, refined and elegant,
bland and polite, who lived in his eyrie
upon what is now Capitol Hill, in his old
age might been seen daily, when the sky
was fair, slowly and dignifedly riding
through the streets upon his sleek, fat
pony, and ever and anon meeting an ac-
quaintance, he would rein up his pony at
right angles to the pavement, and politely
inquire the news, in regard to which he
seemed sadly beh ind Sometimes he might
UO ooOH upoh Vic uDliC SQUARE anu Hill
way of College, Market or Front street,
hat off, for half an hour straining his
eyes looking up the thoroughfare appar-
emily absorbed in thought In making the
circuit of the Public Square he invariably
called before the door of his friend, the
eccentric old bachelor, and, sitting upon his
pony, politely and blandly inquire the
news.
This eccentricity was indulged in for a
great length of time; yet the persistent
and polite old Judge had got so far behind
the times that his friend became impatient
under the frequent calls to give instruction
iu regard to the current events transpiring
in this then-aspiring village; and fnally y
in manner peculiarly his own, in reply
ing to the Judges inquiry after the news
of the day, said: Curse it, Judge c., l
won't tell you! If you will get down off
that pony and walk around among the
people you will know as much as L do !;
and they won't believe you are fool, when
1 know you have plenty of sense if you
will only make the right use of it."
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-08-26

with nothing to support US but water;
The earth around the spring is beautiful
white sand of very fine grain, giving way
readily at the touch of the foot, but imme-
diately reforming as before. The walls
of the well are perfectly symmetrical, as
if dug by the hands of man. As low
down as we could reach with our foot, we
could kick hole in the wall, and as soon
as the foot was removed the wall would
Immediately reform as before. The tenn
perature is delightful, and the waters are
invaluable, especially for diseases of the
skin and blood. The spring constantly
makes low, rumbling noise, from which
it derives its name.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-08-26

A GREAT CURIOSITY. The editor of a
Georgia paper gives the following account
of the famous laundering spring located
about twelve miles from Thomaston. He
says; We expected to find a curiosity, but
we were completely amazed to find so re-
markable freak of nature as this spring.
1t is located in the widest part of the
mountain extending through the country,
and there in the solitude of the mountains
occurs a most remarkable phenomenon.
The dimensions Of the spring proper are
about five feet in diameter and of unknown
depth, for experimenters have sounded its
depths in vain. The water boils up with
great force, bubbles of gas constantly rise
mp through the water and explode at the
surface. The gas is highly combustible,
and is set on fire as it escapes. Such is
the force with which the water rises that
a human body cannot sink. but is buoyed
up in a standing position. 1t is famoss
bathing place; and We took the first oppor-
tunity to plunge into this bottomless well.
There we could stand upright for hours,
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-08-26

Law CASE DOWN SoUTH.-Two or three
freedmen caught dark-colored butler on
their premises, near Marion, not long since,
stealing melons, and having arrested him.
carried him before Lewis Tarrant, another
freedman, for trial. Lewis asked if the but
Ter had any means" but being answered
in the negative, gravely informed the pros
ecutors that, as imprisonment would
amount to nothing beyond an expense to the
State, it would be better to give the lover
of melons thirty-nine lashes and turn him
loose But" sal d he, don't strike him
on the clothes, for that would give him a
right to sue you for damages-put it to
him on the bare back" And Z" put it to
him on the bare back they did-dress-
ing his hide with thirty-nine singing
lashes. Who presumes to doubt the intel
Hgence and sagacity of eolored gentlemen
after this.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-08-26
What We have to Expect.

General Blair is represented to have
said, in Leavenworth, that Gen. Grant Is
great thinker g the greatest man Of
the age" worth more than Sherman
Sheridan and Thomas together" and :" a
greater man than Cromwell and the first
Napoleon put together" To fortify these
assertions, General Blair added that he
knew Grant not only during the war, but
RRo6d RGSd into tbe en9y yF city O ST. L6a L6a Hsed to haul
This testimony of the democratic candi,
date for the Nice-P Presidency, ought to put
stop to the assertions of the democratic
journals that Grant has no brains.
Mr.. Blair added, if Grant is elected,
he will set up monarchy and establish
himself Emperor" As it is we'll known
that Starr 4 Marcus are now manufactur-
ing. an imperial crown, Ball, Black & Co.
Il most gorgeous sceptre, and Tiffany &
Co. have received orders for other crown
jewels, Mr.. Blair's revelation will not sur
prise any one. But we are enabled TO con-
tradict Mr.. Blair upon one point. So far
from " sweeping away ike straw" such
men as Wilson, Sumner and Washburne,
Grant will elevate them to high dignities
MI oululleT Is 10 De OrdUu LUXE Ol dos
ton, Mr.. Washburne will be made Prince
of the Prairies and as for Mr.. Wilson, he
will have a principality in some of the
Southern states, where his well-known fe-
rocity can be exercised at will upon the
southern whites.
If General Blair had not been such a
devoted friend of liberty he might, doubt
less, have had title also; but it is too
late now. When Grant is elected and
crowned, he will at once seize Seymour and
Blair-if he can catch them-and cause
them to be beheaded. 1t is to escape that
fate that the shrew Blair is travelling
westward. Few people suspect it, but he
is in reality making his way to China.