davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04
The stonewaH EEorror--NFatters
Worse than First Reported.

The full and terrible details of the burning
the Mississippi river, last week, of the steam
boat Stonewall, reveal even a more horrible
tale than did the previous account by telegraph.
1t Is now known that when the fire broke ont it
could have been extinguished by single bnc-
ketful of water, but there was not bucket on
the boat, and by the time the hose was brought
into service the flames had gained such head
way that the effect of the small stream of water
was to feed rather than suppress them. Then,
too, there was a lack Of boats and. but for
the timely advent of a skiff, it is doubtful
whether any of the passengers would hav e been
left to tell the tale, except, perhaps, g few who
might have been able to swim to shore despite
tfe crowds of human beings, horses aod mules
which filled the We ter.s
The wreck was still burning on Saturday.
None of the cargo in the hold WAS injured. but
it fast disappearing among the thieves.
Several persons were picked up alive further
down the river that day. The number OF
dead bodies recovered at last accounts is put
down at g.
1t is stated that while several men from the
burning steamer we're struggling for possession
of bale of hay in the river, one killed another
with knife. All of them are supposed to.have
been lost.
By acts of Congress- a passenger steamer
cannot be licensed or enrolled unless the local
steamboat inspector of the district is satisfied
that she is fully equipped with life-boats, life
preservers, axes, buckets, etc. If the Stone
wall was properly equipped, where were the
boats and life preservers when she was burning
II she was not so equipped, who licensed herf
These are significant questions, and they de-
mand answers. Further it is interesting to
learn the standard of captainship in 6 passenger
steamboat when open lights are allowed in any
other part of a vessel than the cabin.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04

venience and to help your denomination
and silence the calumnies of nen who were
your enemies. AS an instance Of your feel
ings towards whom weuld recall to you
your course in reference to Mr.. Kemhle.
whom you told me you suspected of being
defaulter, and by your express direction had
me send you twice an accountant from the
city to verify yonr supposed discovery Of his
delinquencies, and against whom you said
should proceed as soon as you were re-elect-
ed.
Now you write TO me demanding my res
igEaton and assign no cause, but leave me
open to imputations, to which ! will not sub
nit. l will not permit you. at the instance
of class you denounced to me as corrupt
factionists, and ono Of whom you Instructed
me to prosecute, and after you have answer
ed::your own convenience and received my
help, thus to evict me from a place l never
SOUGHT and which you solicited me to accept.
and which have held with due respect to
my public duty and my own honor.
After this course of duplieity or vacilla-
ton, to me it is Indifferent which, serve with
you1 caunot and will not. and you may
hold my Office vacant, and fill it with whom
soever will be base and mean enough to run
the risk Of like treatment, or receive it as
the price of some dishonorable bargain.
am, sir, etc.,
[-' BENJAMIN HARRIS BREWSTER. Z
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04
The Virginia senator's.

The Legislature of Virginia, in pursuance
elected two gentlemen TO represent the
Mother of States and Of Statesmen" In the
Senate Of the United States. What manner
Of men they have been and are will be readi-
ly understood from the following telsgraphic
dispatch: sH
yesterday John F. Lewis, of Rocking
ineham county, and John w. johnson, OF
Washington county, were chosen as United
States Senators from Virginia. Mr.. Lewis
was q Union man through the war, and as
the candidate OF the Walker party for Lieu
tenant Governor, he led his ticket by over
two thousand votes. John w. johnson is
. native of Virginia, nephew of Joseph
Z. johnson. q lawyer BY profession, Union
man through the war, and was appointed
Judge of the Washington Circuit Court by
General Candy. Both these gentlemen are
closely identified with the welfare Of the
State they are called upon to represent. and
will make able, honest and conscientious
Senators" H -..- a
These gentlemen are both conservatives
Aad were both sound Union men during the
war. That the Legislature of Virginia had
full and perfect right to elect them, and
that they would be permitted to take their
Ssats In the Senate, would seem to be plain
proposition. 1t Is, however. now given out
by Radical dispatches from Washington that
Mr.. johnson Is ineligible, for the reason that
what are called his political disabilities"
have not been removed by special act OF
Congress. That simply means that he is not
Radical, If he was, then there would not
exist any political disabilities" to be re-
moved at the pleasure Of partisan Congress.
DIR. Sharpe, who is brother. in-law Of the
Second Washington and who now holds
the Office Of Marshal OF the District of Co
lumbia, was a candidate against Mr.. john
son. If Sharpe had been made Senator
does any sane man dream that this absurd
question about political disabilities" would
ever have been suggested z General Canby,
the Military Governor of Virginia, appoint
ed this same Mr.. johnson to q judgship in
that State. Candy knew him and all his
antecedents. What then becomes Of all this
ridiculous trash about his disabilities 2 If
johnson 10 ruled out of the Senate on any
such fimsy pretext, 1t will afford another
conclusive instance of the utter insincerity
OF she Radical leaders for perfect restora-
tien Of good feeling between the North and
the South.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04
ceary and the attorney General

II there ever was any evidence wanted of
the character of John W. Geary for dupli-
city. As we'll as his aptitude for the lowest
arts Of the political demagogue. he has him
self incontestabIy supplied it. as will abun-
dantly be seen from the letter of Benjamin
Harris Brewster, the late Attorney-General
Of the State, published with the rest of this
remarkable correspondence in another por-
tion Of our paper. 1t is difficult to say. in
view Of all the facts. whether the Radical
party, by re-electing Geary, incurred more
signal disgrace than did the Democratic
party in permitting the outrage to be per-
pstrated. The Democracy had it clearly in
their own power to prevent such a humilia-
ting result, and ought to be held responsible
before the honest taxpayers of the State for
not having done SO. The victory was in
their own hands, but for reasons not neces-
sary or profitable in political point of view
now to discuss, or even refer to, it permitted
Il 10 be wrested from its legitimate grasp.
That John w. Geary. in the strong but
Just language of one of his own organs, th .
Philadelphia Post, "begins his second term
d5Aonercd man. !" is proven by bis own At
torney-General. as well as by Morrow B.
Lowry, Radical State Senator from the
Erie district, and who Is himself the warm
personal and political friend of John w.
Geary. 1t Ii foul and blasting dishonor,
shat this ancient and honored Common
wealth should be thus disgraced in the per-
son Of her chief executive. Ouch a sorrow
ful spectacle of official treachsry and dissim-
ulation Is unparalleled in the political his
tory Of the State, ard ought to bring the
blush Of shame TO the cheek of every man
who from honest, but mistaken, notions cast
his ballot for John w. Geary.
What man of any party will dare insinu-
ate that Francis r. Skunk, William F.
johnson, William Bigler, or Andrew G..
Curtin, would ever have "stooped so lOso to
conquer" or that either one of them would
have 80 outraged all political decency and
90 basely prostituted his personal and official
honor. To us and to the people of Cambria
county, who know'and understand the char
acter Of Geary, and especially to the Cam
bria county uolunteers who served under
him In the Mexican war. and who fully and
accurately comprehend and appreciate his
entire character. in all its sinuositiss, his
base and per6dious treatment of Benjamin
II. Brewster, who was his warm personal
and political friend. does not create the least
surprise. Unmitigated lying and false rep
resentations by public officer, epsn by a
GOUernor, are not recognized by the laws of
this Commonwealth as an impeachable Of
fence. Nor is the sin of ingratituds punish
ed With any legal penalty. Old King Lear's
daughters proved false and ungrateful to
hin. jsSt as Geary did to Brewster. The
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04

THR elections in New York, Maryland,
Massachusetts,. Illinois, New Jersey. Ala
bamG and Wisconsin, which we're hold on
Tuesday of this week, passed off without
much Of a contest in either of the States,
and the vote N all of them is reported to
have been comparatively light. In New
York Nelson, DEM, has been elected Secrs-
tary of State, leading Gen. Sigel, Rep, by
from 10000 to $4,000. The Democratic
majority for Comptroller of the State Trea-
sury in Maryland is put down at $4,000,
and there is little doubt about it reaching
those figures. In Massachusetts, the radical
candidate for Governor has been elected by
greatly reduced majority, as compared with
the vote Of 1867, while the legislature, al
though strongly Republican, Is claimed by
both the license men and prohibitionists:
with the probabilities In favor of the former.
Alabama has doubtless declared for the De-
mocracy. but the majority, like the vote
east, will probably be small. In Illinois an
election was held for members to q Conven-
tion to amend the State Constitution. We
have only seen the returns from Chicago, In
which the citizens ticket, composed of three
democrats and four radicals, was elected by
5000 majority. The Radical candidates for
the State Senate and House of Representa-
tives in New Jersey are reported as general
ly successful. while in Wisconsin the Rad
cal State ticket is elected by greatly re-
duced majority.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04
Il BEEJAM1N HARaIs BREWSTER.
ERIE, August 18, 1869.

His Ercelency GoUernor Ged7y:
DEAR SIR More than a month ago,
was informed that Brewster was to be sacri-
feed to appease Mcclure and Mann. on &C
count of an old score, Cameron, on account
Of a new one. and Covode: because Brewster
had decided against his right to q seat in
Congress in the Foster contest. ass-...s..
could not believe that you would consent
to the sacrifice of so pure and devoted a
friend at the instance Of such combination.
wrote to you, and you replied that there
was nothing whatever in the report. Jua
Before l received the letter, however.
met you in Harrisburg, and you contemptu-
ously secuted at and scorned the idea of ask
ing Mr.. Brewster's resignation.
Judge of my surprise this morning upon
reading, in the Observer. Mr.. ,Covode'' s letter
of July so, to Mr. Brewster. i9.-
Ia my humble judgment, grave error
has been committed.
Mr.. Brewster's integrity and ability are
elements too valuable to your, administration
to be thus treated. Still, if from auy cause
or from any purpose. you wanted his resig-
nation, it should have been asked for by g
different man, and in an altogether different
way.
] do not know how Mr.. Brewster may feel
in regard to treatment that cannot be con-
sidered anything short of infamous and
yet, his treatment has not been SO cruel a
my own. if you authorized Mr.. Covode tc
write such letter, which l do not believe
you could have done till have better evi
dence than newspaper article.
Very respectfully yours.
NJ. B. Lowry.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04


PROFESSOR JAMES, State Geologist, has
given an opinion concerning the wonder dis
covered at Cordiff, Onandaga county. He
writes:
There can be but one opinion about it.
think it is a statue cut in gypsum aid In
tended to represent human form of colossal
size in recumbent posture. As to its
source or origin I cannot conjecture. 1t
Is worn and dissolved by water in degree
that indicates long inhumation, and it was
covered by an alluvial deposit of three feet
or more in depth. The sculpture is of a
high order and very different from those Of
Central America.
So the mystery is deeper than ever. Who
produced this sculpture of high order." Is
a question for the curious. and may bear di-
rectly on the other question; what race pre-
ceded the present one on this continent?
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04

difference between Goneril and Regan, the
daughters of King Lear, and John w. Geary,
is, that the act Of the former was .flial in
gratitu de, while that of John w. Geary was
and is personal and political treachery as
we'll as ingrdtitude.
How sharper than 4 serpent's tooth it is
To have thankless child.
We will not pursue this disgusting subject
any further, but will leave our readers to
Judge for themselves whether or not our re-
marks are justified by the facts as they are
detailed in the correspondence, published
elsewhere in eur paper.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04
OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL.
PHII IlDKTPHTA Oct % 1880


To General John ~. Gedry, Gorernor Of
Pennsylvania:
Sir Yesterday Mr.. Harmer handed to
me your letter of the 21st of October. 1t
requires my resignation 'immediately and
without delay" and assigns no cause for
the request, It is a peremtory demand most
unusual among gentlemen, and uncalled for
in this particular case.
After my receipt in July last of the letter
OF MIR. Covode, made public in the columns
Of the daily press, in which he requested my
resignation, and assumed TO do so by your
authority. you sent special message to me
by Mr.. Lewis VAIN Smith, Deputy Attor-
ney General, desiring mo not to regard his
letter, and assuring me that it was unauthor-
lied. Notwithstanding that, felt sense
of wrong in your silence and neglect to max 9
public disclaimer of that letter, vet sub
mitted quietly for the sake of the party and
It's cause, knowing well that any agitation
of the subject on my part would involve you
and peril your election. This you applaud
ed at Cory fortnight ago. when, of your
own accord, you came to see me, and when
we last saw each other. and then YOU ex
pressly said to me and Mr.. Lowry, and, |
believe to General Kane, that our relations
were unchanged to me you said that all of
AAO dCIiOb Vi HAT SOVOuS, IN b0e letter before
mentioned, and in telegram sent by him
to me, and which I exhibited to you, was
unauthorized, and you then in severe terms
condemned his conduct as brutal, and merit
ing punishment. You wished me to wait
until after the election. when might deal
With these, men who had put an affront on
me. You then thanked me for the service
had rendered, and repeated your personal
and official confidence in me and left me.
making arrangements with me for an impor-
tant official duty to be performed with you.
To MIR: Cummings, who went to you, espe-
clally deputed me to confer with you on the
subject about three weeks ago, you expressly
iterated and reiterated your confidence in
me, saying that you had no cause of COM
plant. and no wish to remove me or have
me resign. The offer of my resignation. re-
ferred to in your letter, was frequently made
by me. and others for me. and was always
refused by you as hurtful to your prospects.
1t was made from motives of peraOnai con,
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04
"oNwARDl RIGnr ONWARD
Into the Valley of Death,
Rode tho civ hpudrad -

1NOu6 LHG uuuUTCU. :
But larger by hundreds multiplied into millions
than the doomed band in Tennyson's poem, is
the great cayalcade riding to swift destruction,
and huggipg the miseries of death on the way,
by suffering wilfully from that scourge, Fever
and Ague, or Chills and Fever, and other kin
dred diseases, when by using MISHLER'S
HERB BITTERS their disease can be effec-
tually conquered. This complaint is common
and dangerous. and untold thousands are ex-
posed to it. MISHLER'S HERB BITT ERS
is certain cure for it aud an equally powerful
PREVENTATIVE. If used regularly "a q tonic il
will ward off this and other diseases. Use it in
time-delays are dangerous. Sold by all drug
gists. Price one dollar per bottle.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04

The Louisville Courier Journal pronoun-
ces the Stonewall horror on the Mississippi
"the result of criminal carelessness. :" In
the first place, the boat was loaded in q: oss
violation of the law. In the next place, the
FIRE was communicated by gamblers on
board. Then there was but one yawi, and
in other respects not the usual or required
provision for safety. Says the Courier Jour
mat: "This is an occurrence which cannot
be attributed to mysterious Providence.
There can be no doubt that it was wholly
human affair, and it is peculiarly one of
those occurrences in which it cannot be said
that there is nobody to blame Somebody
must answer for this terrible crime some.
has swept over two hundred souls into eter-
nifty with little more than moments warn
mig" uc
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04
THE GEARY-BREWSTER SCANDAL.
Infamous Conduct Of q TFeach-
erOus Governor.
LErTERs OF JOHN covoDE, II. B. LOWRY,
BENJAMIN HARRIS BREWSTER,
l. VAIN SMITR, ETC.

The following correspondence win throw
some light on the conduct of Gov. GeBry in
the displacement of Attorney General B. h.
Brewster in the appointment to that Office
of +. Carroll Brewster:
FHILA eELPHIA, July. 80, 1863.
Hon. B. H.. Brswster: E-
DEAR SIR After full and free consul
tation with our political associates. who are
anxious to secure the election of our mutual
friend, we have come to the conclusion that
your resignation as AttorneyGeneral would
go long ways to strengthen him and add
to the prospects Of election. ] write thus
freely because Tknow that you, ike myself,
have only the good OF our party at stake.
This position has not been taken hastily, or
without the approval of the Governor, who
authorizes me to write this letter.
Truly yours, JOHN CovoDE,
Chairman State Central Committee.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER.
HARR1sBURa, PA. Oct. 2l, 1869.

HARRISBURG, PA. Oct. q, 1869.
Hon. Beryamin Harris Bre,cster, Attorney
General:
DEAR SIR:-You have on several occa-
sions told me that whenever | might deem
it to my interest or to the welfare of the
Commonwealth, you would at once relin-
quish the Office of Attorney GeneraP' into
my hands. That time has now arrived,
and I, therefore, respectfully and earnestly
request that you Immediately tender to me
your resignation. to take effect without de-
lay. Your compliance will much oblige.
Yours, ETC., JOHN w. GEARY.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04

NEWS NoTINGs.-It lie said that seventy
men control the thirty thousand miners in
this State.--Kate Murphy, the champion
jumpist, turns out to be a MANA train
on the Erie railroad, laden with petroleum,
cotton and tobacco, caught FIRE on Monday
morning last, and six freight and eight oil
cars. with all their contents, were totally
destroyed, and brakeman named James
Rourke, of Lackawaxen, Pa. was literally
roasted to death.-Ex-P President Johnson's
friends still hope to make him the Senator
from Tennessee.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04
edI joHN w. GEARr. Governor,
PHILADELPHIA. Oct. 25. 1869.

To His Ercellency John ~ Geary, GoUerno !;
SIR Your favor of the 23d inst, tender
ing to me the position of Attorney General
of this Commonwealth, has been duly re-
ceived. ug
I accept the appointment with many
thanks for the honor conferred upon me and
foT the courteous terms in which you have
been pleased to tender it. 1t shall be my
earnest effort to discharge the duties of the
Office to the utmost of my ability.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04
629 WALNur STREET.

PHILADELPHIA. October %, 1869.
To Le,cis Vain Smith. Deputy attorney
General, Comn,onaVH Of Pennsglrania
DEAR SIR Personal reasons, of which
/ spoke to you some time since, combined
with occurrences of recent date. induce me
to tender you my resignation as Deputy At
tornsy-General, to take effect on the 1st
proximo, or as much sooner as my successor
may be appointed. l am sir, with great re-
spect and affection, yours truly,
LEWIS VAIN SMITH.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04

GEoRek BuLLARD, a fireman on the Pennsyl-
vania railroad. jumped from his engine near
Lancaster, on Thursday morning last and was
knocked down and killed by train moving in
an opposite direction.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04
Very respectfully yours,
[Signed1

ISignedI Z. UARROL BREWSTER.
Yesterday morning, the new appoiEtee de-
parted for Harrisburg, to consult with the
Governor. To fill the vacancy on the Bench
made by this appointment, the Governor
has selected Edward NJ. Paxson, Esq. Time
will probably throw some light upon the
motives which governed Mr.. Geary in ma
king this change.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04
ltBy Telegraph

FHILADELPHIA, sept. 70, 1903.
To Attorney General BreaUster:
The Committee do not deem it safe to make
any appointments for you with General
Geary you will drive away several thou
sand votes from him, and we cannot have
anything TO do with move that can only
result in damage. Answer.
JOHN CovoDE, Chairman.
Received at Franklin, Pa.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04
Loxe BRAsoH, Jnly 81. 1850.

TT =. = LONG BRANCH, JnIy 81, ,-I669.
To the Hon. Joha, Corode, Chairman of the
4 State Central Committee, PhiLad'a, Pa:
SIR 81 have your letter of July 30th. f.
1869. decline to resign the Office of Attor-
y>General at your request, or at the in-
stance of, or on the decision of persons who
are unnamed to me. i
Ny course as Attorney General has not
been open to any criticism that merits such
a request, and i will not submit to consent
to an indignity that has been contrived by
men that are hostile to me because have
served the party and the Governor with a
fidelity that has frustrated their hostility to
him and exposed their evil purposes. 3..r
I am, etc, DIS - @ ai- t,s
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04

On the 22d day Of Oct. 1869. on my re-
turn from Harrisburg called on Mr.. Ben
jamin Harris Brewster, and he showed me a
letter he had just received from Governor
Gsary, asking his resignation. He then
drafted reply. ard on the 23d CSaturday).
he gave 1t to me with directions to takeit 10
Harrisburg and hand 1t to Governor Geary.
was too much indisposed to take the jour
ney that day, and with his consent tele-
graphed to Governor Goary that held the
letter in reply, and would deliver it on Mon
day. LEWIS WALN SMITH.
Monday, October %, 1869.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04
BESJAM1N HARRIS BREWSTER.
ExEour1vK CHAMnER.
HARRISBURG, Pa, Oct. %. 1869. I

HARRISBURG. Pa, Oct. %. 1869. I
Aom. Bayamia Harris Breacster, Philadel-
PhiG:
SIR Having failed to receive prompt
reply to my communication on the 21st inst,
| have the honor to inform you that l have
this day appointed Hon. F. Carol Brewster,
Attorney General of the Commonwealth OF
Pennsylvania, vice Benjamin Harris Brsws-
ter.
Hon. F. Carol Brewster will at once as
sumo the duties of his office,
Yours, etc., JOHN w. GEART.
Governor of Pennsylvania.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-04
EXECUTIVE CHAnBrR. HAnRrsbUne. Pa. J

October %, 1866
Hon. F. Carol Brc,cster, Phild., Pa:
SIR Placing the highest confidence in
your friendship, ability and integrity as a
man and as lawyer, have the honor to
tender to you the position of Attorney-Gen-
eral of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
vice Hon. Benjamin II. Brewster.
Should you determine to accept, l desire
that you do so without delay. and notify me
both by telegram and letter, and at once re-
sumo the duties of your Office.
Very Respectfully, as4r1 ,.e
TSigned JOHN w. GEARY. Governor.