Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-05-25

ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF RANDoLPH's FEAT
From the May vile (kS.) Bulletin, 18th,
The Eagle OF Saturday contained an article
from an eye witness of the indlgnity offered to
General Jackson BY Robert B. Randolph, at
Alexandria, Va, in 1872 when the old hero,
with others, we're on their way to the tomb Of
Martha Washington. As TAR as the narrative
purports 10 give the incidents Of that exciting
event it is in the main correct Some facts are,
however, omitted. The writer OF this, though
u mere youth at the time, was also present and
witnessed the occurrence. General Jackson
aud his assailant were on opposite sides of a
table standing in the cabin Of the boat. Gen
eral jackson struck vigorously at Randolph
with an umbrella, but missed him, and Ran
dolph:immedia,ely retired, losing his hat as he
escaped through the crowd. AS Randolph lett,
an ardent and enthusiastic admirer OF the old
hero, named Thomas, who kept an oyster sa-
loon near the foot Of King street, where the
boat landed, rushed forward and exclaimed
General jackson, if you will agree to pardon
me, | will kill the damned scoundre - The
General pushing forward after his retiring ad-
versary, replied "Get out Of the way, | can
tight my own battles :" Randolph got ashore
bare headed, and made his way through the
town to tue residence Of Roster Dulany, on
Shutters Hil where the fruitless attempt to
arrest him, as described BY the article 10 the
Eagle, was made. ...
As may be expected, the ofieious offer OF
the saloon keeper, Thomas, to kill Randolph il
General Jackson would agree to pardon him,
was severely ridiculed by the press Thomas
became instantly notorious. Randolph made
his way to Richmond, Virginia, were he chanced
to meet Thomas few weeks after the occur
renee. He greeted him cordially, invited him
,~l thoro l.rrho1 , ba
event which had made them both for several
weeks the subject OF newspaper denuncatiOn
and ridicue.
Randolph in 1854 asked Congress to re-
store him to his rank in the navy, or indemnify
him for the alleged Injustice done by his dis.
missal by General Jackson. His effort failed
and be died short time since in his seventy
eighth year. An ALEyANDR.AN.
MAYsvIIIE, KY, May 10, 1860.
New MATERIAL FOR PAPER.-A statement
an tho moathy report OF the Department OF
Agriculture Is to the effect that the scarcity OF
paper material threatened to prove serious
impediment to the spread of general intelli,
gence aud educational progress. la Europe,
an ancient 6bro has been utilized through the
adoption OF machinery by which large guam
tity Of printing and wrapping paper is pro-
.uced This fibre is the csparto grass OF Spain
and Algiers.
Asmuch as seventy thousand tons are an
nuaily imported into England. and large
quantity into France. Ii has been likewise
brought into the United States, and we are
rrati6ed to learn that its acclimatiOn is now
under experiment in the South, There are
products native TO the South and West whose
use is increasing.
Among these are the Southern bamboo cane,
aud the cord grass of the West, known as the
spartina fibre, which is said to be abundant in
the low river bottoms and in marshy lands
throughout the Western States. Ii is easily
cut, Yields heavy crop, and sells for five dol
lars q ton. 1t Is stated that the cost Of pro-
duction does not exceed that of the poorer
quality Of wild hay 1t is advised that tho.
rough experiment should be made in testing
its value for newspaper material Ii is success.
fully used when manufactured Tor wrapping
paper. ......
The report contains letter from Mr. James
Woodruff, who runs mill in Quincy, Illinois,
which turns out from this cord grass or saarti
na fibre two and halt tons OF paper day
which is pronounced by English experts to be
better material for paper than espartO. MIR.
Woodruff states that it bleaches as readily as
straw and that printing paper can be made
from it, difficult to Distinguish from that made
Of rags
tie purposes to convert his mill into print
and book paper mill, and use the cord grass
entirely as stock, whose production in the VI
entity OF Quincy, he states to be unlimited
the land on which it grows being almost value
less, as 1T is subjected TO annual foundations OF
Tram VI tnaf