Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-03-20
+ Compass and a FireAy.

Ia Parton's very interesting account
OF "The inycutiou of tho Compass" in
Or Young Folks for February, is the
following curious story, told him by a
Lake Champlain boatmau:
He said he had been a prisoner for
eleven months in Auirrsonville during
the late war, and when he heard that
Gcncul Shrrmau was at Atlanta, about
two hundred and forty miles distant, he
and his comtade determined to trv TO
escape, and make their way thither.
Que OF them bad an old,t;,shoncd watch
with compass in the back of it; and
by this they expected to direct their
course, which WA nearly northwest.
'5ut, as they expected to travel only bv
night, they resolved not to start until
they could get a box of matches, so AS
to be able to strike light now and then
to look ut their compass. They DELAYED
their departure for six weeks, trying 10
get box of matches, for the purchase
OF which they gave oae of their negro
friends their last fvc-dol,ar bill. lie
could no: buy a box of matches for five
dollars, nor any other number of dollars.
and so ut last they made up their minds
10 start without them.
Assisted by their black friend. they
got away one afternoon, and lay hidden
until late in the evening, when they
started at great pace through the
woods, and came about midnight to- a
road which seemed to 90, MS nearly as
they could guess, exactly north west.
Seemed, say; but it might not, and, il
1T did not, it would lead them tc capture
and death. The night was not very
dark, but the stars were hidden by
clouds; else the friendly North Star
would have guided them upon their way.
AnX ous as they were to get on, they
stood tor several minutes comparing re-
collections and debating the great ques-
ton upon which their lives depended.
But the more they talked it over the
more uncertain they became; and now
they bitterly regretted their .imratience
in coming away without matches.
There were great pumbcr of fireh;es
flying about. A lucky thought occurred
to one ct them-the boatman who told
us the story He caught a fircfiv, and,
taking it between his thumb and finger,
held it over his compass. Imagine their
JOY to find that the insect gave them
plenty of light for their purpose; and
imagine their still greater Joy to discover
that the road led straight 10 the Union
army. Eight uights of travel brought
them safely to it. ....,.-.
Admirable invention! I often wonder
that thing so valuable can be so small,
simple and cheap. 1t is nothing but a
needle, pivot and a card, which you
can buy for half dollar, and carry in
your pocket, or dangle at the end of
watch chain. Yet, small and tritling as
It is, a ships company that shoald find
themselves in the middle of the ocean
without compass, would consider it
great favor TO be allowed to buy one for
many thousand dollars. }tt
How TO KILL a TowN.- The following
receipt for killing town, which we clip
from an exchanges, We offer to our readers
for their careful considerations
"If you wish to kill town, put nm no
more buildings than you arc OBLIGED 10
occupy yourself If you should acci-
dentally have an empty building. and
some one should want TO rent fl. ask
about three times its actnal vafue. Look
at every new conner with a scowl. Turn
cold shoulder to every business man, or
lAeehanio seeking home among yoh.
Go abroad for wares, rather than purp
chase of your own manufactures at the
same price. Refuse to adoertise, so that
persons at a distance will not sSppose
any business is being done in your city.
A prompt and close observance of these
rules win ruin any town in about three
years.