Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-12
Correspondence Charleston Courier.l ft
San Francisco, August 26, 1870.

likely to benefit SO much by cohtinu
ance of the European war as California
Should the conflict be prolonged there il
not much probability that the vintage O
1870, of France or Germany, will be
heard Of in the market, and as the con
sumner will have to look elsewhere for Q
supply, our own productions will natu
rally receive more attention than they
have hitherto done,
Last year we exported wines of the
value of $40l ,935, and brandy valued al
S205, 727 the bulk of it going to New
York, only about $4,000 worth being
scattered over the Pacific coast and
islands. uH
making seems to be steadily on
the increase, and the wine-press will soon
succeed the sluice as the main type oi
our industry. In 1868 we have nc
figures yet for ls69-the number Of grape.
vines in the State, according to the Sur
veyor-Generars report, was 22,402, $50,
and the gallons of wine made 2,587, 764,
and of brandy 257,333, an increase OF
100000 gallons over the preceding year.
| Los Angeles county takes the lead in
this industry, her soil and climate being
peculiarly adapted to the growth of the
native Californian vine. The value of
the foreign varieties had not been estab-
lished until the most of the vineyards
were planted with the old mission stock,
consequently the wine produced there is
of an inferior quality to that made in
other places.
Since the introduction of vine culture
here in l740, now more than a century
and a quarter, there has been no single
year in which the grape crop has been a
failure. In Europe one good, full crop,
safely harvested, in five years, is fair
average for the last half century; and
further, while the European crop is al
ways subject to rains at the season of
gathering, producing mould and rot in
the berries, California wine-growers en-
joy an entire immunity from this soil,
and hence can produce purer wine or
brandy than is possible in the other case
That with such advantages our wines
have been so slow in establishing them
selves in favor, is mainly because they
possess certain degree of rankness and
strength, and want the brouquet and
aroma of the French and German
vintages. These can only be secured by
age, necessitating an outlay of capital
without any immediate return, in stock
ing cellars until the article acquires the
desired flavor. And it is the want of
capital that has hitherto kept this par
ticular industry in such a backward con-
dition The small proprietor throws his
wine on the market before it is properly
matured, and it is thus forced into an
unjust comparison with the foreign pro-
duet, manifestly to the injury of the
grower and the reputation of the State.
Foreign residents in San Francisco
invariably call for foreign wines and the
consumption Of the native article here is
merely nominal. I
The i'll war-wind that has blown such
harm to Europe, will no doubt do more
to stimulate the cultivation Of the grape,
and introduce our wines into public no
tice, than any other event that could
possibly have occurred. no y
JAMES b. MARSHALL,
the discoverer of gold in California, is
writing book, detailing his early expe-
riences. The old man is reduced to a
condition verging on absolute poverty.
a fact which is not at all creditable to
the generosity of the State His part
ner Gen. Suffer, has received an appro-
priation of $3.50 per month for several
years, and bill passed the last Legisla-
ture giving Marshall 800 per month for
two years, but Gov Haight promptly
vetoed it, The noble old pioneer, after
three-quarters of century Of labor and
excitement, is still active and well-pre-
served. He tried lecturing last April,
and made a better attempt than many
of the imported professionals. Califor-
mans never patronize lectures, so the
effort was failure.
A woMAN's REVENGE.
Murders, homicides, shooting afrays,
or by whatever other name it is custom
ary to call Gains crime are of such fre-
quent occurrences that it ia only occa-
sionally and when the offense is invested
with peculiar romance, that it attracts
more than passing attention. Such a
case happened last week at Gilroy,
quiet agricultural village in the St.
Clara Valley.
A man named Kelly was introduced
several years ago to young lady named
Prudence McNamee, and, after an ac-
quaintance of some months, made her a |
proposition of marriage, which was re-
jected. Thereupon he threatened that
if she did not have him he would ruin |
her In few weeks she married an
other suitor, and reports Immediately |
hsgag to circulate derogatory to her |
character, but, her husband dying, she |
removed to San Francisco, and, for
long time, lost sight of her persecutor. |
Hearing of her whereabouts, he followed
her to this city, and renewed his offer of
marriage, which she again declined, soon
after becoming the wife of well-known
citizen named Page.
Kelly Immediately recommended bis
aspersions on her virtue, which finally
caused, she states, separation from her
husband and the bFeakeng up Of happy
home. Resolved 10 have vengeance on
the man who bad caused her such M
happiness, she went down TO Gilroy last
Thursday, procured horse and buggy
ran; livery stable, and was driving to
Kellvs 9 adahe when she met him on the
road and invited MN to get into the We
hicle with her. After driving rornd for
some time she came 10 a place that
seemed suitable foF her purpose, so, tell
ing her companion that some friends
lived a short distance from the road, she
requested him to tie the horse TO a fence
and accompany her to the house.
Taking bis arm she walked with him
about one hundred yards 20 g hollow,
surrounded by a dense willow thioket,
and then drawing pistol shot him three
times, killing him instantly. Having
thus consummated her plans, Mrs. Page
came to town and surrendered herself to
the civil authorities As may be sup
posed. the affair has cansed more than
ordinary excitement. though public opin- ;
ion in a measure defends her conduct.
PASGs OF coSscTExcE.
By the way, writing of murders. is
here not great deal Of fiction in the I
popular supposition that be who spills
mans blood becomes a victim to the
Znawings of remorse. the pangs Of con
science and various other unpleasant (
sensations. The stage mur-
ierer is always haunted by the eyes Of
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