Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-09
I he Spells of ~ Wrecker-A aahastIv
sight.

A strange story. worthy OF Nsrryatt, comes
from Newfoundland. In Chance Nook, a Sc
sluded nook in that somewhat secluded island.
dwell little company of fishermen, one or whom
reJOices IN the name of Barnacle Ball, has long
been an object Of suspicion account of his
uns0eiable and hermit-like life. His hut was
upon peak overlooking dangerous reef called
Giilicuddy Breakers.
These circumstances combined to fasten upon
Barnacle BIZ the suspicion that he had pen
chant for wrecking operations. and after the re-
cent loss on the reef of the schooner Albion.
none of the crew of which were subsequently
discovered, dead or alive, it was determined TO
search the aforementioned hut. Accordingly a
detective having been procured, together with
the requisite legal papers, large deputation
made an early car upon Barnacle Bill, and found
I at worthy IN bed: lnasmuch As he declined
to get up and open the door for his surprise party
they let the mselves into the house, when an aD-
pailing sight met their gaze.
Fingers, wrists and ears, cut and torn from
the bodies of women, evidently to procure the
rings and other jewelry, were strewn around
Two boiled silk dresses were folded beside the
bodies. In all there were nine c0rpses. only one
of which has rs yet been identified The inhu-
man wrecker, after being taken into custody
confessed that he took the bodies from the wreck
row 70 his cliff before dawn. The news has Gre
ated the greatest excite ne Mt in St Johns, we re
most OF the Inflated sailors resided
CHANGES IN THE EARTH's CLINATE-It is a
conclusion almost universally admitted bv y len
titc men, that the primitive atmosphere OF the
earth was greatly richer in csrbonic acid than
the present, and therefore unht for the resDira-
ton of the warm blooded a, finals. The agency
of plants IN purifying this atmosphere was long
ago pointed out and II is the belief of many tina
the great deposits Of fossil fuel have been de-
riyed from the decomposition OF this excess of
carbonic acid by the ancient vegetation. In this
connection, the vegetation of former periods
presen ts the phenomenon Of trop cal plants
growing within the polar circle. Prof. II. Sterry
Hunt considers as unsatisfactory the ingenious
hypothesis proposed to account for the warmer
cl mate of ancient times, and thinks that the
true solution Of the problem is To be found in
the constitution VI the early atmosphere, vixen
considered In the light of Prof. Tyndall's recent
researches on radiant heat. He has found that
the presence Of q few hundredths of csrbonic
acid gas in the stmoswhere, while offering
almost ho obstacle to the passage OF the solar
rays. would suffice to prevent almost entirely
The loss by radiation of obscure heat 30 that the
surface of the land beneath such an atmosphere
would become like vast orchard house, in
which the conditions of climate necessary to a
luxuriant vegetation would be extended even TO
the polar regions. 1t scarcely need be said that
Prof. Hunt Is not alone in his theory.
NOVEL WAY TO SuurFLs OFF THE Nor
TAI OLA singular case of disregard for life,
says the Steubenviile (Ohio) Herald, by counting
dangerous contag'on, came to our notice this
morning, in the death OF young mad fro m
| Pi tsbure, and Of AisONn accord. applied Tor
and obtained q situation at a hospital whese
several violent cases OF SMALLPOX were, for the
! the diseasestha& he mIeht die. He continued IN
the handling Of smallpox patients and corpses
! for several weeks, and retur ned here some ten
| days since, and told his exploits among the
"stins" Of the dreaded contagion, saying he
visl ed he would take the smallpox, that he VA
/ tirs d Of life, and wanted God Almighty 10 take
Mn He had His wish. In . few daya afHeg
! ma king the reckless remarks, he was stricken
with the disease In the most violent form, his
phN sician pronouueing his case almost hopeless
| HON the first. This morning he died, and was
conveyed % the last earthly tenement, where
the troubles Of life oeasa In this death the cir
eumstances are peculiar; the wish expressed
and the means taken 70 contract the disease q
stated, vas . new method Of getting rid or life
Another singular Circumstance WAS the publ
cation Of his death, and the digging Of his grave
the day before he died- =
Tn = MUSICAL IN dramatic critic of the IN.
dianapoIis Evening Journal writes: me pic O.
OF furniture was ever 50 maitreateda - the era nd
piano at the Moulton concert last night. W, hl
seemed animated by the demon Of destruct ON
| and his demsniac rage gave him q strength tina
! seemed supernatural and Internal. He paWet
and he claWed; he pounded and hammered, ant
| reared up in his seat like n man in q strychnin,
spssm, until the tortured instrument, frsn
pleading protesfation passed through the Rann
Of complaining walls and agonixed groans, ri
TO tho ipeoherent shrieks OF melody hopelessl!
insare After wreaking his vengeance ON III
| unoffending instrument until his rage was sati
| sted, he paused . moment, and then tackled l