davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1872-12-26
THE CHRISTMAS H0IoCAUsT

It was particularly sad that the newspapers OF
yesterday, OF a1l days in the year, should have
been compelled to chronicle succession Of hor-
rors altogether unparalleled in any previous
issue Of the year. Fatal accidents by rail, by
water and by fire, murders and suicides, were
reported from all parts Of the country over the
telegraph and through the mails. The WEEKLY
TRIBUNE issued on Christmas Day, figured up
an aggregate loss OF St, ,334 900 in property
destroyed by fire, estimating only such conaa-
grstions as included $4,000 worth OF property
each Taking the smaller fires into account,
the total destruction Of property by fire during
the week would amount to not less than So, $780,
600. These heavy losses may be traced directly
to the excessive cold, which has thus caused
death by the extremes OF freezing and burning.
The large fires which became necessary to keep
people Warm tested the fues and boilers; and
churches, and hotels, and museums, and resi-
dences were consumed at rate which should
make the hearts Of careless builders and incom-
petent architects quake with remorse. Corfu
gated iron used as mere veneering for q
large mass Of framework, has proved to
be anything but hre-proof, and Ba1num's
building in New York succumbed to the flames
on Tuesday as Talmage's Tabernacle did in
Brooklyn on the previous Sunday. The build
ing which WAS occupied by Barnum's museum
and menageris Was that formerly known as the
New York Circus, situated on Fourteenth street,
nearly opposite to tie Academy of Music which
was simultaneously threatened with destruction.
The loss Of all the animals, except two elephants
and one camel, was . serious one both 6nan-
cIal1v and Is = means of popular odu-
cation. The collection OF the wild and
rare specimens Of the brute creation, which
constituted the chief attraction Of What was
known as Barnum's t' Great Show" il 3 work Of
time and labor; and the replacement Of the an
imals thus destroyed will be no easy task. Elo-
plants, gorillas, camels, dromedaries, lions,
tigelH, panthere, seAls, bears, leoparda, yak,
gnu, monkeys, pelicaps, ostriches, snakes, birds,
and beasts OF all descriptions, s,-ohained or
caged 80 that escape WAS impossible,
burned up togather, the very ferocity Of their
nature having turned sgainst them to preclude
every means Of self-help, and their
cries and shrieks Of torture assuming
almost 3 human terror. A million Of
dollars worth Of property was destroyed at the
Same time; $50 persons are thrown ont OF en-
and twenty or thirty women, in an
other part Of the city; narrowly escaped the
frightfnl death that was visited upon the poor
servant-girls OF the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
This catastrophe becomes one Of comparative
, 1872-12-26

Rev. DR.. Talmage's fre-proof church, In Brook
1yn, was burned to the ground in less than one
hour. It was built with corugsted-iron walls,
fastened upon wooden supports, and the IRON
root was sustained by wooden columns. It WAS
filed, Of course, with wooden floors and pews.
In fact there was rather more woodwork in it
than in an ordinary stone or brick building Of
equal size. 4 great deal Of indignation is ac-
cordingly vented on iron as building material.
It ought to be easy enough, however,
to Bee that the iron did not burn the church,
and did not contribute in any degree to the ca
tastrophe. Nobody attempts to kindle fire
with iron, whether it be the corrugated variety
or common pig metal. Our own experience in
building and burning teaches us that
a building is liable to be destroyed
by fire in proportion to tho amount
OF combustible material which it contains, and
not in proportion to the amount of iron, or even
OF Illinois limestone, that enters into its compo-
eition. Nor has that useful scape-goat, come
times called s'outside heat" and otherwise
known as "peculiar atmospheric condition, ;, any
effectupon non-combustible substances. 4 build
ing burns because it contains fuel, and for no
other reason. DR.. Talmage's church contained
rather more fuel than churches generally, and,
therefore, burned more readily.
, 1872-12-26

tested the presence Of sufficient poison 10 cause
death, were II. Girault, OF the Imperial labora-
tory, Paris, and H. Conde, celebrated analytic-
al chemist from Brussels. These genthmen
demonstrated the presence OF arsenic ID the
stomach Of the dead man by subtle pro-
cess OF analysis, depending upon the
test OF affinity. Against their eyidetce.
II. Coterie, also an eminent chemist }of
Brussels, came in and testified that this process
VAS not only inadequate to prove the presen,e
Of the poison, but that it was one which woul;
generate arsenic by its Own operation. By 3
preconcerted arrangement between the counsel
Tor the prosecution and the counsel for the de-
fence, the final evidence establishing tho inno-
cence OF the accused had been withheld until the
testimony O.: the medical men had all been TAX
en-. Then it WAS that letter from the deceased
was produced, OF the genuineness OF which two
persons gave evidence, which confessed that II.
Rigaud had produced his own death, not by
arsenic, but by q dose Of antiunony. The case
VIII probably have its influence in determining
the weight Of testimony given by e1perta.
, 1872-12-26

The hints about 'slamp-post justice" made a
few weeks ago by the New York papers, at the
time when King killed O'Neil, bore fruit the 9TH
er day in plot to lyncl Simmons, the murderer
of Duryea. Forty friends of the victim planned
amidnight attsck upon the hospital where the
assassin was confined by broken ankle, with
the intention Of gagging the attendants, taking
Simmons out, and, in q collective fit OF emotion
al insanity, hanging or shooting him. The cold
weather delayed their action, the police
got wind OF the affair, and the mur-
derer's life has been saved from perhaps
its only peril. Efforts are being made
to arrest the wou1d-be 1ynchers. They may be
caught and punished, and Simmons be acquit-
ted In California, day before yesterday, q
murderer was hung by the popu1ace the very
day he committed the crime.
, 1872-12-26
An Anecdote Of Two Famous Sc1,1Ds
tors,


An Anecdote Of Two Famous Sc.,1p.
tors.
It must have been about the time Of his jour
ney to Bavaria that Thor7aldsen had, ct Flor
ence, singular interview with Bartolini. He
had long been personally acquainted, with the
famous Italian sculptor, whose lie was con-
stant and terrible struggle, first with poverty
until his fine talent wes at last recognized, and
struggle not less obstinate with incesa1nt per-
secutions instigated by envy after he had gained
tor himself high position in art. Lorenzo Bar
tolini was, moreover, not OF temper to shun
the combat; his independent spirit refused
to stoop to the arts Of pleasing, and his char
acter took q coloring from the almost be.-
H5erent habfts into which ho seemed to be-
forced by circumstances He had heard that
Thorvaldsen was in Florence, and ho expected to
receive one OF his earliest visits. The Danish
artist, however, having for several DAYS neg
lected to present himself at the dtezier Of Bar
tolini. the Italian regarded the delay aa mark
great artist owes to another. He was 30 much
hurt by it, that he enjoined upon his pupils, in
case Thorva1dsen should finally make his appear
ance, to tell him that he Was not at hom5. He'
did come at last, and YVES told that the master
was :, absent He inaisted, and gave his name;
BILE for Signor Bartolini not to be at home to mel
Be kind enough to tell him that it is the Cheva-
lier Thorvaltisen who wishes to see him" Bar
tolini Was keeping aloof in small a:elie7 at the
end Of the large room In which his pupils we're
working, and overheard the conoquy. Lritated
by the persistence Of one with whom he thought
he had reason to be offended, he half opened tha
door, and, thrusting out his head, ''No, cir, I
am not at home to you u he cried out, and shut
the door, Thorvaldsen, who wns used to being
everywhere received with the greatest respect
and attention, retired, stupefcd at this strange
behavior, which seemed to him piece Of ine1,
plicablo eccantEicity the cause Of which he prob
ably never knew.-F1rons the Life Of Thorcahlsea
bu EuQene P{ou,
, 1872-12-26

4 determined movement is now going on in
Baltimore On the part Of the temperance people
meetings are being held nightly at the Maryland
Institute, addressed by such men as Hon.
Schuyler Colfax and Hon. Henry Wilson, with
the express purpose of discountenancing drink
ing at this eaason OF the year. Their efforts
gre directed against the free liquor and egg-nog
OF the b=--rooms on Christmas, and the equally
free liquors in private residences, on New Years
Day, supplied for callers.
, 1872-12-26

Maryland clings to the old system Of punish
ments for criminal acts. and notably in retaining
the penalty Of hanging for the crime Of arson.
It is said that this punishment is still justified
by the law Of New York State, but there, as else
where throughout the country, it has long since
been discontinued, and the extreme penalty
for the crime Of arson consists in
imprisonment for life. In a recent case
in Maryland, q boy OF Il VAS tried for arson,
and the jury was compelled to return q verdict
OF guilty on the evidence; but, considering the
youth and ignorance Of the culprit, the punish
ment WAS fixed at seven years. imprisonment in
the Penitentiary. But the Judge informed the
jury that their verdict WAS not in accordance
with the law, and they we're obliged to change
it and sentence the boy to be hanged.
, 1872-12-26
GENERAL News rTErrc

q commodity exists in th immediate vicinity
OF me !>ange slate quanes, which is GOOD
enough for lithographie stoes. 70~
Lille Cashier OF . PeoriaHaper attacked the
and, With the aid Of consta{e and his reToiTe9 r
collected $3.50. Y 'oA'eA'
1t is expected that 1,oo 1aoorera from
Europe, to work IN the iron mics Of Marquette
and Houghton Counties, Mich, ,yill be- e., Toua
1or Lake Superior before Februay next
Colonel w. S. King, Of ofNinneIo1i, % and ose,.
clates have concluded contract it'll the North
ern Pacific Railroad Company folthe constno.
lion Of 2o0 miles Of the west end d the road.
-Ihe Squamsc0tt House, IN keter. n Fl
Academy for the sum Of 525,oOo, to;5e used al -
hall for study and boarding by the sadents.
James A. Pollard, Superintendent IT :tba
Vermont State Prision, has raised q1to nn1,-
ber Of cotton plants in the garden ,eloneine
to the state, q sample Of which he orriei to
tol. - o1p'@
Captain B1akely, Of the Minnesota Stage
Company, announces that the horEes',f sho
Company have all recovered from the ep1tootic.
and the regular stage service has been resumed
from st. Cloud to Braincrd, Alexandria and
other points in the northern and western nartg
Of the State.
Superintendent Wellen, Of the Grand Ram
ids d Indiana Railroad, reports that so fur as be
Is informed, the injuries Of the ladies Who were
so ser1ously hurt by the accident near Reynolds
on the 18th inst were not fatal. The nsmo Of
the t1apper who was so seriously hurt could not
be learned, and it is not known whether he ia
living.
Daniel D. T. Warner, ono of the owners NJ
the Clifton N. ~ Springs Hotel and Air Cure
is on trial for arson in the first degree, as the a,-
thor Of the fire. Tracks in the SNOW from Warmers
house to the hotel and back to his house are ona
OF the evidences Of guilt claimed by the prose-
cution. There is about $50, 00c. il INSURANCE On
the hotel to be contested hereafter.
, 1872-12-26
4 Little Composition on the yyheela
barrow

The Dan bury Nezcs man says: II you have
occasion to use wheelbarrow, leave it,
when you ara through With it, in front
Of the house with the handles toward
the door. wheelbarrow is the most COM
picated thing to fall over on the face Of the
earth. man will fall over one when he would
never think Of falling over anything else; he
never knows when Ee has got through falling
over it, either; for it will tange his legs and his
arms, turn over with him and rear up in front
Of him, and just as he pauaes in
his profanity to congratulate him
self, it takes new turn, and scoops more skin
of OF him, and he commences to ovolute anew,
and bump himself on fresh places. A man
never censes to fall over wkeelbarrow until it
turns completely on it's back, or brings up
against something it cannot upset. It is the
most inoffensive looking object there is, but is
more dangerous than 9 locomotive, and no man
is secure with one unless he has tight hold Of
its handles, and is sitting down on something.
A wheelbarrow has its uses. no doubt b,l: in its
leisure momentsit is the great blighting curse On
true dignity.
, 1872-12-26
NOTES AND OPINION.

There is no new feature in the Louisiana
trouble to-day, but the longer the outrage is
permitted to live the more hideous and revolving
it becomes. Judge Bradley is not to go to New
Orleans; at least that appears to be the present
3ccision at Washington, and it is announced by
the Republican organs as q partisan triumph,
The people asked that be might be permitted to
do 50, in order that the alleged Illegal and
jected to. his calm and fair revision but their
reasonable request is refused. They are to be
left under the heel OF Judge who has trodden
On the neck Of the State, and now holds it help
its throat. With 8 refinement Of tyranny, the
people of Louisiana are told that they have
their remedy IN an appeal from Judge Durels
final decision when that shall be reached, while
ceedings hitherto had before that convenient
Judge are only interlocutory, aud hence not
subject to appeal! Meanwhile the p1ess-the
only remaining safeguard Of the liberty Of tho
at the
ragged the laws, and defed the Constitution, and
the Administration at Washington looks ap-
proying1y On, and issues its edicts that the
usurpers shall be regarded as the only lawful
authorities Of the State Gould these things
have happened before the Presidential election?
--Nezo York Herald.
We have not for long time seen o moro dis
gusting newspaper article than one in the last
issue Of the Naw York INDEPENDENT written By
OF President Grant for attending the funeral Of
Horace Greeley. And re can speak au the moro
frankly on this subject because We have just
squarely and thoroughly fought stout battle
with MI. Greeley and his friends. The article is
simply yindictive and heathenish. Unless hlr:
Garrison has personal quarrel with the dead
which be cannot bury in the grave, We cannot
conceive any motive that should have instigated
this attack. The fact is, our refornaers get so
in the habit Of mauling that, when they have
DESTROYED the evil they were raised up to de-
stroy, they cannot lay by their cudge1s.-'H
Louis Democrat
Good Mr. Ames tells the Credit Mobi1ier In
vestigating Committee that he distributed the
stock among Congressmen without any e1pecta-
ton Of services or faEors in return. Let us
learn from him the art Of enriching ourselves BY
charity. Here is q man who is worth ten mil
lions, every dollar of which he acquired, no
doubt, by giving away thousands, without e1-
pectations Of favors or services. It is at once
touching and encouraging to think on't.-St-
Louis Democrat.
The Times HM ba devoted, as in The past. to
, 1872-12-26

The untrustworthy character Of the evidence
Of medical experts in murder trials has been
even more forcibly attested in u recent trial in
Belgium than it was in the Wharton and
schoeppe cases in this country. A man-servant,
named Agne1, Was arrested and placed on trial,
in Bruges, for the murder Of his master, II.
Rigaud. The circumstantial evidence Of his
guilt was very strong; Master and man had had
serious difficulty on the day Of the formers
death. II. Rigaud had left Agne1 the sum Of
1000 francs, IN will made before the trouble,
and Agnel WAS known to be in urgent need Of
about this sum to clear off debts that we're press
ing him. It vas shown that Agnel had, on
the same day, procured some arsenic at neigh
boring drugstore, for the purpose, as lie said,
OF killing rats. When, in addition to this cir
cumstantial evidence, medical experts came in
and testified that II. Rigaud had died from poi
soning by arsenic, there seemed to be q positive
77oo1 Ut Aenel's guilt. Among those who at
, 1872-12-26

The horge-disease. which has OF late been
ravaging the United States with such havoc,
hcs now reached the West Indies, and made its
appearance recently in Havana. Correspondents
writing from that city state that the mortality
fs much greater there than in the United States,
owing to The miserable stables, even the wealth
zest residents having but very poorly Tenti-
:=ted places foz the keeping OF horses. The
zuules have been attacked even more severely
than the horeeH,: and, as there are but very few
veterinary surgeons in Hayana, and only one OF
@wo OF them seem to have any knowledge Of the
fe.isaase. the mortality is becoming Ye1y great,
, 1872-12-26

al, al nsegent and firm support Of the RepubI-e
maintain an attitude Of perfect indepandence-9
Ae.o York Times.
Mr. Croly, who lately resigned the manarfne|
edltorship Of the World, is said to be ar1aneine]
ior the publication Of an illustrated daily pauer'
Inns seems to be q wild story. But + E-self
nave l beard Nr: cE91y talk Of srch enterprisot
the truth when they say that no is to take the}
managing editorship Of Mr.. Godkin's DAILY Nal
hon: This new enterprise, daily edition Of the>
Ndtson, Mr: Godkin is said to have determined.
s,st 20 start With capital of hundred thousand>
dollars He is courageous gentleman, and has:
wonderful faith in tho American-re=3ing
public, If he does SO. The idea ho has, I
understand, is sort Of an American PaH M1u
ssdzette. Mr. Raymond, Of tho Times, used to
~ oHam OF such an enterprise. and once or twice
"e,t so Tar as to consult with his editors con-
ccethng the feasibility Of issuing an evening edi-
t1on TnQ the Times, modelled after the Pail Mar
9azs1S Then another daily newspaper enter
tive plan Ten Or twelve journalists Of bTains
snu enteErlse" shall put in small amount Of
money money ant take half Of the stock, and ten or
, a"e.se CAPITALISTS shall put in big amount Of
atoof N H. hsak1 tan the ds remaining in3gg halt Of the
pull Pus n a1 tneM york at good salaries, and make
eqaal Pronts. don't hear much Of this entor-
pna pt1se nov. np. Nher enterprises industriously
st1a sdeu apnue areweeky papers. The indefatig-
4w.69 C.-s-:NH tue oA7ls ncaQeQ. beueTe, by
Amo5 A5 C1qmml9gs,tthe III Managing editor, and b.
Nood, 1he night eGtor, one Of the most persist
ent and practical St; otpewspaper workers, a1e ar-
aha ahnsing TO oa1ng oaia great Sunday paper, far
present in existence: The Sundav STANDARD
nullt over the inglorips grave Of John Rusgeii
Young's Daily Standan : the sickliest OF sheets.
M1eaSsd 11n h5st dPambs1 last ;aada notable for
spelling.-Ne.o YORK. Correspondence Of .Ufa
Boston Adcertiser. -
, 1872-12-26

The Chicago express on the Indianapolis,
Peru & Chicago Railroad Tas thrown of the
track By 8 broken rail yesterday, eighteen miles
fEom Indianapois, and twenty persons injured,
Of whom at least three will die. A similar &C.
cident occurred to 3 passenger train near Gin
cnnati, with what loss to life, if any, does not
appear at this writing. At Newton, Kansas, a
train inabedd2d in drift was run into by q
freight train, and the conductor and one other
man killed.
, 1872-12-26

The Chicago produce markets were generally
Inactive yesterday, IS the Board Of Trade was
not in session that body adjourned in honor Of
Christmas. There WAS little trading in wheat,
on the curbstone, and the market advanced 15c,
closing at 2l.1e1z seller January, and s1-2111<
seller February. Other markets we're neglected.
, 1872-12-26

ar Riclsrd Schen informs . reporter Of the
New Yoc,. Herald that suit will certainly be
brought Ly some Of the stockholders of the
Union Pacific Railway to recover the eighteen
millions OF swag'' taken fr1m il 'y the Credit
Mobil;er. When the eighteen millions are re-
covered by the Union Pacific Company, it will be
wise thing for the United States Government
to recover the same amount from the Union
with lawsuit
, 1872-12-26

IN at any moment. Now, if Mr. Boutwell,
will advertise that he wants to borrow
several hundred millions Of d21,!=rs upon the
faith Of the Government. I'D will award the
loan to the lowest bidder. ia latter to specify
in his bid the rate oi L...lest he will take it is
possible he might make far more extensive,
and certainly less costly, loan than the one which
he managed through the Syndicate. At all
events, the public will know what he is doing.
, 1872-12-26

In paper read before the Chirurgical Society
Of London, DR.. Ogle states it as his belief that
the superiority Of the right baud, in works re-
quiring strength and skill, is not due merely to
custom and usage. His reasons for this opinion
are that the superior power Of tho right side ia
not confined to the arm, but extends to the leg,
and that it commences in the arm before use ot
education begins, and continues in spite Of aI1
has resemblance to some malformations, mas
much as it is hereditary md is met with mora
frequently in the male sex, not only in men, but
in apes and parrots. The author further asserta
that the left side Of right-handed man ia great
or than the right, and rice ue1sa, and he suggests
that this greater development Of the left side ia
due to the creator quantity Of blood which it 10.
ceiYes,
, 1872-12-26
TERMS Of THE TRIBUNE.

TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION CAPABLE N ADVANCED.
nat!y, By .....S12 90 Sunday...........S2.50 go
Tr-WeeSly...-...- G.t0 Weekly ...... ....... zoo
Parts Of gear at the rate.
To delay and mistakes be and givo Post
Oa;ce address in full, inrudia. State and County,
Rcittances may he made either by ydrnit c1presE Post
0Eco order, or in registered letters, 1T OFT risk.
TEEAs 70 CITY SUBSCRIBERS.
Cc''-, derefc3 Sunday excepted, Is cents per sook
d., devercd, Sunday tncnded, 30 per wook.
LdGr25s THE TRIBUNE COMPANY,
Corner Madison aud Dearborn-sts., Chicago Ill.
rnI3UEE Branch Office, No. 4e9 Wabaaa-av., in the
Bookstore Of 1:es.ra. Cobb Andrews ( Co., uhcro
advertisements a7d subscriptions will bo received. and
VII. hayo the sa1no attention II Left at tho Main
Office.
, 1872-12-26
The German Emperor Gives a French
Cannon to an American Church.

From The 1ftusuiUs {Penn) Herald, Dee. II.
At a meeting OF the Building Committee of
st. Paul's Reformed Church, it was resolved to
ask OF King William one Of the French cannon
taken by him in the late war, to be cast as bell
for the new edidce. The following letter, from
de1phia, tells the result:
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. L., 1872.
c. Ii. Bausch, Esq:
am happy to state to you that His Majesty,
the Emperor William, in reply to the petition of
st. Pauls Reformed Church, at Titnsyil1e, hes
presented one Of the captured French cannon to
them, weighing about 1900 pounds. You Hil1
please communicate the factto the congregation,
and also state to them that this piece Of artillery
is now awaiting transportation at tho depot IN
Berlin. I am ready to forward it at your con.
yenience. I have the honor to be your obodient
servant, Gas. II. MEYER
, 1872-12-26

The new California code is very peculiar on q
in its relations to home and the family. As it
establishes universal equality in the married
state, it leaves the husband and wife at full lib
erty to sue and contract with each other as be-
fore the matrimonial state. Should any contro-
yersy arise between husband and wife leading to
their separation, the two can pay into COM
mon fund certain contributions from their
probationary for the support OF the children,
who, in turn, are not in the distinctive custody
Of either parent, the Law saying: "When hus-
band and wife are living separate and apart, the
father, as such, has no superior right to
that Of the mother to the care, custody,
or control Of the Children AS the law
also says sthe marriage OF minors changes
their status from minors to adults" there is
nothing to hinder neglected children from going
off and getting married, and thus becoming as
good as the grown folks, with equal rights to
sue each other and make as much matrimonial
confusion as their elders. In fine, the Code
virtually does away with all the distinctive
rights OF sex, and opens ParadiRe for such dis
contented individuals as Woodruff, Claain, and
Train.