Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-10-04
The Late Col. Baldwin.

The Late Col BALDWIN.
The papers generally, in noticing the death
of the late COL Baldwin, pay glowing and eu-
logistic tributes to his memory. The Peters
burg Appeal in the course Of what it has to
saw of the character of the deceased, speaks
thus:
without invoking the charity which be-
longs to the memory of the dead; without al
lowing ourselves to be moved too deeply by that
tenderness excited by his recent passage from
life to heaven, we may say truly OF John b.
Balwin that his heart was as pure and golden,
his affections as gentle and faithful, as in all
the qualities exercised 10 the ordinary relations
of man and man he was brave, determlned,an
almost stern-a man Of the antique heroic pat
tern. We believe no Virginian had warmer
affection for his mother State, and no man in
field or in forum ever gave her more chivalrous
or valuable service.
Very true. His fidelity, his ability, and his
courage commanded the public confidence, and
whatever might be men opinions of his poll
tics, or whatever their feelings towards him
personally, when an exigency came all looked
to him as man to be trusted. He had the
traits of true heroism 10 high degree. He
was not only brave and wise 10 council, but
bis courage was intrepid, and be feared not
to lead where be advised others to 60. His con-
| fdence 10 the right was reflected 10 his firm
and undaunted bearing. His voice assured his
auditors and his manly conduct inspired them.
| He was not an ornate orator; but he was strong
in ideas and in Words he did not waste words;
they all meant something; all were wanted
where he put them. His sentences were all
the time reinforcing their predecessors and
| swelling the volume Of his argument, which
eliminated 10 overwhelming force. His speech.
es often remind US of Websters for their sim
pie force and their granitivc solidity.
The presence Of the man was fine. Unusual
ly stout and we'll developed, his voice was man
| ly aud strong; his manner, though not artist
cally elegant was yet far from ungraceful and
his unaffected gestures we're full of energy: and
exactly suited to the directness and vigor of
his language. At times, 10 speaking, he was hui
morous, indulging in a story or bit of wit.
But no man ever used humor, anecdote or wit
| to better purpose. No orator We have ever
heard introduced these auxiiaries of argument
with more intelligent applicability.
EQUALS; as citizen, neighbour friend, and in
the yet more tender relations Of domestic life,
be had no superior. His almost idolatrous de-
votion to his native State was proved in his
| works, which will be held in grateful recoliec-
ton as long as his memory lives. -Rlch Dis.
DEATH VALLEY-The Beaver (Utah) En-
terprise has the following respecting recent
visit to this noted valley:
1.-THE Valley of Death-a spot almost as ter
rible as the prophets Valley of Dry Bones
lies Just north Of the old Mormon road to Cali
| fornia, a region thirty miles long by thirty
broad, and surrounded, except at two points,
| by inaccessible mountains. 1t is totally devoid
| of water and vegetation, and the shadow of a
bird or wild beast Dever darkens its white,
glaring sands. The Kansas Pacific Railroad
| engineers discovered it, and also some papers
which showed the fate of the last Montgomery
train, which came south from Salt Lake in
1850, guided by Mormon. When near the
Death Valley some came to the conclusion that
the Mormon knew nothing about the country,
so they appointed one of their number leader,
aud broke off from the party. The leader
turned due west; so, with the people and Wa
| CONS and hocks he travelled three days, and
then descended into the broad valley, whose
treacherous mirage promised water. They
| bounded scorchipg peaks met their gaze.
Around the valley they wandered aud one by
one the men died and the painting focks stretch
ed themselves in death under the hot sun. Then
the children, crying for water, died at their
mothers breasts and with swollen tongues and
burning vitals, the helpless mothers followed.
Wagon after wagon was abandoned, and strong
men tottered and died. After a weeks won-
dering dozen survivors found some water in
the hollow of a rock ia the mountain. 1t last
ed but short time, when all died but two, who
escaped out of the valley and followed the trail
of their former companions. Elghty-seven
families, with hundreds of animals, persisted
here; and now, after twenty three years. the
wagons stand still complete-the iron work and
tires are bright, and the shriveled skeletons lie
side By side"
How THEY SALUTE THE u. S. FLAG IN Rio.
- Brazil Correspondence of Springfield y MON. ]
"A few days later most ridiculous affair hap
pened 10 the harbor. An ice ship from Boston
entered the bay, commanded by Capt. Green,
in the South American trade. Fort Santa
Cruz, not recognizing his house flag, hailed
him and ordered him to "heave to-" But the
worthy skipper didn't speak Portuguese, and
the simple statement of the name of his vessel,
which be hurled at the fort, was not at all
satisfactory; so a blank shot was fred as mild
Suggestion lOF I'LL w Sup. buu ne NonCo AoA
his revolver, and pointing it skyward, fired six
successive shots. Then solid shot from the
fort skipped across bis bow, and another, bet
ter aimed, passed through his fore.sail. The
fort and two shore batteries opened fire upon
him, and several of his light spars were cut
away. But he held on his course rejoicing,
loading and firing hisrevolver He finally reached
quarantine, and came to anchor just as the fly
Jog bloom went by the board. He was then
so near the other shipping that they dared
fire on him no longer, and the police, boat, the
Custom House boat, and the health boat all
boarded him, together with the captain of the
port who, with more vigor than politeness,
wanted to know "Why in = he didn't heavc
to?" "Heave to-! calculated the astoundcd
skipper, was that what you wanted? Good
Lord thought you was salutin' the Ameri-
can flag !" 'Diable shouted the officers in
chorus, and set the case down as additional evil
dence of the lunacy which they regarded as a
necessary ingredient ofthe American character.