davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Connecticut western news., 1873-02-28
The :" Ffre.BugS.N

Incendiarism has been so abundant of late in Brooklyn that the authorities, placed on the alert, have succeeded in capturing three recognized " fre-bugs, named Smith, Small, and Dowd. Ten distinct confagrations are said to have been traced to the activity of these creatures, each accusing the other of enacting the "heavy villain in the several fiery performances. Their avowed object was plunder, it seems j; for when building was we'll ablaze ill consequence of their exertions, they made it point, after first absconding, to return to it and conspicuously assist the firemen in extinguishing the flames. This gave them opportunities to steal, and, at the same time, diverted from them all suspicion of being concerned in the arson. The Brooklyn police have a habit of confning supposed confed- crates in adjacent cells, and then listen ing to their dialogues-probably after informing each that his late companion in crime is in the contiguous room, but evitably leads to inter communications, to "squeal," and each revealing enough to enable the officers of the law to grasp the facts, and sometimes additional culprits. In this manner these fire bugs are represented to have seriously enlightened the police in regard to a number of fires, the extent of the plum dering thereat, and so on. Incen- diarism is being reduced to science, it appears. It is becoming, like mur- der, one of the fine arts-by no means one of those " lost arts" upon the sub- ject of which MT. Wendell Phillips lectures so often and SO interestingly.
Connecticut western news., 1873-02-28
The Death of Ex-Governor -Geary.

John W. Geary, whose sudden death is announced, was born in Westmore- land Co.,, Pa., in 1920. After serving as a merchants clerk he entered Jeffer- son College and after his graduation he became a civil engineer. During the Mexican war he served as Lieutenant Colonel of a regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers and was slightly wounded at Chapultepec, where he commanded his troops. On the same day he con- handed the regiment at the attack on Belen Gate previous to the capture of the city of Mexico. After the capture he was made Colonel and placed in command of the city as reward for his gallant conduct. At the close of the war he removed to San Francisco. where he occupied the offices of Post master, Alcalde and first Mayor. From July, 1856, to March, 1857, he was Gov ernor of Kansas. In 1861 he raised and equipped the Twenty-eighth Regi- ment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, was made Brigadier- General in 1862 and was appointed Military Governor of Savannah when that city was captured in December, 1864 In 1867 he was inaugurated Governor of Pennsylvania and held that office until succeeded by Governor Hartranft this winter.
Connecticut western news., 1873-02-28
A Goat Story.

A correspondent sends us an account of little affair that happened in his place. It appears that there was a young woman, a fine spirited girl, en- gagged at wash tub, opposite an open door. Just behind her was Q young man, as is generally the case, and in the yard was an old buck that was allowed the freedom of the premises, which is not always the case we are happy to say. We'll, this buck came up to the door and looked in, and the young man going close behind the young woman, pointed his finger straight to the buck, and the old fellow recognizing at once the pressing character Of this mute inyi- tatlon, put down his head and dashed forward, and the miserable man stepped one side and fled, and the young woman all unconscious of the arrangement. re- celyed the awful shock without warning and passed over the tub, and the air for an instant appeared to be full of slippers and wet clothes and hot water and studs. And the next minute that goat came fly ing out of that door at a dreadful speed. bald the whole length of his spine, and with wild look in his eye. And for an hour afterward he stood back of the barn, scratching his chin, and trying to recall all the circumstances in the un- fortunate affair. r.-Dara6tsry .Ne,os.
Connecticut western news., 1873-02-28
An Easy Way to Health.

The appetite is generally keener in winter than in summer but the same low temperature which begets an increased desire for food is apt to do crease the debility of the stomach to digest 1t The most aggravated cases of acute dyspepsia oo- cur this season and the best, in fact, tho only way, to control and them, is to stimulate and tone the stomach and invlgorate and regulate the secretive and discharging organs. To do this promptly, safely and thoroughly (without involv- ing any change in the ordinary habits of the inva hd) 6 course of Hostetter's Stomach Bitters will be necessary. In order to accomplish a radica euro of indigestion, f is not enough to influence tho organs of digestion The liver, tho intestines tho circulation, every organ and evory secretion concerned in the work of assimlating the food and in carrying of tho waste matter of tho system, must be brought into Q natural condition. Upon all these portions of tho living machinery, the great vegetable medicine, which stands at the head of all modern restorattves, acts powerfully and benehcially. The feeble should take at least dose daily at all seasons of the year and it may be taken with great beneht twice Q day by all who predisposed to dyspepsia, biliousness or nervous attacks Ladies will find 1t a very present help in the latter class of complaints, and indeed in all the ailments incident to ths sex.
Connecticut western news., 1873-02-28
Grain Sacks and Jute.

The address delivered by the Presi- dent of the State Agricultural Society at the annual meeting, touches, among other items of interest, that of the cost of grain sacks to the farmers of this State. The expenditure for this item alone is set down at g., ,450, ,00O. These sacks are made of jute imported from India, and worked up in Scotland. The opinion is expressed that the rich bot tom lands, especially in the southern portion of the State, where irrigation Is practised, will produce jute equal in quality and quantity to that of India.
 Besides the uses of this material for grain sacks, it is incorporated into more costly fabrics, while the coarser parts and refuse, known as iute butts, are eagerly boughtup for paper stock. Ac- cording to MT. Reeds estimate, it re. quired last year 2,732, ,222 bushels of wheat, or one-eleventh of the entire crop, to pay for the sacks. There ought to be capital and enterprise enough in California to master this business. The importer of the raw material makes one profit, the manufac- turer another, and the importer third one.
 We have taken hold of sugar produc- tion in earnest, and are making com mendable headway. There is aludicrous side to the fact that we cannot furnish sacks of the coarsest material for the wheat and wool which must be sent to the market.
 We have made very little progress in the matter of producing textile material. Flax production increases slowly, if at all, although for years high prices have been offered for the seed. Little or nothing has been done in hemp, which has long been one of the most profitable crops raised in Kentucky, Missouri and other of the Middle States. A few per severing men are doing their best for cotton culture in San Joaquin Valley, and with every prospect of success. The two and Q half millions of dollars re- quired for grain sacks ought to send some pioneer into the field for jute.- San Francisco Bulletin.
Connecticut western news., 1873-02-28
An Uneasy King.

When, in December, 1870, the crown of Spain was presented to Amadeus, at Florence, the pleased young man re- marked "I have before me a smooth, and hope happy, course to pursue. Alas for the vanity of human hopes Prim, who presented the name of Amad- GUS to the Spanish Cortes as Q candi- date, was shot in his carriage the day before the new King arrived, and died the day that he landed. Amadeus arrived in Madrid in January, 1871, and forthwith assumed the duties of King, since which time he has found anything but smoothness in his path, while he has been a shining mark for the con- spirators, who have used his royal body as a target for their irregularly aimed bullets. Spain was no easy country to pacify. Isabella had been driven out in 1868, and in June, 1870, she wrote her formal abdication in favor of her son, Prince AlfoAzo. Immediately after this, the crown was rendered to Leopold, of Hohenzollern, whose pre- tentions Louis Napoleon disputed, and on account of which the Franco-G German war, with all it's disasters, was waged. Meantime and all the time, there has been a perpetual Carlist conspiracy either smouldering in the embers or bursting into full blaze. Amadeus has had steady insurrection on his hands, Cuba has been in ferment, and altogether things have gone quite awry. Two weeks ago Prince was born to the royal pair. The cities were jubilant. The North country was not. In fact, the Carlists manifested their sense of the gravity of the situation by breaking out into hostilities. The immediate cause of the present disposition of Amadeus to resign is the persistence of the Ministry and the Cortes in keeping Don Hidalgo in high office. The King has not been able to keep a Ministry together for any length of time, nor has he been on good terms with the CorSes. In his New Year speech to the deputation of Parliament, the King expressed very strong anti-slavery sen timents in regard to Porto Rico. He is far in advance of the Cortes and the Ministry on this subject. They mean to promise only and to daily and delay. He is earnest in behalf of Emancipa- tion. It appears now as if Amadeus could do no better than to abdicate the throne. Should he do so, a Regent will doubtless be elected, and Spain will cast about for another sovereign. There are many monarchs and aspirants out of business in Europe now, among whom 8 suitable occupant for the throne ought to be found. But no Bourbon or Carlist will do, and the Republic may yet be proclaimed and set up.
Connecticut western news., 1873-02-28
Woman Suffrage in Maine.

The convention just held at Augusta to form State Woman Suffrage Con- vention surprised even the friends of this movement by the large attendance and great interest shown. It is very evident that the question is exercising the public mind and has gained strength to an extent that most persons are slow to admit. It is significant that it has already passed from the stage of jest and ridicule to that of re- spectful consideration and candid argu- ment and when a question like this has reached such a position 1t cannot long be kept out of the political field. Indeed, when such papers as the Port land Press and Belfast Jott1'naI-repre- senting both political parties - take strong ground in favor of the move ment, it is evident the question is like ly soon to become practical one.
 One of the objects of the convention at Augusta was to present the subject to the Legislature, and particularly to the Judiciary Committee of that body, who have before them resolve sub mitting to the people an amendment of our State Constitution, striking out the word "male" from Article 3, relating to the qualifications of electors. The adoption of such an amendment wonld extend the right of suffrage to women who are qualified to exercise such right in other respects. In order to submit the question to the people, two-third vote of each branch of the Legislature would be required. As there are many members opposed, or at least not com mitted, to woman suffrage, who would vote to submit the question to the peo- pie on the ground that many citizens desire the opportunity to test the pop ular judgment on the question, there is bare possibility that the resolve may be reported and receive the requisite vote to bring it before the people next September. r.-LeaOistoaCr Journal.
Connecticut western news., 1873-02-28
A Mermaid.

The Los Angeles (Ca1.) Eapress de- scribes the mermaid" now on exhibi- tion in that place. It was caught by Captain Eastman, of the schooner Ros- COO, enbalmed by Dr. Lyford, and has been exhibited at San D1ego. The body is about three feet in length. The eyes, in large sockets, were pricked to let out the water, in the embalming process. The mouth is very broad, with twenty-eight curved and singularly shaped teeth. The nose is combina- tion of the Roman and the snub. The brow is deeply indented with heavy brain lobes :; long and broad ears adorn the queer-looking head, and short, woolly hair covers the head and sides of the face. The cerebellum and Ad- am's apple are very prominent. The arms are leng and terminate in long claws, consisting of four fingers and Q thumb, with the sharpest of nails. There are eleven ribs extending around the body and meeting at the breast. Here the fishy portion of the thing be- gins. It is covered with scales, the spine having the dorsal fin, and the fish continuing in the usual development to the tip of the tail.
Connecticut western news., 1873-02-28

A BITTER CONTRovERsY.-The tenn perance organs are waging bitter war on the manufacturers of alcoholic bit ters, and their attacks are resented with equal bitterness by the latter, who seem determined to prosecute the quarrel to the bitter end. In the meantime novelty in tonic medicines is making immense progress in the confidence of all classes and conditions of society throughout the United States and British America. We refer to Dr. WALKERS CALIFORNIA VINEGAR BTTTERs, and we call 1t novelty in tonics because it contains no alcohol-an article hereto fore considered essential in medicinal invigorants. The abstemious portion of the community approve the omission, and as the new remedy is curing dys- pepsia, biliousness, nervous affections, and, in fact, mai jority of the diseases, external and internal, which prevail, it is difficult to see how the more self-in- dulgent portion of our fellow citizens can conscientiously object to it. One thing is certain; if ever there was what the French call "grand success" the sudden and continually increasing pop ularity of the VINEGAR BTTTERs, desire that name. The advocates of temper ance point to the salutary effects pro- duced by this inalcoholic restorative as a proof that spirituous stimulants are not needed for medicinal purposes-a position which has been recently taken by many eminent medical practitioners. Com
Connecticut western news., 1873-02-28
A Startling Statement.

Dr. Carroll, of Staten Island, who has given much study to the causes of disease in the city, and written much upon the subject, puts down 12,00o deaths in one year in the city by pre- ventable diseases or those of the zy- motto class, through poisons introduced into the system from without. Com putting the smallest number of rocov- cries for every death during the past year, there must have occurred in New York, at the lowest estimate, more than 32, 900 cases of serious sickness due to defective drainage alone. The dele terious emanations from such sources serve both as vehicles for specific poisons, and, by their facilitating in huence, render persons exposed to them more liable to succumb to other ail- ments, the danger finding equal footing in the Murray Hill homes as in the pauper homes of Baxter street.
Connecticut western news., 1873-02-28
The New Postage Bill.

The following is full text of General Farnsworth's bill to further amend the postal laws, as it passed the House of Representatives:
 Be it enacted, 6c., That on and after the 1st day of July next on all mail mat ter which is wholly or partly in writing, except book, magazine, and newspaper manuscripts and corrected proofs pass ing between authors and publishers, and excepting also correspondence or postal cards, on all printed matter which is so marked as to convey any other or further information than is conveyed by original print, except corrections of which is sent in violation of law or reg ulation of the Department respecting inclosures, and on all matter to which no specific rate of postage is assigned, postage shall be charged at rate of two cents for each half ounce or fraction thereof, and this provision shall include all letters commonly known as drop, or local letters, delivered through post offices or their carriers and magazine manuscripts and newspaper manuscripts are hereby declared to belong to the third-cla of mailable matter.
 SEC. 2. That from and after the first day of January next, under such regu- lations and in such manner as the Post master General shall prescribe, postage provided by law to bepaid upon printed matter or mailable matter of the second class shall in all cases be prepaid and collected at the offices respectively where such matter shall be mailed, and the postage on daily papers not exceed ing four ounces each copy in weight shall be charged and collected at the rate of fifteen cents per quarter; Pro- vided, that weekly newspapers within the respective counties where the same are printed and published, and none other, may pass through the mails free of postage as provided in the eighth clause of section 1S4 of the act to revise, consolidate and amend the estatuees rela- ting to the Postoffice Department.
 SEC. 8. That any person who shall take any letter, postal card or packet out of any postoffice or branch post office, or from letter or mai1-carrier, or which has been in any postoffce or branch postoffice, or in the custody of any letter or mail-carrier, before it shall have been delivered to the person to whom it was directed, with the design to obstruct correspondence or pry into the business or secrets of another, or shall secrete, embezzle or destroy the same, shall, on conviction thereof, for every such offense forfeit and pay a pen atty not exceeding $500, or be impris- oned at hard labor not exceeding one year, or both, at the discretion of the cO1lrt
Connecticut western news., 1873-02-28
The Great Battles.

An article in the last number of the Militair- Wochen6latt on the great bat Gravelotte, and Sedan contains some interesting details re- garding the relative positions and tac- tics of the armies engaged. Gravelotte was purely an infantry and artillery fight. At Koniggratz, on the contrary, the cavalry of both armies engaged in frequent smaller or arg CT conflicts, es- pecially towards the end of the battle. At Sedan, again, the French cavalry only attacked en naSse, and were in- variably driven back by the German in- fantry. The handling of the artillery showed a great advance at Gravelotte and Sedan, compared with Konie gratz. While in the artillery combats of the centre on the Sd of July, 1866, there is no trace of any uniform plan on the part of the general in command, at splendidly handled. After none of the three battles was there a protracted pursuit. The numbers engaged at Koniggratz were much larger than at either of the other two battles. The Prussians mustered 215,O men, as against 220,00 Austrians and Saxons, whereas at Gravelotte there were only 1000 French against 200, 900 Germans, and at Sedan 10000 French against 200, ,000 Germans also. Koniggratz was, in point of numbers, the greatest battle of the century, as there were 30,0O0 more men present than at Leipzig. The losses in killed and wounded at Konig- gratz were 30,000 Austrians and Saxons, as compared with 10000 Prussians, or & total of 10000 men. At Gravelotte there were 14,00O French and 10000 Germans killed and wounded, or 34, 900 men in all while at Sedan the total loss was 4,0OO, namely, 14,000 French and 10, 900 Germans. Thus Koniggratz also shows the largest number of killed and wounded-much larger than we find in the greatest engagements of the war of 1S70-71.
Connecticut western news., 1873-02-28

HUNG BY GOLDEN CHA1N.-A some what remarkable circumstance occurred in West Nashville the other day. A gentleman before retiring for the night, took the precaution to place his gold watch and chain under his pillow, that it might not be stolen without his being awakened. To his surprise, he woke up the following morning to find that it had unaccountably been spirited away. He remembered having heard his ser want making a fire, and came to the con- clusion that no one else could have ta- ken it. He called the servant in and made inquiries about it. The servant denied having seen it. This did not satisfy the owner, but the servant was, nevertheless, allowed to depart. His employer now instituted thorough search. After looking everywhere about the room, he found the watch forced half way into rat hole. He pulled it out. and to his great consternation found rat at the end of the golden chain, in which it had become entan- gled and been hanged by the neck un- til dead.
Connecticut western news., 1873-02-28

FRAUDULENT B1Ds AND SALES AT AUG T1oN.-There is bill now before the Assembly at Albany, already reported upon favorably by the Judiciary Com mittee, which might perhaps be made more comprehensive than 1t is with ad- vantage to the morals and the welfare of the community. It forbids the mak- ing of "false, fraudulent or fictitious bids with intent to defraud" purchas- CT or any other person bidding at an auction-sale, under a penalty of $250 for each offence. The prohibition, how ever, extends only to auction-sales of real estate, stocks or bonds, perhaps because the transactions being large, fictitious and false bidding is more often resorted to in such sales than in anything else.
Connecticut western news., 1873-02-28
Investment Bonds.

The Northern Pacific Railroad Com pany now has in full operation, with regular daily trains, 321 miles of road. A distance of nearly 200 miles more is structed. The Minnesota Section, immediately on it's completion, entered upon satisfactory business, including local trafic and the large carrying-trade of the Northwestern British Settle ments and the Hudson Bay Company. The recently completed section of sixty five miles, on the Pacific Coast, at once commands profitable business between Puget Sound and the Columbia River, heretofore done by coastwise steamers. On the opening of spring, with more than 500 miles of Road in regular op- eration, the Company will control the extensive and productive trade of the Upper Missouri, much of Montana and the Northwest. The earnings of the Road for 1873 will be large.
 Arrangements for pushing construc- tion vigorously the present year are progressing satisfactorily.
 Of the nearly Ten Million acres of land accruing to the Company in con- nection with the portion of Road now virtually constructed, some Two Million acres, of excellent average quality, are in market and their sale and settlement progressing. The average price thus far realized is $5.66 per acre-which is at the rate of more than $100,00O per mile of road for the whole grant.
 The Company has already begun the process of redeeming and canceling its First Mortgage Gold Bonds, as they are now being received at 1. 10 in payment and exchange for the Company's lands.
 With these accomplished results and most favorable prospects, the Company i. is now selling it's First Mortgage 7-30 Bonds for the purpose of completing its line of Road. We recommend them as a we'll secured and unusually profit able investment. They have the follow ing clements of strength and safety: They are First Mortgage on the Road, it's Right of way, Telegraph lines, Equipments and Franchises, and first lien on it's Net Earnings. In addition to this usually sufficient security there is pledged for the payment of principal and interest, Land Grant of 12, 800 acres per mile of road through the States, and 25,600 through the Terri tories. The rate of interest (seven and three-tenths per cent. gold) is equal now to about 84 currency. Gold cheeks for the senli-an,ual interest on the Reg istered Bonds are mailed to the Post Office address of the o,Ueer.
 All marketable securities are received in exchange on most favorable terms. For Sale by Banks and Bankers gen. erally.
 JAY COOKE & Go. FiuoDo;o1 onpts Nor4bern D R R GO