The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-09-06
DONALDSONVIILE La, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER g. 1873.
General News Summary,

General News Summary.
Personal and Political.
The Virginia Conservatives, in session
at Richmond, August Z, nominated Gen
Kemper for Governor, and Col. Robert
E. Withers for Lieutenant-G Governor.
The Ford county, ILL.,, Farmers Con.
vention nominated full ticket of county
officers.
Thomas A. Scott has been elected Pres
ident of the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad
Company.
President Grant left Long Branch for
Maine, August IL. .em...
The Maryland Democratic State Con-
vention renominated The present incum-
bents for the offices of State Comptroller
and Clerk of the Court of Appeals. The
resolutions passed emphatically condemn
all new departures Of the Democracy,
and denounce and demand a repeal of the
baek-pay bill.
F. The Democrats of Maine have nomina-
ted James Titcomb for Governor. The
Convention unanimously adopted the res
olutions passed by the Ohio Democratic
State Convention. 4& %-:-
The Massachusetts Republican State
Convention is appointed to be held Sep
tember II, at Worcester.
Crimes and Casualties.
The steamer Wawassett, running on
the Potomac River between Washington
and Cone River, on August s, about noon,
was discovered to be on fire just before
reaching Chatterton's Landing, about
five miles below Acquia Creek, and al
though headed promptly for the shore,
the flames had obtained such headway
that the passengers became panic stricken
and many Jumped overheard and were
drowned. There were on board the
steamer at the time of the fire, one hun
dred and seventeen registered passengers,
of whom it is stated that over forty were
drowned. At least one half of the passen-
gers were women and children. 1t is said
that the vessel was well supplied with life
preservers and two small boats, but in
their panic none of the passen-
gers seemed to secure the former,
and in endeavoring to launch the
latter, one of them was swamped and lost.
The captain and other officers are said to
have done all in their power to subdue
the panic and save the passengers, but in
their frenzy they were uncomfortable.
E. D. Wilson, prominent citizen OF
New Orleans, was accidentally shot and
killed at Hot Springs, few days ago.
The Warden of the Massachusetts State
Prison was assaulted recently by con-
vict named Whelton, with shovel, and
barely escaped with his life.
The wife of Cassius Claxon, living in
Henry county, Kentucky, was awakened
few nights ago by man named Payne
attempting to get in at the window. Mrs.
Claxon seized pistol and shot Payne
through the head, inflicting fatal wound.
Mrs. Claxon was tried and hOnOrably ac-
quilted.
Hardy Jones was hanged at Newbern,
N. c., August 8, for the murder of Robt'
Miller, constable, in February, 1877
Jones was over eighty years of age.
Another destructive fire occurred at
Portland, Me-, August 9. 1t originated
in the New York freight sheds on Gait
Wharf, and communicated thence to the
Boston freight sheds and the elevator OF
the Portland Grain Warehouse Company
which contained 10000 bushels of corn
and oats. The fire then extended to the
steamers Montreal, Dirigo and Carlotta,
all of which were destroyed, with their
contents. The stewardess of the Dirigo
and her daughter and another woman.
employed on the same vessel, were
drowned. The total loss is estimated al
$500, 1000.
Deputy United Estates Marshal R. T.
Dunn was assassinated by some unknown
party, at Corinth, Miss, August 8. He
was shot through the window, a charge
of huckshot entering his head and killing
him instantly. ... -.~
Later reports estimate the loss of life
by the burning Of the steamer Wawasse1
at seventy. Up to the night of the 10th
fifty-six bodies had been recovered. The
verdict of the coroner's jury relieved tht
officers from all blame
A dispatch from Elm Creek, Neb., say
that on August 5, while party of M'
Pawnee Indians were hunting near th'
Republican River on the Blackwooe
Greek, they were surprised and attacked
by large body of Sioux. Abloody figh
ensued, resulting in the defeat of tn
Pawnees, who lost about a hundred per
sons, comprising some Of the best men Q
the tribe and most of their horses, arm
and game. They were pursued twenty
five or thirty miles, and only escape'
when night came on.
The special agent of the Postoffice De
partment at Salt Lake, reports that high
way robberies on mail routes in tn
Rocky Mountains are becoming frequent
Some time ago the robbers attacked