davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21
The PiciOu Mining Horror.

Another of those terrible coliery ex-
plosons occurred on Tuesday Of last week
at the village of Westville, Pictou county,
1913 miles from Halifax, Nova Scotia, where
there are three large collieries 10 full ope-
ration 1t seems that the workmen at the
mines had been on q strike for seine time,
but had on that day begun work again.
During the time the mine had been unwork-
ed, the gases had thus had an oppor-
tuuity to collect, and they exploded as soon
as brought into communication with fame
No pen can correctly picture the narrowing
scenes, when the terrible truth was convey
ed to the mourning wives, sisters and friends
of those who were 80 suddenly hurried into
eternity The people rushed frantically to
the scene Of disaster The utmost excite.
ment prevailed, and for hours it was inn
possible to ascertain who were or were not
in the mine. The women, many Of whom
had husbands, brothers aud sons working in
the coliery, made the air dismal with their
crying. After the explosion, four men
volunteered to descend into the downcast
air.shaft for the purpose Of attempting a
rescue. They were blown up with the Sec
ond explosion, which Immediately followed
About forty-hye Of the men lost were mar.
ried men, ali of whom leave families to
mourn their sad fate. II was the first day
in the mine for some Of the unfortunate
men.
The number Of workmen in the mine a,
the time of the explosion is reported at IF
ty-nine, aud these figures are probably cor.
rect. There is, Of course, no hope Of saw.
ing any of these, and they probably were
killed at once
The cause of the disaster is clearly at.
tributable to the penuriousness of the pro.
prietors OF the mine in not properly venti.
lating it when the work was recommended
and in ncgleeting to provide proper exit
for their workmen. 1t is not pleasant
reflection, but undoubtedly true, that these
deaths might have been prevented if the
employers had taken the precautions which
it was their clear duty to take for the safe.
ty Of the men whom they employed. 1t i,
beyond all our experience or expectation
that such a crime should be punished as il
deserves in the United States. But car
we hope that strcter standard of justice
than our own will be maintained by the
courts Of Nova Scotia
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21

The land in Louisiana under cultiya.
ton has decreased nearly q million acres
since 1850, and comprises about 1000
acres, while the uncultivated tillable lands
will reach about 20,O00,000 acres. In view
Iof this fact. the leading merchants of that
State, in convention at New Orleans, have
been discussing the ways and means by
which to induce immigration there. 1t is
also shown that the agricultural labor Of
the State is annually becoming less efficient,
and its staples and food crops, and even its
domestic animals, its herds and 6,cks, have
been reduced as much as one-third in the
last twelve years, and that fully one-tbird
Of tho population Of Louisiana are resi-
dents Of the cities and towns, and are con-
sumers and not producers and less than one
hundred thousand, or not one-seventh Of
the population, plant, cultivate and harvest
the crops Of the State. The Pieay1ae says
that the planters Of the State could we'll
afford to donate Eve per cent. Of their land
to an association that would undertake to
settle on it white laborers from Europe or
the North, and that if the landed proprie-
tors of Louisiana would give to each actu.
al white settler ten acres Of good land, i,
would increase the laboring force from 25..
900 to 10000 men--a foroe sufficient "a
produce nearly quarter Of a million hogs.
heads Of sugar and 100000 barrels Of mo.
lasses per annuln. Planters would fud
their rsmains ninety-five per cent. Of landl
worth much more than the present value o.
the whole. tt ~ tr.l--
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21

The organ Of the liquor interest, in
New York, has taken pains to collect and
group all the facts connected with the trade
in this country. The amount of tax on
spirits collected by the United States, in
1872, was s49,475,5l6 SO. This repre-.
sents about l00,O00,0O0 gallons, worth at
wholesale ss5, 900, 900, but which brought,
at retail, about s3l7 100000. This az
gregates a money interest Of over $780,.
100000. The beer trade pays a tax to the
government Of sS,573,49S 46. This rep
reseuts retail value Of over s2l2, 600.
900, which, added to the value Of the ar.
ticle to the manufacturers, represents q
money interest Of about $500, 600, 000.-
The wine trade represents no interest o.
$4,000, 900. The import trade Of liquors
beer and wine, represents retail value O
liquors Of s27,000,000; of beer $4,000,
900; of wines, sl35, 100000 or a to,a
Of nearly sl65,000,000. Added to al
this, the capital invested in buildings anc
machinery, etc, together with the expenses
connected directly ard indirectly with tn,
trade, the footing is at least sl,500,000,
900.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21

Mr. Dorman B. Eaton recently opened
the meeting OF the American Social Science
Association, in Boston, with an address
upon Municipal Government. The fact
that Mr.. Eaton is George William Curtis
successor upon the civil service reform ad.
visory board gives additional interest to his
views upon this subject. The main ideas
which he advanced were that politics ought
to have no control in municipal affairs; that
city charters ought to be so framed as to ex.
clude party politicians from office; that the
terms of municipal Office should be extend
ed; that the best and most influential citizens
should vote together, and that the officers
should be sharply held to strict account
ability for their trusts by the people. lie
thinks that nothing will so purify city gov
ernments as the banding together of respect
ability on the one side and the degraded
classes upon the other, but it seems to us
that there are already examples enough Of
substantially that division Of voting strength,
with not always the best results.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21
tUalnhman s. Journal,
WEDNESDAY, MAY 81, 1873.
That Protest.

Immediately after the delivery Of MIR.
Adams eulogy upon Mr. Seward, there ap.
peared great dissatisfaction on the part of
the Republican press and people Of the
country at the subordinate position accord.
ed to Mr.. Lincoln both before his nomiua-
ton to the Presidency and during his event.
ful administration. This dissatisfaction ex.
tended to the surviving members Of Mr..
Lincoln's cabinet, aud il is said Mcssrs'
Blair, Welles and Chase we're to have join
ed in manifesto designed to remedy this
injustice to Mr.. Lincolus memory, had not
the death Of Judge Chase prevented. Mr.
Blair has now published a correction Of his
own, in which Mr.. Wcle' concurs There
could not be-" he says, "a greater miscon-
ceptou Of history than to give to Mr. Lin
coin a subordinate part either in his own
Administration or in the Republican party
prior to the nomination, and compare him
with Pierce, Buchanan, aud other inferior
men whose elevation was due to intrigue
Mr. Blair also reveals the fact, new to most
Of the public, that when Mr.. Lincoln order
ed reinforccments for Fort Sumter, Mr.
Seward had stipulated to give the fort up
to the South Carolinians within FIVE days.
Mr.. Blair may be correct in this las;
statement, and he may not Similar things
have been alleged Of Mr. Lincoln, which prov
ed utterly groundless. But the question OBJ
trudes itself, why do these gentlemen APP
pear as the champions Of Mr.. Lincon's
memory? lie was most bitterly traduced,
both during lis administration and since
his death, by prolessed political friends and
open enemies; and when before have either
Of these gentlemen opened their mouths in
his deience2 They object to Mr.. Adams
Grafton nominally en- the ground of its
exaltation Of the Secretary Of State at the
expense of the President; but it is plain
enough that their real objection Is the ele-
vatsn of the Secretary Of State and the
entire ignoring of the Postmaster General
and Secretary of the Navy, Were they
not members of that Cabinet Lid they
not share its deliberations and triumphs ?
And are they not entitled to part Of its
glory2 Such are the questions which this
newborn championship suggests. So far
as the standing Of Mr. Lincoln is concern
ed, Judge Chase told the simple truth when
be wrote to Blair: There is no occasion,
| think, to apprehend any damage to Mr..
Lincolns memory from the exaggeraton OF
Mr.. Stewards merits" This is true. We
do not concur in Mr. Adams estimate Of
Mr. Lincoln The American people do
not And these seEsuflicent critics need
not have supposed that the proper guar
dianshp of Mr.. Lincolu's memory was de.
pendent upon them. Their emergence from
abscurity to speak on this subject looks
more like resentment at the picture Of Mr..
Stewards pre-emiuence IN the Cabinet, than
like true loyalty to their chief.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21

The reunion Of the various Soldiers
Societies at New Haven last week was very
largely attended and the exercises we're OF
an unusually interesting character. Among
those present were President Grant, Cen
erals Sherman, Sheridan, Devens, Mellow.
ell, Franklin, Burnside, and others. Vice
President Wilson was also present. The
next place Of meeting was fixed at Harris.
burgh, Penn. The National Convention Of
the Grand Army of the Republic held its
session at the same place. The officers Of
this organization for the ensuing year are,
Commander in Chief, General Charles Dew
ems, Of Massachusetts,; Senior Vice Com.
mander, Comrade Gable of New Jersey
Junior Vice Commander, Comrade Fergu.
son Of Wisconsin /; Surgeon in Chief, Com
rade Power, of New York; Chaplain 10
CHEZ, Comrade Augustus Woodbury., Of
Rhode Island with council Of admins.
tration consisting of one comrade from
each State, Vermont being represented by
Adjt. j. II. GouldiDg, of Rutland.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21

The seudo.humanitarians, remarks
the Springfield Union, who advocate the
abolition of capital punishment, are ad-
dicted to quoting mythical statistics from
the experience Of western States, as 10 the
advantages. of Imprisonment over the gallows
as check to murder. Now these same
Western States never fail to furnish enough
statistics of the other kind, and OF equal
value, to make tie, but careful reasoncrs
must regard such data as all alike value
less material for valid inductions. The
United States census, however, has some.
thing to say on this subject which has a
little more authority. In 1850 there were
in this country Il executions and 227 MUIR
ders in a population of 23,l9l,S76. In
1860 there were so executions and $50
murders in population Of 81 443, 1921, and
in 1870 there were 81 executions aud 2057
murders in a population Of 3s,925, sos.
When one murderer in each ten was
executed there were only ten persons in a
million murdered. When we executed one
murderer in every sixteen, the murders
rose to thirty-one in million, and when
we executed one murderer in every sixty.
six, the number of murders was ffty-three
in million. These figures show that the
smaller the proportion of executions to the
number of murders, the larger the proper.
ton of the murders to the population. We
fear the advocates Of the abolition Of capita
punishment will 6ud this very hard nu
to crack.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21

WHAT THE MASSACHUSETTS STArE Cox.
STABLES ARE DoING.-The new liquor law of
Massachusetts,, prohibiting the sale of ale,
beer, ETC., throughout the commonwealth.
after the 9th inst, is being vigorously ex.
ecuted IN the eastern and central portions Of
the State, insomuch that in Worcester and
elsewhere drinks are reported scarce. The
Boston Advertiser speaks Of several cities,
Springfield among them, where there are no
open bars. The Republican says this
should be taken "witb grain" as far as
Springfield is concerned, but, judging from
the state constables' preparations, 1t thinks
there may be such a day at hand the con.
stables really mean business, it says, for u
while at least, aud will try continued
seizures until the dealer closes his shop in
sheer disgust. From Holyoke a state con-
stable sent 10 Boston, Monday, carload
Of confiscated liquors, and 100 barrels moro
are awaiting shipment. Many Of the Oldest
dealers IN that place are now selling out,
and engaging in other business. and their
places are being devoted to other purposes.
In Boston the brewers, bottlers and dealers
continue to hold meetings, every evening.
but no line OF action seems to have been de.
cided upon. The evident purpose to en-
force the law takes them by surprise, aud
there is evidently very different state of
feeling 10 regard to the efficiency of the
state police than was entertained short
time ago. At Fall River, New Bedford
and Worcester extensive seizures have been
made, the local police working with the
state police in most cases.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21

In the Social Science meeting at Bos.
ton, on Thursday, Gen. Walker read very
instructive paper on the census. lie said
that the increase Of our population in the
last decade was 100000 less than it
ought 10 have been at normal rate of ill.,.
crease. This he laid to loss Of life in the
war, and to new habits of life among our
people in the procrastination of marriage
and the prevention of offspring. In 1900
we shall count seventy. five millions. The
rate of increase of the colored population
is decreasing. That Of the German popu.
lation is greater than that Of the Irish.
Gen. Walker spoke of the vast increase 10
the lumber of middemen, traders, aud
transporters, which he regarded as very
bad sign, and result Of the anarchy oil
our money system. The other papers read
on Thursday were by DR.. Edward Jarvis
upon The Influence Of Sex Oh Crime" by
Rev D. A. WATSON upon The History Of
the International" and by Prof G. II
Markoe of Boston upon Legislation in Re
lation to Pharmacy" On the whole, this
years Social Science meetings have proved
a great success in interesting and instruct
ing both the direct participants in tn,
transactions, and the far larger audience Of
readers beyond the doors. The effect o.
such discussions of grave political and SO.
cial topics, elucidated by the best authOri
ties the country affords, are invaluable
agencies too little utilized in forming thai
public opinion which, through the ballot
makes laws.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21

The rage for internal exhibitions has
reached even to Chill, and that progressive
State has devoted s225 600 for the build
ing Of an edifce in Valparaiso for the first
industrial fair, probably, which has ever
been proposed in South America. The
time is set for 1875, giving ample oppor-
tunity for the collection Of the treasures
which, in the shape of raw material Of
every description, exist in profuson iu that
country. If there ever was land that
deserved development as well as needed 1t,
it is South America, and it is to be hoped
that the proposed exposition will have the
effect of infusing a new spirit into her leth-
argic inhabitants.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21

The women of Philadelphia are not
behind the men in the determination to
make the centennial success. They pro.
pose to take 100000 worth Of stock
themselves, and appeal to their sisters
through the country to come up to the work
in the same way. To effect this, they have
appointed committees and subcommittee,
who are thoroughly cauyassing the City of
Brotherly Love, through every street aud
alley, in order that the women of wealth
and women who gain their living by their
own handiwork, may stand together in this
undertaking" After this, "there's no such
word as fall
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21

Two small rocky Islands in the Beh-
ring Sea, says the London Globe, will soon
have paid back to the United States Treas
ury the whole sum expended upon the pur-
chase of Alaska. When the cession Of this
territory was granted by Russia, people
smiled at the bargain made by the Ameri-
cant. II was asserted that Yankee shrcwd-
ness had deserted Mr.. Seward in the mat
ter. IIo knew better, and did not buy
with his eyes shut. St. Paul's and st.
Georges Islands, belonging to the Aleutian
chain, have since been leased to the Alaska
Commercial Company for seal fishing at
yearly rental of $4,000. A tax of SO
on each fur seal skin taken and shipped
from tho islands is also imposed. As lOO,-
600 skins are exported yearly now to San
Francisco and New York, fruitful source
Of revenue is obtained from these two bar
rem rocks. This territorial enterprise Of
the United States is therefore q great sue
cess, and will probably help to develop the
idea so rapidly growing in America that
colonial possessions are useful from many
national points Of view.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21

oJ-The Woodruff has published another
weekly on the Beecher-Tlton scandal. I'm
able to dragon Beecher into the open sup
port of her freelove views aud practices,
she spends her rage 10 the deviish attempt
to blacken him Her writings read like
the rawlings of insanity. Her charges
against the eminent preacher are all hear
say, and her witnesses have one after an
other failed her or denied her stories, and
she now frets and fumes and curses like a
very drab. Happy man to have such a
woman for enemy
1t is very common for malignant persons
to attempt to blackeu the characters Of
prominent clergymen aud eminent men Of
other professions The stories which have
been bruited about in this case are evident
ly fabricated aud malicious There is a
morbid taste for SANDER Of the worst de-
scrption in the communities. aud so long
as people crave the food, there will be
found journals and persons disposed to give
them the unwholesome feast For those
who love to "sup on horrors" supper Of
horrors, ready made and cooked, will be
provided at any time. There are always
men and women enough to do the DEVILS
work.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21

Full details Of the Dixon bridge dis
aster bring out the fact that the structure
had not been generally regarded in the city
as safe one 1t seems even that just
previous to the accident the possibility and
even probability Of break down we're
freely discussed among the crowd, and that
some who had been standing on the bridge
actually went ashore expressing the convic.
ton that it was being too heavily loaded.
Such indeed appears to have been the opin-
ion Of many, who nevertheless kept their
places, and lost their lives Whatever may
have been the defects in the plan or con-
struction of the bridge, it is evident that
the proverbial recklessness of the Ameri.
can character was largely responsible for
the accident.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21

The mining horror which took place
in one Of the Nova Scotia collieries, last
week, was one Of the most serious Of re.
cent colliery disasters. 1t had some points
in common with the terrible Avondale dis.
aster in Pennsylvania few years ago, as
at both places the men were on their first
days work after the settlement Of strike,
and in both cases too the men were shut off
from all escape from death by raging and
unquenchable FIRE. Hardly any conceiya-
BILE form of disaster is more terrible than
these mining horrors, and probably no class
of workmen more literally take their lives
in their hands than the coal miners.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21

The stOne.cutters of Chicago not long
ago struck for higher pay and for less hours
of work, and SO succeeded in obtaining for
while 81 80 per day of eight hours. The
builders let stone alone and used brick, con-
sequeutly the stone.cutters have nothing to
do. They have killed the goose that laid
the golden egg. Now they announce that,
lowing tolthe necessities of the times, "ithey
have concluded to work for s4-but bricks
are preferred at any price, and SO the stone
cutters find their occupation gone. That is
just about the way this style of business
will be found to work.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21

There is no doubt that the use Of alco.
hol as beverage is injurious that it be-
longs to the category ofdrugs and medicines,
and should be relocated to an abnormal
service. Science has thrown great deal
Of light on this matter 10 the past few
years. The facts and conclusions Of sci
ence, the examples and illustrations Of in.
temperance, the duty Of the individual to
society, and of society to the individual, If
kept before the public, will make the en-
forcement Of liquor law seem wise and
reasonable. Moral teaching will develop
the sense Of responsibility in the communi-
ty, and make the execution Of a wise law
seem just and expedient. 1t can then be
enforced impartially and equally and con-
stantly. Entrcnched in an enlightened
public sentiment, it will not be variable and
ftlul ia its action. Law may DO executed
by the enlightened few against the uneulight-
ened many for few times or little while,
but 10 order to an equal and permanent en-
forcement, it must be the expression Of the
will Of the many. The end, therefore, Of the
temperance movement is not simply to get
po'oer enough to enforce law, but to show the
reason for the law, to enlighten and develop
that genuine, hearty public sentiment against
the use Of alcohol as beverage, which
alone is the basis Of all successful probibi.
ton. Prohibition has been advanced to
its present standing in the moral sense Of
our community by means that address mems
consciepces and reasons, by forcibe illus
trations and arguments. 1t must still feed
itself at the same source, or il will soon be
like stream cut off from its fountain. .
We think our correspondent greatly over
estimates the number and prominence Of those
temperance people who ignore moral suasion
and look alone to the prohibitory law Indeed,
we know Of none such. Bat there is little
room for controversy, 50 long as even this wri
ter-much as he magnifes his fayorite weapons
concludes that the law should be brought in
to render the work thorough and eGectual
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21

"A gentleman formerly connected with
the British consulate 10 New York says at
sea Captain Hall was known to be ola very
obstinate disposition, and was considered a
rigid martinez lie was bound to achieve
his end at any and all risks, and without
consulting the feelings of those under him.
A brave man to recklessness, he rarely
weighed consequences and felt that everybody
must share bis own saoguiuc enthusiasm.
This disposition would account for his quar-
rel with Capt. Buddingtou, bis saiing-mas-
ter, at Upernayik, which was only settled
by the captain Of the United States trans
port. The gentleman volunteered the fol-
lowing information which bad come to
bis knowledge in bis official capacity at
the consulate,--namely, that on his last
Arctic voyage Captain Hall had shipped
two Englishmen. Before reaching New
foundland these two men became a lit.
tie rusty. They were afraid of the voyage
and they went into Captain Halls cabin
aud told him so. Nov, men," he said, 81
have treated you well up to the present,
aud mean to treat you well TO the end, but
come with me you must now--you have
signed articles" The two men went to
work little notified but still dissatisfied
Two weeks after, one of them refused to
work any longer, aud Capt. Hall draw.
ing his revolver shot him dead