The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-04
A Hundred Years Ago.

The editor of the Salem. Mass, Ga
zette can conveniently tnrn his files to
1916 for information in regarrl to local
topics during that stirring time. Here
are a few extracts:
The public rulers in Massachusetts
issued a recommendation to the inhabit-
ants not To fire gun at beast. bird or
mark, in order that they might husband
purpose of shooting men. The Pr"vin-
cial Congress issued proclamati"ns invit-
ing all good citizens TO make saltpetre
from the earth under stables, etc, for
the manufacture of gunpowder. And
the Gazette contained in its successive
nnmhers accounts of experiments made
To attain this end The Gazette of De
cember "A furnished accounts of expert
ments made in Philadelphia by "Mr
Thoa. Paine for the purpose of fixing
some easy, cheap and expeditions meth
cd of making saltpeIre in private fami-
lies" The earth of cellars, stables, barns
and onthouSes, open to the air, but COW
cred from rain and sun. is impregnated
with nitre or salIpetre, more or less; and
so also the soil under the floors of b. rms
which are raised from the ground,
where fowls. hogs, etc, shelter.
The Gazrtte of January 25 says
I'VE are assured that Mr.. Nathaniel
Felt, Of Salem, within few days past.
has produced, from only three pecks of
earth which he ook from nnder an old
hearth, sixteen pounds and three quar-
ters of pound of genuine saltpetre.
Probably no town in New England
was suffering more at that time rom the
effects Of the "rehellion" than Marble
head. "a may be inferred from the fol-
lowing
"At meeting. of the inhabitants OF
Marblehead, legally warned and duly
convened at the town house chamber, on
Tuesday, S0th January, A. NJ.
Voted unanimously, That the thanks
of this town be. and they hereby are.
publicly given to our worthy friends Of
Pennsylvania and the Jersies, for their
humane, benevolent and charitable do
nations distributed to the poor distressed
inhabitants of this town, by their COM
mite.
Voted also, That this town most
gratefully acknowledges the donations oi
His Exeeilency, George Washington,
Esq, Major Archelaus Fuller. Major
Ezria Putnam. Lieutenant Flint and oi
all other gentlemen, who, inspired with
compassion at the miserable and helpless
situation of the poor inhabitants of tins
town, have generously contributed to
their relief.
Attest BENJA. BODEN,
Town Clerk"
On the 25th of December last was ia.
ken by Plymouth privateer and carried
in there, a small sloop from New York
Moses Wyman, master, laden with pro.
visions for the ministerial army in Bos.
ton, consisting of thirty five fresh hogs
100 barrels of pork, fifty barrels fine
New York pippins, twenty firkins hogs
fat, some quarters Of beef, turkeys, etc
Last Tuesday sennight Captain
House, with four whaleboats, took and
carried into Barnstahle, sloop of liz
tons burden, bound from La Have fol
Boston, laden with beef, hay, potatoes
and turnips.
We hear from Pepperell that son o
the late Rev. Joseph Emerson, of tha
place, aged eleven years, made quaint
ty of genuine saltpe,re, taking his direc
tions wholly from the newspaper. with
ont any other assistance from any persur
whatever. A good example for othel
little children to follow.