Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-07-01
AUCNDRED YEARS AGO.

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The editor of the Salem Gazette can
conveniently turn his files to 177G for
information in regard to local topics
during that stirring time. Here arc a
/ few extracts:
The public rulers in Massachusetts,
issued recommendation to the inhabit-
ants not to fire gun ut beast, bird or
mark, in order that they might hus-
band their little stock for the more ne-
cessary purpose of shooting men. The
Provincial Congress issued proclama-
tons inviting all good citizens to make
saltpetre from the earth under stables,
ETC.. for the manufacture of gunpowder
And the Gazette contained. in its sue
cessive numbers, accounts of experi-
ments made to attain this end. The
Gazette of December 14th furnished
accounts of experiments made in Phil
adelphia by d" Mr.. Thomas Paine, for
the purpose of fixing some easy, cheap
and expeditions method of making salt
petre in private families The earth
of cellars, stables, barns and outhous es,
open to. the air, but covered from rain
and sun, is impregnated with nitre of
saltpetre, more or less; and so also the
soil under the floor of barns which are
raised from the ground where fowls,
hogs, etc., shelter.
The Gazette of January 25th says:
"We are assured that Mr.. Nathan
iel Felt, of Salem, within few days
past, has produced, from only three
pecks of earth which he took from
under an old hearth, sixteen pounds
and three quarters of a pound Of gen.
uine saltpetre." -.
Probably no town in New England
was suffering more at that time from
the effects of the rebellion" than Mar
blehead, as may be inferred from the
following:
cat q meeting of the inhabitants of
Marblehead, legally warned aud duly
convened at the town house chamber,
on, Tuesday, 3Oth 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 charita-
ble donations distributed to the poor
distressed inhabitants of this town, by
their committee. .. :"
"Voted also, That this town most
gratefully acknowledges the donations
Of His Excellency George Washington,
ESQ; Major Archelaus Fuller, Major
Ezra Putnam. Lieutenant Flint and all
other gentlemen, who, inspired with
compassion at the miserable and help
less situation of the poor inhabitants of
this town, haye generally contributed
to their relief.
"Attest, BANJA BonoN, Town Clerk"
Con the 25th of December last was
taken by Plymouth privateer and car
ried in there, small sloop from New
EInTa<-- l a1dnsas--W -Wrnn3n astar laden
with provisions for the Ministerial army
in Boston; consisting of thirty fresh
hogs, 100 barrels of pork, fifty barrels
fine New York pippins, twenty frkins
hogs fat, some quarters of beef, tur-
keys, etc. :,
sLast Tuesday sennight, Captain
House with four whaleboats, took and
carried into Rarnstable, sloop of 115
tons burden, bound from La Havre for
Boston laden with beef, hay, potatoes
and turnips. t"s-T " IN
"We learn from Pepperell that
son of the late Rev. Joseph Emerson,
of that place, aged eleven years, made
q quantity Of fjenuine saltpetre, taking
his directions wholly from the news
papers, without any other assistance
from any other person whatever. A
| good example for other little children
to follow. ."'.' -''''.' '''.. .a'" ".