davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-30
IN ExrRAoBp1xARY rat HU1r.

The Sacramento (Cal.) Union OF the
18th inst. says: "The large, double.
building on the north side of NJ street,
between Third and Fourth, owned by E.
Torrey, and occupied as aboarding house,
has Of late appeared to be the h~eadquar-
tiers of a vast number of bats, which
managed to get in between the ceiling
and roof through small apertures along
side the water-spout. The vampires be-
came a great nuisance, and Mr.. Torrey
concluded to make an effort to get rid OF
them. With this end in view he pro-
cured a fve-gallon coal oil can, and ar
ranged it something like a rat trap, 30
that the bats might enter it readilys but
could not get oat. A number of small
holes were also punched in the can to
admit light. The can was on Thursday
placed in such a position as to completely
cover the opening through which the
animals passed in and out of the build
ing. The result was that a short time
after dark it was filled with the little
pests, who made a great scratching and
sq~uealing. The remainder of the bats,
finding their usual place of exit stopped
up, looked about for another, and dis
covered a small hole in the plastering of
the ceiling. Through this they made
their way in great numbers, and found
themselves prisoners in the sleeping
apartment of two young women. The
latter aroused from their slumbers by a
mysterious noise, and feeling their faces
famed by invisible wings, became
alarmed and sprang from the bed, but
their feet came down upon a mass of
squirming, scratching and biting some
things, while other something's struck
them in the face, and on the head and
body, chattering ~viciously, and having a
d~isagreeably cold and damp feeling. 1t
was not pleasant situation by any
means, and the girls opened the door and
fastened into the hall, calling for assist
ance and closely followed by their tor
mentors. Other occupants of the house,
alarmed at the noise, opened their doors
to see what the trouble was, but were
glad to close them again to keep out the
bats. Some of the bOarders desired to go
down stairs, but every step was a bat
roost. and they had to get out upon the
balconies. After much hard work, which
lasted nearly until daylight, The animals
were driven or swept from the upper
story down into the basement where
they were gathered into a heap, SO far as
possible, and killed by the application of
boiling water. Those thus killed num-
bered. by actual count, $50, and the
girls subsequently killed four more in
their room. The trap was placed in q
wash-tub filled with water, and its occu-
pants drowned. There being consider
able curiosity to know how many bats a
fve-gallon measure could hold, they
were counted and amounted to 228. The
slain, all told, filled four buckets. Yes
terday the opening in the ceiling was
plastered up and the trap set again. Last
evening it was well filled, judging frem
the noise, and it was estimated that there
was a right smart chance of bats about
the house still"
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-30
CHTNA'S AWFUL FAMINE.

|
h Dead already Numbered by Millions
The famine which our Shanghai cor
respondents letter describes this morn
ing, is a disaster of Woful magnitude. Il
extends over a very wide region of the
empire, it is carrying of the population
by thousands, and there is no near hope
that its raVages will soon be over
Through the north and east of the coun.
try, from the near neighhorhood of the
imperial city and from the shores of the
Yellow sea, beyond the line of the great
wall which shuts off China from the
western world outside, the terrible visi,
tatiou extends. The suffering, we are
told, is beyond description. 1nsaddition
to the multitude who have already per-
ished under it, there is the larger num-
Der of those who are just managing to
keep alive, and from whose exhausted
ranks fresh victims are continually added
to the dismal roll. Anything that will
allay hunger is eagerly sought after, no
matter how uninviting or unfit to be used
a food. The rotten thatch of the houses
and dried leaves that serve generally
for fuel are not now neglected as nause.
u or unsatisfying, and lucky indeed
is the man who can get a full sup
ply even of these. The government
is making the semblance of an
effort 10 relieve the widespread misery;
but the means it employs are wholly in
adequate. An expression of verbal SYM
pathy, a grant of money which allows
about a farthing a day for the relief of
each case of distress, and some we'll
meant but mistaken edicts, which have
had the effect of simply making matters
worse than before, are the measure of
assistance which the Chinese rulers can
bestow. The famine proceeds in spite of
them, and matters are rendered worse bv
the intense cold which was prevailing at
the date OF our correspondents letter.
and by the which lay SO deep as to
prevent the people from picking up any
Of the wild produce of the soil. As
advances and as the weeds begin
10 grow and the trees to be covered with
there may be a change expected
or the better. Meanwhile there is no
tclbe found, except in the readi-
less of the people to do anything and
ubmit to anything that will furnish
hem with the bare means of supporting
life, and in the willing but insufficient
elief found which is subscribed among
he foreigners resident in China and dis
ributed by the Protestant missionaries
a the North.
The cause of the famine is the same
5 that from which India is now suffer-
ag. The crops of last summer we're
re are told, almost entirely destroyed
, drought, and the peasantry have
ew come to an end of their slender
serves of grain, and have nothing left
4 which they can fall back for support.
nina is a country in which at the best
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-30
WrHE SLOPE.

- E%E#- #=EEWL @Bz-
Down 1ife's western slope alone
/ seem to tread my lonely way;
Behind are years forever flown
Before me n eternal day.
Ali, am | now indeed alone?
Is there for me no friendly guide?
No willing hand within my own
No loving helper at my side?
No one to earthly vision clear,
To cheer, to help? Ne mortal hand
No loving one-no friend is near
To guide me DER the darken'd strand
Yet sweetly felt In waking hours,
And dimly seen around my bed,
At night, when sleep the form e~'erpowers,
Are darling ones the world calls dead.
They are not dead! They speak to me
In gentle accents sweet and clear:
Telling Of joys that are to be
Aud OF q heaven that's ever near.
And soon this feebIy -beating heart
viii cease the passing time to count
Spirit and body kindly part,
The soul or wings OF light will mount,
Oh, joyful thought Oh, vision bright!
The lonely homesick soul to cheer!
Remain to bless my spirit sight,
That / may know thee ever -
Then the declining slope TLzISsd,
With fearless step and oyful heart,
And cross the valley of the dead,
Nor sigh when calld from earth to part.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-30

"YAEKIN WAR;" is the Turkish cry
of fire, and instead of ringing alarm bells,
the Constantinople authorities discharge
seven Krupp guns. The locality OF the
fire is indicated by flags or lights. The
fremen are called "tumulbadg;s," and
the different companies often fight each
other. Is in Christian countries. The
sultans themselves used to run to the
fires, but they are now more d~ignifed.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-30

NEW ORLEANS Democrat: The cot
ton-gin created q revolution in the cob
and production of this important fleece.
Recently another invention has been
patented which may produce almost as
marked an effect as the cotton,gi 1t
is the picker. 1t is a ~wagon-like ma
chine, which is driven through the
ripened folds, and picks clean every
scrap Of cotton, and nothing except cot
ton, and saves the labor of one hundred
hands. Where the price of the staple
may go to with this invention in general
use it is impossible to fathom. This
machine is a North Carolina affair, and
Is said to do good work.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-30
CURRENT

THERE are 375 appointments to be
made on the police force of New Orleans,
and there have been $500 applications
(only), and, Governor Nichols having
been consulted, is of the opinion that
the 975 vacancies won't stretch to the
desired capacity.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-30

INDIAN territory has a larger popula-
ton than the state of Nevada, number
ing 1900. It is a sad mixture of
whites, Indians and negroes. There are
wild Indians "by blood" called blanket
Indians" composed of Usage, Cheynnes,
Aarpahoes, Kiowas and Pawnees. These
do not till the ground, and are not much
mixed with each other. They humber
about 10000. There are other "Indians
by blood" that are not wild, such as
C~herokees, Greeks, Seminoles, Choctaws
and Chickasaws. They are partly civil
lied, and much mixed. There are white
persons, who have married IEa.ans, and
are called Indians by marriage"
They are entitled to all the privileges of
the tribes. The negroes OF the nations
Of Cherokees, Greeks and Seminoles were
made free by the treaties of 1866, and
are called Indians by treaty" OF the
civilized Indians by blood" ." Indians
by marriage" and Indians by treaty"
there are $4,000. There are, however,
$500 negroes who are not "Indians by
kreatv.D
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-30
Il FINE DISPLAY OF BALL LIGHT.
MING.


A very fine display of ball lightning
was witnessed at Venee, in the southeast
of France, en- the nightsOf March 21-22,
by M. Ed. Blanc, of which an7nteresting
detailed account has just appeared. To-
ward midnight there was observed about
eleven miles northeast Of Venice a large
black thunder cloud i'll a state of ex-
treme agitation, and continually raising
and lowering its position. At the upper
part of this cloud three or four balls of
fire issued every two minutes, as if from
the invisible centre of the cloud, diverg-
ing iGall directions, and after running a
cour5e ffrou SIX tte eight degrees, kEeEe
silently with effulgent brightness. Their
apparent diameter, as seen at a distance
of eleven miles, was about a degree.
They we're mostly of a reddish color, q
few, however, being of a yellowish tinge,
but all of them assumed a white color in
the act of bursting. Their course, which
was horizontal and parallel 10 the plane
of the cloud, was relatively slow, not ex-
.ceeding two degrees per second, and
they bore a strong resemblance to i'm
mense soap bubbles, both as regards ap-
parent hghtnesa1 and general appearance.
From time to time a discharge of light
ming passed. through the cloud from
above downward, followed some seconds
afterward by a dull rumbliDg sound.
The cloud, with its fine display Of fire
balls, took a course from east to west,
passing about a league to the north of
Venice. The glimmering of the light
ming with its Cow dull t1dunderous sound
continued for more than an hour, after
which the sky became darker and
darker rain mixed with hailstones fell,
and lightning, accompanied With thun-
der, turrowed the sky in all directions
Nature.
The Burlington Hawkeye man is ss
well as could be expected. He gave the
baby some paragoric the other day and
launched out thus: death, while pass
ing through Des Moines county one day,
met an Iowa tramp going to Burlington
to beg his breakfast. 'Ahi' exclaimed
the King of Terrors, with a grim smile,
I'D give $1,000 to get hold of enc Of you
fellows But the tramp only laughed
in a sardonical manner, and giving
a kick that made his anatomy
rattle like a stgeet car, passed on to his
repast while the King of Terror sat down
the hillside and cried with vexation."
And then he Immediately turned right
around and did thus: "a man on Pond
street went down to a New York bank
,upt sale the other day and bought a
beautiful spring suit, imported goods,
worth $s5 for $3.50. The first day he
wore it he was caught in a drenching
ain, and then as he walked out in the
iunshine his new clothes began to shrink
I'D around his shoulders and pulled his
out of joint, and his trousers gath
red themselves up like a balky horse
,icked the man up, walked him along I
his tip toes for a half a bloch a9d I
7ere just on the point of twisting him {
lear over a garden fence, when his sus-
gave way and let them fly right
yer MS head and he never saw them u
-
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-30

THE regattGs of Washington and Lee
university and the university of Viz
ginia will occur in June,
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-30

If the price of q good sewing machine
u reduced to twenty-five dollars, it will
Be q G~od-send4to the poor sewing women
lof the country and yet fully repay the
manufacturer and agent who sells them.
The country is full of patented humbugs
nearly everything we wear or use or
eat or drink has apatent on it. Every
crooked wire, every Inch pin or horse
shoe nail has some tinker demanding a
tax upon 1t for his patent twist.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-30

APPROPRIATIONS by congress to
southern waters: Mississippi, Missouri,
and Arkansas, a balance of $25, 600;
ouachita, Arkansas, a balance of ST.
200; Yazoo, Mississippi, $4,000; Little
Kanawha, West Virginia, $500; Hia-
wasaee, Tennessee, $4,000; mouth of the
Mississippi, a balance of $4,000; Apo
mattox, Virginia, $4,000; New river,
Virginia, $15, 1000, Cape Fear river, North
Carolina, $4,000; South Branch Eliza.
beth, Virginia, $1,000; Norfolk harbor,
$500; Perquimona river, North Caro-
lima, $4,000: Nansemond river, North
Carolina, $1,000 ; French board, North
Carolina, $4,000 and this exaausts the
appropriation,
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-30

MooDY and Sankey have concluded
their Boston labors The Advertiser
says: Boston has not been profoundly
stirred. A large majority of our citizens
have been no more effected by it than
by any other temporary phenomenon
which they knew was an occasion of in.
terest to many, but which assert no i'm
peratiYe demands upon their attention"
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-30
Te7zar: EW1NG M4CH1NE MONOPOLY.


Since 1857 rhhgs teslhssz HAT haSs ng no.
nopoly has been an oppressive one upon
all classes buying this kind OF machinery.
The profits exacted by the combinations
owning these pate nts have been excessive
and outrageous. About a week since a
number of important sewing machine
patents expired. The commissioner of
patents refused to granJP these renewals
any longer, and congress declined also,
although q hundred thousand dollars
had been pooled by the four great
companies to procure an extension of
their patents. 1t is believed now that
the prices of machines will within a year
or less be very much lower than ever
before.
The New York World says, TIE folloa-
ing statements of the cost of a machine
was obtained from a careful average of
the business of a first class company, and
was based upon the sale Of !, 900 machines
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-30

1ost g manufacturing a $40 machine..........$i5.W
Proportion OF expenses of distributing offices
on each machine. l0.00
commission PAID 70 canF9ssers, 30 per cent?. n. 90
ost OF correcting quarterly paymentB.......... 100
L1Wo years interest on $50
harBlho i pFcnt. 1875
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-07-02
DIED.


EDELIN. On July ?, ISL, after a long ana Main
iul Illness OF ccnsUmf tlon, WILLIAM II. EDELIN,
aged 81 years sni months
fuL cral viii take rlace from his late residence,
No. b1B q street southeast az halt past : % clock
THURSDAY, sih day OF July. Friends a the family
are requested 20 at, nd. 81
SROsH. At the residence Of Rev. A. b. Grosh,
s2O 9TH street Northwest, q &. L GRus< teller i'm
the First atioual Bank u Marietta Pa 10 the 6jth
year OF hls
Funeral al Marietta on Tuesday, Sd inst.
LOGAN. On the M -rninR Of July L. ls7T K.-..a.
Scr funeral wall take plsce from her reSidenca.
3123 q ret nOrthWe q, WEDNESDAY, ath inst, Al
clock. Relatives and friends invited 20 at
tend.
LAPoRTE. On July LIT. Is77, at 10 10 D. m, after
painful illness 81 several years, Mrs. ANN La
Porte, aged seventy tsOl years
The funeral VIII taKe place from the residence OF
Der daughter Mr.. A. Z. Bailey, No IOIs sth 81.
ana acqusinfances 81 the family invited TO at
tend Dew York, san Francisco and Atlanta Cal
papers please copy.l
MILLER. BENJAMIN FRANEIIN, infant son OF
Frank A. and Ada A. Miller, aged months aud
dave.
funeral Monday, July 2, al O'Clock D. m from
1908 fennsJ yania avenue northwest, 20 which
the friends Of the family invited.
SKINNER. On July lst, lS77, Of cholera infau-
tum, MES BgRSsIDE, youngest child Of Enoch q.
and Rebeocs 81 inner, aged % months and y days.
funeIsi tIis Monday evening, Al , 30 clocks
from II 40 street northeast. Friends Invited.
wIswALL. July I'd, ls77. at o 'osocf a. m,
OWN lOVEJOY. aged months and II days iuf.rt
Of j. G. and Emma Wisvsll.
Funeral from The residence Of the Hon. william
ID, ats .. m. Friends Of the family are invited.
WALSH. On July !, 1877, AS MRS ANSrx,. Young
est child VI Dr. John n. and helen J. wshh, aged
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-07-02
AUCTION SALES.
THIS AFTERNOON.

TRCsTEE AND EXECUTORS SALE VAL
Il LIABLE IMPROVED REAL ESTATE az
NUkfH D. STREET. BETWEEN lIrH AND
15TH STREETS WEST, IN THE CITY OY
WASHINGTON, d c.
BY vlrtue IF the last will and testament of -
ferdinand Butler, decess-d. and Of the order
and decree Of the Supreme Courf Of the Dis -.
triet OF Columbia, passed in kguity cause No. 9G,
and If deed Of CONVEYANCE IL trust, the under
signed will sell 81 puhlic auction. in front Of the
Premises On Thu RSDAf, tbs 4cih day OF June.
ISL, at the hour II q O'Clock 2. Lot No. p. in
Square 70, according 60 said Buffers subdi ision in
SAID square. with the imRrovems nts thereon. con
sstius OF large. comfortable Frame Dwelling, con-
taiLil g twelve rooms
1erms of sale: One third cash; balance in 6, L
ans IS months, tie purchaser or purchasers giving
his or their notes bearing per cent. interest from
day OF sale. deed given aud deed of trust taken
on the properly 20 secure the deferred payments
All convey sncing ~ the cost u the purchaser or
purchasers. deposit Of $50 required when the
property Is struck of If the terUs Of sale be not
complied with within ten DAYS from day Of sale the
undersigned reserve the right resell the property
at the risk and cost Of the defauting pur haser or
purch Asers, after ten days advertisement.
ANDREW J. JOYCE,
Corner lith aud streets nor Invest,
THOS. j. MYERS,
1915 street northwest,
Trustees and ExecItnrs
WASH. b. WILLIAMS, Auct. Jele-eoans
THE ABOVE SALE Is POSTPONE
until MOSDAY. July ~, 1871, same hour and p'a''
JeSs,d WASH. b. WILLIAMS, Auct.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-07-02

JUNE 24,IsTf
TRAINS LEAVE WASHINGT(s from No..
corner Of Sixth and streets, as,Ilows. SP0'
For Plttsburg and the West, O: 4 o m daily with
Parior Car TO Pittsburg and Slenino CO. f, III
Pltsturg TO Cincinnati, st. Lou and Chicaon.
I:4O p. III. daily, with Palace Ca 10 Chicaao oO'
vBAHLTIMORE AND POTQMACRAILROAD.
and the North, 5:2J 9 m. daily ,xce n sunday,
aud 1:aO D. m. daily, except saturday, With
Palace Cars to Watkins. For Wiiamsnort' Loci
Haven, Elmira, and Watkins, 1910 q D.,
. daily, except Sunday.
Palaee Cars attached. Limited Express of pun
man Parior Cars, 800 a. IN. daily except Sug1ay.
For New York and the East, 5:2J am and 1 80 p.
W daS EXCEPT e, Sunday, with slepins Cars from
For Philadelphis, s:23 a. m and 13O o. m daily,
except Sunday, and $50 and 9J5 .. q daily
Aec1m Limited h1Pfsess s20 IA daily az
Pm. daily, except sunday
For Pope's Greek Line, $50 a m. and 400 D. n
daily, except Sunday.
For Annapolis, $50 8. m. and 4:2O .. .. daily, e1-
re RAIL.
WAY AND ALEXANDRIA GHIpiGASHING.
TON RAILROAD.
For Alexandria, 8, 2, 9, s:10, I0,tIam.,1,3
40 30, 1p. m. On Sunday sftIO q. m. and
For the south, via Richmond, I:ss al, daily. san
m. daily, except Sunday.
Trains leave Alexandra for Washington, 6, 2, $40,
S:19, 10. iism;1 $40, 8, &, and p. m
Tickets information, sleeping and Jarlor car 60
eomnodations can be procured at the sfHces north
east corner OF thirteenth street and PepnsyIyania
avenue northeast corner Of Sixth street and Pennsy
left for the checking Of baggage TO dstnstion rom
hotels and residences.
L. p. FARMER, General PASSENGER Agent.
IRANk THOMSON, General Manager. jee
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-07-02
you've MIDDLETON; r.,. ,,,,o.....

TBgsTEES SALE OF A IHREEsToRY
BRICK H0USk ON THE SOUTHEAST COR
Nh or TENTH AND o sTRKETs SOUTH
By virtue Of a deed OF trust, dated Decem- II
Der I'd, A. ID. ls74. and recorded in Liber No. t.U
IA, folio 81, Of the land records for the Dis Jul.
tIet Of Columbia and At the request Of the holders
u the note secured thereby shal cer for GALE ct
patlie auction, in front Of the premises, al Al
O'clock p m on THURSDAY, July l30, A. ID.
the Gig q washington, D; e; % wit: That part Of
lot. nu1eeEsd seven 90 eight 90, and the east thr
kt numbered FIVE tsb lreoordeS in the Surveyors
once Of said city IN Liber N. r., folio lSO,) which
has the entire front Of nfythree (ssl feet three ~
inches l0 street, with depth Of twenty TD) feet
(s8sD
Terms Of sale: The amount Of Indebtedness secured
BY said deed OF trust unpaid. with the expense OF
sale in cssh, and the balance Ct and es heen
months, for which the Of the purchaser bear
ing interest from the day Of sale and secured by
oeDo q trust on the property sold, shall be al en-
Dyosit OF $40 required 1t the time Of sale All
ofseae aDe not complied with within sevsn days. the
yreper VIII be rvsold at the risk and cost Of the
jssl-SN8dbs ANpREW o,B8ApLxy, Trusss,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-07-02
(rHANOERY SALE OF IRON FOUNDRY AT
" CORNER IRA AND / STREETS SOUTH

By virtue of a decree passed by the Supreme Ia
Court Of the District of Columbia, IN Equity I'M
cause No. ,sS, will soil at public anction,
in front OF the premises, on FRIDAY, July 9th,
XII. at q clock p. m ell that certain parcel Of
real estate in the city OF Washington. D. o., ben
that part OF sQuare south Of Square No. 49, bounded
40 follows: Beginning at the northeast corner Of
said square and running thence south with the line
Of 7th street 30 feet; thence 90 feet; thence
north 81 and thence east 80 feet to the place OF
beginning. The improvements consist Of . Brick
Terms: One third cash. balance at and II months
with interest, secure1 by deed of trust on the prop
erty. deposit Of 100 Will be required of the pur-
chaser at the time Of SALE All convey anciag at the
expense Of the purchaser. II terms OF sale are not
complied with in ten days the property will be re-
sold a. the risk and cost OF the defsu tne purchaser
WIN mATTIEGLf, Trustee, 43J 7th Ut.
WASH. b. WILLIAMS, Auct. jE2i-sas2v
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-07-02
AUCTION SALES.
TOMORROW.
WING. Aucuoneer

1'HohAS BOWLING. Auctioneer.
WELL-KEPT HOUSEHOLD FURSITUsE AT
- AUCTION.
On TUESDAY MORNING, July 81, IS-7 -
CemineL eng at I'D o clock, at the re iience W
= gentleman declining housekeeping. No. "a
LES southeast corner Of "a and streets ! NJ
ncrhwest sh all sell the follow ing excellent house
hold eff cts. viz:
Manu- Psrlor Suite. upholstered in Brown Reps;
walnut M L Table, Window Shades;
ChrCmos, Ornaments, N Entel Clocks
Whsinofs, Bed Lounge:
Walnut Marble ] op Chamber Suite:
Oak and ain ut Chamber Suita.:
Wire spring Underbeds, Husk VI actresses;
Brussels Three ply and Ipsrain Carpes:
Stair Carpets and Oil Cloths:
Oak Extension Dining Table;
Oak Marble Top Sideboaid;
Dining and other Chairs;
China and Glassware:
Silver plated Ware;
Cooking and Heating Stoves;
Tin Safe. Refrigerator;
Kitchen Requisites, 80
Terms cash THOMAS BOWLING,
JeZy1 Auctioueer.