Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-03-02
News Of the Day.

Some excitement Was caused on Wednesday
near the scene of the Combshee riots OF last fall,
few miles below Charleston, 5. g.. by the
by the news that mob Of one hundreu negroes
had fired on sherihS posse sent to arrest y he
gro who had refused to submit to arrest on u
warrant issued by trial justice appointed by
Gov. Hampton, and the posse mad been freed
to retrest. Yesterday posse of = men, black
and white, were sent to dispense the rioters and
arrest the ringleaders The rioters were found
in force at Calf Pen, on the Savannah and
Charleston Railroad but when charged by tho
posse fed without firing sho About twenty
of them were captured with muskets IN their
hands and were sent TO Jail. No one WAS hurt
on either side The shcrltf is still in pursuit OF
the rest Of tbs rioters.
The Packard Legislature at New Orleans,
La, have passed resolutions conforming the
action of the republicans at Washington in sym
oathy with the Nichols government, and de-
clsring that the Packard government has the
confidence Of every man who voted the repuo-
lican ticket III Louisiana; that the Nichols gov
ernment was al unlawful! combination; that
Packard got larger majority than Hayes IN
the State and il Hayes is entitled TO the eecto-
rsl votes of the State Packard is tho lawful eX-
| ecutive thereof. Packard has issued his pcoca-
nation for an extra session Of his Legislature to
| pass general appropriation bill and elect u
United States Senator for the short term.
John Little, who is said to be clerk in the
War Depa rtment, created quite sensation III
the Treasury Department yesterday morning
| by shooting twice At one Of the lady clerks EN-
ployed there named Mary 4. Storer, and then
attempting to kill himself. Fortunately both
Of the shots at the lady missed her, and he in
jured himself but slightly. No explanation OF
the matter is given, except that be appeared to
be drunk. The lady went Immediately TO hor
home, and offered no explanations OF the singu-
lar assault upon her.
Edward Kelly, n young molly Magure," in
Maush Chunk, Pa, jail, for the murder, with
Michael Doyle, of John Jones, n superlGtend-
ent of the Lehigh and Wikesbarre Coal Com
psny, has made y full confession. He says ne
did the decd against his will, but was afraid to
back out lest he be charged with cowsrdce by
his fellow Molly Maguri.s. His confession lnpi-
Gates Others and had caused the greatest excite
ment in the coal regions. Othur confessions
are anticipated.
Starke Perry, son Of Ex-Governor Perry, Of
Florida, who killed John OMalley about two
wears ago at Gainesville committed suicide at
home near that place, on the night OF the 10th
inst by cutting his throat with large knife.
FEAsT1NG AT FUNERALS Probably there is
no other county in the State, or the United
States for that matter, says the Allentown
Chronicle, where fessting at funerals prevails
to so great an extent as in Lehlgh county. The
custom prevails also in the counties of Berks
snd Northampton. When rich farmer or
farmers wife dies the breath is scarcely out Of
the body before preparations for the usual fun.
ersl feast begin on grand scale. Oxen are kill
ed and the fatted calf is brought to the block.
Fowls are slaughtered by the hundred. The
ovens and the cooking stoves are kept busy for
days. cooking, roasting, and baking. Immense
supplies of bread, pies and pastry are provided.
The neigh bors generally do this work un5iddcn
On the day of the funeral the fessting commenc as
early in the morning, and is kept UP TO late hour
in the day. Half dozen tables are kept Ding,
and nearly al The rooms Of The house are occu-
pied by the fessters. Everybody who attends
is supposed 10 eat two or three times day, near
neighbors AS well as those from distance. As
many as from 800 to COO hundred persons ar,
The horses Of attendants are also put up and fed.
Close IS our farmers proVerblslly are 1t ls con
sdered mean to stint on solemn occasions like
these. In f,ct the Immediate family are not
considered ut all in the matter Ihsy are the
"mourner.'' and are at the mercy OF the VOlun
teer attendants, who lake possession OF the
house and arrange everything TO suit them
selves-consulting the fanny of course. but TAX
ing for granted that their most eGtravsgsnt sug-
gest:ons viii. be approved Now all this shows
n crest stretch of ospitality and liberalty, but
it is high time the custom WIS abandoned;
while rich farmer may be able 10 afford It, one
not SO rich must ind it very serious and expen-
siyo business The custom, we bellve, prevails
nowhere except in the German districts OF Penn
slyvanis.