davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
and notice was found Of such q
meeting called for the very night
when the city was destroyed.

meeting called for the very night
when the city was destroyed.
AN AMPHITHEATRE--A VILLA.
The amphitheatre, which is about .
half mile from the present excava.
tions, is in a splendid state OF preser.
vation. 1t is built Of stone, is in the
form of the COLISEUM at Rome, and
was used for the gladiatorial shows.
1t is 43O feet long by 356 feet wide. =
The stone steps seat l5, 600 spectators.
Placards with the announcement OF
theatrical performances are still to be
seen on the walls. The doors seats,
pillars, entrances and caves for the
wild animals are as perfect as they
were 1900 years ago.
The "Villa of Diomede," so called
because o tomb bearing that name
was found near by, and for this rea-
son 1t was supposed to nave belonged
to q Diomede, is the one which has
been rendered famous by Bulwer's
description oft. 1t stands just out
side the "Herculaneum Gate," and
the supposed owner was discovered
in his garden with a bunch Of keys
and q purse filed with gold and sill
yer coin in his hands. In the cellar
of Diomede's house, huddled togeth-
er in corner, were found eighteen
skeletons, mostly females, supposed
to have been members of the family.
All were encased in hardened mud
and ashes. One was an infant, whose
form still clung to the bony bosom Of
its mother. Some Of the victims had
rings and bracelets encircling their
skeleton fingers and wrists, and gold
ornaments on their necks.
HUMAN SKELETONS.
Over 600 human skeletons have al
ready been exhumed, but fortunately
most of the inhabitants managed to
escape, having needed the warning
of the burning mountain. Only the
bones remain Of the victims, the flesh
having mostly perished, but now and
then q little tuft of moldy hair has
been found clinging to the SKULL
The positions of the bodies in every
possible form of contortion all indi-
cate . violent death, one of agony
and suffering. A miser was found
grasping q bag of gold in his hand.
In one room q family group en-
bracing each other in death, in an
other the bones of dancing girls min
gled with the broken Instruments of
music, can be seen; in another place
the skeleton of cook at his place
near the stove in the kitchen. One
house contained bones scattered
about bearing marks of being gnaw-
cd, while near by lay the skeleton of
. dog, showing that the brute had
and eaten his master Here
Is a company of young and old, flee
ing to the Sea; there the remains Of
4 mother, vainly trying to shelter her
three little children frcm the fiery
storm. Outside of the gates in his
sentry-box stands Roman soldier in
armor, with the key of the
city gate in his hand. After stand
ing faithfully at his post for seven
teen centuries, he was discovered
clad in rusty armor, the helmet on
his empty skull and the spear in his
bony fingers. In the city prison not
far distant, were found the prisoners,
some with their fleet made fast in
the stocks"
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01

HERE is the construction that the
official representatives Of the Diocese
of Michigan put upon the case of
Bishop McCoskry:
ssThe Post and Tribune of the 23d
inst, says: True and grave circum-
stances are coming to the knowledge
of the official representatives of this
Protestant Episcopal Diocese, which
have forced them to the decision that
the vacancy of the bishopric by its
incumbent, McCoskry, was demanded
by the interests of the Church, and
that the resignation of his office by
the Bishop was due to this conviction
on their part, and not to his free will.
1t was not true that those circumstance
es have been correctly set forth i'm the
gross narrative so widely published,
and in so many instances with revolt
ing obscenity of language"
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
Confederates and Dough-faces.
Chicapn TmAs

The confederate brigadiers propose
to reduce the tax on tobacco from "a
to l6 cents pound. AS tobacco is a
southern product, this is a proposition
to reduce taxation i'm the section of the
southern brigadiers. To compensate
for this reduction of taxation for the
benefit of the southern democracy"
the confederate brigadiers propose to
lay tax of two per cent. on all in
comes over $1,000. AS all such in
comes are found in the North, this is
a proposition to increase the burden
of taxation in that section, also for the
benefit of the southern democracy"
And the northern dough-face BOur-
bons are expected to aid their south
ern masters in carrying forth this
charming programme. OF course the
dough-faces will do it. Obedience to
the bequest Of the confederate briga-
diers requires that they should do it.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
THAT democratic member Of the

THAT democratic member Of the
Ohio legislature from Montgomery
county, the Hon. John O'Connor, has
finally resigned. When 1t was prov
ed he was bounty jumper during
the war, he held on stoutly and his
brother democrats could not see that
bounty jumping amounted to any
thing in these policy days, but when
it was proved that he had, served .
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
OTTUMWA, IOWA, MAY L, 1873.
and lighting match, flung it among

them.
But now something decidedly I'm
expected took place. The combusti
bles were Immediately in blaze, and
soon the flames surrounded the incen
diary on all sides.
He was dumbfounded with terror
and in his intense agitation he drop.
ped his dark lantern. A few second,
later he tried to make his escape, but
the wall of fire around him rendered
this impossible.
Then he began shouting at the top
of his lungs:
"Help! Helpp
But soon the dense smoke choked
his voice, his clothes caught fire, and,
with hcarse oath, he fell down, and
soon afterward all that remained OF
him was disgusting, shapeless, black
mass.
His cries, however, had been heard
by Mrs. Smalls' two slaves. They
hurried to the house and soon discov-
cred that there was fire in the cellar.
They woke up their mistress, and
she. with Mrs. Bocock and her daugh.
sSs CoNhRCu IL Otu tuC IotSt IuSt Ms
the flames reached it
A few minutes sufiiced to convert
the elegant frame building into
MASS OF sMOULDERING RUINS.
All Bowling Green speedily gath
cred round the scene of conflagration.
land Mrs. Smalls' grief over the de-
struction of her property excited gem
eral commiseration.
AT day break the population Of the
town became still more excited, the
charred remains of Ralph having
been found in the cellar.
Then search was made for susDi-
cious characters, and two tramps,
who were found in the neighboring
wood, were arrested.
Their hands were blackened from
some cause or other, and an unusually
large number of matches were found
upon their persons.
They gave their names as Nathan
Drain and Calvin Bennett. but their
answers were generally so vague and
evasive that everybody believed that
they had set fire to the house of Mrs.
Smalls.
The grand jury Of Warren county
was in session at the time, and Drain
and Benedict were indicted tor arson
in the fret degree.
The trial was hurried on with un-
usual dispatch. Woolman appeared
as counsel for them, but
THE wRETCHED MEN
were convicted and hung three weeks
afterward. They protested their in
nocence to the last. #
A few days later Bowling Green
was startled by the news that the in
surance company had refused to pay
Mrs. Small's policy on her house, on
the ground that it was she herself
who had set fire to it
WOolman acted as counsel for the
insurance company and exhausted all
his ingenuity in order to win the suit
but he was beaten, the jury returning
q verdict for the plaintiff.
Mrs. Smalls then had the insurance
agent arrested for defamation of
and, in his terror, the agent
revealed that Woolman had caused
him to solicit her insurance for SO
large an amount, and that he had af-
terward instigated him to refuse pay
ing the policy.
A warrant was Issued for Wool
mans arrest, but before it was exc
cuted he shot himself through the
head
Among his papers, strange enough,
was found an account of his inter-
view with Ralph.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
Burlington vs.. keokuk at Wash.
inRton.


This case is still before the Judicia.
ry committee, with Frank Hatton al
one door and Sam Clark at the other,
both smiling. The committee have
decided in favor of Keokuk, but they
have agreed to make majority and
minority report. When these reports
come up-if they ever do-''then
comes the tug of war" Being b.
hemian am the next thing to proph.
ct, but not quite, and therefore will
not deliver the future in its efforts to
bring forth an end of the greatest
court fight under which Congressman
ever groaned. 1t is rumored that the
plucky wives of Sam and Frank have
quit housekeeping and will soon re.
move to thiscity to select headquarters
for thesummerand winter campaigns.
Plucky and sensible wives.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
FOREIGN.
Terrible State Of Affairs In Bull
garia.


LONDON, April 24.-The situation
in Bulgaria is regarded as very sig
uificant and some papers believe it
may accelerate the course OF nego-
tiations. It's manifest that the Bull
garians are taking terrible revenge
for Turkish outrages in 1876 and the
whole country may fall again into q
condition of anarchy, rapine and
bloodthirsty reprissls. The Mussul
mans are goaded to despair by the
tyranny Of the former victims; the
country is full of refugees from scat
tered armies and disbanded garrisons
Of the Turks. These form the nu-
cleus of an insurrection and they are
joined by the inhabitants of Mussul-
man villages and carry on .. guerilla
warfare against native Christians and
Russian troops. Thus though peace
is numinally established in the East
anarchy reigns in Bulgaria as it did
before the war.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
indian Raid and Snow Storm in
10x0R.

SAN ANTONIO. April "a. = Tele-
graphic reports from the lower Rio
Grande indicate that about 20 persons
were killed by recent Indian raiders
and l5O head Of horses stolen. The
reported number killed is no doubt
exaggerated; nine persons are known
to have been killed by raiders on the
northwest border, between Ft. Con-
cho and Stockton.
The rain and snow storm of last
night did much damage in various
parts of the State.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
State Reptster

The Monroe Mirror advocates the
denomination of Judge Sampson in
the Sixth District to a third term in
Congress. But this ought not to mill
tate against Judge Sampson, who has
such a fine record in Congress, and is
one of the truest, firmest, clearest-
headed representative the State of
Iowa has ever had in Washington.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01

THE Ottumwa Times wants to have
the democracy unite with the green
hackers in this district, nominate Gen.
Weaver for Congress, and also ratify
the nomination of the Hon. j. G..
Knapp for Supreme Judge. The
Times wanted to unite also on Sam
Tilden for President in 1876, and did
unite on him although he was the
hardest of goldites. 1t did not want
to unite, however, last March, in this
city, with the greenbackers, on our
city officers. The freaks Of the Times
are curious and as variable as the
winds. Apparently they are not con-
trolled by matters of principle at all,
but are subject entirely to the views
of the Times as to what pays best.
One would think that this getting
down on all sides of the fence SO fire.
quently, and the poor success attend
ing such efforts, would teach our
neighbor some sense after a while.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
RUSSIAN GENERAL DEAD.
LONDON, April 26.-The Russian
General Heiman is dead.

ST. PETERSBURG, April 26.-The
Journal de st. Petersburg says: eve
hope the intelligence published by
some London newspapers, respecting
the state of negotiations, relates to
the phase now past. At present it is
improbable that England will remem-
ber the opposition in the matter of
phraseology. If reconciliation is sim
cerely desired let Cabinets aim at
what is calculated to draw them clos
er together, and not bring forward
irritating propositions. There is now
no doubt but that Russia accepts the
the broadest possible basis for the
programme of Congress. That she
does not dream Of declining any kind
of discussion is proved by Gortscha-
koff's circular. Should the Cong ress
meet it will be able to deal with all
questions created by events in the
East. 1t now appears that Lord Sal
isbury recognizes the opportuneness
Of an exchange of views previous to
the meeting of Congress, regarding
the possibility of an understanding
being reached and the st. Petersburg
Cabinet shares in that opinion,
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
4 WEEKLY LIST


OF U. s. Patents issued to the inven-
tors of Iowa, for the week ending
April 8, 1878; and each patent in
the list will bear this date. Reported
by telegraph, expressly for the Cou-
RIER, Ottumwa. by A. II. Evans 4 Go.
Patent Solicitors, Washington, ID. 9.
Charge for obtaining a patent 5000.
A copy Of the patent laws sent free.
J w Fee, Corning, Harrow and
Weed Cutter.
&c Letter, Ainsworth, Cultivator.
w s Montgomery, Marshalltown,
Combined lock, bolt and handle.
N z Amisden, Dubuque, egg car
rier fastenings.
b Kelley, Usage. Harvesters.
w Van Houten, Peils, corn and POI
tato screens. Il;
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01

LONDON, April 25.-Employers in
Nelson and Barringford districts,
near Burnley, decided, Tuesday, to
post notices of 10 per cent. reduction.
This decision will affect 10000 per-
sons. At the same time four weav-
ing masters in Burnley have arrang-
ed with their operatives to run four
days per week at 81 per cent. reduc-
ton; 25 only out Of Ito mills are
now running at Burnley and 10000
operatives are now idle.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
storm at xthealins. VI.

WHEELING, April A.-A heavy
storm of wind and rain passed over
this section this forenoon. Heavy
hail accompanied it. One end Of Bel
laire Goblet works was blown in and
quite a number of men slightly and
several seriously iajured. 1t is re-
ported since that two of them have
died.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01

WAsHINGToN, April N.-The House
Committee on naval affairs has agreed
to report bill recommending that
the claim of Mrs. Dshlgren, for tho
Dahlgren.gun, be referred to the Court
of Claims with limit Of $65,OOO.
Regarding the alleged confession Of
McLin and Dennis of election frauds
In Florida in 1876, Montgomery Blair
says he had information some time
ago, that such confessions were to be
or had been made. He and others
were unable to conjecture where the
original papers containing the confess
sions are to be found, il they have, as
stated, been sent to Washington.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
INSURANCE BECOMING rIcKLIsH.

LONDON, April 26.-The critical
state of relations between England
and Russia has caused the Liverpool
Sailing Ship Mutual Indemnity As
sociation to enter into q preliminary
arrangement for the establishment of
q special association to provide funds
for payment Of losses incurred by its
members through capture or destruc-
tion oftheir vessels by acts of war.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01

In his letter to the State Committee
of Ohio, Mr.. Secretary Sherman states
that this is a Republican Admins
tration." We are rather grtified at
this assurance, but would ask the
keeper of the money bags if he has
any proofs about his clothes. -Du-
dsq,e Times.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01

GEN. GARFIELD, one of the six offi-
GERS who composed the court-martial
which tried Fitz John Porter, says
that the latter escaped the death PEN
alty by a single vote.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
Are Good Time. Near AT Hand.

Are Good Times Near at Hand7
We have editorially given ouropin-
ion that an era of good times is now
to begin. We have been SO confident
of this for some months past as to
make our business calculations ac-
cordingly. We have done so with
the utmost confidence and from day
to day our faith becomes stronger and
stronger. We give below the opinion
of the Toledo, (O.), Blade upon this
subject:
"In common with many we believe
that finally the bottom has beenreach-
ed, and that we may now confidently
expect an era of better times,' and
that there will be more rapid reviv-
al of business throughout the country
than the most sanguine would, a
month ago, have believed. The dis
position of the American people is too
elastic, and its temperament too SAN
guine to be kept down, and as each
succeeding year since 1873 to the
present time has added its load to the
preceding one, crushing out business
and business enterprise, until very lit
tie, taking everything into considera-
ton, was done at a profit, SO when the
bed rock is once touched, and the
moneyed men and institutions of the
country are satisfied that such is the
case the reaction will beproportionate
with the previous depression. The
lessons taught would apparently not
be quickly forgotten, but the proba-
bility is that although the first step
will be taken with caution, next will
come the full measure of restored con-
fidence, and in the end, speculation,
as it has ever been before, until bro't
up again by round turn by another
crash and panic.
"There are reasonable grounds for be-
lieving that the dawn of great pros
perity is breaking. The East sends
word that trade is increasing, and that
it is much better than it has been for
several seasons; the crop prospects
were never better; the manufacturers
are operating with more confidence
and improving feeling; new enter
prises are springing up, many ofthem
important, and returns show an in
creased volume of exports, particular
ly in cattle and grain.
"What is true of the East is also
true of the West to a great extent.
= \ \
The restoration of confidence brings
this increase. The improved condi-
tion of affairs cannot fail to have the
effect of enhancing values, and it is
argued by many, who take a full
view of the situation, that now is a
better time to buy than to sell, that to
embark in business is morepromising
of wealth than il the lOaning of mon
ey. All people will watch with anx-
ious interest the events Of the few
coming months, but it is generally
with more hopeful spirit than for a
long time past, and we are inclined to
the belief that their frightened hopes
will be fully realized"
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
Slow to Learn.
C1iufon HuralI

Resumption has knocked the wind
out of Congressman Kelly, the boss
greenbacker, but the little leaders
around the country are not likely to
learn that the bottom has dropped
out for six months to come.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
The Storm In iowa.

=
Additional reports of the storm of
last Sunday now in show the damage
in the district visited by the storm to
be more severe than was at first sup
posed. In the vicinity of Wall Lake
hardly house or fence escaped with
out some injury.
AT CARROLL.
The Catholic church being built at
Carroll was blown down and COM
plete!y demolished. The house of
Daniel Lietz was blown down. The
family were within at the time. The
mother had child in her arms. The
child was torn from her arms and
found in marsh east of where the
house stood. Mrs. Lietz was found
half mile west. One child was in
jured SO that it will probably die.
The ground was strewn with ducks,
geese and brants, with feathers blown
off, and many disemboweled. The
house Of DR.. Stevens was destroyed,
q fine grove ruined, and all the hogs
killed. Mr.. Jordan lost three horses
and all his cattle. Henry Grandt lost
his house, barn, granary and sheds.
John Wenzel, newly married, had a
brand-new dwelling; now he could
not build a pig pen with what re-
mains. Fifteen head of cattle were
killed out of a herd near by. Peter
Anderson, four miles north of Wall
Lake, lost house, barn and granary.
The farm was we'll stocked now he
cannot find even q hen on the place.
Davis Brothers lost a new building,
just completed, and one thousand dol
lars worth Of furniture. Two miles
west Of Sac City man named Owen
lost q house and barn; also a man
named Purdy lost house and barn.
NEAR MApLEToN
u grist mill was almost entirely de-
m0lished. The house of section
boss of the road at Mapleton was ov-
erturned, and child scalded so that
it will probably not recover. The
blacksmith shop of Charles Smith was
blown into the creek.
CRAWFORD COUNTY.
Heavy loss Of property aud life is
reported in the Swedish settlement,
Crawford county, but no particulars.
Near Wall Lake VIM. Holen saw
the storm coming and ran to the barn
to let out the cattle. The storm struck
the barn, and cattle, hogs ana all
went up into the air and have not
been. seen since. A boy was seen
driving home cattle and calves into
the town; the storm struck them, and
the cattle we're seen going into the
air with heads and tails together az
if their backs were broken. The boy
has not been heard of since.
NEAR SAC CITY.
William Beach and two sons, near
Sac City, were killed. Peter Lamp
man, near Ida City, was instantly
killed, and his house blown into
fragments. His wife escaped with
few injuries. Near the same locality
the house, barn aud granaries Of Pc.
ter Lloyd were destroyed, and the
cattle, horses and five calves thrown
one hundred feet into the air and
not killed. The house of Peter Tres.
tor was destroyed. The family took
refuge in the cellar and were not in.
inred. The house of Lawrence Good.
ness was made bankrupt. Chickeni
and turkeys had every feather blown
off of them. George Fael had two
new houses entirely destroyed. and
four houses near by belonging to Mr.
Stetson were blown to pieces.
NEAR DENNIsON
five persons were killed, ten wound
ed, and ten houses destroyed. A
large number of cattle and horses
were killed.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
CUNNING AUSTRIA.

LONDON, April 26.-Newspapers
this morning take q discouraging
view of the course of political nego-
tiations. They claim to see in Aus
tria changing attitude q desire to
wait in hopeful silence to see what
she may profit in the calamities and
weakness Of the combatants.
A Vienna correspondent says In
confirmation of the foregoing utter
ances, that notwithstanding various
demands it is maintained that the
Austro-R Russo negotiations of St. Pet
ersburg are proceeding favorably and
that the chief objection of Austria
against the peace of San Stefano have
met with due consideration.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
aIIlz||||5||IlED
WASHINGTON.
The Florida Matter

WASHINGTON, April A.-Gen. Fin
ley, who contests the seat of Bisbee,
of the second district Of Florida says
the revelations made by McLin and
Dennis accord with proofs he has
gathered in support of his claim to a
sest. Confessions have not yet reach
ed this city.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
KNoTrY QUESTION.

LONDON, April 24.-Though the
principle of the withdrawal OF the
Russians aud English from the vicin.
iity of Constantinople has been &C.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-01
AN ENGLISH SCARE,

LONDON, April GA scare caused
by Russian declarations Of privateer-
ing is reported as having depressing
influence on British shipping interests
on the continent.