davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-16
The jim Riyer-The Longest Stream
in the World Not Nayigable.

The Dakota River, vulgarly known as
" Jim'' River, is a stream worthy OF
more than passing notice. Geographic
cal writer's have heretofore paid little at
tention to this great water-cOurse with
its commonplace fundamentally, we
presume, because they have never had
their attention directed to the fact that
it is the longest river in the world not
capable of being navigable in any of its
parts. Having directed the attention to
this striking feature of its physical make
up, an explanation of how it acquired its
homely pseudonym may prove of inter-
est. The early French traders and mis-
sionaries who came this way gave it its
original appellation, and among them it
was known as River aux Jacques. This
was afterward anglicized into plain
James River, and speedily vulgarized
into the more repugnant title of jim
River. Congress, iii 1861, took the sub
ject in hand, having, perhaps, vague
idea of the part which this extensive
stream is to take in the future of the new
West. and decreed that - it shall here
after be called the Dakota River" But
Congressional enactments are not always
strictly obeyed, and in this case there
seems to be no disposition to accord the
Dakota its legal cognomen.' tits known
as the jim, is spoken of rs the Jim, and
printed the Jim oftener than any other
way. But there is not much Of any
thing in name. The river is there, and
it will doubtless flow on forever, whether
it be known as the Dakota, the james,
or plain jim We have stated that it is
the longest stream in the world which
can not be navigated in any portion by
steam vessels. This we believe to be
the fact. 1t rises near latitude AZ, and
traverses 525 miles of country. 1t is an
exceedingly crooked stream, constantly
doubling upon itself, and crossing and
winding along its prairie bed. Though
we have no official measurement of Its
crooks and curves, its actual length can
not be less than 1000 miles, Through
out large portion of its length it MAIN
tainS nearly uniform depth and breadth,
andmoves with sluggish current. These
are a few of the characteristics OF the
Dakota River, which waters valley Of
incompatible native richness. Settlers
are now fiocking to its banks, and in a
year or two every quarter section OF the
valley will be occupied and worked
Exchange.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-16
CURRENT NEWS.
WASHINGTON.

The Government, through the Post-office
Department, has decided, and if possible
will enforce the decision, that hereafter let
tiers addressed to lottery companies or their
agents shall not be mailed. The order goes
so far as to forbid the sending Of money to
lottery companies by postal order or regis
tered letters.
Ralph Meeker, son Of \. c. Meeker, late
Indian Agent at White River Agency, has
been appointed special agent Of the Depart
ment Of the Interior for the purpose of visit
ing White River Agency at the earliest prae-
tieable day and recovering the bodies of his
father and such other persona as may have
been killed. Mr.. Meeker will also gather up
the papers, etc, of the Agency.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-16

The report of the General Agent of
the Trustees of the Peabody Education
Fund states that the necessity for the
Federal Government granting some aid
to the Southern States in their efforts TO
educate the ignorant classes is greater
than ever before, as the evils that grow
out of popular ignorance spread blight
over the whole country. With 100000
children still without means of instruc-
ton, the danger of the situation is APP
parent The school population of Vir-
ginia is $50, 359 white, and 202,S50 col
ored. OF these but 203,000 were en-
rolled in the schools. In North Caro-
lima the school population was 1854
white, and 1858 colored. Total en-
rollment, 22S,000.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-16

Mr. Montague S. Haste of Vicks-
burg, Miss, has patented a novel
mechanism to be employed for the util-
ization of refuse cotton, technically
known rs "cotton notes" This con-
sists of the refuse of the cotton-gin after
the process of ginning, and it has here
tofore been thrown away as useless, al
though known to contain a large pro-
portion of cotton fiber, the difficulty of
separating the cotton from the foreign
substances being considered too great to
justify the expenditure of the necessary
time and labor in that direction BY
this machine the cotton fiber is separated
from the foreign substances, and is
cleaned and condensed, so as to pro-
duce from the notes large proportion
of cotton of a good quality, and thereby
to make use of what was formerly a to-
tai loss.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-16

The spread of Christianity in Japan
during the last seven years has been re-
markable. There are now 43 Protestant
churches in that country, with men,
bership of l 800. There are "a Sunday
schools, with 1900 scholars; three theO-
logical schools, with 175 students; 81
missionaries, 50 native assistant preach
ers, 10 native pastors and $50 preaching
places. In addition to the distinctively
religious work, large number OF secu-
lar schools are carried on by Christian
teachers.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-16

The Springfield Oakota> Land
office, in August, disposed of 3S,924.g3
acres OF land, the Yankton ofice-of 81
SS5.SS acres, and the Sioux Falls Office
of "a ,407 acres.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-16
FOREIGN.

The Irish anti-rent agitators have recently
held immense meetings at Cork, Marybor-
ough, Dunmore and Ballinrobe. The largest
gathering was at Cork. Here Messrs. Par
nell, Shaw, Smyth, and Calhurst, members
of Parliament, were the speakers. The most
notable speech was made by Mr.. Parnell,
leader Of the movement, and Home Rule
member of Meath. He said that the farmers
had no intention of placing themselves in
the power of the law. The landlords were
determined, however, to get them there. Ii
the farmers stood together and refused TO
nav unjust rent the game was theirs.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-16

Helen Hunt, now Mrs. William S.
jackson, and a resident of Colorado
Springs, is described as bright, CHEEKY,
charming as her writings, with rosy,
sunny face and blue eyes, framed in a
halo of prema.urely silyered hair.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-16

Conway, John Crowley, ". Fl. Clark, Osland
Durand, Thos. Ferguson, Thos. Lewis, Edw.
LaVelle, Willard Mitchell, John Mahoney, Jos.
Patterson, Wm. Schuberth. Thomas Macna-
mara, Marcus Hanson, Joseph Budka ana
John Donovan.
Teamsters-Thomns Cain and Nelson and
Guide LOwery; Wagon master Mckinstry, and
Teamster Mcguire.
With the exception of the wound of Guide
Lowery the wounds of the above named men
are not serious. His is probably mortal.
The total killed Is twelve; total wounded,
forty three.
OCTOBER T. 6p. m.--No courier could be got
ten off last night owing to the constant firing
of the Indians into camp. The moon came up
an hour after dark and volley was poured
in mt once. Our party went after water and
was unmolested and had our little stockade
all cleared for action before the firing was re-
sumed. As l write this dispatch the bullets
are whistling over the top OF the trench. They
often strike the grain sacks few inches
above our heads, but we are deep enough to
be comparately safe.
HURRAH! HURRAH MERRITT HAS COME.
OCTOBER ), 6 a. m.-Hurrah hurrahi Mer
rift has come, and the surrounding hills re-
sound with the cheers of Welcome. The cour-
Ter goes out at once. .
Gen. Merritt's Official Dispatch.
CHICAGO, October S.-A dispatch from
Capt. Merritt, dated October 5, on Milk River,
was forwarded to Gen. Sheridan tonight. 1t
saws: GIVE relieved Capt. Payne's command
at : 80 this morning. We found the command
much as reported in the original dispatches.
The casualties were u killed and As wounded
All the animals of the command were killed
but y mules and horses of the four COM
panies of cavalry.
DODGE'S CALAMITY.
Capt Dodge, with his company, arrived on
the 1st instant at Capt Payne's intrenchments.
but all his horses were killed by the enemy.
Too much praise can not be given this gallant
officer and his command for the very praise
worthy act in the reinforcement of Payne.
Words fail to describe the scene in the vicinity
of this wretched intrenchment Over 800 dead
animals are lying outside the breastworks, the
stencil from which is something horrible. The
wounded are doing well Capt Payne and
Lieut.. Paddock are both improving. 1 can not
give too much credit to
MY GALLANT OFFICERS AND MEN
for their admirable conduct during the
march. In something like forty eight hours
my command has marched about 40 miles,
over a miserably dusty road, the worst ever
travelled"
The rest of the dispatch was devoted to
praise of his subordinates, whom he COM
mends in the warmest manner, mentioning
especially Lieuts. Swift, Bishop, Burke, Schuy-
Ter and Weir Coils. Compton and sumner. 1t
will be observed he says nothing of the fight
which he is reported to have had with the In
dams en- route, and that report may therefore
be set down as fiction.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-16

NIiIt Gilbert, engineer of the Pacific express
train, aged 80; E. b. Smith, fireman OF the Pa-
cific express, aged 20; Lewis MongeOn, French
Canadian; VIM. John Rice, Philadelphia; Mrs.
W. j. Rice, wife of the above; Mrs. Garland,
the above, aged 10 years; Moses Gray, Troy,
Vt, aged 81; Willie Ell1ns, Troy, VT, aged "a;
Mrs s. NJ Sparklin, Philadelphia, and two
children, aged and years; two men, names
unknown.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-16
CHARGE TIE HILL,

shot under him and several of his men
wounded The Indians having been driven
from this point, the company rallied on the
wagon train. Major Thornburgh then gave
orders to Cherry to hold his position and
cover Can't Lawson's retreat, who was or
dered to fall back slowly with the led horses
of his company. Cherry called for volunteers
fought with desperation. Their names will be
givcd in later dispatches, as nearly every man
was wounded before he reached the camp,
and two men killed, Cherry brought every
wounded man in with him, Capt. Lawson, a
brave old veteran, displayed the greatest cool
ness and courage during this retreat, sending
up ammunition TO Cherly's men when once
they were nearly without it.
The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-05-31

carried to the Catholic Church and
thence to the burying ground OF
their relatives the Sallier and Pi-
thon families, gust below town. The
Catholic priest, Rev. Father Kelly,
officiated Mt the DeNaive and Pi-
thon funerals. The whole town
turned out to attend the ,bulials.
The steam tug Alamo, proceeded
Immediately to the scene OF the dis
aster and her captain, j. 5. Hawk
ins, and many of our citizens, rem
dered valuable assistance in recoy-
,ering the drowned bodies.
Great sympathy is expressed for
young captain Moss, who did all a
man could do to save the precious
lives entrusted to his care, nearly
losing his own in the effort, and
who was almost heart broken by
the distressing calamity. The en-
gineer, too, did everything possible
to save the lives of the passengers.
The schoomers Welcome and John
Andrew. with assistance by other
parties, succeeded in raising the
Ramos NY last Tuesday morning.
The mail, and the baggage of the
unfortunate passengers, were then
recovered.
Mr.. DeNaive leaves a wife and
four children. He was related 10
our MANOR, Hon. VIM. Meyer, and
one of his little girls was here on a
visit, and followed her fathers re-
mains to the tomb. All the families
Of the unfortunate victims of this
sad disaster have the profound
sympathy of our entire community.
The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-05-31
A Mother Fails a Eicfian 10 Her
Love.

DesMoines. Iowa, May 24.-The
little child of III. H.. Skinner. saere-
tary of the American E,nigaant
Company, to-day fell into eistern
beneath the floor, momentarily
lett open. Its mother plunged ID
TO save it and both Disappeared,
the water being eight or ten feet
deep. She soon came up with the
little one 10 her arms. exelaiming,
II have saved it'll" Her seu. sey-
,enteen Years of age, then arrived
at the scene aud Jumped 10 to res
cue them. lie succeeded 10 get
ting the child out and it was resus.
ieitated, but the mother sank and
wss drowned. The son, with diff
Guilty, was sawed.
The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-05-31

Some weeks ago, at an election
for that purpose, the property
owners ia Lake Charles voted to
purchase for one thousand dollars,
ard to donate to the Louisiana
Western Railroad Company, a
tract oil land near town, aud to
authorize levy of special tax
to raise the money for that pur-
pose, under Inducements made to
.our town council that the land
world be used by the company for
a ward for its rolling stock, aud for
the erection thereon OF its round
house and machine shops. Re-
GENTLY the town council was Motif
ed bv the general manager OF the
railroad company that the com
pany would not accept the pro-
posed donation except without any
conditions as to erecting buildings
thereon. Oh course the town coun-
ell could not make the donation
without the only benefit which had
induced its proposal, and last
Tuesday it very properly repealed
the ordinance proposing the dona-
ton.
We understana that Col.
Adams, general manager of the
railrond company, says the com
pany will build its machine shops
etc, here, but prefers to be unre-
stricted rs to their location.
The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-05-31
Convicted Of Murder

Speeial Telegram 10 the Galveston News.
Sau Antonio, May 23.-Ths case
of John Lenh'gn. Indicted for
murder, was begun yesterday
evening. arguments CONCLUDED at
midnight and case given to Jury.
who this aoorning rendered b VET
diet of murder III the first degree;
he having murdered Georgia
Drake, a theatrical actress at the
Green Front theater last August.
This makes the eight conviction Of
murder 10 the first degree, and tho
prisoners are all now in jail here
awaiting execution or decision OF
their appeal to the appellate court.
There remain several ye. to be-
tried.
The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-05-31
Two Thousand BafIaGsss.s
Drowned.

A herd OF OVER two thousand
butfaioes, going northward. M
tempted to- cross the Big Mn,l.iy
river "u the ice, at u poiut why're
the stream Was Very deep. Wlaln
the front file, whlcn was streteh, ii
~at a quarter of a mike in I.1ngth,
had ueaily gained the opposite
shore, tbe, ice suddenly gave way
uoGer them. Some trappets who
We're ye-wltness-s of the se-n.-.
said it seemed az if "a trench had
b4en oppne IN the Ice the Whole.
length of THE column. Some itsur
or five hundred aullnals tunbi,d
into the opening all OF u heap
Others fell ID on top of them and
sunk ont of sight in twinkflug.
By thie time the rotten ice WA,
breathing under THE still advancing
berd. The trappe.s say that IN
less than "a minute the whole bo,ly
of butfaloes bad baen pi*eiliitatt+a
Into the river. They were we'd
In 80 thieklF that they could do
potbing but struggle for ~ eond
and then disappear benetA the
cakes of ice sf the swift enmept.
Not IA beast III that mighty hrld
tried to escape but in a solid
r,halanx they marched to their
fatal bath jill the big MUDDY
LII minute from the time the ice
broke not a buffalo's bead or tail
was to be seen.
The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-05-31
Caiif0lniaas New Constitution
and the Chinese.

The most remarkable state con
stitution i'm the Union lis that ne
GENTLY adopted by the people OF
California. 1t seems to have been
framed by delegates elected ON ac-
count of their hostility to capitalists
and to private corporations, and
the vote of the people on the CUES
tion OF its adoption WAS Il contest
between capital and labor, in which
labor won by a small majority. The
hitter hostility of the labolillg class
towards the Chinese is shown by
constitutional provisions that < No
native of China shall ever exercise
the privileges of an eleetor in this
State;' mo corporation existing
or hereafter framed under fine laws
of this State shall, after the adop-
tion OF this constitution, employ,
directly on indirectly, iii amy ca
pacity, amy Chinese OF Mongolian;"
"No Chinese shall he employed on
any State, county, municipal or
other public work, except in pun
isllment for crime"
The provisions relative to rail
road, mining and banking compa-
liies, are Very stringent, and the
teachings OF Kearney, the sand lot
orator, .erop,out in these and many
other portions of the constitution.
= The truth is fthat capital, espe-
cially in the hands of mining and
railroad companies, has been for
many wears eorruptly used in Cali
fonia, and the working classes
have, as is too often the ease, gone
to the other extreme by way OF ne
taliation. The new constitution of
California is likely TO cause a great
deal of trouble.
The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-05-31
Communicated. |

LEEsBURG. LA, May %, 1879.
Publishers Luke Charles Echo, Lake
Charles. La;
Geutlemen-I take fine liberty of
sending Won a smull bundle of red rnst
proof oats Of which, hive ,lhont live
acres sown ms an experiment. As you
will see they are entirely free from r'lst
md notwithstanding the protratted
lrouth this slring the heads are we'll
formed. I think fhey will WELD t"rty
or fifty bushels per acre. 1T rs the
oriuion ef ,nnny living an the se'-s'hni'e
that outs ctunot lie grown here sucre.ss-
fully. Having tried Them I am BOW
satisfied tlist they not only do we'll. hut
thnt tlev are une uf the most eet't;nn
and lucrative crops that we can grow in
Cameron.
As I'm evidence OF tllis fact we had
iIhout tin. LIST OF the month. n gale OF
wind from 'flle east wlmcu continued
about three a,rvs, mud which whipped
the corn COTTON. Vegetables and even
the lp,ves ON She trees in the prairie.
until thpy looked like There Ind been Al
white frost, hut on examination, utter
the gnle. fonnd tlat my oats had s,ls
TUNED no ininrY what ver from it.
As These facts NAV Ibe of interest 10
the READERS of the Echo. your are at
liberty to publish Them ii you desire.
Respectfully.
R. B. HARRISON.
The above letter, and the package Of
oats therein mentioned were on baara
the mail steamer Ramos when she was
sunk by the squat last Saturday. The
.oats We're not recovered, hut the letter
vas in the vahse of the unfortunate T..
DeNaive, ESQ.,, which was recovered
last Tuesday.
We return thanks to our intelligent
correspondent, Mr. Harrison, and hope
to hear from him again. Such commu-
nications are of practical valae. and of
general interest; and, as we have fre-
qrently stated. we will be happy to re-
eeive them from all parts of Cameron,
Vernon and CaIcasieu parishes.
Since whiting Che ahave. MIR. Har-
rison, hearing of the Ramos disaster.
lhas kindly sent ns another bundle of
fhe same kind of oats, which can be
seen at the store of j. W. Bryan n Co
They are worth looking at, and we have
no doubt will now come into general
cultivation in this section of country.
The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-05-31
GONE 10 FRANCE.--Mr.

Gone TO FRANCE.-Mr. y. Sir
ogaey, the excellent gunsnitb and
mechanic, last week started for u
visit to his native France. BsforY
dong SO, be stated publicly that
the lew thousand dollars which bs
had accumulated during the past
four wears, he owed directly to the
soeisty of the Friends of Temper
anee. We hope Mr.. 6irnguey will
have a pleasant trip. and soon re-
turn to as to remain permanent
ly. Louisiana Sugar Bowl.
The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-05-31

The celebrated Louisiana Lot
terry CO., injunction suit was de-
eided in the U.. s. Circuit Court
vt New Orleans last Monday. As
was expected, Judge Billings de-
eided that the act of our last leg
iiSlatnre, repealing the act cha.ter-
ing the company, was unconstitu-
tonal aud iinoperative, and ordered
the injunction sned out by the
company to he made perpetual.
The original sharter Of tue com
pany was for twenty-five wears
from January 4, 1869.
The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-05-31

CoNvIcT LABOR. Quite a mum
her Of eur exchanges are speaking
out iin opposition to the demoral-
izing and baneful practice of en-
iployihg pelitentiary eonvicts on
railroads, levees, plantations. etc.
Thepractieeeannot be loo strongly
condemned.
The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-05-31
The(,onaisufionai Convention

The (.OnssifUfiOnal COHVenfaOh
Since our last report the Con
veution has adopted articles as
follows:
The General Assembly shall not
indirectly enact local or special
laws by the purtial repeal of a gen
,eral law, hut laws repeating local
or special laws may be passed.
No local or special law shall be
passed unless notice OF the ilten-
ton to apply therefor shall have
been published in the locality
where the matter or thing to be
affected mary be situated, which
notice shall state the substance OF
the contemplated law, and shall
be published at least thirty days
prior to the introduction into the
General Assembly Of such bill, and
in the manner to be provided 10y
law. The evidence OF such notice
having been published shall be ez-
!iibited in the General Assembly
before such act shall be passed,
and every sueh act shall recite that
notice has been given in the same
manner provided by law.
ANY member of the General As.
sembly who has personal or lpri-
waite interest IN any measure or
bill proposed OF pending before
the General Assembly shall dis
close the fact to- the house Of winch
he is a member, aud shall Lot vote
thereon.
No money shall ever he taken
from the public treasury, directly
an indirectly, in aid Of any church,
sect or denomination OF religion,
or in aid OF any priest, preacher,
minister or teacher thereof rs snch,
and no preference shall be gwen
10, nor any observation-disclosures made
against any church, sect or creed
of religion, or amy form of religious
faith or worship; nor shallany APP
preparation lbe made for private
charitable OF benevolent pnrposes
to any person or community; pro,
gided, that this shall not apply to
the State Asylums for the Insane,
and Deaf and Dumb and Blind,
and the Charity Hospital, and
public charitable institutions, con
Quoted under State authority.
No law shall be passed fixing
the price OF mammal labor.
The General Assembly shall
have no power to increase the
salary of any officer by appointing
assistants thereto.
The general appropriation bill
shall embrace nothing but appro-
priations for the ordinary eexpenses
of The government, interest ON the
public debt, public schools and
public charities, and such bill shall
be itemized go rs to show for what
account each and every appropria-
tion shall be made. All other APP
preparations shall DO made 10y
separate bills, each embracing but
one subject.
Each appropriation shall be fol
a specific purpose, and no appro-
priation shall be made under the
head or title of contingent; no,
shall any officer or department oI
government receive any amount
fromthetreasury Acknowledgements
or for contingent fund.
They are having warm weather
in Texas, the mercury Frequently
rising above 100 III the shade. We
r.~a !. e.4.,..s, !. fs.lf J~..a An