South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-08-01

James Miller, residing near Gerards-
town. Berkel ely county. this State, was
thrown from his seat on threshing
machine propelled by steam. last Tues
day morning and the engine ran away,
forcing the horses that were used to
guide over fence and smashing things
generally. The horses were not injured.
a NATURAL SOAP MINE.-On Smith 8
Creek. EIlIo county, Nevada, there is a
most remarkable stratum OF steatitc res
ting horizontally in steep bluff of vol.
canic matter which TANKS the eastern
side of Smiths Creek valley. The stra-
Ium OF steatite is from three to ten feet
IN diameter. 1t is easily worked and is
veritabIe soap mine. In fact the far
mers, cattle men, and sheep herders in
that region all use tho natural article
Tor washing purposes. Chemically con.
sldered this peculiar clay is a hydrated
silicato of alumina. magnesa, potash,
and lime. When the steatite is first
dug from the stratum 1t looks precisely
Ike immense masses OF mottled CASTLE
soap the nothing element being a small
percentage of iron oxide. The Virginia
(Nev) Chronicle says that firm in Elko
have undertaken TO introduce this natu.
raj soap into the market. 1t is similar in
appearance to the CASTLE soap sold in
large bars. Nothing is added to the
mineral but a trifle more allsali and some
scentirg extracts. Its defensive quail
ties are as powerful as those OF any
manufactured soap.
The Scientific AmericOm says that tho
narrowest gauge and cheapest railway
as yet brought out is that Of ID. Il.
James, Visalia. Cal. Two stout bars OF
wood, so laid as TO leave a groove be-
tween them, form the track. ca this
track a wheel with bulge in the middle
Of its periphery that fits the groove ia
used, the wheel having broad hanne qt
each side OF the bulge. One OF these
wheels placed al each end OF a plan k
forms the car. 1t is alleged that twelve
miles an hour caa be got out of wood
en- railway Of this construction and
that its carrying capacity is very great
The cost is estimated at one thousand
dollars "A mile.
The number OF lady gamblers N Lon.
don is increasing steadily. A CORES.
poadent OF the Richm0nd lStau3ay,i
states that there is more gambling a.
mong women ~ the present time than
has been the case since public gaming
tables were pat down by act of Parlia-
mcnt.
HEARD FRoN.-Mr. a. Huffman writ.
ing TO us from Maryville, Nodaway Co.
I Mo, states that Mr.. H. T. Beall and his
two children were registered ct tho Ba-
con hotel in 81. Joseph, Mo-. on the 9Th
( Mr. BE all. it will 100 rcmembe red. from
an account published in this paper some
three weeks ngo, left bis wife and one
child in Cincinnati about the first Of the
month. No explanation Of his disap.
poarance vas offered at tho time and
foul play was not unsupported.
II woull seem. however, that il was q
premeditatod desertion, and that having
rid himself Of his wife and one child he
continued his journey to Kansas. Mrs.
Beall IL now in this county without
means Of support Stam'on T6gnin,
July u.
A glass spinner Of Vienna offers for
human wear glass pufrs, white & colored ;
glass hats, feathers, cuffs, collars, wells
and dresses for ladies, glass carpets
and wool hardly 20 be distinguished
from tue real.