davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-17
A BLIND MANS DUEL.
A Romantic Scene On the Deck of a Missis-
sippi Steamer.

A Romantic Scene On the Deck of Missis-
sippi Steamer
1t is doubtful if any theatre ever of
tered such volumes of roman &c incident
as the deck of the old-time Mississippi
steamer. In the old Gays before railroads
traversed the continent in every direc-
ton, and the West was wilderness, New
Orleans was the Mecca of travellers, and
the fleet wave-borne palaces of the inland
sea carried thousands of pleasure-seekers
to the South. 1t was then that life was a
carousal, and men and women gave them
selves up to the most lavish enjoyments.
Gaming was custom, and courage an
instinct. Men were as prone to brawls as
the sparks to fly upwards. Conspicuous
among the fierce and rollicking habitues
Of the steamers as Captain West, noted
duellist. One day he engaged IN a con
troversy with gentleman whom he met
on the dec*, whom he accused of staring
at him impertinently.
"Why do you look at me so intently?"
demanded the captain.
II was not loohin at YOU calmly re
piled the stranger, his meanwhile fixed in
a stony glare upon the duelllsts face.
''But you are, SRI"
81 am not"
t e captain turned away, but short
time afterward he felt those stony eyes
were again upon him and following all
his movements wit" pitiiess terocity. 1t
became inexpressibly annoying, and the
| captain at last determined to make an
end of it. Stepping up to the stranger,
he inquired, with suppressed passion:
"Can you fight as well as look?"
"Perhaps so. l never tried it. Place
me, however, in position, and l will do
my BEST
The singular conduct of the stranger
had by this time attracted universal at
tention, and whispered conferences re-
garding his remarkable appearance agi-
tated little groups Of persons all over the
boat. In short time, however, the YES
sci rounded to at a landing for wood,
and tren the parties to the impromptu
duel went ashore The stranger was
| led off by negro servant, who
seemingly picked his way. Indeed, from
| the intense interest he was manlfesting in
the encounter, the colored servant was APP
parently more deeply interested i'll the af-
fair than his master But the time allot-
ted for preIiminaries was brief, and the
men were speedily put in position, and
pistols placed in their hands,
The word as given, ana two ringing
reports flashed out on the air. Captain
West fell pierced to the heart The stran-
ger stood erect, calm and dignifed. His
second rushed up to him:
care you hurt, sir?''
"No; how is it with my antagonist"
"Can't you see? You have killed him, y
mo; am unable to see"
"You can't see?"
"No; am olind"
And he was. The tragedy was nine
days wonder, and all sorts of rumors
were rife as to the identity of the fatal
stranger. But who he was and whittier
he went was mystery never solved. The
circumstances went to make up an Incl
dent in the dark and bloody memories
which made famour the olden time
Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-17

proach the two formidable lines IF abatis
i Inch stretched across the point in front
of the main orks, the fire from the enc
my's musketry becomes tremendous and
incessant." Althoug on account OF the
tie darkness much of its effect is lost,
men nevert eless ere and there begin to
fall in the ranks of the light infantry.
Lieutenant-C Colonel Hay, Of Pennsylvania,
'Dravely fighting at the head Of his bat
taliOn," is wounded in the thigh Cap
tain Ezra Selden, of Lyme handsome
young officer, fresh from Yale College at
the opening of the war, but no> vet
Gran Of tour campaigns, and belonging
to Colonel Starts First Connecticut, re-
ceives weil-nigh fatal wound In the
side. Though weak from loss of blood,
he makes his way into the fort. A shot
breaks the standard of Neigs' regiment,
but Ensign Ib abod Spencer tears the
colors off, winds them round his arm and
keeps charging on. Out Of TWEEN
ty of one OF the advance parties,
seventeen are either killed or wounded
But on, on, the two columns 90. The
ascent is rocky, even precipitous. II
takes time to open passage through the
distractions, and men continue to fall
At the second abatis Wayne receives a
flesh-wound in the head. Thinking il
fatal at the moment, he calls on his two
aides, Captains Fishbourn and Archer, tc
carry him along, that he may die in the
fort. In five minutes more the work is
done The head Of the right column
reaches the sally-port of the main fort
first, and the first man in it is De Fieu
ry. "The forts our own" he shouts, and
taen strikes the enemys colors with his
own hands. Right after him, spreading
along and climbing over the parapet, fol
low the forlorn hone and t. main col
umn. Lieutenant Knox is the SECOND
man in. Sergeant Baker, of Virginia
wounded four times during the assault
is the third. Sergeant Spencer, from the
same State, is the fourth, with two
wounds. Wounded twice also is Sergeant
Dunlap, Of Pennsylvania, the fifth mar
over the works. The rest come swarmins
in. On the other side the left column
appears at nearly the same time. "Th'
forts our own! the forts our own" re
sounds from every quarter. The Ameri
cans dash in among the astonished British
and ply the bayonct with terrible energy
driving them into the corners of the work
and compelling their instant surrender
HGrper'S Mdgdsj7ae.
Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-17
TOO LITTLE.

Johnny and May and Dickey and Bell
We're going down to the Daisy Dell;
II know you're going, know very well;
Take me tool" said dear little Nell.
"Too much botherw says lazy John.
May, "Who wants you tagging along"
TOO littlew said Bell. "Course!" said Dick;
"Hurry now, Nellie and grow up quick.
Two sweet lips to quivering fell;
"Too little for what" said dear little Nell.
"Too little" cried mother, too little to bear
Our portion in life,-a burden of care.
Too little a heart for trouble to weigh,
Too little for tears a moment to stay:
Of wrongs and rebutls too little to know;
From mothers own side too little to go.
"Let Johnny and May and Dickie and Bell
Go frolicking down the Daisy Dell;
But mother and Nell and pussy-cat-mew,
Will have the merriest picnic too"
The quivering broke in showers of smiles
When mother went on to tell of pies,
OF strawberry cakes, and candies, too,
With bread and milk for pussy-cat-mew.
The four round faces visibly fell,-
Looked sober enough at mother and Nell;
She nestled and said: "Pd much rather stay;
| amt too little for you, anyway"
- Youths Communion
Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-17
CURRENCY STATIsTICS

Something about the TOJWn1e and Value of
Currency ia This and OfIser Countries.
Gen. A. j. Warner, of Ohio, has prepared
an elaborate table compiled from official
treasury statements. He shows that the
volume of currency in 1865, when the vol
ume was at the maximum, was 1888, 318, 6S5.
with population of 25,000,OO0, or over 800
per capita. In 1873 tie total volume was
$750,062, 1868, with a population of 42,000,-
600, or little less than $18 per capita. In
1873 the volume actually in circulation was
$688, 597 ,275, with population estimated at
47,000,O00. or $14.50 per capita. In 1879,
an actual circulation of $685., 424, SAB. Gen.
Warner says: SIN addition to the above
there was coin in the treasury April 80, 1879,
according to the secretary's report to the
Senate, $138.O00,000, but plainly neither
this coin nor other currency which has been
purchased by the sale of bUnds and held un-
der the resumption act as a hoard, or
gathered in the treasury as the re-
suit of an excess of revenue over ex-
penditures, ought to be counted as part
of the circulation, for certainly it can have
no effect whatever upon prices. Taking the
present population of the United States at
as, 1000, 900 the above volume ($689, 424 ,643)
gives $14 per capita. No account in the
statement for either of the above periods has
been taken of the gold and gold notes NOV
about ST, SOC, 900 of the latter in circulation
on the Pacific coast. The coin in circula-
ton on the Pacific slope has been variously
estimated from $15, 100000 to $25,O00, 600;
but whatever it may be, it has not changed
enough to change the comparison of the diff
ferent periods given" Accompanying these
statements Is d compilation sht wing the cir
culation in England, France and Germany,
England in 1873 had an actual circulation of
1871 ,445, 900, with populations Of "a, 900 900,
giving nearly 1877 per capita; France had q
population of 81, Ou0,O 600 and an actual cir
culation of $1,642, 100000, or $44
per capita; Germany an actual
circlatioa of $3.50, 1852 900, with population
Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-17
Put in the Spade.

Spade up the fowl runs and dig over
the hen-house earth floors this month.
The frost is well out IF the ground new.
even in shady places. And here the
increasing warmth of the sun is felt in
the yards and runs of the confined fowls.
the grouRd should be turned over thor
oughly by spading-or hight blowing
where the yards are more extensive in 1 i,
mansions.
The advantages of this are twofold .
Myriads ofangle-worms, grubs, beetles.
etc, are thus turned up to the light. and
your poultry will not only quickly nut
them where ey will do the most good.
but the birds are very largely benefited
by this means. Secondly-thi spading
treshens their floors and affords them a
footing for two or three weeks. The ton
soil, tainted from long use, is turned I'M
der, where twill be out of the wav for
utare harm. Once a month during the
summer, it your stock is still confined to
the same limits, go through with this
digging and spading process again. It
will pay you, every time you do it,
american Poultry Yard,
Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-17
GEN. TWIGGS' SWORDS.

HO,U They We're Captured By Ben Butler
IN Neac Orleans and the Efforts OF Their
Family to RecOcer Them.
Aug lsta (Ga.) Special to Louisv vile Courier
... Journal. ..........
day or two since resolution was intro
duced in Congress asking that the swords of
the late Gen. Twiggs be returned to Mrs.
Joseph Guedelia, of England, they then b.
ing in the treasury department. There is a
history hanging on these swords. The
swords were presented to Gen. Twiggs for
bravery in the Mexican war-one by Con-
gress through James K. Polk, President
one by the State of Georgia, and one by the
city of Augusta. They are magnificent
pieces. The one presented by Congress is of
Damascus finish, the scabbard of pure gold,
and the hilt of solid gold set brilliantly with
diamonds. 1t is worth $50 900 in money.
The other swords are worth probably $4,000
more. When Gen. Butler was about enter
ing New Orleans Gen. Twiggs deposited
these swords with Miss Florence for safe
keeping. Gen. Butler found them, however,
seized them and sent them to President
Lincoln, his purpose being, as he afterwards
told Gen. Twiggs' daughter, to have them
kept in the treasury as reminders of ''what
base uses these glorious swords had been
put" abiding to the fact that Gen. Twiggs
drew them in defense of the confederacy.
A year ago Mrs. Myers, the married
daughter of Gen. Twiggs, applied to Con.
gress for these swords. TO her surprise
Miss Florence. now Mrs. Gudelia, having
married an Enelishman of that name,
claimed that the swords we're hers and that
| Gen. Twiggs had not only presented her
these swords, but also large amount of his
family plate. She claimed that the presenta-
ton was bona fide and absolute. Outraged
at this claim, Judge Fl. II. d. Twiggs, a
nephew of Gen. Twlggs, a brilliant young
lawyer of Augusta, and dauntless hot
blood, made public the fact that the claim
was pretense, and that the swords had been
solemnly devised by Gen. Twiggs to his
children and could not have been given away
to stranger, and that Gen. Twiggs valued
these swords as his most precious posses
sions. This brought sharp letter from Mr.
Ernest L. Florence, of New Orleans, who
insisted upon his sisters right to the swords
and silver. The silver plate, it Is
said, was the property of Mrs. Myers, the
daughter, and could not have been given
away. To this letter Judge Twiggs replied
in sharp and singing letter, saying: awe
are led to the Notifying conclusion that
these swords, around which cluster the
dearest memories of our hearts, would bt
put, if you get them, to a more substantial
purpose, or converted into baubles for fem
mime adornment." Mr.. Florence has no
been heard from since. And thus the wal
over the swords wages. The friends of Gen
Twiggs will make every effort to secure the
swords and plate for his heirs, while it ap
pears equally sure that Mrs. Gudella viii
claim that the articles were given to he
absolutely rather than con6ded to her fol
safe keeping. The stranger claimants have
no scraps of paper to sustain their claims
They are Jews, and stand we'll in New Or
leans and elsewhere.
Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-17
HOUSE, FARM AND GARDEN.
Save The Straw.

Straw is wort IN )ney on the farm, first
for bedding animals, second for throwing
into the feeding and barn yards, and
third, if ere be surplus, for rotting
where it may happen to lie. All is of
course with reference to its ultimate VAL
ue as manure. Yet large class of farm
ers in West, yearly burn vast quaint
ties OF straw, thus reducing it simply to
its inorganic elements. ~~-
English analysis shows that good wheat
straw contains quite as muc nitrogen,
almost as much potash, and three fourt s
as much phosphoric acid as stable ma
nure Of average quality. Yet as these
substances exist in the straw in insolu-
bl forms, the necessity Of its undergoing
fermentation before beng applied to the
land is evident.
| So far as the mechanical action ON the
land is concerned, straw or other hitter
| is valuable in its natural state on all our
stiff prairie loans and clays. This me-
chanical division is important. 1t is not
always an easy matter however, to pillow
under long straw nicely. If half rotted
however, this objection is not met. If
the straw is put on the land to the ex
tent of ton per acre, as it comes from
the thresher, or after being tramped by
stock as it is pulled from the stack when
feeding, good plowman will find but
little difficulty in managing it. This
would have considerable effect in loosen
ing the texture of the soil. Every farm
er must of course understand the nature
and capabilities of his soil. Course ma
nure must not be allied to light porous
soil. 1t needs binding, and therefore
those manures, called cold manures, as
the dropping of cattle, are preferable,
while the manure frcm the horse stable is
proper for heavy SIS. But to return to
the straw.
Sooner or later the fertile prairies of
the West and S. th-west will need ma
nure, just as the cider settled timber re-
gions of the cal settled states. do need,
and. for long lime past, have needed
manure. Even now some of our timber
soils need it, al / indeed the same may be
said of some q the older settled portion
of the prairie region of the West The
Nay to keep II, the fertility of soil is to
take it in tine and every farmer who
wastes valuable fertilizlng material be-
cause the lard now may not seem to need
1t, commits error; for just in proportion
will it, however rich it may be, exhaust
itself. 1t Is cheaper to feed year by year
with what Naturally accumulates, than to
wait until exhaustion appears, and then
gradually and tediously bring it back
through a long series of years of nursing
to someth ny of its normal fertility.
Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-17
Rufus Hatch on the Situation.


Mr.. Rufus Hatch, who has cut quite 6
prominent figure in the New York combina-
ton controlling the deal in spring wheat, ar.
rived In the city Saturday evening. A re-
porter of the Tribune called on him at the
Palmer House to get some information from
him as to the future prospects of the deal, as
well as his opinions on the crop prospects al
home and abroad.
In response to question as to the situa
ton Mr.. Hatch said: 81 don't keep Mr.
Keene's books, and the situation can be
stated in few words. Mr.. Keene believed
that wheat was good property to have and
so he purchased large amount Of it, intend
ing to hold it for higher, and what he deems
Legitimate, prices"
"rhen there has been no corner as yet?''
Certainly not, in the ordinary sense Of
the word. The receipts had disappointed
everyone in their volume, and at one time il
seemed as if the press and all the people O.
the country had turned bears upon theil
own productions"
"Then this is to be viewed in the light Of
straight dealY''
''Of course. Mr.. Keene is large specu
lator and bought this property for a rise
in which he expects to be gratifed. Those
in Chicago who have assailed him, and have
lost their occupation as manipulators of the
market, have none but themselves to blame.
''Then you think there is no ground fol
this complaint against Keene?"
"Why should there be? 1t is difficult tt
see why dealers should sell the market dowr
and plumber the country producers. Still
they have done SO, and succeeded in gettins
rid of vast amount of their surplus, afte1
persisie emit effort, at prices at least 20 Del
cent. below its valHe Mr.. Keene has certain
~ tried to injure none by depreciatine
the p properly, and those who 4 do
and suffer in consequence, viii
get but little sympathy in their howl agains
Keene.' He has tried to keep his wheat fo
legitimate price, and for this he has, beer
| assa'led by the press and dealers of Chicago
He has made no complaint, however, and hal
asked no favors of any, either banks or in
dividuals.'' .ei tifraG
sTo come down to the main Question, Mr.
Hatch, will the deal be kept up, or may W,
| look for break?r . S
"Those who sold short for June Rave hat
| to fill their contracts at loss, and those WHIT
| have done the same for July and August viii
| have the same experience. Make or break
Mr. Keene win carry his deal through to
legitimate result, asking no favors even If b.
does not grant any. Is he tolblame if b,
purchases property on reasonable and fai
speculation If he has made mistake b,
will pay his losses without whining, as thosl
who are trying to thrive by bearing the mar
kst and depreciati1g other peoples propert,
have no right to blame others for their owl
mis- axes" M a4
'On what does Mr.. Keene pin his hope
| for rise In No. spring wheat?"
"On the crop prospects. Europe want
Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-17

of 100000, which gives 1928 per capita.
General Warner says: ''While these differ
ences in the money volume of different
countries exist, it nevertheless is strictly
true that prices depend on the relation Of
the money volume TO commodities and trans
actions and it is matter of the most vi
tai Importance to understand that the vol
ume of money in any country can never be
materially contracted without breaking down
prices, checking enterprise, sitting produc-
ton, and producing idleness, bankruptcy,
and the long train of miseries that follow.
There is no other cause of the present pro
longed stagnation of trade and business in
this country but the reduction of the vol
ume of money. First the reduction of the
paper volume, then the reduction of metal
lie money from gold and silver to golc
alone. This change was nothing less thar
high crime against the whole people"
Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-17
NEWS SUMMARY.
CRIMES AND CRIMINALS.

July 8, Miss Bette Kldwell, aged IL,
of Franklin Wells, Fleming county, KY, killed
herself with poison. Disappointed love the
cause.
Barclay j. Smith, ex-treasurer of the
Philadelphia, Newtown Il New York railroad
company; ex-president of the Newtown In
surance company, a fugitive from justice, was
arrested the other day, at Helena, Montana,
on a charge of embezzlement and passed
through ST. Paul in custody on the Northern
Pacific railroad, boundfor Newtown, sucks
county, Pa, the scene of his swindling ex-
ploits.
VIM. Teets, a well-known, respectable
farmer living ten miles southwest of Musca.
tine, Ia, was murdered July s, in the hay field
with club in the hands of VIM. Pickering
The cause of the dastardly act seems to have
been family troubles. The murdered man
Teets, was a son-in-law of Mrs. Dickerson, &
widow who employed Pickering as farm
hand on her estate, and between whom i'm
proper intimacy has been charged, an imme
diate marriage being expected.
Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-17

WHEN the Molly Magulres held high
carnival in the coal regions they were as
relentless in their hate as they were cruel
in their methods of revenge. The few
who have thus far escaped the penalty
of their crimes find the law equally merci-
less. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania,
a few days since, sustained the decision
Of the lower courts in the cases of Peter
McManus and John O'Neill, under
sentence of death for a murder committed
five years ago.
Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-17
CURRENT TOPICS.

Of Representative Bouck, of Wisconsin,
the Washington correspondent Of the
Syracuse Journal gently says that he wears
in the House a dark. green coat with
metallic buttons, thought to be of pure
gold; he is said to have won gold in the
early DAYS of California
Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-17

HAWTHORNE did not intend that his
Note Books should be published. and
they probably would not have been print
ed had the fortunes of the family permit
ed the luxury of keeping them locked up.
The books, however, were disappoint-
ment, returning but small income.
Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-17

OF John Randolph, of Roanoke, Mr.. E.
P. Whipple tells this story: "'Isn't it a
shame, Mr.. President said he one day IN
the Senate, that the noble bulldogs of
the administration should waste their
precious time in worrying the rats of the
opposition Immediately the Senate was
in an uproar, and he was DANGEROUSLY
called to order. The presiding officer,
however sustained him; and, pointing his
long, skinny finger at his opponents, Ran
dolph screamed out. Rats, did 1 say
Mice, micer"
Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-17
JEFFERsoN Davis at the ace Of

JEFFERSON Davis at the age of thirty
seven, and member of Congress, is pic
turesquely described by Colonel Forney as
having handsome face, graceful man.
ners, an erect figure, flashing eyes, and a
broad white collar folded over his neck.
He was one of the few Southern politicians
who had scientific tastes.
Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-17

MosBY, ex-Confederate, is said to look
like the ideal portraits of Brother Jona-
than or Uncle Sam. His figure is spare
even to meagreness, and his features are
sharp and aIuiline. His eyes are gray
and mild in expression. His favorite
writers are Byron and Bulwer.
Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-17

THERE is again much talk about the
stolen body of the late A. T. Stewart
The general belief is that it has been re.
covered, but Mr.. Henry Hilton refuses to
give any definite information on the sub.
ject. at is not true that Mr.. Hilton has
the body in his possession. It is true
that he knows where the body is, and that
he has had it inspected and is satisfied
that it is Mr.. Stewards body. He car
have the body any time that he pays
$4,000 forit. That is the price demand.
ed. When the crypt at Garden City is
ready the negotiations will be closed. ]
think it will take that sum to get the
body"
Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-17

AN alarming increase in the number
ofdivorces in Massachusetts is noted by a
Boston Exchange. The courts during the
last nineteen years have granted seven
thousand two hundred and twenty-three
absolute divorces, and more than half of
this number were given within the last
seven years. AS the rate of increase is
much greater than the increase in MARI,
ages, these figures are certainly not en-
couraging. - vsA