davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07
IS.
Poisoned Arrows of the South Sea

Some of the South Sea islanders are
very clever with the bow and arrows, on
The poisoned varieties of which few re-
marks are not out Of place. 1t used to
be thought at one time that the terrible
effect of these W. apons was caused by
decomposed poisonous animal mat. er.
Insome parts of Polynesia / was assured
such was the case, and was further told
that the human bone tops of the arrows
were dipped in decomposed human
bodies; but it seems, from the learned
and paipstaking inquiries of Fleet-sur-
geon A.. B.. Messer, r. N, that this is
incorrect. In a most elaborate report,
he says that he blieves this. opinion
originated from the practice of the ma
tives, of leaving dead bodies above
ground until the softer parts are SO de-
composed as to enable them to obtain
the long bones SO coveted for making ar
row points, man being the only animal
in the ordinary run of islands with
bones long and strong enough for this
purpose. And it seems that in some of
the islands between the. New Hebrides
and the Santa Cruz group, the natives
use substances which they get from
plants believed by them to be poisonous.
A plant locally called toto is the favor
ite poison. II belongs, says Doctor
Messer. to the Euphorbia family, and
has milky sap. which is irritating and
painful when applied to the eyes, lips, or
a sore: No direct proof, however, has
been obtained that the tetanus that
usually sets in on poisoned arrow
wound is to be attributed to this plant.
Tetanus is in some of the South Sea Is
lands common enough, and following on
wounds is generally fatal. Some au-
thorities, and with them Doctor Messer,
| seem to think that "mana," or belief in
a supernatural force existing in persons
and things, has more to do with the
| deaths after iarrow-wounds than the
| poison itself. The mind acts in re-
markablc way on the body, and, with a
superstitious people like the Poly
nesians, one can easily understand how
the fact of a great CHIEF or tribe having
the repute of poisoning their arrows
with some deadly drug obtained by
supernatural agency would render
wounds inflicted by such weapons
infinitely more fatal than any other.
Experiments have been made with these
poisoned arrows on dogs and rabbits
with little or no result to speak of, the
animals keeping their general health
barring, OF course, local wound. The
whole subject is. however, involved in
! mystery.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

%
AN ingenious English optical instru-
ment maker has just invented Won
derful pocket-miscroscope, upon which
scientific writer's are comforting much
praise. The new lens consists of three
lenses, the interior grooves of which are
almost, transparent; they are lined by
transparent cement. which has refract-
ing index corresponding very nearly
with the glass. In this way no light is
lost by refraction from the surface of
the curves. The peculiarities of this re-
markable invention are, that it focuses
three times as far from the object under
examination rs either Stanhope or
Cordington lenses. BY this means
scientists and others using the miscre.
scope can examine opaque objects as
well as transparent ones, as the light
can he conveniently allowed to fall
upon them at any required angle, as the
definition is exceedingly sharp.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

WHEN Gen. Getty, commander OF the
garrison at Fortress Monroe, received
Captain Wise and the Richmond Blues,
with a band of music at Old Point the
other day, as soon rs the music struck
up it frightened the team OF country,
man, consisting of runt OF bull
hitched to a. stick cart, TO such an ex,
tent that he ran into and demoralized
the entire command. When order had
been somewhat restored, Captain Wise
wittily remarked to Gen. Getty:
Another Bull Run, General"
eyes" replied the General, regu-
lar rout; but Ipromise you when you
get inside the Fort you shall fare better
at Getty's burg"
And they did, too.-Richmond { Fa)
Baton.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

The Reno (Nevada) Journal says that
railroad trains, in crossing Steamboat
Valley, in that State, make a peculiar
rumbling sound, as though going over
a bridge. 1t says that this noise is ac-
counted for either by supposing that the
ground Is Of very porous nature or that
there are subterranean caverns formed
by boiling waters. There are numerous
hot springs in the neighborhood that
have a very sulphurous odor. 1t is said
that during an earthquake the land of
this valley "rolled like ribbon in the
win l."
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

TEA tasters are well aware of the
dangers to which they are subject, and
few Of them can carry on the business
without running their health. Moderate
draughts of tea NAV produce an agree
able exhilsratioH of mind and body,
without any noticeable reaction; but the
effects of its excessive use are declared
by doctors to be palpitation of the
heart, an absence Of exhilaration, Sc
we're headache, dimness of vision, and
dullness and confusion of mind. Cases
of severe neuralgia are frequently the
result of over-much tea.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

The recent investigation by two
French doctors of the influence of
mental labor on the growth of the brain
and skull was full of interest. They
measured the heads of persons OF many
different pursuits, educated as we'll as
illiterate. The results were in favor Of
educated men leading an intellectual
life; that 10 to say, the heads OF these
men were much more fully developed
than those of other men. twas found
that both halves of the head were not
always symmetrically developed. In
students, for example, the development
of the left frontal region was fuller than
that of the right; but in illiterate sub
jects the right occipital region was
larger than the left. IN the students
the frontal region was more developed
than the occipital in illiterate subjects
the occipital region was the largest.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

A SWORD Of Ethan Allen, the hero of
Ticonderogs, has lately been presented
TO the Kentucky Historical Society.
The interesting weapon is dirk-edged;
the hilt is surmounted by lions head
encircled by the British crown, and the
entire work is English. Though over a
hundred years old, it forcibly reminds
one Of the days when Aliens cry was
"God and the Continental Congress. !"
1t was sold to relic hunter by a kins-
man of General Allen; finally it came
into the possession of T. A. Hornsey,
E.q who presented 1t to the hii torical
s)ciety. ...
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

TIE American passion for invention
shows no signs of decay, but on the con-
trary, more than keeps pace with the
growth of the country. The applica-
ton for patents now number over twenty
thousand a year, of which about two
thirds are granted, against only six or
seven thousand applications twenty
wears ago.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

LAST year and this seem destined to
be signalized by the number of explor-
ing parties sent into remote and un-
known quarters of the globe. Africa,
the Polar regions, our own far West,
Australia, New Guinea, and the various
islands Of the Southern hemisphere, are
all under the diligent scrutiny of keen
eyed explorers, and important results
may be expected.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

RUssIA's expenses during the late war
were very heavy, and, indeed, are not
yet fully known. Down to the end of
January last the military expenditure
came to over $3.50, 100000, two-thirds
of which was on account Of the army Of
the Danube, and the remainder Of that
engaged in the Caucasus. Some esti-
mates place the total expenditure at
$50, ,00O, 900, figure which is likely to
cripple Russian finances for some time
to come. The death rate in the army is
estimated to have been between 200, 900
and 300. 900.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

IT is rumored that Stanley's third ex-
pedition into the dark continent is for
the purpose of verifying the reports of
the existence Of large deposits Of pre-
cious metals in Central Africa. He goes
this time for wealth instead of discovery.
This Is the reason his trip has been kept
so quiet, and he expects to reap a rich
reward for himself and his hackers in
this expedition.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

ABOUT thousand Mennonites, who,
to escape military service, inconsistent
with their religious convictions, emf
grated from Russia to Brazil some three
years ago, have returned to their former
country. Amply provided with means
when they left, they have lost in Brazil
everything they possessed. A large
number is at this moment encamped at
Wirballen, on the Russo-Prussian
frontier, having as yet received no per-
mission TO enter the Russian empire.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

They say the best cat preventive is a
long tube such as is used by boys for
blowing beans. With paper of tor
pedoes and this implement a man can
clear back yard of these animals in an
incredibly short time. When struck by
torpedo the cat never stops to say
good bye, but vaults over the garden
fence with the rapidity of thought. The
best of the matter is that it does rot in
jure the animals. Even those most
friendly to, them may use this weapon
without qualm of self-reproach.-Tr Troy
Times
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

Gro. p. RowELL Il Co, in the Ameri-
cdn Newspaper Directory for July, show
that the whole number of newspapers in
the United States has increased since
january of the current year, from S,7O3
to 9,l53. New papers abound in the
Territories. Suspensions have been
fewer than III amy corresponding period
for several years,
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

"IT must be a beautiful, dreamy sort
of life that you live here in the country"
was the remark of city boarder to
Farmer Robinson, as he sat in the shade
waiting for his dinner. Well, not
werry," was the reply. You see we
get up before daylight and work till
after dark, and get so used up and tired
that we sleep right through soundly
Why, haven't had respectable sort of
dvcam since the planting season begun"
-NeD Haven Register. ga 7af '1i-
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

LATE railroad decisions by courts
having proper jurisdiction are; l. Evi-
dence that a street-car approached a
public crossing at an unusually high
rate of speed, and ran over and killed
man, is sufficient to take the question
of negligence to jury. 2. While the
contract which is implied from the sale
of a ticket is that of safe carriage of the
passenger and his personal baggage, the
passenger cannot recover for merchan-
disc carried by him in his trunk as a
travelling salesman. 8. A person ap-
preaching a railroad crossing is bound
to look and listen, and, if he fails to do
so, and an injury ensues, he and his
representative are without remedy !;
or il he sees or hears an approaching
train and tries to cross in advance of it,
and fails, the company is exempt from
all liability.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

A ZuLULAND letter says that the
Prince Imperial died fighting, and must
have sold his life dearly. In the right
hand of the corps, was found a tuft of
hair, of native fiber,i while the path
marked by the Zulus in quitting the
fatal spot was stained for hundred
yards with gouts of Hood, supposed to
have dropped from wounded men being
borne away by their comrades. Ra,h&
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

1T is said that DIR. lie Moyne, the Gre
mationist living at Washington, Pa,
has given $4,000 to Washington and
jefferson College, at that place. The
Johnstown (Pa.) Tribune says that not
long ago he made a will bequeathing
$40, 900 to his son, physician in Pitts
burg, who took very great interest in
and superintended the building of the
celebrated furnace near Washington for
cremating the dead. Recently the
Pittsburg sons little boy died and was
buried in one of the cemeteries of that
city. This greatly incensed DIR. LIE
Moyne, who regarded it as disbelief in
cremation on the part of his son, and he
Immediately destroyed his will, thus
cutting off his sons inheritance, and
gave nalf of the amount to Washington
and Jefferson College, as above stated.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

WHEN a writer, referring to the quiet
ness of scene, says one could hear
apin drop, how do we know but he means
q ooupling-pin? .
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

If you are fooling around buzz saw
and do not mind the printed warming
"hands off,"-the saw will be liable to
save YOU the trouble.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-07

Go your way, and don't trouble about
your neighbors. A mau never peeps
through q keyhole without finding
something to vex hin, 1.@ - s'9i a' -
Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1879-06-07
A Curious Rain Storm.

To-day Louisville experienced u
meteorological sensation. A rain
storm, so long needed, came up sud
denly about 13 O'clock, and assumed
different phases in different portions
of the city. In the east end of the
city there was only slight and re-
ireshing shower, in the central part
an unmistakabe rain, while in the
west end regular deluge came down.
The clouds, when they reached the
latter district, seemed to combine
their water until it came down in
bucketfuls. The cutters soon over
flowed, the sewer caps we're forced
off by the pressure, aud the streets
were swollen with the rain. All
sorts of loose things were floating
about the streets, and the water
reached three feet in depth, flooding
the street cars and causing the pass
engers to get upon the seats to keep
from getting wet. Cellars were
flooded, and houses were invaded by
the liquid element, and considerable
damage was done. The grocers es-
pecially were heavy losers, as their
cellars contained large quantities OF
green groceries.-Louisville Post.
Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1879-06-07
A Devotional Music Steol.

A singular instance Of intelligence
and activity on the part Of piece
of furniture was related by the chair
nan of . public meeting Of Spir.
itualists held at L,ncham Hall
on Thursday night. The incl
dent occurred at family gathering,
At vhtch Mr.. Home was present. A
music stool moved from its position
near harmonium and, getting npon
: table, bowed three times to a family
Bible which was on the table. The
chairman himself witnessed this ex-
traordinary conduct Of the music
stool, and thinking that the spirit
which prompted the action wished
10 convey the idra that "music was
10 I've tho hand maid # deviation,
gave utterance to the suggrstion,
The music stml therenpnn confirmed
the chairman's motion by how'ne
three times successfully" 1t was
then "helped to the ground by Mr.
Home and, it is to he presumed, re-
su,ned its place BY the aide ut the
hsrmonium.-Pall Mall Gazette.
Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1879-06-07
Death Fra,p Tosthache.

A Miss stevens, OF Walton. Della
ware County, died on Mayl "ftonth-
ache. Although this Is rare DC
currenee this is an undisputed CASE
Of death resulting from an excruci-
sting tOothache. The victim, who
was . young American woman EN-.
ployed in family In Walton. had
suffered some days with q terrible
toothache, which accompanied an ul-
cerated Jaw. An attempt was made
TO extract the Troublesome members.
but her teeth were broken off and
her face was too sore to permit their
removal by the painful process OF
cutting away the gums. The girl
sufsred An entire nervous prostra.
ton from the extreme pain, aud
gradually sank under it until death
ended her sufferings. An army
surgeon, who attended her, pro.
nounced her sympions the same as
those following All ampNtatfon OF a
limb.--Middletown N. W Press.
Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1879-06-07
A GRAND JURY In TROUBLE.
A Part Of Their Report Omitted
from the Court Minutes.

A grand jury down in Georgia has
got into trouble through its plainness
Of speech about the administration
of justice. The grand jury of Bib
county, which included some of the
best citizens among its number, dis
charged what they said they believed
to be an imperative duty by calling
the attention of the officers of the
county to the great and needless
waste Of time in the trial Of civi!
and criminal cases. They declared
that the history Of the Superior
Court for the past fourteen years has
been repetition of the same story
many days wasted in procuring juries,
adjournment after adjournment, sim
ply because cases set for trial were
not ready, continuance of eases from
term to term on the most frivolous
pretexts, and when they finally came
to trial "many tedious hours and
weary days consumed in long, YER
bose and too often irrelevant speeches
Of badly prepared counsel, who spun
out the cases almost beyond the point
of endurance to the afflicted but
helpless jurymen." The jury charged
no one specially with this state of
things, but declared that the business
men of the county were thoroughly
disguised with the seemingly puerile
manner of conducting the court, and
begged the new Judge to join in
their earnest endeavors to alter and
correct all abuses. Such present
ment certainly seems only the right,
not to say duty, of the grand jury,
but its reading caused u sensation
among the "badly prepared counsel"
whose "long, verbose ana too often
irrelevant speeches had been con-
demned. One off, the lawyers at
once moved that the obnoxious matter
be stricken DOT, while another wanted
it's authors fined for contempt. The
Judge took day to think it over,
and then announced that he should
order the omission from the minutes
of this portion of the jury's present
ment. This is the third time during
the present year thata Georgia Judge
has claimed the power to suppress
the presentment of grand jury,
and the papers are inclined To think
that there mas been enough judicial
nonsense Of this sort. 1t certainly
seems rather late in the day to dis
pute the right OF grand jury to
criticise the conduct of the public
Observation-Disclosures Times.
Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1879-06-07
1esrried at the Point Of a Pistol,

Luther Mccoy, young law stu
dent of this place, met with one OF
the most remarkable adventures on
record last Friday evening, the al
legged facts of which have just come
10 light. Mccoy says be went to
Rockport last Friday to attend the
Spencer County Court, and while re-
turning home about 10 o'clock in the
evening he was stopped by Jacob
Brother and Levi Landsburg, who de-
u,anded that he slinuld 60 to the
Clerks office, get license and marry
Jacob Brothers, daughter, Cynthia.
Mccoy protested, but Brother in
sisted that the daughter had been
xrossly wronged, and repiration
should he made at once. Having no
ueans Of defense, Mccoy was taken
by Brother and Landsburg to the
Clerks Office, who issued the papers,
and then the trio started together for
Brothers residence. A clergyman
was called in and Mccoy was mar
rcd to the woman. This, McCoy
alleges, was all done with threats of
death to him should he resist. The
.ewIy-maSeied couple were taken to u
room and locked up for the night,
and in the morning the groom started
Tor his fathers house with the bride.
Having told his father the circum-
stances Of the marriage the old gen
tleman took the bride back to her
home, and Mccoy has now brought
suit to have the marriage declared
null and void.-Booneville Qnd.)
Nisnatch.
Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1879-06-07
THE insurance companie

THE insurance companies
which have been resisting the pay
ment of the late Colonel Walton
Dwight's policies to his heirs are not
content to stop with the verdict OF
the Coroner's inquest they forced,
that his death resulted from natural
causes. They buve held a meeting
and decided 10 resist still further the
payment Of their debts, by carrying
the question into the courts and
pleading that Colonel Dwight was
ps1ilty Of fraudulent representations
when he took ont the policies. The
companies may possibly save a few
Thousand dollars apiece by pursuing
this policy, but they will soon find
that It has lost them a great deal
more by justly preiudicing the pub
ic against organizations that do
business on such principles.
Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1879-06-07

vNVHE FOLLOWING EXTRACT FROM THE
u minutes of the meeting of the Doari of
County Commissioners of Lyon county, held
ut the Courthouse, in Dayton, on Monday,
May S, 1879, is published for the information
OF whom 1t may concern:
petition from the residents of the town of
Sutro, in this county. having been this day
presented to this honorable Board, praying
that new township to be known as Sutro
township be established in this county; and it
appearing to the satisfaction of the Board that
the convenience Of the county requires the
creation of such new township; it is
ORDERED, That township 70 be known as
Su 70 township be and is hereby created and
established within the county OF Lyon, the
boundaries of which are particularly de-
scribed as follows: Commencing at the inter-
section of the road leading from Dayton to
Sutro with the first fence of the Sutro Tun-
mel Company's ranch: thence running on
line in northwesterly direction to q poiot
where said line continued to u monument
marking the center line of the sutro
tunnel, situated on the divide between
Mount Emma and Mount Rose, inter
sects the boundary line between Storey
and Lyon counties: thence easterly along
said division line to its intersection with Six.
mile canyon; thence along said canyon to Its
point of discharge into the Carson river;
thence on a straight line TO the nearest point
the Carson river; thence along the line of said
sandbtlls to the intersection Of said line with
the fence forming the southern boundary of
the Sutro Tunnel Company's ranch thence
along said fence forming the said southern
boundary of the Sutro Tunnel Companys
ranch westerly and northerly to the place of
beginning.
AND, WHEREAS. There are In said town
ship no persons Only authorized to execute
and perform the duties of Justice of the
Peace and OF Constable; and it appearing to
the satisfaction of this Board that George W.
Keith and James E. Fair are suitable persons
to serve as Justice and Constable, respectively,
of the said Sutro township it is. therefore.
further
ORDERED. That temporarily. and until such
offices may be filled by election as provided
| by law, George w. Keith be and he is hereby
| appointed Justice of the Peace of said Sutro
| township, and the amount of his official bond
| is hereby hxed at three Thousand dollars in
| United States gold coin; and that James T.
Fair be and he Is hereby appointed Constable
of raid Sutro township. and the amount OF
| his official bond is hereby fixed at two thou
sand dollars in United etates gold coin.
BY order Of the Board:
| JAMES X. SHAW. Chairman.
| JOHN s. DALLAS, Clerk.
Dayton. June 5, 1870,