davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-12

Many clergymen in this country have
lately received circular from London
dealer in secondhand sermons. He offers
sermons autographed in bold, round
hand" so that those who happen to see
them would suppose that they were manu-,
script, fer twenty-five cents each, or TWEEN.
ty dollars hundred. He has line of
cheaper sermons iE print, at ten cents
apiece, warranted orthodox; and others
little more expensiye-whichh have 'sa
pleasantness, yet an awful solemnity
about them.'
Captain George Bartlett, of Guilford,
Conn, now in his eighty-third year, now
ed an acre of grass on his farm in Gull
ford last Wednesday morning, raked it IN
the veterans in the evening of the same
day. marched In the procession the whole
length of the route with his son and
grandson, and returned to Gullford in a
special train at o'clock in the morning.
Mr.. James A. Kerr, of Norfolk, has
been appointed by Judge Robert W,
Hughes, of the United States Circuit
Court, United State9 commissioner for the
EASTERN district Of Virginia.
IL 'o~o1t"neo WILL cuo oeiHs VI SHY
election bet, Mr.. Pakas, Democrat of
Worcester. Mass. took his stand in front
Of the Bay State Hotel, in that city, last
Wednesday, in full evening dress, and for
two hours BACKED the boots of any one
who wanted the job done.
Last week Hancock carried Galena,
ILL.,, the home of exsPresdent Grant, by
302 majority, and he also carried candidate
Viewers county in Iowa by 2 majority
The Republicans OF Emmittshurg, Md,
fred 1929" guns in honor of the election
of Garfield. The firing was good, but the
taste was bad. ,sGT
When in a civil case Scotch Jury of
twelve have been out for three hours a
majority Of nine may bring in q verdict.
a young man of st. Paul died Of heart
disease while asking his sweetheart to
marry him. 7.,s.,.-
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-12

CARRIED OFF BY AN ALLlGAToR.-The
following dreadful affair Is related by a
Lake City (Fla.) paper: A few days ago a
party of several persons near Benton went
on a s.drive'' for deer. About twelve
o'clock they came to Peoples Bridge Oh
the Suwanee, and being warm and much
fatigued, they concluded to take a bath.
The party, consisting of about eight, dl-
vested themselves OF clothing and enjoyed
a swim. AS most Of the party were en-
ployinS themselves IN dressing, young
man named Nixon cried out: ''BOys, l
must have one last SWIM" and plunged
into the stream. AS he reached the middle
he cried for help to his companions, and
they looked TO behold him held blythe
right shoulder in the mouth of AN enor-
nous alligator. The monster sank with
him, reappearing some two OF three
minutes later upon the surface with
Nixon still in his Jaws.
Nixon cried to his companions to shoot,
but before gun could be discharged he
sank again. taking Nixon under with
him. A moment after he arose again
and struck for the opposite shore, sill
having the Inflated young man in his
enormous mouth. Again Nixon called
upon his companions to shoot, but being
afraid of hitting Nixon, no one discharged
his gun. The alligator crept some half-a-
dozen feet upon the opposite bank, remain
ing about three minutes, when, guided by
sudden impulse, he plunged win his
precious burden into the stream again,
and reaching the middle sank to rise NO
more within the view OF the party. A
thorough search Was made, buG naught
could be seen Of the body OF parts Of The
body of the unfortunate young man. The
presumption is that the alligator made for
his lair, which probably was near at hand.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-12

Is 1T FRAUD2-A negro man named
Henderson Peasants, we'll known in Lex.
ington, paid his capitation tax to Capt. J
P. Moore and was qualified to vote, when
to his surprise he received through the
mail tax receipt signed by Ananias
Smith for one dollar ana five cents. AS
Henderson's tax was already paid, the
question arises, what right had Ananias
ticket for capitation which had already
been paid This tax receipt is IA the
hands of the proper authorities and the
whole scheme to qualify voters in this
county will be looked into, 1t is evident
that these tax receipts were given out in a
very loose and Irresponsible manner
Lexington Gazette. -
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-12
Peter Francisco Kidnapped When Boy and
Brought to America.


Brought to America.
The Richmond "otandard'' publishes d
letter written by Hugh R. Peasants
twenty five years ago TO Alex. Brown, of
Nelson, which gives some interesting re
collections Of the famous Peter Francisco,
the strong man of America. Mr.. Pleas.
ants says:
will mention here what suppose you
have heard very often, that the celebrated
Peter Francisco, the strongest man that
ever lived in America, belonged to your
fathers grand father, Colonel William
Mayo, of Powhaton, and saved his life il
the battle of Guilford, for which service
he was set free. 1t was the custom, you
know, IN colonial times TO bring children
who were likely to become chargeable to
the parish over to this country and sell
them for term of years; condemned per-
sons were also brought over iii the same
way, and many were kidnapped. This
last was the way, have no doubt, Peter
got here, He came over so young that he
lost all recollection OF what he had been,
although he believed himself a Portuguese.
There is a talk of erecting monument to
his memory, if the Legislature should ever
find time to think about any thing better
than dlsunion. He once applied for relief,
and his old Captain, Judge Johnston,
wrote certificate in which he said that
Peter had killed more British than any ten
men in the American army. He once en-
countered nine of Tarleton's cavalry who
had stopped at tavern in Amelia county.
Que of them stopped down to take off his
silver shoe-buckles; as he stopped the han
die OF his sabre came right to Pet er 8 hand;
he instantly seized it and cut trough his
skull down into his very neck. The rest
of his comrades set upon Peter, fortunately
they had nothing but their swords, their
pistols being on their horses. Peter whip
ped all eight Of them, killing five on the
spot, and chasing the rest until his pro-
gress was arrested by the sight of Tarleton's
whole legion. four hundred strong, which
were advancing without knowing what
had happened, and we're now not more
himself on one of the masterless horses
which were tied before the tavern door; the
dragons saw the action, alarm was given, a
chase commenced, and although a hundred
shots were fired at him, Peter came off
safe.
When General Greene was besieging
Ninety-SiK Peter used to amuse his COM
rades by shouldering dismounted six
FOUNDER and carrying it around a house.
He was Selgeant-at Arms to the House Of
Delegates when he died, in 1881. knew
him very well, and have seen him take a
man six feet high on the palm of his hand
and hold him out at arms length when he
must have been nearly seventy years old.
The Legislature once voged him sword
six feet long have seen him handle it
as | would a horse-whip. Colonel Mayo, l
believe, bought him when he was child.
He was a man of powerful unde rstanding,
but he could neither read nor write, He
was the best matured creature ever saw,
and suppose is was we'll that tsa was.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-12

Those of our Readjuster friends who
were sure that if Staunton was out of the
way the Independent ticket would carry
che county, will find by looking at the fig
ares that, excluding the vote of Stanton,
the county of Augusta beat that ticket by
2y649 to 724-nearly four to one and nearly
two thousand majority. Even the Repub-
lican ticket beat it in the county.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-12
FALL OF 1880.
J. A. Ell U L G HE'S SON,

Is now receiving his FALL and WINTER s4aep.1s n
foreign and domestic
CLOTHS. CASSIMERES AND
SUITINGS,
Which will be made up in the best and after
the most fashionable patterns. Call and see the
new styles for the fall and winter Fits guar
anteed and satisfaction given. Also a full line Of
GENTS FURNISHING GOODS,
such as cu1fS, collars handkerchief, cravatS, &c
Rs- Remember the place,
j. A. HUTCHINSON
OCT Z9u Main Street, opposite City Hail.
OFFICE OF THE
~ VIRGINIA MANGANESE co.
BALTIMORE, MD.
The Stockholders of said Company are requested
to meet at the office OF the company, No. COM
merce Street, on the
First Tuesday in December, at P. NJ,
for the purpose CT ecting Directors for the ensuing
year.
I. P. BAYNE,
nov56s Secretary.
TyHE PRETTIEST NOVELTIES IN
SILK HANDY ERCHIEFS
WELLER's.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-12

The talk about contest for the vote of
New York by the Democrats is about as
sensational as that about Frazier contest
ing the seat of Ran. Tucker, and has about
as much in it.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-12

The Congressman elected in Virginia
are Tucker, Cabell, Wise. Garrison and
Barbour (Democrats), Fulkerson and Paul
sReadjusters,) and Dezendorf and Jorgen-
cen 4Republicans). The vote in the State
for the electoral tickets was Democratic
94,ee5, Republican s2,237 and Readjuster
$685.;
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-12

A STRANGE SUPERSTITION RECALLED
BY A HANGING IN VIRGINIA.-A CORES
pondent of the New Y ork ''Sun," writing
from Liberty, Bedford, in giving an &C
count of the recent execution Of the negro,
Peter Wright, says:
Wright was famous in this part Of Vir-
ginia as having been connected with a
crime full of mystery and more horrible IN
it's ending than the crime for which he
was hanged. In 1868 Miss Wright, a beau
tiful young woman Of Bedford, disappear
ed from her home. Her disappearance
caused much excitement, as mystery had
long hung over her family. She was the
last of her line, and among the simple
folks of the country there existed q tradi-
ton and superstition concerning her fam
lily. The legend was that one of her an
cestors had insulted a sorcereSs. and the
offended conjuresS had decreed as a pun
iShment that not one of the Wrights there
after should die natural death. Miss
WrightS grandfather was drowned, his
father and mother were burned alive, and
her father and mother were murdered,
while her brother was killed in the war.
So the tradition goes, and the supersti-
tiOus farmers would shake their heads
gravely when they saw her and express
SORROW UlaG the L6IrlDio udloulCtlOu uuuK
over her. 1t was surprising what really
sensible people credited this superstition.
The mystery which hung over her life fol-
lowed her to the grave. Her body was
found in the woods near her home. and not
fifty yards from the houses of several OF
her neighbors. Because of her high social
position, the appearance Of her body was
not made public, and at the inquest no
critical examination was allowed. 1t was
remarkable also, that she had been N ur-
dered in easy call of her neighbors, and
yet they all protested Ignorance of her end.
The body. from its appearance, had lain
where It was found three or four days.
Peter Wright had been seen in the locality
about the time the murder was supposed
to have been committed, and it was gen.
orally believed that he committed the deed
at the instlgation OF some white man to
conceal more revolving crime. Wright
bad been formerly a slave in the family.
Nothing could be proved on him, but
there has never been any doubt among the
country people that he committed the
crime. It is strange that Wright, negr"
slave of the family to which the supersti-
tion attaches, should follow the young
woman to an unnatural death.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-12

One beneficial result of the recent elec-
ton in Virginia we trust will be that the
demagogues will shut up about "We, the
people," When an electoral ticket s
beaten by about three to one you may put
it down as pretty certain that the People
had very little to do with it.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-12

CLOVER SEED.-A number 0 our Rock
bridge farmers have raised fine crops of
eloTer seed this season. Several crops
yielding over 100 bushels of clean seed,
two crops making as much as $50 each.
This is better than wheat, even if the
minimum price of SIS per bushel only is
gotten.-LeIinlton Gogette
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-12

AN ELECTION INCIDENT.-Tha honest
heard that Tucker was in danger of being
defeated, came all the way from Washing
ton city to vote for him.-LeTinqton Ga
zette,
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-12

Hon. John T. Keen, Mayor of North
Danvile and member of the Democratic
State Central Committee OF Virginia, was
killed last week by being thrown from a
buggy.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-12

Ex-Governor Fayette McMullen, of Viz
GINA, was struck by railroad train and
killed, near his home, on Wednesday,.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-12

carefully executed. ANY goods yon may order not
on hand u out OF our line, will be bought for YOU at
lowest market prices and if the order amounts to
Five Dollars and upwards, the package will be sent
to the nearest depot to your residence, free of
charge Address,
JAS w. NEWTON
Lock Box 81, Stanton Va
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-12

Clalf, warranted Dy 1uS connecticut 1nVen-
ter to take any shape he may fall into ii
he should have bad dreams, and anon falls
soundly to sleep. soothed by the sweet
country, tits of thee" Blessed sleep!
Sancho Panza did not know of the man
who invented it, so it couldn't have been
a Yankee. Sunday comes. Our Souther-
ner is a religious man-all good democratic
SouthernerS are, whether church members
or not. So our friend sits down to his BIZ
BILE, magnifcently gotten up by Harper q
Bros, New York; or he takes for his Sun
day reading the Southern Churchman, .
Religious Herald, " or Southern Meth
odist," as his religious inclinations may
lead him. They are all printed on North
ern paper with Philadelphia ink. Even
his religious papers are materially North
ern; but, thank God, the spiritual and
moral sentiments are emanations from
Southern brains and Southern hearts. He
bitches up his acknowledgement horses to
a Jersey or Germantown Wagon; puts his
whip, made of whalebone brought from
the Arctic regions by Yankee whaler.
and polished and finished and beautified
in some Northern factory, into its patent
Yankee holder, and off ne goes: his wife
dressed in as good as he can afford, bought
at Stewards, New York, or some other
Broadway store, but not much outwardly
Southern, even to the pins in her clothes,
and he glorying in his magnificent rig of
Philadelphia make. (got it during the Cen
tennial; hasn't time to 60 to his own State
fair.) At church both use brass bound
prayer books which came from Boston,
and the preacher lowering over finely
gotten up Harper's Bible, beats the drum
ecclesiastic on chancel furniture, made of
black walnut from the rich Southern bot
tom lands by the best getter up of such
things Philadelphia can afford. Time
flies with our friend and he pays tribute
to our ankee friends in his outgoing and
in bis incomings, Not an hour, not a day
passes but what he is called upon to con-
tribute to them in some way. Silently but
surely the protection afforded to Northern
manufactures is solidifying into silver dol
lars clinking in the bottom of their pock-
cts, the sweat drops from the poor mans
brow. But there is an end to all things,
and our friend lays on a bed of sickness.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-12

I HAVE Extended my line Of goods and have at
Il my store the largest assortment of
FINE DRESS GOODS.
SILKS. BROCADES, PLAIDS, BLACK CASH
MERES, GA CLOAKINGS, AND SUITINGS.
Ever Exhibited by
J. W NEWTSaN
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-04-12
NEW BANKRUPT LAW.

The bill now before the house of rep
resentitives has the approval of the
Boston board of trade and other COM
mercial organizations. 1t provides that
resisters in bankruptcy shall be paid by
the government, the estate paying a fix
ed sum to the government, according to
the amount of assets. The fees of the
clerk of the court are also simpli6ed
and reduced. A salaried officer is APP
pointed in each circuit with duties re-
sembling those of bank examiner,
whose duty it will be to oversee the set
Element of all estates and the admins
tration of the law by all officers,
with authority to procure remedy for
negligence or fraud. Provision is made
for compositions, but the rights of cred
itors are guarded by the mode of pro-
ceeding and by requiring ODe-third Of
the composition to be paid in cash and
the remainder to be amply secured and
of the debtors by giving them regular
discharge as soon as this is done. The
amount of property exempted from the
operations of the decree is made substan.
TALLY uniform for all traders through
out the country. 1t is claimed that this
will secure the rights of creditors while
giving chance to every debtor who
has honest intentions.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-04-12

several Of the candidates, heretofore
mentioned, are dropping out of the field
some of them being selected as delegates
to the national convention and others
refusing to be considered candidates.
The number is getting narrowed down
to DR.. Nichols. present Secretary of
State, and Col. Roswell Farnham of
Bradford, with perhaps an occasional
mention of some others. DIR. Geo Mich
OILS has long been connected with the af-
fairs of State, and is very thoroughly
informed in all legislative proceedings.
His uniform courtesy and afibility, his
good bearing and good sense. have given
him great popularity with all who have
been connected with the legislature for
the last years. DR.. Nichols would do
the duties of governor handsomely and
wisely.
Col. Farnham is man very popular
wherever he is known. In every capac-
ity in which he has served, he has
proved himself capable, honest and eff
cient. He has had legislative expert
ence and would grace the governors
chair. He Is younger than most nomi-
nees for the position, and would make a
popular man among the younger poll
clans.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-04-12
DEMOCRATIC STATE
CONVENTION.

The State Convention will be held at
Montpelier, Thursday, Apr. 22d, at liz
a. m. Ten delegates will be chosen to
represent the State in the National Dem
ocratic convention to be held at Cincin-
natl, June, %. The ratio of representa-
ton shall be one for every town, and
one additional for every so votes, or
larger fraction of fifty, cast in the town
for the Democratic candidate for Gov
ernor in 1878, said delegates to be elect
ed at caucuses to be held after due pub
lie notice, and their election to be certi-
fed by the Chairman and Secretary of
such caucus. Our Democratic readers
should attend to the matter and send
delegates to the convention. We are In
favor of the nomination of Gen. Hancock
by the Democrats for presidential can
didate, and hope Vermont will send a
delegation favorable to him. We ex-
pect the Republican nominee will win in
the next contest, but if he is beaten, ii
will be some consolation to have it done
by man who so valiantly fought, the
rebel enemies of his country in the
rebellion, and who would defend his
country now from any CT her internecine
| foes
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-04-12

COOP SHowING.-The reduction of
the national debt for the last month was
fourteen millions and three-quarters, the
largest reduction in any single month
during the whole history of the coun-
try, and of course the largest reduction
ever made of its national debt by any
country in the world in one Month. If
this rate could be maintained, the whole
debt would be paid in little more than
eleven years, without any allowance for
the rapid elimination of interest
charges. If the revenue should be
maintained at its present amount, and
if the expenses of the government, ex-
elusive of interest, should also remain
as at present, that is to say, if the year
ly revenue should be twelve times what
it was in the month of March. and the
expenditure should be twelve times what
it was for the same period, the deb
would be extinguished in about nine
years.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-04-12

Washington letter to Boston Herald
"rhe discovery that Senator Edmunds
is at once acceptable to the independent
voters and to the inner circle of Gran
tites may be said to be the great devel-
opment of the campaign thus far. If
Mr.. Blaine's friends will kindly 60 for
ward and give their candidate good
lead over Grant, compelling him to with
draw, then Edmunds can be nominated.
That Grant himself will prefer Edmunds
to Washburnc, Sherman or Blaine is
admitted. Mr.. Washburne has taken
good deal of pains lately to announce
his adherence to Grant, but there is
some reason why Grant does not prefer
Washburne. Some assert that this rea-
son is to be found in the course pursued
by Washburne during the brief period
that he held the office of secretary of
state at the beginning of Grants admin
istration. | fancy that Grant dislikes
the claim set up for Washburne, that
he was the discoverer and patron of the
ex-president. Grant doesn't like to
think that he ever needed to be discover
ed, and he doesn't accept the patronage
of any body. @ My own opinion is
that if Grant ever declines to be candi-
date, it will be in a letter to the Chicago
convention, which will not be held until
after the Grant managers have got to-
gather and picked out the man who is
to be nominated. Just now there is no
question that these managers are think
ing of Edmunds, and as they are keenly
intelligent men, they are not likely to
pass lightly by man around whom the
independents are railing. We shall be
in luck if we get 50 good president as
Edmunds. Some of our eastern states
men are talking dismally about the i'm
possibility of New England man be-
ing put forward for the presidency-as If
the eastern states were some Alaska on
the Atlantic coast. having no share in
the government of the country. One
prominent senator thinks it especially
ridiculous that the state of Vermont
should ever furnish president at all,
The small states will always be the
best breeding ground for statesmen in
this republic, and Vermont happens to
furnish the best headful of brains now
available in the Republican party
Sherman, l suppose, will be less easily
satisfied with Edmunds than either
Blaine or Grant men. There has al
ways been a question "inside" as t.
whether Sherman or Edmunds was th,
real author of the resumption act, anC
the current impression is that Edmund
contributed more to the passage of thai
measure than the present secretary o
the treasury"