davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-03-04

classical subjects explain themselves in de-
licatc bas-relefs around the room. Tapes
tries, of exquisite workmanship and glowing
in color, afford effective back grounds to the
many cleaning marbles scattered about
An open fire place holds huge brass audirons
in the form of sun flowers, while the bellows,
shovel and tongs, are decorated with the
same dear old fashioned flower. The rooms
below end in rotunda-like hall, which is
also lighted by stained glass roof. Ascend
ing the stairs, sconces, filled with tall
with tall wax candles, glitter here and there,
upon the soft-tintcd walls, while Oriental
figures hold huge candelabra on every land
ing. All the rooms on the second and third
floors are equally interesting, and all contain
articles of exceedingly rare value. Open
firc-places, filled around with Minton tiling
of beautiful design, occur in every room. The
library and dining-rooms are lighted by
oriels, filled with stained glass, each win
dow descriptive of an allegorical or poetic
fancy. Indeed, the whole house is a poetic
fancy. As one of the gentlemen TO whom
the house belongs was a commissioner at the
Centennial, some of these exquisite surround
ings were apprecialive gifts.
l can not end this letter without referring
to one house, which | saw, not long since
here, which was indeed simple and unadorned,
but in such harmony with nature withal and
with this warm Southern climate, that it was
very charming. The walls were tinted in
tho softest, palest Sea green and the ceiling
was frescoed in colors to correspond. On the
floor was carpet of delicate wood color, on
which were sirewn long sprays OF trailing
arbutus interlaced with ferns and MOSES,
while soft lace curtains were wrought in the
same beautiful flower. Everything here
seems 10 have a picturesque, as well as
useful garb.
Tomorrow, We continue our Southward
journey by the lovely Sea Island route
our hearts are glowing with expectation
Nt.rop
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-03-04

bonds to appear at the court of general ses-
sions which was to convene here within two
weeks from this time. This arrest was evil
IDENTIFY made to intimidatc witnesses who had
been summoned to testify against others OF
the arrested parties. To protect his wit
nesses, the commissioner arrested the sheriff,
trial justice, and the party who swore out
the warrant, on n charge OF interfer
ing with United States witnesses Discover
ing that the commissioner was determined
TO protect his witnesses, then commenced
wholesale arrest Of negroes on charge of
riot on the day of election. Between twenty
and thirty were arrested. Upon being
brought before the trial justices, after some
had lain in Jail two days, the others having
secured bail, twelve were bound over TO the
general court, soon to convene and the rest
were released, being able to prove that they
were not present at the time and place when
the riot was claimed to have occurred.
When the court of general sessions convened
ten of the men who were bound over
were indicted for riot by the grand jury,
and warrants were issued for the arrest of IL
large number of others, 10 he brought before
this jury on the same charge, riot, though
some were charged with riotous conduct at
other voting places in this county than
Aiken. The number of arrests cOntemplat-
ed exceeded one hundred. The attorney
general of the State was sent here by request
OF the Aiken bar to prosecute these cases in
person. This indicated that the full power
of the State was being brought to bear to
convict these men, who, in my judgment,
are wholly innocent Of the crime charged
against them. Conviction meant for these
men a long term in the State penitentiary,
where they would be farmea out to work on
railroads, in phosphate beds AMI granite
quarries, and their existence to he worse than
that of slaves. For criminals even this seems
bad enough, but for innocent men 1t
| is horrible, and their only real being Repub
licans and desiring to vote the ticket of their
choice. At this stage the question of human
iIy overshadOwed that of justice and through
the efforts of X. B. Elliott and the United
States district attorney compromise was
effected, whereby these cases were continued
to the June term of the court, and these
negroes, who were in Jail on the charge of
not, were released, and the cases TO be call
ed in the April and May sessions of the
United States courts against the violators of
the election laws are to be continued, and
these continuances, presume, will result in
the dropping of the cases on both sides. |
have no doubt that an object in the whole
sale arrest Of the colored men was to force
the compromise that has just been effected.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-03-04
A PESSIMISI'S LAMENT.

''D-1 the nature of things i''-PorsoS (ctf'"'
on, kindly LEI me SIT and die
Tho one resource for weary souls
For all creation seems awry,
The earth is 1attened at the poles
The laws of nature are the most
Disgraceful that l ever knew;
They're always getting in the way,
There's nothing that they'll let one do.
cannot sit upon the beach
And on ms sickening sorrows muse,
But that grim moon must needs be there
To drag the ocean Ger my shoes.
cannot jump from OF a elf
To mount a horse | hardly dare,
With gravitaiion gloaiing by
To smash uie with its inverse square"
VIII nothing wear the old earth out.
Will these sad ages ne'er be past
hate yon mountains granite peaks,
They look as though they meant 10 last
The grass is green, the sky Is blue,
The taste displayed Is very bad;
The yellow sunsets vulgar hue
Makes me too angry 10 be sad
On second thoughts, | viii not die;
wont be mixed with dirt and stones;
This planet simply isn't ft
To hold my phllosophic bones.
Oh, woe is me, To he man
The common lot" SO ''stale and dat
Why can't one be a Dodo rare,
O.. cen tortoise-shell tom-cat: :
For then at least one might be stuffed
And gazed at by the public eve,
inslrlng all | fear TO lose
OF genuine Immortality.
oh time and snace are sfupid things
And SOS existence as a whole
I'm sure should be happier far
Devoid of body and OF soul.
But then, If things are so pervcrse,
P'raps noIhings rotten al the core,
And should find. OF course too late,
Sonentiiy horrid bore :
Whitehall Rsr,sta
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-03-04

The NIAGARA SUsPESsIoN BRIDGES.
response to the inquiries Of n correspond
ent, the niagara Falls Gaz.He gives the
following interesting sketch of the his
tory of the great suspension bridges ::
In 1913 Charles Ellet, brilliant rather
than profound engineer. built the first
suspension bridge over Niagara, on the
site of the present railroad bridge. The
bridge WAS only for carriage and foot pas
sengers. The towers were of wood, and
the Roadway was only abolt six feet i'll
width, Just wide enough for ono team.
Mr. Ellet in the beginning had offered II
reward of 81 to the first person who
should get string over the river. The
next windy ,ny II large number Of boys
assembled Oh the bank with kites, and he
fore night one of them, n former towns
man, Holman j. Walsh, then boy Of
thirteen years of nge, landed his kite on
tho Canada side and received the promis-
ed reward. by means Of this string
larger cords, then ropes, then iron cables,
small ut first, but increasing in size, were
drawn across, until the large cables were
thus stretched This structure served M
II most excellent auxiliary in the CON
struction of the present bridge. This
was built by Americas great engineer,
John y. Roebling, and has always been
considered one of the greatest of his
works. Ii was commenced III 1852, and
the first locomotive crossed it i'll 1851.
The IRON basket now hanging under the
railroad track near the American end of
the bridge, was first used hy Mr.. Ellet,
and III it the first person who vercrossod
the chasm alive, and of his own will, was
crossed over.
These Ia M old Indian tradition that y
resisting chief was once carriedto the OPP
posite side 10y n large nld-headod eagle
who swooped down on the great warrior
as he lay in ambush on the ground and
bore him over Ladies' have also crossed
in this basket. The Suspension bridge
by Brooks monument was built in 1856
by T. T.. Serret The ice jam Of lS6f
tore the guys from the rocks to which
thoy were fastened, and before they were
replaced terrific gale broke the roadway
severed the suspenders, and left the struc
ture dangling in tho air. The nav sus
pension bridge, as 1T IL called, was huili
in 1863, the cables being carried over in
tho winter on the ice bridge Its length
is over 1900 feet, or Il full quarter of {,
mile from outside to outside of the tow
ers, and is the longest suspension bridg,
in the world.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-03-04
THE OTHER WORLD.

II lies around us like a cloud.
world We 10 not see;
Yet the sweet closing of an eye
May bring Us there 10 he.
It's gentle brcezes fan our cheek,
Amid our worldly cares
It's gentle voices whisper love.
And m!nsle with our prayers
Sweet hearts around Us throb and beai'
Sweet helping hands are stirred,
And palpiiates the veil between
Nth breaInlngs almost heard
The s,Ience-awful. sweet and calm
They have no power Ia break f;
For mortal words are not Tor them
To utter or partiSe.
80 thin. so soft, 50 sweet they glide,
81 near to press they seem,-
They seem 10 lull US to our rest,
And melt iai1 car dream,
And in the hus!i nf rest they bring
'ris easy now - see
How lovely and how sweet a pass
The hour of death may be.
To close the eve, and close the ear,
Wrapped in u trance OF bliss.
And gently dream in loving arms
70 swoon 10 thai-frOm this
Scarce knowing If we wake or sleep,
Scarce asking where wea are,
To feel all evil sink away,
All sorrow and all care.
Sweet souls around us watch us still,
Press nearer 10 our side.
Into our thoughts, into our prayers,
With gentle helplngs glide.
Let death between us he as naughi,
dried and vanished stream;
Your JOY be the reality,
Onr suffering life the dream.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-03-04

from country bankers during the last week.
and they have been numerous. We are
sorry to say that they have been in ma jOr-
ity Of cases marked neither by foresight, in
telligence, nor evidence of adequate informa-
ton They indicate only too plainly that
the action of the banks has been very much
IN the nature Of stampede" not 50 furi-
ons, but quite as foolish, as that which took
place in Wall street Friday.
IT is said that the Northern Pacific rail
road will soon fall into the hands OF the
Oregon railway and Navigation Company, of
which Henry Willard is president. A pool,
composed of Messrs. Willard, Endicott OF
Boston and George NJ Pullman, and backed
by Il syndicate of the bondholders, the Selig-
mans, Mortons and Drexcls, bought the ma
iority of the Northern Pacific stock last
week, and during several weeks preceding,
at total cost of about S12,0O0,0OO. The
rumOr goes that the Northern Pacific rail
road would have invaded the province of the
Oregon Company, which has capital OF
SIS, ,0O0, 900, and has been earning Is per
cent on 81, 200, 900 capital. They say they
can earn $40, 900 per mile with the Northern
Pacific land grant and that they will put the
whole road through in two years and half
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-03-04

General Grant is reported as saying the
Worlds Fair will fail unless the site he
changed from Linwood to Central Park. lie
thinks the park would not he seriously in
iured by the fair.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-03-04

William f. Dodge is about 10 place a line
of steamers between New York and Lihcriu,
to carry over negroes who wish to settle in
their parent continent, where there are now
living 20, 900 American blacks, among a ma
tive population Of three-quarters Of a mil
lion
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-03-04

CnUCKED UNDER THE TABIE.-ln the
Colorado Legislature, the other day, mem
her introduced bill to pay bounty Of 52j
for the scalps Of skunks and Indians. At the
close of heated debate a member said, Il
move, Mr.. Speaker. that tho resolution he
chuckcd under the table" The speakers
face glowcd with satisfaction as he put the
motion to the House. in exactly the words
il had been offered. 1t was carricd-to the
honor of the State be it said-with hut one
dissenting voicc-that of the member who
had hoped TO distinguish himself by intro
ducing the bill "The motion to chuck the
bill under the table is carried" said th,
speaker, "chuck il under the table"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-03-04

In some of the Western cities, the firemcn
slide down a smooth pole from their chamber
to their machines, when night alarms are
sounded, thus saving several seconds of
time
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-03-04

THE VARIOUS EXPLORING PARTIES on FOOT
BRINGING THE DARK CONTINENT INTO
COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH THE WORLD
BUILDING RAILROADS IN AFRICA
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-03-04
THE CHEMICAL DEPARTMENT.

In the laboratory was seated Thomas
Wetherbee, both chemist and engineer.
When the engine does not need his atten-
ton he is engaged in annlyzing the ore be-
fore it goes into the furnace. The quail
ty Of the ore changes frequently, and ii is
necessary to be constantly analyzirg it to
determine the materials which must be
dealt with. Specimens of the ore are
reduced to powder and subjected t" the
action of various chemicals, by which its
exact composition is ascertained and a
record Is then made of the analysis.
Around the room on shelves and tables
were ranged glasses and phials contain
ing various solutions representing all
stages Of the experiments. A library at
one end of the offica contains various
works on mineralogy, geology and all the
information science has to offer on the
subject of iron
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-03-04
A RELIC or LONG AGO.
u. ". Page In Troy Times.l

The rock in which the ore of this region
IL found is limestone, mostly in the form
Of coicltc, and belongs to the Pots,lnm pc
Rod OF the lower Silurinn age, and is nc
oordingly the oldest ol the limestones A
short time ago strange looking form was
blasted out of this limestone, which, on
St. Landry democrat., 1881-12-24
CONDENSED TELEGRAMS.

Both Houses of Congress were in
session on the 10th, and large number OF
bills were added to both calendars. Among
the bills Introduced in the House was one
by Mr.. Clark, of Missouri, for the relief OF
persons whose lands have been or may here
after be washed away or submerged BY the
Mississippi River or its navigable tributa-
rice. 1t provides that such persons may To-
cate a like quantity Of land (not to exceed
640 acres) upon any public lands of the
United States for sale or open TO pre-emp-
ton.
AMONG a number of nominations sent
b. the President to the Senate, on the 10th,
wai that Of Benja min II. Brewster,o of Penn.
syIvania, for Attorney General.
THE Senate Committee On Appropri-
ations have taken up the Sherman resolu-
ton directing an investigation of the expen-
diture of the contingent fund by the various
departments and referred it to select COM
mittee of five, consisting of Allison, Logan,
Hall, Davis and Cockrell, with instructions
to take evidence. The sub -committee was
specifically instructed to get all the evidence
taken by the Treasury Committee that in
vestigated Pitney and have it printed. There
was some talk about conducting the investi-
CATION with open doors, but no conclusion
was reached. Senator Cockrell, of the sub
committee says: "They are determined to
make thorough. sweeping and impartial
investigation, to publish all they find out,
no matter whom it may hurt.'
The Senate and House committees on
the death of President Garfield have held a
joint session to consider the proposed
memorial service. The matter was finally
referred to a subcommittee, of which Rep
resentatiye Mckinley is Chairman, with in
structions to report to the joint committee
as soon as practicable. General preference
was expressed that some distinguished ora
tor be invited to deliver the eulogy, and that
two Senators and two Representatives be
selected to follow the orator with brief re-
marks, each being allowed about fifteen
minutes, services to begin and close with
prayer, and be held in the House of Repre-
sentatiyes, in January.
THE condition of the cotton crop, as
reported to the Department of Agriculture,
is lower than in any season since 1866
Taking the reports Of the season together,
up to December l, the indications point to
crop of about 100000 bales, and some
what higher product appears possible.
The International & Great Western
Railroad reached Larned on the 10th.
A TERRIBLE double murder is re-
ported from Hot Springs, Ark, the victims
being an old farmer, VIM. Supplis, and his
wife, who resided about one mile north of
the city. One Flanagan, said to be
"crank," is thought to have committed the
deed.
St. Landry democrat., 1881-12-24
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES.

H. D. JONES, of GAINESVILLE, Wis, en-
ployed in the Carsil elevator at La Crosse,
while at work on some machinery was
caught by his clothing in the betting, from
which he could not escape, and was hurled
around in the machinery at the rate OF 100
revolutions per minute, being horribly
mutilated. The wheel made 800 revolutions
before the engine could be stopped. He
died shortly after the accident.
Two aged maiden sisters, Mary and
Louisa Means, VINO resided in Franklin
Township, Westmoreland County, Pa,
were murdered the other night in their
beds. They had the reputation OF being
very wealthy, and this was doubtless the
incentive to the crime.
VIM. j. PHILLIPS, a cattle-buyer from
Attention, Iowa, was murdered and robbed
of a considerable sum of money near Lex
ington, Mich. A man in his employ, named
J. A. Dixon, was placed in Jail on suspicion,
and during the night he poisoned himself in
his cell. Dixon was a man OF bad repute,
having served a term in the Penitentiary for
forgery. He was known to be in possession
of an unusual amount of money after the
murder, and there seems to be little doubt
Of his guilt.
WARDEN CROKER has received let
tiers warning him toremove prisoners from the
wing of the Jail in which Guiteau is confined,
so that in the event of Il dynamite explosion
no life except that of the assassin will be en-
dangered.
By the falling of an elevator from the
fourth flour OF Pfester & Vogel's tannery at
Milwaukee, five employees were injured,
four fatally.
RICHARD JENNINGS, who shot and
killed John A. Barrett, without provocation
as alleged, at Austin, New, was hanged by
the vigilantes.
A CoLoRED lad named Solomon
Davis, residing at Warrenton, N. c., loaded
his fathers musket and killed his little sis
Ter because she insisted upon telling their
mother Of his theft of cold 'possum from
the pantry.
St. Landry democrat., 1881-12-24
PERSONAL AND POLITICAL.

ON an average, there are said to be
five applicants for each OF the three hundred
Presidential Post -offices now vacant.
PosTMAsTER-GENERAL JAMES an
nounces his intention to retire from the
Government service on January /, having
accepted the Presidency Of the Lincoln Bank
of New York City.
THE President on the 18th sent to the
Senate the name Of Frederick T. Freling-
huysen as Secretary of State, rice Blaine, re-
signed.
The President has adopted rules for
the reception of visitors at the White House.
The President reserves Saturdays and Sun
days for himself, and on those days will re-
ceive no one. He will hold his first public
reception on New Years Day.
CHUNG 1sAG .JU, the new Chinese
Minister to Washington, with his wife and
suite OF fifteen persons, has arrived at San
Francisco.
ID. II. RIDDLEBERGER received the
Readjuster nomination for U. S. Senator
from virginia.
St. Landry democrat., 1881-12-24
A Gckered Career and Tragic Death.

/ La week the Argus briefly chronicled the
dea. of Charles II. Fairchild, who was burned
! to ath in Auburn on Sunday morning. He
| had history paralleled by few, and seemed
to I'VE been haunted by misfortune until his
| vel death. He was born in Columbia Coun-
| tythere he lived until seventeen years old,
! win he began Il sailors life, and lived on the
| sefor twenty Years, during which time he
| trcled around the world three times. Once
4 hGas shipwreckcd and escaped with fifteen
otcrs on a raft. They tioatcG tur fifteen
DIS. during which timc thirteen of them
| DID, and he and his surviving companion had
! 1arlv persisted from starvation and exposure
uen picked up. At another time. when his
| sip was cruising on the coast of Africa, he
nd another sailor were washed overheard and
managed to reach the shore. There being
10 habitation near, they started inland, and
litter travelling almost one hundred miles they
ifell into the hands of the man-eatcrs. The
arrival of the captors in the village was hailed
with demonstrations of JOY and delight. They
We're critically examined by the King, who
ordered them fattened and killed for his OWE
special consumption. They were then re-
moved to a stockade or pen, where for several
days they dieted on the choicest food the land
could produce. They thrived and grew fat,
but were constantly watching an opportunity
to escape, and finally succeeded. The natives
were very superstitious and terribly afraid OF
thunder and lightning, A night or two be-
lore they were to be killed one of these storms
occurred and the guards deserted their
posts and Fairchild and his companion
scaled the stockade which surrounded them.
Near by was river. They found canoe, and
with it they escaped. They made their way to
the coast again, where they remained eighteen
months before vessel made its appearance.
During his seafaring life Fairchild accumu-
lated about $4,000, which. upon settling IN
Philadelphia, he deposited in a bank. A num-
Der OF years after he decided upon moving to
New York and had his household goods packed
ready for shipment. He drew his money from
the bank, intending to start for New York the
next day. That night the house in which he
lived burned down. and with it his money and
ten-year-old daughter were burned, and the
rest of his family barely escaped with their
lives. Afterward he moved to Syracuse, and
five years ago he went to Auburn to live, and
there came to his death by being burned with
benzine.-4l6dny (N. " Argus.