Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-12-23
t~saAl DlsPArcHHs TO TEE EsooRD-usros.l
Ths Christmas Rush.

The Christmas Rush.
CHICAGO, December 22i-The agents of
the express companies here represent the
Christmas rush this year as greater than
usual. The American Express Company is
handling 200 tons of freight daily, chiefly
sending it west. Businsss is twenty five per
cent. greater than last year. Tns employees of
the company who handle packages note apu.
culiarity about the business. The first pack
ages surmissd by them to be Christmas pres
ents cIme from California. and wers destined
for the east. Each succeeding day has
nearer at hand. Wednesday the bulk OF
business came from Iowa. and yesterday il
was, as it will continue to be to-day, from
this city and the adiscsnt country.
sheridan an6 Meade.
CHICAGO, December 221.-The Times says:
In the various discussions relative to the re-
tirement of General Sherman, OF the United
StatesA Army, the p int hes tesn raised that Gan.
Sheridan is no. entitled to the mantle of bis
senior, and this point has been based upon the
alleged fact tha: Sheridan hao BEEN promoted
irregulsrly oyec the heads OF seniors to his
present position. Iu following up tais line of
argument, it he's been urged that General
Hancock was as fairly entitled to promotion
SIS Lieutsu ant General Sheridan The inves.
tigation Of the war records shows that Shsri-
dan no. only hoids mis- present rank by re.-
SOC OF direc. end natural promotion, but was
In one instance outranked or Jumped" by
General Meade. Meade's actual appoint
ment as Msior-General did not occur until
twelve days later than that OF Sheridan, aad
Grant was embarrassed by the request from
Meade that his appointment might be dated
from some important military event.
Grant desired him to name the event. Msade
suggested the occupation of the Weldon
road. Grant recommended Mesde's aproiat-
ment 10 be dated therefrom, and the Secre-
tary Of War, on November 26 1864, directed
the appointment ct General George a.
Meade as Msj0r.Genersl 10 the United
States army, to be dated from the occupation
of the Weldon road. The same records
show that General Grant telegraphed from
City Point November q. 1864. The date Of
our occupation OF tie Weldon railroad il
August Is, 1864. BY this process of ante.
dating Mes3e's appointment, it ranked that
Of Sheridan the intervaI from August 18Th to
November s. 1864, When Congress met in
December, 1864, the promotion Of Sheridan
was promptly confieIned. Not go, however,
that of Meade. The Military Committee of
the Senate delayed considerably in reporting
Meade's name, because this aute-da'ing his
appointment. placed hiri above Sheridan.
Finally it was intimated to the Senate that
Sheridan had consented to the arrangement
az the request of General Grant, which was
fact, 10 order to relieve the latter from tie
embarrassment occaaioned By Neads'a appli-
cation before described, and Meade was then
confirmed.
Why the Riddiebsrger-sIcCar;y DueI Bid
sOi Take Place.
WASHINGTON, DeceElber 22I.-Thers ap-
pears to have been good reason for the Rid
dleherser-M duel 90. taking place.
McCarty is dead. Young Malone, who is
about the Senate a great deal, said to-day
that his father sent for Ridclsberger and said
to him: This duel business will have 70
stop night of. have made q big fight in
Virginis, and have carried my point there
with great difficulty. Do you suppose for
cne moment that an going to allow you TO
20 out, and have a vacancy made in the
United States Senate by McCsrty's bullet /?
just as sure as you get in hae with McCarty q
pistol you are dead man. l would have 10
objection to yau bsing shot as an individual
my dear Riddlsbsrgar, but under the circum-
stances have coed deal moro use for you On
this earth than | have off from it. So re-
strain Yoarself, my dear boy" Riddleherger
accepted this advice.
Governor BIackburn's PardOas-A Land
Oaiee Under Fire.
FRAfaTeRT (Kyl, December 22d.-Gov-
ernor Blackburn says he did not disregard
the resolution of tbs Legislature about par
dons issued, but that the Investigation &C.
Cured as directed, and the result is in writ
ing in the vaults of the State mansion. He
also Gays that the number of pardons are
placed at only about half those actually is.
sued, and by resolution and action of the
Legislature he WAS compelled to issue some
500. In the course of one month he issued
some 400 more, and the Others amount to
some 1000 additional. He says he will
pardon 5000 more If satisfactory reasons are
given him.
Linn Boyd has prepared card, which will
be given 10 the pubic IN Q few days. alleging
and proving, as he claims. a loose sd Hiuistrg.
tion Of sffairs Ia our land ottice and claiming
vacancy.
The " Passion Play"
NEw York, December 2l.-Rev. Father
Healey who gives Cbiistmas tableau sud s
pantomime annually at S. Bsruard's Church,
Fifth avenue, said to g reporter regarding
the Passion Play :" II the question we're an
original one, his should be oppoteito to the forth
coming production of the IS Passion PIsy" in
this city. de had not hesrd that Archbishop
Alemsny of San Francisco had sanctioned its
production on thu stage there "Tf 1t il done
reverentiy. Systematically" be sid, ~ am
not prepared TO say the effect would be good. -
Father HeEley's drama of Nativity" is in
eight acts. It is played by members of the
parish in the basement Of his church, and this
year will run from Christmas to January 7th,
for the benefit of the church.
Forefathcrs' Day.
PLYMouTH( Mass J, December 22d.-" Fore.
fathers Day" is general holiday here, and
was ushered in By a display of flags, salutes
and the ringisg OF bells. The Plymouth and
the Standsh Gu irds and Collingwcod Post,
~ I IL
invited guests were recsived. The march was
then resumsd to the rcck on which the Pill.
grims landed, where a volley was fred by a
MILITARY escort, ard these present sang the
hymn "America !" thesce the procession
marched to the church of the first parish,
which was filed to OVERT owing. The exer-
ocises commenced by "deaconiziug," line by
lins, the hymn:
"Let children hear the mighty deeds
Their sires achieved Of Old
Which was sung to thu time OF "St. Mar.
tens" by the congregation. Other hymns
appropriate to the day were suag. Selections
from the Scriptures were read, and the Rsv.
George TewksbUfy gave an historical address
upon toe subject Of tbs day. The exercises
concluded with singing C hymn written By
Governor Long for the occasion. Upon tie
conclusion of the services in the church, q
procession was formed and marched to Davis
Hall, where plates were iaid tor q large num-
Der of guests and where the further exercises
of the d?y took place.
Captain OF the Dory Pacific.
NEW York, December 22d-Tbe ReraIds
special, referring TO Captain Gilbert. of the
dory Pacific, bound for Australia, says: He
was born in Brffi'o, is 80 years cid, served
thee years in the United States navy, sailed
several yesis between San Francisco, China
and Japan, came here three years ago, msr.
risd st Niagara Falls girl and opened
grocery store st Black Rock, where he built
. house. His rcvins disposition, however,
again asserted itself, and be started for the
Pacific slope. It is expected that he has
sent letters home by the bsrkertine which
spoke him, aud they viii recount his expert
ence. His family are anxiously awaiting
news from him.
Business Failures.
NEw York, December 22l-The business
failures throughout the country for the last
seven days, as reported t. L. G. Dun & Co. 3
mercantile agency. are 197. Eastern States.
%; Western, 81; Southern, 40; Middle. 30 !;
acific coast, 20: Canada, II; New York
city, 6. This is IL less than last week.
The sfeuN Commission.
WASHINGTON, December 22d.-The follow
fn- xras recaivad to.dsy from Pieree n II e