The Rock Island Argus., 1882-08-05
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

Now that Isaac Turner has been hanged,
the prevalent feeling that he should not
have been hanged has increased, and every
one present at the time of the hanging be-
lieve that the poor culprit was half witted.
and not aitogether responsible for his
actions. Coupled with the desire to avenge
his mother s wrongs and the words of Mr.
Graves, eff any man beat my mother |
would XIII him." was sufficient to overbal-
ance his weak brain and instigate the
crime for which he paid the penalty. Elder
Daniel Jones went in person to the gov
ernor, armed with afiidavits of parties con-
tanning evidence which, if brought out in
the trial would have been amply sufficient
to save him from the gallows at least
While admitting that the law should take
its course, and that abolishing capital pun
ishment would have a tendency to increase
crime, still in a case like this, mercy should
have been extended, as it was in cases far
less deserving.
A Quitman <Ga.) darkey went to sleep
while fishing one night recently and
tumbled off into deep water He sank and
rose couple of times, when his compan-
ion, old Uncle dick Lewis, seeing that he
made no effort TO save himself, got hold of
him and succeeded in drawing him to the
bank. 1t was then discovered that the
negro was still asleep, his cold bath hav-
ing no effect on him whatever. Uncle
Dick managed to awaken him by rolling
him in the mud and wearing out two or
three lightwood knots over his head.
When the darkey awoke he expressed much
surprise to find his clothes wet, and he
asked Uncle Dick to explain. The Quit
man Ne,cs from which the above is quoted,
thinks that Brooks county is entitled to
the medal for having the drowsiest darkey
in America.
The English are the best customers for
American canned salmon. Most of the
Sacramento river salmon go to the Allan
tic cities, but Liverpool draws the bulk of
its supply from Oregon, either direct from
the Columbia river or through San Fran
cisco. The Fraser river salmon all go to
England direct from Victoria. Last season
the Fraser river sent 146. 900 cases to Eu-
rope 1t is expected that as many more
will be canned there this season for the
same market The Columbia river sent
$50, 700 eases direct to Europe for the
year ending March 81 Thus far this sea
son three cargoes have been cleared direct
from the Columbia river for England, with
9S, ,4S0 cases.
The bullet with which Charles S. Burton
was shot at Salt Lake, close on three years
ago, was recovered, the other day, the lead
falling into his mouth. The bullet struck
him in the back of the head. about an inch
from the ear, and. going through a thick
bone at the base of the head, passed and
lodged near the upper part of the nostrils.
He bled for some time and gradually re-
covered. though he has been troubled ever
since On Friday morning last the bullet,
which was partly cncysted. fell into his
mouth and he was correspondingly happy.
The escape was decidedly narrow one.
A schoolmrster of Nice has formed
among his pupils a society for the pro-
lection OF vegetation. The members are
to destroy injurious Larvae and protect
harmless birds. Their interest in the work
is kept up by the election of laureates and
the award of prizes. In four months of
1881 the children destroyed 4,555 belts of
moth eggs. representing no fewer than
1 363, 500 Larvae; 1914 ,32S cabbage Larvae;
| ,5S3 grasshoppers. 629 butterflies, 30. 2.011
slugs and snails, 1,274 erubs, and 35, s2l
Insects of various kinds. The work is both |
very valuable and very instructive.
A short time ago james De Pew, of
Central Square, Oswego county. n. Y,
offered 80 to any one who would provide
li:n with a wife. gentleman of specula-
{ short time De Pew had partner of his
Joys and sorrows. There proved to be an
excess of sorrows, for Mr.. and Mrs. De
Pew have parted, and De Pew threatens
20 sue the contractor for his SO, as the |
woman is not what she was represented to
DC.
A woman at Decatur, Ala, came near |
ding asvictim to the deadly fumes of |
,urniug sulphur a few evenings since |
She attempted to rid her bed-chamber of |
by burning large quantities of |
ulphur in the room. She was partially |
estored by going Immediately into a strong |
rlrrent of fresh air, but the stupefying |
fleet was so great that she did not come |
rom under the influence for forty eight |
lours.
Within three miles of Esopus light
louse, on the Hudson where the Char |
otte Vanderbilt was run down recently by |
steam yacht, the Sunnyside sank in 1885, |
he Dean Richmond was sunk in 1869 the
yuhpa went to the bottom in 1866. the
was burned in 1864, and the
linton i'm 1850. The Santa Claus ran on
rock at the same place. and the Green
good's boiler exploded "a short distance
way. #x#
Tom Hughes English colony at Rugby,
'enn., seems to be picking up again. New
ettlers, some Germans among them, are
eing drawn there, and the older ones are
uclxling down to work more closely. The
orner- stone of $17,00 public library
uilding was laid the other day in the pre-
nee of Mr.. Hughes venerable mother, for
vhich ten thousand volumes are assured.