davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02
Terrible Accident

LITTLE Rock, Ark, Dec. 2--W. i. n,
Ginnis, an employee OF the Il. L4u.s. igaa
Mountain AMI Southern railway, cAitaycI
as machniat IN the road. sho?s q tr.
genta, was sent 10 the Camden trau,' 10
repair locomoti:c. He h,d completed
the work and The engineer raised ,oan.
The engine suddenly, from some uu,aJan
cause, turned over, and NcGinui; was caug.,;
under the engine, with hot water running
out OH him, and the fire from Tie firnacc
burning upon his legs. TIE engineer could
not extricatc him alone, nor could L." re.
move al the fir. i.':: was 9socarcs: aud
the burning man released. NAan ~ vsa
dragged from Ire Ere the h@sh of .;s i,5
hip actually bIaZad. His lace ani n"c&
were Scalded. aud his rich, side Wa h3rn2i
to crisp. lie lived ioG:tccn hours.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02
@S@}}Gs: @
ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCHES.
LATEST FROM RICHMOND.

Special Dispatches to the Alexandria GAZETTr.l
RICHMOND, December 2-The contests for
judgeships and capitol offices excites but
little interest when compared with the sena.
torial fight.
AT the capitol to-day there were at least
fifty influential citizens frcm different Sec
tons advocating the election of Mr. Barbour,
and it was generally remarked that the
boom of the day belonged to Mr.. B. Daniel
will have workers here tomorrow.
1t seems that the contest will be exceed
in2iy close, as quite number of members
have thus far failed to commit themselves
to either Barbour or Daniel. The Senate
is strongly for Daniel, but in the House Bar
bour has some of the most prominent men
working for him. The situation to-day is
such that even the managers of the Barbour
and Daniel canvass are unable to clearly fore
shadow the vote.
The Governors message will be long
one, and will be presented TO the House at
ono o'clock 10 BORROW.
The vote for Governor and Lieutenant
Governor will be counted tomorrow.
1t is known to-day that the bid of Mr.
Forbes for the Wing was Governor Came
ropJ,
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02
Cometary Dust.

On November 9th and 2Sth the earth in
lis orbit passed through what was once the
tail of Biela's comet, and tho meteoric
shower that was predicted at that time
came on time This is a remarkable veri-
fcation Of the theory that Bielas comet has
broken into minute fragments, and it gives
solid ground for theories as to the origin of
the other metcoric rings that intersect the
earth's orbit and give rise at intervals to
meteoric showers. The Greenwich Obsorv-
atory, near London, recorded $500 meteors
during two nights-21th and 2Sth. At Milan
the shower was splendidly seen, but it WAS
only partially visible here, for the finest
showers were during our daylight hours
end in the night of Asia. Still, at the Yale
observatory forty-four ,neteors were count
ed in twenty minutes.
Biela's comet, one of tho few interplanet.
airy comets, in its prime revored around
the sun in period of about seven years. In
1S46 it split into two when near the sun,
and each had its tail. It seems subsequently
to have subdivided and dsintegratesi until
it disappeared, and is now only great
cloud of cold, dark fragments scattered over
millions of mi!cs, and, of course, widely
separated = fragments varying in size
from small mountain down to mere
gravel. These revolye around the sun
in an orbit corresponding with that
of the late Biela'5 comet. This orbit
intersects the orbit of the earth, and
when the earth and the gravel cloud happen
to meet at the intersection, there is a mag
nifcent display Of shooting stars; for these
cometary fragments are moving through
space with cosmic velocity. compared with
which the flight of a cannon ball is exceed
ipgly slow. The earth is also moving with
enormous rapdity. Thus, when one of
these fragments enters the atmosphere of
the earth its motion is resisted by the air,
and in part converted into heat-the heat of
friction-aud thus catches fire and burns up.
If it be small piece it is wholly consumed,
but they are sometimes 80 large as to fall 10
she earth partly burned or melted. Such
fragments may be seen at any museum. In
1872 the meteoric shower was so intense
that it was estimated that more than fifty
were visible at the same place on
the earth in the course of few hours.
More than one of these comeIary clouds
intersects the orbit of the earth, and it Is
fair to infer that they had similar origin.
The fall Of meteors upon the earth is almost
and on any clear night one who
looks at the sky for few minutes may see
q meteor. Planetary space swarms with
star dust, and minute fragments cease!ess:y
fall to the earth. They are found on the
tops of towers and dredged up from the bot !
.om of the sea. In the course of ages they
may add appreciably to the weight of the
american.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02

A WOODEN BOCK.--.I'he process g. 10.
storing a characteristic ola wyo!c" church
at Hopperstad, in Tie Hard Gis;I;s, Of
Scgne, in Norway, has brought % High. IN
interesting Norwegian med.~yat .r'!". IN
a closed niche hoaiI, con.is'i4s IF = VIZ
tablets, was found, carefully .ur'o-yd il
casket Of wood and leather. The tablets
are of hox~9od, covered With wax, 'ach
TOILET having thin aolccr, 20 IS 10 mister
the tablets frori sticking toGc'Es" GA ctv--
ing the book this precau,;ou has h"lqc" 70
keep it in excellent preservation. T"cc
tents are chiefly drawings. made 10y a fine
style, representing scenes ircm vi:ag" aad
rural life At the cd thcre is q large Gu
logue in Latin Of var:oU3 kinds "t aniua.-,
with translation Into old Nor%,ei1n;
and from this il has LeeA caaj.o,nr't
that the gren;cr portion 9: the 1oyk
dates from the close q? the thiI!c,aiA cen
fury. But there ere indications that rtll OF
the book is Of earlier ,!A.c. The .t".e.- ".@
fastened together At The back, #"d the cover
is carved and iDiaid with ydy.ou5 snail
pieces Of differently ro,a.@d |o>..t. TIE
book has been placed in tho Museum &.
Antiquities in the University Of Chs n..a,
and it is intended 70 luJ1!a& II @a@r,.y ;"
fac SimiIc -L0nd0A Tines,
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02

EXPOSING A WESTERN MEDIUM.-C. E.
Wyman, the spiritualistic medium, he's been
holding seances at the residence of W. B.
Field, Strawberry Point, Ia, for couple Of
| weeks, the attendance being large each
evening. The medium did not forget to
collect 81 from each person present. Quite
number of citizens have been worked up
to high pitch over the adroit manner in
which he brought up the so.called spirits of
their departed friends. Several sceptical
young men attended the seance last Satur.
day evening with the determination of ex.
posing the fraud, and when the spirit of the
father of one of the company was material
lied aud reached out to shake hands with
his son u young fellow near the cabinet
grappled with the messenger from the other
world and threw him to the floor. The be-
levers Immediately hurled themselves
upon the young man, and the sceptic's
friends then took hand in the affair, and
for while pandemonium reigned, with the
spirit believers and unbelievers rolling on
the floor of the dimly lighted room. The
lights were at last turned up, when, to the
amazement of the believing circle, the ma.
terialized spirit proved to be the medium.
A warrant was sworn out for Wyman's ar
rest, and he was held to await the action Of
the grand jury. Wyman is one of the most
noted mediums in the West, and was the
chief medium at the recent State spiritual
ist camp meeting in Clinton. He came to
Strawberry Point from Evanston and Chi
cago, where he held successful seances.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02
Vernon Mills, Fauquier county, De
To the Editor of the dIcruudr;u GJ-ette:

To the Editor Of the alexandria Gs=ette:
1t seems that your structures OH the President
for failing to go to attend the funeral Of Mr..
Hendricks arc scarcely just.
IT. as you havo moro than once intimated, his
failure TO do so was due to the dread Of assassina.
ton, and if the apprehension Of such n fate was
well founded, it is hard 10 SEQ how, under the cir.
cumstanccs, ho could be blamed for declining
such risk. But there is no evidence that he had
any such fear. In his remarks to the representa-
tive Of the Associated Press, as published by you
on tho Both ult. he said that lin the present Pc
culiar ana delicate situation" of affairs no had
been persuaded that he ought not to take even
the remote chance Of accident incident to trarr in
order to crafty his preference for going to In
diauapolis. And, assurrcdly when we remember
that, owing to the ilagitous neglect OF Congress,
the life of the President is now, and has been
since tho 25th ult., the only thing between us
and anarchy, his determination to subject the
country to no greater chance of disaster than at
tends tho performance of strict duty in Washing
ton, is patriotic and wise Indeed tho words of
the Richmond Dispatch on the statement in full
of tho reasons girca by Mr. Cleveland for not CO.
ing to this funeral appear most lttng-"If
there is another man in the land who could pen
q more forciblo and appropriate paper, we know
him not" CONSTANT READER.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02
Explosion of a Tow Boat.

PITTsBURG, Pa, Dec. 2.-The tow boat
Iron City was blown to pieces this morning
at about two o'clock while stuck on the bal
at the head of Heirs Island, in the ALE
gheny river. The crew, numbering six
were blown into the river. The engineer
George Ashton, was instantly killed. Fred
Jackson was fatally injured, and the Others
seriously hurt. The vessel was burned to
the waters edge, and is total loss. About
six o'clock last evening the Iron City, in
running down the river, was swung onto
the bar, where she went badly aground just
over the main pipe of the Philadelphia Gas
Company. All the evening and up to the
time of the explosion the vessel tried to
back OF into deeper water. Shortly after
two o'clock final effort was made to get
Of. The engines were forced TO their full
capacity, but the boilers could not stand the
pressure and collapsed. The conclusion
from the explosion was terrific and awoke
the upper end of the two cities. Pieces o.
the vessel were blown from the middle OIL
the river, where the boat was grounded, to
the Allegheny shore, seventy-five yards
away. \ part Of the cabin alighted on tie
rolf of Gerdcr tannery, directly opposite,
on the Allegheny side. The water was
shallow, and the crew, with the exception
of Ashton and Jackson, easily reached the
her
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02
NEWPORT NEws.-Mr. C. P. Huntington

NEWPORT NEws.-Mr. c. P. Huntington,
who is the controlling spirit in the Southern
Pacific, extending from San Francisco to
New Orleans, and in the chesapeake AID
Ohio and connections, extending from New
Orleans to Newport News, is said to be
turning his attention with increased interest
to the development of terminal facilities and
proper steamship connections at Newport
News. He claims to have four miles of
water front at that point, with depth of
water Sc feet. His elevator, having ca.
pacity of 1,600 600 bushels, he maintains is
the largest on the Atlantic coast. AS a
reason why be may expect share of the
grain business of the great Northwest he
states that Newport News is IS miles nearer
Minneapolis than New York is.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM UNDER BLACK RE
PUBLICAN RULES

TO the editor of the Alexandria Gazette:
II you will allow me space in your yalu.
able paper, l will express lew ideas, which
hope may be consistent with the principles
of every true patriot Of the country. No
honest constitutional democratic republicans
can recognize the morarchical Harniltonian
and Seward policy, in preference TO the
constitutional democratic principles oil
Washington aud Jeffersou,upon which rested
the peace, prosperity and happiness of the
country up to 1860. Since then, under Il
black republican policy o. administration, it
was found necessary, ON account Of the many
frauds and abuses committed under said
Government, that there should be civil ser
vice reform, and is it not reasonable to sup
pose that under said administration, there
would be q commission appointed to pre-.
scribe rules and regulations for the special
interest of their own party2 In my opinion
it would be absurd to believe otherwise; the
executive and senate would not have en-
dorsed anything else, since patriotism for the
good of the country is a thing of the past.
am frequently told, when Ispeak of patriot
ism, that am an old fogy, that l am fifty
yeaTS DeulDu Tue llLlesi aHu III Is 100 true.
Since corrupt self interested policy has be.
come the order OF our government, civil
service reform is actually necessary, but
it should not be sectional. 1t is
strange to me that tho democratic party
have not intelligence enough to make or
execute Civil service reform rules and
regulations. l want constitutional demo-
cratic republican union, but we cannot have
it on sectional principles. Where is the
consistency in prescribing or prohibiting a
man from appointment to a clerkship in the
departments Of government on account Of
his being over forty-fve years of age? My
idea is that every citizen under the consti.
tuition left US by the patriots Of our country,
if. be is competent to perform the duties re-
quired, and is not offensive to the party in
power, should be eligible to Office without
respect to age, and until that is the case We
cannot have union. l see no use in keeping
up sectionalism to satisfy and Gil the pockets
Of unprincipled Office seekers orleaders. We
do not want monarchical government.
LIONEL.
Vernon Mills, Fauquier county, Dec 1.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02
FROM RICHMOND.

The democratic members of both houses
of the Legislature held caucuses last night
for the purpose CT selecting officers. Each
BODY renomiuated all the old officers, as
follows: Senate-President pro tenn, John
L. Hurt, of Pittsylvania: clerk, J. D. Pen.
deton, of Orange; sergeant alarms, J. T..
Weaver, of Giles; doork keeper, r. B. Wilson,
of Roanoke. House OF Delegates-Speaker
Judge Charles e. Stuart. of Alexandria;
clerk John Bell Bigger, Of Spotsy
sergeant at arms, ]. q. Hill, of Alhemarle;
doorkeepers, A. A. Sullivan, Of Montgomery
and A. B. Cottrell, of Henrco. All the
democratic Senators and Sc out of 70 demo.
cratic members Of the House were present.
The friends of the leading aspirants for
the United States seratorship made no fight
on the speakership of the House OR any OF
the other officers of the two branches Of the
Assembly. JUG ge Stuart for speaker OF
the House, was opposed by Mr.. II. r. Pol.
lard, of King and Queen, whom he defeated
by majority Of I, the vote being Stuart
IS, Pollard IS. Mr. Stuart is pronounced in
his friendship for Mr.. Barbour's candidacy
for the Senate.
As no contest was made in the speak ership
| By The candidates for Mahoue's seat, none
Of the aspirants for that honor can claim 10
have gained a victory Oh that score. After
his nomination. Mr.. Stuart expressed his
grateful thanks and made brief but happy
speech. Ho took occasion while speaking
10 say that his election was Invested Of eli
significance or connection with the election
OF United States Senator, knowing that
many who voted for him voted independ.
emily and without reference to the candi-
dates for the senatorship.
The time for making the nomination fol
Senator has not yet been determined upon
The caucus last night adopted resolution
declaring that it will reassemble next Thurs
day night to transact such business as may
be brought before it, and the nomination O
such officers as the caucus may then de
termine upon.
Lieut.. Gov. John F. Lewis is here, All:
will call the Senate to order to-day.
Gov. Cameron will send in his message
soon after the organization of The two
| houses to-day.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02

SUBSTITUTE FOR LEATHER. Substitutes
for leather have been widely Introduced IN
the construction OF boots ard shot. aud
many of these ste admirably adapted for
tho purpose. But & comparatively short
time ago only real leather was used. i%sis.
err board, pancakes, artificial lCath.:. ana
strawboard were unknown. The ust O. ia.
ferior materials originated in New Eaa,Ha
1t was az first ~ 8ttempt al deception jrl
resulted in the discontinue Of the mauu-
facturer who undertook it. Tne:n Ga4a
certain make Of cheap pump sole !lug!.5
offered in small lots wccEjy Il, a@c.igu.
which had become standard, both in feature
and in price This shoe was quite familiar
to certain iohbers. On one ogcaeiau 7uyc.
noted for his kcenne>s detected 4 aja,nl,ri-
ty that led him TO al investigation. U;ng
his penknife be discovered Ihal the 'aa'p-
facturer had substituted common paste.
board, with q veneer Of colO:cd paper the
same hue as leather. f.: the leather sole.
These shoes 'ei! to prices that cDmroGie3 ia
some degree 10 !Arr worth E--a-s. i. is
quite possible that his trars&CtoHc," @ye&
the germ OF tie ida which altern%Id bore
fruit in strawboar:i and kindrcl; MATERIAL:
Shoe AMI Lea,hcr DtUr.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02

THERE is no doubt of the fact that one OF
the chief sources of the recently received
strength of the so called temperance move
mept is the deleterious, and, in fact, actually
poisonous character of the liquor that is
sold to people as pure. and that many CT
them drink with no intention or idea of be,
coming intoxicated. Every license should
be issued upon the condition that it will be
forfeited if the liquor sold under it be adul-
terated even in the slightest particular, and
also that the liquor be at all times subject to
ANALYSIS
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02
The King of Burmah.

RANGooE, Dec 2.-The King of Burmat
personally surrendered himself to General
Prendergast, commander of the British in.
vadipg force, and has arrived in British
territory.
LONDON, Dec. "A dispatch received
from Raugoon at noon day says the King
is proceeding to that city on British
steamer. The announcement of the occu.
patton of Msndalay ty the British is off,
cially confirmed.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02

A SALT LAKE IL PERsIA.-At& m III.
Of the Geographical Society OF I.lraa Dr.
Pollak read II communication % The o.'-e,
that DR.. Staff, who WAS sent by Or. ri TX
to Persia on & botanical mission. hal :1"ni
at the mouth Of the SayenAarGod !ivsr, III
the sseppe near Ispahau.n salt lake L. "11E.
twenty six geographical miles 10 extent
The lake L. supposed 10 be Eeve,g 4 PERI
odical recurrence, as it has ncv,r he."ie
been mentioned By travellers 10 IL" region.
The natives Of the locality attach nnch IN.
portapce to the appearances Of this piece oil
water, as they connect it with he perso-
Etraban legend that at The bir'h Of Mo-
manned large lake in the steppe suddenly
vanished, its disappearance bein:; eX?iH'@@i
as symbol of the dccadcnce Of to" roi.g'2"
founded by Zo!oaater.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02

TIE STRONGEST IAE.--Itc:rls i ".@'. -
Nevada named Angela CardriG "ho G .'&.3
to be the strongest in the world. II r. -
Italian, uged 3S, stands five feet ten inch.
weighing I3S pounds. His strength Wa
born with him, FOR he had no athletic train
ing. He differs from other Iuem cn:Cilj IN
the osseous structure. Although not oi ~.
usual SIZE, his spinal column is doubt" ,Hc
ordinary width, and his bones aud jpiuts@;o
made on similarly large AMI geneTs"s
scale. He has lifted . man of 900 gou,'.5
with the middle finger Of his right HalL
The man stood with enc iuot on TIE h.a'.
his arms outstretchcd, his hands gra-fmd rs
two persons to balance his body. CuoeIH
then stopped down and placed The tia@
finger of his right hand under tha ,"a@
foot, and with scarcely any pc:rcp he a..
fort raised him to the height .! -FOUR feel asa
deposited him on table near ~ .uua.
Once two powerful men way!@ii Ga 'e.,a
with intent to thrash him, but be ~ o"c
in each hand and hammered lh"" o-e'a,T
until life was nearly Knocked o.. II tncn.
His strength is Inherited, FIJI: b. 81, ; rs
father was more powerful thNu alm-'h,-
Chicago Tribune
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02
The Senatorship.

Special dispatch to the Alexandria GAzErrE.)
RICHMOND, Va, Dec. Barbour is ahead
of Daniel, but the doubt is as to the attitude
of tho friends of others should they be drop
ped, but it is confidently believed that q
sufficient number will go to Barbour to Sc
cure his nomination. Daniels friends arc
far less iubilant to-day.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02

Mr.. BLAINE is now attempting to clear
himself of any connection with Mahoneism
But he can't do it; for his letter is on record
in which he endorsed the action of the Ma.
hone convention in nominating Mr.. Wise,
and hoped for and prophesied his election.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02

ANOTHER EASTERN nation has been sub
dued and another Eastern country been
added to the British Empire. King Thee
baw has surrendered Internationally, his
capital is in possession of the British forces,
and the entire country Of Burmah submits
to English rule. The war carried on in Asia
by the Tory administration has been a sue
cess:on of victories; that engaged in by the
Liberal administration in Africa was q
Notifying failure. The Empress Victoria
now counts her subjects by nations and her
territory by countries.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02

The ACTION Of the citizens of Alexandria
10 re electing Judge Stuart to the House of
Delegates has been endorsed by that body,
which has reelected him its presiding Of
fcer. Alexandria is thus honored in the
person of her chosen representative in the
council of the State, who deserved the honor,
and who will wear it becomingly.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02

IF THERE be no other and speedier way to
get rid of the Objectionable civil service law,
thatdesired object could be achieved upon the
ground of its unconstitutionality, inasmuch
as that law, by requiring that not more than
two of the three commissioners shall belong
to the same political party, brings party dis.
tinctions into the laws of the country, and
is therefore directly at variance with both
the spirit and letter of the Constitution.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02

THE EVIDENCE just taken in contested
election case in Mecklenburg county shows
that the bulidozing to which the negroes
who intended to vote the democratic ticket
there at the recent election were subjected
by their own race exceeded in extent and
enormity any ever practiced by the white
ku klux iu the more Southern States. And
yet even now there is talk among the South
hating republicans of the colored vote that
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02

Mr.. WALLACE, who was U. S. Minister to
Turkey until superseded by Mr.. Cox, has
now gone back to that country as the agent
for the sale of patent torpedo. No wonder
this country is held in such light esteem as
it is abroad, when the men it employs in its
miscalled diplomatic service are, as Mr..
Wallace seems to be, utterly incapable of
approaching the prophecies of that service.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02

RESPECTING the proposition that General
Malone shall contest before the elections
committee of the U. S. Senate the seat of
the Virginia democrat who shall be elected
in his place, the Richmond Whig says the
General "can easily prove his case, if he
shall think it worth while" Yes, so very
easily that he wont think it worth while to
do.it
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-02

The ghost at the White House is said to
walk half of every night, but he could put
in for double that amount Of work if he
wasn't afraid of the morning air, and knew
thnt Dr.. Bulls Cough Syrup cured al kinds
OF troublesome coughs and colds.