The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1886-04-03
WITHDRAWAL OF MR.. ISRAEL.

WITHDRAWAL OF MR.. ISRAEL.
By brief card appearing in another col
umn of this paper Mr.. Gustave Israel an
nounces his retirement from the field as a
candidate for Representative, and expresses
his sense of gratitude to the host of disin-
| terested friends who, regardless of party or
faction ties, would have supported him to
| the last moment and exerted themselves to
secure his election.
MIR. Isra6l states that he has been induced
| to withdraw by force of circumstances be-
yond his cotrol, and acts not only accord
ing to the dictates of his own judgment,
friends as well; and from our personal
knowledge of the considerations which have
led to this step, we have no hesitation in
fully approving and heartily applauding his
course.
We are not authorized nor do we deem it
necessary to attempt a detailed explanation
of these considerations. Suffice it to say
that Mr.. Israsi's standing in this commu-
QlLy Is SUCH as " IVA OAA OsOA q
that he has been influenced by unworthy
means or motives, and that the apprehen-
| sion OF. himself and many of his warmest
| admirers tna; his candidacy might produce
| result t.lat s,@y aus supporters of Gen.
| Brent ssni.:a .ti.ae regret. no doubt contrib
uted III Il larger degree than any other Cause
| to Mir. l,raei's decision to withdraw from
| the pending contest, This lnseldsh and
self-sacrihcing action entities him to the
respect and thanks of his party and the
| people at large.
BURNED TO DEATH.-A SaiamnnlJ'i,le
| Heart-A friend sends US a copy of the
| Monroe County Watch,nan Of the 18th inst,
! published at Union, West Virginia, from
which we reproduce the following account
Of fire that occurred on premises belong
ing to Mr.. Oliver Beirne, the largest sugar
| planter of Ascension parish, or, indeed, of
the United States: @.m@
| The residence and other buildings at the
| Lewis place, near Gap Mills. Monroe county,
| belonging to Oliver Beirne, Esq, narrowly es-
capped destruction By fire on Sunday morning
| last, the ltl inst. L was alarmed ABOUT IIHt
| O'Clock by the cry of " Fire" and upon inves-
| tigation [ found the little cottage of two
| rooms, occupied by an old colored woman
| named Aunt Susan Wickham. in flames. In a
| sistance. There were. three other large build
| Jugs and the smoke house within twenty or
| thirty feet of the burning building, but by cur
united efforts we saved them.
| Poor old Aunt Susan was burned to ashes.
Nothing could be done to save her, as the whole
building was enveloped in flames when discov;
| cred. and she was helpless with sickness and
old age. It is thought she was about 100 years
| old. Dir. Blair brought her from Richmond
about twenty years ago to nurse Colonel An
| drew Beirne, and Mr.. oliver Relrne has taken
care of her since. Her bones and ashes
| were found beneath the ruins OF the house. but
| strange to say, her heart was found as SQUAD as
| could be, unconsumed by the hire which lasted
| for six eight hours.
hearth. or perhaps from the old womans pipe
while she was trying TO smoke IN bed Dead
Goals of fire We're found in the barn-yard, 200
Yards distant. The large dwelling house was
in small blaze along the caves for a distance
of thirty or forty feet at one time. but cut
through the ceiling overhead and through the
| roof. and with quantity OF water which was
handed up to me, | succeeded III drowning it
ali out.
I owe many thanks to the kind people who
rendered such valuable assistance and service
In preventing the destruction of other houses.
The loss from the fire is about $500 or $500.
LEWIS T. BECKNER.
Many persons will doubtless be disposed
to regard Mr.. Beckner's statement con-
corning the old woman's heart as an exag-
geration, but we have heard of similar
previous instances of the seeming imper-
viousness Of that organ OF the human
frame to destruction by fire. II We re-
ton in the neighboring town of Napoleon
vile. on the 7th Of November, 1884, the
| heart of j. B. Wilmington, who was burned
| to death in the Duraty Hotel, was
| found among the ruins comparatively I'M
| scathed by the terrible heat to which it had
| been subjected. Perhaps some one Of our
| local physicians can furnish scientific
explanation of the apparently salaman-
| drine character Of this vital organ.