The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-18
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

The alleged connection between gypsies and
the nails used in the cruciluon has frequently
been referred to. It is said that the tinkers are
descendants of the one who made the nails for
the cross and are condemned to wander con-
tinually without rest This tradition Is very
common in the highlands Of Scotland
THE Hon. Arthur Balfour tells this story
sometimes to a chum on the golf-field. neigh
Dor of his Mr.. Baltour's father while young
and poor found canvas bag. cur1ously
marked, containing 500 guineas under a hedge
on his farm. Being sorely pressed for funds,
the finder, who may be called Mr.. Andrews,
nnaly used the money and was successful in
certain operations in which this capital enabled
him to embark that he became IN some years
rich. AS soon as he felt able to pay back the
500 guineas Andrews advertised that he had
made find of this kind. There wers no an
swers until after some years a sailor, Just
ashore, came in and said he was the owner Of
the bag of guineas, which contained his prize
money. and that he had been shanghsied while
resting under the hedge and carried away again
to sea. He described the markings on the bag
accurately and Mr.. Andrews clerks told him
Mr.. Andrews would gladly give him back his
money1"come in In the morning and get it."
The sailor went away saying he would return
for his money, but he was never heard of again.
IT is not generally known that the first steam
boat ever built in the United States was partly
constructed In Frederick county in the year
1873, says the Frederick, CMd) NelCS. The
NebSel was OulIL Dy James Rum96y, at Shep-
herdstown, W. Va. Robert Fulton with his
Clermont was anticipated by Rumsey twenty
two years. The steamboat was fitted up with
machinery partly manufactured at the Catoctin
furnace Of the Johnson Brothers, near Freder-
lex. The boiler, two cylinders pumps, pipes,
ETC., were manufactured in Baltimore. Some
portions OF the works were made at the An
tietam Iron Works. On March IA 1856 public
experiment, the first ever undertaken In America
was made on the Potomac river Rumsey sue.
ceeded In attaining speed OF four mile an
h hoar against .,rn the current; The steam
propelled by steam engine. which worked
yertiole pump in the middle OF the vessel, by
which the water was drawn In the bow and dis
charged through horizontal trunk at the
stern. The boat bore a load of three tons. The
weight of lts machinery was 666 pounds. The
whole OF the machinery, including the boiler,
occupied space but little over four feet
square Two distinguished men were patrons
OF Rumsey's experiment-George Washington
and Gov. Thomas johnson of Maryland. The
experiment was made ia the interest of the
proposed Chesapeake and Ohio canal Rumsey
clearly and satisfactorily demonstrated that q
boat could be propelled up stream against the
current Thus we find that the first steamboat
was propelled on the Potomac and portion OF
the first machinery made in Frederick county
l07 years ago.
OF the 10000 or more relics of all kinds pre-
served in the army Medical Museum at Wash
ington, D. c., the most interesting perhaps, are
two portions of human body-ail that remains
above ground Of j. Wilkes Booth. These
CHASTITY but most interesting specimens are nun-
bered and cataloZued for ready reference. The
first amounted on a little stand and labeled
4,Oo6) Ia a section, or rather, sections Of three
vertebrR. the third, fourth and nth, through
an aperture in which thin wire Ia placed show
ing the course Of the ball. Near this is the sec
ond specimen, suspended In wide-mouthed vial
Of alcohol and labeled 4,0S1. II is about inches
long and reminds On" of q section of we'll
cooked beef marrow; Referring to the cata-
logue. under the head of No. 4,0S6 we hnd the
following: Mounted SDecirnnn ia the
toird, fourth and ffth cervical YER
teDra A conodal carbine ball entered
the right side, comminuting the base of tie
| right laminse of the fourth vertebra, fractur-
ing 1t longitudinally and separating 1t from the
| spiDous process, at the same time fracturing
the fifth through it's pedicle and also involving
| directly through the canal with O slight inclng-
| ton downward and to the rear emerging
| through the left base Of the fourth and fifth
| lamlne, which are oomminuted, and from
| which fragments were imbedded in the muscles
! of the neck. tFrom a case where death 90
Cured few hours after injury. April %, 1861"
The alcoholic specimen labeled 4,087 has this
entry In the catalogue: "A portion Of the spinal
cord from the cervical region. transversely per-
| torated from right to left by q carbipe ball
which fractured the lamine Of the fourth aud
| fifth vertebr8 The cord is much torn and dis
colored by blood. From case where death
occurred few hours after injury, April 26,
1861" AS mentioned above these two speci-
mems are the only portions of j. Wilkes
Booths body that were not consigned to the
grave.
==.OF THE many sights around Franklin, La,
there is none so attractive as Oaklawn, not only
for its beauties, but for its associates 1t was
| once the homestead Of United States Senator
Porter, who once represented the state of
Louisiana in that capacity. 1t is perhaps the
Modest representative of the munihcent STYLE
and luxury that once marked the grander life
OF the state. Ii is pillard pile. magn ficent in
proportions, built of brick, with sumptuous
| appliances. Evidently wealth and refined
! taste had here lavshed their choicest
fancies. 1t was built to last long time and ia
massive beyond all rivalry of most modern
country seats. 1t now belongs TO Col. Bob Riv-
ers OF New Orleans and he has fitted 1t up with
richness OF garniture Ia modern furnishings
beyond anything have ever seen in any mod
ern country home. All the rooms ave one have
the most costly and beautiful modern furniture
With reverent and most hallowed taste he has
left one room tnviolate, just as it was furnished
when its ilustrious occupant last honored its
hospita0le walls. That is the Henry Clay room
There is the same bed on which he slept, plain,
solid, heavy mahogany, with its high posts al
most reaching to the high ceiling. The ward
robe is tuere. The bureau, with its mirror in
which he saw reflected his leonine face The
old thing in the fireplace is there Of large
square brick, where he took his hot whisky
punch before ha went to bed. Thu window
of his room overlooks the Teche, which winds
and glints through the magnificent park. An
immense high portico, supported by towering,
massive round pillars of succeed brick Ia on
this side OF the house, and she poFtico at the
rear is similar, though less commanding. In
front either side the steps there were once
couchant lions of marble, but these are gone
Considerable statuary also once Rraced the CO.
pacous lawn, but these, too, have disappeared
and only an occasional bust is now seen lit
tie of the old furniture 10 yet left some richly
carved initiated chairs, with straight backs and
quaint old umbrella stand and a chandelier or
two The lawn is a pcture-wide spread,
grandly shaded with live oaks, mainly isolated
as If TO give them verge and scope for growth
but occasionally grouped in close proximity.
The ground Is velvety TO touch of foot, solidly