smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1859

Coal PIT ExPLosIoN.-We append an
extract from letter, written to US by MIR. Thomas
Marshall, Chief manager of the Midlothian Coal
Mines, relative. to the late explosion at the Cover
Hill Coal Pits in Chesterfield county, by which
several persons lost their lives Mr.. Marshall SAYS:


On reschi the pit. found, to my great gratifi-
cation, the runners ana accounts of the extent OF
the damage, a.d the cause If the accident, alk
exaggerated and erroneous. There vas some col
lection Of gas in ce tain part of the return air
courss Of the pit, which WAS gnited, and communi
eating vi h q quantity Of blasting powder near by
produced explosion only sufficient to destroy the
ives OF those in the immediate vicinity OF the
blast, without rjury to the men in different part
OF the pit or to the interior OF the pit itself The
by conclusion or the after damp The men no es-
cape1 although in the main air course, W re not at
ali burn, d, thus showing that the gas was confined
been caused ty the explosion of blasting powder.


The pit is q new one. with only two levels or
drifts one for the ingoing and the other for the out
a rich and extensive field of COAL the pent up gas
made its escape in large quantities. : he pit was
cleared of this gas by the intr. .duction Of suft
cient quantity OF atmospheric ar to sweep il
fast as it generated.


The cause of the accident to my mind is perfectly
clear and may Justly be ascribt d TO combination
of circumstances of rare coincidence which scarce
~ would ever happen again. Among these, was
the excessive sultrness OF the weather. the partial
and careless opening of door which cut the air
from the men ut work, and tremble in the out
going air-course which suddenly and UNEXPECTEDLY
checked the current of air and caused the gas to
fiaw back npan the men: Neither , Of these causes
bined, they did have the effect.


have examined The pit carefully and approve
the design upon which il is laid out. as one calcula
ted to prevent accident and to safety. Such
q design, properly carried out and doubt not the
pit may lie worked to the end without further acci
dent


The men have all gone again cheerfully 10 work,
and every thpg connected with the pit and its ope
rations, inside and out, is going on as usual.
Year: 1859

city, though yet in its infancy, have already eff
fected vast deal of good for the poor sailors who
visit our port, as we'll for the ch dren of those
who reside in Richmond. Under the ministrs-
ton OF Kew. FRANCIS j. BoGds, than whom a more
suitable man cannot be found, the Friends meet.
Ing house has been opened to them everv Sabbath
for public worship, and it Is no uncommon thing
to see nifty or sixty of those hardy sops of the
ocean, seated in the congregation and payipg
marked and respectful attention to the lessons of
wisdom given them by their minister. But the
Society have not stopped here. Within q few
weeks past they have established a Sabbath
School, in which there are now 100 scholars
and most OF them are orderly and we'll disposed
III the Society had done nothing more, its men,
bers would have deserved commendation for their
children, and afordDg them opportunity to
improve their minds and refine their rsoraIs -
Sunday Schools are among the nobiest and most
praseworthy of human institutions, and all who
can do so, should gladly lend their aid in building
them up aud sustaining them.


There is yet another step to be taken by this
Society, to make it what il should be- aud that is
to build 6 neat and substantial "Bethel" for
sailors to worship in. The house now used is q
borrowed one, and besides, is too small for he
congregations that assemble there, and which
would be deubly IS large if the building could
contain them Cannot sne Society erect this new
edfice! Will they not do itl Lit not the duty
OF the public to aid them, literally? Add will
not every man and woman in the city gladly CON-
tribute 10 the erection of q house of worship for
the christianising of that large and valuable class
OF men-the sailors-whOse spiritual welfare has
been often overlooked, while thousands upon
thousands have been expended In efforts to civixs
the barbsrans of our own and other countries.-
We want to see "Bethet" in Jefferson Ward, lust
as soon as it can be erected, and it is to be hoped
that the Seamen's Friend Society will take the
necessary steps to ensure the completion of the
work.
Year: 1859

tiop, Wednesday night, several lads became so
sorderly during the hour of service, that two of
them bad TO be tur out of the house. and one of
them taken before Justice Baker and held to bail
for his good behavior. If the officers in the
churches on Union and Church Hills were to adopt
a rule TO prosecute, promptly, all disorderly cha
racters that in future disturb their congregations,
they would very soon have that quiet and desorum
in their houses of worship which they so much
need at all times.
Year: 1859

esting entertainment that our citizens have had
an opportunity of enjoying for a long time, is to
be offered them at Mechanics Institute Hall next
Monday night We allude to the series of dioramas
representing the fearful struggles in the late Rus
sian war, which are said to be so happily delineas
ted in this rare work of art. In the Northern
Cities and in Washington, the press have spoken
of the exhibition as being of the highest order of
it's kind, and thousands and tens of thousands of
persons have seen IL time and again, and always
with admiration.
Year: 1859

SINGULAR FATALITY We learn from the Wilson
N. G., Ledger that man by the name of Davis, an
overseer on the Wilmington and Weldon railroad
came to his death from fall from bridge on said
road on last Tuesday week. 1t appears that Davis
went to bury the unfortunate organ grinder who
was run over the night before, and afterwards on
returning imbibed too freely Of ardent spirits To-
bis balance and fell through the bridge on q sill
distance of twenty three feet and was terribly
mangIed and he died the next day He leaves wife
aud several children.
Year: 1859

JEFFERSON WARD We are requested
to call the attention of the Opposition Committee
of Jefferson Ward to meeting to be hold tonight,
and to invite every member to be present, as i'm
portant business is to be acted upon.
Year: 1859

How He EscAPEr THE GALLows.-A man
by the name of Eli Webb, was recently
sentenced in De Soto county, Miss, to the
Penitentiary for life, for whipping his
wife, from the effects of which she soon
died. The fact of his being madly drunk
Drunkenness, says the Port Gibson RepeiLe.
has brought many men to the gallows, and
it is refreshing TO hear that it has finally
saved one from that most horrible fate.
Year: 1859




CEsSIoN OF a foRT cN OF WEST FLC RIDA
TO ALABAMA friend has shown the edi-
tor Of the Montgomery Confederation a pri-
vate letter from Judge Yelverton, who
had been appointed by the Governor of
Alabama a Commissioner on the part Of
the State to negotiate with the proper
authorities of the State Of Florida, rela-
i've to a cession of a portion Of West
Florida, including Pensacola, stating that
the Legislature of the latter State had
passed joint resolution, which had been
approved by the Governor, leaving it to
the people Of the State to vote upon the
question of cession. The letter states
that the resolutions passed the Senate
TO leave it to West Florida alone. but the
House amended them, leaving it to the
whole State. But it is all the same, for if
the West votes for it, it is well under
stood that the cession will take place"
Year: 1859

metropolis of our country than any other OF
her institutions, perhaps than all the rest
combined. Boston too, is provided with a
collection of sixty-fve thousands volumes,
which is rapidly increasing, and which is ac-
ceSible to every citizen. While no boo k is
loaned out of the Astor Library, a portion
of the books in the Boston Library are al
lowed to be taken away, though large part
of them can be examined only in the build
ing ITSELF The books have been selected and
purchased under the careful supervision of
George Ticknor, Esq, aided by several 9TH
er distinguished scholars, and the manage
ment of the library is now entrusted to our
old friend, Prof, Jewett. We have also had
the pleasure of seeing an excellent catalogue
of very good free library in New Bedford,
which reflects great credit on the generosity
and the intelligence of her citizens. If the
designs with which Mr.. Peabody bestowed
q munifcent gift upon the city of Balti-
more are accomplished, we shall soon have
another public library, worthy to be classed
with those of Boston and New York.


There is a far preaching wisdom in the
foundation of these institutions. We be-
lieve that the day is not far distant when
they will be deemed essential to the best in
terests of all our larger cities They are re-
quired no less by our educational than by
our political system. Resting our hopes
for the prosperity of our republican spirit
upen the intelligence of our citizens, we ju-
diciously expend large sums in diffusing ed
ucation. But can common schools accomp-
lish all that we desire? In them we train,
and discipline and incite the minds of our
youth, and then we turn them upon the
world with the most limited means for graf
flying literary or scientific taste, or for con-
tinuing any kind of study. We awaken in
them an appetite for reading, and then leave
the choice of their reading to be determined
by their circumstances. The many-winged
literature of exaggeration, of vileness, of
obscenity, turks for prurient minds, and
waiting eyes, and unoccupied minds at
everySScorner of the streets; and we often
discover, when too late, that we have sharp
ened boys intellect only to make him a
more skillful adept in vice OF course the
best of books will not save us altogether
from such calamities, but good library is
one of the purifying fountains which carry
healing in their streams. We cannot re-
gard our admirable provisions for free edu-
cation as complete, until every child can
have unrestricted access to the choicest
works of all time. - -'ts
Year: 1859

The above is based upon the supposition
that this Government is th9 sole promoter.
In case England and Frarce joined, it would
be for one-third the amount The interest
being guaranteed BY the United States, or in
conjunction with England and France, it is
believed that those engaged in the construc-
ton of the canal would be able to obtain
the money necessary for their object upon
the most favorable terms.-Pennsy
Year: 1859

The NobIest Bequest TO the Children


f~@ of the City.


The following excellent remarks upon
public Libraries are from the Providence
Journal If any one of our wealthy citizens
wishes TO erect to his memory "monument
more lasting than Brass let him endow
our Evansville library, take it under his
especial patronage, and provide that every
Evansville boy and girl shall be born to
an Inheritance of good books as certainly as
TO our glorious sunlight and air. If no
one feels himself able to bequeath this
great blessing to the children of the city,
LET several men Of wealth unite. There are
those who by the increase of the property
and business of the city have the means of
doing great public good-some who have
not many direct descendants. Let them be-
queath part OF what fortune has bestowed
upon them to the children of the city, and
their names would endure in the memory of
their fellow-citizens and be preserved with
a sweeter order than if they were to attain
the highest honors of the State and amass
riches that exceed in amount the dreams of
the most avaricious: ssee-ssa --a.


Three of our neighboring cities are no "
enriched with free public libraries. Dr.
Cogswell announces, in his late interesting
communication upon the condition of the


Astor Library, that the close of the first de-
cade of its history finds hundred thousand
volumes of the choicest works in the world
upon its shelves, a princely collection, a
monument more lasting than brass to the
wealthy donor, and to the accomplished
scholar and photographer, who has display
ed SO much skill and energy in the discharge
4 of his arduous duties. That library will do
/ more to make New York the resort of schol-
4 ers, the electual as well as the commercial
Year: 1859

THE editor of the Peninsular News, who was
summoned to attend court in Kent county, thus
moralizes: The court was occupied during the
first three days chiefly with the trial of cases
of petit larceny; every case of which occurred
among the lowest class of society. Not one of
the defendants, we believe, could read or write,
and most of them were the victims of rum -
Rum and Ignorance are the parents of Vice and
Crime and no fact was ever better illustrated
than this by the court of Kent at its present
session. Ought not all good citizens then Join
in removing those evils from society! Every
one that does not is responsible before God and
the world for their existence and for the crimes
that grow out of them! Judging from the
criminal cases before the court there would be
little or no crime if these evils were removed.
Year: 1859

J The Rocky Mountain Gold Region. which
was so expeditiously stamped humbug, upor


the strength of the statements of few disap-


pointed diggers, is beginning, says the North


American, to make such handsome returns as


to open the eyes of the public TO the real state


OF the case. The arrival of one hundred thou


sand dollars in gold at Atchison, Kansas, by one


express, and of two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars at Leavenwerth and vicinity, are facts
which suffice to show that the gold mines are
productive. Taken altogether, the results of
the present season must be considered as satis-
factory, and serve to induce large emigration
TO the mines next Spring. Should the yield
continue to increase as it has done, the transit |
route across the plains will become of large |
Importance, requiring the express trains all to
go armed and well provided for defence against
led and white marauders. The necessity for
separate territorial government to the mountain
egion will now no doubt be conceded, though
POSSIBLY the two houses of Con gress will have
ONE difficulty in agreeing upon the provisions
# q bill for the purpose
Year: 1859

SENATOR HALE has published letter DENYING
that be ever received any knowledge from any
one that insurrection or outbreak was con-
tcmpated by John Brown or any one else, in
Virginia or elsewhere, and pledges himself
that, IT evidence is laid before the Grand jury
OF Maryland or Virginia, and they find a true
bill against him, he will go there for trial.
Year: 1859

There exists doubt, different opinions as to what
constitutes lady's Dress Shoe Boot. Many fancy
the morocco Cater Boot be prettiest some think
the Jenny Lind Boot Buskin; Others the haIgaier
the slipper. &c. Experience has taught me the Erench
Lasting Cater is considered the perfect Dress
Shoe lady wears and has been the leading Dress
Shoe among the most fashionable circles years So
far neat foot is concerned, am in behalf of the
ladies. This summer the 1ancy-cOOreti (jaiters in
point OF numbers, will be worn as Dress Shoe far
more than many other kinds OF shoes put together
As to the leading celors that will be worn The ian
cJlOrs. both dark and light as well as the dirk ashes
OF roses Will take the lead. Yet there is no one color
that Will be considered as directly taking the lead in
iaShlOn II Is well.knOwn fact that ady's CATER
When made OF good Lasting, and properly put ogelh
er Will out-wear any other kind of Dress Shoe and
is the cheapest in the long run. have now on hand
hastings OF all kinds and various cOlurs. | have
card OF one hundred and forty different c0lors and
shades O cOlors Of French and English lasting OpeI
now Tor the Inspection OF the ladies; and from This
assortment OF cOlOrs lady cannot help getting any
color she may wish 10 match her dress. AsO tan anC
DrOnze-cOored mOrOcSO made up i'll abundance
pretty shoe, and yet a neat fitting easy shoe is TO b,
praised; for how often has ii been said in nv hearing


al have sore corns OH my feet and by the ladies, il
most cases Nine ladies out Ot every ten, before th
age oil II, from the most reasonable calculation have
their feet suffering from cOrns, Such IS really h
TACT; and what is the cause Of this How often is
the case with the gentlemen. we'll the ladies' =
Ihay get pair OF shoes, tiem; apparently the
fit, and the first thing they know a corn or curns re OF
the eet The fault Of this surely is in the foot
but is III the cut of the Shoe As an instance perso
can have pair of shoes that will fit veil from all
pearance aHd yot, come it. some parts of tn
shoe are too large and set loose the foot and Ohe
parts are SO tight to make and buniOns whic
is not the fault OF the foot, but is the fault Of the ma
ker AS an Instance, pair of boots shoes that
properly cut and put together. will set smooth an
look well TO the eye, upon the foot. They will nr
ring and twist lOpsded alter being worn q lew time.
and furthermore, will not create The foot.
those who have tender feet and corns. and bunion,
will give us a call we will soon convince them how
shoe will not create cOrns and yet look well Oh In
foot. Gail at FLANIGEN'S Cheap Shoe Store N,
10 West Second street, Wilmington, Del.


| MAY -, 1859.
Year: 1859

SMITHS ScKsoRANA, no will call the attain
ion of our readers to the advertisement of
Albert Smiths Seenorama. which will be
found in another column. Wherever in the
State this exhibition has been presented, il
has uniformly been received with the highest
favor, both as a work OF art. and as an agree
sbleo and instructive entertainment. Those
who go to see il will undoubtedly derive n
valuable consideration for both time and
money.
Year: 1859

1sS- We extend an invitation to the read :
ers Of the National to become contributors
to Its columns. There are many, and we
choose to name them ladies, as well as gen
tlemen. who are abuudantly qualified to as
sist us by their contributions.
Year: 1859

ss- The eularging Of the Masonic nni
Odd Fellows Hall. in this place. is rapidly
progressing. and begins to assume quite an
importing appearance. In about four or five
weeks i. will be finished and will compete
with any lodge in the State in size and beau
LY
Year: 1859

Dr. NEwBBRRY's LReTURE.-The lecture by
this gentleman this evening upon Camp Life in the
West, will be highly Interesting one. DR.. New
berry has been well known as a travelled gentle
man Of great scientific attainments, and we doubt
not be will render his lecture one of the most in
teresting of the Winters course This Is an extra
lecture, and season tickets will not admit the hold
ers, but this will not trust, deter any from lis
tening to the narrative of the wild adventurous life
of a hunter among the Mountains of the Vert. DR..
NeEberry's letters to the Herald while upon bis
expedition, were entertaining and instructive, as
his lecture will be.
Year: 1859

ned with The treatment have had OF, m trial, con


sldering al the circumstances. 1t has been more
generous than expected. but feel no conscious.
ness OF quit. have stated from the first what
was my intentions and what was not. Incyer had
any design against the life Of any person. nor anv
disposition to commit treason, excite the slaves
10 rebel, or make any general insurccton. Iney-
er encouraged any man TO do so, but always dis.
couraGcd any idea OF the kind. Let me sneak so
IN regard to the statements made by some of those
connected with me. f


hear it has been stated by some of them that
Have induced them to join me, but the contrary is
true. do not saw this to injure them, but rs re
GREETING their weakness. Not one joined me but of
his OWL accord and the greater part at their own
expense. A number them 1 never saw, and
never had II word of conversation with till the day
they came TO me- and that for the purpose have
stated. Now have DONE"


I While Brown was speaking, perfect
quiet prevailed. When he had flushed
the Court proceeded to pronounce the SEN
tence. After a few preliminary remarks
in Which he said: No reasonable doubt
could exist as to the prisoners guilt, he
sentenced him to be hung in public Oh Fri
day the I'd of December.


Brown received the sentence with COM
poSure. The only demonstration made
was with the clarping of hands hy one
man IN the crowd, who is not resident of
Jefferson Comfy. Ilas was promptly
suppressed, and much reglet was expressed
by citizens at its occurrence.


After being ont ali hour, the jury in the
case ofCoppie. returned with verdict, de-
raring Coppie guilty on all the counts in
The Indictment. His counsel gave notice
Of motion to arrest Judgment as in Browns
'ase. The Court then adjourned.
Year: 1859

THE EoLIPsK 1.-The solar eclipse came on and
off yesterday afternoon as per agreement, with no
postponement. Those who ha0 provided them
selves with smoked glasses and were on the watch
for the obscuration had the sight TO tell Of These
smoked glasses were good and easy to be obtained,
but By lar the best view to be obtained Of the sun
was through Mr.. jeremiah Cross's great telescope,
which was erected on the bank at the foot Of Wa
ter street. This is remarkably fine instrument,
the best in this section, perhaps excepting some
located in observatores. Its magnifying power is
100 quot 100 diameters by any MEANS but enlarging
the surface 100 timcs). With this magnifying
power it affords specially fine views Of the heav-
enly bodies. Through Il the sun presented q
beautiful appearance yesterday The edges $50 to
speak) of the disc were as sharply defined against
the sky as could be drawn with any instrument,
being perfectly smooth aud round. The edge Of
the obscuration on the contrary, was jagged and
rough, exhibiting very plainly the inequalities on
the surface Of the moon. The eclipse commenced
about o'clock, and continued nearly an hour
eve are not particular as to the exact time) The
observation covered about one-eigh,h Of the sur.
face Of the sun, and was very sharply defined.



verted the eclipse appeared 10 be on the lower
right hand portion. 1t in reality on the upper
right hand.


The New York Herald of Wednesday, publish
ed a cut of the sun when the eclipse was on, in
which the observation appears on the upper left
hand portion. 1t is strange how such an eggre
gious bunder should ever come out in that paper,
An eclipse of the sun al,oays passes from the west
to the east; and must ofnecessty appear upon the
west side Of the sun. (Of course we use the term
west as applied TO our position on the earth, as
there are no points of compass with the suU.)-
The Herald should get posted in astronomy
straightway.


Some persons doubtless have an idea that in the
case Of a solar eclipse, one eau see both the sun
and moon at the same time, but moments reflcc
tiou will convince them of their mistake. The
moon of course, comes between be earth and the
sun, and as it receives all its light from the sun
we zee only the dark side which is no more
vsib than 50 much emp space.


Beside the eclipse, the gazer through Mr.. Cross
| telescope (Which was under the direction o.
Mr., J. n. Pnlsbury,) had fine opportunity TO SCI
the "spots on the sun" These appeared singly
and in clusters. They change every day accord.
ing to the motion of the earth, These spots All
some OF them black and some shaded Some hay
black centers with shading extending from it 90
They are very beautiful aud curious OF course thes
spots can be seen at any time with good glass
Mr.. Cross will have his telescope upon the squar
next week when the moon gets "big enough +
see"
Year: 1859

MORE WATER COMING Ball, Peterson & Co.
sent onI company Of men last Monday, to open
their ditch from Rush Creek. They intend, within
the Wcavcrville basin This win afford an OPP
poruniiy TO thoroughly prospect the reputed
rich diggings along the Browns creek divide
There will be plenty of water for two or three
months. The snow on the mountains at the source
of Rush Creek, is said by them to be ten to twenty
feet deep, and has hardly commenced to melt yet.
Here is an opening for those who desire work and
cannot get water elsewhere. The mining claim
of the above company. on Browns Creek noun
tain, is paying better than ever this season.