smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1860

Rev. w. G. Smith, Presiding Elder Of one
of the Indiana Conferences, gives the follow
ing account of Morgantown, in that State,
one Of the peculiarties of which is that it is
built on Lake:


We read of "a city set upon a hill" Nor
gantown, in my district, stands upon lake
This was not known for number Of years
after the town was settled. The discovery
was made by digging wells to procure full
supply Of water. The supply Of water in the
wells which had been used failing in the dry
season, few years since, one of the citizens
Concluded to sink well deeper, and see if he
could not strike a stronger vein. When
some thirty-fve or forty feet below the sur
face Of the earth, the man at work in the well
suddenly struck his pick through crust
the water gushed up with such rapidity that
it was with difficulty he was saved by tho
man at the wihdlass. In few moments the
water was some fifteen feet deep in the well.
In two or three instances afterwards, men
were near being lost by coming suddenly up
on this inexhaustible fountain of water.
Wells have been sunk in different parts of
the town from each other, and, | believe,
forty feet is the greatest depth to reach this
lake. Lead lines have been dropped into
several of these wells, but no bottom has
been found. In digging down 70 this lake,
they invariably pass through strata of sand,
leaves and timber, resembling drit-wood.
This is some 20 feet below the surface of the
earth. After passing through these strata,
stratum of clay is found, and when within
some eighteen inches of the lake hard crust
is reached, which is sure indication that
they are near the water. When they reach
this crust they commence wall thereon, car
rying it to the top Of the we'll, then put down
a large auger and bore a hole to the water,
which gushes up with great force, filing the
well from 5 to 30 feet in few minutes.
When the auger strikes the lake, the atmos
phero bursts up for few seconds, producing
a sound very much resembling the blowing
off of steam from an engine. | have not
given all the particulars Of what has been
discovered Of this mysterious lake. Enough
is known to scttle it beyond doubt, that the
whole town stands upon lake under ground.
Year: 1860

,bacco from his fingers and playfully threw
it from the window. The train was the
through express, and the conductor could not
stop. The loser Of the weed" went on to
Philadelphia and returned in the 20 train,
to look up the money but with what success
we have not learned.


The gentleman referred to above, we under
stand, was a lawyer of this city The money
was not recovered. .--Boston Journal
Year: 1860

The strength of one of the Armstrong II pound
er guns has been substantated in an extreme man
ner. The gun was loaded aud fired with every
ounce of powder which the chamber was capable
of containing to which was added long cylinder
or bar of solid iron, equivalent to five ordinary
shots. This charge was repeated, and fired up to
the fftieth round. After ample scrutiny it was
pronounced that no ordinary usage could burst Of
damage the Gun,
Year: 1860

CRops IN Sorrn GARoLNA.-The Charleston
Courier says:


Along the line of the South Carolina Railroad as
far as Columbia, we learn by friend, the crops
Of every description present an extremely parched
appearance.


The corn crop is in a particularly languishing
condition, the stalks from the heat being turned
completely white The planters do not entertain
hopes of even an average yield of that crop. 0nr
informant states that there was on Friday slight
shower along the line from Columbia as far as
Sgmmerville, and on Saturday afternoon a heavy
fall of rain, accompanied by much thunder and
lightning, which extended from Columbia to Lew
isville We trust this relief will be in time to be Of
some benefit to the crops, which have snnered from
such long drought.
Year: 1860

Thus terminated the sport of the Crescent City
Yacht Club, and to-day will be fnn the Annual
Regatta of the Southern Yacht Club, at the sams
hour and place as the other. The Yachting spirit
is fully alive to the occasion, and we consequently
look for very large attendance.
Year: 1860

There is general impression that tie life
of lecturer who goes from place to place
during the winter season. at the invitation of
lecture committees and Young mems associa
tions, is one of delightful varie,y-not Only
charmngly ly exciting but immensely protita-
bic. OF the pay no complaint can rcasona-
bly, be made, but II is not eXtravagant. Eor is
it more than the labor and risk involved
should command. In fact it often looks very
small by the side of the mental and physical
discomfort which it costs, and the amount of
vitality expended in securing it. have
thought that it would not be uninteresting
for the reader to travel week with the lee
turer and get taste of his experiences |
hardly know what week o: the last season 5
labors to select, as specimen, bnt must
necessarily take one that is fresh in nv mem
ory. SO will take the last week that was
fully occupied, and of this, Il will write plain
unyarnished account.


Monday morning, February 10Th, found
me in the pleasant city of Cleveland, home-
ward bound with week of labor on the way.
Due at Ashtabuia, Ohio, nice town on the
Cleveland and Eie Railroad, that night. |
started in TIE first train, and arrived in due
time. The afternoon was passed in a delight
full family. The lecture came on and passed
Oft in the usual way. was obliged to wait
for the night train for Buffalo, in order to
reach Albion, New York, in season for Tues
days engagement.


After an evening spent in circle Of hos
pitable friends, and when the clock indicated
the hour of eleven, clumsy hack numbered
up to the door, and departed for a night OF
travel. We had waited but short time a;
the depot when the train came up, and was
treated TO a very earnest invitation to take a
sleeping car. Now these sleeping cars are
either very excellent things or very execrable
things. If there be double windows, and We,
chance for ventilation, they are delightful
it they have only single windows, one i,
sure to take cold with the draught around
his shoulders-if double windo~ed and nc
ventilation then the occupant is in for sutfo-
cation and roasting alive. Unhappily for me
the car into which was invited was of the
latter description. In order to have room e.
nough took double berth, paying double
price, and disposed myself for a comfortabl.
snooze. How l got to sleep | know not, bu
could not have been asleep half an hou,
Year: 1860

Mrs Page. whose capture by the Indians
in Arizona. and her miraculous escape from
death. have been mentioned has given an ac-
count of her suticrinyS to 4 correspondent Of
the 81. Louis Republican. Mrs. Page was
weak from recent illness and could not keep
up with the speed of her captors. They
therefore resolved to Kill her OF their al
tempt to 90 this, and her marvellous escape
and return home she gives the following
thrilling account:


I'VE had proceeded thus about sixteen
miles, as nearly as my limited ideas of dis
tancc will enable me to judge. and | now
Jagged behind so much that my savage cap
tors grew impatient, and resolved to kill me.
They stripped me of my clothing, including
my shoes, and left me but single garment.
They then thrust their lances at me, lntilct-
ing eleven wounds in my body, threw NE
over ledge of rocks, or precipice, some six
tccn-or ish;een feet high, and hurled large
stones after me, to make sure of their vic
tim, and then left me, supposing must die,
too barbarous to end my miser! by entirely
extinguishing the spark of life. This occur
in my back and two in my arm, and my head
was cat in several places by the rocks which
were thrown after me, but most of them
glanced, without striking me.


Il had alyhted on bank of snow, almost
in state of nudity. and in a senseless con-
dition. lE counting uf my camping places
before reaching home, | think | must have
LAID :here in a state of Inconsistencies for
near three DAYS. When l came to took
some snow and put on my wounds. recol-
lected the direction travelled, ,and the position
Of the sun from camp at sunset, and with
these guides started for home. My feet gave
out the first day. and was compelled to
crawl the most of the distance. | did not
dare to 90 down to the foot of the mountain
for fear could find no water, and was there
fore compelled to keep in the steep and rock y
mountain. Sometimes, after crawling up a
steep ledge, laboring hard for half day,
would loose my footing, and slide down low
er than the place from which started. AS
had no fire and no clothing suffered very
much from cold. | was a: point said to be
six thousand feet above the sea, and only
wonder that | did not freeze. scratched
holes in the sand at night, in which to sleep
and before could travel was obliged ever,
day to wait for the sun to warm me up.
travelled what could every day, and in the
meantime had to subsist on grass alone Or
the fourteenth day | reached the camp of
some workmen in the pinery, which was un
tenanted. There found little FOOD ant
some -four which had been spilled upon tn,
ground. The fire was not quite out, and


kindled it up. Scraped up some Of the aou
and made me little cake, the first food


had tasted since left home. was nov
Year: 1860

near the ~orkmen in the pinery, and within
Two miles of my home, but was too weak to
20 on. could hear the men at work, and
sometimes saw them, but could not attract
II cir attention. At length l crawled along
to the road over which they must pass, and
was found there, and carried home, after be-
ing out sixteen da,s.'
Year: 1860

The RATA Naturalist, who has studied
the Rat, makes the following observations:


1t seems strange that an animal which
shows itself SO sagacious in pursuit of food
should possess so scanty a cerebral develop
ment as the rat. So cunning is he that his
most common tricks are sometimes received
as mere fables. Such is the account given of
their way of stealing oggs-one lying on his
back, grasping the egg with his fore paws.
and the other hauling him away by the tail.
But it is said that they will even carry eggs
from the bottom to the top of the house, lift
ing them up from stair to stair, one rat stand.
ing on his hind legs, and pushing them up,
and the other lifting them with his fore paws.
The trick of extracting oil from Florence
TASKS by dipping in their taiIs is well known.
But the sagacity of the rat is also shown to
great advantage in the defence of its life
against assailants. When full grown rat
was placed in a close room with but one win.
dow, with large strong ferret the tactics of
the former prevailed over the superior
strength of the latter after long contest
The rat, having discovered that there was no
means of escape, utter a shrill squeak, and
Immediately, without hesitation, took up his
position directly under the window, thus
gaining the advantage of the light at the
outset. The ferret now approached ready to
seize his prey, but had scarcely got within
two feet of his foe before the rat with loud
cry, rushed at his antagonist, and inflicted
severe wound on his head and neck This
was repeated at intervals, the rat always
eluding the grasp of the ferret, with every
attack iniieting a severe wound, and finally
beating him off, absolutely bitten into
shreds over the head and noea." me ferret
ordinarily prevails by retaining his hold
when once he fastens on his prey, sucking his
life blood meanwhile. The snake prevails by
his venom. Many anecdotes are related Of
tame rats One belonging to an omnibus
driver in London, was accustomed to be put
in the boot to protect his masters dinner
He could resist all temptations except in the
form of plum pudding. Though he kept off
all other intruders, he invariably ate his fill
himself
Year: 1860

DAN RGcr's GREAT CrRoUs.-The vast circus
pavilion was crowded to its utmost capacity
last evening, and the universal verdict of all
those present was that it was one of the best,
if not the best, troupes of the kind that ever
visited Sacramento We should think it safe
to say that there were over two thousand
persons present last evening. In addition to
a company of superior human performers
there are fine stud of horses, the amusing
trained mules, the elephants, and many other
novelties. The big Arab gentleman can be
seen. day and evening, at the tent near the
circus. Sac. Bee.
Year: 1860

FIsnING ExrRAoRDINARY.-On Wednesday
last two gentlemen of San Jose started out on
a trout-fshing excursion in the hills east Of
that place, and in the course of two hours
succeeded in bagging two hundred and thir-
ty-six fine speckled trout. In addition to
this good luck, one Of the hombres was SO
fortunate as to be treed 10y huge grizzly
bear. The only result of the last named ad-
venture, was mutual fright of the bear and
trout catcher
Year: 1860

HUNTING THEM WITH FmE-About midway
between Pine Grove and Rowland Flat stood
three cabins. Neither Of them has latterly
been occupied by any known resident. Many
little operations in the highway branch Of
art had been done by fellows who have
sailed out from these cabins and stopped
travellers on the road. 70 break up this
shelter, the boys the other night set fire to
and burned down the cabins-SierrG Dem.
Year: 1860

observing system Of strict economy, in the admins
tration Of the Government, there can be no doubt
that shall soon emerge from all the difficulties
with which have heretofore been surrounded, and
enter upon long career Of prosperity.


MAY COP LONG PRESERVE HIS MAJE-TY THE KING.


u. L. GREGG.
Year: 1860

WARNING TO FREE NEGROES AT EVANSVILLE, ,IND.-
The following handbill has been posted in Evans
vile, Ind. We have no other information than it
contains concerning the formation of Vigilance
Committee at that place:


Notice to Free Negroes.-The laws of Indiana pro-
vide that after a certain date no Free Negro shall
emigrate to this State. Other cities and towns in
Indiana are expelling the negroes from among
them, and owing to the laxity exhibited by au-
thorties and citizens generally, Evansville is being
oyerrun and cursed by the worst class of this lazy
worthless drunken, and thieving race, and to such
an extent that those who have suffered from their
bad conduct are resolved to suffer no longer, and
,oU take the laic in their oiCn hands. This notice is
therefore given, that at the end of FIVE days from
the date hereof every negro, of either sex, who is
not by law entitled to residence among US, must
not be found in the city, else he will be dealt with
in summary manner by


THE VIGILANCE COMMITTEE.
Year: 1860

Bayard Taylor has completed his magnificent
mansion in Kennel, Pa After fifteen years travel
and successful literary labor, he now goes back to
his native town, to enjoy for season, in the
place where, as a boy, he used to dream Of such a
future. the fame and fortune he has WON
Year: 1860

In Cincinnati, on Tuesday, lady was holding
her infant in her arms near a window, when the
little one, by sudden movement, threw itself out
of its mothers grasp and fell to the pavement be-
low and was killed instantly.
Year: 1860

THE LONDON correspondent of the Manchester
Guardian says Lord Lovelaces son and heir, the
grandson to whom will ultimately go the bulk of
the late Lady Byron's large landed property, and
who now becomes Baron Wentworth by her DEATH
is, and has for considerable time past, been work
ing at weekly wages as an artisan in the smiths
department of Woolwich Arsenal For the son of
an earl, and the heir of barony by writ, this is
unique case. Lord Lovelace's daughter, to whom
property, is an inheratrix of much of the rare
ability of her mother, Ada, the only daughter of
Lord Byron.
Year: 1860

EMANCIPATION IN VIRGINIA. "A correspondent
Of the New York Herald, writing from White
Sulphur Springs, says that there, is grand
emancipation scheme now in embryOin Western
Virginia, which will develop itself in the course
Of the coming winter. The movement is to have
for its leader "a distinguished gentlcnan from
Eastern Virginia, not regarded as particularly
sound on the slavery question for many years
past" The movement is to be instituted with
reference to a change in the basis Of taxation.
Year: 1860

cEssus or THE UsITED SrArEs.-The returns
already received at Washington give o9uiatiOn
IN the United States Of thirty-two millions, and
viii probably yet reach in the aggregate at
least thirty five Millions With The exception
Of the great cities, there has been no ma ked
gain in the Eastern States The mighty West
absorbs the chief gain in population to itself
The East Is the mother Of free States
Year: 1860

An old criminal was once asked wha,
was the first step that led to his ruin,
when he answered "Thc first step
was cheating printer ont Of two
years subscription. When had done
that, the devil took such grip on ms
that could not, shake him off,
Year: 1860

ST. PATRIcK's DAY.--The l7th of March
has been for many centuries dedicated to the
memory of Saint Patrick, who christianized
Ireland during the fifth century, and is pop
ularly believed to have banished from that
lovely island the offensive and dangerous
reptiles with which, before his time, it is
said to have swarmed Whether this be so
or not, the holy man did very useful thing
to humanity by substituting the mild reli-
gion of Jesus for the cruelties of ancient
idolatry. Historians are not agreed whether
the saint was native of Scotland, Corn
wall or Britain, but the return of the day
sacred to his memory is celebrated by Irish
men wherever assembled, the world over
We do not know whether the 18th of March
is the anniversary of his birth or death, but
a common agreement to observe any day in
honor of a man, no matter what reason is
assigned, is sufficient cause for such obser-
ance. The day will be observed at our
neighboring town of Cherokee by grand
ball, the managers Of which have been se-
lected without regard to religious opinions.
The proceeds of the ball will. be applied to
the payment of a debt still due on the Cath
olic church. The dance will come off on
Friday next.
Year: 1860

PROTECTION AGAINST FmK.-Another effort
will be made to protect the town against
fire. 1t is proposed to lay along Main street
eight inch iron pipe with hydranss and fire
hose attached. supplies of water to be drawn
from the large pipe of the Eureka Lake Ditch
Company, which will soon be laid across
the town. In this way any amount of water
desired can be procured, with pressure of
about 125 feet-suffcient TO force stream
over the tallest buildings and far up the ell
ovation of Flume street We understand
that the Ditch Company Will cheerfully con-
sent to have its mammoth pipe tapped, and
that the whole work can be done at cost
quite inconsiderahle compared to the secu
rity it will give property. A previous plan
of this kind failed because of "a disagreement
among citizens as to the relative merits of
pipes and engines, it being supposed that
the flume would not give fall enough. The
committee entrusted with the matter became
convinced that the money would not be forth
coming, and dropped the whole thing in dis
gust. Against the present plan no sound
objection can be urged, and doubtless citi-
zens will subscribe for its immediate prose-
cution.
Year: 1860

We are sorry to obseve that Gov. Downey
lends the weight of his approval to the
prayer of 5000 petitioners for a law declar-
ing highway robbery capital onense. We
have heretofore opposed the enactment of
such law as a retrogression to barbarous
usages, ,as totally inefficient, as likely to add
murder to robbery, as disturbing the just
gradation of punishment, and calculated to
defeat the ends of justice by increasing the
dithcalty of procuring convictions. We are
confident the Legislature will not violate
common sense and humanity to the extent
of passing such law.
Year: 1860

The CHINESE PRoBLEM.-Next in import
ance to the Indian question is that trouble
some query-what shall be done with the
Chinese? We have allowed the privilege of
residence in our midst to about &c, 900 semi
barbarous, morally offensive people, who
can never become citizens, who have Gus
toms worse than any known to Mormonism,
who do not learn our language, and who
come into injurious competition with our
own laboring classes, thereby causing fire.
quent brols and tumults. This is all bad
but how can the obnoxious element be re-
moved without wrong on our part? 1t is
proposed to effect this end by gradually in
creasing the present tax on Chinese miners
till it shall reach $50 month As the great
majority of the Chinese come here to dig
gold, and as they work the poorest diggings,
this tax would be more than they could pay
and they would be compelled to leave the
mines and ultimately the country So rea-
son the advocates of the bill now before the
Legislature. They see the evil and take a
direct road towards removing it, without
considering how much greater evils they
may cause by so doing. They make no al
lowance for the poverty of thousands of the
Pariahs in our midst who would suffer cru
city from the effects of the contemplated law,
nor do they stop to estimate the amount of
damage that would be done our own people
were these Mongoians suddenly removed
The finances of many of the mining counties
would be seriously affected and some of
them would be compelled to resort to special
taxation in Order to prevent insolvency. But
this is a secondary consideration. IF the
Chinese are really social nuisance no scru-
pies of economy should avail to prevent
their expulsion. Humanity, however, de-
mands law somewhat different from the
above; one that will prevent any more of the
offensive race from coming here, without
working cruel hardships to those already in
the eonatry, who have acquired rights which
are just as much entitled to protection as
our own. If the provisions of the proposed
law were made to apply only to Chinese who
shall arrive after certain date and if those
now here or who shall have arrived before
the date fixed, were required to procure
certificate, from some officer empowered to
give it, showing the date of their arrival,
there would be very little addition to that
class of our population, and the thousands
already in our midst would gradually thin
off, by death and emigration, meanwhile
paying taxes as at present, until the problem
would be solved, quietly and without wrong
doing. We have never had that fear of the
Mongolians which operates like nightmare
in the imagination of SO many Californians,
and could never see just cause for appre-
hending any material increase in their num-
beFs but the people appear to be unanimous
in favor of exclusive legislation, and to pre-
vent the violence certain to ensue if the gen.
eral wish is disregarded, We hope to see some
law passed that will accomplish the desired
end.
Year: 1860

The last departure of passengers by the two steamers
for Panama only about 600 and total treasure
shipment only little over 81 100 0Go-quite failing
firom the regular 100000. We have observed a
steady decrease in the treasure shipments for long
tIme The gold yield of the State is less, but a
much greater proportion of it retained and invested
All things considered, California so truly
prosperous as she is this dnll winter
Year: 1860

DUTCH JUsTIcE.-A man was arrested for
breaking window with boulder 1t was
proved that he threw the rock al Jew who
was passing the win low. The Jew lodged,
and the rock took effect on the glass The
Dutch magistrate must have been prejudced
against the house of Israel, for he acquitted
him who threw the stone and assessed the
damages to the Jew, for lodging
Democrat
Year: 1860

To illustrate the facilities of travel which
mark the age, an Englishman said that dur
ing the present year he had eaten sand
wich on the top of the great pyramid in
Egypt, drank the health of Queen Victoria
on the verge of the crater of Vesuvius and
been rather sharply scolded By his wife on the
summit of Mount Blanc.
Year: 1860

The new road law for this county has been acted
upon by the Board of Supervisors and will go int
effect forthwith. We have not seen a copy of It, and
know less of its features than of the topography of the
moon
Year: 1860

is most urgently recommended Already has it found
It's way into tlse principal public and private Hospitals
in the country and wherever it has been once used il
forthwith becomes a necessity