smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

Dilute sulphuric acid and sugar, with a
little sulphate of indigo and gum, is found
to make a permanent wFiting-ink. proof
against fading and erasure. By holding
the writing TO the fire, the characters are
converted into ajet black by the earboni-
cation Of sugar -
Year: 1861

MURDERS AND POISONING AT ROUND VALLEY.
The Red Bluff Beacon, Of Thursday, has
the following startling news from Round
Valley:


About ten days ago party of five or six
hunters started out in quest of game or what
ever else they might find useful TO them
selves. The party having been gone rather
long, some anxiety was manifested at their
absence and a search was instituted for them.
Jim Greenwood, of Round Valley, and Hen
ley Smith, of Mendocino, two of the compa-
NY were found dead, rnd the balance of the
party missing Among the missing was
known to be Henry Brizentinej who is sup
posed to have been killed. Thinking, doubt
less, it was the Indians who had perpetrated
the deed, they were pursued, and the arms
of the murdered men were found with them
and recovered.


The above had happened about sixty miles
from the Mendocino Reservation, and up to
the time of leaving our informant states that
no tidings had been heard of the missing
men.


In Round Valley, the family, or at least a
part Of it, of Col Henley. narrowly escaped
being poised by two of their digger boys. 1t
seems that they (the boys,) had quantity OF
qufnine and strychnne and got them mixed
up SO thet they could not tell which was the
poison and which was not; so thinking that
either would answer they fortunately put in
the quinine, which was discovered by the
family when the food wac being eaten. One
of the boys was hanged and the other man
aged to escape from his prison during the
night. The deed had doubtless been inst-
gated by older heads, as the Indians in and
around the valley are represented to be ex-
ceeding troublesome.
Year: 1861

The New METROPOLITAN TnEATER. The
San Francisco reporter for the Sacramento
Union thus describes the New Metropolitan
theater in that city:


The new theater on the site of the old Me.
tropolitan, was opened on Monday night, the
lst of July. The building was crowded in
every part, with fair and fashionable audi
knee. 1t is large, very commodious and the
stage can be seen from every part of the
house. The decorations are few. Around
the front of 2he gallery and of the dress cir
Gle runs little foliaSe, the stem of gold and
the leaves of green. The heading of the GAL
lery front is also gilt, upon a groundwork of
white. The green leaves are not in harmony
with their surroundings Above the stage,
and over the private boxes is white wall
which is too glaring. and the eye seeks in
vain for an object upon which to rest The
seats of the dress circle are of crimson damask
and the fronts ofthe galleries of crimson vel
vet, giving pleasant air of warmth TO the
house The gasaliers are decorated each with
bronze eagle very artistically executed. In
the ceiling large ventilator is tastefully
painted in scroll work. "The splendid new
act drop, painted by Mr.. Charles Rogers" ac
cordng to the play bill, is fancful and we'll
painted so far as the cooring is concerned,
but not altogether pleasing. The spectator is
supposed to be standing on the marble pave
ment of terrace which slopes to river. On
the right are the columns and portions of
three arches, the columns adorned with flags
and aelmets, and the arches with ecclesiasti-
cal figures. The laws of perspective have
not been regarded in the relation of the capi-
tails of the columns to each other The re-
mander of the arches is hidden by massive
and rich curtain, which fills the left of the
picture In the middle distance is the water,
with a single sail upon it. To the right, in
the background, is q medieval castle, out Of
Year: 1861

The glorious Fourth was the merriest day
our city ever saw. The whole town was
ablaze with bonfires, fire. works aud new
fags all the night before, and when the day
was ushered in with the joyful ringing Of the
bells it found good portion Of our people
wide awake and waiting for its coming The
National salute at sunrise, formed but small
portion of the noise made by gun-powder ex-
plosions even at that early hour. The city
presented gay and patriotic appearance
with its profuson of flags flying in numbers
never known before in its holiday crowds of
children bearing miniature editions of the
same national emblem; in the cracking Of
small arms, Chinese crackers, torpedoes, etc,
set off by Young America, and in the general
expression Of good feeling which was visible
on the faces of all who went upon the streets
The day was excessively hot, owing perhaps
to the general stirring up Of the fires of patri-
otc ardor, but the people seemed to have no
idea of being housed on that account, and
went on with the universal celebration in the
good old fashioned way.


At little before o'clock the first public
ceremony took place, on First street, in front
Of the Merchants Hotel, viz the presentation
by the ladies of Marysville of magnificent
silk American flag, to the Marysville Rifles.
The presentation speech was made by G. L.
Fikins, Esq and was one Of the finest efforts
ever made on such an occasion. 1t was full
Of deep feeling and enthusiastic devotion to
tleman was briefly responded to by Lieut.
Coult (the officer in command-Capt. Theall
being too unwell to participate in any of the
ceremonies of the day. Lieut. Coult then
called the color guard to the front and deliv-
cred the flag to Ensign Dougherty, giving
him an impressive charge, to guard well the
sacred emblem. The Ensign then spoke in
substance as follows:


FELLOW SoLDIERs-I have here a sacred
token to present to you; may you ever prove
yourselves worthy of this the only banner
which we, as true American soldiers acknow-
ledge. This flag which has been wrought
| by fair and loyal hands, you pledge your sa-
CFCd HbHof W pTbiccG IDDOulu IL DuI)eu WIlIt
| am Ensign of your company that | should
be called upon to raise these colors in defence
of our countrys rights, and should finch one
inch, then brand me coward or what is
worse, traitor to my country; but if, on the
other hand, it should happen that should
fall by the hand of an enemy in defence of
these colors, feel assured that there are men
in these ranks who would gladly grasp them
and lead yon on to victory and glory.


The ceremony was very impressive one
and was conducted with the strictest pro-
priety.


Promptly at ten o'clock, in accordance
with the programme announced, the process
sion moved up D street in the following or.
ORDER:
Year: 1861

exciting Of warlke spirit among our people
which may be among the terrible evils OF the
war


The Pavilion was well ventilated and
sprinkled, and the large audience found seats
comfortably arranged. The exercises were
conducted with great propriety, and were
not too long.


The evening exhibition of fireworks was
livery creditable, and the ball, at late hour,
was an exceedingly pleasant affair


In addition to the general celebration.
everybody celebrated in an independ-
ent and individual manner, and, as we said
in the beginning of this brief report, 50 say
we now, the Fourth was the merriest day
our city ever saw.
Year: 1861

GONG EAsr-J. b. Kyle Esq, late City
Recorder leaves for the Bay this morning,
with the intention of proceeding upon the
next steamer to his old home near Chambers
burg, Penn. lie will carry with him kindly
wishes for his future prosperity, from the
many here who esteem him for his excellent
qualities Of heart and brain. We regret hi:
departure from among us, but hope that he
may be benefited in health, by the change
Bon Vordge.
Year: 1861

CoRREcTIoN.-In our late account of the
trial race at the Park, at midnight, we stated
that Dan Schooley was one of the sly spec
tators. We are assured by Dan that he was
not there, and we therefore cheerfully correct
the statement. We told the story as IL was
told to u.s.
Year: 1861

perspective, and seemingly built on the
peaked top of a mountain-reminding one OF
a new version of the theological problem
bow many souls can rest on the point OF
needle namely, how can castle be perched
on the top Of pyramid? The left back
ground is filled with mountains up which the
mist is rising. Had the artist drawn upon
Nature instead of Phantasy, he would have
produced a more agreeable picture.
Year: 1861

an old resident Of Marysvile The place will be kept
up in good STYLE and pains will be spared to make
it q pleasant and attractive place of resort.


Refreshments will be furnished at all times when
desired.


Fruits Of all kinds can be had in their seasons.


june27-U
Year: 1861

The animus Of Secession is sham Democra-
cy-;that is, the party which lost the Offices at
the late election. This il proven BY the votes
taken on the question Of Secession in the
Southern States and the warm sympathy ex-
listing between the Northern ghams and their
tory brethren in the South. An election was
recently held in North Carolina on the ques-
tion Of holding Convention and efecting
delegates with view to secession


The result WIS as follows:


Convention w ,e72 No Convention .47, e23


Majority for No Convention


We give below the Convention vote of the
Strong Democratic aud Wing counties COM
pared with that cast for President In 1914, to
indicate the political character Of the secee-
sion movement The vote between Clay and
Polk Is taken, as both the Democratic and
Wing parties were in their vigor and prime at
that time In North Carolina:
Year: 1861

Under this head the Savannah (Ga. }
Republican pays the following deserved
trioute to the great statesman of the
West-Stephen a. Douglas: 49,.


"Senator Douglas has set noble ex,
ample of disinterested patriotism to the
Northern politicians who are standing in
the way of their country's peace. While
others are holding back and quibbling
under the selfish pretense of pride and
consistency. the Senator from Illinois has
the moral courage and manly patriotism
to ignore himself and 60 alone for his
country He is reported to have said at
late meeting of the Senate Committee
of Thirteen, that he was prepared to do
any thing which the necessities of the case
may require, withoutreference to anything
he may have done, or any opinion he may
have advanced in the past He is not
afraid to be called incons;stent; he has
loflier purposes than personal advance
meut when the Union is in danger. Were
majority of Congress constituted of such
men, every State would get her rights in
the Union, and we should have universal
peace in thirty days"
Year: 1861

3 Z Z n
which the violence or rescue was made,
and the COUNTY shall have the right to
sue the individuals who committed the
wrong in the same manner as the owner
could sue. g&4 -@ -


.SsrtA: No further amendment or amend.
ments shall affect the preceding articles, !
and Congress shall never have power TO-
Interfere with Slavery in the States where
it is now permitted.


The last resolution declares that the
Southern States have right to the faith.
full execution of the Law for the recovery.
of Slaves. and such laws ought not to be-,
repealed or modified so as to impair their
efficiency. All laws in conflict with the
Fugitive Slave law it shall not be deemed
improper for Congress to ask the repeal
Of. The fugitive Slave law ought to be so
altered as to make the fee of the Com
missioners equal whether he decides for or
against the claimant, and the clause an.
thorizi-g the person holding the warrant
to summon posse comitat0s to be so as
to restrict it to cases where violsnce or
rescue is attempted. The laws for, tho
suppression of the African slaye.trade
ought to be effsctually executed. 5s''
Year: 1861

The State Senate Of Missouri has passed
bill, by an almost unanimous vote. call
ing a Convention in that State to deter


mine whether she will remain in the
Union. The Convention is to meet on
the SSth of February, and delegates are
to be elected on the 18th. There is great
danger, if q compromise is not made, that
even Missouri will secede. Es-
Year: 1861

The New Orleans Delta, in its summary
of the city mortality for one week, classi-
fed sixty. five of the deceased as natives
of the United States, and one as o native
of South Caroline.
Year: 1861

The manufacture of bomb-shells is


very interesting. The shell is first
filled with old-fashioned round leaden


bullets melted sulphour is then pour.
ed in to fill up the interstices and


bind the bullets in one solid mass I;
the shell is then put into a kind of
lathe, and a cylindrical hole of the ex-
act size of the oriiice of the shell is
bored through the bullets and sulphur.
This cavity is filled with powder even


with the intrrior edge Of the orifice, a


6-inch shell of the kind here described
holding about haif a pound. The fuse
fitted into the orifice is q recent
Belgian invention, made of pewter,
and resembles the screw-cap used for
the patent fruit-cans. An examina-
tion of this pewter cap shows, howev.
er, that it is made of two hollow discs
OF metal screwed together, and filled
with meal powder. A number of fine
holes arc drilled in the lower disc,
while the outer disc is entire and
marked with figures in the circle, l, 2,
3, 4. In this state the shell is water
proof. When taken for use, the gun
ner, by means of small steel instru.
ment. scoops out portion Of the outer
soft metal surface, and lays bare the
charge of composition powder below
it. If the shell is desired to explode
in one second after leaving the gun
tho scooping is made on the figure !;
if in two seconds, on the figure 2, and
SO on; the idea being that the shells
of this description shall first strike
the object aimed at and do execution
as ball, and then explode, sending
the bullets forward as if from another
located at the point where
the flight of the shell is arrested.
Large shells Of eight or ten inches are
filled with powder only, and, bursting,
do execution by means of their frag-
ments. These large shells are gene
rally fired by means of fuse of meal
powder, extending through q brass
plug screwed into the mouth of the
shell. In both cases the fuse is fired
by the ignition Of the charge in the
pun
Year: 1861

A French paper gives an account
of five German Savans who were
spending vacation near the summit
OF Mount Blanc !! They camped
out" in the midst of the glaciers at
an elevation of over 10, 900 feet above
the level Of the sea, and their expert
ences were sufficiently curious. They
did not suffer from cold as might have
been expccted-having been able to
protect themselves against it, but
suffered intensely from the dryness of
the atmosphere. Although they took
but little exercise, they suffered the
most intense thirst, which they sought
in vain to relieve, and fell into q state
of langour resembling the GONZALES
cence succeeding a serious fit of sick.
ness. They lost their appetite entire
ly 4; and while the very sight of food
caused loathing, they desired drink
continually. To protect themselves
against the reflection of the sun upon
the snow, they wore masks over their
faces, but in spite of this precaution
their features became so 6urxt that
they were not recognizable. They
would have been taken for Indians
rather than Europeans.


The animals which they took with
them exhibited the same symptoms of
and inanition. A cat seemed
to suffer the most-being incapable of
the least movement Of the body. A
dog ceased barking after the first few
days, while o lot Of pigeons appeared
to suffer but little inconvenience from
their breezy roost.
Year: 1861

No one can maintain, after this
years experience, that frost has any
special agency in the autumn colora-
ton OF leaves. Scientific men have
long understood the matter. and have
explained the ripening of the leaf as
a simple process Of vegetable growth,
though the coloration of the leaves at
maturity can no more be accounted
for than the red Of the rose, the
blue Of the violet, or the orange
of the lily. The color which the
leaves assume in the fall is due to the
same causes. But the popular idea
that the leaves are changed by the
frost is so firmly established in the
minds of unscientific and unobservant
people, that it is difficult to dispel.
This year the foliage assumed the
most gorgeous coloring without sign
of frost, and. indeed, seemed to be
more brilliant on account Of its nom
appearance. This is perfectly natu-
raj, as the leaves have been able to
gradually and freely assume the col
ors which belong to their ripcness,
unobstructed by sudden cold.
Year: 1861

We Yankees must get over the
false idea that our military command
ers are guilty Of fault or blunder
whenever We encounter rcpulse or de
feat. There is neither truth nor jus
tice in the notion. A passage from 9
recent English letter puts this poin,
in the proper light:


fear there will be much ignorant
impotence at the mistakes which
must inevitably take place in handling
very large bodies of troops. Lore
Clyde, after fifty years experience
with great ability in handling di
vision well in front Of the enemy
made some terrible mistakes when ht
had $4,000 men to command-ant
these were regular troops. Wha1
then must be the difficulties Of Gene
raj Scott and his officers, with sucl
vast bodies Of irregulars to move
The Duke of Wellington, in giving
his testimony on the probability Of
French invasion, said there were no
Year: 1861

The Navy Department has recently
ordered 500 wrought iron guns, from
the Phenixville, Pa, Iron Works.
The same number have also been con-
tracted for by the War Department.
The process of manufacturing these
guns is different from the old method
Of hammering. The guns are rolled
hollow by the following means


"Bevelled bars of iron are used to
form the required pile or base work
for the gun the bars being bevelled
leave hollow in the center. These
bars are placed side by side on man.
drel. After the foundation for the gun
is secured by bands, numerous bars
of the best iron are placed spirally
around it, running from end to end,
SO a. to produce sufficient thickness,
from which can be rolled cannon OF
the calibre desired.


These bars are put on at white
heat, and when the whole mass cools
it is put into furnace, and at the
same time piece of iron of sufficicn,
size 10 form the breech is heated and
forced into the end of the mass Of iron
The pile is then put into a machine
which forces the end together sufi-
ciently to completely weld the edges
of the bars of iron which had previ.
ously been wrapped around the foun.
dstion Of the gun. After this process
the iron il passed through immense
rollers until the whole is thoroughly
welded, and Of the desired size now
the trunnions are welded, or technic.
ally speaking jumped" on. As soon
as the guns cool they are put into a
lathe, turned to proper shape. and
the hollow or bore Of the gun bored
to the desired size.


The advantage Of wrapping the
bars around the pile, instead Of ham
mering, it is said, gives it the full
benefit Of the the tensile strain of thu
iron, while the other process onl,
gives the strain that can be obtaines
from the cross section of the iron
On the trial Of these guns it wal
Year: 1861

Late Havana papers are much ex
cited by the the bogus proclamations
Of the Captain-General, publish.j !
some time ago in the Charleston Mc-
curry, and which has caused a good
deal of unfriendly criticism of the
Spanish authorities by the northern
press. 1t appears that the repor1
grew out Of the fact that the United
States consul at Mantanzas desired
the Governor of Mantanzas to eithe,
compel the sloop Noank, coming from
Charleston under the Confederate flag
to recognize his authority, or clear
from the port Of Mantanzas forthwith,
whereupon the Governor wrote to the
Captain-General for instructions. A
Havana paper says: ...


The Captain-General replied in a
long, explanatory letter, tha. the sloop
having sailed from Charleston, a por,
in one Of the seeded States, it was
clear that it could not have come un.
der the flag Of the Union, or be cleared
by the federal authorities, since at
that port they have no existence; that
the flag Of the Southern Confcderacy,
though not recognized, has still been
tolerated by the Spanish Government
a tolerance based upon the bellgcrent
conditions Of the North and South,
which is a vital consequence Of the
neutral position of Spain which, in
fine, conciliates our political relations
with tho Washington Government, as
well as those commercial ones which
we have not renounced and ought not
to renounce. To grant the request of
the Consul would be equivalent to the
exclusion from our ports of Southern
ships which did not sail under their
enemy's flag. The Federal Govern
ment can prevent the exit of Southern
ships by means Of a blockade, but
that fact does not give it the right to
shut our (the Cuban) ports.


1t is very natural that the Noank
should not recognize the authority Of
q Federal Consul since it is not clear
cd by officials drawing authority from
Washington and does not sail under
the Federal flag. In such case the
Noank could not be expected to sub.
NIT to consular authority nor could
that submission be of any value, since
the consul himself would be compelled
to meet the following alternative he
would either have to clear the sloop
under the Southern flag, or deny any
clearance to it at all. The first case
is not supposable, and the second
would amount to his capturing the
sloop as a prize inside Spanish port
and by the help Of the Spanish author
itics. .Er


Wherefore decided the Captain
General the sloop Noank must be
cleared with the same flag under
which she entered, as would be the
case if she came from nation having
no consular relations with us, and the
request Of the consul, in the form for
warded to US, cannot be granted


In order that this decision of the
Captain-Gcneral, might be made ap-
plicable to every like case Subsequent
ly occurring. he Incorporated it into
a circular which he forwarded, without
the slightest pomp Of proclamation
to the officers in charge Of the several
Cuban ports"
Year: 1861

A correspondent writing from an
encampment near Mount Vernon, says:


81 wish you could see these Maine
boys cut trees they have o method
by which they can bring down two or
three at time. They viii take lot
of trees standing in line and first
cut one in the rear until it bends suffi-
ciently to rest on the one immediately
in front, and SO on, until he will some
times have half dozen all ready to
fall at once, just like the children
make what they call shake with
bricks. With the aid Of the pressure
of one or two upon another, and few
more blows from his axe, down they
all come, five or six in number, and in
about the same time it would take
you or myself to get one to bend :.
What change it makes in the ap-
pearance of the country Go out in
the morning, and you may see fine
valley all covered with trees. Come
to see the same place again at even
ing, and you will be astonished to see
what havoc the woodman's axe has
made during the day"
Year: 1861

That tho health Of our army at
Washington is good is confirmed by
the fact that the official hospital report
published On the 4th inst, states the
number in hospital ss oil. Consider
ing the largo number Of men in the
camps the proportion Of disease is
very small--hardly the average in the
case Of the same number engaged in
civil occupations. and possessed Of
greater physical comforts.
Year: 1861

An ODD MAN. DECLARE" said
Aunt Betsey, "he was the oldest
creature that was ever put into q
skin. He wasn't like other men in
anything he never eat his breakfast
till the next day at noon."