smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1865

The Steamship Scotia, which sailed from
New York May l7th, met with narrow os.
cape, which is thus described by o passenger
in a letter 10 the Boston Saturday Gazette


On the Sunday after leaving port at ten
o clock A. NJ, saw large iceberg on our
lee bow, about half a mile distant, but quite
near enough TO satisfy the many who had sx.
pressed great desire to see one OF the won
ders Of the Artic regions, the terror OF the sea
to all sailors, but how little did they think
what imminent danger was approaching us
from this source OF their great curiosity. Soon
alder eleven o'clock A. NJ, the fog so thick
az TO cut off all sight beyond the ships length,
the sailor on lookout gave sudden alarm of u
large iceberg "dend head and almost under
the bows of the ship.


The signal whistle of danger was sounded
instantly, while the first officer, who was on
deck cried in IA voice of thunder, "hard a-port,
hard a-port your helm" but another officer, in
the confusion OF the moment, who probably
took another view oil our danger, sang out,
'starboard, hard TO starboard" Meanwhile
the captain was signaling the engineer to
stop her, back, and other impatient or.
dera, which were skilfuliy and rapidly obeyed
'Ni"ip StVu thS pHooohBtis WSId hWhIc VI IL,
so completely checking our speed that the
striking Of the ship against the mountain OF
solid ice scarcely SCARED the black paint on
the ships port bow, and surging round along
side the ponderous and gigantic mass, il came
quite near enough to the quarter deck to sat
isfy every behoder, for it could bc touched
with a common boats oar. As we opened
the distance, and the danger passed. there
was never before seen such shipload Of
thankful, grateful FOULS, as rendered up their
praise to Him who had vouchsafed them their
grept deliverance


When the iceberg was first discovered we
were on deck and quite nenr the forward
smoke stack, and as we were looking forward
saw the approaching danger quite as soon as
the sailors on the "look k-out" Tho sight was
such as to ill our hearts with fear, and the
horror with which we instantly relealized our
awinl situation can neither be imagined nor
described Our complete destruction seemed
inevitable. SO near were we TO the iceberg
that it appeared the ship would strike it and
sink before tho passengers could run ait,
WHICH they all commenced to do, being as
anxious 10 get as fac from The conclusion AS
possible. No one on board who saw the dan
ger but fully concluded we we're lost The day
closed without further interest, save the sight
of still another immense iceberg about six
miles distant, sufficiently near to keep every
person on board awake through an extremely
rough and stormy night
Year: 1865

New YORK, Nov. lS.-At a special
meeting Of the Board of Supervisors yes
terday, it appears from report OF the
volunteer committee on the subject of
paying the State census enumerators.
that the committee have lad three dis
tricts made out of the first ward and
found deficiency in the late census of
2,505. They stated that ifthey We're au-
thorized to go on with the work they
would fiud population of the city OF
considerably over a million. The Board
adjurned until Tuesday without taking
any action Oh the report.
Year: 1865

Many Of the most important practical facts
in the mechanical arts, and in agriculture,
are the results of experimenting,-ofex expert
ments tried. not once or twice only.-for in
single cases adventitious circumstances may
prevent success, or seem TO give it,-when
further tests, adding light to light, would
settle the matter upon opposite conclusions


A thorough acquaintance with science may
induce US to experiment Alright, and save US
much time and patience by the application Of
true principles; but science alone can seldom
demonstrate practicle results in advance. In
the application of scientific principles to the
arts and to agriculture, there are so many cir
cumstances to be taken into the account, the
application of which cannot be exactly fore
seen, that we can seldom venture safely upon
course sof practice, till the utility Of it has
been well demonstrated by actual tests
When Sir Humphrey Davy, as scientific
man, ascertained that the soldering of zinc to
a sheet of copper would protect it from corro-
sion in salt water, he was so confident that he
had discovered a principle which would save
thousands to ship owners by the sheathing of
vessels, that he obtained permission to super
intend the coppering of a ship himself on his
own principles, adding zinc to that metal. The
result verified the truth of his theory; the
ship performed voyage and the sheathing
did not corrode; but for this advantage, the
owners lost more by an unlookedfor result,
viz. by being covered more than a foot in
depth with sea-weed and marine molusce'
which rendered her bottom so rough as great
ly to impede her progress through the water.
So, at last, the discovery proved ofno service,
Sir Humphrey was right in his science, but In
reducing it to practical purposes, he had over
looked, or had not discovered, the circumstance
that zinc diverting the copper of its COR
roding or poisonous power, invited the adhe-
sion of banacles, &C., till the bottom was COW
ererd like half an acre of earth attached to the
ship, to be drawn through the water.


Mere science, therefore, can seldom settle
practical results. The most she can do Is to
acquaint us with certain clear principles, and
suggest our applying these principles to practi-
cal purposes by the tests OF experiment.
Lord Bacon used to say, that experimenting
is but asking questions Of Nature. This Is
truly so. The most we can do, If we would
come at certain knowledge is to ask questions
Of dame Nature in the form Of making expert
ments. But all such questions should be based
on principles of natural science and dehnitivs-
ly proposed, or Nature will treat our inquiries
with an Indifferent reply.


Some people whom we know have great
aversion to experimental agriculture. They
have, perhaps, tried few experiments and
failed in them. Consequently they abandon
the whole object In disgust as having lost 30
much time and labor uselessly. Ifexperiments
are tried without knowledge of scientific
principles, IL need be no marvel II the expert
ments fail But let him know something
whereof be Is about before he begins Then
let him 90 to work. A few experiments win
Year: 1865

New York, Feb. 90.


Foreign mails have the following:


The World says there was meeting
Of the priory council on the fourth 10 Paris
and We are informed that affairs OF Amar-
lea and the connection they may have
with the Mexican Empire formed The
principal objec. of the meeting France
is not without some measures as to the
attitude the United States may assume to-
wards the new empire-when the conclu
sion of the war has placed at the disposal
of the republic large and tried army
with numerous aud skilful officers and a
four years struggle has changed a state
hitherto exclusively confined % CONNER
ciai and maratime pursuits into.a militia.
RI state. .dispcsing OF immense fJfees


The recent resolution Of ths Washing
ton Senate must have assisted in increas-
ing this measure. Nevertheless accord
ing to our correspondent the discussion in
which the priory council was engaged end
ed in this resolution that for the moment
IT would te wrong TO give way to exsg-
gerated fears and that in the fact OF the
pacific and conciliatory assurances which
American diplomacy continues to give the
best course to adopt is to abstain from all
movements, without however INDUCING
in false security.
Year: 1865

During recent debate in the rebel
Senate the food question came up, when
1t transpired that the vast yield of the
valley of Virginia, which had in former
years been always secured, last year fell
into our hands that this was the result
Of calling into the service the details for
gathering it that thousands Of soldiers
families had not tasted meat the last six
months, and were living on . short sup
ply OF bread alone; that the soldiers
themselves had also been without meat
for long time.
Year: 1865

Our imports of goods from abroad the
present are only about one-third as heavy
as they were last year at this season
of the year, while our exports are much
greater. Besides the foreign demand for
Government bonds is growing rapidly un'
der the present aspectof the war, and our
Government has indicated determination
to issue no more legal tenders.


With such state of affairs 1t Is not
difficult to seen why gold is going down
even while 90 victories are being chrun
ieled, and it must be clear to the dullest
apprehension, that with another victory
or two, gold must tumble down, and tum
BILE spectators down with it.
Year: 1865

- Inc people IN Chicago have been
in trouble all winter over the Horse Rail.
way Company. and the people of CiDcin-
natl have had no cessation Of excitement
about their Gas Company.
Year: 1865

T The conduct of the recent Legisls
ture of Illinois is pronounced corrupt and
Infamous by the leading organs of both
parties at Chicago, and We cannot see how
it is possible for any body to defend the
action of the Legislature on many import
ant. subjects.


The members, or large majority of
them, seem to have been shamelessly COR
rupt aud utterly regardless of the interests
Of the public, and reckless Of their own
reputation. And this is true of beth par
ties alike.
Year: 1865

pA-We fear that the canal bill will not
pass the Senate this session. 1t is under
stood that the Senate committee have re-
ported against the bill. but recommended
the passage of a resolution providing for
surveys and estimates.
Year: 1865

s9- The large force that recently went
down the Mississippi river under General
Smith is expected to destroy the remnant
Of Hoods army, take possession of No
bile, and clean out the rebels generally in
the Southwest, while Sherman is doing
similar work in the Southeast. By the
time the Spring is fairly opened Lees ar
my will be all that is left of the rebel
forces sod we shall be ready to concen-
trate al our armies, strengthened by tie
new recruits, to crush out The only army
and the last hope of the rebels.


. IL There will be meeting Of the
Ladies Aid Society on Wednesday, ut 3
O'Clock, p M, at the house of Mrs. j. NJ.
Billings. A full attendance is very de-
srable, as there is business of importance
TO be attended 10. The soldier would
not, if be could, lay down bis arms simply
because he is tired of the exposure and
suffering incident to the many long
marches and hard fought battles of this
fendish rebellion; SO. whilst there are
soldiers who gladly peril their lives upon
the battle feld and suffer all the ills of
camp and hospital, there should be willing
hands and hearts to work for them at
home.


prn We fear that the canal hill ,;ll M.
Year: 1865

We have been credibly informed that the
Abolition candidate for Treasurer of State,
Sidney S. Warner, is largely interested in
the Wellington Bank. What guaranty
have the people that ha would not follow in
the footsteps of DR.. Dorsey, and use the
funds Of the State literally through the
Bank he is interested in? He belongs to
the ''higher law party, and men who are
higher lawites have no scruples about disrc-
garding law, when the observance OF the
law hampers them incohvcniently, Do the
people want this sort Of man for Treasurer
Of State? Certainly not, if they are in the
least disposed to consult their interests. ~
Statesman. A'
Year: 1865

AN exchange tells very curious incident,
which, If scientifically correct, may be worth
making known


Telegraphic communication being inter
rupted in the office at Elmira, n Y, a
search was instituted for the obstruction
which was found at place where the main
and auxiliary lines ran PARALLEL for a few
rods, and q distance Of about six inches
apart. At this spot the spiders had wove
their webs from one wire to the other, and
the constant dropping of tine water from the
dews and the foes through the different
threads Of the web to the line below. form
ed complete tircuit for the electricity, rem
lering the efforts ofth operator to COM
municate powerless.
Year: 1865

| The Daily Ne,es has given within the mast
| few days some indications of a change Of heart
on the question of negro suffrage, and yester-
day, in fOrcible and well-written argument
avows it's thorough conversion to that doctrine
The wonder is that, seeing the truth so clearly
as it now does, it should have ever doubted
For the faith that is in it, it finds reason not
in any particular sympathy for the emancipa-
ted slave, or any special desire to right wrong
ed race, but in the broad democratic principle
that in republic the rights of citizenship in
here in the citizen, and that when the black
man ceased to be slave and become citizen,
the elective franchise belongs to him by nat
ural right, subject only to regulation by the
State This is sound doctrine, though it will
probably take the habitual readers of the Ne,cS
by surprise who have been educated in the be-
lief that black man has no rights which
white man is bound to respect Nor will it
hardly less surprise, as it ought to put to shame,
some other journals which, while pretending
to much higher political standard than that
OF the Ne,cs, are thus shown to be possessed
OF not tithe of it8 honesty, and equally want
ing IN its political sagacity, The war has
brought many strange things to pass, and not
the least strange is this of an ultra Democratic
paper, the persistent advocate from the begin
ming, OF the rebel cause, thus boldly uphoding
the extreme result of the emancipation prob.
lem, which timid and ime-serving Republican
journals either fear to touch or openly oppose.


1t may be one OF those changes of base which
the Nel0s has learned from the rebel tactics in
war, and which, under some of the Union Gen
erals, were unhappily too often successful It
is flank movement which we shall be very
glad to see succeed though it should set some
of our young friends to g skedaddling" for
change of front;


We may safely, we presume, accept the ar
ticle in the Nea0S as proof at least that it be-
lieyes that the Southern people themselves
Year: 1865

DEMONSTRATION Derby, and
men Of that class are preSumptuous in public
ly offering advice to the u. S. Government


how it shall treat the leaders in rebellion =
These persons tried hard to make the rebellion
successful, and therefore their advice, upon its
failure, comes with a taint upon it, of proceed
ing from Judgment which could not perceive
correctly the drift of political events, or inter
pret truly effects from their causes. Their mo-
tives at the beginning Of the rebellion, and
their conclusions upon its results, therefore en-
title their present opinions to no weight or CON
sideration. But if they had really been as
friendly as they were inimical to the Union,
and had truly predicted the result of the at
tempt to destroy it, they could have derived
from these facts no consideration which would
warrant the intrusion of their advice upon our
Government, 1t is to be nationally presumed
that, having disposed properly Of the greater
difficulty of the rebellion, that we are at least
capable of dealing with the minor ones which
arise from it. Our Government having acted
the part of WISDOM humanity and generosity
in the heat of the conflict, is not likely now
that its just authority is restored, to alter it's
character and become brutal, untorgiving and
blOOd-thirsty. The example of England. in
such matters, is not likely to commend itself
to government which derives its powers from
the people, and therefore has the good of the
people and its approval as subjects Of its high
est consideration.
Year: 1865

The annexed rendering of the Lords Prayer
IN verse. from whose hand we know not, is
certainly very felicitous:


Our Heavenly Father, hear our prayer:
Thy name be hallowed every where;
Thy Kingdom come Thy perfect will
In earth, as heaven, let all fulfill.
Give this day s bread that we may live;
Forgive our sins as we forgive;


Help us temptation to withstand;
From evil shield us by Thy hand
Now and forever unto Thee


Thy Kingdom, power and glory be.
Year: 1865

DEATH BED MARRIAGE-Thr Indianapoli,
correspondent Of the Cincinnati Con.mtrctctl
relates the following singular marriage, which
occurred III that city last week a lady, made
widow some years since. was left large
amount of property, on condition. expressed
in her husbands will, that She should marry
again. Why this strange and unusual condi-
ton was imposed, nobody knows. At any rate
i'll case she did not marry she was to enjoy the
use of the property during life, but on her
death it would pass to other parties. She ha,
been long sick with the consumption. and, find-
ing her end approaching, she determined to
marry, in order to secure the succession to her
children. 4 returned soldier a comrade of
her son, consented to pay the role of husband
IN this singular marriage, and the lady. living
on the bed from which she was soon to be car
ned to the tomb, made the response in the
presence of numerous witnesses. who will te,-
uty that She was of sound mind and becalae
Il lawful welded wife
Year: 1865

OR0VILLE AID w ooDFILLE EfcRSPIKE--N


have had the pleasure of trip from Oroville


to WoodvilIe on The new road. II can be


said with truth to be oue of the best mountain


roads in the State. From this point to Wood


vile, it is but pleasure trip, the steepest grade


at any place on the road being only six feet in


one hundred. That portion of the road 10 this
district, was graded by our road overseer, Fos


ter, aud is most creditable Those bills which


have heretofore been the great "bugaboos" OF
teamsters, is no longer to be dreaded. Survey


or Binney has surmounted all these difficulties,
aud has secured grade up these mountain


sleeps, upon which one horse with buggy can
easily trot the entire distance -Four, six and
eight mule teams will have no more difficulty


and most pleasant from mountain scenery
and dense shade-in passing over this road
heavily laden, than they would the best valley
road in the State. Farmers OF Feather river
valley will feel glad over the grand achieve


nent. 1t affords them a ready, easy and prof


liable market for all their produce, and they
cae return, in exchange, with all the lum
Der, posts or shakes that their strongest
wagons will bear under. The road is completed
to Forbestown and TO the Mount Hope hill,
and 10 few days will be completed to the
Woodville House, where it will tap all the
trade and travel from the rich mining sections
of Sierra county, as well as that Of Butte.
We will soon be in direct stage. mail and e1
press communication with this upper portion
and Sierra, aud can enjoy the benefits of these
rich gold bearing regions. Our good neigh
sors of Nye's ranch have enjoyed this exten-
sive trade heretofore, but as the Gem Of The
Foothills " has found more cheap, speedy
and safe route, they may as well submit will
iDgly, as trade and travel is bound TO find its
way through the best and cheapest channel. !
pike over that of any other route. No CON-
biuation OF our neighbor merchants can be |
formed TO defeat it. Throughout the entire
distance there is no part but that will be found
the finest and most convenient watering places
for teams aud loose stock There is an abun- |
dance Of hotel accommodations, among which /
we cannot but particularly speak of the Bos-
ton Ranch House, kept by the prince OF land
lords, Smith Hurles. His table is always
furnished with the greatest variety and served
mp in the most superior style; the stables and
cograls are good, and is decidedly one of the
most pleasant localities in the State. Gentle
manly, accommodating and jovial Hurles will
always be found. A trip over this road by
interested or pleasure seeking citzei will
scenery, the bracing and healthy air, the cool
living water, the panoramic view Of the coast
range valley and groves OF timber is most
delightful and cannot be seen so distinctly
from any other point this side of the "Sierras."
Year: 1865

WHAT Gov. BRowN OF GEORGIA


SAYs.-It is important to hear all sides


from the South at this juncture, so we


give h e statement Of a "prominent


gentleman" vouched for by the Albany
Journal, who visited Gov. Brown of


Georgia at the Capitol Prison few days


before his release. Says the Journal:


"As our friend took him by the hand,
the ruined Governor burst into tears
ln reply to question as to the condition
of the State Of Georgia and the temper
of its people, he said "We are utterly
broken down and crushed. We are COM
pletely at the mercy of our conquerors.-
Our punishment is terrible our suffer
ings are almost greater than we can bear.
Nearly all the young men the educated
young men--the sons Of the wealthy cit
izens--have fallen in battle or died of
disease incident to the camp. Most of
the middle-aged men have met with
similar fate.


Three fourths of all the old men have
either died broken hearted, or been driv-
en- from their homes. The few that re-
main are virtually reduced to beggary.-
The powor of the wealthy classes is des.
troyed. Men who, a few years ago, were
millionaires, are now forced to accept
charity at the hands of our military COM
manders. The poor white masses are
reduced to starvation ; the blacks are
suffering all the worst consequences of
The violent sundering of the old social
relations. In S b rt, concluded Gov.
Brown, society is in condition of anar-
chy. Could the people CT the North
know how utter is our ruin, they would
pity US in spite of their adherence of
what they consider our Treason against
he Government
Year: 1865

received some private injury in being
kept out of his pay, it appeared clear
that he had been prompted to the deed
by the desire TO deliver his country from
man who dishonored and led it astray.
He saw his error, and died regrettirg it.
The king wished TO have him put to the
torture, to compel him to name his ac-
completes but the time was passed for
that in England, and the judge who tried
him would not permit il. H


The sudden death of the most powerful
man in England, the kings main stay in
his war on Liberty, had no important
consequences of any kind except, per-
haps, to confirm the king in his hatred Of
the Puritans, and in his determination
TO govern without the aid of parliament.
Charles |. was an incurable fool. Per-
sistng 10 his fatal policy, he paid the just
penalty of his crimes on the scaffold.-
The son of the slain favorite inherited
his title, his enormous wealth and his
faults. Under Charles III. he ran ca,
reer of dishonor similar TO that of his
father, and died in obscurity, the object
of nations just contempt. So fruitless
OF all good consequences is the assassin's
stroke, even when it rids the country of
a man who seems the direct and sole
cause of its unhappiness.