smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1865

The old Museum building belonged to


VIM. B. Astor. Barnum proposes to


erect the new one further up town, and
says he will build such one as will as


tonish the world, one three times as large
as the old one, and with menagerie of
wild beasts on the roof. Great is
Barnum.


The loss suffered by Barnum on Thurs
day was less than fourth Of the ag-
gregate loss occasioned by the fire, yet
it is only the loss of the Museum that
is particularly thought of, and although
more extensive and destructive fires have
occurred in New York City, there has
hardly been one attended with so much
excitement and so many noteworthy in
cidents, There were fortunately but few
persons in the building at the time the
fire broke out, or many lives might have
been lost. We take from the New York
papers the following interesting eX-
tracts in relation to the fire


i The scene within the Museum from
> the discovery of the fire down to the
time when, about l o'clock, the last ven
, turesome fireman was driven from his
! ladder, was one of painful interest; for
scarcely had the alarm been sounded in
i the street when the flames rom the
f furnace below belChed into the lower
1 halls of the great edifce, and rendered
: it manifest that the conaagration, so far
= az the Museum was concerned, had
l oassed human control. Then there was
living to and fro among the attaches of
bhe theatrical department, who vainly
strove to save their wardrobe and other
: yaluables; the struggling countrymen
: who had wandered among the micro
5 cosm of curiosities rushed hither and
thither, seeking egress from the build
: ing; presently the police filed in. to
guard property and save life, and at
! length the flremen came clambering up
the walls, and bowling into the lecture
room, dashing their axes through the
floors, and swinging their trumpets, as
If to menace the multitude; and to the
three or four spectators who preserved
sufficient GOODNESS to take sober note of
the spectacle it seemed wonderful that


there was not enormous loss of life.


This scene of terror was not with


out its =
COMIC INCIDENTS, F.


which we give in the language of one
of the few enterprising reporters who
yentured into the fiery furnace and came


forth unscathed. Mr.. w. B. Harrison,


the extemporaneous and comic singer,


had some very funny adventures in his


attempts at escape. He reports that


while in his dresslng-room he heard con-
siderable noise in Broadway, and think
Ing 1t to be merely a flreman's diversion
le went up stairs to look out of the


window. When he reached the stage


the auditorium was filled with a dense


uass of smoke, but he was informed


nat the fire was in the engine room,


nd that it would probably soon be out.


Ding back for his wardrobe, Mr.. Har-


ION found great difficulty IN reaching
Year: 1865

The irrepressible Barnum is not dead
vet. Instead of mourning over his loss,
he gives one glance at the ruins of his
old mu scum and speaks of nothing but
the plans for his new one. He arrived in
New York from Connecticut on the
morning after the fire, and Immediately
issued the following card


"Gratefu for the universal feeling of
sympathy expressed for the loss OF the
American Museum, and not unmindtul
of the immense patronage which has
been bestowed upon my efforts to please
|. for the last quarter of a century, l have
k resolved, in compliance with numerous
requests, to erect Immediately in this
city museum which will be an orna-
ment to our great metropolis and an
l honor to the country, An experience Of
twenty five years will enable me in six
T. months to duplicate in Europe and
America every specimen OF natural his
tory which adorned my late museum,
and from historical societies and other
sources within my knowledge | can
nearly supply the places of the Revolu-
tionary and other relics which have been
destroyed. For years l have been
Obliged, for want of room, to reject
many rare and valuable curiosities
stored in the museum and private eel
4 lections of Europe, which l shall now
have the pleasure of placing before the
American public; and l risk nothing
in saying that before many months
elapse shall if life be spared, open to
the public a popular place of instruc-
tion and amusement infinitely more ex-
pensive, cOmmodious and interesting
than any ever before known on this con-
tinent. / shall dispatch a special agent
to Europe on Saturday next and shall
i soon follow myself, in order to carry
out with business representatives abroad
the above plan.


In the meantime, in order to give en-
ployment to my dramatic company and
other attaches of the Museum, who are
dependent upon such engagements for
their daily support, propose to contin-
ue the performance of the successful
pantor.'.4Ac lately produced at the Muse
~, in connection with the nvlng curl
osities, as soon as suitable public hall
or theatre can be secured for the pur-
pose This, l trust, will be in a few
days.


The public's obedient servant,
Year: 1865

must have come down again, as the
next idea I had was finding myself
comfortably hung over the clothes-line
at the Muggins Hotel.
An investigation into the matter
showed that had struck through into
gas factory in China, which had ex-
ploded at both ends Of the bore, killing
half million of Chinese.
The casualties on our side we're con-
fined to one native and dog.
haven't given up yet.


The folks here are very encouraging;
they will stick to a man as long as he
has cent left, and l never knew Mug
gins to turn man out of his hotel who
had the means to pay his bill.


A kind hearted chap offered me an
other piece Of land, the size of a stove
plate, within mile and half of a
seven hundred barrel well, for the reas-
enable figure of half million and two
thirds of the oil.


had concluded that the boring for
oil is not so profitable as the bleeding
Of the public.


shall start an oil company on more
liberal terms than any yet offered.
shall be prepared to guarantee any,
thing.-The capital will be million
dollars, divided into two million shares
at fifty cents each.


Dividends of two hundred per cent
will be paid weekly, in addition to
which each subscriber will be entitled
to season ticket for Lannigan's ball,
new hat, farm in Minnesota, and
ton of coal at market prices.


The ''Scaly Rum Petroleum Com
pany will be the biggest thing in oil in
the market.


am coming to arrange the business
as soon as my friends remit me funds
enough to pay my way back.


Yours olea ginously.
Year: 1865

AN IMPORTANT MOVEMENT IN REFEREEcE TO
TIE DRAFT.-Under the regulations of the
former drafts, all recruits who were put in
by the several Wards and Townships had
to be credited to these sub districts at large;
and hence if only one half Of the enrolled
men could be induced to contribute towards
fund for paying local bounty, they were
compelled, in order to clear themselves, to
clear the whole Yard or Tos0usEip; and
those who would give neither time nor
money were equally benefited. This is so
manifestly unfair, that memorial which
originated with our wide awake friends of
the Sixth Ward, has been signed by nearly
all the Ward Committees, and sent to
Washington, asking such modification Of
the rules, as to permit clubs aud associa-
tions toput in recruits, who will, after the
draft takes place, be credited in place of
those who may have been drafted out of
these clubs. This petition has received
favorable endorsement from the drafting
officials of the district, and will be urged
upon the Department in Washington BY
our able Representative, Hon. R. P, spald-
ing, to the beat of his sbility. The impor-
tance of this movement will be seen ct a
glance. If the desired permission be OBJ
tanned, associations will at once be formed
in all subdistrits, which will comprise
every man who is willing to do anything
or give anything toward filing the ranks
Of our armies and clearing himself from
the draft; while those who stand aloof, and
do rothing but abuse the government and
find fault with the Administration, will be
left to take care of themselves.


At meeting of the Sixth Ward Protee
tion Club, on Saturday evening, a resolu-
tion was unanimously adopted, requesting
the President of the club to go to Washing
ton and endeavor to bring this matter
before the Provost Marshal General and the
Secretary of War. It seems to be well un
derstood that all action toward getting re-
cruits in nearly every Ward and Township
in this district, is awaiting the result Of
this movement.
Year: 1865

General Early, in letter to the rebel
Congress, denies the statements of his
drunkenness in tho Shenandoah Valley,
and says no respectable man ever saw him
drunk in camp, on march, or in battle


The Richmond papers publish an official
report of the defense of Fort Fisher The
strength of the garrison and damage done
By the bombsrdment are not stated


The EraHiner says; The diseord be-
tween Butler and Porter was the cause of
our failure.


A rebel prisoner says eight guns we're
disabled In Fort Fisher, and the severe
shelling drove the men to the clsenlstes,
where they expected Gn attack and could
have made but little resistance.


The Enquirer, says there is no place of
safety for storing cotton in the South, as
raids of the enemy can reach every cor
ner of the Confederacy, and recommends
the passage of law for burning sn cotton
and tobacco,
Year: 1865

NEw oRK. August lS.-A detailed account
OF the loss of the Atlantic cable gives clearer
statement of the manner in which the cable
parted 1t appears that the picking up appara-
tus brought the cable 30 near to the bows OF the
Great Eastern that. in every lurch. it cut In
deed, the cable was part Of the time under the
fore foot Of the ship
Year: 1865

The last Legislature made an approprl-
alton for purchasing a lot on the Antietam
battlefield for National Cemetery, in
which those who fell on that field could be
collected into one spot and suitable mon
ument be erected to their memory, similar
to that at Gettysburg. oi I1e51oq nl


The Board Of Trustees have bought elev-
en- acres # ground at 500 per acre, and
arrangements are being made to enclose it
and collect the dead within its limits
Each State that lost any men in that bat
tie is expected to take lot and assist in
the work. The Hagerstown Herald and
Torch gives the following description Of
the Cemetery and battlefield. sa4l


The Cemetery occupies an elevated site,
on the BoonsboFo' turnpike. just outside of
the corporation limits of 9harpsburg. From
this hill a more extended view OF the bat
tie field can be had, than from any other
point on the Sharpsburg side. Looking
from the Cemetery, to the right is Burn
sides bridge, and far to the left, on the
Hagerstown turnpike, is the Quaker church.
Around these two points cluster many OF
the most memorable incidents OF the
battle. f.'


The battle field has been so often des-
cribed, that we only speak of it, as seen
from the Cemetery Two turnpikes lead
into Sharpsburg, the one from Boonsboro,
and the other from Hagerstown, forming
an angle with each other, less than right
angle. If we draw line from Burnsides
bridge to the Bunker church, we will have
the third and longest side of a triangle,
Sharpsburg being the apex. Along this
line the battle was fought. Between these
two points rolled and surged the bloody
tide, and when it ebbed, fifteen thousand
CHASTITY corpses strewed the ground.


Gen. Lee had selected his own battle
ground. By stretching his line from the
bridge near the Boonsboro' turnpike, to
the bunker church on the Hagerstown
turnpike, he covered both roads leading to
Sharpsburg, and all the roads leading to
the river. He threw up no breastworks
although he had ample time, the numerous
hills and ravines, the dense corn fields and
the rail fences seemed to be all the shelter
that he desired for his men. From the
Boonsboro' pike to the Hagerstown pike
there runs an exceedingly crooked lane.-
Much of this roadsis washed out, thus form
ing natural breastwork. Where the road
was level the fences were taken down, and
the rails laid in piles, behind which the
sharpshooters lurked and didtheir murder
GUS work. ''


But few traces of the mighty contest are
left. The fences have been rebuilt, and
nature in her exhuberance has hid the
very graves. The corn is growing tall and
strong, in fields made rich with human
blood, and the closely matted clover, and
rank weeds have covered the lowly mounds
in which heroes sleep. We tread among
the dead and know it not. Nature kindly
heals up the gashos made by cruel war
the earth drinks up the blood, the grass
grows green upon the graves and were it
not for broken hearts, and longing eyes
that look for those that never come, we
would soon forget that war had ever been,
Year: 1865

a The Jews could not set their foot
upon piece Of paper, lest the name of
God might be written upon it. Take care,
lest you set your foot upon man; for the
name OF God is written upon him,
Year: 1865

Our office, besides one of Hoes best Power
Presses, is furnished with good job Press and
all the necessary materials for executing plain
and fancy Job Printing with neatness and dis
Anl, l l
Year: 1865

I And the people Of the South waxcd angry against
saying g .. .+.s. :,


q. We will no longer be as brothers with the people
OF the North but we will separate and our country
from them and their country, and machine by
ourselves; - ...-.- ,-'~~-O-0 :


D. And there will be none among the people Of the
North who will prevent for they are Yankees and
towards and the smell Of blood maketh them siek Willie
we are brave and not afraid of blood.


4. But If any among them should stand up against
US, we will cut them of from among their people and
paint them black and they shall be hewers Of wood
drawers OF water for us and for our households.


D. But the of the North called their wise men to-
gether. and all thcr great captains, ard their mighty
men OF valor, and made them ships and engines Of


6. And said 10 the of the South you shall not go
out from US neither shall you destroy this
which our fathers have built and II you will remain
with us as brethren we will hold you captives


:. And they fought for many years, and gold and
silver and copper disappeared from the face the land


S. Now when certain man named Salmon, of the
tribe which dwslt between the waters Of the Ohio and
Lake Erie, said to the wise men who In council
together: Go to now, why should lack for money,


Q. And they answered him: Go and grind, that we
lack not for money wherewth to purchase for our
men, and bareback and pork TO feed them.


10. So the man went forth and commenced grinding,
and his mills ground day and night for many years. and
money that was not of god nor Of silver, nor yet of
copper, covered the lana-and as fast as the money
came forth from the mills Of Salmon the prices
raiment and food went up. ..-..r.
Year: 1865

The Nation is responsible for the
truth OF the following story, which it
states to be perfectly authentic. IL Is
one OF the romanceS of real life, more
interesting than fiction: 80


AT the commencement of the present
century, young man made his appear
ance in the village and spent few
weeks at the tavern which then existed
to afford shelter to stage coach travellers.
Whence he came and what his business
none could guess. Directly opposite
the tavern stood the small cottage and
the forge of blacksmith named Fol-
som. He had u daughter who was the
beauty of the village, and 1t was her
fortune to eaptivate the heart of the
young stranger. He told his love, said
that he was travelling fncognito, but in
confidence gave her his real name,
claiming that he was heir to a large for
tune. She retuned his love, and they
were married. A few weeks thereafter
the stranger told his wife that he must
visit New Orleans; he did SO, and the
gossips of the town made the young
wife unhappy by their disagreeabIe
hints and jeers.


In o few months the husband return
ed, but before a week elapsed lie receiv-
cd large budget of letters, and told his
wife that he must at once return to Eng
land, and go alone. He took his depar-
ture; and the gossips had another glori-
GUS opportunity to make n confiding
woman wretched. To all but herself it
was clear case of desertion. The wife
became a mother, and for two years liv-
ed on in silence and in hope. At the
end of that time letter was received
by the Stratford beauty from her hus-
band, directing her to go at once to New
York, with her child, taking nothing
with her but the clothes she wore, and
embark in a ship for her home i'm Eng
land. On her arrival in New York she
found a ship splendidly furnished with
every convenience and luxury for her
comfort, and two servants ready to obey
every wish that she might express
The ship duly arrived in England, and
the Stratford girl became the mistress
of a superb mansion, and, as the wife Of
a baronet, was saluted by the aristocracy
as Lady Samuel Sterling. On the death
of her husband, many years ago, the
StratfOrd boy succeeded to the title and
the wealth of his father, and In the last
edition of PecrGge and Bayoaetdge, he
is spoken of as the issue OF Miss Fol-
som, Of StratfOrd, North America
When the late Professor Siliiman visit
ed England, some years since he had
the pleasure of meeting Lady Sterling,
at a dinner party, and was delighted to
answer her many questions about her
birth place in Connecticut.
Year: 1865

y RAT IN A PECULIARLY PERpI.EX-
ING PREDICAMENT.-A exciting scene
was witnessed in street ear near Will
iard's this forenoon. A lady well-dress-
cd and Of genteel and respectable ap-
pearance, stepped into the car from tic
Fourteenth street crossing, and upon
taking her seat seemed to receive mo-
mentary shock. She did not loose her
presence of mind, however but seized
with energy portion of her apparel on
one side of her lap and called the con-
ductor. The official approached, when
the lady coolly said to him, "There is
something under my dress which is
alive; please to grasp il hard just where
/ have hold of it," The conductor did
so, and felt a living animal, which he
chokcd with his fist until it was para
lyzed. The lacy meanwhile putting her
hands under her dress pulled forth "A
good sized rat whose rodent career
was soon permanently ended with few
blows from the but Of the drivers whip.
The impudent beast was cast forth into
the highway, and the horsc-car went
on its way rejoicing, the passengers be-
ing divided in opinion as To whether
the rat was resident of Willard's Ho-
tel or the cars of the Washington and
Georgetown Railroad.-- IVoshington Re
publican.
Year: 1865




THE WAY THAT SCANDAL GoEs.-An
English paper contains the following
which should go the rounds:


A wise man gave his friend this ad-
vice: "If you take a house i'm n terrace
little way out of town, be careful to
select the center one-because u story
never loses by telling. And If you live
i'm the middle house, tales which might
y" circulated to your prejudice will only
have half the distance TO travel that
they would if you lived at either ex-
treme, and so you will have twice as
good character as those residing mt
either end. The following fact will
prove the wisdom of my advice: THE
servant of No. told the servant of No.
2 that her master expected bis old
friends the Baileys to pay him u visit
shortly; No. Q told No. that No. 1 ex-
pected TO have the bailiGs i'm his house
every day; No. 3 told No. that il was
up with No. ], for he could not keep
the bailifls out and No. told No. 3
that the officers were after No. |, and
that it was as much as he could do TO
prevent the levy of an execution on his
house, and that it was nearly killing
his poor, dear wife! And SO it went on
increasing until it got to No. 81, who
confidentially assured No. 33 that the
Bow street officers had taken up the
gentleman at No. for killing his poor.
dear wife with arsenic, and that it was
confidentially hoped and expected that
he would bc eXecuted.'p
Year: 1865

n CONTAGIOUS DIsEAsE.--At little
village in Illinois, not far from Wood
stock, they have a benevolent associa-
ton, one of whose objects is to watch
with and take care of its sick .aenabers.
Last fall an unmarried young lady was
admitted to membership. In a couple
OF months she was blessed with bright
eyed babe, and was very sick. Some Of
the young lady members expressed to
the chief officer of the association their
Indignation, and asked him If he really
thought it their duty to visit the unfor-
tunate one. Well,n said he after
much deiiberation, ~ suppose not. =
You are not Obliged to watch wherc
there Is contagious disease
Year: 1865

No PAPER NEXT WEEK.-On account Of the
change in the proprietorship, and in order that
the Office may be set in trim for good begin
ming under the new proprietorship, there will
probably be no paper issued next week.
Year: 1865

Our readers will bear in mind that we have
never dunned them through the columns of our
paper; but having sold out the office, it now be-
comes necessary for rs, in order that we may
settle up our business to ask all indebted to us,
on any account whatever, to call nt the office
and settle their Indebtedness as SOON as they
can eonvenently do so. One or the other of Us
will always be found at the Office, ready to
receipt to all indebted. R. R. S. G. REEs.
Year: 1865

MARRIED LIFE OF JOHN WEsLEY.-When Wes-
ley settled he said, "t would be more useful to
marry" He married a widow, who, through
jealousy, led him life Of wretchedness and
misery. At last his spirit was up, and he wrote
to her-"Know me and know yourself. Sus-
pect me no more; provoke me no more; do not
any longer contend for mastery for power
for money OF praise; be content to be a private
insignificant person, known and loved by God
and me- 1t was not likely that woman
would be pleased at being recommended to be
an insignificant person. After twenty years of
disquietude, she one day left him. He bore it
philosophically. He even went beyond it-he
took his diary and put the most pithy entry into
it ever met with in diary: ~ did not send
her away; I shant send for her to come back" ="
60 ended The married life Of John Wesley
Year: 1865

Sitting in my humble doorway,
Gazing out into the night,
Listening to the stormy tumult


With kind of sad delight,
Wait l for the loved who comes not
One whose step long to hear
One who, though he fingers from me,
Still is dearest of the dear.
Soft he comes-now heart be quick,
Leaping in triumphant pride
Oh it is a stranger footstep,


Gone by on the other side.
All the night seems filled with weeping
Winds are wailing mournfully,
And the rain-tears together


Journey to the restless sea.
can fancy, sea, your murmur,
AS they with your waters flow,
Like the griefs of single beings,
Making up nations woe
Branches, bid your guests be silent
Hush a moment, tretful rain
Breeze, stop signing; let me listen;
God grant not again vain
In my check the blood is rosy,


Like the bushes of bride,
Joy alas a stranger footstep
Goes by on the other side.

Ah how many wait forever


For the steps that do not come
Wait until the plying angels


Bear them to a peaceful home.
Many in the still of midnight


In the streets have lain and died,
While the sound of human footsteps
Went by on the other side.
Year: 1865

AN EXPLANATIoN.-Yo Young ladies are Of
ten asked why they blush SO when spoken
to about their lovers, but they are seldom
able to give satisfactory answer. Taking
pity on their bashfulness, a writer in the
American medical Gazette furnishes the fol-
lowing lucid explanation Of the phenome-
non: "The mind communicates with the
center ganglion the latter, by reflex ac-
tion through the brain and the facial nerve,
to the organic nerves in the face, with which
its branches inosculate." The mystery is
now perfectly clear, and the wonder is that
nobody ever thought of it before