smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861



 HABITS OF RArs.-The predatory habits of rats are well known, as well perhaps, as their fondness for human hesh But the most tempt ing delcacy to a rats palate is the flesh of reia- tive. Woe to one meeting with an accident or becoming iatirm he is gobbled up without remorse. When Q rats leg Is found in a trap, the chances are. not that he has bitten it off to escape captivity but that he has been eaten up by his relatives. When Mrs. Rat becomes a mother, she must hide her offspring, lest her unnatural relatives should make dinner of them. Let two rats have a difference of opin. ion and agree to decide the question by mortal combat. The moment the affair is concluded by the death of one of them, the ring is broken aud both victor and vanquished are eaten On the spot. For this reason an old rat will re tire into solitude, and beat of intruders, regard less of sex,
Year: 1861

FATAL ACCIDENT on sHIr.-A carpenter, named Henry
soathwck who was employed board the ship Victory
lying in Atlantic Dock, Brooklyn, while at work on
Wednesday accidentally fell through the hatchway and
was killed almost instantly by the violence OF the fall
He leaves family consisting Of wife and three small
calamity They live at No. As Canal street.


CAMHEyE AccpENr-About seven O'Clock Thursday even.
ing Sophia Smith very severely burned by the up
setting Of camphene lamp at No. 454 Fifth street.


LIBERAL DosAnoxs.-The American Tract Society has
just received two donations Of 81 900 each One Of these
anonymous, for printing tracts small books for
the use OF the army and navy Of the United States -
the other from long tried friend one half for the
army and navy and The other half for the general pur-
poses Of the society.
Year: 1861

Tho of the refugees from the Southwest has been
assigned by General Haeck to the Sanitary Commission
in charge OF the government hospital in this city where


liberal contributions OF money, clothing and provisions
are received The Provost Marshal has taken steps
furnish suitable quarters among the rebels Of the
city for all those needing such accommodations, and
about 5000 worth Of clothing blankets &c. belonging
Camp Jackson prisoners have been conscaed for their
benefit. Some 900 refugees have already gone into
Illinois, where they will endeavor to support their fa
lies until they return to their homes Large
continue to arrive and the road between here and
Roa is thronged with them.
Year: 1861

-" BALTIMORE, Dec. g. 1861


The Fifth New York regiment returned from the
Eastern shore Of Virginia yesterday This morning they
made grand parade here, marching from Federal Hill
through the city to the headquarters OF General Dix
They boro with them large secession flag which they
captured tho land Of Dixie This flag carried Union
down On dcpositing it at headquarters the battalion
gave three cheers for General Dix and the
Amer lean Union.
Year: 1861

VESSEL SUNK The schooner Ocean Wave,
Captain Owens, on her way down the river on
Thursday last, loaded with sundries when off
Indian Head, capsized and sunk in twelve feet
water. The captain and crew reached the shore
and came up to the city for assistance to raise
the schooner.
Year: 1861

WHERE ABE THE Co1oRs.-Where are the
glorious stars and stripes that should be float
Ing over the splendid government building in
this city? Why do not the Federal officers
see tn itp
Year: 1861

A SPANISH ARMY OFFICER Turns HIGH-
wAYMAN.-An instance of highway robbery
occurred in Havana one evening the last
week in February, which may be chronicled
as one of the sensations of the week, although
it did not make half as much talk as Sun
day cock fight. A lieutenant of the regular
army presented his pistol to the breast of a
FIeDchman at about eleven o'clock at night,
and demanded his watch and money, OF his
life. The watch and money (some $40
were given, and the Frenchman took to his
heels, lodged around a corner and hid.
Presently the robber passed along, but was
stealthily followed by his watchful victim
into the vestibule OF the Tacon Theater,
where squad of soldiers were called upon to
arrest the lieutenant, who proved to be their
own superior officer"


Efforts we're made to shield him, but the
booty being found on his person, he was
sent to prison, the next day tried by court.
martial, and summsrily shot. During the
night of the culprit's incarceration, his at.
tentive friends sent him strychnine, arsenic
and other "quick speedy gear" but having
n natural repugnanoa to suicide, the heroic
assassin stood stubbornly upon his dignity
and valiantly Eindicated the majesty o.
military discipline in its enforcement Of
criminal law. ...-
Year: 1861

EXTRAORDINARY ENDURANCE OF A Fowl
In the great snoW-storm Of January l6, on
the farm of Samuel Shaw, in Portsmouth,
Mass, large white Shanghai hen wan
dered from the barn into the yard and
unable to get in again, was covered up by
the snow, and buried more than a foot be


meath its surface. She was missed the same
afternoon, but as nothing could be found of
her. poor Shanghai was given up as perished
in the storm. Nothing was seen of her
until, on the 18th of February, Just four
weeks after her disappearance, the warm
weather had thawed the snow to her resting
place, and unAided she stepped out of her
place of captivity, and walked back TO the
barn. She weighed about five pounds when
buried, but less than two when thawed out.
She has good appetite, and is fast regain
ing her flesh. While on the cold Friday,
which occurred in the time, some fowls ia
the barn had their combs frozen, Shanghai,
beneath the snow, escaped being frost-bitten,
Year: 1861

STRANGE SUPERSTITION AND HORRIBLE
TRAGEDY.-A farmer in the neighborhood of
Oulla, District Of Csstellon, Province of Va
lencia, was, some years ago, attacked with
vertigo and pains in the head, which returned
regularly at intervals of month. His wife
and daughters did all they could to relieve
him, but in vain. At last pretended sor-
eerer who called at the house made the wo-
man believe that the man was possessed by a
devil, and that he would never be well as
long as the fiend lived.


Accordingly, a few nights after, she and
her three daughters, who shared her belief
attacked the man with hatehets, as he was
in bed asleep, and did not leave off until he
was not only dead, but literally cut TO pieces.
The next morning the woman went to the
parish priest, and related that she and her
girls had killed the demon who had so long
afflicted her husband. The woman, the
daughters and 'the sorcerer were arrested
The Indignation of the people against the
latter was SO great that il was with difficulty
they were prevented from killing him.
Year: 1861

A Boy SAVED Instead OF AN APRON
While watching the ice coming down the
river, at Hartford, Conn the other day, Mrs.
Gaines saw an apron in the stream. Selling
pole she attempted 70 land IT. when she
discovered that little four year old boy was
attached to iti he was rescued insensible,
but finally resuscitated.
Year: 1861

THE Jacksonville (Oregon) Sentinel is the only
high toned, worthy newspaper we receive from
that State. How the people submit to so much
slang and vituperation as is practced by the
press of Oregon, is more than we can understand
Franklin speaking of the liberty of the press,
said he would Z" "cheerfuly consent to exchange
his liberty of abusing others for the privilege of
not being abused himself" If Franklin lived in
Oregon at the present time, he would undoubtedly
quit the business
Year: 1861

PRIvATGON AND SUFFERING.-Mr. Houk, mail
carrier between this place and Humboldt Bay,
informs us that on Thursday morning week he, in
company with two other men, started to cross
the Redwood mountain on snow shoes. After
gaining the summit they were compelled to throw
their snow shoes away the mountain being so
steep that it was impossible to descend with them
They were obliged to break their way through
snow waist deep, and Travelled all Thursday night
and until the next evening being tbirty y-six hours
without anything to eat, and travelling through
deep snow during the whole time. Mr.. ilouk
says they were all pretty well used up, and could
not have held out much longer.
Year: 1861

DGsUNION.-The latest news from Washington
indicates the existence of a more concilatory
feeling among Southern Senators and Congress
men. Secession meetings and violent resolutions
continue to be the order of the day in some Sou
thern States. In the North strong eOnserva-
tive spirit prevails, well as in all Slave States
bordering on Free We cannot believe bnt that
tie good sense and patriotism Of our National
Legislature will so far conserve the sectional
feeling of the North and South as to avert dis
union.
Year: 1861

OCR BUSINESS DIRECTORY. have mentioned
before that Business Directory will be issued
from the JOURNAL office sometime during the
present month. The name of every advertiser
firm whose business card appears in the col
umns OF this paper will have place on it. If
there are others in any portion of the county
who care to have their names and business print
ed, they will let US know Immediately. The Di-
rectory will be printed a card two by three
feet, and circulated throughout the State. We
have often been requested to get up something
of the kind, and now do it for the benefit Of
those who believe it will be a benefit to them.
Year: 1861

REMARKABLE PRESENCE OF MIND.-A bereaved
western widow addressed the pail bearers at the
funeral with, Yon pall-bearers just go into the
buttery and get some rum, and well start this
man right along.
Year: 1861

Much is said about the necessity of killing dogs
in order to raise sheep The writer of this we'll re-
members when boy, that his father, (rcsiding in
kentucky,) never had any sheep killed by dogs al
though his Hook was much the largest of any in the
neighborhood On one OCCASION when there was
over fifty sheep killed one night, Immediately around
in the neighborIOcd, five or six neighbors that had
lest sheep the night previous, came to my fathers
to learn is losses, but their astonIshment great
TO learn he had lost no sheep. They then sagey
concluded that it was his dogs that had deprecated
on their 1ocks. Accordingly all his dogs, some
eight or ten, were called up, and their mouths rigid
ly examined, to find blood or wool as evidence of
their guilt-but none could be found, and their as
toniShment was still greater My father told them
he could easily sftsfy them, they would have
8 sheep killed by dog or wolf if they would do with
their fiocks as he did with his


Their wonder was increased when he told them,
all they had to do was to let their sheep run with
their cattle constantly and they would never have
sheep killed by dog or wolf To show them the
proof of his correctness he invited them to walk
with him to the pasture where his sheep and cattle
were feeding, taking along the dogs. When they
reached the PASTURE my father requsted the gentle
men to set the dogs on the sheep cattle. This
was done. The sheep immediately sought protec-
ton by running to, under and behind the cattle
while the latter made an immediate attack on the
dogs, and IN less than five minutes every dog was
run out Of the pasture One Of the gentlemen ask
ed the privilege of bringing his dogs thinking my
fathers dogs had been trained to from the cat
tie. This request was readily granted, and all the
gentlemen met again next morning, when some four
dogs were set on the sheep with the same result
viz: The dogs were driven out of the pasture in
even less time. This satisfied the gentlemen and
there were no more sheep killed in that neighbor-
hood


About twenty years after, the writer OF this fell
heir to some thousand head of sheep The neigh
borhood to which he removed then was greatly
afflicted with what called sheep killing dogs,
and remembering his fathers custom, kept my
sheep and cattle together. The writer here re-
counts at length exactly the same losses of sheep
and experiments with the dogs with the same re-
sultthe sheep to the cattle for protection and
the cattle drove the dogs out of the pasture. "No
more sheep killed in that region" says he.
Now, Mr.. Editor any gentleman can prove this
by a trial-it may take short time for the sheep
and cattle to assimiate together but that it is
tain, beyond Observation-Disclosures don't kill any
dogs on account of mans ignorance. Let every
newspaper print THIS. B. Fl. P.
Year: 1861

FoR THE CURIoUs.-The greyhound runs by eye
sight only, and this assert fact. The carrier
pigeon flies on his two hundred and fifty miles
journey homeward by eyesght to wit from point to
point Of object which he has marked; but this is
only our conjecture The fierce dragon fly, with
twelve thousand lenses in his eye darts from angle
to angle with the rapidity Of flashing sword, and
as rapidly darts Oack-not turning in the air, but
with a clash reversing the action of his four wings
and instantaneously calculating the distance of the
objects, or he would dash himself to pieces But in
what conformation of his docs this consistg No one
can answer.


A cloud often thousand gnats dance up and down
in the sun-tbe minutest interval between them
yet no knocks another headong upon tho grass
or breaks leg or wing, long and delicate as these
are. Suddeny-amdst your admiration of this
matchlesS dance-a peculiarly high shoudered, vici-
GUS gnat with long, pendant nose darts out of the
rising and falling cloud. and settling your cheeks
inserts poisonous sting What possessed the little
wretch to do thus Did he smell your blood in the
mazy dance No one knows


A four horse coach comes suddenly upon flock
geese on narrow road and drives straight through
the middle of them. A goose was yet fairly
run over, nor a duck. They are under the very
wheels and hoofs, and yet somehow they contrive
for flap and wadde of. Habitually stupid, heavy,
and indolent they are nevertheless, equal to any
emergency. Why does the lonely wood pecker,
when he descends from his tree and goes to drink,
stop several times on his way-listen and look
around-beiore he takes his draughty No one
knows. 81 :.
Year: 1861

How BOMB SHELLS ARE MADE.-The manufacture
Of bomb shells is very interesting. The shell is
first filled with old fashioned round leaden bullets
melted sulphur is then poured IN to illupthe inter-
stices and bind the bullets in one solid mass the
shell is then put into kind of lathe, and cylin-
drcal hole of the exact size of the orce o. the shell
is bored through the bullets and salphur. @


This cavity is filled with powder even with the
interior edge of the eri6ce; q inch she'll oil the
kind here described holding about half pound
The fuse fitted into the oritice is recent Belgian
invention, made ofpewter, and resembles the screw
cap used for the patent fruit An examination
of this pewter cap shows however, that it Is pado


filled with meal powder. sz.s5 af.5.,ss{


disc while the outer disc is entire and marked with


figures in the circle, l, 2, 8, 4. In this state the
shell is water proof When taken for use. the gun
ner by means Of small steel instrument, scoops
out a 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, the scooping ls madeon fg-
ure l. if in two seconds Oh the figure q 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 it from another cannon located at the point were
the flight Of the shell is arrested.


Large shells of eight ten inches are filled sith
powder only, and bursting. do execution by means
of their fragments These large shells are generally
fired by means Of fuse of meal powder, extending
through brass plug screwed into the nout1 Of the
she'll in both cases the fuse is fired by the ignition
of the charge in the gun. ~ g
Year: 1861

y


five look baek 70 the period inmediatsly sueeeed-
ing the Revolutionary War We shall be struck with
the great stress laid By or fatheTsupon the impor
tanee Of arming and organizing the R,ilkia Those
wise old men LEFT US IN possession ct The best organ
ized militia army that the world eyeFsa Wsonly
now begin 70 appreciate the value Of the system =
In the long period Of degeneraes which preceded
the present Struggle, we permitted the militia sys-
TEN TO fall into utter unhealthy and decay. be-
came Standing theme Of derision, and went out of
existence as q bnffoon rusher out Of show, amid
shouts Of mirth and diversion This sequel has
shown, however, that our fathers were wiser than
we and we have lived to laugh out Of the wrong
side of our mouths. We should net have let the
militia system degenerate into the miserable butt
Of nockery and derision that Il became. IL was in
this condition the sign and proof of our own degen-
eracy, of that very degeneracy which We now haEa
so much reason 10 deplofe


The militia system should have continued to be
cherished and honoured BY the country. Our men
Of highest character and standing in the ponmunity
should have given it their cordial and careful sup
port The honour Of its commissions should have
been eagerly sought BY our most ambitious spirits,
and our days of public mnstering ought 70 have
been gala days of holiday for all the people, and
our muster fields been, attended in state BY all the
wealth, fashion, beauty and gallantry Of the land.
Such the militia as instituted by its founders,
who were the founders Of the Republic. If their
example had been pursued and their advice needed
in respect to the militia, the war would have found
every male inhabitant Of the South an armed war
rior, thoroughly drilled and equipped for the Held.
IL half the time Of the people and talent of their
leading men, which has been wasted upon party
politics, had been devoted 10 Haintaiuing and per-
fecting militia system, the South would long
ago have been beleaguerhg the chief cities of the
enemy IS country rather than feebly, and with une-
quail forces, rcpelling invasion from its own soil.


We think the spirit Of the country should be in.
voked in favour of the thorough reorganization Of
the militia, and that the Confederate Congr and
Executive should lend their utmost energies to the
work of completely arming the people in every
county Of the South. We have a large slave popu-
lation, loyal and affectionate, who should be main
tained only with praise but the mere fact of their
large numbers should adrnonish US Of the import
ance Of thoroughly armng and training the whites.


Every where should the country be aroused to
renewed cxertions for the war and no where should
the VITAL primary business Of organizing, drilling
and arming the militia be postponed or neglected
Richmond Enquirer. -.
Year: 1861

SALT.-Salt works are in course Of erection near
Charleston, under the superintentlence of Prot
Thomassey, and it is believed they win afford
large supply of salt in n short time siss
Year: 1861

ing, The entire force could be moved for
wand to cruah the enemy.


To inaugurate this movement and bring
It to successful results, there need be no
expenditure for uniforms or arme. The
marchingz, hctngs and wheelings Of com
pany drill, no inconsiderable part Of camp
instruction, can all be learned without
muskets, and when the company is ready
to take hold Of the manual Of arms, oak
sticks of suitable length and shape will
answer the purpose until something better
can be obtained. The plan here indicated
has already been put in practice to some
extent in our own city, and with the most
satisfactory results Iet it be adopted
throughout the Northwest We cannot
have too many soldiers in times like these,
and our soldiers cannot ba toe. well disci-
plined. Every hour spent in drilling at
home is an hour saved in. camp and may
prove to be year saved in the war:
Year: 1861

The Assistant Secretary Of State has gone
to New y York a. special messenger from the
President and Gov Seward to invite the
Prince Napoleon and Princess Clotilde to pay
a visit to Washington, and while here t.
make the White house their home
Year: 1861

STATE BosDs.-We are happy to learn that our State Bonds are every where appreciating in value. We see that leading mercantile firms in Memphis and New Orleans are advertising to take them al Far in exchange for all articles of trade, and ill either of these markets they are beginning to be placed on the same footing with the most favored paper, and whatever discount they may suffer is not the result of tho difference between them and any other paper, but in consequence of the fcti

 tious and extravagant value of gold. We know of at least one large and leading firm which in a recent commercial transaction oi some moment, has preferred them to any other paper, except Lou lsiana bank bills. There is no reason why this should not be the case. They are the best sus- tained paper that was ever presented as medium of circulation. The amount of issue is restricted to two millions of dollars. The State has clothed them with the highest element of currency that can be conferred upon any bill of credit emission of paper, by making them receivable for all State dues, and has pledged the whole of her revenue and her vast landed interest for their ultimate re- demption. The necessities of the country their

 own intrinsic value and the scarcity of gold will force them, into general circulation ana we are

 pleased to note the evidences of their appreciation

 in value in all the markets where the real value of securities and other bills of credit is understood
Year: 1861

These detestable things have made their ap- pearance in several of the cities of the South. We fervently hope that none may be ever issued or seen within the length and breadth of Arkan. sas, and that, if any corporation issues them, should be made to suffer the full penalties of the stringent laws in such case made and provided. There is less necessity for them in Arkansas than any where else. For years we have had no small notes and there was large amount of specie in the country. There is, this day, more before. In the first place the State has thrown from the treasury half million of dollars in specie, into the general circulation. The mil lions that our merchants sent every spring and summer to the North, especially to Cincinnati, New York and Philadelphia, have been stopped and retained in the country. The large amount annually paid to the general government for lands has been this year, kept at home. All this talk about the scarcity of specie is sheer humbug. There is plenty of it in the country, and if we desire to keep it in circulation we must frown down all attempts to force shin- plaster currency upon the people. The excuse is that they will be needed for change, but we have enough coin for that purpose, and should say to those spectators and shinplaster men, as the hero in the play says to the tyrant:

 i've need no change, and least of all,

 Such change as you would bring us.''

 We commend that quotation to the favorable consideration of Kennard, of the Batesville Bal. ance, who will, at once, see its aptness.
Year: 1861

THE CoNcERr.-A number of the patriotic la- dies and gentlemen of this city got up concert and a number of tableaux, for the benefit of the Soldiers Aid Society. On Tuesday night the theatre was rammed, ammed and crammed with a large and delighted audience The music, rather too artistic for the general ear sad by judges, to be very fine. The charade and tableaux were we'll selected, we'll represented and were received with shouts of applause. The attitudes, poses and making up were all good.

 The ladies and gentlemen who got up this affair deserve credit and thanks, and we hope they will give us others at the proper time. We must not close our notice without referring to the first ap' pearance, as a public speaker, of the gentleman who was most prominent in making up the concert. His speech though short was pithy and pointed.