smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

Relative to the recent search for the
murderers of the passengers and crew OF
the steamer Geo. s. Wright by the
British gunboat Rocket, the following
press dispatch is received from Victoria /:


The most sorrowful page in the story
of the wreck of the Geo. s. Wright, in
1874, remains to be written. The COL
onist has few additional particulars of
the massacre of a portion of her passen-
gers and crew by Indians and the de-
strlction of the Indian village. The
officers learned enough to convince them
that several of the shipwrecked persons
got ashore and were murdered by the
Indians. The story is that number of
white men came ashore in q boat; that
they had with them many papers and n
large -um of money in gold and silver.


They bargained with party of Kimgut
Indians, who were bound to Victoria, to
take them to Fort Rupert for 81 each.
The white men were without arms, and
when night came on and all were asleep
the Indians murdered them, and threw
the bodies into the sea after stripping
them of everything of value. Themoney,
which was in a box, was divided by the
savages, who then came on to Victoria
and spent the coin. An Indian woman
says she picked up the head of q white
man on the beach at Cape Caution few
months after the wreck, and was told to
put it down again and say nothing about
it. The officers found no property be.
longing to the steamer except portions of
wreck, which probably drifted ashore.


With respect to the destruction OF the
Indian village, Sergeant Bloomfield
landed with:three others from the Rocket,
and demanded four men, who were sus-
pected of completely in the murders. The
Indians came out armed, and refused to
give up the men. The party then
secured two of the suspected savages, and
made for the boat. They were fred on,
but got back to the ship safely. Captain
Harris then gave the tribe six hours
in which tosrlrrender the other two men.
After the lapse of six hours he ex-
tended the time three hours longer. He
then fired blank cartridges, and the In
dams ran away. The village was then
shelled and afterward burned. The two
men were secured. No one was killed.
Year: 1877

An instructive breach Of promise case
appears in the last volume of New Jer-
sey Common Law Reports. The de.
fendant was O married man. He had
sued his wife for divorce, and expected
to succeed in the suit. Under these cir
cumstanccs he told the plaintiff he would
marry her within reasonable time after
he obtained the desired divorce. He did
not keep his word, and the plaintiff
brought her action. This was the case
as presented in the complaint. The de-
fendant objected that these facts would
not sustain q suit for breach of promise
of marriage, as the promise relied upon
was plainly unlawful and void. The su-
preme court held this objection to be
good, and declared such contract op-
posed to morality and public policy.
"If husband can bind himself to q
future marriage, conditioned on the get
ting DIVORCE" said Chief Justice Beas-
ley, $50 he can incur similar obliga-
tion to be put in effect on the dissolu-
ton of his marriage by the death of his
wife. Such contracts are highly impoli-
tic and highly scandalous, and are there
fore illegal"
Year: 1877

A writer in the New England Farmer
gives this advice to bottle cider that will
keep it sweet and fine for years, and its
excellence is indorsed by the editor:
Leach and filter the cider through pure
sand, after it has worked and fermented,


and before it has soured. Put no alcohol
or other substance with it. Be sure that
the vessels you put it in are perfectly
clean and sweet. After it has lcached or
filtered, put it in barrels or casks filled,


leaving no room for air; buns them
tight and keep it where it won't freeze
till February or March, then put it into
champagne bottles filled, drive the corks
and wire them. It should be done in q
cellar or room that is comfortable for
work. Tie best cider is late made, or
made when it is cold as can be and not
freeze. .,- ... ...... ..'
Year: 1877

The San Francisco Chronicle fur
nishes the particulars of an event which
literally converted an eastward bound
overland train into a perambulating
bedlam on wheels. The story, in brief,
is to the following effect: In the make
up of the train which left San Francisco
were two Pullman sleeping cars. The
larger proportion of passengers occupy
ing the Pullmans were women and chill
dren, and MI expected to enjoy pleas
ant and comfortable jaunt across the
continent. On the second day out the
general serenity was disturbed by the
Developments of malignant malady on
board. Thevictim was the representa-
tive of q. San Francisco house, large
and powerful man, who had drank him
self into state of deirirm tremens.
The maniac startled the passengers by
giving utterance to terrible shrieks and
imprecations, at the same time rushing
back and forth through the car, The
greatest CONSERVATION prevailed, and two
ladies, at least, were seriously affected
by the violence of the mailman. He was
finally secured in one end of the car
while the women and children were
crowded in the other end. Not soul
slept through the night. His rawlings
were incessant, and it was feared that he
might regain his liberty and commit
murder. When the train reached Og-
den the arrangement of the unfortunate
man had greatly increased. At this
point the females and children were
crowded into therea sleeping car, while
tie other was converted into a lunatic
asylum, and carefully guarded by male
passengers. After leaving Ogden his
'suffel;ngs were terrible. He frothed
and bled Mt the mouth, while continuous
spasms shook his powerful frame. The
second day out from Ogden he became


more quiet, and under the belief that he
was getting better, lis watchers, needing
rest, left him in charge of single per-
son. Shortly after daylight he suddenly
sprnng up and dashed through "a win
dow. The engine was reversed and the
train ran back, all expecting to find the
lifeless body of the maniac. He had
fallen however, where the snow was
deep and soft, and his escape from inn
mediate death thereby prevented. He
was able to raise himself and stagger
toward the approaching train, his eyes
glaring wildly and blood oozing from his
nose and mouth. He was again taken
on board by kind hands, but the belief
prevailed that he could not survive to
the journeys end.
Year: 1877

Inc New 1OrK HeTUt0, III commenting
on the case of Phair, the condemned
murderer, says: Vermont furnishes an
event that is mildly sensational in its
way. In that State in the year 1874 the
crime of murder was brought home to q
young man by evidence satisfactory to q
jury, and this culprit is now under SEN
tence of death. But person has
turned up" who promises to prove
that ut the time the crime was committed
in Rutland, VT, the alleged murderer
was not in the place but somewhere
else, on his way to Providence. That
the executive should stay the arm of the
law out Of regard to mere expression of
opinion of this nature must be attributed
to the readiness of the authorities to ex-
haust the smallest chance that may pre-
sent itself in the culprit's favor-to a
disposition not to hang anybody in favor
of whose innocence q word can possible
be said. It is nearly three years since
the occurrence of the crime. On the
trial the whereabouts of the murderer on
the day of the murder was made ont by
a consistent train of circumstances, and
did not at all agree with his own account
of his whereabouts. No evidence was
produced on the trial to sustain his own
account, and the jury decided against
him. Now man comes forward whose
statement amounts to an expression Of
opinion that the prisoners story. was
true. 1t seems not according to ordi-
nary methods to stay an execution on
such ground. Doubtless the governor
attaches weight to the story, and that of
course is sufficient; but it is evident that
a man who knew so little of the prisoner
that he did not appear on the trial, and
who yet knows SO much that he can
swear to the culprit's whereabouts on a
particular day in June, 1874, is person
who knows at once too little and too
much
Year: 1877

A gentleman was sued, and very much
excited he went into Law Office and told
his case to lawyer. The lawyer limited
at a settlement, at which the client be-
came exceedingly wrathy, and shouted !:
"Never never!" and striking his fist
on the table until it bounced, "not one
cent to stop the fight /" "And millions
for defense, suppose" quietly remark
ed the lawyer. The man stopped as
though he had been struck with club,
sat down short time, and then taking
UP his hat went out and employed an
other lawyer. The word "millions
frightened him aln1sst out Of his coat.
Year: 1877

A reform liquor dealer in New York
in telling his story said: "I'll give Sloo
in gold for q gallon of pure brandy y" ne
shouted, cor of port wine. tried to
buy bottle of the latter pure for sick
woman, and I paid $13. so for it, and got
shaved at that. It was made OF logwood
and elderberry juice, because there are
not grapes enough grown in the world
to make the port wine that is drank Ill
the city of London alone"


The following story, illustrative OF the
effects of these poisons on the human
system, closed the speakers address: g!
knew n man who kept saloon, al
drank beer. He thought it was doing hln'
good. He was getting fat. And l re-
member how he would hold up the glass
and look Mt it and say: That's fire
beer Well, that fine beer killed him
one fine dly and they had po+t-
n1ortcm examination made to ascertain
the exact cause OF his death, aud the
doctors suid he died of q kidney dis
ease caused by drinking beer. But thai
wasn't all; they found about a pound CT
fatty substance about his heart, and they
tried it out to see what it was composed
Of, and found that it was beer juice"
Year: 1877

The last recipe for making hens lay Is
to bake their corn.


When you hear country praised be-
cause roses bloom in winter, you may be
sure that mosquitoes and snakes come
out thick in spring.


There have been great improvements
in poultry, but one point is lacking, that
is, breed that can get over the idea
that an egg day is enough.


The scientific truth about potatoes is
that they will not grow well unless in
mellow soil. There are other needs, but,
like charity, this is the first of all.


The apples Of Michigan are worth moro
than her wheat and corn; more than her
salt and lumber; more than her fish and
onions; more than her politics.


It is said that choice apples, such as
the Rhode Island Greening, are worth
three dollars barrel to make into vine
gar, but, remember, good many lies
are told.


What is badly needed is method for
saving corn fodder. One who can devise
1T will do more good than if he could
make q political speech two hours long.


They say that by free use OF potash
in the soil pear trees will never blight,
and will bear heavily. If this is true, a
pear orchard is worth more money than
q big Office.


;. What is the matter with beans? We
are told they contain ninety per cent. Of
nutrition, and yet hired men turn up
their noses, and want potatoes, which
contain only twenty per cent. We need
a greater diffusion of knowledge.


A boy should bo the first up in the
morning; he should build the fires, put
on the tea kettle; set the table, and then
20 out and fodder, and he should have a
chance to warm himself little before
breakfast; SO that when he becomes of
age, he will not fly from the farm as if it
were Sodom or the other place.
Year: 1877

The venerable Jeremiah s. Black is
famous for his little anecdotes. One day
during the late debate on the Electoral
bill he was strolling in lis abstracted
way about the floor of the House of Rep
resentatives, when q Pennsylvania NOM
ber said to him: "Judge, how ought I
to vote on this bill? want to do right,
but really there are so many things to be
urged on both slider Of this measure that
I don't know what to do. What shall I
do ?" The judge, in his benign way,
said: IT don't wish to counsel any vio-
lent change in your habits, my dear sir,
but perhaps it would be worth while for
you and O good many of your associates
to try for a. while-not rashly, but by
degrees-the experiment of doing your
duty. - e. ......
Year: 1877

Mortality statistics, showing the aver
age duration of life among persons of
various classes, are often faulty. In
Massachusetts such figures are more
carefully and accurately obtained than
almost anywhere else, and the following
table is the result of very recent investi-
Year: 1877

them up in pail, and cover with water to soak. During this time melt over a slow fire four pounds of common size, and at the same time, with palette knife or small trowel, rub up fine about des- serts spoonful of blue-blac with water to fine paste; then pour the water of the top of the whiting, and with stick stir in the black when well mixed, stir in the melted size and strain. When cold, it is fit for use. If the jelly is too stiff for use beat it up well and add a little cold water. Commence wkitewashing over the window, and so work from the light !; lay off the work into that done, and not all in one direction, as in painting. Dis temper color of any tint may be made by using any other color instead of the blue black--as ochre, chrome, Dutch pink, raw sienna, for yellows and bufl; Vene- tian red, burnt sienna; Indian red, or purple brown for reds; celestial blue, ul- tramarine, indigo for blues; red and blue for purple, gray or lavender; red lead and chrome for orange; Brunswick green for greens.
Year: 1877

It frequently happens that butter dealers and butter-manufacturers have a, quantity of butter which becomes ran- cid and unfit for sale, either through i'm proper handling or carelessness in it's manufacture. Such butter can be worked over and be made to appear fresh by the following method, communicated to the Ohio Farmer by Mrs. B. Smith: 1" In perfectly clean water barrel, filled with water, put half pound of alum and allow to stand until the impurities in the water have all settled tO the bot tom of the barrel. Fill large boiler half full with the alum water, heat as warm as the hand can bear-but not boiling-and then add what butter the boiler will hold conveniently. Stir it thoroughly for fifteen or twenty minutes, and put the butter into churn, adding. one gallion of new milk for each ten, pounds of butter. Add butter coloring enough to give rich. yellow color and churn with the whole. When the but. ter is gathered in the churn add salt; wash and work it we'll, and it will have the taste, smell and appearance of fresh butter. It is hardly necessary to add that when the butter has been worked over in this way the sooner it is sold the better"
Year: 1877

on ivory points, he discovered that on some of those which had been exposed to the light in glass bottle, the poison had become inert; while on others that had been wrapped in paper, in the same bottle, the poison retained all it's deadly activity. He hence argued that, if sun light exercised such power on the poison of the cobra, it might by analogy destroy the poison of the smallpox, scarlet fever and typhoid. He considered that pure air and water, freedom from damp, pure daylight, and equal temperature were essential. He then entered into a va riety of details of the required moditi. cations of our present house architecture, foundations, closets, and other offices, which may possibly be excellent if prac- ticable. From the amount of expense that would be incurred in erecting such model houses. we imdgine that the wer- thy doctor would justly entitle himself to the thanks of every architect and builder, if not of the owners of such hOilses
Year: 1877

Unless the surface of the ground is mulched around young trees over an area of six to ten feet in diameter, the ground should be kept clean and mel. low. Every farmer knows that hill of corn or potatoes will not amount to much unless cultivated, and yet there are many who will neglect to give the same care to tree that is worth hun dred hills of either of the former. In rich soil trees may grow rapidly without cultivation, and no amount of grass or weeds will retard them; but there are other things besides these to be looked after. If the weeds and grass are allow ed to grow up around the stem of apple, peach, or quince trees, the bark will be- come soft near their base by being shaded, and thereby in suitable condition for the reception of the eggs which will eventually become peach or apple borers. Take any dozen young apple trees in sections where the apple bOrer is abundant, and allow DOT tion to be choked with weeds, and the remainder we'll cultivated, and then watch the result. From our experi- ence, we believe the chances are nine to one in.favor of those cultivated being exempt from this pest.--National Agri- ruIturdiiSf
Year: 1877

Whilst admitting the importance of soil, climate, and good variety in the successful growing of strawberries, l am yet inclined to believe that, with careful cultivation, very fine fruit may be grown in all garden soils. The great mistake made by many is planting too thickly at the first, and allowing the plants to re- main from year to year on the same bed. Thus we often find the plants growing together in tangled mass, and the re- suit is when pinch of dry weather comes in June or July, they receive a serious check, the quality of the fruitlis depreciated, and the constitution of the plant weakened, possibly so much so that the plants are unable to mature their fruiting crowns for the following season. Thus the plants go on from bad to worse. Such "lazy bed" system will fully account for some varieties growing and cropping well for few years, and then becoming almost barren and the fruit nearly favorless."
Year: 1877

Few farmers consider that each crop that is grown and removed from the soil has taken away so much strength and vir- tue from it; that in the stalk and kernel is found the concentrated richness that was in the ground until transformed by the mysterious ways of nature in it's trans formation. Nature asks no aid from the husbandman, neither will it quietly brook being plundered, but, instead, fol- lowing each demand made upon it in q way of a crop, it is found reduced and worn, and will not again attain to its former merit until there is restored to it equally and proportionate what has been taken from it.

 Rotation in crops is demonstrated as being not only best, but demanded; the continual growing and gathering from the same field harvest of the same or kindred product will in due time deprive the soil in the field of the ability to pro- duce that especial article, as 1t has taken from the soil all that is necessary for the successful production of that crop, and either fertilizers must be supplied, or the field will become wholly worthless, save for some other and entirely different kind of product. When crops fail of themselves, the failure, as rule, can be traced to the neglect of men, and not the defect of nature, or mistake of the Crea- tor. The soil is provided in general state of richness if continual demands are made upon it to produce, and no re- turn offered in way of remedies for its degenerating tendency, the outcome will be thin crop from an exhausted soil.

 The principal products of the farm are of that class that are employed in feeding the great family of consumers. and con sequently it is removed in bulk from the soil, and but minimum portion of it re- mains to enrich the ground for another season, the stalks and straws are lost to it, and another robbery committed. Tax ing frem the soil these vital principles and making no return from them is re- ducing each year the value of the farm per acre in dollars and cents.

 This need not be, as the product from the soft soil taken and transferred into other conditions such as composite and manure, if returned to the fields, will re- store to the soil it's strength, and keep it ever in condition to respond to the de- mands made by succeeding crops.-Fac tory and Farm.
Year: 1877

sin and disobedience It may be by my example some have absented themselves from the assembly of the saints, and thus have been led back into the world. Or, by my loose, irreligious life, some may have looked upon christianity as a mockery, and gone into infidelity. What has been my influence in these things

 We turn the picture over and examine the other side just for moment: Have Fled any to Christ by my example, both in business and church-liie? Have led any away from the intoxicating bowl, and pointed them to better life? Have l told any of Savior's dying love, and of the mansions pure and bright in the better world? Have encouraged any in the divine life by being faithful my self in all my church relations? Have kept my promise in sustaining the cause of Christ, or have failed to give of my means as the Lord has prOspered me?

 The Lord knows just how all these things stand, and how much true man. hood I have. He knows all my pur- poses, and comprehends me altogether. He will make allowance for all my foibles, but will hold me accountable for my sins. If have lived right, if have kept myself unspotted rom the world, andY walked uprightlly before Ged, m

 example has been good, and will have fine influence for truth and righteous ness. Let every reader of these lines put himself in these balances, that he may weigh himself and judge of his spir- duality. Let no one say, "I have no need of such an examination. If you arc following the perfect Pattern, Christ, it will do you no harm, but if yon are wanderer from the path of duty it may do you some good. It is written to help some along the journey of life, and as we send it out we pray Gods blessings upon
Year: 1877

A late Sacramento paper saysi Ine Central and Pacific railroad company have arranged to have 40,000 eucalyptus trees set out along five hundred miles 4' the right of way of the company. it should not be understood that that is the whole number of trees to be set out. lt is but the first installment, and IS Ior commencing the work. As there aIe {, 5,2S0 feet in mile, if the trees are planted twenty feet aparti in longltudinai lines and three rows deep in the fifty rect right of way on each side of the track, it will take nearly SOC, 900 trees for the five hundred miles of valley where they are to be cultivated.

 "Tbe object of this plant is to note what effect the planting of these trees will have upon the climate. It is the theory that large numbers Of them will increase the humidity of the atmosphere and lessen the liability to droughts. The denudipg of hills of their timber, and the clearing away of forests has n direct effect upon climate, as is well established, and the intention now is to see how Tar artificial means will be effective in restor- ing the balance believed to have been lost Dy tuo CicuIluS Out VI OuA sVASS

 well as the scattered groups os valley trees. In thisconnection it isto be noted that the directors of the Good Templars' home for orphans at Vallejo has now in progress the work of setting out three thousand of the eucalyptus globulous up- on the grounds of the home, which will make quite forest when the trees shall be fairly grown. The very low price at which these trees are to be obtained, nominal figure indeed. and the action Of the Central Pacific railroad company, has stimulated the inquiry anew why 1t should not be an excellent stroke of policy. for this city to secure at least 5,000 ot 5000 of these trees at once, as the time for transplanting is good, to bc placed by the city or citizens who will care for them until we'll rooted, in those districts of the city which are most iable to malarial influences. It is established that such experiments have been highly successful, notably that of the English government at the cape of Good Hope, and of the local government of a region in Belgium"