smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

The following details are given of the loss of the steamer Express, near the mouth of the Potomac river. The Ex- press left Baltimore at o'clock Tuesday afternoon, with freight and passengers for Washington and other points on the Potomac River. About midnight the wind freshened and continued to in- crease in violence until o'clock, when it blew heavy gale, veering from east to southeast. The steamer labored heavily and the waves broke clear over her upper deck. About 4: 30 o'clock her ioiner-work began to give way, and efforts were made to head her for the shore. The storm was now so furious that it was impossible to stand against it, and the rolling of the boat prevented the en. inc from working fast enough to keep steerage way on her. It was evident that the upper deck was fast giving way, and it was deemed advisable to let go the anchors to bring her head to the wind, in the hope of her riding out the gale, or least, until it should

 

 cables parted as soon as she broached to, and the steamer went adrift, being no longer manageable. Every feasible means was employed to bring her under control, but all to no purpose. The Express was now off Hooper's Straits. A driving rain helped to beat down the sea, which was now running at great height, every wave washing the boat from stem to stern. Soon after o'clock, there came a terrific crash, the joiner work had started from the stanchions The passengers and crew had hardly time to realize what had occurred before wave tore the saloon deck, like so much paper-work, and the following pillow swept it of to sea, and with it all on board,

 Those on board had secured life pr reservers at the earliest period of the gale. Some of the officers tried to secure the boats, but they were washed away, and broken up. A moment after the upper deck had been carried away, and the hull rolled over and sank, bottom upward. Those of the passengers and crew that could reach portions of the wreck clung to them, but the heavy sea washed them off again, and at daylight only about eight persons could be seen. These, as we'll as could be made out, were Capt. Barker, James A. Douglass, Quartermaster, and colored passenger whose name could not be learned. These three were cGnging to part of the saloon deck. Some distance off, on another portion of the wreck, were F. J. Stone, Purser; John Douglass, Quarter master William Cant, colored cook George Green, baggage-master, and Hiram A. De Khan. These latter drifted toward Barren Island, and were picked up by boat from the steamer Shirley, which is ashore, high and dry. The Captain and his companions were picked up at o'clock in the afternoon by an oyster pungy, Capt. Baker, and taken to Crisfeld.

 The Express had g crew of twenty-ene, and eight passengers. It is supposed that fully twenty lives were lost.
Year: 1878

1T WAS DANGEROUS to open ones mouth tu
Germany during the month which preceded
the elections. The police went so far as TO de-
mand from the Swiss Canton of Bale the ex-
tradition OF two men accused of having ex-
the life OF the Emperor, ''Ach Got, it is time
all old fellows were got rid Of" The men who
were old soldiers and fought i'm the French war
denied that these words were seriously meaut
The Government of Bale refused to give them
Year: 1878

THE Rev. Il. M. Palmer of New Orleans. IL
is said, rarely consents TO take a vacation, and
when pressed to, makes his arrangements SO
that he may get back to his people before the
that city in 1857, he organized the young men
OF his church into a brotherhood, to assist ip
caring for and nursing the sick who were
strangers in the city, while he himself visited
from house to house, inquiring for any one.
who were sick. but had no physician or nurse
TO attend TO them
Year: 1878

How UNPOPULAR habits of thrift and saving
have become is shown i'm the violent Kissing
which followed the remark OF witness before
the congressional committee In New York that
many who are now suffering might have been
comfortable il they had taken care to save a
part of their earnings in better times. The
man who saves, and who is SO weak as to
devote to the good of his family the five and
ten-cent pieces and quarters that he might
guZzle away need not expect to be pleasing
oDlect lor some years to come. We are q
in order to show that we are nothing Less
ILOUiSIiEe Our, ,L0iLr $3.50 w.. :
Year: 1878

heart h3 arisen at Nice. An American LADY,
who had been converted to Roman Catholic
ism, left $4,000 to the Church of Father Lavigna
on condition that she should be buried within
the precincts of the edifice- The municipaf
authorities opposed such step as being
against the health regulations, bur the ecclesi-
ty by burying the heart only in the church.
The family, however, would not permit the
BODY to be cut
Year: 1878

CREMATION is favored by the medical fra
ternity Of New Orleans. The nature of the soil
about the city is such that only the poor are in
TERED in the earth, most bodies being deposit
are several cemeteries within the limits of the
cty still uSad
Year: 1878

A COUNTRY DEACON went on free ticket
to circus entertainment. His pastor remon-
Strated with him on the wickedness Of SO doing
But he made answer; Why, you see, pastor
had a dead head ticket, and 1 thought it my
bounden duty to 60 and keep somebody out OF
that seat who might have been harmed by the
circuSn
Year: 1878

A BOY can play base ball all day exposed to
the burning rays OF the sun and turn up next
morning bright and smiling as a new three
cent piece, but send him on an errand aud even
though the distance be only two blocks he will
return with all the symptoms of a asunstroke.-
RoSt0u (lIohp
Year: 1878

GEN. GRANT writes to friend in Philadel.
phia that after visiting Austria he designs
spending some four or FIVE weeks at some
intention is to make tour of the world, pass
ing the winter months in India and China.
After observing the methods and manners of
most OF the people on the face of the globe, he
will return to America by the way of San
Francisco.
Year: 1878

1t is reported that when the jury in
tue Thomas murder case retired from the
box to the jury room, on Saturday even
ing, they stood eight to four in favor of
conviction of murder In the first degree
AS the jury was only out about two
hours there must have been some very
strong arguments used to convert the
eight in so short a time.
Year: 1878

THE lion and the bear are destined
to meet rather soon in Asia. England
has occupied Quettah contrary to agree
ment, and this fact angers Russia, who
says that she will support the ameer.
because she cannot tolerate English
possession of territory contiguous to
her own possessions Only one thing
will prevent . clash, and that is for Eng
land to guarantee that there win be no
permanent change of territory in AZ
ghanistan. England is not likely to do
this, as there would be nothing gained,
and the present war would prove a
piece Of consummate folly.
Year: 1878

The constitutional amendment creating
the Office of Superintendent Of Public
Works and abolishing the Office Of Canal
Commissioner provides as follows 1.-THE
office of Canal Commissioner is abolished
from and after the appointment and quail
iication of the Superintendent of Public
Works, until which time the Canal Com
missioners shall continue to discharge their
duties as now provided by law" As no
Superintendent Of Public Works has been
appointed and qualified. it is clear that the
Canal Commissioners continue in Office just
the same rs they would have done If no
such constitutional amendment had been
adopted.


A Canal Commissioner holds his Office for
three years. At the close of his term he is
no more q Canal Commissioner than he
would be if he had never been elected to
the office. whenever, from any cause, the
office of Canal Commissioner shall become
or be vacant" says the law, 'at or during
period when the Legislature shall be in
session, it shall be and is hereby made the
duty of the Legislature to appoint some
proper person to fill such vacancy in the
same manner as is now prescribed by law
for filling vacancies in the Office of Regent Of
the University" The Canal Commissioner
so appointed holds Office until the COM
mencement of the political year next sue
ceeding the next annual election after the
happening of the vacancy which he was ap-
pointed to fill.


Mr.. Adm Thayer was elected Canal Com
missioner at the general election OF 1874
and held Office from January. 1875. till Jan.
Year: 1878

Collector Arthurs official reply to the
report Of the commission appointed to ex-
anime into the New York Custom House
was made on the suggestion and at the re-
quest Of the Secretary of the Treasury.
The report made by the committee, which
certainly was not friendly to Collector
Arthur, failed to establish any maladminis-
tration of the Office under his regime, and
was compelled to recognize the fact that his
management had been highly satisfactory to
the commercial community. Nevertheless,
it did assail some features Of the old
policy, and Collector Arthur, in his
clear and concise statement, proves
that all the reforms suggested and all
the evils denounced had been long
since proposed and exposed by him. He
says that the essential elements of correct
civil service, as he understands them, are
first permanence in Office, which prevents
removals except for cause second. promo
ton from the lower to the higher grades,
based upon good conduct aad efficiency
third. prompt and thorough investigation
of all complaints and prompt punishment
Of all misconduct. He claims that his
administration of the Office of Collector has
been characterized by the observance of all
of these and the testimony of all who are
familiar with Collector Arthur's manage
ment of the New York Custom House is that
be advocated this sort of civil service reform
long before it became professed principle
of the national administration.
Year: 1878

If Mr.. Blair succeeds in getting his me-
mortal adopted by the Maryland Legisla-
ture it will be his first success of any kind
since he was forced out Of President Lin
coins Cabinet Everything he takes hold
of seems to wither in his hands. Last win
ter he tried to make himself conspicuous by
starting democratic newspaper in Wash-
ington. which went dead against the Eleo-
toral Commission, dead against acceptance
of its decision. dead against submission
to President Hayes Inauguration hut Mr..


Blair had no influence even with the ex-
treme democrats We shall know in few
days whether he stands any better with the
Legislature of his own State Even if this
memorial should be sent to Congress Mr..
Blair must have great deal more influence
with members than he had last winter if he
can secure for it a respectful consideration.
Year: 1878

lie is thoroughly well done, and his death,
however morally deplorable. is not a
calamity in any other sense. All the ma
chinery of the administration of govern
ment will move on the same as
in his life, and his son, Prince Hum
bert, will ascend tho throne without dis
pute or trouble. II is deemed possible
that there may be some change in the rela-
tons of the government toward the Church
through the fact that the new sovereign
having been bred in different times, has de-
cidedly different ideas from those enter
tanned by his father of the extent to which
n sovereign should assert his supremacy
as against prince who disputes
his title within his own diminions.
Ground for this belief may have
been supplied by the conversation
of Prince Humbert when he was only heir
apparent; but man in view of throne
and man on that same throne are an
imated by different conceptions Of the royal
dignity, and we have no doubt the impulses
Of the new ruler will be moderated to the
tone supplied by the example of the late
sovereign. 1t is so evidently the policy Of
the Italian government to avoid any un-
seemly demonst rations toward the Church,
and it is so certain of its position if it sim
ply drifts on with events as it has done hith-
erto, that the new sovereign can scarcely fail
to pursue generous and considerate course
in this respect.
Year: 1878

ina Buckram.


The secret history OF the grossest official
outrages that have been perpetrated at the
expense of the city of New York is not with
out its comic features. Indeed, many of
the crimes that have loaded this city with
its enormous burden of debt have been al
most condoned by public opinion because
they have been so ridicuiously scandalous,
SO out Of the common in their villany as to
excite as much amusement as indignation.
A glance over the list of salaried
employees Of the Street Cleaning Bu-
reau, which we print in full this
morning, will furnish all the evidence nee
essary to prove that if the street cleaning
authorities do not possess either the ability
or honest inclination to perform their func-
tions they are, nevertheless, eminently
qualified to practise the most excruciating
practical jokes on the citizens of New York.
In selecting their foremen and gangmen to
superintend the cleaning of the streets these
fun-loving officials seem to have taxed them
selves severely to organize corps Of as
sistants on the simple basis Of the comic
We find, for instance, that in the First ward
their foreman is furrier and the gangman
a calker. We freely admit that in what
police nomenclature terms "skin game
such game as the alleged street cleaners
play on the city-a furrier might be adj
vantageously employed as an expert but
we are at loss to know what services q
''calker" could render his employers, un-
less that his familiarity with oakum might
enable him to instruct the chief officials in
the secrets Of its manufacture, and thus
save them much mental labor in the future,
should their energies be directed to the dis
organization Of pieces of old rope. To add
to the efficiency Of the street cleaning SER
vice we find that speculator, baker, q
pocketbook maker, grainer, cigarmaker,
o coal dealer liquor store keeper, feed
store proprietor, marble polisher, livery
stable man and barber-no doubt an emf
nent shampooist-are among the employees
selected to direct the work. Besides these
there are masons, clerks, machinists,
firemen, contractors, watchmen, stevedores,
q printer, an ice dealer, wireworker and
teacher engaged for the sake Of their valu-
able services. A further variety embraces
q marble cutter, pattern maker, a sur
veyor, cellar digger, a cabinetmaker and
two mineral water manufacturers. Surely
these remarkable selections serve to show
how broad is the view taken by the Street
Cleaning Bureau officials of the necessities of
New York. In little while we have no
doubt that the bureau will employs corps of
miners to dig down to the original level of
the streets of the city through the noun
famous accumulations of filth that will
cover them. In this case it will be quite in
keeping with the present plan to have the
operations supervised by qualified dentists,
photographers and jewellers.
Year: 1878




Unusual interest and curiosity have been
felt as to what the Republican State Conven-
ton would do this year in New Hampshire
in consequence OF the flaming denuncin-
tions which have been scattered broadcast
over that State and over the whole country
by William E. Chandler. The Convention
has been held, and Chandler's reverberat-
ing guns have done a great deal more execu-
ton at the breech than at the muzzle. His
secret accomplices will now drop and dis
claim him, and even bold Ben But
ler will shrink from Offering his
proposed resolutions in the House.
Chandler has been SO signally repudiated
and Ii humilated ut home that nobody will
be in any hurry to espouse his cause in
Washington. In the stormy caucus held
Tuesday evening Chandler was pitched into
right and left by the most distinguished
republicans Of the State. He got such q
formidable thrashing that there was little Of
him or his faction left in the Convention
yesterday.


If the resolutions had been prepared by
Mr. Evarts or Mr. Schurz they would not
have indorsed the policy of President Hayes
with more judicious emphasis, and these
resolutions were adopted by the Convention
without dissenting voice. The only point
on which they were criticised at all was
their omission to condemn the republican
as we'll as the democratic repudiationists.
Our correspondent states that the temper OF
the Convention was not enthusiastic nor
Year: 1878

AT THE MEETING of the Social Science Asso-
citation in Boston yesterday interesting papers
were read on the Mormon iniquity and the
question of municipal Indebtedness The former
is a matter in which Congress ought in ei-
fectivc way to interfere this session. for the
evils Of the latter those affected thereby must
find their own remedy. Some startling facts
and figures strengthen the arguments presented
Oh these two very important subjects.
Year: 1878

even very hearty bat that matters little
when every point OF Mr.. Hayes policy was
approved and no voice raised in protest
Enthusiasm was not TO be expected under
the circumstances. The making up Of
family difference for reasons Of prudence is
hardly an occasion for much sloppy effu-
siveness
Year: 1878

MIR. WINTER AND Mr.. GALE met in the bay
yesterday morning on board Bremen steamer.
Mr. Winter was from Austria, where there were
many anxious inquiries for him and some
twenty thousand dollars which disappeared with
him. gale is generally brought by winter,
but in this case it was Gale who brought Winter
To the city
Year: 1878

WALL STREET YEsrERDAY.-The stock mar
ket was rather unsettled, but became steady at
the close. Gold opened and closed at 1929,
selling in the meantime at 1O25s Money on
call was easy at a per cent, closing at the
former rate
Year: 1878

J. C. Loss is building an opera or something just below The Gem on Main street. The foundations is quite impos- ing. In the front are three large openings for double doors. Perhaps John is build ing n pavilion for our musical festival Give it up.
Year: 1878

THE temperance workers of Los An geles are erecting a hall at cost ol S13.000, which is almost completed They gave grand musical festival last week for the benefit of this build ing. which was a musical success. The financial report gives the net proceeds somewhere in the vicinity of $500. So 1t IS said.
Year: 1878

PENNSYLVANIA is bothered with fe- male tramps, who faint away on the doorstep where food is refused, if a pail of water is thrown over them they go into convulsions and tear up the garden.
Year: 1878

HIP! HIP! HURRAH! Some of our good citizens nave worked up a lively interest in a Fourth Of July celebration and the meeting suggested in THE CITIZEN last week is appointed to meet at the Court house tomorrow evening at 7.3O o'clock. We trust fair representation --iH be present as 1t will be necessary to appoint a committee of arrangements, an orator, reader, &c. The citizens Of Sanford and up and down the Gila will be welcomed and are respectfully invited 10 Join in the cele- oration. While 1t Is a pride and pleasure to commemorate our nations birthday, it also engenders a spirit of patriotism in the breast Of our youth and renews the fire Of love for our country that burns within our own hearts. Let us have such Q celebration 9s shall do honor to the oc- casiOn and FlOrance
Year: 1878

About as tight place as ever I go
into, said Comstock miner, was some
years ago at the old Empire shaft, Gold
Hill. Myself and another man were
down in the shaft for the purpose OF
trimming it up, as the swelling ground
was squeezing in the sides and it was a
good deal out Of shaYs.


We we're not on a cage, but simply a
platform made OF planks with ropes
going up from the corners to the main
cable, which was of hemp. When we
reached tight place in the shaft we
stopped and trimmed out the guides,
and then went on till another such place
was reached. AT one point, having given
the signal to lower, we went down some
distance, when we finally stuck. We
reached for tte bell-rope in order to
give the signal to stop, but we had found
that it wound round nail some dis
tance above and we could not use it..
The engineer knew nothing of our
trouble and continued to lower away.
There was no station near, and on all
sides rose the smooth walls of the shaft,
leaving us suspended over the horrible
chasm.


Down upon us came the heavy cable.
We feared every moment that the plat
form would turn over or would be
pressed through the tight place and
drop from under us. All we could do
was to get hold of the cable and keep
the coils of it under our feet as it came
down. Should the platform turn over
or drop from under us we might be able
to save our lives by hanging on to the
cable. We shouted up the shaft till we
were hoarse, but no one heard our cries,
and steadily down came the cable, caus.
ng us great trouble to keep ON top Of
its coils. We felt that the great weight
must soon start the platform, when both
would most likely be hurled to the bot.
tom of the shaft


Finally, to our great relief, the cable
ceased to descend. For long time we
waited in suspense, not knowing what
would be the next move of those above
At last, however, we heard the voice oI
a man shouting down to us from the
nearest station above. We explained
our perilous position in q few words, and
at length the great cable began to craw
slowly up the shaft again. Still being
afraid the platform would give way, We
were obliged to keep hold of the rope
and dance about on the coils as they
unwound.


1t was tedious business, and was al
the time a matter of the toss of {
penny whether we got out alive or wen
to the bottom, but at last the platform
frightened up under us and we began tt
ascend. Our work was over then ant
we felt safe.


On arriving at the surface we fount
that the engineer had concluded tha
we were going to far, and, without halt
ing or stopping his engine, had sent {
man down to the station to find out i
anything had gone wrong.


may have been in more dangerous
places in the mines, but was never in f
place where the danger lasted SO long
and all the time up to fever heat. Il
was too long time for any mans hail
to stand on end. - Virginia city (Ner.,
| Enferlly,jSe
Year: 1878

A Chinaman can ride the walking
beam of steam engine without losing his
head or his pig tail. Engineer Golden,
of Virginia City, New, one night recent
ly, was on duty in section of the works
underground, where stood huge pump
ing engine and big air compressor. A
door at the head of flight Of stone steps
had opened several times and let in cur
rents of cold air, which had chilled his
marrow; and each time he had gone up
stairs and latched the door withent dis
covering the intruder. Once more the
door swung open, and he started up the
steps with a curse on his lips, when sud.
denly he saw in front of him the withered
face of an aged Chinaman, in whose eyes
blazed the fires of opium madness. En-
gineer Golden returned to the engine
room and retreated around the pumping
apparatus. Scarcely had he taken re-
fuge behind that huge piece of machine
ry, when his midnight visitor appeared
at the foot of the stairway and glared at
him. Then the Chinaman started to
climb straight across the engine toward
his enemy. The engine was on the
down-stroke when he set out, and before
he could get across, the walking-beam
carried him up toward the ceiling. But
he was at home in the saddle, and seem
to enjoy the motion. Had he been two
feet nearer the bishop-head he would
have been crushed to death at the first
stroke of the pump. 1t CHANGED, how
ever, that the position he occupied was
about the only safe one on the whole
length of the beam, AS the beam sawed
the air he sat composedly astride of it,
bis long tail swaying in the air like q
pendulum. The engineer caught hold
of the Chinaman's legs and attempted tc
drag him from his perilous position, but
the fellow drew a double-edged knife
with a blade some twelve inches il
length, which he began whirling about
his head. Finally the engineer got al
iron rod, and with the end of il tickleG
the Celestial gymnast in the ribs, max
ing it SO unpleasant for him that aftel
hacking the iron for a time with hi
knife, he got off the beam about as h,
had mounted.