smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

Jumping from n Train and Running, Swim.


ming and Fighting while Wounded.


Deputy Sheriff Edsall, of Chemung
county, N. Y, was on his way to Roch-
ester on an Erie railway train, with
Mike Murphy, criminal who had been
sentenced to the penitentiary. When
two miles west of Kanonah, and while
the train was running at the rate of
thirty miles en hour, Murphy jumped
from the car. The train was stopped
as soon as possible. The officer went
back, expecting to find the mangled
body of his prisoner. He found the
ground torn up for twenty-five feet along
the track where Murphy had tumbled
and ploughed through it. There was
blood on the ground, but Murphy was
nowhere to be seen. Some men work
ing near said they saw Murphy jump
of, and that he had picked himself up
and told them the conductor put him
off. He had started across the fields on
run. He was sighted by the officers
nearly mile away. The sheriff started
in pursuit. Murphy plunged into Five
Mile creek and swan across, and ran up
along the stream. The sheriff crossed
the stream in the same way, and gained
rapidly on the fugitive. When within
pistol shot he fired at Murphy, who
then jumped into the watea a second
time and crossed back again, and con.
tinued up the stream. The officer swan
the creek again. After running half q
mile Murphy again swan the creek, fol-
lowed by the sheriff.


Murphy then struck off into the fields
and took the Hammondsport road, which
he finally left and made for thick piece
of woods. In crossing rough piece of
ground Murphy fell. He made two
efforts before he could get up. The
sheriff was then 80 nearly exhausted
that he was unable to go much faster
than walk. Murphy reached the
woods followed by pistol balls. The
sheriff had noticed blood at intervals on
the trail. When the officer got into the
woods Murphy was nowhere to be seen.
The sheriff walked in, when he was soon
almost stunned by a blow across his
neck from club, and, before he could
turn, he was siezed by Murphy, who
began to shower blows on the officers
head. The latter managed to free him.
self, and made an effort to use his revol-
yer, but Murphy knocked it out of his
hand, and tried to get the weapon him.
self. A struggle then began between
the two men for possession OF the pistol.
By lucky chance the officer got the
club Murphy had dropped, and, spring
ing back, he struck him a blow that
felled him to the ground. He then
choked Murphy until the latter was
forced to beg for mercy. Edsall secured
the pistol and marched Murphy in front
of him to Kanonah station, threatening
to shoot him if he turned or ran. MUIR
phys wounds were in his legs, pieces
of flesh having been torn ont when he
jumped from the train. How he man
aged to run four miles, swimming a swift
stream three times, and then offer resis-
tance to his pursuer, is wonderful.
Year: 1877

Council has very properly appropriated


5000 for the purpose OF repairing the Free
bridge. This amount is now subject to the
order OF the bridge treasurer. 1t is conf
IDENTITY expected that the Finance Commit
tee of the Richmond Common Council will
make like appropriation. The bridge, to
be much Lnger successful, must be re-
Year: 1877

A NUIsANcE.-Willt the police look after
the crowds OF colored men and women who
block up the streets in front OF the large to-
bacco factories in the lower part OF the city
Their presence and conduct is great in
convenience to ladies and others passing
through that section.
Year: 1877

WET MALTA package of letters from
the mail lately overturned with the stage
coach in North river was received here
from Lexington yesterday. Nearly all the
letters were water-stained. and from most
Of them the stamps had been washed, but
the writing was quite legible.
Year: 1877

thrown wood at him he never
would have come back that way.
That is where we have always
blamed Manchester. But when
Manchester went to the Centennial
the dog got even. The dog and a
skunk that lived under the barn
broke up the hen business there.
We might meet him on the side
walk, and he never seemed to know
us. If we spoke to him he would
wag a foot or eighteen inches of the
lower end of his tail, look away
beyond, and seemed 10 be trying
to think if he hadn't met us in
another world, ages ago. The
other day he came home howling,
walking oD two legs. Some one
had put a charge of shot in him,
and we knew Manchester had got
back, though there was nothing
about it in the papers. He seemed
to be as full of shot as-well. he
was reasonably full, and every time
he went to sit down he howled wo-
fully. He was a dog of sedentary
habits, and when his utensil for
sitting down was not as well as
could be expected, his capacity for
enjoyment was limited, and he
would stand and lean against a
barrel and discourse in a foreign
tongue until nobody could sleep in
the entire neighborhood. In his
helpless condition the hens used to
show fight, and we saw it was hu-
initiating to him, so we prepared to
lead him like a lamb to the slaugh-
ter. We took him to the police
office to get the dollar we paid for
the license and to have him shot.
Year: 1877

George W. Peck, editor of the
Lacrosse Sun, Il sportsman of much
enthusiasm in WISCONSIN, gives his
experience trying to Faise q dog.
The following is his Storyi


We had never been as proud of
anything in the dog line as we were
of that Peruvian retriever pup
Time passed on and the pup began
to grow. lie did not grow tall, but
spread out lengthwise aud sidewise,
and his feet got big. There never
was so long a dog of his age as that
ono was. And talk about tail a
kangaroo's tail would be nowhere.
One wiggle Of his tail would sweep
eleven old-fashioned lOwer-pots off
the yerandah, and you might kick
him as lnUoh as you pleased and he
was the same long dog. You
couldn't telescope him together an
inch. lie was lDe mOSU c0waEdly
dog that eyer was. If a COW came
along and scratched against a tree,
be would crawl under the house
and howl all the afternoon. 0gce
a little girl came in the gate after
swill, and when he looked at her
she dropped the swill-pail and ran.
lie heard her and ran the other
way, and 10 was two days before We
got him home, and tbep we had to
carry him in u basket He WIS q
retriever. His best "holt" was hens.
He got acquainted with Mr.. Man
chester's chickens carly in the sea-
son, and he retrieved them re-
gardles Of expense. He would
occasionally come back from
Mr.. Manchester's without q
hen, but it was net the dogs
fault. If Manchester had not
Year: 1877

A worthy army surgeon desired
those who saw him to his grave to
wear anything but black, and to
carry white flowers in their button
holes, as he wished the ceremony to
be considered more an occasion for
rejoicing than one for mourning.
A yet more merry-minded man was
so-called misanthrope," who
died at Mont Gaillard in 1922. He
left instructions that all the musi-
clans in the place were to be invited
to his funeral to tighten the march
to the churchyard by playing min
uets, waltzes and hunting tunes.
His house and the church were to
be decorated with evergreens and
flowers in honor of the event, and
his property was to 90 to the rela-
tive who laughed the heartiest dur
ing the celebration of the burial
rites Another eccentric French
man, who had spent his life in col
lecting gems and coins, wished his
obsequies to be performed with
every accompaniment calculated to
inspire mirthful feelings. His body
was to be wrapped in tanned pig.
skin, and buried cofiinless in a
standing nosition unon a nile of
charcoal. The followers" were
to carry laurel branches, and upon
their return from the church the
doors Of his treasure chamber were
to be thrown open to all corners,
that they might help themselves to
its contents at discretion. His'b
hests were hardly likely to be
obeyed; for, in anticipation of the
general scramble, before the collec-
tors breath was out Of his body, his
servants decamped with everything
that was portable.


Dame Margaret Thompson, who
lived and died in Boyle street, in
the days of Queen Anne, was of a
different way of thinking. She
had never found any flowers so
gratifying to her sense of smell as
good Scotch snuff, and therefore de-
sired her old servant, Sarah, to see
that her body was covered with it
before the cofiin-lid was screwed
down. She was also to strew the
threshold with two bushels of snuff
preparatory to her dead mistress be-
ing carried across it by six of the
greatest snuf-takers to be found in
the parish, and to secure the same
number Of old maids for pall-bear-
ers, and supply them with boxes of
snuff for use on the road; Sarah
herself, walking before the coffin,
and distributing "every twenty
yards, a large handful of Scotch
snuff to the ground and upon the
ground" while the clergyman was
expected to take a certain quantity
of the same, not exceeding a pound,
as he walked in the PROFESSIONALS
fee of four pounds depending upon
his carrying out the DANES whim
in that respect.
Year: 1877




The two great men Of the Brook
lyn pulpit are splendid men physi-
cally, and they never could have
been the powers they are had they
been otherwise. DR.. Chaplin and
Robert Collyer, though fine and
strong in intellectual fiber, are not
so exceedingly remarkable in that
particular as to account for their
long, strong hold upon the public
mind. The two Boston preacher;
who drew the largest crowds, Mr.
Phillips Brooks and Mr.. Murray
are men of entirely exceptiona.
| phisique--hard to be matched any
where in the world for size and
strength. 1t is an inspiration tc
look at them. Their presence i;
magnetic. They exercise a charm
which can only come from complete
manhood-the equipoise of thought
and intent with voice aud might
If We turn to our own city, and see
where the crowds are, we shall fnd
them at Dr. Halls and DR.. Taylor's
Mr.. Hepworth's church, too, i;
usually a crowded one. 1t is nc
dishonor to these men to say that
the people do not flock to them be-
cause they preach the best sermons
to be heard in New York. There
are a dozen pulpits furnished with
as good brains as these. The
simple truth is that if they
were called upon to preach
with a slender physique md a
weak voice, their crowds would
leave them. They are large, strong,
healthy men. America does not
produce enough of them, and so we
were obliged to import some OF
them. The Brick church has called
a pastor from London, and he is
one of the same kind-strong
enough not only to do an immense
amount of pastoral work, but to
preach without fatigue, perform the
duties of profeSsorship, take charge
of school matters in his own dis
trict, and carry through all the side
work that comes to a man in his
position. The church went for
that man simply because it could
not find him here. 1t is no dis
honor to the theological institutions
to go out of the country for such
men, because America does not
raise enough of them for her own
use. When we produce them in
sufficient numbers, we shall not be
obliged to import them. And when
we fully comprehend the fact
that the body has quite as much to
do with pulpit usefulness as the
heart and the mind, and that one
of the frst conditions of that use
fulness is high Thysical vitality, We
shall give physical culture the at
tention that it demands, and ulti-
mateiy raise ONT own preachers
[pr J. G. Holland, In seFibner for
January.
Year: 1877

The other forenoon Canadian Indian
lugged back load of baskets around until
tired out, and then he sat down on Randolph
street, back to the wall, and went to sleep.
his legs stuck out straight before him, and
the sun beame1 into his face, and he paid
no heed to the tread of feet around him.
There was a gang of idlers at the corner,
and they naturally wondered how they could
have some fun with the red men.-Huntins
up ten or fifteen cobble stones, they distri-
dred and fifty pounds had been added to the
sleeper's load. That was fun as far as II
went, but was not enough. A saloon keep
er was out washing his windows with hose
and the boys managed that he had to leave
his work. Then one of them picked up the
pipe, turned the full stream on Los head,
and the effect was all that could have been
asked for. The red men must have imagin-
ed that the Ealls of st. Anthony had been
turned loose to run down his back. Utter
ing wild shrek, he sprang up, fell down,
and then rolled sideways off the curb. The
extra weight of the stones broke the back
strap with which the load was tied, and of
came the baskets. The boys bad disappear.
ed, the water was shut off, and just what
struck him the Indian could not find out.
he shook the water off his hair, fiirted It
off his old wool hat, and by-and-by picked
up his load. The weight astonished him,
and when he discovered a rock in each bask-
ct his amazement was intense.-His Jaw
fell, eheap.l look crossed his face, and as
he heaved out the stones he murmured:
"1njun brought 'em stones six miles and
didn't know It'll Ihjun good deal drunk or
else big TOOL p
Year: 1877

A story is told of two New England dea-
cons, between whom bitter feud had long
existed concerning some contested point.
Neither would yield, and the matter threat
ened to be handed down to the next genera
ton, when one day Deacon Smith appeared
before his old enemy and solemnly said
Brother Sodes, 1t is shame that this quar-.
rel of ours should bring scandal upon the
church. have prayed earnestly for gui
dance in the matter, and have come to the
conclusion that you must give in-for can,
not"
Year: 1877

Mamma" said miss of ten summers,
the other day to her mother, Zone of the most
beautiful and elegant women in New York
society after critical examination of the
shape Of her head and its pose upon her
neck Mamma, you have an exceedingly
well shaped head, think ysu might have
been quite a bright woman il you hsd
tried"
Year: 1877

When asmall boy with a prejudice against
yellow dogs observes an old oyster can in
condition of inactivity he at once begins de-
batting the question whether it was created
to point moral or adorn tale. The dog
gets the first news of the decision.
Year: 1877

There is no more arbitrary
system of government under hui
man organization than that OF
party. Controlled by no law but
the will Of caucus, irresponsible
for its acts; demanding unreason-
ing obedience where no respect
is due, and tolerating no exer-
else of individual freedom of
opinion and action. No matter
how often or how materially the
party may change it's principles
or its policy, its adherents are
bound to support the party or
be tabooed as a bolter," regard
ed by the devoted partisan as an
offender fully as criminal as the
traitor to his country; in fact,
the latter IS more readily par
doned by party politicians than
the latter; political treason may
be condoned; party recusancy is
never pardoned.


The power of King Caucus has
been steadily on the increase for
the last forty years, until it had
become dominant in everydepart-
ment Of the govcrnment-Legis-
lative, Executive and Judicial
and is used for defeating the
popular will and carrying thro'
minority measures. All the cor
rupt measures which have Of late
become so common are the di-
rect fruits Of the caucus system.
Every measure of any general
import is passed upon IN private
caucus; a majority Of one in
caucus will carry a measure
which on it's merits would be re-
jected by two-thirds vote. Say
there are 35 Republicans and 81
Doroorofc IN fha Copo<o. 10
votes in caucus control the II
Republicans with whose votes
added to their own, they carry
a measure by two majority which
on an Independent vote would be
defeated by vote Of SO to 10.
What a surrender of popular
government to star-chamber die
tation! No Senator can afford
Year: 1877

The following is an extract from q
communication addressed by Mr..
Bergh, President of the society for
the prevention of cruelty to animals,
to Joseph W. Winans, the president
of the San Francisco society,"


Sir: Ienclose for your perusal, and
1 hope instruction, an account of q
"bull bait" extracted from the San
Francisco Chronicle of November
18th, which took place in that city
within the immediate jurisdiction of
the society for the prevention of cru
city to animals. Presuming that
the statement is correct, you will
easily realize the amazement and in
dignation with which it inspires
every civilized man and woman in
this part of the United States. Ex-
cepting the spectacle Of horses dis
embowelled by the bull, the abomi-
nable exhibition fell to the perfect
level of the barbarions "bull fight }"
of Spain, and was supplemented by
fendish cruelty to q friendly pet
dog, which I believe would have
shocked even the finty hearts of the
matadores of that effete country.
Let me quote from the sickening de-
scription few details. which should
be kept perpetually before the eyes
of your citizens. and, if possible,
blister the sight OF those who so in.
famously insulted the humanities Of
our age as witnesses and principals:


cat this moment a drunken
butcher jumped down into the ar
ena, and, despite the appeals Of the
audience, endeavored to pluck out
one of the bulls eyes from its sock
ct. which he partially succeeded in
doing, the animal the while roaring
with pain.


Blood was now seen oozing from
his mouth and nostrils, great patch
es of skin had been scraped off. and
in order to further divert the atten-
ton of the bull from the wretch who
was clinging to him the dog was
introduced and the infuriated crea-
ture. charging ut it crushed it
against the wall, the report of whose
crunching bones was distinctly
heard !" -D


In the name of morality, national
progress and domestic peace and
happiness, let this odious and cruel
debauchery of the public mind and
conscience be the first and last ever
to occur upon the soil of your happy
state. Hold up the foul deed so high
that its hideous deformities may be
visible all over your favored terrific
ry, and let the voice of every man
and woman who cares for humanity
and virtue be raised in banishing
from within your borders the for
eign wretches who have dared to
tarn:sh your civilization by their
bloody and destroying pastimes.
Year: 1877

endorsing and commencing it to
the attention Of foreign capital
lists, without whose aid no rail-
road can now be built in this
Territory.


But the silliest suggestion we
remember to have seen in any pa
per upon an important question,
is the following from the same
source:


If proposed railroad has not vir-
tue enough in it to induce capitalists
to build it, it would not be good
investment for the public funds.


There is not an instance in the
history Of railroads in the Uni
ted States of a railroad with
''virtue enough in it to induce
capitalists to build it," in the
first instance. In the road un-
der discussion, the people occu-
pying the country adjacent to
the line are to be benefited by
the construction Of the road a
hundred fold more than the cap
italist who invests in it solely for
an interest in it's earnings; but
the people have not the money
to invest, and the capitalists don't
care fig for their necessities,
only to wiring "blood money
from them, without which no
rural population ever get a rail
road. Should it be made to ap-
pear that a railroad between Sc
attic and Walla Walla would i'm
mediately add s10,OO0,OOO of as
sessable value to the territory
through which it passes; that it
would add an annual value to
the products of the country
equal to the entire cost of the
road; that it would open a mar
ket for lumber which would
more than double the present
product of Puget Sound, and
thus double the business Of the
the entire country jutting on the
Sound; capitalists might still
think they could do better with
their money than invest 1t in
this railroad; but what idiot will
argue that because capitalists do
not invest in it, it would be a
bad investment for the people
whose whole material possess
ions are to be affected by 1t?
Year: 1877

, WV VIA ASS1AO" w ~


institution Of this nature swim
ding those who relied upon
their honesty and ability to pay
back with interest in the time of
need. The officers, after swim
ding the deluded depositors,
continue to enjoy the pleasures
and luxuries Of life, while their
victims are haunted with hunger
and despair that sometimes
rushes them on to a suicides
grave. How often do we hear
Of these savings bank swindlers
being held to atone to the offend
ed law? Not only do they cheat
poor men and women, but they
cheat the law itself, and thus
make cheating successful. In
reason it appears that this style
of swindling should be met, and
the bank swindler made to face
his crime, the same rs the poor
wretch who steals a loaf of
bread to sustain life.


But it must be conceded, after
all, that the most insidious cheat
ing is that which is practised
under the gulse of life insurance.
By specious lying men are in
duccd to insure their lives that
wives and little ones might be
provided for when their protect
ors were gone. With full conf
dence, for years men toiled and
saved that they might be able to
pay premiums for the future
benefit of those dependent on
them. A few companies strug-
gled through a series Of years
and built up healthy business.
Alter the long struggle incident
to establishing a business but
little understood by the people,
but which by fair dealing was
rapidly becoming popular, the
cheats and swindlers readily saw
that this would be good lead to
work, as the money paid IN
would be required in 4 far dis
tant horizon. All at once life
insurance companies sprang up
everywhere, and thousands were
seduced into giving up their
money to them. After a brief
existence the concern collapsed,
and the policy-holders We're left
| to whistle for their money.


There is some satisfaction in
knowing that the ball has COM
mcnced rolling to reach the unc-
tieus sinners that manage these
swindling concerns. Punish
ment will not restore the mil
hons stolen, but it will have the
effect to deter others from pur-
suing the cheating path, and
heartlessly plundering the wld-
ow and orphan.
Year: 1877

A New York chemist says he
wants nothing more than three
pals, barrel of old water, and
twenty cents worth of drugs to
make six gallons of just such
champagne as fools pay a dollar
a pint for,