smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

The following thrilling narrative
is translated from the Spanish. A
captain of the Mexican insurgent
q my is giving an account of O
medicated night attack upon a
hacienda situation in the Cordil-
I | ras, and occupied by large force
of Spanish soldiers. After vari-
ETY. of details he continues:


Having arrived at the hacienda
unperceived, thanks to the obscur-
ity of a moonless night, we came
to a halt under some large trees at
some distance from the building,
and / rode forward with my troop
in order to reconnoiter the place.
The hacienda, so far as l could see
in gliding across, formed a huge,
massive parallelogram, strengthened
by enormous buttresses of hewn
stone. Along this chasm the walls
of the hacienda almost formed the
continuation of another perpendic-
ular one, chiseled by nature her.
self in the rocks, to the bottom OF
which the eye could not penetrate,
for mists, which necessarily boiled
up from below, did not allow it to
measure their awful depth. This
was known in the country by the
name of "The Valadero."


/ had explored all sides of the
building excepting this, when /
know not what scruple of military
honor melted me to continue my
way along the ravine which protect
ed the rear of the hacienda. Be-
tween the walls and the precipice
there was narrow pathway about
six feet wide; by day the passage
would have been dangerous, but
by night it was perilous enter
terprise. The walls of the farm
house took an extensive sweep, the
path crept around their entire base
ment, and to follow it to the end in
darkness, only two PAGES from the
edge of a perpendicular chasm,
was no very easy task even for as
practiced horseman as myself
Nevertheless / did not hesitate. but
boldly urged my horse toward the
walls of the farmhouse aud the
abyss of the Valadero. had got
over half the distance without ac-
cident. when all of n sudden my
horse neighed aloud. This neigh
made me shudder. I had jus'
reached pass where the ground
was Just vide enough for the foul
legs of horse, and it was inpossi'
bile to retracc my steps.


"IIello y / exclaimed aloud, al
the risk Of betraying myself, whicl
was even less dangerous than en-
Year: 1874

"Draw lots to see which Of the
two shall lead into the ravine."


1t was in truth the sole means oi
solving the difficulty. "There are,
nevertheless, some precautions to
take" said the Colonel.


"He who shall retire backward
it will be but feeble chance for es-
cape for him, | admit, but, in short,
there is a chance, and especially in
favor of the winner"


"You cling not to life, then ?"
cried. terrified at the sang froid
with Which this proposition was put
to me.


81 cling to life more than your
SELF" sharply replied the Colonel,
"for I have a mortal outrage TO
avenge. But the time is fast slip
ping away. Are you ready to pro-
ceed to draw the last lottery AT
which one of US will ever exist ?"


How were we to proceed to this
drawing lotY By means Of the wet
fingers, like the schoolboys7 This
way was impracticable.. Our hands
imprudently stretched over the
heads of our frightened horses
might give them fatal start
Shonld we TOSS up piece of coin,
the night was too dark TO enable us
to distinguish which side fell up
ward. The Colonel bethought him
of an expedient of which / should
never have dreamed.


"Listen to me, Captain" said the
Colonel, TO whom I had commune
Gated my pcrplexities. 81 have an
other way. The terror which our
horses feel makes them draw every
movent a building breath. The
first Of US two whose horse shall
neigh"


"Wins !" I exclaimed, hastily.


"Not so: shall be the loser. l
know that you are countryman,
and as such can do whatever you
please with your horse. As to my
self, who but last year wore the
gown of theological student, i
fear your equestrian powers. You
may be able to make your horse
neigh to hinder him from doing
so is "A very difficult matter"


We waited in deep and anxious
silence until the voice of one of our
horses should break forth. The si-
lence lasted for q minute, for an
age! 1t was my horse who neigh
ed first. The Colonel gave an ex-
ternal manifestation of joy; but, no
doubt, he thanked God from the
very bottom Of his heart.


"You will allow me minute to
make my peace with Heaven :" said
l with a failing voice.


"Will five minutes be sufficient p


The Colonel pulled out his watch.
I addressed toward the Heavens,
brilliant with stars, which / thought
I was looking to for the last time,
with an intense and burning prayer.


at is time" said the Colonel.


answered nothing, and with
firm hand gathered up the bride
of my horse and drew it within my
fingers, which were agitated with a
nervous tremor.


"Yet one moment more,' said
to the Colonel, "for have need Of
all my GOODNESS to carry into execu'
ton the fearful maneuver which
am about to commence"


"Granted," replied Carduro.


Nv education had been in the
country. Ny childhood, and part
Of nv earlier youth, had almost
been passed on horseback. may
saw, without flattering myself, that
if there was any one in the world
capable of accomplishing difficult
equestrian feat, it was myself.
rallied with almost supernatural
effort, and succeeded in recovering
my self possession in the very face
of death. Taking it at the worst,
/ | bad already hravcd il too often to
be any longer alarmed at It, From
Year: 1874

The following article appeared
in a recent issue of the N. Y.
World, and is no less worthy as a
specimen of chaste english, than as
a model Of logic, to place in our
columns. The writer is one Of our
most distinguished Virgiuians, and
though now in private life should
be as he once was, serving his State
in some other exalted posts of labor,
which are its posts OF honor


Ed. News.
Year: 1874

clothed in its right mind affable, civil and quiet
could be nothing but satisfaction. In the after
noon, they were dancing in the immense and
handsomely decorated ballroom, score of sets
on the floor at once, and there was no sound OF
quarrel or disorder. The neat and welldressed
Irish lasses-many doubtless, of Hibernian blood
but American birth-had real reason to be glad
that their beaux Of the day-or for life-were
not foaming and bowling with the excitement


of drink, and that their day of pleasure avoided
Year: 1874

In card published in last evenings
Express, Ex-Governor DowNEY denies
that he has purchased the Star of this
city for the purpose of running it in
his interest as candidate for Govern
or. Those who know the Governor
best, say he is not likely to invest in a
newspaper. We have no doubt the
Governor would like to be Governor,
but he has probably heard the story
of the man who sold himself to the
devil OH the condition that he should
be supplied with all the money he
could use during life. The moment
his majesty failed to put up the con-
tract was void. The man went into
all kinds of speculations, spent money
extravagantly,b but his majesty seemed
to be made of money. The man be-
gan to dispair and as last resort
started daily newspaper. The first
month the bills were paid promptly,
the next month the devil began to
growl at the expenses and the third
month he failed altogether and tcld
the man he was free. The Governor
has few dollars but he does not wish
to personate the devil in the purchase
of the Star.
Year: 1874

We are informed that few indi-
viduals are making strenuous efforts
to induce the Council to consent that
the railroad depot shall remain where
it now is for an indefinite time. We
have no doubt but that if this point is
gained it will ultimately result in Sc
rious damage to the city and we would
suggest to the members of the Coun-
Gil the Importance of acting carefully


and advisedly in the matter. 1t Is
worth while to remember that spe-
citic contract has been entered into
by the Council and the railroad COM
pany and on the conditions of this
contract $4,000 worth of city bonds
were surrendered to the railroad man.
ayers. The conditions on which these
bonds were surrendered were that the
railroad company should erect depot
buildings on the ground, designated
by the city, within given time. If
this contract is carried out the city
will have the depot permanently To-
Gated and the question definitely
settled. If it is broken up the object
In surrendering the bonds will not be
obtained and the company released
from its agreement to build the depot
in the city. Having the bonds and
being released from their contract,
they Will, when the times suits their
convenience to do SO, locate the depot
on the east side of the river, thus leav-
ing the city out in the cold, shorten
the track of the Southern Pacific road
one mile, and, no doubt, realize a
handsome thing by greatly enhancing
the value of property on the east side
of the river. These are facts which
interest the citizens of this city and it
behooves Councilmen to examine be-
fore they aid in carrying out scheme
which, If successful, will work seri-
Gus Inconvenience to the city proper.
It is clear to the minds of all that the
depot cannot long remain where it now
ia. and it seems to us who have no
personal interest to serve and merely
Year: 1874

Regular country agents will be furnished
with the double sheet ut the same rates as for
the single sheet.


This issue will contain full Information con-
cerning the agricultural, mineral, commer-
cial and mechanical resources of this favored
country. To those who desire full informa-
value.


The edition will probably exceed 5000.
be inserted in this issue on favorable terms
There will be NO SOLICITING, and all desiring
to make use of this grand opportunity for ad-
vertising should cali on us at once
Year: 1874

IT is a significant fact that our little
friend AARON A. SARGENT, of Quaker
Hill, Nevada county, is opposed to
any and all propositions for investi-
eating any of the subsidy schemes by
which the people have been robbed
out of millions of dollars. Any allu-
sion in the Senate to the proposed in
vestigation of the Pacific Mail and
Central Pacific Railroad affects
AARON as a red rag does Spanish
bull. He does not want any investi-
CATION and he attempts to defeat every
thing looking that way. AARoN's
hands are not clean. He is a sharp
little financier, and has no doubt
drove many q good bargain since he
went into the Senate. He jobs out
the Federal patronage of this coast as q
green grocer peddles onions-you take
your choice but the 'commish" must
come.
Year: 1874

SUPERINTENDENT HEWITT calls our
attention to the fact that the people of
Los Angeles valley cannot save $780,
600 per annum on freight by building
another road between this city and
the water for the reason that freight
charges received by the L. A. & w.
Railroad Company do not exceed that
sum per annum. This is a strong ar
gument, and we do not see our way
clear in the way of maintaining the
correctness of our figures, though they
were furnished us by prominent and
well-informed citizen. 1t would be a
difficult thing to save more than We
expend. 1t is, however, certain that
if we had another road we should not
have to pay nineteen cents per ton per
mile on our freight, and what less we
could get it done for would be so much
saved. This, we think, we will be able
to stand by. n a orsr
Year: 1874

A CHARTER election recently took
place in Worcester, Mass, at which a
husband and wife were the opposing
candidates for the school committee.
The grey mare proved the better horse;
the wife securing two votes to the hus-
bands one. Up to the latest accounts
no domestic trouble had arisen from
the political rivalry, but the expert
iment looks like a useless tempting of
Providence. t
Year: 1874

advocate what we believe to be for the
best interests of all, that the arrange
ment entered into by the Council and
the railroad company should be car
ried out to the letter. We believe that
such is the wish of the majority of
citizens, and as we believe the major
ity of the Council desire to obey the
wishes of their constituents, we have
no doubt but that the conditions of
the contract will be complied with.
Year: 1874

SAN LUIS OBIsPO, December 2Sth.-
Doctor Isham, prominent business
man of MORO, yesterday reported shot
in the neck and mortally wounded, is
now reported in fair way to recover.
The shooting is reported to have been
the result of previous quarrel be-
tween him and Brown.


The reports regarding the drouth in
this county are greatly exaggerated.
The volunteer grain crop, also the grass
crop, are far above the average at this
season of the year. Plowing and SOW
ing are being pushed forward with
great vigor in all parts of the county.


The weather continues cold, with
frosty nights.
Year: 1874

On the first of January GEORGE c.
PERKINS of the GooDALII, NELSON &
PERKINS Steamship Line, will leave
his banking business at Oroville in
charge of his brother and take up his
residence permanently in San Fran
cisco, where he will hereafter devote
himself to advancing the interests of
the Steamship Company.
Year: 1874

Excessive vehemence of utterance and
its opposite fault, an indolent indiffer-
ence have been considered in q previous
paper Aside from these are numberless
mannerisms or peculiarities of speech
posture, and gesture which it is the
province of elocution to correct.


Bishop Berkeley once suggested that
half the learning of the land was rem
dered useless by neglect of attention to
pronunciation and delivery in early edu-
cation. The glory of man is speech, as
the good George Herbert has said, and
therefore, he argues, nothing is little in
Gods service" We have an innate
sense of fitness to which speech and
action should conform, but this is vio-
lated by those oftentimes whose literary
taste in other respects is almost faultless.
THOMPSON once read his Seasons to a
friend in private. The gentleman, after
listening awhile, snatched the MS. from
the poets hands, because he could no
longer endure the murderous mutillation
of beautiful sentences by wretched read
inc We have had similar feelings in
listening to scripture and hymn-reading.
Nasal tones, upward infections and a
sing-song marking of the rhyme, the
conslral pause or poetic feet torture a
cultivated ear, Add to these a stopping
posture, swaying of the body to and
fro, Struggling of shoulders hands in the
pockets, nervous grimaces of the face,
ewes turned to the ceiling or to nobody
in particular, aimless gestures and other
infelicities of manner and you have a
picture true to lite. An English writer,
Daniel Moore, says, 1--WE fear it might be
said to many who boast that they never
had recourse to


'sThe start theatric, practiced at the glass;s


the greater pity that you never had. For
if some of your gestures and grimaces
had been practiced there, we feel sure
they never would have been repeated
Year: 1874

The POLITICAL PRoHIBITIoNIsTS.- We
have been asked, within day or two, by
intelligent men, who the Prohibitionists
are. We suppose they refer to the knot
of men in each community who annually
go through the form of nominating them
selves for Office, when quite as good tenn
perance men are brought out by the Re
publican party. These good, honest,
Jealous men, most of whom were Pepub-
licans, voted against us last fall, and
elected William Allen Governor of Ohio,
and thereby placed Democrats in charge
of all the asylums and other public insti-.
tutions. Coming mostly, as they do, from
the Republican party, they are now doing
their utmost, really and practically, to
put the State into the hands of the DEM
ocrats, without the remotest expectation
that they will prove themselves to be the
friends of the cause. We do not question
the right of the Prohibition party to do
this We do not question their sincerity
or honesty, but we think it the better
way for all temperance men who are Re
publicans from principle to remain in
their party, where they have personal
influence and power and do what they
can to bring it up to the right position
concerning this matter.


The place for Republican is in the
ranks of his own party; and so long as
he does his whole duty in the way of
creating the sentiment and influencing
the action of his party, he is free from
blame. e.-Sprinqfeld Republic.
Year: 1874

Advertisements of the Louisville lii
brary Lottery swindle have been received
at this Office, put up in the form OF


mighty interestin' readin' but they
draw blank tickets here And now, let
us once more raise our voice against this
damnable vice. Let US inform our readers
and we wish they were legion for once
that this Louisville Library Lottery is
a gigantic swindle, and disgrace to the
country. This is the last drawing, and
all that printers ink can do is being
done. Attractive looking papers are
printed and sent broadcast over the Land,
advertising the lottery, and presenting 1t
in the most enticing light. This, the last
drawing, will prove the greatest sell OF
all. just look at the matter soberly
moment. certain number of tickets
are offered; but, the fact is, the company
will sell ten million extra ticAets If they
can. And here is where the meanest part
of the swindle comes in. Leave thewhole
thing alone. You stand ten times the
chance to make your fortune gambling
with blackleg Let the Oranges take
up this matter, and keep the farming
community posted with reference to the
money-making schemes of these misera-
able scamps, for out of the hard-earned
savings of the husbandmen do they get
large share of spoils. If the press through
out the land could not be bought, an
article such as this, printed in every
newspaper in the country. would knock
the louisville Lottery into splinters. 1t
might be more elegantly written, but it
could come no nearer the truth COtatm-
bus Gazette.
Year: 1874

The Prohibitionists, in some places,
are running recklessly ahead with their
eyes shut, to make their nominations for


the fall election. They are just now


busily engaged in resolving to play sec
ond fiddle to no party, but they are ex-
tremely anxious for the Republican party
to play second fiddle to them. We warn
our Republican friends everywhere, to
stand aloof from this nondescript ele-
ment, which seems to have no well-de-
fined object in view save the defeat of
Republican candidates. In this, small
and Insignificant as the party is, it has
been quite successful. Beyond this it
can never accomplish any thing upon its
own merits. As little knot of temper
ance politicians they have thus far shown
only an ability to take exceptions and to
disparage. What is to be accomplished
IN the way of temperance must, it is very
plainly to be seen, come through the
Republican party, which has bottom,
power and character to stand upon, and
which with the fewest exceptions has
shown a willingness to use all feasible
means to make the temperance cause
successful. The charlatans who have
undertaken to organize and run the pro-
hibtion party have done the cause of
temperance more damaging harm, than
it has ever received from its open and
avowed enemies. Hence we say to all
especially, keep out of such
entangling alliances, and don't throw
away your votes upon an impracticable
party which is engaged in running its
little party machinery with as little prac-
tical wisdom as possible.-MarysviHe I5ib-
une
Year: 1874

Thompson is not going to do anything
more in conundrums. He recently asked
his wife the difference between his head
and hogshead, and she said there was
none. He says that's not the right an
swer.
Year: 1874

To the Editor Of the American


Your readers may like to read few
lines from this part OF the Country in re-
lation to the prospects of the farmers the
condition of society, &c. The hay in this
County is all cut and farmers, are now
cutting their grain The crop is fair and
there is greater number Of acres under
cultivation than ever before. The reason
is-the railroad has reached this part O f
the state and there is chance TO market
their grain; and yet nearly every man YOU
meet, cries down the builders Of the road
to the lowest degree, and try to prove
that railroads are injurious to The pros


perity Of the Country, and at the same
time they cry up saloons and whiskey
dens as Indispensable to the happiness of
the people. Any man in the east who de-
sires to live where it is popular to be a
whiskey topper let him come to Oregon,
But let him come with plenty of money
as this is no place for poor man. Wag-
es for common laborers are from fifty
cents to one and half dollars per day,
according to the season of the year.
Land is high, and yet the land holders
make publications in the east that this is
the place for poor man to get him a
home" When the fact is there are but
few farms on which man can settle and
make it pay for itself. Society is corrupt.
The Sabbath is holiday with most of
the people. No one is considered a man
till he carries his dirk or revolver by his
side. / have seen more shooting and
stabbing, drinking and gambling in one
day in Oregon than ever saw in Maine
in twenty years. Yet there are some very
kind people here. and many zealoss Christ
ians. The people are as hospitable as
any in the world. The weather is clear
and bot. Mud nearly dried. so it is quite
good travelling. The crop of bed bugs is
not very good this year, but neas are
abundant. Rmigrants from the east
are returning every day. B.
Year: 1874

Nis becoming quite apparent that the
Imitation majority in Congress did not rep.
resent the sentiment of the people, on the
currency question. Even in the West
which was supposed to demand more
grecnbacks, the people are beginning to
be better understood. Senator Window
of Minnesota who voted for imitation. now
acknowledges his mistake. aud that he
misunderstood his State. The members
from Michigan who thought they were
winning popularity by voting for ''cheap
money are now apologizing to their
constituents. and begging to be forgiven.
Members who breasted the current, are
now found 10 be most in favor


Senator Logan failed to get an indorse.
ment from the Republican Convention in
Illinois. There is every reason TO be-
lieve that at the next session Congress
will have a majority in favor of honest
money.


Ii is only another instance of the folly
Of politicians in believing the people to be
oNAh1H. uA>HouC>t fHe
fatlonists in Congress did not believe the
people would bear the pinching of re-
turn to specie. and the payment OF debts.
They believed that the people desired to
put of still farther, the day of reckoning
In fine they had no faith in the pluck and
honesty of Americans. We are glad they
are now finding out their mistake. and we
hope never again will they hesitate to do
a right thing, for fear he people will not
beari It. The American people, where oc-
casion required have always given splen-
did instances of patriotism. and OF endnr-
ance Of taxation. They are none the less
honest, and patriotic in peace, than In
war. Every timid politician who distrust
the peoples pluck. every corrupt poll
iician who mistakes the peoples integrity
will soon or late come to grief He is the
best leader who dares TO lead the people
right, and such leader tie people will
follow.
Year: 1874

Miss Florence Kimbsll. who has been
doing" the New England summer resorts
for the New York Trade Reporter, says -
No railroad in this country can boast of
as many and so delightful summer resorts
along its line as can the Eastern & Maine
Central railroad and its numerous branch
es. Tourists from all States in the Uuion
come to inhale the refreshing and inyigor-
ating air along the New England coast :,
and among its grand and lofty mountain
ranges. Its sea coasts afford such an end
less variety of scenery, that one could
spend the entire summer months upon
them without ever thinking them monoto-
nous; for field and forest, hill and dale,
form an artistic back ground to miles End
miles of drowsy old ocean, washing the
broad stretches of white sandy beach,"