smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

For the last eight ten years the public has from


time to time read of the daring exploits of Mr. James
the sobriquet of THE Horse Catcher" During his
residence in Syracuse he has caught more than two
hundred runaway horses, saving many lives by his
destruction. Mr.. Findley IS an unassuming young
man. but his bravery is appreciated by the public
He was born in Albany, and came to Syracuse some
eighteen years ago. Although only twenty-three
years old, he has wife and family, and has served
five years at his trade as carriage painter. About
twelve years ago Findly began catching runaway
horses. He was somewhat tmid at first may be
imagined, but he gained confidence in himself as he
succeeded and experimental, and now does not hes-
tate to throw himself in the path of the most in
furated steed. Findlys first experience as q horse
catcher in Auburn. He waiting for a train
the depot one afternoon twelve years ago, when
his attention attracted by a runaway horse,
which was daShing toward him at break neck pace.
In the wagon were seated lady and her little child.
The mother was paralyzed with fear and could not
speak. The little child screamed in terror, and the
cheeks of the bystanders were blanched they saw
the frightened, maddened horse daShing furiously
toward train of cars that stood across the street.
The spectators all rushed out of the way, and dray
men and hackmen ran to place of safety. Findley
saw in instant that the occupants of the wagon
would be killed if they thrown against the train
of cars. Without hesitGting moment he planted
himself directly in front of the maddened beast and
sprang at his head. He threw the horse down, and
although the wagon was overturned, the occupants
were uninjured. save by mere scratches.


His method of stopping horse is as follows: When
he sees runaway horse approaching, he plants him.
self directly in its route and runs with 1t in the same
direction it is proceeding. Findley run like d
deer and by the time the runaway horse is abreast
him. nine times out of ten he is running fast the
horse To seize him by the check rein or one line
and bring him to halt is but the work of instant
OF course his act is one fraught with great danger
and he may be said to take his life i'll his hands every
time he attempts to stop horse Perhaps the braves


act of his life was performed on the 9TH of May last
A team of young horses were running at break-necl
speed down West Genesee street and across the marke
in front of the Empire House directly towards thu
| Syracuse Savings Bank. In an instant more the!
would have plunged into that building. Findle!
saw them coming and sprang in their path. HI


seized one by the check rain and vaulted upon it
| back as lightly cat. By superhuman effort HI


succeeded in turning the horses in their course an
| brought them down to the ground. This brave &C


was witnessed by Patrick Lynch, who had hand
| some bronze medal struck off, upon which the dee


was commemorated in fitting terms, and presented
| Mr. Findley-SyrdcuSe Courier,
Year: 1879

There certainly never another period of such
running and fro in the earth of such astounding
growth in the range Of human Information as this in
the most momentous crowd upon each other beyond
our power to keep pace with them. Their multi
plicity bewiderS and cOnfounds US. The whole life
Condition and dwelling place of civilized man is
being revolutionized by them We travel now in
palaces with every and luxury and faster than
the winds We converse by electricity across ocean
and continents We spin, knit weave, print and even
calculate by automatic machines. We copy nature
and record her aspect by sunbeams. The whole
world has become our neighbOrhOOd. Men have
made visits to the poles mapped the currents of the
sea- belted the earth in every direction with lines of
railroads and steamers thrown down the walls which
for ages have separated nations brought all types and
kindreds of men face to face and rendered journey
around the globe mere summer recreation. And es
peciay in recoverieS from theOng forgotten past, in
the reconstruction of history before the historic
period and in bringing to light the wisdom and science
of prmeval ages Our times have been extraordinary
rich and fruitful. The last quarter Of century has
been very resurrection time in this regard Ages of
which we have only the dimest hints have been
marveously recalled from their oblivion. With the
ability to deciper hierOglyphicS and cunifOrm in
scrptons old worlds have nearly opened to our
temptations By the mastery of languages the tracing
of them to their primal sources and connections
the searching out and bringing together of the scat
tered fragments of antiquity and the exhumation OF
human remains, the original iIamigratiOns of the
race have become traceable and much of their long


lost history has been reclaimed Things hitherto re-
ferred to the department of myth, fable and dream
| have suddenly assumed the character of autheniC
traditions This is age which answers well the
ancient prophecy of time bordering on the end
when men would become great travellers andexporer
and as a consequence the stock of human knowledge
be remarkably increased. Even the whole way bach
| through prehistoric ages TO Nimrod and Noah il


being laid open and lighted up by modern explorers
and why should us that from the land Of Egyp
also Qhat land of Oldest and most numerous monu
ments-that land where nothing perishes-that lanC
specially chosen of God as the theatre of his mos
stupendOus miracles) there should also be bursting


forth of unexpected light to mingle some superio


beams with the general illuminations.
Year: 1879

The legend of the death and burial Of
Black Eagle was some years ago published
in the Churchman by Bishop G1nderdonk then
Bishop of this diocese as told him by Cap
tain Benjamin Burton Of Georgetown, Del
The Bishop was staying with Captain Bur
ton on whose land the Indian Chief, tradi-
ton says, was buried. The story land no
doubt it is in all essential facts, true) goes
that when the Indians inhabited that Sec
ton of country it was a rule with them that
the young warriors should abstain from the
use of liquor until they had arrived at a
certain age. On one occasion the chief
known as " Black Eagle" had been indulg
ing rather freely, and was tantalizing a
young warrior by showing him how he
could drink the " Nectar of the Gods"
which he (the young brave) could not take.
Whereupon the young blood seized a
battle.axe and drove the bottle down the
throat of the old chief, killing him instantly.
He was buried with the usual funeral cere-
mony on the very spot where he fell, and
that spot became historic, and the white
people adopted the Indian custom of fling.
ing upon it when they passed o piece Of
brush. This was done by old and young
for long, long years some did it because oi
custom, some because they believed that
this simple act of respect to the dead chiei
would insure them good luck. The young
warrior was tried and acquitted on the
ground that the provocation warrented the
killing. Bishop Onderdonk visited thiI
place around which clustered in those day.
many tales and superstitions, and he toC
threw his piece of brush upon the pile.


When the Breakwater & Frankford roaC
was surveyed the limo ran directly through
this historic burying ground where rest tn,
ashes (if not bonesl of the chief of peopl
who were the aboriginal inhabitants of tha
section.


In building the above named road ther


was cut of four feet through the spot, ant


this has obliterated all traces of the pile


and thus has passed away an old Landmark


around which tradition and superstition
} wove many tale in the days Of long age
-iSlSSer Journal.
Year: 1879

The household clock for the past still dear,
Stands where the sunbeams fall,
Sometimes on the face so familiar, yet
That the days gone by recall.
And the chime hear is like that heard
In my childhood at my play,
That in later years reminded me
OF time passing swiftly away.
Could the old clock speak it hath witnessed oft
The parting as one by one,
We have left the Sheltering homestead roof
Going out from the old hearthStone.
To recall in memory happier years,
And when weary and care oppressed,
To long sometimes for an hour like those
We knew in that dear home rest.
And sometimes its chime hath reminded me
OF the moments brief to spend,
With one who from earth was passing away.
Who was more to us than friend:
Must leave the home circle to go beyond
The valley where changing years
Are alike unknown with life's fading hopes,
Its partings and its fears.
1 sometimes forget all the changes made
By time and the years of space
That have interviewed since the past and now
AS gaze on the old clocks face.
Far back through the vista of changing years
Again oft seem to see
The circle of loved ones, the household group,
Who once were so dear to me.


M. y.
SMYRNA, June 2Sth 1879.
Year: 1879

THE GRAssHoPPER PEST IN THE WEST
Grasshoppers are Matching out in innumer-
able myriads on the prairies West of the
Missouri River now, and unnumbered
myriads have been Matching out for quite
while. The ground is black with them.
They hang upon the grass like bees after a
swarm. But this is not surprising, for they
hatch out in the same way here every year.
| have been familiar with them for the past
ten years and see no change in them at all;
possibly they are little bigger for under
the laws of evolution they ultimate in the
kangaroo. On the plains they are at home,
they are healthy and vigorous, for grass is
their natural food and as long as they feed
upon grass they thrive, but let them give
up their natural food and forsake their
native land, the arid plains, and go upon
our wheat farm and luxuriate upon the
rich, highly concentrated food OF cultivated
grain, and disease sets in, gangrens OF the
vitals is the result, and the grasshopper
perishes! Three crops of wheat will de-
stroy any one invasion. After passing
three summers in cultivated fields an epi-
demic (worse than dyspepsia) produced by
high living, will carry them off entirely
and no more will be heard 'of them until
some one situated like myself on the from
tier will report from their recruiting camps
that they are preparing for another raid.
| 1t is my opinion that the frontier farms
will always be subject to these desolatory
incursions from grasshoppers, but as the
tide of empire rolls westward the grasshop.
per will go with it and finally he will dis.
appear and like the locust of Egypt he will
only be terrible to read about. In the


meantime he will continue to make disas-


ferrous raids to the East, but the distance he


will or can go will be limited, and the fear


often expressed that some day he will con


tinue his fight to tho far East and become


q scourge to the Middle States is altogether


groundIess.-Dakota Letter TO the 81. Pau
Pioneer Press, June 3.
Year: 1879

| few evenings ago one of our young clerks called
4 some lady friends in this town to spend the
fenlng. 1t seems that while the caller was enter
Inlng one Of the ladies on the front porch a pet
og Of the family. who was very plavfll drew his
ienti9n to the unfortunate youths new summer hat
men ne mad purchased the evening beforel
They sat side by side on the oaken bench.
Inc moon shonc bright and clear,
While out from the gloom of the dininp-rOom
The form Of dog did appear
He had just awakened from peaceful nan
That made him feel bright and gay,
And his eyes gazed around from place to place
In search of something to play.
At once they rested on a light fur hat,


hat was lying on the floor,
And he quickly grasped that identical hat
And disappeared through the paror door.
Soon the little clock that hung in the hall.


Rang out the hour of ten.
Ana the youth arose i'll a similar way


To that Of frightened hen
He gaZed around on the vacant floor


And thence on the hat-rack near,
But he looked in vain for his $500 hat,


Which was to him then very dear.
They searched very diligently in the yard,


And then into the parlor went,
And looked quite thoroughly for that hat


Until he lOnged his feelings to give vent.
They looked for two hours in the lower rooms,


And then searched the upper floor
Until the clock that hung in the hall


Rang out the hour Of four.


He in hurry passed out the lack door,


For in his mind he was not light,
And quickly made for his own sweet home


HatIeSs and furious that summer night
SsIYRNA, DEL, June 3Oth, 1879
Year: 1879

AS the cherry season is now at hand we
may perhaps do some good by throwing
out acautionary warning against the danger
of swallowing cherry stones. A man died
in Vermont the other day after suffering
from dyspepsia for twenty years. Some
peculiar circumstances in his case led to q
post-mortem examination which revealed
thirteen cherry stones imbedded in the
lining of the stomach, causing athickening
of the walls of that organ of some three
fourths of an inch, and ultimately the
mans death. 1t was the opinion of tn,
physician that the stones had been there
many years.
Year: 1879

Stop Spending so much on fine
clothes, rich food and style. Buy good,
healthy food, cheaper and better cloth
ing; get more real and Substantial
things of life every way, and especial
ly stop the foolish habit of running
after expensive and quack doctors or
using so much of the vile humbug
medicine that does you only harm,
and makes the proprietors rich, but
put your trust in the greatest OF all
simple, pure remedies, Hop Bitters,
that cures always at a trifling cost, and
you will see better times and good
health. Try it once. Read of it in
another column.
Year: 1879

How does the Tribune like Evans
vile, the Democratic stronghold? The
Republicans everywhere ought to
give the "BIigadiers" vote OF thanks.
They are fast driving Union Indiana
back into the anti Confederate army
corps.
Year: 1879

An OvERHAsTY COScLUsioN.-Mrs. End
Bausch, who lives in Floyd street, near
Throop avenue, Brooklyn. sent for an under.
taker recently to take charge Of the funeral
of her husband, who hal been suffering from
heart disease for long time and who had
suddenly fallen from his chair at the dinner
table. The undertaken looked at the body,
and concluded that he WAS wanted went
back TO his shop and got some Grape which
he tied to the door-bell and an ice box which
he deposited in the back parloI The sud
den change experienced by the late Mr.
Bansch in his removal from the heat OF the
room to the cool air Of the ice box made him
sneeze. The undertaken, in an unsat,sfae'
tory frame of mind, carried the Ice box back
to his shop and removed the Grape from the
door, and Mr.. Bauseh's family sent for doc
tor. MIR. Bagsch is doing well.
Year: 1879

Owing to the conciseness, density and
brevity Indispensable in the construction and
formation of an organic law, it will be i'm
practicable In the constitutional convention
q just and wholesome homestead law-such
as our State and people grievously need aud
imperatively demand; but the constitution
should authorize and require of the next sue
ceeding Legislature to provide such a home
stead law as will equally protect all grades
and classes OF our people.


The existing law appears to have been
enacted in confusion and doubt-if not in
brous, awkward and so ily-worded as to defy
the most astute faculty OF construction
Above all, and what cannot longer be borne,
the law is grossly and even absurdly Unequal
and unjust.


One living In a rural district is protected to
the extent of one hundred and sixty acres OF
land with stock, supplies, etc, while the
people OF the corporate towns are protected,
and that indefinitely-on to the extent OF
two or three hundred dollars. II Is difficult
to adjust homestead law to the various
ranks and degrees of prOprietorship. Two
cOuntrymen own each 160 acres OF land, but
the tract OF the one Is worth ten dollars, and
that OF the other not more than one dollar
per acre. So In town or city, one man lives in
palatial residence, another In a cottage,
another in a cot and still another in hut.
The difficulty can De obviated by limiting the
protection to a fixed sum of money. Say IL
the property claimed as homestead exceed in
value the sum OF $4,000, allow the creditor or
creditors to claim that amount and enforce
their claims against the property


The object of the law In such case Is to
shield one from absolute helpless poverty or
destitution, and no one can complain with
$4,000 in his pocket, even though he must turn
his back upon a stately residence


We merely suggest the amount. 1t may be
more or less than $4,000, but at all events
should be a sufficient sum to fulfill the hui
name purpose Of such laws.


No greater inducement to immigration can
be offered than a just, wholesome and uniform
homestead law, while the welfare and interest
OF our resident population imperatively de-
mand such law.
Year: 1879




One long wrangle over the bill for a national
quarantine ended this evening in q vote of 1874
to 100 to lay the entire subject on the table. 1t
was earlyin the afternoon when Casey Young,
OF Tennessee, followed the series of motions to
suspend the rules by one to take up for con-
sderatiOn the Senate bill on national quar-
antine-a bill violently opposed by many In
the House, rejected by the House commit
tee and opposed by a majority OF the MEM
bers. Once up for consideration, il was be-
lieved that Its passage would be easy. In the
hurry and rush of the closing hours men
spoke, fell to wrangling, and stopped. Casey
Young, TALL sallOw man, with strldent
voice, who stayed in Memphis through all the
long struggle OF last autumn, stood In one
aisle hammering on his argument and twenty
feet of John GOOde, the broad-shouldered
Virgini3n, who led the opposition, shouted
Question:, and Interruptions over the din.
There was disorder, but no great disorder, all
the afternoon. Half the House was standing,
but the other half kept to the desks. After a
fashion men could be heard; yet the disorder
was great enough to prevent Chittenden, not
thirty feet from the Chair, from hearing the
permission which gave him the five minutes
speech he had asked.


One vote after another was taken. Casey
Young INTERCEPTED one short speech. The
House threw out the Senate bill and substi-
tuted one of its own-a bill to which no great
objection can be made ii the Federal govern
ment Is to enter at all into the business of
preventing pestilence. The roll was called
on the third reading, two hours or so after this
windy, irregular debate. The bill was lost
The House, wearied, took recess


1t reassembled in the stormy mood which
always comes over the House as it's hours
grow few. From the Speaker down every
member Is In a wild, feverish state of excite
ment Young took the floor again to make
one last effort. He moved to reconsider the
vote by which the vote was lost, and dexter
Ousiy turned the hour he had under the rules
Tor speech over to Garfield, who spoke in
long ingenious defense not Of the House, but
OF the Senate bill. Youngs motion was car
rled, and then, in great whirl of confusion,
the whole House shouting, half its members
keeping some semblance of order and the
rest disorganized mob. The question re-
CURED on ordering the bill to third
reading. It was plain that the House
bill would be again passed to a third
reading Garfield came down the aisle
shouting motion to reconsider the
vote substituting the House bill. 1t was
out OF order, but the opponents of the
bill sprang quickly to the point that Garfield
had not so voted as to make it possible for
him to make this motion. Phillips, of Kan
sas, renewed the motion. He claimed he had
voted one way. The record showed he had
voted the other. There has been all the ses-
sion an undercurrant of criticism among the
Republicans upon the methods of the Clerks
desk 1t broke out now in great shout sus-
Lalning Phillips and his memory against the
records. For the second time during the
evening the mace had to come down from its
Year: 1879

perch and this sign OF the visible majesty OF
the House had to be carried from aisle to
aisle before the Speakers hammer brought
order out of confusion.


The progress of business still remained In
an inextricabe snarl. No one knew clearly
what was and what was not in order. Mr..
Garfield, his voice sounding out over the
great chorus and babel of the mob, moved to
lay the whole question on the table. It was
the short, easy way out of the parliamentary
snarl. There was another period OF wi d con-
fusion before the House could settle to a vote
1t was two hours after the House met before
the vexed question was laid on the table. A
motion was made to reconsider that vote by
Mr. Martin of Virginia. There was another
uproar, but the House voted that down, 115
to 60, and some slight order followed.
Year: 1879

While our respectable neighbor the Plea
yune is devotng its humane attention to the
protection of pugnaciouS bulldogs, 1t seems
strangely indifferent to other matters OF far
greater moment. For instance, it permits
itself to be shamefully distanced by the
DEMOCRAT in the expression of sympathy
for the North Louisiana prisoners, accused OF
bull.dozing, and by the Times in wreaking
itself upon expression in secondhand con-
demnations OF the Potter's Field Horror


In one thing however the PIC and Times
work as hafmoniously together as brace of
cooling doves. Had they been employed as
special advocates of the bondholders they
could not be more indignant at the thought
of scrutinizing the State debt than they now
are. Though fraud triumph and justice
biush-though every other interest of the
State be mperiled-though every taxpayer
in the State be Impoverished fraudulent
debt. frauduently funded, must be held as
sacred! And this is journalism!
Year: 1879

BERLIN, March 5.-In the debate on the
discipline bill to-day Bismarck declared he
would not thrust, benefits upon the Reichstag.
He said he did nothslieve the bill would pass.
He had never had much hope OF it. He
trusted the Reichstas would continue to sup
port the government against the Socialists.
Bismarck announced that the government
would not relinquish the struggle on account
OF a hostile vote
Year: 1879




Ihe public is getting to be confused as to
whether it was Ben Butler or Jeff Davis who
was President OF the Confederate States. The
current opinion of those who read the proceed
ings OF Congress is that 1t was Butler.
Year: 1879

The laurcls of the " sophistical rhetOrician"
will not suffer Lord Beaconsied to sleep. In
his speech at the Lord Mayors banquet at
GuIldhall he explains and interprets the Im-


perial policy in short CLOSES of his own so
artificial and specious that the sopbistry shows
through. No other Englishman would have
had the temerlty TO lay such undue stress
upon the activity in the chemical trade and a
slight fuctuation in the value of silver as in
fallible indications of the return of COM
mercisl prosperity. OF TO dismiss the
grievances of the Irish people with the grim
pleasantly that. bad as their crops have been.
and dependent as they are upon them, the
English harvest is worse than theirs. The
knowledge that English farmers are fighting
the wolf from the door will not serve to fill