smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

The Winterton House in London was a
large, rambling edifice. 1t was for many
years inhabited by . very eccentric lady :,
who died at an advanced age. She had
one daughter, who married against her
mothers wishes. When the guests left
the room in which the wedding breakfast
had been given, the old lady ordered the
shutters to be closed and the doors to be
locked, and from that day to the day of
her death the room was never opened.
By peeping Though the keyhole, could be
seen the table, laid out with the plate and
china, just as they had been left by the
wedding party. The food had crumbled
into dust. bat in the center stood the I'M
mense wedding cake, with its sugar
figures and orange blossoms, now black
with age. It was u ghastly mockery of a
feast, and awakened q sudden feeling OF
pity for . woman whose hate of her own
child could hays remained unwcaksned
twenty years.
Year: 1877

Last Wednesday evening about 10
Fo'clock q lumber pileSoh McArtliur, Smith
& Co.'s dock was discovered to be on fire.
Mr.. Spencer, of the Spencer House, was
the first to- give the alarm. Quite num-
Der of our citizens were at Humphreys
dockawaiting the arrival Of the propeller
Nashua, which had entered the channel,
and as soon as the alarm was given
rushed down, and by perseverance sue
ceeded in putting out the fire before
much damage was done. 1t was fortu-


nate that the fire was discovered as early
as it was. Had it been an hour later, it
is quate probable that prop
erty would have been destroyed. 1t is
supposed that the fire originated from a
cigar that had Deem carelessly thrown
among the sawdust that covered the slab
docks and had been smouldering for
sometime previous to being famed into
flames by the breeze that was blowing.
The entire pile Of lumber was torn down
to make sure of there being no fire left
to further endanger the property in
that vicinity. Thefire company did not
put in an appearance, which would indl-
cate that but little interest was taken in
running fwith the "masheen." There
were some who thought it might be the
work OF an incendiary, but the fact that
it caught where:it. could be so easily dis
covered, we think is evidence that i.
caught by accident.
Year: 1877

Information was received a few days
ago by the canal authorities at the Sault
that the small schooner Reindeer, Capt.
Ham, Of Manitowoc, was engaged in. pi-
ratical enterprises in, the, way of stealing
pig iron from the Bay. furnace at Grand
Island. Sunday evening the Reindeer
put in an .appearanse at the Sault, and
was boarded by anlofficer. Iron was
found OH board, but. the honest skipper
declared that it was not stolen, but had
been bought. The fact that the iron
was to a great extent concealed under
the cargo of bones, his ostensible load
did not lend credence to his statements.
and he was taken into custody. The
next morning he concluded that some of
the iron acas stolen, but he had nothing to
do with it. 1t was his crew, which con-
sisted cf his'son and one other man, who
did the business. The affair was finally
settled by, his paying roundly for the
iron, and leaving the iron into the bar
gain. We would advise all our neigh
bors along the lakes to look out for the
Reindeer, and when she comes in sight
to look sharp for everything movable.


Wanted to go to a Foreign Country.


Quite an exciting incident occurred at
the Sault week or ten days ago. The
engineer and one of the owners of the
fishing tug Blanche Shelby was arrested
as the tug ,;,ame in the upper end of the
canal, by Deputy Sheriff Jerry
O'Brien, upon criminal warrant in
regard to fraud in evading the payment
of some debt. The engineer requested
the privilege of running the tug through
the lock to the dock below. This was
accorded him, but Jerry rode down also.
AS the boat came out OF the lower end OF
the locks full steam was put on and the
boat headed for the Canada shore. She
went a little ways and stopped, then
ahead again, and so on several times, and
it was "a question for some time, to the
lockers on, whether the boat or Jerry
would win, but finally size headed fol
the American shore and came up to the
dock, and the, prisoner marched off to
jail. The fellow had to be threatened


with sudden extinction before he would
consent to run the boat in the direction
| of the United States,
Year: 1877

The Free Press, unable to answer facts
given i'm the TRIBUNE of last week,
which were ''disagreeable things to con-
trovert," falls back upon its old charge
OF ''vituperation and abuse of our best
citizens" failing, however, to give the
names, as requested by the TRIBUNE.
In addition to the facts heretofore given,
which showed that the TRIBUNE bid was
50 0S lower than that of the Free Press,
We would call attention to the fact that
already there have been two special meet
ings of the Council, the printing of the
proceedings of which would have
amounted to So % under the bid of the
Free Press, and which was not included
in the estimate s'we took" This would
make the TRIBUNE's Sid $S 33 lower
than that of our cotemporary, land each
additional special meeting will increase
the amount in favor of the TRIBUNE's
bid.
Year: 1877

The captains of the various crafts en-
tering our harbOr are all of the opinion
that the money appropriated for the con-
structiOn OF the range lights in our har-
Dor. or so much thereof as would be rec
essary, could be expended to much bet.
ter advantages in the construction Of a
crib light at the entrance of the cut.
They claim that the main difficulty i'm
gaining an entrance to the harbOr is i'm
finding the mouth of the cut, and that
this would be obviated by having crib
built at the mouth and light placed up
OH it. They say that after once finding
the cut, the present range lights are suf-
ficient for all purpose. In view of this
feeling, petition has been drawn up,
and is being universally signed by the
captains entering the port, asking the
Light House department to devote so
much of the appropriation as may be
necessary to the construction Of such a
light. 1t seems to be the prevailing
opinion that eventually there will have
to be built pier on-the west bank of the
channel and it is the design to have the
crib light located so as to torn the out
er extremity of such pier, should it
eyer lie built. From listening to the
reasons given by the different captains
we are decidedly of the opinion that the
interests OF Cheboygan would be much
better promoted by the erection of the
crib and light than to have the ranges
as at present proposed, and we hope that
the department will look favorably up
on the petition for the change and giant
the same.
Year: 1877

Colonel F. HarwOod, of the u. S. en-
gineers, was in the village this week, in
reference to the expenditure of the ap-
preparation of $4,000 TO be expended in
additional dredging of the harbor. He
took thorough survey of the work to
be done, and left Wednesday morning
on the n. It. propeller Lowell for De-
troit. Advertisements for proposals to
do the work will be made at once, and
in all probability work will be resumed
in the course OF few weeks and contin-
ned until the appropriation is exhausted.
The amount appropriated should add
largely to the improvement of the har-
Dor, and we have no doubt but Colonel
Duryea, engineer in charge, will see that
the work is well and faithfully done. so
that the harbor will receive the full ben
eft of the appropriation.
Year: 1877

Fires have played havoc with the tel
graph line. it being destroyed for miles
on both lower and upper peninsulas, so
that no communication could be had for
several days in any direction.
Year: 1877

ETEoRoLoGIcAL.-The following table
shows the reading Of the thermometer for
the month of April, from observations
taken at sunrise each day; also the mini
MUM and maximum state Of the tbermome-
ter; also the condition Of the weather. The
observations were taken at an elevated posi-
tion. In the eastern portion Of the city, and
from three instruments-ene filled with al
cohol, the others with mercury-and each
marking the same, or very nearly 80, there
scarcely ever being more than the difference
Of degree between them. a
Year: 1877

TIE SIZE OF THE BAKERS L0AyEs-NO
COOPERATION YET SECURED.-The bakers OF
the city have not yet been able to agree
upon and carry into effect any plan regu-
lating the size and price Of their loaveS. In
the mean time flour is steadily going up,
and Ioaves that look big, but are short in
weight, are sold at many retail groceries
and other places. At conference OF bakers
held Saturday night it was resolved that all
loavcs should be made of one weight, said
rule to go into effect Sunday night; but a
number of bakers complained yesterday
that some OF the parties to the agreement
went straight home and violated the COM
pact, and consequently they held that no
one was bound by it.
blessrs. Briggs, Adams, Gill, and some
other bakers desire the Council to adopt a
standard loaf for the city by fixing the
weight mot the price, as that will lluctuate
according to the selling rate for flour) and
thus prevent the sale OF the short-weight
| loayes. .-.


tits suggested by parties who buy bread
that the recommendation of these bakers is
wise and fair, and that the weight for loaf
ought to be one pound even, so that each
buyer will know what to expect when he
invests his money.


At present it is claimed that the short
weight loaves are palmed off upon people
their inflated appearance they very readily
deceive. 81,


Mr.. Briggs states that the mixture Of flour
that he and other tirst-class bakers are
now using is worth $11.75 per barrel.
Year: 1877

THE MoFFgTT REGIsTER.-It is expected
that the commissioners OF the revenue for
the cities of the State will meet at the office
OF the Auditor OF Public Accounts to-day
to receive instructions as to the use OF the
Motfett register.
Year: 1877

The warrants for these accused were is
sued under sections Il and IL OF chapter 81
Of the Code, in relation to lottery, which
prescribes a fine Of not more than $500 and
Imprisonment not more than one year for
each conviction. The former is determined
by the jury; the latter by the judge.
Year: 1877

A MURpERous SEA FLowER.-One
of the exquisite wonders OF the sea is
called the opelet, and is about rs large
as the German aster, looking indeed
very much like one. Imagine very
large double a.ter, with ever SO many
long petals Of light green, glossy a
satin. and esehone tipped with rose color.
These lovely petals do not lie quietly
in their places, like those of the aster
in your garden, but wave about 10 tbs
water. while the oI;elet clings TO rock.
How innocent and lovely il hook On Id
rocky bed! Who would suspect thxt
il would eat anything grosser thas
dew or sunlighti But those beautiful,


waving arms, as you call them, have use
besides looking. They have to provide
for large open mouth, which is hiddca
down deep among them-so hidden that
one can scarcely fnd them. Well do
they perform their duty, for the instant
a foolish listle FISH touches one Of the
rosy tips he is struck with poison as "a
tai to him as lightning. He immediate.
ly becomes numb, and IN q moment
stops struggling; and then the other
beautiful arms wrap themselves around
him and he is drawn INTO the huge,
greedy mouth, and is seen no nore.-
Then the lovely arms unclose aud wave
again in the wafer looking as innocent
and harmless as though they bad new
er touched 6sh. -at ~-
Year: 1877

CoNT4sr. OF ,CAAE CaIcKrxa-Ns
give, the following account Of contest
between two Game Chicks q . recent
tourney m New orlesns. The birds
which feugAt were tiayssPscimens, .
white and . black eeek, Psliiee the besm
at barely three pounds each, As soon
= they were let loose they rapidly ap-
proSched each other, their feathers up.
afching sud tossing then autiful -neeks
uith the grace and the dsence:ofawar
horne They locked bills, aad rising
together q one, they simuitsnecusly
darted their sharp spurs and inflicted
and received two sta5s. In this pre-.
liminary encounter they seemed to mes-
sure and estimate each others resources
and to decide upon a line Of tactics
which. upon their separating, vas im-
mediately developed. The white bird
was evidently fer forcing the battle; the
black bird had resolved on adopting the
Fabian policy. He immediately began
to retreat. and the white bird followed
in rapid pursuit. Round aud round The
ring they went. Whenever q favorable
opportunity occurred the black would
turn and have pass with his antago-
mist. Both dealt and received terrible
blows. The white was the stronger oi
the two. but the black had more wind
and could strike quicker. Now one and
now the other was the favorite with the
betters. When the fight had been in
progress for twenty minutes. in one ot
the close encounters the white drove
his spur through the right eve OF
the black, and the black stabbed
the white in the throat. Both were
becoming exhausted. but this did
not abate their ardor in the contest.
The black was at a disadvantage with
but one remaining eye, while the wound
in the throat of the white commenced
to bleed internally. The two combat
ants now came much oftener to close
quarters, and though one was blinded
and the other choking with coagulated
blood. there was no relaxation in the
furious energy and hate with which
they fought.


At last il became apparent that the
black cock, blinded and overcome though
he was, must win the battle, as the whitr
could but succumb to the fast accumu.
lating blood which was closing up hi.
throat. In the battle Of the man 10 man
there is time when the conquered can
sue for mercy, or when the generou.
victor will extend it without asking
The defeated gladiator might even hope
that Roman audience would interpose
to save his life. Cruel man will some.
times pull one dog from of another
But for these little creatures there Is nc
mercy. They turn no appealing eye
tor succor. they ask no quarter. they
know nothing but to return blow for
blow while an atom of life or strength
is left to them. .lv heart was in my
throat while looked for the end OF the
combat. The white stood up gasping
while the bloody foam sowing from hi.
mouth so;led his pure white plume
Feebly but brayely, as his strength
would permit, he maintained the con.
test. There was but three pounds o'
flesh and bone, and yet IT enshrined a
courage as sublime and heroic as that o.
any knightly, crusader With one last
blow the life went out, and Il was no,
till then that the proud feathers dropped
and the head lay low. .
Year: 1877

WHERE THE Sun NEVER SErs.-The
following graphic passage is from the
description Of scene witnessed bv a
Mr.. Campbell and his party, in the
north OF Norway, from a cliff one thous-
and feet above the sea: The scene
stretched away in silent vastness at our
feet; the sound Of its waves scarcely
reached our AIRY lookout away in the
north the huge old sun hung low along
the horizon. like the slow beat OF the pen.
dulum in the tall clock Of our grand
fathers par.or corner. We all stood
silent. looking at our watches. When
both hands came together at twelve,
midnight, the full round orb hung tri-
umphantly abose the waves. bridge
Of gold running due north spanned the
water between US and him. There he
>none in silent majesty which knew
no setting. We invoiuntarily took off
our hats. No word was said. Com
bine, il you can, the most brilliant sunrise
and sunset YOU ever saw, and its beau
ties will pale before the gorgeous col
oring which now lit up the ocean, hea-
ven, and mountain. In half an hour
the >un had swung up percephbly on
its beat. The colors changed to those
Of morning; a breeze rippled over the
food. One songster after another pipe
up in the grove behind US. We had
slid into another day.
Year: 1877

The action Of Senator Conkling at the
convention shows that he has made up his
mind that there is to be reconstruction of
parties, and he boldly proposes to take
hand in the formation OF a new orgauiza-
ton better fitted for the times than Is, or
was, the old Republican regime. This action
of the New York Republicans will force the
President to appeal to the country for sup
port, and from his reception in New Eng
land and the South it is evident that, 50 far
as his Southern policy and his Civil Service
reform is concerned, he has the mass Of the
American people with him.
Year: 1877

It is proposed in Virginia that the
thirsty citizens of that old Commonwealth
shall drink the State out of debt. This is O
sublime fancy and will give great impetus
to tho consumption of ardent spirits for
there breathes not man in that COM
munity who, finding that it has become
sort of patriotic duty to indulge the fire.
quent tipple, will not lend his throat and
bend his elbow for the salvation of the
old State. Two cents and half to the State
every time man takes his whiskey at the
bar, and half cont every time he takes
beer. That is the proposed form of the law.
It's first effect will be on the language.
Men will invite one another to ''pay the
State debt" or to contribute to the reve-
nue." or to 'swell the burden of the
tax collector" Fifty more or less pic
turesque phrases of this sort will take
tho place Immediately of tho prosy
''takc something" of other days. But
its financial effect will be substantial. IL is
estimated that there are now just three
hundred thousand tumblcrs in that State,
and that these are in constant use at all the
bars, moving forever from the counters to the
mouths of thirsty citizens. Between beer
and whiskey every tumbler will net the
Year: 1877

It is o queer story that is telegraphed
from Rome and has somewhat the aspect Of
a discovery of one of those famous curiosi-
ties known as mares nests. BY this report
it appears that several Jesuits have just
rushed to Rome from Florence with the inten-
ton of restoring the temporal power of the
Pope. They are instructed to avoid
collision with the civil authorities,
but have ''lists of volunteers pre-
pared to serve under the Papal fag,"
which would seem to imply that they are
not to avoid collision with the military au-
thorities. Large sums of money have been
collected ; everybody has been written to
sthere is no doubt that steps in this direc-
ton have long been preparing" One is
tempted to wonder why, if the restoration
of the temporal power is SO easy as
all this, somebody did not restore
it several months since In this
country when anybody proposes new
Fenian campaign We know precisely
what it means. All the bands are to play
..The Wearing of the Green" the boys are
to drink to the downfall of England, and
the girls are to come out with their little
subscription. IF we could believe that this
wretched kind of plunder had made its way
so far rs the Eternal City we might fancy
the story reported covered an assault on the
pockets of the faithful rather than on the
Italian army. But we incline to the opinion
that Tho baod IF tho Order Of Jesr1its 10 not n
man of so little sense as pictured by the
despatch, and in short that the despatch has
not many facts in it.
Year: 1877

We are glad that the Father of His Coun-
try is not petrified as it was reported that he
was glad that the report to that effect is
contradicted on the authority Of man
whose word may be taken rs to a cadaver,
but who may not be a lapidary. There have,
no doubt, been facts in our recent history
that would have justified the sponta-
neous conversion into stone of anything
that was left of George Washington,
but it would have been an undigni-
fed proceeding on Georges part to
have taken any such notice of them;
and George was never found wanting on the
side Of dignity. Moreover, it would have
been unworthy of Georges character and his
name for anything to have been left of him
at this time to turn into stone. One of the
first duties of o well conducted corpse. once
buried, is to resolve itself into the original
elements. Any other line of conduct is i'll
bred and vulgar "a tanner" it is true,
twill last you nine year." and that is the
extreme limit to which ultimate dissolution
may be deferred even for tanner. But,
then, who and what is tanner that the
grandest gentleman of the New World should
initiate him? Extravaganza is always
avoided by modest men who regard their
dignity as George did, and the indulgence
in petrifaction is an extravaganza of de-
meanor of which he could never have been
guilty. This turning into stone is kind of
post-mortem unquiet-an eager grasping
at the retention of the semblance of
life by which the corpse, so to speak,
''gives himself away" and proves that he
loved life more than q hero should, and that
he would not have died if he could have
helped it. We rejoice that George has not
been found guilty Of such weakness. 1t is
with great satisfaction that we find ourselves
fully relieved from the apprehension that
we should some day or another have met
George Washington in an anatomical mu-
scum.
Year: 1877

The question Of high tariff for the sup
posed protection" of Canadian manufac-
lures was brought to an issue in the Lower
House of the Dominion Parliament last week,
and the 'sisolationists" IF we may invent
title for them-suffered signal defeat. The
policy of the present administration is
tariff for revenue purposes, and an amend-
ment favoring an increase Of the duties on
manufactures was lost by vote of seventy
eight in it's favor to one hundred and nino
against it--an adverse majority of thirty
one. This result is gratifying enough; but
the Toronto Globe in analyzing the vote,
taking into account and classifying the ab-
sentees states that it shows the total minis
terial strength to be one hundred md
twenty-nine and the total opposition sew
enty-iivo, or ministerial majority of fifty
four Eight ministerialists who represent
strong protection districts voted for the
amendment, but will be with the govern
ment in the final support of its revenue
policy. There are other amendments yet to
be disposed of, but it is not thought that
eny of them will fare even as we'll as that
which was killed on Thursday last.


Our Canadian neghbors nre suffering, rs
we are suffering on this side of the dividing
line, from the general depression of all
kinds of business. The lumber, shipping
manufacturing, mining and agricultural in
terests all feel the effect Of the temporary
stagnation which paralyzes the industries
on both sides of the Atlantic. Every cir
cumstance tends to encourage the belief
that the worst of the trouble is now over
and that more cheering prospect opens
before us. Better times are approaching
Tho dangers which seemed to threaten our
own peace have been happily averted.
The prosperity of the Southern States
is about to be restored. Gold is
at SO low premium as to prom
Use speedy and natural resumption.
The war cloud in Europe is less dark and
threatening than 1t was n few months ago.
Canada will share in tho general revival,
provided her people are sensible enough to
adopt broad, liberal policy. They could
not look for the growth of their splendid
country if they should tear up all their rail-
roads, destroy their telegraph lines and re-
turn to the old stage coaches and the slow
mails. They cannot hope to share in the
returning business activity and to become
prosperous and wealthy if they creep back
into the old protection" errors and shut
themselves out from the rest of the world.