smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

The Military Board convened in June
last to hear and receive whatever General
Porter and his opponents have to say IN his
case will resume their sessions at West
Point Oh Tuesday next. Great interest
naturally circles around this stigation,
Oh account both of General Porter and his
friends and of the government or his ac-
cusers and their friends. Up to the date
of adjournment in July last all the evidence
had been to the credit Of General Porter,
even that given by the witnesses called by
the government to controvert the new testi-
mony and to sustain the finding OF the court
martial which condemned him. Even the
principal witness put forward by General
Pope at his urgent request to sustain his
views admitted he was in error on the prom
inent and vital points in his original testi-
mony. After additional evidence, lasting
for few days, is presented by Porter
the government evidence will Immediately
follow, and it is understood that the coun-
try has been secured for witnesses to sustain
the latter side.


Considering that the evidence on Porter's
behalf has totally discredited that Of
General Pope and the other witnesses for
the prosecution on the original trial, it will
be due to those officers and to the govern
ment that they shall be summoned and be
made to testify If they were right then
their evidence should be sustaine ed and they
should have the opportunity to sustain it.
If they were wrong, and Porter has been
suffering under a severe and unjust SEN
tence these long years, they should be given
the chance to confess it if they are con-
vinced, or to maintain it if still of their origi-
nal opinion. In either case the country has
the right to their testimony and to know
whether Porter was or was not justly con-
demned The country calls for the "truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth, y
and wants no partial statement whitewash-
ing Porter and condemning his opponents,
Or unjustly condemning Porter, white
washing those who have accused him and
persistently held to the justice of their
accusations.


Porter has asked for full investigation,
so that this shall be the last of it, SO far as
a rehearing is concerned. Let him have it,
and if he was Justly sentenced let US know
it, and let him suffer. If not justly con.
demned let him be relieved of the sentence,
and let the country know who are the
offenders. The Board is composed Of hon.
ored and trusted officers, and it is due
to themselves, TO the army and to the coun.
try that the investigation shall be thorough
| ell " .hol1 tcl, A I,
proceedings, prepared to approve the right
and to condemn the wrong, if wrong there
| should be-
Year: 1878

Political almauacs are much like the old
fashioned ones without which no farmers
chimneypiece is complete. There are cer-
tain seasons OF the political year in which it
10 safe to predict squalls, and the approach
Of the election period is one of them. The
man who does not prophcsy disturbances at
such time, even without glancing at the
political barometer, is utterly destitute of
weather wisdom and is out of place every
where but in those celestial climes which it
is extremely improbable that politicians
ever enter. The squalls that are raging at
present originated in a centre of great de-
preston in the region of the ''outs' of city
politics, and are moving in direct line for
the .'ins," the most violent gusts raging
around the Sheriff, County Clerk and Reg
istor. We do not know how well in ship
shape these officers have their respective
crafts, but we assume that they have been
long enough upon the political sea to be al
ways prepared for squalls. Probably, too,
they have acquired sufficient experience to
Year: 1878

avoid mistaking any number of squalls for
a cyclone. They will do well to be watch
full, however, for the natural tendency Of a
squall is to "carry away" something, and
the object of the particular squalls alluded
to is manifestly to carry commanding otfi-
GERS overheard and to wash new ones upon
deck in their places.
Year: 1878

Ir WILL Biz SEEN by news columns that
the furnishing the latest arrivals aud departures
of the fleets that come and go in our port is not
the only service the HERALD yachts en
abled to render to our shipping. The latest
noteworthy achievement OF one of them the
rescue OF the schooner Siak Tuesday last from
the Romer Shoals
Year: 1878

If he fails in the State the city will pass out
of his control: and it is because he under
stands this perfectly that he is so reluctant
to show his hand in city politics until after
the great battle has been fought ut Syracuse.
Year: 1878

A DECISION Of considerable importance to the
liquor interest has been made by the Excise
Commissioners. 1t is held by that exemplary
body that under the much disputed law of 1857
they are empowered to revoke license for due
Year: 1878

The SKIN MILK dealers came to grief in the
courts yesterday. 1t will be some consolation
to their victims TO at least portion Of their
unlawful profits turned into the city treasury.
Year: 1878

THE USsEEMLY SPECTACLE of Justice OF the
Peace throttling brother Justice in open court
WAS presented in Staten Island town this
week. Judicial eccentricitics Of this kind are
not uncommon in our sister island.
Year: 1878

ME-. ED1TsR:-Hsving been ont Of en-
ployment some time applied to the Chair
man of lhe Committee on Streets for some
thing to do. received for an answer tba
nothing could Be done that week, but
would be put 10 work - soon - he could
have made several calls since and Away
received the same answer. A few days Ag'
on my way from his Office saw some mel
at work, among others, some I was &C
quainted with, and the idea struck me Il
ask how they got on, I was informed D!
two different parties that they got on be
cause they purchased coal OF the chstrnsp
and advised me to do likewise II I neede
work. am not in need of coal ut prsseu
but am very much In need Of other neees.
saries of life, and 40 the chairman doDf
keep those things for sale, must do with.
out employment New, / would suggest
TO the worthy chairman the propriety Of
opening q meat and provision store 10 con
nectiou with his coal yard 90 as those whr
don't need coal can purchase provisions n
we'll as claim on his patronage.


A LABoaHR.
Year: 1878

The other day man went into Mr.. r
Taggart's shoe store and got his measure
taken for a pair of CATERS. They were
completed the next day and the gentleman
now has the best pair of CATERS In the city
at figure below that which he would have
+ ad to pay almost any other dealer fol
inferior work. Mr.. Taggart Is ready tt
wait on his customers at short notice, anc
we advise our readers to give him call.
Year: 1878

No machinery being used 10 their manu-
facture and will be of the BEST MATER
IAL, and made by the best workmen, and
under his own supervision. l shall sell
these goods at prices very little higher than
machine made shoes.
Year: 1878

John Keifer Instantly Killed--His Body


Stripped of Clothing and Driven into the


Ground Nearly FOOt--Two Other Per-


SONS Struck by the Bolt.


The storm Of yesterday left death in its
wake. It came with all the suddenness and
mystery of lightning flash to John Keifer.
Yesterday afternoon about o'clock he start
ed out on hunt, accompanied by boy.
About 3 o'clock the storm came down upon
them in its deluge of rain and quick repeti-
ton of lightning flashes.


At the time they were on the west side of
the river, in the near vicinity of the railroad
bridge. Both started towards it
to seek shelter against it's but
tress. In the driving storm they be-
came separated. The boy companion has
tened towards the bridge, and came up with
man and wagon loaded with hay. The
boy whistled for Keifer, and repeated it for
the third time.


just then binding flash of lightning
spread about and enyeloped him and the
wagon and driver. Roth were knocked
senseless. Within ten or fifteen minutes
they recovered sufficiently from the shock
! to stagger to their feet. They gazed
about them in a dazed and
half blinded way. AS the glare of the blaz-
ing discharge cleared away from their vision
they observed smoking mass within ten
or twenty feet of them and detected the odor
of burning cloth.


Both started towards the object. Reach
ing the smouldering mass, an appalling
siaht looked up at them. There, perfectly
nude, laid the body of John Keifer. He
had been stricken by the bolt that had rem
dered them senseless. The lightning
had entirely stripped him of CLOTH
ing, and it lay around the
corpse in burning fragments. The body
had been driven into the ground fully one
foot. On lifting up the remains, even the
shoes were seen to have been stripped off,
and were found distance of fifty feet from
the body. A further examination showed no
marks of injury upon tho body, except one
small hole over the right temple. From it,
simple drop or two of blood had trickled
down over the pallid face.


At the time Keifer was struck he had a
gun on his shoulder and revolver
strapped to his waist. Both were
uninjured, but discharged from the electric
heat. His watch was found some ten or
twelve feet from him, neither broken nor
otherwise, apparently, damaged. The face
of the dead was perfectly placid, and appear
ed if death had been attended with no pain


AS soon as the alarmed and shocked parties
were restored to full comprehension of the
dreadful catastrophy, the boy was dispatched
to the city for assistance. The body was
brought to the city, temporarily placed in
the morgue, thence taken to the residence
of deceased's parents on Fort street.


DIR. Stein, the coroner, took possession of
the body at the first intimation of the terri
BILE accident; accompanied it to the parents
residence, and there raade arrangements for
holding the inquest to day at 10 O'Clock A. NJ.


Deceased was "a years of age, single. He
was the only son of John Kelfer, Sr., former
proprietor of the Wild Hunters hotel on
jackson street.
Year: 1878

One Joe Welsh Fills Himself, Runs


Against Brother-in- Law, and is Now


Laying Up for Repairs.


Last night about o'clock a brutal assault
was made upon one Joe Welsh in the vicin-
ity of the American house. So far as can
be learned the affair came around in this
way. Joe Welch was in Knauff's variety
theater, and becoming pretty noisy in his
cups, he was ordered out by Chief Weber.
Sh ortly after man named John Smith
staggered after him. Chief Weber saw the
two start off arm in arm, on the principle of
divided we fall, toward the custom house.
Within balf an hour, some person stumbled
over an apparently dead body lying in front
of the American house stables on
Wabashaw street. He gave the alarm
The dead weight was picked up and carried
into the Americ IN house. There the fea-
lures of Joe Welsh were recognized through
the clotted blood and bruises in his face. He
was half unconscious and very much drunk
He could give no account of himself. He
was taken over to the police station, washed
up and three ugly gashes were found in his
face.


DR.. Roy was c,Iled in and dressed the
wounds, none of which are supposed to be
dangerous.


Later in the evening Smith was arrested,
but the opinion was expressed that he was
too drunk to have beaten Welsh
up SO horribly. Applications of cold
water partially sobered both patients and
they finally told the following story: After
leaving Knauff's they started home, but one
or the other suggested last nip. Both
were in the humor for it. Arm in arm they
staggered back on Wabashaw street towards
Fourth street. At the corner they met John
Carr, a brother-in-law of Welsh's. John
Carr collided with Walsh and ditched him
in the mangled condition in which he was
found. Smith meanwhile meandered off. It
seems Carr had a supposed cause for his as
sault. Welsh is n'er-do- well, ami at times
is very abusive to his wife, Carr's sister.
She maintained herself, and at present
works in Whitcomb's restaurant, on Waba-
shaw near Seventh street. A few days ago
Welsh visited her, and berated her soundly.
He threatened her with violence, and even
death. For this visit, Carr is supposed to
have visited the severe punishment on Welsh,
catching him in good way to inflict it.


The police were on the lookout for Carr.
but up to an early hour this morning had not
found him.
Year: 1878

The chairman of the Potter investigating
committee, who conducts the corresponding
department of that curious body, has not
enviably distinguished himself in his encoun-
ter with Secretary Sherman. The Secretary
from the first has had the best of it. The
latest reply of the committee is as evasive as
the others. With painful care it avoids the
very substance of the question.


The committee affects to believe that it has
nothing to do with the charges of violence
and intimidation made in connection with
the Louisiana election of 1876. 1t ignores
the fact that the charge made against Secre.
tary Sherman is that he conspired with per-
sons in Louisiana to cause the vote of two
parishes to be thrown out ON false pretence
of intimidation and violence that defeated a
free and fair election. That is the accusa-
tion. Now if it can be proved that intimida-
tion and violence were practced and did in
terfere with the freedom of the election then
the charge of false pretence falls to the
ground. Such proof Secretary Sherman asks
leave to submit, and such proof the commit.
mittee declines to listen to. The alleged
Sherman letter even if it be genuine does not
by the very broadest construction prove that
the Secretary was engaged in a conspiracy
for the good and sufficient reason that the
existence of conspiracy has not yet been
proved.


The committee begs the question at the
outset. 1t quietly assumes that there was a
conspiracy. Now that is the very point at
dispute, and until that is settled any testi-
mony in regard to the Sherman letter is
irrelevant. But the Democrats refuse to ad-
NIT testimony going to show that no con-
spiracy existed. The Secretary offers to
prove that violence and intimidation did pre-
vail in certain parishes of Louisiana In 1876
to an extent that defea ted fair election,
and that by reason of this violence and in
timidation the returning board was justified
in throwing out the votes of those parishes.
He submits the names of witnesses and asks
he committee to call them. 1t refuses. 1t
says it has decided mot to go into the sub.
ject." That is it refuses to consider the very
question at dispute. 1t asks people to accept
its theory without proof, and declines to lis
ten to any evidence proving that theory to be
false. 1t assumes in advance the truth of
the disputed allegations.


Okcourse it will not do for the Democrats
to examine into the charge Of conspiracy, for
the evidence would be overwhelmingly
against them. But unless they were pre-
pared to make thorough investigation of
the manner in which Democratic victories
were won in Louisiana they should not have
reopened the question of the disputed elec-
tions in that State. Least Of all have they a
right to call upon Secretary Sherman to ad-
NIT their assumption of the existence of a
conspiracy, or to refuse to hear evidence dis
proving its existence.
Year: 1878

BEAcoNsFIELD's treaty is greeted with en-
thusiasm in England. Party lines are broken
down and the majority of the Liberals are
coming to his support. Of course. The average
Englishman cannot resist the temptation to
steal land. Here is chance to acquire with
out money and without danger large ana
fertile island. Here is chance to plumber a
country that has not the power to defend
itself. It is not in English blood to resist.
Year: 1878

We do not read anonymous letters and communi
cations The name and address of the writer are in
all cases Indispensable not necessarily for publication
but as guaranty of good faith.


We cannot undertake to return or preserve COM
munications that are not used.
Year: 1878

The country will hold the Democrats re-
sponsible for the recent Indian outbreak.
The appropriation was cut down to the
starving point by the Democratic House and
the Indians rose in insurrection. Now the
country will have to pay for costly cam
paign. That is how the Democrats econo-
win
Year: 1878

RELIEF For EARACHE. Pc rsons
will find relief for earache by putting
in a spoon two or three drops of sweeI
oil, or, better still, almond
oil, the same of molasses and lauda.
mum, warming it altogether. Absorb
some of the mixture In cotton wool
put it in the ear, with piece of wool
outside to keep out the cold air, re-
peating, If necessary. A roast onion
heart dipped in this and surrounded
with the cotton Is also often very eff
cacious.
Year: 1878

adventure. In short stories. sketch
es, and general literary miscellany
the Inter Ocean will pander to no low
taste, but will give the best.


In these times of depression and
scarcity of money, people will turn
to the paper that is the cheapest. To
meet this demand the the price of
the Inter Ocean has been reduced to
Sl.l5 for The Weekly, 50 so for The
Semi-Weekly. and $40 for The Daily.
In short the Inter Ocean will be bet
ter paper than ever before, and will
be furnished for less money.


Sample copies sent free. All COM
munication should he addressed
THE INTER OCEAN,


Chicago, Ill.
Year: 1878

'Ah, yes, my son. said Mr.. Smiley,
as be was strolling under the moonlit
heavens the other evening, there are
a great many wonderful things In the
armament; for instance there is the
constellation of the Great Bear,
which is so beautifully mixed up with
the 'Dipper' that you always have to
remem Der that the tail of the Dipper
is the handle of Bear, in order to tell
the other from which
Year: 1878

An old farmer once said he would
not have a hired man on his farm who
did not habitually whistle. He always
hired whistlers. Said he never knew
a whistling laborer to find fault with
his food, his bed, or complain of any
little extra work be was asked to per-
form. Such a man was generally
kind to children and to animals in his
care. He would whistle O chilled
lamb into warmth and life, and would
bring in his hat full of eggs from the
barn without breaking one OF them.
He found such a man more careful
about closing gates, putting up bars,
and seeing that the nuts OH his plow
were all properly tigh tened before he
took it out into the field. He never
knew a whistling man to beat or kick
a cow, or drive her on run into the
stable. He had noticed that the sheep
that he fed in the yard or shed gath
cred around him as he whistled with
out fear. He had never employed
whistler who was not thoughtful and
economical.
Year: 1878

A man was scared to death In Rer-
ryville, Mo. He was passing a grave
yard at midnight, when two men
sprang from behind a monument and
shouted at him. He ran home and
wen. to bed, but was so nervous that
he could not sleep, and before morn
ing he died in commissions.
Year: 1878

The French are paying particular
attention to making sharp-shooters,
marksmen, among their infantry
The importance of this will be admit
ted when it is remembered that COM
mon troops throw away the weight OF
a man In lead for every one killed.
Year: 1878

The position of Indiana hitched on
to the Solid South is aptly likened by
the Dubuque Times to that of the old
mans team when he tied it to the
rear end of the railroad train just be-
fore it started out.
Year: 1878

A cave dug in side hill or in a sand
bank is better place to keep potatoes
during winter than any cellar or ware
house. They retain their natural VOL
ume and virtues better in such a situ-
alton.
Year: 1878

A barber desired groggy customer
of his, on Sunday morning, whose
breath smelled strong of whisky, to
keep his mouth shut, or the establish
ment might getindicted for keeping a
rum hole open on Sunday.
Year: 1878

Il never shot bird in my life, said
friend to an Irisman, who replied
Il never shot anything in the shape
of a bird but squirrel. which killed
with a stone, when it fell into the riv-
er and got drowned
Year: 1878

LIVE As You EARN-lt is painful to
witness the efforts Of many poor people to
emulate their rich neighbors in style of
dress and outward show. Nor Is 1t con-
fined to the weaker sex alone, but many
a Young man dishonors himself and I'M
poverishes his family for the sake of max
inc an appearance among his fellows In
many a washerwoman house can be
found piano and costly furniture for the
front room, where the daughter can re-
ccive company in respectable way"
as it is said, while her lack Of education
and Culture would render her an object of
contempt, if she had not by her folly ex-
cited oar pity. The man or woman musS
have fallen to low degree of degradation
who can eat and drink and wesr good
clothes at the expense of the shop keeper.
Said shopkeeper TO bystander the
other day, as belle passed along the
Street ayayed III the latest fashion, but
whose dress could not conceal her vul-
Garity. 81 own the dress on her back,
her shoes, in fact, | have supported her
and her family for the last three months.
and don't expect to ever get cent OF
what they owe me. They never pay
their debts, and owe everybody who Is
foolish enough to trust them" People
of this kind have the audacity to imagine
that they are respectable and entitled to
some consideration in a community. Their
number is legion, and every neighbor-
hood is overrun with them. Some I'M
agine that it is right and proper to wear
good clothes at the expense of others, but
it is nothing else than downright swind-
ling. Many vulgar persons judge a per
son by his dress, and regard it as an un-
disputed fact that a poorly dressed man
or woman must be disreputable but this
might be expected of them But every
man or woman whose opinion Is worth
having, always respects those who dress IN
accordance with their means, who are not
ashamed to declare that they are only
comfortably situated, and that they must
work in order to live. Such persons are
infinitely superior to the vulgar crew who
in being regardless of everything, honor,
character and standing, look. only to show;
and while trying to prove themselves res
pectable, show conclusively that they
have not the faintest idea what the word
mems.
Year: 1878

GEN. GIANT ABROAD.-The king OF
Siam has heard of Gen Grants intention
to visit his domains, and is said tobe pre-
paripg to give him grand reception. He
is to meet the General at Singapore, and
conduct him after the Oriental style OF
splendor to Bangkok. 1t is represented
that General Grant is tired of travel, and
would return at once TO his own country
We're he not under promise 10 pursue his
rounds as his journey was first mapped
out The brilliant receptions that yet
await him Will no doubt go far in recon
cling him to the situation.
Year: 1878

MEN who worry oTer their business too
much Will wake up some bright morning
in q straight jacket Or if they permit
themselves to be disturbed by trii;eS,
which exhaust the nervous system, cause
the muscular to sympathize with it, the
undertaken viii be called in when the
victims should be In good health and a
source OF happiness to their families
SucA troubles as shese, however, are con-
fined to men OF brains
Year: 1878

A HOMESTEAD is exempt from execution
for debt, provided the owner be the head
of a family, and has filed an article set
ting forth such fact with the recorder OF
deeds prior to such execution being Is
sued, and provided the total value OF
such homestead does not exceed the sum
OF 5000.
Year: 1878

Dime novels seem very cheap, and on that account are very attractive to some people. Bu they may be very dear f. r all that. and cost more in the end than very valuable books. The following story may illustrate:

 A certain minister of tho Methodist church has a son, who returned fir m school few months since with a report of scholarship below tho average.

 Well, said his father, you've fallen behind this month, have your

 "Yes, sir"

 "How did that happen?"

 Don't know, sir"

 The father knew, if tho son did not He had observed a number of dime novels scattered about the house, but had not thought it worth while to say anything until a fitting opportunity offer its ,lf. A basket of aIp os stood upon the floor, and he said, Empty oui those apples, and take the basket ana bring it to me half full of chips"

 suspecting nothing, the son obeyed-

 And now, he continued, "put thos' apples back into the basket

 When half Of the apples were replaces the son said,-