smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

Washington, April 13.-The Presi-
dents order for new inquiry into Fitz
John Porter's case is accepted in itself
us great triumph for the latter and
his many friends, who have constantly
maintained his patriotic fidelity, and
that he was victim of circumstances
and popular prejudices at a time of
great excitement. The President has
fully examined the new evidence in the
case, attainable only since the war clos
ed. Although he began the examina-
tion with avowed prejudice, became
satisfied that the national honor, equally
with justice to Porter, required new
hearing of all the facts. Porter was
convicted of disobedience of orders and
misbehavior before the enemy. The
case depended upon two orders is
sued by Gen. Pope on the day of the sec
ond Bull Run battle The first of these
was joint and discretionary order to
Mcdowell and Porter. The disobe-
dience charged consisted of falling
back to Manassas instead of moving
forward towards Gainesville. Porter's
defence was that he did not fall back
one foot; that he did advance until he
met the enemy, and was deploying to
attack him when Mcdowell assumed
command and ordered him not to do
so. Porter assumed that this was a wise
exercise of discretion as Pope's order
was issued in the supposition that the
enemy would not come up there until
next day, while Mcdowell and Porter
knew that Longstreet was already in
their front with overwhelming forces,
as abundant testimony now shows was
the fact. The second charge against
Porter was based on his failure to obey
Pope's order at Fourth City, in the af-
ternoon to push into action Immediately
on the enemv's flank. The defense was
that the order was received too late for
obedience; that the enemy's whole force
and not his flank was in position to re-
ceive the ordered attack, and that
darkness rendered an attack impossible
after the order was received. Over
whelming testimony now shows that
Porter was right and Pope wrong as to
these facts; that the conditions on
which the order was given by Pope did
not exist, and that Porter knowing this
would have been criminally responsible
for obeying the order literally; that such
obedience could only have led to the
utter destruction of his own corps, thus
enabling the entire force of the enemy
to concentrate against Pope, and that
Porter's course did, in fact, prevent
such junction by the enemy. General
Longstreet unhesitatingly declares that
but for Porter's action he could have
bagged Pope on that occasion. The
evidence from the Confederates, and new
evidence from the Union sources,
makes very strong case.
Year: 1878

IT is said ''the dirt washed out of
the shirts and jumpers Worn by work
men in the Bonanza mine averages in
weight fifty pounds day, and has been
found to assay $3.50. 10 ton" This is
probably campaign lie to induce
Henry Clay Dean to wash his shirt.
Those who know Dean best are willing
to W ,ger that his shirt would yield fifty
pounds of dirt, but would not assay
enough gold to pay him for the labor of
washing it.
Year: 1878

Washington, April 13.-The Demo-
Gratis met in caucus to-day and dis
cussed the resumption repeal bill. The
prevailing sentiment appeared favor
able to its passage. The coming cleo
tions and the suffering experienced by
the poor classes throughout the country
were very generally discussed. The
executive caucus committee was author
lied to confer with the House caucus
committee with the view to reaching a
decision as to the course to be pursued
in legislation.
Year: 1878

THE funeral of VIM. NJ. Tweed is
announced for Tuesday, and will be
private. At the time of his death petit
tions were in circulation throughout
the state asking the governor for his
release. They were being numerously
signed, and it was intended they should
be sent to Albany this week.
Year: 1878

A viper that had just closed an en-
gagement with gentleman who had the
delirium tremens, entered a learned
blacksmiths shop looking for something
to eat, being little disgusted with the
drinking business. He found file and
attempted to devour it as man some
times will file of old newspapers. But
while the way was open for him to flee
into the wilderness of Hepsidam, he
made no progress in gnawing file.
What's the matter with you ?" said the
file, "Do you expect to gnaw me p
"Gnaw!" replied the viper, spitefully,
as he spat out several of his front teeth,
which he had broken off. Moral: This
fable admonishes you not to attempt to
bite off more than you can hew.-Ne,o
York World.
Year: 1878

The Greeks had proverb that runs
thus: "To dispute on the shadow of an
ass" This took rise from an anecdote
which Demosthenes is said to have re.
lated to the Athenians to excite their
attention during his defense of Grim
inal which was being but inattentively
listened to. ga traveller" he said,
"once went from Athens to Megara on
q hired ass. 1t happened to be at the
time of the dog days, at noon. He was
much exposed to the unmitigateu heat
of the sun, and not finding so much as a
bush under which to take shelter, he be-
thought himself to descend from the ass
and seat himself under its shadow. The
owner Of the donkey, who accompanied
him, objected to this, declaring to him
that when he let the animal, the use Of
its shadow was not included in the bar
gain. The dispute at last grew 80 warm
that it got to blows, and finally gave
rise to an action of law" After having
said so much, Demosthenes continued
the defense of his client; but his audi-
tors, whose curiosity he had piqued,
were anxious to know how the judges
decided on so singular cause. Upon
this the orator commented severe
iy on their childish injustice in devour-
ing with attention a paltry story about
an ass shadow while they turned deaf
ear to cause in which the life Of a
human being. was involved. From that
day when man showed preference
for discussing small and contemplate
subjects to great and important ones,
he was said to dispute on the shadow
OF an ass"
Year: 1878

Tim Olympia people are moving heaven
AMI earth aud the most Of Puget Sound To
get their lailroid built. Their latest idea
is in getting tap a grand fourth Of July
celebration, the proceeds Of which will be
donated to their pet object.
Year: 1878

Word comes from New Jersey that the
pastor of congregation in that decorous
State has considered il necessary to rededi-
cate his church to heaven, it having been
desecrated to o greater or less extent by
some portions Of an entertainment lately
given in it for the benefit Of religious
body which has no church Of its own.
Aside from the unfraternal slap which is
given by implication to the offending
society the Jealous pastor seems to have
been guilty OF an old and blundering
notion, still too prevalent. that whatever is
amusing is also utterly out of keeping with
things pure and holy, and is quite likely to
be sinful. This peculiar idea has in differ
ent ages done a great deal toward making
religion unattractive and even hateful to
many who really needed all the help that
the Church could give them, which seems
somewhat different from the purpose
for which organized religious bodies
exist. There are but few church buildings
Year: 1878

Few crimes have ever been committed in
New York that have excited greater indig-
nation in the community than that of the
outrage on MI. Stewards grave. 1t is one
Of those revolving acts which, like the steal
ing of poor little Charley Ross. makes the
entire people feel like resolving themselves
into q body Of detectives and hunting the
criminals down. Everybody sympathizes
with the family and friends of the deceased
gentleman, and there would be general
rejoicing if one of the many wild stories set
aAoat in regard to the success Of the search
should unexpectedly prove true and the
fact should become known that the remains
we're recovered and the malefactors lodged
securely in prison.


But if the efforts Of the police to discover
the guilty parties should fail what is to be
the next step? Ought any reward to be
paid to the men who have committed the
crime for the restoration of the remains
It would Of course be painful trial for the
late Mr.. Stewards relatives and friends to
abandon the thought Of recovering the
body, but would not even that be prefera-
BILE to rewarding the wretches who have
been guilty Of the revolving act? Why
should not the robbers Of the grave be
made to understand at once that even if
the remains are to rest forever in the
place to which they have consigned them
not . dollar will, under any cir
cumstances, be paid for their res
toration unless accompanied by the
arrest of the guilty parties? Malice
and rage can work no harm to the dead,
and the most severe punishment that can
he inflicted on the miserable creatures who
have committed this outrage is to convince
them that they can never realize profit
from their crime. The offer Of a reward for
the discovery of the remains, coupled with
the arrest Of the criminals, has been crit
icised in some quarters, but we believe that
proper course has been pursued. Let it
be positively known that no reward will
under any circumstances now or hereafter
be allowed to go into the pockets Of the
robbers Of the grave, even If all thought
of the recovery Of the remains has to be
aban doned, and the single consideration
that holds the thieves together and induces
silence will be removed.
Year: 1878

tempts of the government to collect interest
on the loans, and if they do not eyade pay
ment OF the principal it will not be from
any lack of effort or ingenuity. The Texas
Pacific jobbers aspire to emulate that ex-
ample. II they once get the expected sub
sidy, under the plausible name of a
loan, they will be as unscrupulous as the
existing roads in evading the payment Of
both interest and principal, and will make
common cause with them in corrupting or
perverting Congress and defeating compul-
sorry legislation. If a subsidy is granted to
the Texas Pacific one will also be given to
the Northern Pacific and to the Atchison,
Topeka and Kansas. which is also to be con-
tinued to the Pacifo. If the existing road
is too powerful for the control Of Congress
what will be the case when il is reinforced
by three othefs as greedy and unscrupulous
as itself and having common interest
in refusing to pay back or account for
the millions of public money which they
had filched from the Treasury under the
pretence of a lean? The only safety lies in
a northumberland opposition by the press
and the people to every subsidy scheme,
whether for railroads or steamships. If
Congress comes near enough to this mael-
strom to circle around it's edges it will in
evitably be drawn, and the Treasury with
it, into the immense and devouring vortex.
This is subject on which the efforts OF the
lobby and the action Of Congress. should be
watched with the keenest vigilance during
the coming session.
Year: 1878




There is disposition in some parts Of
the West and South to find fault with the
course Of the New York banks in giving
notice that they will receive silver dollars
after the 1st Of January only as special de-
posit to be returned in kind. Some of the
silver dcmagogues are telling the people
that silver being legal tender the banks
ought, therefore, to receive it just as they
do greenbacks, or as they will gold after
January l.


The fact is that the banks propose to
treat the currency Of all kinds precisely as
the government does. After the 1st Of
January the Treasury will redeem the
greenbacks in gold, and it will pay out in
differently gold and greenbacks. But it
will not redeem the silver dollars in either
gold or greenbacks. The holder Of thou
sand silver dollars will not be able to 60 to
the Treasury and get greenbacks for them.
Why should the banks do what the Treasury
will not do?


If Congress, as soon as it meets, will pass
law directing the Treasury to redeem the
silver dollars in gold or greenbacks on pre-
sentation in sums OF a hundred or thou
sand dollars, and tho fractional silver in
sums OF twenty-five or fifty dollars, the
banks will, without the least doubt, at
once take silver on deposit on the same
terms with gold and greenbacks. More
over, such law as this will open the way
for very large circulation Of silver-for all
that can be coined in the next year or two
Instead Of grumbling at the banks for de-
clining to do what the Treasury will not
do tho silver people ought to urge Con-
eress to adopt at once such law as We
have suggested. If they mean business
they will do SO, but If they only mean
demagoging around the country Of course
they will not.
Year: 1878

1t is vexatious to honorable men to be &c
cused Of wrong doing; and we cannot blame
Mr.. Theodore Havemeyer, Of the eminent
sugar refining firm of Havemeyers 4 Elder.
for pointed remonstrance he has made, in
letter to the New York press, against
the anonymous ISLANDERS which have
been Tor some time flung at the body
Of sugar refners in this city. He says, very
truly, that as to frauds upon the revenues,
the laws, which are very stringent, and
even needlessly SO, are enforced by the gov
eminent with all the vigilance of its officers
and all the power in its possession; |;
and to assert That frauds are, nevertheless,
committed is to say not only that mer-
chants having vast capital invested in one
Of the most important industries in the
country would hazard their means, as we'll
as their good name, by committing frauds,
but that the government is not able to
prevent or detect them if they did, which
is absurd. The charge that American re-
iners adulterate their sugars, Mr. Have
meyer not only denies, but offers that the
refners will open their works to exam-
iners to be sent by the press, who shall
watch all the stages of the refining process
and report the result


We do not think this either necessary or
advisable. The fact is we'll known to all
who care to know it that American sugar
refncrs carry on their business nowadays
: with better machinery and methods than
ore used in other countries; their success is
based upon the superior ability and intelli-
gence with which they conduct their busi-
ness, and also upon tho possession Of
abundant capital, which is necessary to its
successful prosecution. If any one charges
fraud or sdulteration against the sugar re-
finers it is his duty to do it publicly, and TO
prove the accusation true. If he does not do
this he is no more to be regarded by the
public, and will receive no more attention
than any other slanderer.


The business of sugar refining is now
conducted with such perfection in this
country that Messrs. Havemeyers 4 Elder
to take them as an example--probably re-
fine sugar at less cost than any European
establishment; and if the present laws
fixing sugar duties and drawbacks were
modified SO as to give to this important
branch of industry, which employs some
thousands Of workmen, fair chance, we
should probably before very long sell re-
fined sugar to large part of the world,
with great advantage to our foreign COM
merce and our home industry.
Year: 1878

in which entertainments of some sort have
not been given for the benefit OF religious
enterprises. and the more amusing these
were the better they suited the demands of
the managers and the patrons; and no one
imagined anything dreadful had happened.
A great deal of pleasing entertainment is
offered daily just now in New York's great
Cathedral, but no one has imagined that the
sacred intent of the building is compro-
missed thereby. The New Jersey pastor
might be just MS devout and FAR more useful
to humanity ii he were to admit to himself
the fact that the Being who devised the
mental nature OF man created the humor-
GUS faculty as we'll as that of devotion, and
that it has a large and honorable part to
play in the drama of life When he has q
church purifying fit upon him let the
preacher inveigh against the members OF
his flock who carry impure thoughts and
dishonest imaginings into the house of the
Lord, as some members Of nearly every con-
gregation do at times; compared with these
the most trihing iun-makers are angels OF
light.
Year: 1878

RAILROAD STOCKHOLDERS will be interested in
decision just given by the Supreme Court Of
,he United States. ii is held that in the ease Of
municipal aid to railroads the recital printed on
bonds that the election required by law was
duly held is sufficient in the hands Of an inno
cent holder to estop the municipality from offer.
ing to show that no such election took place.
Year: 1878

Mr.. Edison's hopes and promises regard
ing illumination by means Of electricity
have led many people to suppose that the
electric light is an entirely new idea, but a
Washington letter which we publish to-day
shows that other men besides the genius Of
Menlo Park have long been at work in the
same direction. A third Of century ago
n patent was granted in England for a
method of illumination by electricity,
the inventor being an American whose
application for letters patent was rejected
by the United States on the ground that it
claimed nothing new. In England both
science md capital were captured by the
young inventor, the great Faraday being de-
lighted with the invention, while George
Peabody, the famous banker. promised
money enough to place the device upon a
practical footing. The inventor died sud-
denly. apparently of overjoy at his promise
of success, and with him disappeared what
known difficulties in the way Of separating
and ditfusing the light. Another electrician,
Mr.. j. 3. Fuller. has at present before the
examiners of our Patent Office some claims
on important points relative to electric light
ing, the divisibility Of the light being among
them. I'll is known also that many other
electricians have been and still are expert
menting in the same direction, SO that even
ifsome Of Mr. Edison's hopes come to naught
there will be no good reason for gas COM
panies to roll themselves up in their own
stock and rest in fancied security instead
Of endeavoring to supply the best possible
light at the smallest remunesative price.
Year: 1878

our heads above water by clingins


to floating chests. Calling to each


other, we found there We're six alive,


FIVE men and one boy. One man


died a little while after; the boy


died next morning. -Four were vet


alive. We clung to the sail tier,


with the water up to our chins. By
prying off the lid of floating chest,


We found small bottle OF sweet


wine and eight apples, and each one


of US took drink of wine The cook


was dying; he begged for more wine;


we gave him another swallow, and a


little after he died. We pushed the


body down under, water, as we


wanted space. There was only
about eighteen inches or two feet Of
space between the water and the
side, and floating chests and stuff
jammed our heads and bruised our
bodies dreadfully. We had fresh
air enough through broken deck
light which occasionally rose above
water. Believing we must die if we
remained in this horrible place, We
decided to try and find scuttle and
reach deck. Manuel tried first, and
on the second attempt succeeded in
reaching the open air. This was
Sunday. I tried twice and was al
most. drowned before 1 could get
back again. I had a hard struggle;
got my head through the floating
boxes. I didn't try it again that
day; but next day l made another
attempt, and after a desperate strug-
gle got out and found Manuel cling
ing to the upper side of the vessel.
A dead man was lashed to the rig
ging. I cut him adrift, as ne made
me feel bad. Manuel said he saw
steamer about eight miles off the
day before. WepuIled some pieces
of canvas up to where we were
clinging and wrapped ourselves in
it. We called to Henriques, who
was still in the forecastle, to come
out, but the poor fellow couldn't
swim, and wouldn't try. We tried
to cut through the plank with a
knife, but could only dig the oakum
out of the seams, the plank was SO
hard. We kept a good lookout for
vessels, and only dropped asleep a
little while before we were rescued.
I believe all the rest of the crew
were lost when the bark capsized,
as it was so sudden and the wind
and sea too much for q boat to live,
even if one could be got out. We
had been on the vessel so short
time that we were not acquainted
with the names of the officers and
but few of the crew.
Year: 1878

New York, Oct. 1S.-The pilot
boat Isaac Webb, on Tuesday morn
ing last, when forty miles off Block


Island, passed close by a floating


wreck barely showing above the


surface of the water; no signs of
life were visible; but the yawl was
got out and pulled close to the bow
of the vessel, and by the light of the
moon it could be seen that it was a
bark lying completely ON her beam
ends, with but small portion of
her port side above water. A man
sprang from the yawl on to the
wreck and trod upon what he sup
posed to be pile of wreck stuff and
canvas. but to his nstonishment
and fright, the mass rose up with
cry of alarm. In the moonlight it
appeared SO much like an apparition
that the crew of the yawl were for Il
moment scared completely out of
their wits. Recovering themselves,
they looked again and saw two hu-
man beings wrapped in canvas and
reaching out their hands for help.
The poor fellows, when they real
lied delivance was at hand, pointed
to the side of the vessel beneath
their feet, and said in broken Eng
lish, "oue man inside" The pilot
men put their ears to the spot indi-
Gated and heard the voice of a hu-
man being calling in heartrending
tones for help.


After two hours of incessant toll
the sailors succeeded in making a
hole through which they could speak
to the poor fellow within, who cried
out that water was rising and almost
strangling him. Redoubling their
exertions they finally made hole
large enough to permit the passage
of a man, and drew from the dark
ness below the swollen and almost
lifeless body of Henriques Gancavis.
When asked if any others of the
crew still survived, he answered,
"No; the boys are all dead"


The survivors are named Joseph
Refs, Manuel Avis and Henrique
Gancavis, all of Cape Verd Islands,
who shipped on the 18th inst, ON
the bark Sarah, of New Bedford, for
a whaling voyage of two years.
The crew numbered twenty-five men
all told. The following is the story
of the wreck, as related by one OF
the survivors:


We left New Bedford on Saturday,
the weather at the time looking very
stormy, the wind coming constantly
upon us from the northeast, blow
ing a stiff breeze, which increased
to gale. We commenced to take
in sail and reef. At half-past 5
we hove to on our port tack, wind
blowing hurricane and friahtful
sea running. Two hours later a
tremendous sea struck the bark and
capsized her on her beaLl ends.
There were seven OF Us Ill the fore
castle at the time. The sea rushed
in and filed the forecastle, cutting
off escape to the deck. We strug-
gled for life and managed to keep
Year: 1878

H~ The irradiatiOn countenaf1cs
exhibited by "a bridegroom at the
moment he leads his chosen one
before the altar is certainly very
beautiful; but, by way of comparison,
did you ever observe the face of the
man who, taking down his winter
overcoat and shaking out the moths,
dives casually into one of the pockets
and brings up forgotten quarter?
Year: 1878

Hc A man who cheats In snort
measure is o measureless rogue. ii
in whiskey, then he is q rogue in
spirit. If by falsifying his accounts,
then he is an unaccountable rogue.
If he gives q bad title to land, then
he is a rogue indeed. If he gives
short measure in wheat, then he is
q rogue in grain.
Year: 1878

A meeting of the National Greenback
Labor Party will be held tomorrow
fThursdayl evening in the Hail at the
corner of Ninth and Walnut streets.


A mass meeting of National Greenback
Labor Party will be held at Second and
Jackson streets this evening at u O'Clock
Eminent speakers will address the meet
Ing.
Year: 1878

He is fool. We mean the man who
lets his baby cry all night in the arms of
its mother, and does not sleep wink
when DR.. Bulls baby syrup will quiet
the baby by relieving its pain; bottle
costing only % cents.