smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1866

Special DsspatcAss 70 The Bpenaa0 Telegraph.


WASHINGTON, January 10.
Claims against GOvernnaene from the


Southern states.


The Committee on Claims report In favor Of
throwing out all claims growing out of the Re
belhon. The amount of these claims rolls up so
fearfully that their payment will require more
money than the country can furnish. The public
debt would be doubled by their payment. In
the opinion off the committee the establishment
of precedent in their payment would be very
dangerous.


An Important Witness Against the
Rebel General Mercor.


Captain George r. Walbridge, late Superin-
tendeut of the Old Capitol Prison, has Just re-
turned from Ohio where he was ordered by the
War Department in quest of an important wit
ness IN case now pending at Savannah against
the ex-Rebel General Mercer for executing Ger
tain military prisoners just before the occupa-
tion Of that city by our forces.


Z Captain Walbridge succeeded in obtaining,
after considerable trouble, the requisite wit
ness in the person of William E. Evans, late
lieutenant in the 201st Pennsylvania Regiment
His testimony is very important, from the fact
that he is the only witness who can identify
General Mercer as the officer who gave the
order for the execution. He will testify that
on agiven day in 1864, just before the Federal
occupation of Savannah, Mercer rode over
to the post prison, short distance from the
above city, and ordered the summary execution
OF seven Federal soldiers then in captivity
merely to prevent their being lecaptured by our
forces. The lieutenant remembers the order
given by Mercer to be as iollows:-"Bring out
and hang those ID Yankee soldiers higher
than Haman ever hung, and send them to HI,
where they ought to have been long ago."
Evans was put aboard the steamer San Sdloddor
at New York, and sailed for Savannah on Satur-
day night last


Immediately upon his arrival the trial of Mer
Ger viii commence, and the War Department
anticipates from this late acquisition of testi
mony that the verdict of the court will be y
capital punishment. 1t is understood that Mer
Ger has surrounded himself with the best legal
talent, whose line of defense will be to prove
that the Union men were not executed without
| due trial by courtmartial.
Year: 1866

The three hundred deaths year which take
place in the streets of London are beginning to
that city. A new city traffic regulation bill has
been prepared by order OF the Council, which
contains some very stringent regulations. Any
any sort of vehicle, and any person under tour
teen rom having temporary charge of any
vehicle or horse drawing the same. There is
penalty for driving vehicles in which the driver
sits inside, unless he can see on both sides as
well as in front. There are numerous regula-
tions as TO the hours during which vans aud
laden wagons may be driven through the streets,
and the pace at which they may go. 1t is also
proposed to increase the CITY police, at an addi.
.tional cost of $4,000 pounds year.
Year: 1866

Special Despatch to The Evening Telegraph


BALTIMORE, January l9.-The contest in Mary
land to repeal the registry law, which prevents
Rebel sympathizers and their Democratic allies
from voting, is growing intensely fierce. may
say, confdenhally, very large majority of the
Legislature is in favor of the law it is and will
not alter line of it.


From present indications nearly or all the
great railroad and internal improvement mea-
sures before the Legislature will be successful.
Year: 1866

The LADIES FAIR seems to attract for the
present the attention of young as well as old.
The building, although large and commodious, is
often cramped with a generous people, irrespec-
tive Of religion and sect. The Jew, the Protes
snt and the Catholic the merchant, the far>
ner and miner; the rich and the poor, all join
in their innocent amusements for that noble and
endearing cause, charity. The total receipts
for the first night were SAP, and on the second
S436, which is but mark of the good will of a
generous community. So must it be. The
money Invested will always be money, and Civ
Ing to the poor is lending to the Lord. Much
credit is due to Mrs. Mrs. X. Galbreath and Mrs,
h Carpenter, for their Jealous discharge of
duty. G.
Year: 1866

Stelnoerger, physician to the military post, per-
formed an operation involving more than ord-
nary risk and requiring unusual professional
skill. The operation was the removal of deep>
seated abscess from the back bone of a young
man who is otherwise greatly reduced by pull
monary complaint. The abscess was cut out,
and the young man is again around aud rapidly
Improving We mention this fact with view
10 correcting the impression that it is necessary
70 60 below when serious surgical operations
are to be performed. We have here the medi
cal skill necessary to the relief of "all the ills
mat flesh is heir to" aud hence there is no oc.
caSlon to 60 abroad for professional skill.
Year: 1866

SA man in San Francisco, with a glass
eye, finding his other eye In attained, called upon
an oculist, whom he at once discovered to be
humbug, and consulted him concerning the
glass one, remarking that he had not seen out
OF it for ten years. The doctor looked at it
and said he could cure il, whereupon the gem
tleman took it from the socket, and handing 1t
TO the doctor, said: II have not time to stop
for treatment; You can keep the eye here


and as soon as you get 1t to see, I will call for
Year: 1866

In Chicago street car, the other day, q
pale but pretty young woman gave up her
seat to one,legged soldier, and the gra.
cious act led to tho recognition Of the man
as her husband, long mourDed as dead.
Year: 1866

the profusion of flags with which il wa.
decorated being brought out gaily by a
thousand gas jets. The clear light of
these gas jets cast sheet of mellow light
over the sea of uptumed faces, bringing
ont each feature in sharp relief. A stand
had been erected in front of the building
for speakers, and on lie opposite side of
the street at more than Speaking distance
from each other were other stands, each
one brilliantly illuminated with gas and
fastefuily decorated with flags. 1t was
an unequaled locality Tor a gathering of
fifty thousand or more (eome said one
hundred thousand, who stood for hours
listening TO the eloquent orators who sue
ceS>ively spoke.
Year: 1866




The following occurrence Is described by
our informant rs being one of the most
amusing scenes he ever noticed: A gentle
man In New Haven recently erected on
Chapel street, near the colleges. large and
beautiful residence, and adorned the
grounds with more than ordinary taste and
expense. Among other ornaments, not far
from the street, he placed large cast-irOn
statue of n dog, whose belligerent appear
ance and defiant attitude made him look
rs large as life and twice as ugly." For
weeks afterward the 'ittle dogs and all"
on passing by the house. never failed to
give the statue n complimentary bark and
growl. which, however. never disturbed its
equanimity. But one day q big old towser
from the country was following his mas
ter's market-wagon into town, aud hap
pened TO spy the hostile form of the cast
iron foe. A preliminary growl and bow
WOW produced no effect. Surly and def
ant. his enemy continued to gaze at him.
Canine nature could stand it no longer.
One leap over the fence brought him into
the yard, and two or three more brought
him TO his mute antagonist Quicker than
thought he attempted to filSten his teeth ON
the cast-iron chops of the statue, but the
next moment gave mp the contest. The
last that was seen of that dog he was
sncaking out OF the yard with his tail be-
tween his legs, the most completely sold
specimen of canine society we ever wit
nessed.--H Hartford Times. ..4.
Year: 1866

A French Preparation for the Hair
As u Dressing for the Hair it has no equal Re


stores grey hair 70 its natural color and Keeps the
scalp clean and healthy Every bottle warranted
For sale by Dayton Druggists. m2il3m
Year: 1866

DEATH BY sELF-IMPosED STARVATION, OF


STERLING KING, THE REBEL COLONEL, spy


AND HORSE THIEF HIS STRANGE oHAKAo-
TEKIsTIcs AND WONDERFUL PERSISTENCE


IN PURPOSE SKETCH OF HIS LIFE AND


ADVENTURES.


From the Cincinnati Commercial, 12th instI


Sterling King, known throughout
the war as rebel spy and bearer of
dispatches, with therank of Colonel,
was born in England in 1884, and
while yet a boy came with his par
ents to this country, and found Il
permanent home near Richmond,
Virginia. lie received a very good
collegiate education, studied law and
practiced in Richmond, Virginia.
Upon the Inauguration of the rebel
lion, he was among the very first to
enlist as a private under Stonewall
Jackson. Badly wounded in an en-
gagement in the first year, and dis
tinguished for reckless courage, he
was soon promoted to a Colonelcy,
and detailed to act as a spy, under
the rebel executive. ''a


In this capacity he travelled all
through the North, managing, as he
brought experience to the aid of
natural abilities, to work success
fully in procuring passes, passing the
lines and procuring information use
full to the rebel cause. He made
trips through all the Northern and
Eastern cities, to Cuba, Canada and
even to Europe. He several times
had business in this city, and on one
occasion occupied small office near
the Soldiers Home, on Third street,
where, under the guise of claim
agent he occupied himself, during
several weeks, in collecting from the
inmates of the Home statistics as to
the strength and location of all the
regiments represented by them.


He was fully acquainted with all
the business Of the rebel mail service,
and was at one time employed in Sc
lecting men and routes for that busi-
ness. A couple Of years since he
was captured here, and imprisoned
as spy. Propositions were made
to release him in the event of bis
giving information that would lead
to the arrest of certain rebel agents
in this vicinity; but he stubbornly
refused, stating that he intended to
make his escape with his hands, and
this promise he made good by work
ing his way out one night, and pass
ing the guard, despite a bayonet
thrust in the thigh. |


Having thus given the main points
in Kings history as a rebel Colonel
and spy, we come now to bis opera |
Year: 1866

adjourned railroad meeting at the
Mayors Office on Saturday last was
too slimly attended to amount to
anything. The fact is, we are in
need Of the capital and enterprise in
dispensable to the furtherance Of such
objects, and the attention of our
planters is SO much taken up with
the cultivation of their crops at this
season, that they cannot find the time,
it appears, to look after outside mat
ters, or even to honor meeting for
such purposes with their presence.
What capital there is in this vicinity,
is concentrated in the hands of indi-
viduals who lack that species of en-
terprise which seeks to develop the
resources of a country by promoting
works OF internal improvement. In
the present aspect of things, there
fore, we can see but poor encourage
ment for the friends of the railroad
measure, to carry out their scheme as
long as reliance on public demon
strations or concert of action is





looked to as of paramount necessity,
to the undertaking. Much more, we
imagine, might be accomplished,
were number of the friends of the
measure to get together, and resolve
to canvass the parish and ascertain
the probable amount that would be
subscribed and actually forthcoming
at the time required for building the
railroad. This preliminary action, if
attended with success, would form a
nucleus around which would gather
strength and force of organization
adequate to conduct and prosecute
its share of the work to completion,
leaving the East Feliciana division
Of he road to be built by our neigh
bors OF that parish.


The Clinton Patriot, of the 26th
says, in referring to the railroad
project:


We have spoken of the great ad-
vantage arising from railroad com
munication with the Mississippi
river, a project that should never be
lost sight of, and that We are glad to
learn is resolved upon by the old
company of the Clinton and Port
Hudson railroad. Their means will
not justify their at once putting up
hrst-c class road, but it will be the be-
ginning of a good ond. If the citi-
zens of Baton Rouge cannot hold out
inducements sufficient to have the
road terminate there, it will have to
follow up the old track, and termin-
ate at a good landing below Port
Hudson.


Were the Clinton and Port Hud-
son Railroad Company to inaugurate
the movement by some tangible ac-
ton evidencing a determination to
cast their resources in the scale ia.
voring Baton Rouge as the river ter
minus for their road, we believe the
effect would be to arouse greater
feeling of cooperation in the measure
on the part of the people generally.
Year: 1866




It is not every man who sets him-
self up as leader or commander
who should be accepted as worthy or
competent for such position, and
yet it does seem that no matter how.
superlatively defective some men
may be in respect to fitness or quail
fication, so they have the faculty for
sounding their own trumpet and
making great noise, they find
credulous people enough in the world
to honor them with their confidence
and yield a willing obedience to
their behests no matter how imprac-
ticable or absurd These easy going
and credulous adherents are sure to
have their eyes opened in course Of
time, yet unfortunately not until it is
too late to escape the wrongs and
abuses to which they have permitted
themselves to be made the easy
victims. ,u.


Here is Col. OMahony, but re-
Gently the great embodiment of Fe-
niaDism in the United States--a
man, who, like Byron, woke up one
fine morning and found himself fa-
nous, and who assumed the dicta
and grandeur of Napoleon, fancy
ing himself doubtless born to govern
and command-now let down from
the high pinnacle Of his fame and
ambition, and under circumstances of
a humiliating character, retires to
back seat in the Fenian arena.


1t will, we fancy, take d great
while and many more "mints of





money" under the purest and ablest
leaders that can possibly be found,
for the Fenians ever to recover
the vantage-ground they have lost
through the want of proper admins
trative skill and efficiency in their
past leaders. Indeed, it would seem
that the opportunity claimed by
them a few months since, as the
golden one for striking for the liberia
ton and independence of their native
isle has disappeared altogether amid
the wranglings and mistakes to
which their association has been
fated. HH a


The following correspondence be-
tween Head Centers O'Mabony and
Stevens, let's in considerable light
upon the Fenian troubles, about
which so much has already been
said:


II
Year: 1866

The PARK.--It will be seen by the proceed
ings of the City Council last evening, that the
Park is a fixed fact, SO far as it can be before
purchases are matured. The square bounded
by Congress, PEARL Federal and Franklin
streets is the site agreed upon. We learn
that all the proprietors, have been seen and
their terms for the land fixed save one, who re-


fuses to sell at any price. Bnt it is to be hoped
that this refusal to sell for Park will be re-
considered and that he will join with the 9TH
ers in giving up the land for the purpose
Year: 1866

2 ACCIDENT ON THE RAILROAD TRAcK.-As
DR.. Buzzell was crossing the railroad track on
Commercial street, in his carriage yesterday
afternoon, just above our Office, a train struck
his carriage smashing it into splinters. The
Doctor was thrown from the carriage by the
conclusion, but fortunately received no serious
injury. The horse was not injured but took
himself off at rapid rate after the conclusion
had released him from the vehicle. ii Do
Year: 1866

The Augusta public at least will remember
that at the late term Of our Circuit Superitf
Court, in November last, two Yankee Dutch
worthless, (the class referred to by Mr.. John
Lewis In his examination before the Reconstruc-
ton Committee, were tried and condemned to
the penltentiary, but on second trial granted
by Judge Thompson, were acquitted. Here the
error was certainly on mercy's, not ON Justices
side, as subsequent facts prove


10 be understood, | refer to j. Augustus
Fischer, charged with having stolen horse of
Capt. Hottie, of Mt. Solon, and j. Kuhn with
having bought lot of goods under false pre-
tences of Z. Scheffer of the Virginia Hotel,


In evidence that they were not the immacu-
late and much persecuted worthless, that o
stranger listening to their council might have
believed, the following circumstance fully at
were foand together between Harrisonburg and
Sparta, and in some unaccountable way, they
came into possession of horse and buggy of d
young man by name of Martin, said to be from
Lexington or it's vicinity. He was found by
them somewhere between the point at which
they got the buggy lying in the road insensible
from intoxication, as they say, but the public
are unable to make up an opinion on the sub.
ject, and Martin does nothing to aid them in
doing so, as will presently appear. Fischer and
Kuhn instead of stopping in the town OF Har-





buggy if lost as they alleged, drove through
and are found that night near the village of Mt
Solon, in possession of the horse and buggy
A young man from Harrisonburg got on their
track and overhauled them and, armed with writ.
ten authority by Justice Of Augusta, sent them
to Harrisonburg to have the matter investiga-
ted. The Commonwealth Attorney there
made the attempt, sent for MalIin a half dozen
times to appear against them, but it was calling
for spirits from the vastly deep, he did not come,
and unacquainted as he Or any one else was with
their past history, they were discharged. Kuhn
who is represented by his cousin Fischer to
have two wives already was making serious eff
forts in the village of Dayton to add number
three to his list, but was seriously thwarted as
it is said by the husband of the woman he was
making love to, and fight ensued which re-
suited in Kuhn receiving bullet in each leg,
which ought to have been in the head Or heart
as the world would have been rid of a great
scamp, When the community hoped that they
were rid Of both these individuals, we regret to
learn that Fischer is about to settle at Center
vile. The community might find better man,
SNOOKS,
Year: 1866

"a million of money for one inch Of time,
said England proud Queen Elizabeth, while
filled with remorse in her dying moments but
all the wealth of the world could not purchase
single hour.


Young woman, are you improving your gold
en- hours so as to save yourself from vain regrets
by and by, when the fatal archer lets fly the ar
row of death and cuts short your dream OF Life !?
You have heart sympathies to cultivate, mind
to educate, powers to make active for good, and
influences to WELD for the right and the true
How much of your time is absorbed by lofty
aims and noble strivings?


Young man, can you afford to waste an hoar
in idleness and frivolity? Can you afford to
neglect your opportunities of storing your mind
with useful information, of making solid acquire
ments, and preparing yourself thoroughly for
those high efforts that win success in the great
undertakings of life? You have great deal to
do, before you attain to your majority. in order
to meet the just expectations of society. You
have to do with a fast age, to share in opera
tions moving with lightning speed, and you
must be capable of quick decisions and brisk
movements, for time and tide will not wait for
you. Every hour not needed for repose and re-
creation, should be filed up with benefits to
yourself and Others Act upon this hint, and
you will bless us for dropping it. Here is an
old saying and true one which you will do
well to fix in your memory: "Who hnoacs mo-
thing in his thirtieth year, IS nothing in his for
tieth has nothing in his fftieth, learns nothing,
IS nothing, and comes to nothing"
Year: 1866

She who makes her husband and children
happy, who reclaims the one from vice and
trains up the other to virtue, is much great
er character than ladies described in romance,
whose occupation is to mutler mankind with
shafts from the quiver of their eyes.
Year: 1866

PUBLIC PEACE.-Lord Bacon said: 'The
surest way to prevent seditions (if the times do
bear it, is to take away the matter of them;
for, if there be fuel prepared it is hard to tell
whence the spark shall come that shall set it on
FIRE
Year: 1866

A boarder at one Of our city boarding houses
on being asked how they lived there, replied
that the hash was rather doubtful, but the beef
was bully This dubious endorsement failed
to attract new boarder.
Year: 1866

MoNEY-Men will work for it, fight fer it,
beg for it. steal for it, starve for it, and die for
it. And all the WHILE from the cradle to the
grave, nature and God are laundering in our
ears the solemn question-''What shall it pro-
fit man, if he gain the whole world and lose
his own soul?" This madness for money is the
strongest and lowest of the passions it is the
insatiate Moloch of the human heart, before
whose remorseless altar all the finer attributes
of humanity are sacrificed 1t makes merchan-
disc Of all that is sacred in human affections,
and even trafhcs in the awful solemnities of the
eternal
Year: 1866

A WEDDING INCIDENT story is told of
a temperance man being at wedding, was ask
ed to drink the brides health in glass of wine
which was offered him. He refused to partake
Of the Intoxicating liquid, and said when hs
drank her health, it would be in that which
resembled her most in purity, and he knew no.
thing better than water, pure water. He then
drank to her health in glass ofGod,s beverage
occasion Immediately stepped forward, and ma
king respectful courtesy, thanked him for the
beautiful compliment he had just paid the fair
BRIDE when it was resolved that all intoxicating
drinks be banished from the room.
Year: 1866




The multiplying of gaming houses in
Saratoga from season to season has been
marked but never as much as now. On the
main street many of the second floors are
taken by those who keep gaming tables. No
pains are taken TO keep the business secret.
From the streets. from the piazzas of the
hotels, from dawn till dark, and from sun
down TO SUNRISE Sunday bringing no repose
and no cessation, men can be seen under the
fascination of the tables, winning or losing
great sums Some well-to-do and well-repu-
ted men from New York daily play, with a
fixed rule only to lose certain sum. They
play while they win. But when fortune is
against them, and their standard of loss is
reached, they quit the tables. These men
never drink while they play. But with all
this rivalry MoRRIssEY has been able to
hold his own.


He has now found a rival. A woman
from New York has taken a house on the
same street where his club house is located.
1t is elegantly fitted up. 1t has bar of the
choicest wines and liquors. a hop is held
eacu night, at which men are admitted on
the payment of five dollars.


Young women, quite pretty and well dress
ed, parade the streets and call at the hotels,
andw ith handsomely printed circulars call
men into this new place of dissipation. The
circular holds out the price hops, the music,
the wines and refreshments, as does bill of
fare in a restaurant. The lady of the man
sion keeps a four-in-hand team. The outf {
is splendid. The horses are stately and
aristocratic A driver holds the reins,
dressed in livery Two lackeys sit behind
in white coats Of immense breadth and but
tons as big as half dollars, and otherwise
dressed in the most aristocratic style. Alone,
in the open carriage the owner sits in all
her glory, and is driven up and down, in
and out Of the town, and of course is the
center Of general observasion. The thing
has and viii make a profound excitement
here Men have been waylaid by girls pre-
tending to have lost their way. Men have
been enticeG into the house under variSus
pretenses, and the bold, defiant, business-like
way the house is managed strikes all with
asfoDiehmquf