smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1867

the reptile settled inte the water, and
with its horrid head elevated about two
feet above the surface, began to move
off toward the centre of the lake, re-
peating the noise, which sounded like
the below of bull, and lashing the
water into foam for q distance of at
least forty feet behind the head.


When the monster raised its head
first, the two ladies who sat facing the
scene screamed and tainted. The other
two, though terribly frightened, kept
their eyes fixed upon the monster antil
it disappeared. The men seemed par
alyzed by the sight, and state that they
were unable to make stroke of the
oars. They were not near enough to see
the shape of the head, but unite in say
ing that the body of the animal was at
least two feet thick ut the neck, and
gradually increased in size down to the
water. The belly seemed of a light col
or, and the back black.
Year: 1867

JfIOm OsNeRO ounO iA'J


We know that it has been customary
for the manufacturers of the marvel
lous to revive at intervals the story of
the "Sea Serpent" which has gone the
rounds of the papers ''many time and
off," and been laughed at by the public
as it should have been. In the face of
this fact, we do not hesitate to present
the following statement, which We be-
lieye to.be true in every particular, for
the reason that We have it upon the tes-


timony Of eight persons, six Of whom
saw, each for him or herself, all that is
contained in the statement, and two
others, who for reasons given, saw only
q portion thereof. If we were permit
ted to give the names of those who
make the statement, NO one at all ac-
quainted in Oswego would doubt it for
moment. The following is the state
ment: Last evening about 8 o'clock, a
party of four ladies and four gentlemen
Of this city went out upon Lake Ontario
for ride in o four-oared row-boat.
They went up the lake about two
miles. 1t was still daylight when
the party started. The evening
was pleasant with almost no wind,
and the moon, though not shining very
brightly, made objects plainly discern
able on, the lake. There were number
of sail vessels in sight, and also few
row w-boats. On the return of the party,
when opposite the hill upon which the
Sheldon residence stands, some three
hundred feet from the shore, and about
ten o'clock, the occupants OF the boat,
who were singing at the time, heard
peculiar noise which attracted their at
tention. About two hundred feet ahead
of them, and within one hundred feet
of the shore, they saw what they at first
thought to be o log floating in the water.
The peculiar noise was repeated, and
this time it was apparent that it
came from the vicinity of the "log.'
The steersmar headed the
boat towards the "logn as he
said, for the purpose Of rescuing
the cast away abullfrogr immediately
that the boats head was turned, the
party all saw most horrible sight. The
form of hinge snake was raised fully
fifteen feet into the air, and brought
down into the water three or four times
inquick succession. A noise similar in
nature to that heard previously, but
greatly increased in power was heard /;
Year: 1867

The quiet village of North Adams was


thrown into the widest excitement on


Sunday last by the discovery that Rev.


S. A. Merrill, the late pastor Of the


Methodist Church ut that place; had


elOped with beautiful and interesting


young lady, named Houghton, leaving
q wife and nine children. 1t seems that


both parties had been absent. from the


village since Wednesday last, but as
the young lady had told her parents


that she was going to visit friend in


the ueighborhOod, and Mr.. Merrill had


lately been appointed to another charge,
rendering his absence from home neces-
sary considerable portion of the time,
no suspicious were aroused until Sun
day, when the failure of either parry to
appear, taken in connection with the
remembrance that there had been some
former scandal in relation to them,
suggested that there must be something
wrong. Accordingly, on Monday morn
ing, the friends of the young lady came
to this city, and found that on Wednes-
day night last, Mr.. Merrill had put mp
at the Troy House, registering his name
as s. A. Merritt of New York, and that
on Thursday night he had stopped at
the American. From this it appears
that the young lady did not reach Troy
until Friday. when it is supposed that
he met her at the depot, put her aboard
the Troy House coach, and that they
stepped together at that house for a
shsrt time, but left for the West on the
same day. During Thursday, Mr.. Mer-
rill made one or two attempts to bor-
row money, and was refused, $50 being
the sum that he desired. Whether he
finally succeeded in "raising the wind"
we did not learn, but q report received
from Utica yesterday, states that he had
stopped in that city, and was again try
ing to borrow money. He procured
ticket on the Central Railroad, from
o conductor on, the Troy and Boston
road, with whom he was acquainted,
telling him that he did not know
whether he would 60 to Utica or farther
West, and would pay for it when he re-
turned. The brother and brOther-in-
law of Miss Houghton were in the city
this morning, and intend to give the
reverend villain pursuit and warm
greeting when they overtake him. The
young lady is but sixteen years OF age,
and in addition to being one of the
most beautiful and accomplished young
ladies of North Adams, is most respecta-
ably connected. .~-.-- ---..,,


Mr.. Merrill is well known throughout
the Troy Conference as u preacher of
remarkable eloquence and power, and
has occupied some of the most impor-
tant stations within its limits. He was
employed during revival at the State
street Methodist church last winter, and
his ability and zeal as reyivalist was
marked and very effective. Previous. to
the events connected with his terrible
downfall. no whisper Of scandal has
has been breathed against his name.
Year: 1867




Co.onel BAXTER of Tennessee, in speak
iag Of the pending campaign in that
State, said:


Ill is a struggle for existence as q
community, one of life or death; of civil
liberty or military despotism /; of hon
r,ry or corruption; of civilization or
Iarharism; whether the State shall be
uyernrd by its moral worth and intel
Igeuce, or by a despicable oligarchy,
composed of lean minority of the worst
mru in the State"


Ii is noticeable fact that the Radical
phllanthropists who are so careful of the
night, of Kentucky and Maryland have
uovoice for Republican Government in
tennessee. To say nothing of the riots
and murders and outrages which are
daily incident to BRowNLow'S rule,
thrle are other facts connected with 1t
that would justify the interference OF
.he srli-comstitutcd friends of Republi-
cau liberty who dictate Radical opinion
al the North. The eatire system OF
registration is in ra,wSLow's hands.
Am iltary force awaits his call to take
possession Of the polls when
ever he has reason to believe
that his election is in peril, and his
government is nothing but naked
a.urpation and tyranny. 1t is not even
~, 10 the requirement of being after
tie form Of republican government.
Where are the thunders of SUMNER and
sTEvENs, over this bold usurpation of a
rtty tyrant in free State of the Union!
Why are not the anathemas of BOUT
WELL heard above the din of BROWN
Lows mObs and unrestrained sol
licryf While the Radicals are
~ tender of Maryland and in
,ist that she shall he taken out of the
control of her own people and placed
under the protection of the Federal
why have they not a
thoughtful word for Tennessee, thus
tIodden under foot by vulgar, vain,
and vlndictive tyrantf If it il only
freedom that these men are SO much in
lose with, how can they stand by and
see her fair form defiled by man who
knows no law but license. and whose
very name Is the synonym of rufianly
blackyuardisln.
Year: 1867

to examine the teeth Of his sweetheart
and ascertain if she has any amalgam
plugs in them before he ventures to
taste of her lips. The young lady IN
question is constantly improving In
health, and it may be as well to state
in conclusion that she will shortly be
led to the hymenial altar by worthy
young gentleman of this city.


Since this discovery, two other simi-
lar cases have come to the knowledge
of DR.. Payne-one the daughter OF n
physician, who was in poor health for
two years, until the amalgam was re-
moved from her teeth, but since then
she is rapidly recovering.
Year: 1867

How much quicker than by impeachment
would it be to get rid of the President to put
the city of Washington under martial law,
appoint military commanderof the district,


when he could remove Mr.. johnson and ap-


point Ben Wade or John Covode in his
Year: 1867

Some one writes both gracefully and for
chilly:


I would be glad to see more parents under
stand that when they spend money judici-
ously to improve and adorn the house and
the ground around it, they are in effect
paying their children a premium to stay at
home, as much as possible to enjoy it but
that when they spend money unnecessarily
in fine clothing and jewelry for their child
ren, they are paying them a premium to
spend their time away from home that rs,
in those places where they can attract the
most attention and make the most display.
Year: 1867




Senator Trumbull declares that the whole
legislation on reconstruction is "wrOng,"
and ''cannot be sustained for a moment" if
the theory on which congress has rested it is
unsound, viz that civil governments do not
exist in the southern states. Very well, then;
we accept his statement in full If there
was a regular civil government i'll each of
these states congress is usurper IN this
business, and "cannot be sustained" Un-
less there scere civil governments In them,
how could they be appealed to, as they noto-
riously were, to vote on an amendment to the
constitution? There is no act which they
could be summoned to perform more grave
and fundamental than this How they could
Z @doit, if there were no Legitimate civil gov
ernmentsn Ito use Mr.. Trumbull's own
phrase) in operation, it would puzzle the
astutest statesman to discover. This very
reconstruction act was undertaken by con-
gress, too, on the plea to the country that
the people of the. south we're still rebellious
IN refusing as q whole to ratify the coastitu-
tional amendment How could they ratify
it, if they were incapacitated from doing SC
by want of the legal machinery with which
alone it may be DONE How is slavery con
stitutionally abolished if the southern states
have all this time been without governments
- assist in the work And more than NIL
how could the last congress consistently lay
down the condition in the reconstruction act
itself, that in order to secure restoration te
the Union the southern states should accept
a constitutional amendment. under which oil
those persons should be excluded from vot
ing for presidential electors and representa-
tives to congress until July 4th, 1870, who
voluntarily adhered to the rebellion, and
gave it aid and comfort There is no end te
the Inconsistencies of congress in it's deal
ings with the south since the war It's whole
purpose has been simply to exclude the elec
toral votes of ten states, which it felt certain
radicalism could never legitimately secure
for its candidate for the presidency.-Boston
Post. F~sf@ ses.
Year: 1867

matter ended in smoke. The Congressman would
promise nothing and the President snubbed the two
wOuld-be saviors of our unhappy country. The re-
port will show all.


Senator Sherman intends to call up the Loan Bill
at the first oppOrtune moment, and move that the
Senate insist on their scheme of three per cent loan
certificates instead of one hundred million Of green
backs, as provided in the House proposition. 1t is
thought there will he considerable debate on IT, as
there are several Senators who intend to move
amendments of one kind or another.


Mr. IIulburd. chairman of the committee who have
been examining into the New-York CustOm-liouse
matters, has nearly completed his report Unusual
efforts have been made TO induce the committee to
change their report III regard to Collector Smythes
operations. but they have failed. The committee
made up their minds to probe the matter to the bot
tom let blame fall where it would. One of the most
corrupt systems mentioned in the whole report is the
bonded warehouse matter The report will be ready
in a day or two. Mr. Hulburd has been working as
sduousy in order to get it ready to report before
Congress adjouns.


VIM. A. Dart, who was removed last Fall from the
position of United States DstIict-Attomey for the
Northern District of New-York, has again been dcsg-
mated for that position by the Attorney General.


The Government is satisfied from Commander
COopers cruise around the Island of Cuba, and the
result of his inquiries that no landing of negroes has
taken place or expedition fitted ont for upward of
year. the importation Of coolies having in q great
measure done away with the slave trade.


Among the few brevet promotions after death. con
frmed by the Senate on Saturday, that of First
Lieutenant Bayard Wilkeson, son Of Samuel Wilkcson
killed at the age of 49, at the Battle Of Gettysburg,
in command of Battery G, 9TH Regular Artillery pro
NOTED 10 be Captain for galantry in the Battle of
the Deserted House and to be Major for gallantry at
Fredericksburg, and Licutcnant-C Colonel for gal
lantry at Gettysburg.


Carpenters painting of Lincoln and his Cabinet in
consultation over the Emancipation Proclamation is
now in the Capitol and will bc hung tomorrow in
the rotunda The picture has been offered for sale
TO the Government.
Year: 1867

Any othcr course would lad TO the destruction o
the republic for the constitution once abolished,
there would be no Congress for the exercise of
Legislative powers, no executive 90 see that the
laws are faithfully executed, no judiciary to afford
TO the citizen protection for fe limb aud proper
ty. Usurpation would inevitably follow, and a
despotism be fixed upon the people in violation Of
their combined and expressed will


In conclusion, | fail to perceive any military
"pecunary,n or patriotic reasons why his or
der should not be carried into effect You will
remember that in the drst instance / did not con-
slider Gen. sheridan the most suitable officer for
the command Of the fifth military district, Time
has strengthened my convictions upon this point,
and has led me 20 The conclusion that patriotic
considerations demand that b. should bee super
seeded by an officer who while he will faithfully
execute the law, will st ths same time give more
general satisfaction TO the whole people white and
black. North and South.


am. general. very respectfully yours,


AVpHEw JoHNsoN.
Gen. L. $. Grant, Sec'y Of Was al interim
Year: 1867

NICHOLAS NIckLEBY. .-DIAMoND Ed
ITIoN N-'sThe Diamond Dickens is an
edition of which any author might be
proud, even though he were inclined to
set the highest price on his writings. 1t
is a miracle of cheapness and neatness.
We examine it closely, and with abund-
ant satisfaction, as we say so. We look
at the fine delicately- tinted paper, the
beautifully clear though exceeding small
type, the clean bright impression, the
spirited engravings, the neat regular fold
ing, the pretty green and gold binding,
and the nice solid feeling book which all
these necessary concomitants go to make
up--and we say again, deliberately, when
we remember the price, that The Dia-
mond Dickens is miracle Of cheap
ness. G -u


The Illustrated Edition, in green mo-
rocco cloth with a gold medallion por-
trait Of the author, costs 81 so per vol
ume. An edition precisely similar in re
spect TO printing and paper, but without
the plates and bound III crimson morocco
cloth, is sold at s 20 per volume The
books are elegant enough for the richest
and cheap enough for the poorest The
Diamond Dickens should find place
in every house in the land The people
who read the great English humorist and
moralist can hardly fail to grow wiser and
etter.-Bufalo. Com. Adretaser.


For sale at the Franklin Bookstore in
ManitowOc
Year: 1867

As our exchanges are all expressing
their views or prefere nces in regard to a
candidate for President in '6S, we feel it
incumbent upon us to have our say. That
Gen. Grant will be the next President,
from present appearances, it seems to us
there can be but little doubt, and vet
that he is the best man for the place, we
are not at the present time fully decided
10 begin with, it is too long before hand
to think of choosinga particular man The
party should talk rather of its principles,
its platform and the objects to be gained
in the future When these are fully de-
cided, it should then inquire is this or
that man fit representative of the prin-
ciples we have proclaimed; can he stand
unequivocally on the platform we have
erected; Is he the man to accomplish the
end we have in view? But none Of these
things seem to have been thought of
The party organs talk as though there
was danger Of losing the presidential
election of 6S and hence they write long
leaders about availability, ''policy,
&c They say Grant is the most avail
able candidate and we must take him
up or the Democrats will. We don't be-
lieve a word of it IF our party is right
it will succeed even though Grant was
pitted against our candidate whoever
he might be. On the contrary if we are
any other man. SO we hold TO this: Let
the Republicans see to it that their priv
ciples are sound let them labor to show
we are not struggling for ''policy' but
for truth and the right Convince the
people of this and they viii certainly vote
for the candidate which the party shall
nominate, for the mass of the people are
right; we would a thousand time rather
trust them than the politicians who talk
SO blandly.


Now Gen. Grant is man whose acts
thus far have accorded with our ideas
precisely. We admire his bravery. tact
and perseverance ID if the rumors about
his views in regard to national affairs are
correct there is no safer man fer us to
designate for the high honors of the Pre-
sidential office, but he has never said in
public what his views were He says on
the contrary that if he is nominated it
must be without any pledges. Now does
it not seem that thisis trusting too much2
Think of p~f,y putting a man at the
head of National affairs who says he will
not commit himself to their principlcsi I
This we say is downright nonsense. The
Republican party has correct principles,
its platform of equal rights is sound, and
we had better be defeated thousand
times than to take up a man who will not
declare himself in favor of those prin-
ciples and that platform. But we trust
when the proper time comes Gen. Grant
will take decided stand in favor of the
right and fight the battle manfully thro'
as he did in the service. He is undoubt-
edly ar honest man and if his preiudices
are for the right he is the man for our
ynfp
Year: 1867

The Rebel Democrats at the South
and the Copperhead Democrats at the
North, are not to be distinguished by any
difference in the sentiments they utter.
If they can be believed, the great object
which they seek is to protect the Con
stitution from violation by those who
oppose and put down the rebellion. The
Macon (Ga.l Telegraph, says


The true men of the South have not
yet learned to place temporary expediency
before right to do wrong because it is
demanded by popular clamor and mad
ness of the hour-to sacrifice principle to
momentary gain-or to lay violent hands
on the Constitution of their country,
which they carried with them out of the
Union and preserved sacred as the ark
of the covenant throughout the conyul-
sions of four years war, at the bidding
of power and under threats of the bayo-
net, They intend to do what they can
to save the liberties Of the American
people, and if successful, even the North
and their children will shower blessings
on their heads. IF defeated, they will go
down with the general wrecks, but with
the comforting assurance that they did
all in their power to avert the catastro-
phe. 80


In the light afforded by the above ex-
tract, We can understand some things
which have hitherto been incomprehen-
sibie. 1t enables us to know what the
Copperhead Democracy meant and mean
when they declare that the war to put
down the rebellion was war against the
constitution. It shows why their papers
three wears ago were deprecatIng the
success of General Grant and Sherman,
and declaring that the constitution would
be endangered if Sherman captured At
lanta, or Grant succeeded before Rich
mond. We were not at that tune aware
they held that the rebels took the con-
stitutior with them out Of the Union, and
Year: 1867

We see some of our exchanges are
proposing candidates for the Office Of
States Prison Commissioner We would
Ike to ask if Mr.. Cordief does not wish
a denomination We have understood
he did not, but have seen nothing author
itative on the subject IF he will accept
denomination we think his merits and the
services he has already rendered the parry
entitle him TO our highest consideration.
but if he has somettmy better in view, all
right. We believe when the time comes
he can whip the copperhead Eldredge
for Congress and not half try.
Year: 1867

phcity in the assassination plot That


he was accessory to it and ought to swing
therefore admits of no honest denial.
But that he was not convicted surprises
no one, for all the rebels on the jury
would have gone for his acquittal had the
proof Of his guilt been still more con-
elusive. Every rebel and copperhead in
the land is morally chargeable with COM
pllclty IN the assassination, and that some
technical point should be raised Surratt' S
defense was to be expected.
Year: 1867

PERSONAL and David-Dear
Boys If you love your parents, brother
and sister; come home. We all want to
see you. Bell and George ask Tor you
every day. Come home and be happy.
IF you will not return. write, aud relleve
your afflicted families. Newspapers
every where are earnestly entreated to
give this place in their local column.


If Frank and David, or either OF
them are skulking in this vicinity, we
hope they will not resist SO touching an
appeal
Year: 1867

A London cablegram states that the
government will Immediately dispatch a
large body Of troops to Canada to repel
the threatened Fenian invasion from the
United States. We fear that John Bull
has been reading the New York Herald