smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1866

Between seven and eight O'Clock yesterday
morning, young man. well attired, applied to a
clerk in the office of Mr.. A. Marchand, on Common
street. between st, Charles and Carondelet Streets
for the return of watch which he had left there
on the preceding Saturday. The clerk, who was
the only person connected with the establishment
in the office at the time, went to the rear to the
safe, in which the watch had been placed. After
very brief absence he returned to the front with
the watch, and, as he did SO, perceived the young
man leaving. At the instant, some one on the
street apprised him that case of diamonds in the
window had been stolen and he saw the applicant
for the watch and another man cross the street
and go into the st. Charles Hotel. It was found
that thrty-fVe hundred dollars worth of jewelry
had been stolen from the window. The natural
supposition Is that the man who asked for the
watch sought to take the clerk away from the
front, while confederate plundered the window.
The clerk pursued the two men through the hotel,
saw them emerge into GraVier street, and there
enter cab, which conveyed them to the rear of
the city. 1t is understood the police have nfor-
nation sufficient to enable them to identify and
bring to justice the audacious thieves.
Year: 1866

The butchers of the Fourth District have taken
the initiative in suggesting to the public authori-
ties measures, in connection with the meat busi-
ness, and regulations for the markets, calculated
to prevent the sale of unwholesome flesh. The
butchers are, necessarily, better informed than
any other class Of the community as to the re-
forms which will secure to the people sound and
healthy meat, and their recommendations should
be heard with the respect due to practical know
ledge and a patriotic purpose
Year: 1866

press such proceedings as may not be ordered to
be Kept secret. We were present at the chamber
where the committees met few minutes after the
adjournment, and remained there until after 8
O'Clock, but were unable to find the secretary or
procure any information from other sources We
shall, perhaps, have more to say on this subject
Year: 1866

The State Military Agent Of Michigan
at Nashville, L. B. Willard relates the
following affecting incident


"As was passing by the post hospital,
my attention was arrested by the singing,
in ather loud tone, of Rally round the
flag boys by one Of the patients inside.
While listening to the beautiful music of
that popular song, 1 observed to nurse
standing in the doorway, that the person
singing must be in very merry mood.
and could not be very sick. You are
mistaken, sir said he, the poor fellow
engaged in singing that good old song Is
now graphing with death-has been dy-
ing all day. am his nurse he contin-
ued. and the scene so affected me was
obliged to leave the room. He is JUST
breathing his last ! stepped into the
ward, and, true enough, the brave man
was near his end. His eyes were already
fixed in death. He was struggling with
all his remaining strength against the
grim monster, while at the same time
there gushed forth from his patriotic soul,
ncoherently, the words, Rally round the
flag, boys which had SO often cheered
him through his weary march, and braced
him up when entering the field Of blood
in defence of his country. Finally he
sank away into his death-slumber, and
joined his Makers command.-that is
marching onward to that far-off, better
land. The last audible sound that escaped
his lips was, Rally, boys,rally once again !
AS his eyes were closing some dozen Of his
comrades joined in solemn yet beautiful
hymn, appropriate to the occasion. Take
il altogether, this was one of the most at
fecting scenes have ever witnessed in a
hospital. 1t drew tears copiously from
near one hundred of US. 1t occurred III
the large ward, which occupies the entire
body Of the church on Cherry Street
The deceased was an Illinoisian, and had
been wounded in ,ne of the recent Skin
mishes."
Year: 1866

APPEARANCE or THE Sun FROM THE
NORTH PoLE.-To person standing at
the North Pole, the sun appears to sweep
horizontally around the sky every "a hours
without any perceptible variation during
its circuit in lis distance from the horizon
IA little more than one-fourth the dis
tance to the zenith, the highest point that
il ever reaches. From this altitude It
slowly descends, its track being represent
ed by spiral or screw with very fine
thread, and in the course Of three months
it worms its way down to the horizon,
which it reaches on the 23d Of September.
On This day it slowly sweeps around the
sky, with its face half hidden below the
icy sea. 1t still continues to descend, and
after it has entirely disappeared, it is still
SO near the Iorizon that it carries bright
twilight around the heaven in its daily
circuit.


As the sun sinks lower and lower. this
twilight grows gradually fainter and
fainter till 1t fades away. On the 10th OF
December the sun is 20 degrees 28 min
utes below the horizon, and this is the
midnight of the dark winter of the Pole.
From this date the sun begins TO ascend,
and after time his return is heralded by
faint dawn, which circles slowly around
the horizon, completing its circuit every
2f hours. This dawn grows gradually
brighter. and on the 20th Of March tha
peaks of ice are gilded with the first level
rays of the six-months day. The bringer
of this long day continues to wind his spi-
raj way toward upward, till, on the 23d
day of June, he reaches his highest place,
and his annual course is completed. Such
is one Of the most wonderful works of
God.-.Scientifc American.
Year: 1866

John Doherty, alias Captain Thunder
bolt, was born in Scotland, somewhere
about the year 1850. In his youth he
was sent 10 school, and received very
good education. He had clear, active
intellect, was quick to perceive and learn,
and, with proper moral balance and fair
opportunity, would undoubtedly have
made man of respectable distinction.
But he was by nature rogue-a rascal
at heart, if not villain. He had some
redeeming qualities, but not enough to
keep him in the path of reetitude- He
was worldly, passionate and licentious,
and could not see the advantage of being
honest for honesty's sake, if dishonesty
would better serve his immediate pur-
pose. He was selfish in his own pleas
ures, and would stop at nothing to gain
his ends and crafty his dominant whim.
He was naturally a great leveler, and
looked upon the stringent laws of society
as made for the benefit Of the rich rather
than the poor, and thought it the proper
course of every man of spirit to set them
at defiance. He had his own ideas of
honor, was averse to cruelty and blood
she'd, and possessed certain chivalric no.
tions of propriety. Through his long
career of vice and crime, it was his boast
that he had never Intentionally robbed a
poor man or female. He was bold and
fearless, and would risk everything to car
ry out some romantic idea, or obtain what
he was wont to term poetical justice.


A case in point. A certain judge once
boasted that he would yet have the pleas
ure of giving Captain Thunderbolt his
death-sentence. A few nights after, a
very staid old Quaker called ON him, at
his private residence, and requested to
see him alone few minutes ON some i'm
portant business. On being ushered into
the presence of the judge, in his library


the stranger very coolly repeated the


words his lordship had used; and then


drawing pistol, declared that he himself


was the veritable Tbunderbolt, and tha


he had come TO lay his lordship under


contribution for making SO foolish boast


In short, he demanded his lordship's
watch, purse and jewelry and having
obtained treasure TO the value of nearly ;
e thousand pounds, he quietly departed
with the threat that, if followed, he woult
J, blow his lordship's brains out the mex
T time they should meet. He was notfollowed
for the chagrined judge, not caring TO b


laughed at by his friends, kept the matte
r a secret for years, and then only reveale


it TO a confidential few.


. Thunderbolt was benevolent in his wa
!. ss.l-that is he would give poor man
: norton of what he had taken from hi
!, rich neiehbor; and whenever he chances


in any of his wild pranks or exploits,
e, ;niure one of the inferior class, he woul


never rest easy till he had made what b


considered suitable recompense to hil


or his family.


At what precise age John Dohert
in took to the road as a profession. and a
m sumed the name of Thunderbolt, whic
n subsequently became such a word of te


ror throughout the United Kingdoms
is England, Scotland and Ireland, does n
Ter appear-though it is certain he commen
Ter ed his wild career quite young, and WI
n. soon discarded by his family and youtht


friends. His wonderful exploits, b
Year: 1866

Now that the abolition of slavery has been
consummated in the American Union, the
advocates Of entire and unconditional free
dom for the much-abused negro are gradually
coming to the conclusion that even " freed
men" may become so importunate in their
demands as to render IL necessary for their
warmest friends to restrain their impatience
and check their senseless cravings for degree
of license which they have not yet learned TO
use with prudence or discretion! The expert
ence of the last four years has proved conclu-
sively that color is not always test of wisdom
or intelligence, and some few white politicians
have astonished humanity with exhibitions of
violent prejudice and unreasoning obstlnacy
which would have been unbecoming' in the
mouth of the great King of Dahomey himself.
Fortunately, however, there are still sensible
and prudent men in the country who begin TO
realize that mere stroke Of the pen or presi-
Dental proclamation cannot convert the
thoughtless, ignorant negro into a calm, judi
cious, and intelligent freedman.


In the Northern States it Is already acknow-
lodged that the experience Of generations Of
Southern men cannot be set at naught, and,
in even those States where the war upon



ming to perceive that 1t will be criminal in the
highest degree to place unlimited power in the
hands of those who were SO short time since
irresponsible slaves. A correspondent wri
ting from Mapleton, Kansas, under date Of
the 26th ultimo, says " In order to give you
!" better idea Of the revulsion of feeling in
:" bleeding Kansas You must know that if
" the question of Negro Suffrage is placed
E" before the people of this State they will
" decide almost unanimously against 1t ; also,
that JIM LANE, our Senator in the United
" States Congress, has been delivering speeches
" Throughout the State in support of Mr..
" JoHNsoE's reconstruction policy"


In order to appreciate properly the impor-
tance of these significant facts, it is only
necessary to remember the fearfully violent
and prolonged strife in Kansas upon the sub
ject of slavery, and also that JIM LANE, the
supporter of the President, was, until lately,
and an extreme and thorough going aboli-
ZIONIST.


We are inclined to place confidence in the
natural sagacity and good sense of the masses
Of the American people, and however they
may be temporarily controlled by clique of
politicians, they will eventually re-assert
their Independence of thought and action,
and support only such men and such measures
as shall insure the administration of impair
tial Justice to the highest as we'll as to the
lowest classes of the community. In the
words of SPINozA, "Give us but justice and
/" we shall have enough of liberty"
Year: 1866

LIVING on SMALL SoALR.--During the days
Of the Confederacy, such was the poverty Of
the great number OF refugees in this city, and
such the scarcity of accommodations as well
as money, that a system of room-keeping was
adopted and kept up during the war Families
of respectability, and once of wealth, were
crowded in rooms, where they lived quite
ndependently-perform all the household
duties pretty, much with their own hands.


1t taught d lesson which is still valuable and
available to this community, which the events
Of the war have left poor enough to make 1t
a great advantage TO them. While they are
straitened for means, the rents and all the
necessaries Of life are high, and force them to
resort to the most economical expedients.-
How very creditt BILE 1t is to those who cheer
fully accommodate themselves to the necessi-
ties Of their situation, and crafty and cherish
a spirit of independence by living within their
means
Year: 1866

RICHMOND OPERA HoUsE.-It is generally un-
derstood that the main object Of the managers
Of any place of public entertainment Is to make
money, and they are usually wise enough to
see that this is best done by elevating the taste
Of their audience while they at the same
time tickle and amuse them. The education
of the directors of the Richmond Opera House
must have been sadly neglected, and now, at
the re-opening of the concern, we regret to
find that the same faults and indecencies
which characterized their former efforts have
not been in the least subdued by time or expe-
rience. A word Of well-meant advice may
perhaps produce some improvement, and, in
any event, we are confident that no concert
room which is not conducted with the strictest
attention to decorum and order will receive
the permanent support of the Richmond pub
Ia
Year: 1866

QUARTERS AT THE LIBBY FOR nIcK TURNER
1t was generally reported yesterday that the
distinguished individuals who now provide for
the comfort and safe keeping of military and
civil offenders are preparing suite Of apart
ments at the Libby prison for Dick Tnrner,
who, in Confederate times, was the turnkey
of that venerable institution Mr.. Turner has
already been prisoner for considerable
time, and it will doubtless be gratifying to
him to find that comfortable and safe quarters
will be provided for him in that house Of the
afflicted where he formerly welded the keys Of
grave authority. Whether he will appreciate
the tender affection of his keepers must, how.
ever, depend upon his personal idiosyncrasies;
and, in any case, we must sympathise with the
prisoner, whoever or whatever he may be.
Year: 1866

THE RrcHaoyD RELIEF AssocrArIox.-The
present season is necessarily one Of great pri.
vation and suffering to many Of our people,
and the citizens Of Richmond, in promptly
organizing Relief Association, have proved
themselves to be aware Of the claims which
the INDECENT poor have upon them. So far, a
laudable spirit of energy has been displayed
in taking the necessary preliminary measures,
but we must remember that continuous and
sustained effort alone can give our poor the
permanent aid which their necessities require.


A meeting of the Directors and. Visitors Of the
Relief Association in this city will be held at
the Office of the Inspector of Hacks, at the
City Hall, this evening at half-past 8 O'Clock,
and all those who are jealous and sincere in
their expressed intentions of taking part in the
good work are invited and expected to attend.
Year: 1866

RoADs.-A correspondent, writing from
stand that we are to have our road surveyed,
this Spring, up to the county line, and that
Plumas county is going to extend the survey
TO Little Grass Valley. But, if that is all that
is going TO be done by either county, think
they bad better save their money, Why this
route has been neglected by capitalists or
turnpike men, can't see BY this route. it is
only thirty-sx miles from Oroville to Little
. Grass Valley, and from Stringtown or Enter
prise it could be run on q dividing ridge all the
way-no bills of any note. 1t would pass
through good region of creek and ravine
mining, which is getting better as prospecting
progresses. There are, also, four or five quartz
iedses, near the county line, being prospec.ed
with every probability of striking good rock
But as We have no roads, it would take
unusually good prospects to induce men to go
to the expense OF getting in machinery. There
are, also, good many little ranches in this
to=nship that would be enlarged and improved
If We had roads over which to ship our surplus
produce. To Plumas county, the value of a
road through here would be incalculable
There is 60 doubt that, in less than five years.
Little Grass Valley would be larger and
place Of more business than Laporte. The
road has been surveyed to Mooretown, teu
miles from Slriagtowu Hill would like TO
have the people of Pumas look into this
matter. and have 90 doubt they will have
reason TO believe everything have said; but
If ii is left to the people along the route TO
build the road. it will probably be some time
before it is DONE
Year: 1866

PRoGRESsING.-The workmen are buSily
employed upon the new Touring mills. A
cellar is being sunk 10 the rear of the building
for the engine room, and o huge pile of very
fair looking pay dirt dumped in the street.
The proprietors should have this conveyed to
sluices and washed-and thereby save the
expense of excavation. A few ounces thus
saved should not be sneezed at.
Year: 1866

NEw.-People in the habit of eating good
bread can be accommodated with the best of
the article, by calling at the New Bakery
Those in the habit of masticatng bad bread
should patronize The New Bakery, aud it will
be to them great labor saving digestive or.
gans more easy and the inner man comfortable
Year: 1866

Mr. EDITOR "A correspondent of yours,
signing himself Sage" in the last issue OF the
REcoRD, asks. with quite flourish, some ques-
tions in relation to the financial standing of
sister county, and answers them quite uube.
coming one who would assume his nom de
plume. He says 100000 of Plumas county
bonds could cot be sold for $4,000. Now
every person at all acquainted with the fnan


cial condition of Plumas county, knows that,
financially considered, there is no better county
in the State; with debt of little more than
one thousand dollars, her scrip at par, her
immense mineral resources, her agricultural
Interests, comprising some of the finest valleys
in the State, making her almost selfsustaining;
her numerous quartz mills, already in Successful
operation, and those in contemplation; also.
nearly completed, the largest smelling works
in the State, for the purpose Of transferring
her immense mountains of copper to the chan


nels of commerce-all of which have direct
tendency to increase her credit, and FIX il upon
sure foundation. do not wish 10 enter into

a newspaper controversy with the uery funny
Sage" as it is evident that he is pecunarily
interested in some OF the snowshoe routes. and
his business would suffer by diversion Of
travel to the more commonly accepted, and now
universally conceded to be practicable, wagon
route. My dear Sage" do not fear that the
money cannot be raised to accomplish this
enterprise of such vital importance to the
pubilc at large, and Butte and Plumas counties
especially. Individuals stand ready, with the
co ooperation Of Plumas county, TO build road
that can be travelled without the assistance of
snowshoes. The fact is, friend Sage" tie
people of Plumas have become heartily sick
aud tired of crossing the snow belt to reach
the Sacramento valley, with fair prospect
of death as the result and have determined
to release themselves, and bid defiance to the
icy bonds which have chained them. Ii your
business and few others are to suffer for this
great public benefit they cannot help it; they
demand this as right and will insist upon it.
All they ask is FAIR PLAY.
Year: 1866

EDITOR UNION RECORD Having noticed
SO many articles in your paper about road
below the Snow line to Plumas and Lassen
counties, concluded few lines from one who
does know something about the lay of the
country, would be interesting to your readers
and the community at large. l begin to see
the necessity for such road. Now, as there
is such vast country of mineral wealth north
what we want, and just what we can have, too
despite of Mr.. Sage" Now, if you will look
at the map, you will see that the west side
Of the North Fork of Feather river is the
nearest, and know and can show it to be a
practicable route. Well, from Orovie via
Yankee Hill TO Concow, % miles, and two
miles beyond, the road is already made; two
horses can haul twenty five hundred pounds
nearly half way to Rich Bar. The distance
from Concow to the mouth of Rock creek, via
the head of the Yankee Hill ditch, is l : miles
the location for a road is good there is at
Rock creek q rough, rocky place, but think
the obstacles can be overcome Leaving Rock
creek, the ground is favorable nine or ten miles
further, which is as far as | am acquainted
with the country, and that is not far from Rich
Bar. Thence there are two routes-one ND to
Humbug valley, and the other up the East
Fork to American valley. Now, if Plumas
can raise a hundred ttousand dollars and old
Butte and Yuba, too, are interested, let's go
down in our pockets, and am sure We can
build one end of the road, aud have q road that
can be travelled at all times of the year. Wake
up, Butte and sister counties, and look to your
future prosperity. OBSERVER.
Year: 1866

We Americans have supposed that the
credit of the invention of the twenty
inch gun belonged to the United States,
but mounted on one of the batteries of
the Castle is wrought-iron gun which
was supposed to have been forged in "a
bout 1850. 1t is thirteen feet in length,
formed of longitudinal bars, banded to-
gether. 1t burst in 1852, on the occa-
sion Of the visit of the Duke of York to
Edinburg. Beside it lie some of the
large stone balls which were made for
it.


Edinburg is most delightful city in
every respect, filled with objects of in
terest that would please the curiosity
of a stranger tor great while.


Onr next visit was to Stirling, its
Castle and Palace. The latter was
bnilt by Queen Mary, and is curiously
ornamented with recessed panels, cor
was born in the Castle. Queen Mary,
her father and her son were crowned in
it. We were shown the room in which
James II. slew the Earl of Douglass
and the window from which he was
thrown. From the walls we saw the
field of Bannockburn, where Robert



ward II. with 100000 men,


A CoNNUBIAL SERMoN.-A connubial
little sermon, from the text, Be hap
pv as you are,'' is thus preached by a
contemporary print


Wife and Mother, are you tired,
and out of patience with your husbands
and your children's demands upon your





ted to speak out feelings to that faith
full, but, perhaps, sometimes needless
or exacting husband Of yours ? or to
scold and fret at these sweet and beau
tiful ones? Do you groan and say,
my fathers house, where / lived in ease
and quiet % Are you, by reason of the
care and WEAKNESS of the body which
wifehood and motherhood must bring,
forgetfill of, and unmindful for, their
JOYS 20, wife and mother what if
stroke should smite your husband and
lay him low? What if your children
should be snatchcd from your arms,
and from your bosom? What if there
were no true, strong heart for you to
leap upon? What if there We're no
soft, little innocents to. nestle in your
arms, ana 10 loNe you, VI receive your
love? How would it be with you then
Be patient and kind, dear wife be
unwearying and long suffering, dear
mother, for you know not how long you
may have with you your best and dear
est treasures-you know not how long
you may tarry with them. Let there
be nothing for you to remember which
will wiring your heart with remorse if
they leave you alone let there be moth
ing for them to remember but sweet
ness and love unutterahle, if you are
called to leave them by the way. Be
patrent, be pititul, be tender Of them
all; for death will step sooner or later
between them and you. And O! what
would you do, if you should be doomed
to sit solitary and forsaken through
years and yearS!'
Year: 1866

You will observe, therefore, that we Sc
cure safe and speedy transportation, as
well as great saving in breakage, which
alone is a very important item to be con-
sidered in the cost of our Wares.


Our Stock is one of the largest and best
sale at M m