smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1870

The subjoined account OF disaster on Sui
sun Bay, Cal, and the death of a noted in
ventor, is from the s. F. Call of March 10th


On Tuesday last lameutable occurrence
took place III Suisun Bay. by which w D.


Robertson, the inventor of the railroad track


laying machine, lost his life Mr. Robertson
some time since invented n ditching and
dredging machine, aud had takenra a contract
20 reclaim Grizzly Island, and had been at
work there some time. On Tuesday he and
another person went 10 Collinsville in small
boat. to see about some castings that were
required. and which were 10 have been sent I o
that place from San Francisco. They took
with them bottle of liquor. and drank quite
freely ON the tnp down. and several times dur
ing their stay at Collinsville Shortly after
dinner they started 10 return to the island but
before doing 80 they relenished the bottle.
After getting away from The town, Robertson
drank number OF times, and became so
drunk as to be almost helpless, and while in
that condition, and when near the island, the
boat was caPsiZed. The man who was with
Robertson succeeded in getting himself and
companion ashore upon the island, but in
doing 80 lost the boat anil was unable TO re-
cover it. They were also in that condition
which made them very careless about cOnEc-
quencos and they laid down upon the damp
beach TO rest after their involuntary wcttng


Night came on, which proved very cold and
being without fire, and their clothes being
wet, they suffered greatly. The next morning
they were too weak TO walk across the island
To where the machine was. About o'clock
on "Wednesday afternoon little schooner la
den with wood. and going to where the work
was progressing, came along, and hearing the
cries of the companion of Robertson. went to
the rescne. Upon reaching the shore, they
found that Robertson had died abont an hour
nnd a half before their arrival, aud his com.
psnion was but little better The remains
ofthe deceased were taken to San Francisco


and were taken charge of by mombers of the
Masonic fraternity. Robertson leaves wife
and six children. He was the inventor of
several very important labor-saving machines
Year: 1870

There was a meeting held in Petersburg,
Judge and among those present was one of
Lees veterans, The meeting was large one,
and it was found necessary to make the voters
stand in line to count them. The line being
somewhat irregular, one of the tellers cried out,
'Right DRESS" whereupon our veteran ex-
claimed, "Look here, mister, If you are going to
start another war, you must count me out. I've
had enough of that sort of thing" and with
away for his home, and thus one vote was lost.
Year: 1870

port car fall Of passengSs, in order to sAss
the wind, the engineer couples the gearing Of
his stationary engine with that Of the blower
and continuous blast having positive force as
decided as that Of BOceas himself is conducted
by gallery into the tunnel, and projected against
the rear Of the car, peOpelhug il forward at raiA
road speed, by pneumatic pressure. Just rs the
ballet in the airgul is propelled by tho force Of
compressed air. Think Of beipg waited along
ihrOugh,an underground channel at the speed Of
$ bird Of passagel blown through the tube Of a
mons,rous air,gun at the rate Of 6ty or sixty
miles an hour And This without the unpeas-
ant sensation Of great motion; without the
jarring. the smoke and dust. the heat and bad
vestialion that are almost necessary ooacom-
itants OF tunnel travelling when the locomotive Is
the motive power. le sris-


The success Of this method Of transportation
by pneumatic pressure is no longer prOlematical; !;
1t has been sufficiently tested in the portion of
tunnel already completed to prove it worthy Of
all confidence, as solution Of the passenger
transportation question in New York, or any
St1SA N&Sfs


How this plan compares in utility and desira-
bility with the more magnificent aud expensive
BrOadway Arcade scheme, We will not ventare
an opinion, bat leave the practical decision Of the
question 10 the mercensry tergiyersations Of our
legislators at Albany.


The rapid fall in gold, OF late has been so great
As to make things look like the early resumption
Of specie payments. Already, some retailing
houses are advertising to give change to their
customers in silver. la a1


We had the pleasure Of meeting the Hon.
Judge Allen a few weeks ago, and Of hearing
him respond in feeling manner to q toast at
the annual alumni dinner OF his Ilnsd Naier
Williams College, from whose reunions he had
been absent for over thirty years CLAWS
Year: 1870

TIE line of conduct chosen by young
man during the FIVE years from fifteen to
twenty will, in almost every instance, de-
termine his character for life. AS he is
then carefal or careless, prudent or i'm
prudent, Industrious or indolent, truthful
or dissimulating, intelligent or ignorant,
temperate or dissolute, so will he be in
after years, and it needs no prophet to
cast his horoscope or calculate his chance
in life -s-I.
Year: 1870

The Fifteenth Amendment will
add largely to the Republican vote.
Press.


Yes, and that was the sole obiect
of its being proposed and adopted.
Nearly all the leading measures OF
the Radical party since it got into
power have been based upon parti,
san considerations. Congress has
not legislated for the good of the
country, but for the benefit Of the
party. To regain power and the
plumber it affords has been the
whole end and aim Of the Radical
leaders from the beginning, IF
they had supposed the negro vote
would have been given to the DEM
ocratic party, or even divided be-
tween the two parties, they would
never have forced suffrage upon the
negro at the point of the bayonot, as
they have done. The probabilities
are that the negro vote will yet be
controlled by their old white mas
ters, and when that time comes
those who have forced negro suf-
frago and now exult over it, will be
found denouncing the negroes as
unreliable and unworthy the right
to vote. Negro suffrage will be
popular with them just so long as it
subserves their own partisan, selfish
and no longer. The time
is not far distant when they will
find the majority Of the negroes vo-
ting against carpet -bagiSm and seal
awagsm, and then the merits of the
fifteenth amendment will appear
entirely different to Forney and the
whole dishonest crew.-Er.
Year: 1870

The iron men who have turn
ed themselves inside out to de-
feat the Democracy in this dis
trict every Congressional year,
because the Democrats are not
sound on the tariff, have a
pleasant reward for their con-
temptible meanness in the act.
ion Of the ''house of their
friends" The tariff on iron
has been reduced from SO to
SIS per ton in the Lower House
of Congress. This, however,
is the end of the measure as
money enough has been raised
by the iron-mongers to buy
the Senate West Union De-
fender.
Year: 1870

Alvin Adams, just thirty
years ago, began to run an
express between New York
and Boston. He was his own
messenger, and on his first
trip his way bill was worth
less than four dollars. The
Adams Express Company,
with it's immense business and
wealth, was the result of that
humble beginning; and it may
indeed be said that Mr.. Ad.
ans was the pioneer in the
express business Of this coun-
try.
Year: 1870

A Maniac Negro Murders n Fellow Seaman


md Then Commits Suicide by Jumping


Overheard.


The particulars OF shocking double tragedy COM
mitted OF sea reached this city yesterday by the
arrival at this port OF the brig Senoritn from Porto
Rico. The statement rs furnished by the snip's
officers IS substantially as follows:-


The Senorita left Baltimore for West India ports
on the "a OF December last. Among hef crew were
two men named william Howard lcolored), who
acted as cook, and John Mortelter an able-bodied
Seaman The craft had prosperous voyage. During
the outward trip the COOK behaved In very strange
manner. He appeared reckless anu exctea ne
tam threatened TO discharge him upon reaching
port. After discharging and taking on board re-
Here the mate, John Fitcnman, fell down into the
hold and was Instantly killed, heavy box OF paint
striking him on the head This accident appeared
TO have marked effect upon noward--so much,
indeed as to excite the apprehensions OF the crew
as to their personal safety He told several OF tne
men that their mates mad plotted against their
lives When the vessel was about week out, home-
ward bound the COOK entered the cabin OF lne cap
tain aud after swearing him to secrecy, dvuiged the
plans. as he asserted, OF conspiracy He said the
crew were prepared to mutiny. Tney INTENDED 70


maze as sny ressance Ia The CAPTAIN listened his
story, but OF course placed ttle confidence IN IT, On
the morning OF the 2sth OF March t1e captain was was
called on deck Dy the noise OF fearful struggle but
before he could make his appearance bloody deed
had been committed.


" seems that Howard was engaged In cutting
wood for the purpose OF making fire IN order to
prepare breakfast, when suddenly and without q
word OF warning attacked Mortelier. who was at
WORK near Dy. Ais weapon was natches, WIN Win
which ne dealt the unsuspecting man fearful blow
upon the head burying the blade OF the instru-
ment deep into his skull. The captain reached
with almost herculean strength, seize the
still animated body OF his victim and cast
it over the buwarks Of the vessel into
the sea. One OF the sailors made attempt TO seize
the murderer, when he turned upon hun with the
nately the man was able TO eyade the Wow. Run
ming the length OF the deck Howard sprang from
the stern OF the vessel into the sea. The captain
hastily seized rope and threw It TO the struggling
wretch. The end encircled his neck but refusing to
be saved the negro threw 1t or and ID moment
sank TO rise no more. Upon reaching this city the
captain made an ailldavlt TO the above facts before
the DrODef officials.
Year: 1870

The CorOner's InQuest-The Evidence Points


- to Foul Play.


The inquest on the body Of Cherries Dofleldecker
of Jersey CITY, was compsenced last evening before
Coroner Burns, al Tie Fourth precinct station.


John Kelly; a watchman for the Morris Canal Com
pany, residing at "Fiddler's Elbow" deposed that
james Birmingham told him a man was in the
woods and apparently about to destroy him
self; In the afternoon his told him that man
was drowned in the canal; deceased was found with
his coat pulled forclbly over his head rendering
IL invisible; there could scarcely have been
water enough there to drown him at the time;
he wore gray coat and dark pants ana vest; saw
by the badge he wore that he was fireman; told
the boy to tie the body with rope While went for
justice Of the peace; subsequently gave the body
in charge of policeman.


William Kelly, son of the previous Witness swOre
that he discovered the body OF Dofreldecker; his
head was lying between two rocks there was
deep mark over his eye and scratch on his FORE
head he could not have got into the water himself
unless he climbed the steep wall which is there
Mrs. Dora DolYeldecGer, wife OF the deceased, who
resides on Monticello avenue Jersey City, was then
sworn-My husband left home at seven O'Clock on
Tuesday morning. he said he was going to his work,
and was in excellent health and spirits as usual:
| don't know how much money he had in his posses
sion; he male no remarks about coming back; don't
! know of the slightest circumstance which could



| least threat to commit suicide or TO in]ure
! himself III any way; lie never spoke Of being in
financial difficulties; he felt unwell. however. for
TWO days, but said that 1t attack Of rheuma-
tsln: he came home regularly every night and never
was drunk; he took his break kast heartily as usual
before ne left the house, he spoke OF being in
| debt or Of being involved in lawsuits know OF no
| business which could bring him to Bayonne; he had
| not his watch with Him.


The next witness was DR.. Amos G. Avery who tes-
| tlfed-I made q post-mortem examination OF
| Charles Doreldeckers body and found that the
cause of his death was asphyxtathe indirect cause
| being drowning; the membranes Of the brain were
slightly diseased and would probably induce vertigo;
the drowning may have been accidental;
the bruises were not heavy; there was
| no strong liquor in the stomach, 1t being
| full OF salt water. The doctor took pains
| In describing the bruises on the BODY but did not
say whether the man might have been violently
| thrown into the water. His testimony was cor
| roborated by DR.. E. b. Buck


James Birmingham saw man In the forenoon
and when he (witness) advanced the man went back
In the same direction, then returned ana retreated
once more along the bank Of the canal; he seemed
TO wish that witness shOuld not see him; he could
not swear that deceased was the same man he had
| seen.


Junius Washburn deposed that he met Do1eldeckel
at the corner OF Henderson street and Newark
avenue Jersy City, about half-past eleven O'CLOCK
In the forenoon OF Tuesday; had conversation with
him about the performance Of aJop In W hich Donel
Year: 1870

The reports from all sources indicate
that the movement of the Fenians toward
Canada is one of considerable magnitude.
Unless these reports are greatly exagger-
ated the number of men on their way to
the border aad over is sufficient to arouse
sincere alarm in her Majesty's subjects,
and to create an opinion in the minds OF
lookers-on that there is something more
than sham in this earnest marching from
all quarters. The plan seems to have been
well kept, and the movement appears to
be made with promptness and over
wide extent of territory, Is though stead
ier counsels and better discipline prevail
than in the former expedition. What the
real point of attack is cannot yet be seen.
it being covered by feints and the extend
ed character of the rising, but perhaps
while we are writing or before this arti-
Gle appears in print the curtain may have
been lifted The force gathering must
aggregate several thousands if the dis
patches are correct, mostly unarmed as
they pass along to the front, where with
out doubt they will be amply supplied and
equipped for the fray which is expected.


While we cannot see any possible per
inanent good to be wrought by expedi-
tions such as this for Ireland or the Irish
we do see that they may be productive OF
considerable damage to the people against
whom they are directed. The expense
trouble and anxiety already occasoncd to
the Dominion authorities by the constantly
threatening attitude of the Fenians are by
no means small Now the enemy is at thu
door in reality and in force. But it is no
merely the men marshaled on the borde
that the Canadians fear; the question aris
es how far Fenianism has got foothold il
the possessions of her Majesty, and how
many householdcrs have a lurking fo
ready to apply the dagger and torch. N
incendiary fire can arise in the Canada
but suspicion at once points to Fenianisn
as the cause, and at this moment ever.
Irishman in that land is suspected of be
ing in sympathy if not in active alliance





with the approaching foe. Whether The
men in arms will receive active assist
ance from the other side of the border
and if SO to what extent, remains to bt
seen.


1t will be best, however, for all con
cerned, if the strength of the Fenians b'
now fairly tested. If they have powe
sufficient to make themselves felt for tn
uplifting of Ireland let them show it no'
to the end that the good they aim to accom-
plish may have free course at once. If o
the other hand these expeditions are sim
ply of predatory character, like the boz
der warfare that once cursed Englan
and Scotland. the sooner they are ende
the better. The state OF things which
kept up in this country BY Fenianism is ut
profitable and its speedy end is desirabl
We hope therefore that the present can
paign will fully test its strength and 10
ever settle its claims to respect by ii
power against which it contends.


The course Of President Grant in nal
ing preparations to preserve the neutral
Year: 1870

PORTLAND, May Oath, 1870.
To the Editor of the Journal:


The giant is gone. Abiit, eneessit, erosit,
erupif. But amusement attractions are rife,
notwithstanding. Three circuses are upon
us, beginning to-day, and young people are
eager and exuberant. There is something
classic about the circus. Nothing like it in
the world when it comes to your own doors in
all the righteousness of its magnificent trap
pings. IT'S true one must not see too much
of it. Better thousand times that you come
suddenly upon the ground alive with mystic
charms, gratifying Oriental legend to
child's Imagination, and never see aught ex-
cept it be in royal state. never can forget
the inimitable sketch of John Leechs, the
scene in the dressing tent, where the clown
is called from the charmed arena to csme and
sit down by the little pallet Of straw to see his
poor wife die, the weary and worn, who has
followed him so far and so long. But the
Young folks have not seen this and do not
know that misery and death can compass en-
chanted abodes, and they bring light hearts
to the court of Mon,us and so we have the
ever recurring circus,


with its smell Of tan and plank,


And pi
Year: 1870

The unanimity with which the stock
holders of the Portland and Kennebec Rail
road ratified the measures of the Directors
for consolidating with the Maine Central,
is a mark of confidence in the management
of the road and in favor of consolidation
which is very significant. The stock
holders of the Maine Central are yet to
vote upon the question, but there is no
doubt that their action will correspond to
that upon this line. The opposition to
consolidation in Portland seems to be OF a
purely selfish character, having no regard
to the interest of the State, and seeking to
make Portland sort of a British port and
dependency. 1t proposes system of
broad guage roads east of Portland and
narrow guage west, making grand OBJ
struction to the free course of trade and
travel for the benefit of Portland, the
Grand Trunk Railroad, the Canadas, and
the British steamers which run to that port.
We are not surprised that the most far
seeing and best business men of Portland
take a totally different view of things from
this narrow policy, and object to it with
energy and ability.
Year: 1870

ty of this country in the impending con-
flict Is one that will meet With general ap-
proval. He has followed up his procia-
nation by moving troops to the border
and will undoubtedly see that the interests
Of the government do not suffer by either
party. Sympathy for Ireland or desire


for retaliation upon England in like kind
for her course toward us in the rebellion
will not be allowed to move the govern
ment from the line of international duty.
Year: 1870

-Four years ago had wall laid along
the border of my garden l had the
trench for the foundation dug very deep,
well down in the hard-pan, and had the
hard-pan thrown into a pile separate from
the loan. The loan was used in the
compost heap, and the hard-pan--a half
sandy. half gravelly mass. with just
enough of coarse soil in it to be seen
was left to be used to fill up some path.


In the course of the summer noticed
plant growing on it with surprising vigor,
which, on examination, proved to be the
common mustard, but with leaves nearly
as broad and large as cabbage-a size
| had never seen surpassed in the richest
soil. Beside it, and also on the hard-pan,
was growing plant of Apple of Peru.
with a vigor that belonged to the richest
soil. The following spring | spread the
lot on the flower garden, and had Won
derful growth of flowers as the result.


\ year later, one of my neighbors in an
other part of the town dug ditch, that
drained his land through mine, to the
depth of over six feet, cutting for about
the last three feet through hard-pan, and
throwing this on my side of the wall,
where it made heap about three feet in
depth, of apparently nearly pure gravel,
! Y
mer, while passing that way, l stepped
aside to examine the ditch, when to my
surprise l found growing on the heap OF
hard-pan, hog weed that was nearlya as high
asmy head. The only inference can draw
from these facts is, that under some cir
cumstances hard-pan is an excellent ma
nure. In each of these instances the sur
face soil was strong loan that had been
under good cultivation for many years.
May it not be that some of the salts of the
manure applied during this period, passed
through the loan to the hard-pan below,
and there remained, held as in bewlp
Lime it is stated, has this tendency, max
ing it necessary to plough deeper each
year to bring it to the surface. By what
ever theory they may be explained, the
facts seem TO prove that in this broad
country of ours there must be a multitude
of acres uuderlain byvast areas of fertiliz-
ing material. Should further experiments
demonstrate this to be fact, ii must prove
of immense practical value to our titled
acres, of which the best fed have habit
of calling for little more.


JAMES j. II. GREGORY.
| ,Marblehead, Mass.
Year: 1870

arraigned for criminal trial, be brought


before tribunal ordered for the purpose
OF Judging of their sanity or insanity, and
If at this tribunal such criminals are deci-


ded to be sane persons, such Judgment
shall be a bar against the plea of insanity


being brought in by the defense at the
criminal trial, and he shall be recognized
as sane, and as having been so at the time
of the alleged murder On the other hand,
if the prisoner having committed the hom-
icide is adudged as having done the deed
in a fit or state of insanity, then the court
shall order him to he confined in lunatic
asylum, and in that department of the
building assigned to the dangerous in
sane" and the length of the term of con-
fnement shall be according as the circum-
stances attending the homicide shall APP
pear to have been more or less aggrava-
ted.
Year: 1870

AS proof that some knowledge of the
French language is necessary in travelling
abroad, the following story is told of an un-
lucky Englisman in Paris, who did not know
one word of the polite tongue; "Seating him
self in a restaurant he pointed to the first
article on the bill of fare, and the polite wait
er brought him fragrant plate of beef-soup.
When it was despatched he pointed to the Sec
ond line. The waiter brought him vegeta-
bic soup. Rather more soup than l want,
he thought; 'but it is the Paris fashion He
duly pointed to the third line, and plate of
tapioca broth was brought him. Again to the
fourth, and was furnished with bowl of prep
aration of arrow root. He tried the fifth line
and was supplied with some cruel kept for in
valids He determined to get as far from the
soup as possible. He pointed, in despair, to
the last article on the bill of fare. The wait
er politely handed him bunch of toothpicks !.
This was too much the Englishman paid his
bill and left" Rather overdrawn, to be sure,
but the point is well taken.
Year: 1870

The treatment OF insane murderers is re-
ceiving q good deal of consideration at the
present time, chiefly we presume on ac-
count Of the result in the Mcfarland trial
Here is man adjudged insane by a jury,
and in consequence acquitted of the crime
for which he was tried, and as soon as the
trial is over he is turned loose upon the
community. If he be insane should he be
allowed to go at large, is tile question
which naturally arises. Having commit
mitted one murder on account of his de-
rangement. may he not commit another
for the same reason, and why should he
not be subjected to at least as much re-
straint as other insane who have perpetra-
ted no murder or violence?


Governor Alcorn, Of Mississippi, in late
special messageto the legislature OF that
Sta4a,g DISCUSSES this subject and recom-
mends that such criminals, before being
Year: 1870

The Cumberland Bone Company have leased
a portion of the Kerosene Works at Ligonia
and are now moving their machinery, &C., to
their new location. The grinding OF the ma
terial will be carried on all the time at their
mill at Duck Pond, till they get established in
their new place.