smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

From the Raleigh North Carolinian.l


1.-THE most remarkable character we
ever recorded is a negro murderer in
Nash county named Luke Johnson.
Luke was first taken upfor larceny some
months ago, and negro witness living
in a little log cabin in the woods had
testified against him before the grand
jury. He tracked this witness to his
house one night, and poking his gun,
loaded with old nails, through crack,
shot him dead. He was Immediately
arrested and lodged in the Jail Of Nash
county. He only stayed there one day
got ont that night; was rearrested and
carried to the Warren county jail, there
to be kept more secure. This is strong
Jail, and is feBoea around by a strong
rock wall, and there are fifty fierce bull
dogs kept in The jaii.yard


Luke was confined in close cell, and
at last the authorities thought they had
him safe. But they were mistaken. He
took q rock out OF the floor that weighed
five hundred pounds with his own hands,
and erawled under and got to the door
of the jail, but here he stopped on ac-
count Of the bulldogs, and he


STOOD THERE IN THE DOOR


and waited for the jailer to come and
put him back" The jailer came along
after while and slapped Luke inagain
But the authorities were afraid to trust
him much longer, so they took him back
to Nash county, and he had his trial.
He was sentenced to be hung by the
neck till be was dead on last Friday, the
18th instant.


This time they handcuffed him Sc
curely in the Jail, with cuffs made to or
der, and also put on ankle cuffs, locking
them up securely, and then they had a
chain that ran from his handouts to his
ankle cuffs, and this chain was locked
through big iron bolt and ring in the
floor. He was allowed sitting posture
in a common split-hottom chair, and
with his hands reached down, chained
and buckled, and


TOOK THE ROUND OUT


of the chair, and running it in the ring
twisted it out, breaking the link in about
twenty pieces. There was a wire in
some WY connected with this ring, and
with this he picked The locks on his
cuffs and got his hands and feet free.
Then with piece of the iron link he
forced the locks on the three iron doors
locked OF him, and also the wooden one
at the entfenee Of the jail, and in this
way made his third ESCAPE, letting opt
with him another negro prisoner. He
thus made his escapefrom the gallows


SIX DAYS BEFORE HANGING-DAY,
which yas appointed to have been last
Friday Luke johnson, We are told, is
a young, strapping negro man, ginger
cake color, and is about twenty-five years.
old. He was sold as a slave seven times
in Richmond, Va, before the war. He
is real mechanical genius, and during
the war hetmade a buggy out of wood,
with white oak springs, and without a
piece of iron in it. In this buggy he
used to ride to church. When sentence
was pronohneed on him in Nash county
courthouse, as the sheriff marched him
out he exclaimed: You all arn't
agoing to hang me; you cant do i'll"
He is still loose, and sweers he will
never leave Nash county.


r.
Year: 1871

An Irishman took a contract 20 dig
public well. When he had dug
about twenty Eve feet down, he came
one morning and found il caved in
filed nearly TO the top. Pat looked
cautiously around and saw that no
person was near, then took off his hat
and coat, hung them on n windlass,
crawlcd into some bushes and waited
events IN short time the citizens
discovered that the well had caved in,
and seeing Pats hat and coat on the
windlass they supposed he was a, the
bottom of the excavation. Only a few
hours of brisk digging cleared the
loose earth from the well, and just as
the eager citizens had reached the
bottom, and wondering where the
body was, Pat came out Of the bush
cs, aud good naturedly thanked them
for relieving him Of a sorry job. Some
Of tho tired diggers were disgusted
but the joke was too good TO allow
anything more than hearty laugh
which soon followed
Year: 1871

Some pcoplo have so little ear for
music An exchange gives a striking
instance. Young gentleman goes
here aud there through the bright
moonlight singing "Put me in my lit
tle bed" to guitar accompaniment
window is at length raised, and brutal
voice remarks to young man with
guitar, that ifthc singing is not aban-
doncd forthwith he will "Stand him
on his littlc head
Year: 1871




A BEAUTIFUL THouoHT. We know
not the author of the following, but
il is one OF the most beautiful produc-
tions we ever read :--''Nature will 10
reported All things arc engaged in
writing their own history The plant
and pebble 60 attended by their own
shadow The rock leaves its scralchcsi
on the mountain side, the river lis bed
in the soil; the animal leaves bone in
tho stratum, the fern and the leaf
their modest eptaph in the coal.l-
The falling drop makes its cpitaph in
the sand or stone not a foolslep in
the snow or along the ground but
prints in characters more or less last


ing a map ofi,s march every act of
man inscribos itself on the memories
of its followers and in his own face.
The air is fall of sound; the ground
is all memoranda signatures aud
every object is covered over with hints
which speak TO the intelligent" i
Year: 1871

To SEE Down \ WELI~-It is not
generally known how easy 4 matter it is
TO explore the bottom of well, cistern
or pond of water, by the use of a COM
mon mirror. When the sun is shining
brightly, hold a mirror so that the re-
ticcted rays Of light will fall into the wa
Ter. y bright spot will be seen at the
bottom, so light as TO show the smallest
object very plainly. by this means we
have examined the bottom of wells fifty
icet deep, when half full or more of wa
ter The smallest straw or other small
objects can be perfectly seen from the
surface In the same way one can ex-
anime the bottom of ponds and rivers, if
the waters be somewhat clear, and not
agtatcd by winds or rapid motion.


If a well or cistcrn be under cover, or
shaded by buildings, so that the sunlight
will not fall near the opening, it is only
necessary to employ two mirrors, using
one to reflect the light to the opening,
and another to send it down perpendic-
ularly into the water. Light may be
thrown fifty or Il hundred yards to the
precise spot desired, and then downward.
We have used the mirror with success,
TO reflect light around the house to n
shaded well, and also to carry it from 4
south window through two rooms, and
then into els: crn under the north side of
the house. Ialf 4 dozen reflections of
light may be made, though each mirror
diminishes the brilliancy of the light. Let
any one not familiar with the method
try it and he will not only find it useful,
but pleasant experiment. 1t will per
haps reveal mass of sediment at the
bottom of well, that has been little
thought of, but which may have been a
frightful source of disease, by its decay in
the water.
Year: 1871

DR.. Paaren, tile able conductor of the
Veterinary department of the Prairie
Farmer, says: ''If the shoe does not
sit perfectly level all around, and if it
extends SO far outside the hoof that the
nails are prevented from entering the
crust in the exact spot, and in the very
direction, which they should, there will
be a constant siraining on the nails,
which is injurious to the foot, and will
be liable 10 chip pieces off the hoof.


The shoe ought 10 be made wide across
the loot, ut the point where the two front
mails are situated The greatest mistake
frequently lies here. In place of turning
the shoe, at tie toe, very carefully on
the horn OF the anvil, the smith generally
sets IT up on It's side and then strikes it
with his hammer. The consequence is
it yields at the centre Of the arch, and.
instead of being nicely and regularly
rounded i'll front, whilst the breadth
from side TO side is preserved, the nail
holes on each side are brought nearer to
the center Of the shoe than they ought
TO be. As necessary result the shoe at
the front nail holes is too narrow for the
hoot, and, when it is nailed on, the crust
presses injuriously on the foot. 1t is
difficult 10 convince the smiths of the
possibility Of laming a horse, by having
the shoe too narrow in front. They GEN
orally think the whole difficulty lies
about the heel.


''ln putting on the shoe the nails
should be driven with gentle hand, and.
and they ought not by any means, to be
clenchcd very tight. Hard driving and
tight clcnching will bend the hoof at the
place where the clcnches are turned, in
wards and downwards toward the shoe,
in such manner as to injure the tender
parts contained within the cavity OF the
foot. Besides,it is not necessary for a
man TO forget he is working with the foot
of Il living animal. The shoe will re-
main on Il sufficient length of time with
gentle driving and clenching, provided it
is properly fitted to the foot. If it has
a thoroughly even bearing, there will be
little stress on the nails The nails are
often made so coarse that they split the
hoof, and thus keep it constantly broken.
\ fine nail will answer all the purposes
required, if it is made Of the right sort
of material.


"Wc know Of no worse fashion, in
connection with the application of the
shoe, than the one which the smith has,
of hammering the shoe on the one side
or the other after three or four nails
have been driven, for the purpose of put
ting it straight on the foot This is
speedy method of making up for his total
want of accuracy in placing it at first;
but it should never be suffered to be prac-
ticed. 1t strains all the nails which
have already been driven, and is thus
calculated 10 do serious damage TO the
foot.


"Shoeing has been regarded by some
as 4 necessary evil; still we are certain,
it is an evil in the horse or in the man
only when it is improperly performed
We are confident in both cases it would
be advantageous, rather than the reverse,
If the artizan could always be made
sufficiently acquainted with the theory of
his profession, and had hands, or rather
a head, for its due performing
Year: 1871

turn your philunthropic eyes TO this one
great cause of its growth. Regard this
one evil in the light of Il social upas tree,
and uproot it in our midst, and thousand;
of hearts will thank you and bless you,
and thousands of homes be made com.
Portable, where now lurk the ficnds OF
want and the sister sin, waiting to seize
upon lheir despairing prey.
Year: 1871

A little Boston girl assured her mother
the other day that she had found out
where they made horses-'she had seen
a man in shop just finishing one OF
them, for he was mailing on his last FOOT
Year: 1871

The melancholy affair in South Brooklyn on
Thursday, in which Mrs. Hopkins was NOR
tally wounded by her son, has number of
peculiar points not to be overlooked, both for
the lessons they teach and the domestic infe-
lcity they indicate. Young Lewis is repre-
sented as an idle youth, fonder of novel read
ing than of work. and, consequently, like
thousands Of young men in this city and Brook
lyn, q source of great anxiety to his mother.
Nothing more speedily destroys all family
affection and strs up enmity between relatives
than the idleness of young persons content to
be a burden upon their widowed mothers, and
this case illustrates what direful results may
come from feelings so engendered. 1t was, of
course, a great mistake in Mr.. Townsend, the
boys uncle, to allow himself to be prejudiced
against young Lewis by considerations which
did not concern him but his conduct in listen
ing to the report Of a conversa alton between
foolish boy and stupid carman
and seeking to punish the young man for his
words, was even more foolish. And, besides,
it seems that the carman, in repeating the
conversation, embellshed and falsifed it as
people VINO report ldie tatk III tue StreebS are
apt to do. Then, the young mans friend,
Robert Miller, erred greatly in the counsel he
gave to the lad, in telling him to throw
cayenne pepper in his uncle's eyes and to
shoot in the contingency of his uncle's at
tempting to beat him. The actions of both
Lewis and his friend Miller were criminal
but Mr.. Townsend's behavior is scarcely more
excusable. The boy did not want to meet his
uncle, and the boys mother was opposed to
the uncle's chastisement of her son, and yet
Townsend waited at Mrs. Hopkins house for
long time to obtain an opportunity for pun
ishing the young man. The shooting Of the
lads mother was murder or manslaughter,
because it was done in attempting an unlawful
act but il is delicate question whether
Townsend is not in every way as criminal as
the others. So much folly and stupidity on all
sides were never before crowded into single
case and never before were the results more
deplorable.
Year: 1871

TIE EMPEROR NAPOLEON receives the hom-
age due to fallen greatness. Heshas given a
fste in honor Of August 15-once great day
in France, but now only great day at Chise-
hurst-and has received the congratulations
of five or owned heads and Of the heir apparent
of England. Well, these crowned heads know
what common decency is, after ALL They do
not cut an old friend and brother when he is
down i'm the world. Not that Napoleon is
so very low down, either. He has
got too much spare cash for that.
A man in his position need never despair
Still, Caesar has fallen from his proud emil
nence, and is now only gouty old gentleman
who is scheming to get the throne back for
his boy. The congratulations of crowned
heads, therefore, empty phrased though they
be, must be thrice welcome to the Lord Of
Chiselhurst.
Year: 1871

TIE PERSIAN FAMINE seems to sustain the
horrors of the first report. At Ispahan, the
largest city in Persia, though not the capital,
there have been already tweniy-seven thou
sand well authenticated deaths, and in the pro-
vinces, where the dearth first broke out, the
mortality is reported to be even worse This
is indeed dismal record We can scarcely
realize in this broad land of plenty that such
q bideous chronicle Of death from starvation
is indeed well founded. But we know little
Of the evils of unscrupulous despotism. In
India, in the famine two years ago, ever ac-
cordng to the statistics published by the British
government the deaths footed up to two mil
lions. Only another couple of years before
that there was in the same land yet another
famine, In which another million Of human
souls persisted. These are established facts !;
and In their light we are forced TO believe the
sad annals we publish this morning OF the
DQsi l.aegaa laAIae N modern story
Year: 1871

hostile crowd to suppress the principle of equal
rights in suppressing the aforesaid obnoxious
Orange procession.


Now, it can hardly be denied that Speaker
Blaine correctly states the Presidential pros
poets of the democratic party as good for
nothing with the loss of the State of New
York. They must carry New York in this
coming November election or their nomination
for the next Presidency will hardly be worth
contending for in the national party conven-
ton. But how are they to carry New York in
November as matters now stand? We cannot
tell, though Mr.. Greeley still holds out hope
for them. The Fenton-Greeley republican
faction still maintain their warfare against
Senator Conklng, Collector Murphy and what
our amiable bran bread philosopher is pleased
to call ''the Custom House committee; but
nevertheless Mr.. Greeley is evidently getting
weak in the backbone, and has intimated that
If pushed by General Grants party to the wall
in the approaching Republican State Conven-
ton at the Syracuse salt works. he will sur
render as gracefully as General Lee capitu-
lated at Appomattax Court House, or as gra-
cously as Napoleon surrendered at Sedan.
Senator Fenton, too still with an eye upon
the Vice Presidency (though Speaker Blaine
will be apt to supplant him), is said to be
ready for reconciliation with Collector MUIR
ply and General Grant upon the most reason
able terms, including coalition against Tam
many Hall. The wind and tide are setting in
this direction, and the chances are in favor of
union of our republican cliqnes and factions,
and indicate some discords and divisions
among the democrats in November, and what
then? The loss Of the State to the democracy
and another change in the figures of the politi-
cal kaleidoscope.


With the loss of this State to the democrats
in November next we may have such com
motion among the politicians on all sides as to
bring about a national scrub race in 1872, with
three or four Presidential tickets in the field,
or we may have such fusion around General
Grant that he will quietly walk over the Presi-
dental course. In any event, the coming Sep
tember elections in California. Vermont and
Maine, and the October elections of Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio will only add to the command
ing public interest which these new political
phases have drawn to our Empire State and
to the crisis thus presented to the democratic
party of the State and of the United States
Year: 1871

THE PITTsToN DIsAsTRR-A coroner's
inquest was held yesterday into the causes of
the late disaster at the Pittston coal mines.
AT midnight the investigation was concluded,
and the jury found that the explosion was the
result of the falling of portion of the roof of
the mine, which forced the iredamp into i'm
mediate contact with the lamps worn by the
miners. They further say that had the mine
been properly ventilated, in accordance with
the provisions of the mining laws, the acci-
dent would not have happened.
Year: 1871

THE IRREPREssIBLE AFRICAN again figures
In diplomatic circles and is the cause Of some
tart correspondence between the government
Of Great Britain and the United States. A
negro justice in Darien, Ga, discharged on
writ of habeas corpus four sailors who had
been imprisoned on board an English vessel
at that port for insubordinaton. OF course
such breach of International law could not
pass unnoticed, and notes on the subject are
passing thick and fast between the British
Minister and the State Department
Year: 1871

The ESCAPE OF PRISONERS AT SING SING
Some of the prisoners who escaped from Sing
Sing on Thursday have been recaptured, but
the majority Of them are still at large. 1t must
be confessed that the public sympathy is, for
once, on the side of the jail birds and against
the prison officials. Not only was the escape
cleverly planned, but the prison discipline was
80 lax that most people would prefer seeing
the officers punished to the punishment of the
escaped convicts.
Year: 1871

THE SPREAD OF THE CHOLERA IN EUROPE
Our European dispatches continue to record
the progress Of the cholera in Europe. From
Stettin it has made its appearance. At
K0nigsberg during last Tuesday and Wednes
day there were one hundred and fifty new
cases, sixty of which proved fatal. 1t will
thus be seen that this dread visitation, the
terror of people wherever it appears, is making
its way steadily and surely westward, and il
behooves the health authorities here to be on
their guard and leave no precaution unattended
to to guard against its approach
Year: 1871

CLOUD OF WAR IN THE EAsT.-In letter
which we publish in another part of the HER.
AID this morning from one Of our correspond
ents in the East the relations between the
Khedive of Egypt and the Sultan Of Turkey
are concisely stated. The relationship exist
ing between the two Powers is anything but
friendly, and the breach is becoming wider
and wider every day. The Viceroy feels the
restraints of Turkey grow more irksome, and
hostilities are avoided by the tact OF the Egyp-
tian, who fully understands the strength of
Turkey, and is, therefore, not willing to stake
everything on the hazard Of war. He tempo.
rzes, in the hope that some lucky chance may
turn up which will result In disadvantages to
Turkey, while it also gains for him time to
prepare for struggle which may take place
at no distant day.
Year: 1871

The report of the official investigation into
the. Westfeld disaster was forwarded to Wash
ington several days since, but because Secre-
tary Boutwell, has not yet found time to read
the document the chief clerk of the Steamboat
Division of the Treasury Department, in whose


possession it is, refuses to furnish copy to
the press for publication. This report affects


the interests of the people very materially, and
of right it should be made public without de-
lay. If Mr.. Boutwell, is so overwhelmed with
business that he cannot give this matter imme-
diate attention why does he withhold from
the public document which so intimately
concerns every community No State secret
| is involved in the report; foreign diplomacy


cannot be affected by it, and no reason can be


adduced for such affected reticence. It is


simply question of fact, which it is supposed


Is settled by the report; and the people have
| right to it without waiting for the slow


movements of the circumlocution office at
Washington. Let Mr. Boutwell, cut reN tape
in this instance and not shield himself behind
the usages of his Department If he has
neither time nor inclination to give this report
immediate attention let him at once publish
it. Public interests will not suffer if the docu-
ment makes its appearance without comments
by the honorable Secretary; on the contrary,
they will be better served if the inspectors are
permitted to tell their story in their own way,
without suggestions from any source.


IL There to be Another European Wurs


Again we have the report that Russia and
Germany are arming against one another.
Our special despatch few days ago was the
first to sgnaize the existence of secret un-
derstandng between France and Germany on
the one hand and between Germany and Aus
tria on the other The Paris journal Patrie
| now gives the most positive confirmation to
| the report of our correspondent, adding sig


nifcantly that General Le16, the French Am


bassador at st. Petersburg-but lately the War
Minister at Versailles-has accompanied the
Gar on military inspection. Under these
| circumstances the fact alone that Theirs should
| have chosen his former War Minister for the
post of st. Petersburg cannot be void of mean
ing. The ornaments of both Russia and Ger


many are said to be on a gigantic scale.
Making, therefore, some allowance for exagger-


alton, we begin to think that these rumors must
have some sort of foundation. 1t is, however,
difficult to conceive that France should think
of going to war in her present situation, and
Russia, single handed, is certainly no match
for Carmanv