smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

The enterprising individual who
earned n few dollars by charging sight
scers for admission 10 the house where
his father Ind been murdered, has Il
rival in tho London proprietor Of q
music hall who hired for exhibition ten
Of tho survivors Of tho Northncet dis
astcr. Penniless rs they were, they
consented, and the very night nfter the
catastrophe, less than twenty.four hours
since the terrible tragedy in real life
had becn enacted, these ten men found
themselves seated upon n concert saloon
stage with tho curtain rising and re-
vealing them amid loud cheers to n very
large and uncontrollably enthusiastic
audience. The entertainment was re.
pented ugain and again, the contract
being for twelve nights. Crowds greeted
them every evening and financially it
was n great SUCCESS. 1t is q singular
illustration Of tho freaks Of fortune
that tho calamity which shocked the
whole news-reading world and sent more
than three hundred souls into eternity
should liave filled the pockets OF this
saloon.kceper with money and brought
upon tho uncouth, disappearing men
round after round OF applause for
merely sitting upon stage from which
forty.eight hours before they would
have been ignominiously driven. The
temporary victory over death makes n
man something Of hero after all, even
il it is certain tliat the victory is really,
nt best. but n check,
Year: 1873

Among my more recent inventions
are:


A printing press that sets its own
type, writes its own editorials and stirs
up delinquent subscribers. 1t answers
very well for clothes press, or n sub.
soil plow, or n threshing machine, and
is warranted to press the question, or
to press forward.


4 brick ship, TO sail the mighty
waters Of tho great Atlantic. 1t has n
granite foundation, with n fine cellar,
and n good well with n free.stone.payed
walk running in front Of it at the rate
OF ten knots mile.


A simpliAed pot-hook, which you can
unfold, md it makes n nice spring bon
net for your wife and 1t is equally cnsy
to turn it into m overcoat, or you can
uso it for q handkerchief or standing
collar.


A compound toothpick, which will
pick anything out of q hollow tooth
from n shoulder Of meat to tootliachc.
You unfold it and behold you havo n
step.ladder; give it another twist, and
then you have aone.horse druy ; reverse
it, and You have cottage with three
rooms and an aero lot.


An umbrella, so Antagonistic to water
that, if you should fall in the river
with it, you would come out perfectly
dry. It is altogether unnecessary oven
to hold it over you in n storm. Fold it
up and it is walking cane, press on n
spring and it is n coal scuttle turn it
inside out and it is a plug hat turn it
again and You have q pair of boots.
Everybody gets dry WHO carries it.
Year: 1873

"DEAR FATHER, CONF HoME." =
Postmaster Billings, of Santa Clara, has
received the following letter. 1t tells its
own sad story:


TO the Postmaster of Santa Clara:
Will you be so kind as to inquire if
there is such man as George Ray in
your city or where he is if he has left
Santa Clara? He is about thirty-seven
years old, dark eyes and hair, not very
| tall, and is carpenter by trade. He is
my dear father, and we have not heard
word from him for more than two years
| Ma is left with FIVE children, and | am
| fourteen years old. Sometimes ma
| thinks he is dead but / dreamed the
other night that he came home to us,
| and it made me think SO much about
him that cannot help writing to you,
for | cannot give up all hopes. Oh
dear Mr.. Postmaster will you do this fa-
vor for poor. homeless girl ? and you
shall have many warm thanks. If you
can see him, or hear where he is, will
you be 50 good as to send him this let
ter2 Will you please answer? Yours,
truly"


MY DEAR, DEAR PA: How can j
tell you how sad my heart is while /
write to you, not knowing whether you
are dead or alive. Do you love us any
more2 Why is 1t that we do not hear
from you any more? If you are sick
and discouraged, we will try and help
you to come home, and then we will
work and take care of you. Oh, how
hard to live as we do, now that the
children are all separated Willie is at
the State Reform School in Lancaster,
in this State, and ma does not have to
pay his board; man in Berlin has
adopted frankie as his daughter, and
rich farmer in the country has Libbie as
his child, and Henry IS at Freder-
icksburg. am working for wages in a
small family in Massillon. Ma has
learned the dressmaker's trade and
sews by the day in this city, and helps
me all she can. She has been working in
Fulton for the last two weeks, and will be
there some time. 1t is hard for US to
have no home, no pa to love us-and eh,
pa, do take pity on US and come back
We will all receive you with open arms.
And how happy we will be to have YOU
with us, as you have been once. Oh, pa,
do write and tell US if you love US still.
Your sorrowful daughter,


EMMA A. RAY,


" Massillon Stark County, O."
Year: 1873

A USEFUL RAILROAD DEVICE. .-Ey-
erybody who has travelled by rail has
felt the need of some better mode of an
nouncing the stations than the uncer-
tain or indistinct shout OF the brakeman
at the door. The Providence, Hartford
and F'ishkill Road uses an excellent.
and at the same time inexpensive, ar
rangement, that exactly meets the diff
Guilty. A box some thirty inches long,
twelve deep and eight wide, is fastened
up at the end of each car high enough
to be seen by every passenger in it. This
box, which is of woed corresponding
With the interior fittings of the car, is
furnished with long piece of muslin, in
width just the length of the interior Of
the box, and is mounted on two rollers
after the manner of panorama. Across
this muslin in plain legible letters, are
painted the names of every station on


he road, of which names one az a time
is visable to the occupants of the car
through a glazed slot or window in the
front of the box. Immediately on leav-
ing station a brakeman euteres. aud by
means OF crank which projects from
the side of the box turns the rollers uu-
tl the name OF the next station At which
the train will stop, appears at the slot
IN which position 1t is left until said sta
ton Is reached and passed. The motion
4 the crank rings loud gong-hell and
the attention of the passengers thereby
called TO the change.
Year: 1873

THE PERILs OF BALLooNING.


La Mountain an account of whose
frightful fall and death is given below
is said to have been brother of Jobr
La Mountain who formerly made sever
al assensions in this State.


Among the attractions at Ionia, Mich.
July 4, was balloon ascension by Pro-
La Mountain. The ascension was made
from the public square. When fully
half mile from the earth, and when
the whole structure looked no larger
than hogshead, the balloon slipped be-
tween the ropes and was instantly in
verted. The car and occupant dropped
like shot with the most terrific velocity,
the unfortunate man clinging to the
basket. That he was conscious was evil
dent from his struggles. With all the
intensity of life he sought to raise the
basket above him, evidently hoping to
use it as parachute. He succeeded in
his object, but when about 100 feet high
he loosed his hold, folded his hands and
arms before his face, and his feet first
struck the ground with a dull, heavy
thud. Then ensued panic and uproar
in the crowded multitude. Women faint
ed, strong men wept ana the canvas
came flying over the crowd like a huge
bird. Some one cried out to get from
its way, as it would fall with crushing
force. Then the cry was taken up, and
q general rush made for safety, in which
many we're more or less injured. La
Mountain was crushed into literal
pulp. A medical examination disclosed
the fact that hardly whole bone was
left. Many were splinteIed and ground
to powder. His jaws fell upon his arms
and were pulverized, and the blood
spurted from his mouth and ears. The
corpse was laid out and placed ON the
public square, where 1t was viewed by
thousands during the afternoon, end
was sent home to Brooklyn, Mich, the
following day.
Year: 1873

A DISAPPOINTED Doc. Here is true
dog story: A family downtown having a
false CRATE ia one Of the rooms Of the
house placing some rcd paper behind it
to give the effect of fire. One of the
coolest days this winter tho dog belong
ing to the household came in from out OF
doors, and seeing the paper in the crate.
deliberately walked up 10 it and laid down
before it. curled up in the best way to re-
ceive the glowing heat as it came from
the fire. He remained motioness for a
few minutes feeling no warmth he raised
his head and looked over his shoulder at
the CRATE still feeling no heat he applied
his nose TO the CRATE and snelt oil IT Ii
was as cold as ice. With look of the
most supreme disgust, his tail curled down
between his legs. every hair on his body


saying ''l'm sold," the dog trotted out OF
the room. # 4
Year: 1873

How Doc was SOLD Here is a
true dog story: A family down town
having false CRATE in one of the rooms
Of the house placed some red paper be-
hind it to give the effect of fire. One Of
the codest days of winter the dog be-
longing to the household came in from
out Of doors, and seeing the paper in the
CRATE deliberately walked up te it and
laid before it, curled up in the best way
to receive the glowing heat as it came
from ,he fire. He remained motionless
for a few minutes; feeling no warmth he
raised his head and looked ever his
shoulder at the CRATE; still feeling no
heat he arose and carefully applied his
nose to the CRATE and smelt Of it. 1t
was as cold as ice With look Of the
most supreme disgust, his tail curIed
down between his legs, every hair on his
body saying I'm sold, the dog trottcd
out Of the room, not even dcigning to
cast look al the party in the room who
had watched his actions and laughed so
heartily at his misfortunes. That dog
had reason as well as instinct Troy
Times
Year: 1873

The members and friends of Harmony
Council. Temperance Reform. will give a
Theatrical. Vocal and Instrumental Concert
an Thursday and Friday nights next March
ss,h and 2sth. at the Court House. We have
mo doubt that we shall havean entertainment
well worthy Of patronage. aside from the
Ysudable object had in view-the benefit OF
HARMONY Council. that should command
well filled house. Recolleet Thursday night
next and be on hand
Year: 1873

EF A male infant, about one day old
was found in basket at New Orleans re
Gently, accompanied by note containing
the remarkable statement that tho child
never had any parents, and was thus
compelled to 90 out for living.
Year: 1873

COLD SSAP-Thc warm, plcasaat weather
we have had for two weeks past. closed last
night and this morning we have cold, wet
freezing weather. 1t is too cold to rain and
las every indication offs snow.
Year: 1873

All indebted to us for subscriptions and
other work. will oblige us greatly and please
thpse we owe more, by calling and settling
iheir accounts. We know that money Is
seurce and hard to get but we trust our
friends will make an effort in our behalf.
Year: 1873

The District Attorney Alleged To Have Cap.
tured 100000 Of the Proceeds Of tho
Forgeries-The Arrest Of Two Of the
Gang Their Unwarrantable Dis


charge at Hoboken The First


Civil Suits in the Matter.
Year: 1873

Mr. d. II. CRAIG announces that the new
system Of automatictelegraphy on which he has
been engaged for several years is finished and
In practical operation. By this system 1t is
claimed that II Is entirely feasible 10 telc-
graph and receive in clear, distinct characters
fifteen hundred words per minute between
Washington and New York, wire circuit of
800 miles, which Is fully equal to the average
Of MORSE line circuits; and that by the use Of a
certain kind OF automatic repeaters, messages
can be sent any number OF thousands Of miles
at the rate of six hundred words per minute.
The matter TO be sent by this new system Is
prepared by means of perforating machines, the
use of which can easily be learned by any person
OF ordinary intelligence In ten days time. These
perforGting machines can turn out the messages
ready for automatic transmission at the rate of
from one hundred TO one hundred and forty
words minute. II the new system will really
accomplish what Mr.. CRAIG claims for It, 1t is
an invention second in importance only TO the
discovery Of the electric telegraph itself.
Year: 1873

A most radical innovation upon long
established custom In relation to the Institution
of marriage has been effected In California,
where the Ol theory that man and wife are one
Is abolished. A now law establishes the equality
OF husband and wife, and declares that the two
can contract with each other and sue each other
the same as II they had never been married. 1t
Is to be feared that this reform will hardly meet
the expectations OF its originators. Lawsuits
after marriage, with husband and wife respec-
lively In the positions Of plaintiff and de-
fendant, would not seem to be calculated to
promote domestic felicity. Besides, such a law
will surely lead to perpetual litigation. II Is
dangerous for wife to be able TO sue her hus-
band for breach OF contract In case he should
fail to fulfil promise to buy her a new bonnet
or set OF furs.
Year: 1873

IL should crafty our Western farmers TO
learn that American cheese and American hams
are acknowledged by high British authority to
be fully equal to the best English. The London
Grocer says that few years ago provision deaf
ers would scarcely have liked to admit the fact
Of their selling American cheese to their Gus
TONERS; but the enterprising and scientific
American farmer has, under the factory sys-
TEN OF manufacture, so far changed this state
OF affairs that the American article Is often
superior to most Of the Englsh-made. The I'm
provement In the make and quality Of cheese
has also been accompanied by an improve
ment In the quality and breed Of pigs. II would
be interesting TO know whether England's
growing appreciation of American cheese
and pork is not owing In part to other
causes than improvement in the quality OF
those necessary articles. Perhaps the sue
cessful result Of the war against secession had
something to do with IL and during the re-
cent strike Of agricultural laborers even the ars-
tocratic palate has learned TO appreciate the
products of republican farming.
Year: 1873

The people Of Beaver county, Pennsylva-
mia, object to the Chinese laborers who have re-
Gently been brought to their district, and pro-
pose TO memorialize Congress for the passage of
a law prohibiting the further importation of
Cinnamon under contracts made In China 1t is
dinicult 20 see what reasonable objection the
Pennsyivanians can make TO the Woodworking
and inofensivs Mongolians. The Cinnamon
ought to know, and II they do not know they
can easily be told, that contracts made In China
are valid here only SO far as they choose 10 keep
them. II the Cinnamon can do ms much work
as the lighter-compiexioned people OF Beaver
county, they will soon learn to demand as much
pay. The Celestials have already demonstrated
that they can strike when they feel like it, The
Pennsylvanians will soon learn, like the Caiifor-
mans, that there 10 but little to bs feared from
chinese Immigration.
Year: 1873

Boston is getting over its fear OF Mansard
roofs provided they are fire proof. Prominent
architects Of that city advocate this style of
roof on account Of. its picturesque beauty, and
II ls probable that the buried district when re-
built will be topped with as many Mansard roofs
as before the IRE. To IA Mansard roof which Is
proof against nre, or not too elevated TO be be-
yond the reach Of water from IRE engines, there
can he no reasonable objection.
Year: 1873

GRANT is to be inaugurated ON plat
form 5e5 feet In length by 80 In width Are all
his oficeholding relations to be prcsentT II
yes, what room will there be left for Congress
and the rest OF mankind
Year: 1873

We are pleased to see by the letter
herewith published that Governor Con-
verse does not recognize McEnery as
governor of Louisiana, but simply adj
dresses him as g Hon. John McEnery.
We think, nevertheless, that the letter
should not have been written. 1t is an
official letter from the Governor of Yer
mont to an individual claiming to be the
Governor of Louisiana, and the fact of
writing such letter is claimed by Nc
Emery and his partisans in Louisiana, as
well as by the whole democratic
and liberal press as the country, ms a
quasi recognition of McEnerys claims.
The whole Louisiana muddle is one with
which the Governor and Legislature of
Vermont have nothing to do, and it
seems to us that it would have been
wisdom on the part of our Governor to
have kept clear of 1t. However, the
letter has been written and published
and we are glad that it is no worse than
it is. The letter, which first saw light
in the New Orleans PicGyune, is as fol-
lows
Year: 1873

In our opening article on this subject,
we commenced with something of the
history of the early development OF the
Slate interest in Western Vermont, and
proceeded so far as to give general idea
of what is now doing in the slate manu-
facture in the towns of Fairhaven and
Castleton. II will be recollected that we
named seven mills in those towns, six OF
which are in active operation and sup
piled with stock from quarries in their
vicinity. The product from the slate
manufacture in those towns amounted
to not less than 100000 in the year
1879. Our information, at this stage,
will not allow us to give an accurate es-
innate, but we are sufficiently informed
to say that the product will foot up to
those figures, and, we think, consider
ably above.


How much money the proprietors OF
these establishments have made or lost,
we do not know; we have not seen their
balance sheets; but we do know that
they are enriching their towns. The
town of Fairhaven has doubled in its
population since the beginning OF the
slate manufacture, and the town of Cas-
fiction shows a considerable gain. The
advantages resulting to the public in this
increase of business must be apparent
There has been large advance on real
estate. a home market has been created
for the farmers produce and an increas-
cd activity is manifest in all business.
We NAV be permitted here to digress SO
as to say that both in Fairhaven andHyde-
vile there is an unfailing water power,
among the finest in New England. Al
though to considerable extent improy-
ed in running the slate and marble mliis'
there is a capacity for many times the
amount of business now done on the
stream from Lake Bomoseen to its con-
fluence with the waters OF Poultney
river. west of Fairhaven village. 1t gives
the natural advantages for another Low
ell. and we hope the time is not far DIS
tant when the people wllf~avall them'
selves of those advantages.


| AS the larger proportion OF the STATE
manufacture in Fairhaven and Castle,
ton is now in mill stock, (supposeo
to be about nine-tenths) 1t may
not be out of place at this point to name
some of the large variety OF products
from those mills. Besides the mills IL
Year: 1873

LIABILITY OF TELEGRAPH COMPANIES.
We referred, day or two since, to
the fact that because a certain propo-
sition was law in one State it did not,
necessarily, follow that the same propo-
sition was good law everywhere. Here
is case in point, for which we are in
debted to the Boston journal of yester-
day. 1t was, says the Journal


recently decided by the Supreme Court
of this State, (that is, Massachusetts,
that a telegraph company could not be
held responsible for errors in transmit
ting messages, unless the messages are
prepared, in accordance with the regu-
lations of the company, as printed on
their blanks. This decision is in direct
contradiction to one just given in llli-
nois. The courts hold there that the


telegraphs have no business to charge
one price for doing the work at all, and
an extra price for doing it correctly.
Correctness is of the very essence of the
contract of telegraph company, and
cannot legally be separated from it and
charged for as an extra accommodation.
Year: 1873

THE CAMBRIDGE PoIsoNERs.- Charles
Shaw and Mrs. Briggs, indicted for the
murder of Mrs. Shaw and her family,
will be tried at Salem, at the June Oyer
and Terminer Shaw is said to be labor
ing under great fear, and his shrieks at
times are fearful The other night he
yelled in such manner that the Sheriffs
son went to see what was the matter,
when Shaw entreated him to stay with
him, as he said; My wife is clawing
her cold arms around me. For Gods
sake, save me-" The only two living
children are now in the county house.
Year: 1873

Some time during the afternoon the
besieged were drawn from the fight and
from their breastworks into the court
house. One end of this building was
without windows, nor had the besieged
prepared loopholes. A colOred man
named Isaiah Atkins informed us that
Mr.. Nash had forced a colored man cali
ed Pink to come to this end of the build
ING and hold pine torch to the edge of
the roof until it caught fire. 1t is our
opiniOn that few of the colored men had
been killed up to this time, but that
when forced by the fire TO leave the
courthouse they were shot down with
out mercy The position and condition
of many of the bodies go far to prove
this. Under the warehouse, between
the courthouse and the river, were the
dead bodies of six colored men, who had
evidently gone under for cOncealment,
and were there shot like dogs. Many
were shot in the back of the head and
neck. One man still lay with his hands
clasped in supplication; the face OF an
other was completely fiattened by blows
from broken stock of double barrel
ed gun, lying on the ground near him !;
another had been cut across the stomach
with knife after being shot, and almost
all had from three to a dozen wounds.
PRISONERS EXECUTED AND THEIR BODIES
PITCHED INTO THE RIVER.


1t is asserted by the colored people
that after the fight thirty four prisoners
who were taken before the burning OF
the courthouse, were taken to the river
bank, two by two, executed, and hurrl-
| ed into the rivert. We aused to be bu-
ried in the ditch, near the ruins of the
courthouse, the remains of fifty-four
colored men, three of whom were SO
badly burned as to be unrecognizable.
There was inside the courthouse the
/ charred bones of one other, and five
bodies we gave to their friends for inter
ment elsewhere. We saw also IL wound.
ed colored men, two of whom will Ger.
tainly die, and others of whom are very
unlikely to recover. We are Informed
that since the fight parties of armed mer
have been securing the country, sur
Year: 1873

her that she was the daugher Of God, se-
lected to suffer for the redemption of her
sex. in the same way as Christ suffered
Tor the other. Immediately after this
revelation she gave up eating meat and
drinking brandy. and prepared herself
for her mission. The Holy Ghost then
possessed her. and gave her the power
to work wonders with mere word. She
pretends to be able to resurrect even the
dead, BY simply touching them, and SO
strong is the faith Of the ignorant masses
in this new prophecies, that the prison
to which she has been consigned by the
authorities has become place of pill
grimage for thousands. The sick are
brought from distant localities to receive
the assistance Of the inspired woman,
and the keepers receive large bribes for
PERMISSION to see her. Every day new
stories Of her extraordinary powers are
circulated far and wide.