smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

Some years ago a convivial party met
in the principal hotel of the capitol OF
the old Buckley State (Ohio). Many
were the stories and adventures told by
the company. One man in particular
had Just finished narritive which was
regarded by his auditors as being lit
lie more than marvellous, when a Sena-
tor, who happened to be one of the
party, cody remarked that the story
lust told was all very well, but it did not
begin to compare with an adventure he
himself had few years before. OF
course all were eager to hear the story,
more especially because it was true, and
the Senator prefaced his remarks with
saving that what he was about to relate
he would most solemnly proclaim to be
the truth, except, Of course, those mat
ters therein stated on information and
belief. The company, however, inter
rupted him, and insisted that he should
go on.


FWell, gentlemen, many years ago !
came down the Ohio river, and settled
near the present site of Cincinnati. 1t
was very wild in that region then, for
Cincinnati was only small settlement,
and the blasted redskins were almost as
thick as trees in the forest. Well, to
come at once to my adventure: | started
off one morning pretty early to take a
hunt, and travelled long way down the
river over the hills, but could not find
bear or deer. About four o clock in the
afternoon made tracks for home. By
and by / sees a buck just ahead of me
walking leisurely down the river. i
slipped up with my faithful old dog close
in my rear, to within clever shooting dis
tance, and Just as the buck stuck his nose
down to drink, l drew bead upon his
top-knot, and over he went, whenI came
up and relieved him by cutting his
throat.


"Well, but what had that to do with
an adventure" )" they asked.


"a great deal, by Joye. For while |
was busy skinning the hind quarters of
the buck and slowing away the kidney
fat in my hunting shirt, l heard noise,
made, no doubt, by moccasin; my dog
also heard it, and started up to recon-
noitre, and lost no time in reloading
my rifle. ! had hardly got my priming
out before my dog raised how, and
broke through the brush with his tail
down, as he was not used to doing, un-
less wolves or Indians we're around. |
picked up my knife and took up my line
of march up the river. The frequent
gullies on the lower bank made it tedi-
GUS travelling there, so / scrabbled up to
the upper bank, which was pretty well
covered with trees, without much under
brush. One peep below satisfied me, for
] saw three as big rascals as you ever
clapped your eyes on. Yes, they were
not above six hundred yards in my
rear.


"Well," said an old woodsman, who
was sitting at the table, you took
tree, Of course.


Did II No, gentlemen, l took no
tree, just then; but / took to my heels
like sixty, and it was just as much as my
old dog could do to keep up with me. i
ran until the whoops of the redskins
grew fainter and fainter behind me, and,
clean out Of wind, yentured to look be-
hind me, and there came one single red
Year: 1871

Terrible Excitement-TheM Mystery


Explained.


NEW PROvIDENcE. TENN. July Ii, 1871.
Editors Tobacco Leaf:


About nine o'clock this morning our
quiet little city was thrown into a state
Of wild excitement, occasioned by the
discovery of huge reptile in the pond
lying Immediately in rear Of Trahern &
CARROTS store. Mr.. W. H. Smith, who
was engaged in prizing tobacco in the
basement room adjacent to the pond,
was attracted by an unusual noise in the
water and upon going out to ascertain
the cause, discovered the monster cir
cling around the pond with its head
some four feet above the surface of the
water and occasionally, with its tail,
throwing the water some fifteen feet in
hight, or in the language of Mr.. Smith,
" literally knocking the bottom out of
the pond"


Mr.. Smith hurried to the store, gave
the alarm, and seizing douhle-barrel
shotgun and couple. of navy pistols,
returned and fred tweve shots at the
monster, without seeming effect. The
excitement spread rapidly, and by this
time quite a regiment Of citizens had
drawn themselves up in line Of battle in
front of the enemy, and others were
fastening forward, armed with sticks,
fence rails, rocks, hay forks and ice
hooks, and in fact any kind of instru-
ment Of destruction that came to hand,
and a brisk firing was commenced and
kept up for some time. But all efforts
to extinguish the hideous reptile seemed
in vain, whilst his anger and struggles in
the water grew more violent under the
showering missiles of various kinds. The
pond was now pretty well surrounded by
the crowd, who we're careful to keep at a
respectful distance lest the monster
should at any time attempt to escape from
the water, which it finally did upon a lot
of old barrels being rolled down the hill
into the pond, and put all hands to
fight and turned the tide of battle in
the snakes favor. In the pell-mell rush
of the crowd, one little boy was knocked
Year: 1871

down and his arm broken, whilst several
others were slightly wounded. A full
view of the monster on land was fright
fnl to all alike on account of its great
size and huge extended jaws, resembling
that Of an immense alligator, which, at


first, it was thought to be. The reptile,
however, showed no fight, and directing
its course up the street leading toward
the ravine having its terminus at a
point on Cumberland river, near Trice's
Landing, and through which avenue, in
very high water, it is thought this won
derful reptile found its way to the pond
where it was first seen. As soon as
the crowd could rally themselves
they followed in pursuit, but the speed
with which the monster Travelled soon
placed him out of all view. Several
mounted horses to cut off his retreat by
near route, but after the snake had
gone some six hundred yards distant, its
strength failed and it was found lying in
a state of utter prostration. The crowd
now gathered around and gazed with
feelings of horror upon the object before
them, and whilst some proposed to cap
ture it alive, others thought it dangerous
in the event that the monster should
rally again his now wasted energies, and
according to agreement it was shot sew
enteen times, and after short struggle,
expired. oae Is4ar3 anaunB Hid


Strange as it may seem, this reptile
measured thirty-two and half feet in
length, by six feet around the body; its
head and tail being tipped with red.


The mysterious Disappearance from
time to time for the past few months of
several calves and many young pigs,
was solved upon opening this wonderful
curiosity, from whose bowels were taken,
in an almost entire state of preserva-
ton, two calves, from four to six months
old, and nine half grown hogs, besides
seventy-nine frogs and twice as many
fish of various sizes, and numerous other
articles of food peculiar to reptiles.


The skin Of this snake has been stuffed !
with saw-dust, furnished by Mr.. Burns
Patterson from his saw-mills, and it re-
quired forty-two barrels to FIJI the enor-
nous hide, which will be forwarded to
the Smithsonian Institute after having |
on exhibition here for thirty
days, where all who desire may come
and see. Mr. Smith has il now in the
basement of the above named store, and |
will take pleasure in exhibiting it to the
curious. An EYE WITNESS.
Year: 1871

DR. W. H. SMITH, for long time United States Assistant Surgeon, and for over 6 year stationed at Camp Bowie, arrived in Tucson yesterday, en route to the eastern States, and we believe to Europe The doctor is devoted to his profession, and we understand his eastern trip is made with the purpose to increase his professional ability We have heard but good words of him here, and expect to hear none other elsewhere
Year: 1871

NEW Irish potatoes at Florence are re- ported to be plenty, large. and of good quality. We hear of some weighing over a pound. It was only last year, that we heard many people say Irish potatoes would not grow on the Gila or Salt River bottom, to be of any account, but they do flourish at both places When the seasons and proper method of cultivation come to be fully understood, we are certain that nearly every species of vegetables, grains and fruits will be grown to perfection in the valleys of Arizona.
Year: 1871

CoPIoUs rains have lately mOistened this part of the Territory. Very heavy raiHs [ fell on the San Pedro, and in fact on every side. Sharp lightning and heavy peals of thunder have been frequent, and in some instances uncomfortably near at hand On Thursday night a woman and a child, in the eastern part Of the city, were struck at their door, each receiving violent but not fatal shocks. We hear that Judge Bratton got heavy shock under a tree somewhere out of town.
Year: 1871

King Victor Emmanuel on His Way to the
Holy City-His Majesty Leaves Florence
with the Cabinet Ministers.


FLORENCE, Dec. 81, 1870.
King Victor Emmanuel and the principal Ministers
of the Italian Cabinet have taken their departure
from the old capital OF the country (Florence) and
set out FOR Rome, the still more ancient but to-day
new seat OF government Of the nation.


1t was originally intended that his Majesty should
make formal entry into the Holy City on the Sun
day after New Years Day January 81, but he may
arrive there at an earlier moment. Some say tha {
the King Will journey by easy stages ana arrive In
the capital on the day originally named
Year: 1871

church. Mr.. Sabine not being yet corrupted
by the evil spirit Of sensation, 50 common
among his brethren, and not wishing to see
himself in the papers, probably concelves that
the matter at Issue belongs to himself, to his
congregation, ana, first Of all, to his bishop.
Therefore the reverend gentleman refuses to
say anything about the business, and decidedly
declines to court newspaper notoriety. The
family and friends of the deceased actsr are OF
the same opinion. Whether the clergyman
was right or wrong In refusing to bury gen.
tleman because he was an actor is question
which public opinion will settle in its own way.
Year: 1871

We give hearty greeting to the New Eng
land Reform League, aud we sincerely


hope that it will instruct us in what we
ought to do in our trades unions. But


think before they can do that they win have


to learn what trades-unions are, for certain


ly the gentleman who has just spoken must


not expect us to agree With him until be is
able to agree with himself, which be does
not appear to be able to do now. / do not
Year: 1871

CHICAGO, February 1.-The Evening
Mail this afternoon has the following


"A few nights ago a reception was
arranged for this author at the resi-.
dence Of Writ Dexter, to which num-
Der of the moneyed men with literary
tastes were invited. The entertainment
was concocted with view to install
Bret Harte as editor of the Lake Side
Monthly, at a salary OF five thousand
dollars. Bret was invited, but much TO
the surprise of the guests he failed to
put in an appearance. II afterward
trauspired that he refused to come to
time because a carriage was not sent for
him. The literary men with money IN
their pockets have concluded that a
a man who stands so much upon a
point Of California etiquette is not the
man to run monthly in this go-ahead
village, and that is why Bret Harte
does not remain in Chicago.
Year: 1871

that he then crossed tho country and came
out on the county road. on the way to
Fayetteville, where he fell in with another
colored man. by the name OF Toney De-
vare. These two journeyed on together,
when Youngblood became communicative
and told Devane of his late adventures, ac-
-knowledging, in the course of the converst-
ton, that he wns guilty Of the murder with
which he had been charged. Devane soon
made up his mind to attempt the capture
of the other, but awaited until he saw as
sistance at hand before be put it into
execution. Happening to look be hind
him he saw q gentleman named McSween
riding along in the same direction in
which they were going, when, thinking
that the proper moment had arrived, he
quickly dropped behind 1onngblood and,
throwing his arms around him, succeeded
in securing him thus until Mr.. McSween
could arrive on the spot to assist him
This was done and the prisoner was prop
elIy secured and at once taken TO Fay cite
vile and lodged in the jail there.


4 These are the facts as they have been
narrated to us, and they reflect great credit
On the coIored man, Tony DeVane, who
should be properly rewarded for tae
praise worthy manner III which he acted.
Year: 1871

Just then another breaker broke on


board and capsized the boat. Andrews
and Francis were washed away, and were


never seen afterwards. Muir was still be
low, and did not get clear until the boat


was righted, when he gave symptoms OF
insanity. Before the boat was righted by
the sea Mr.. Talbot was clinging to the
bilge of the boat. I called to him to go to
the stern of the boat, and there get up on
the bottom. While attempting to do sc
| he was washed off. when he sank. He was
heavily clothed and much exhausted. HI
made no cry, I succeeded in getting OF
to the bottom, when L stripped myself
clothing, Then a sea came and rightet
Year: 1871

A Mass OF MEAN MEN.-Look me in
the eye, if you please; look me in the
eye. John James Godfrey was the son Of
poor but honest parents in the State Of
Mississippi-boyhood friend of mine
bosom comrade in later years. Heaven
rest his noble spirit, he is gone from us
now John james Godfrey was hired By
the Hayblossom Mining Company in Cali
fornia to do some blasting for them-the
incorporated Company Of Mean Men, I"
the boys used to call it. Well, one day
he drilled hole about four feet deep and
put in an awful blast of powder, and was
standing over it rammng it down with an
iron crowbar about nine feet long. when
the cussed thing struck spark and fred
the powder, and scat! away John Godfrey
whizzed like a sky-,ocket, him aud his
crowbar! Well, sir, he lept on going up
in The air higher and higher, till he didn't
look any bigger than boy-and he kept
going on up higher and higher. till he
didn't look any bigger than doll and
he kept on going up higher and higher,
till he didn't look any bigger than little
small bee--and then he went out Of sight !
Presently he came in sight again, looking
like little bee-and he came ong down
further and further, till he looked as big
as doll again-and down further and
further, till he was as big as boy again
and further and further, till he was full
sized man once more and him and his
orowbar came whizzing down and lit
right exactly in the same old tracks and
went to r-ramming down, and r-rammine
down and r-ramming down again, just the
same as if nothing had happened! Now
don't you know that poor cuss warns
gone only sixteen minutes. and yet thai


Incorporated Company Of Mean Men dock
ed him for the lost timep aac
Year: 1871

But the feuda disposition which led to
defeat four years ago no longer exis 8. On
the contrary, there is a disposition TO freely
discuss all matters app-rtaining to the party
welfare. The leaders Of opinion. and the
Republican press are doing now what they
did all through the war debating the ques-
tons of the day among themselves. as though
independent of all party bonds oraffectinn.
And the party which does this is not likely
TO lose the favor of the people. because it can
shun the common hlunders which any party
in power j. liable to make. Those who
c unt on hurling the Republican parry down
to oblivion should st"p 10 think wat that
PARTY has done. and remember who and what
its opponents are. The great mass of the
people begin to recognize the achievements
IF the present Administration, and We be-
lieve will plainly say at the polls that the
administration Of our State should be in
political unison with that of the nation. We
shall see- West Cnast Signal.
Year: 1871

We do not insist that the Republican
party shall be kept in operation simply to,
keep one class of men in power and keep
another class of men out. 1t has in it,
doubtless, many who maintain their con-
nection with it in the hope Of getting office,
who care little for its cardinal and essen
tial principles. But the organization itself
ls based on great and good convictions ot
patriotism, Of duty to the country, its in
stituiions, and its people


The Republican party is as essential to
| the safety Of our institutions aud the main
tenancsof Justice and freedom as it eve
was. The minds OF the people are more
fully convinced of the truth fits doctrines,
and the rur!ty of its aims than they ever
were before. The sims of the ruling minds
of the Democratic party make the Repub
lcan party necessity the well-being of
the country. In the South, the old
oligarchy asserts its power. As soon as
they get control OF a State Legislature we
see them sending to the Senate their most
Objectionable and extren men Vance,
from North Carolina, and Blair. the author
of the Broadhead letter. and their repre-
sentative men-men of hot and violent
t,mper, ard Of impracticabe and exreme
views. In Ohio it is already given out
that Valandigham must be the next Sena-
tor. if that party shall get majiorty.-
Nor can it be denied that these men are
the best representation OF the general
views and feelings of the great mess of the
Democratic party. The Dtmocratic party
is hostile to the reformations and results
which our party has affected in the
past ten years. 1t is perhaps impossi-
be for them to destroy all the good that
we have affected, but they can do great
harm if they once get into power. ! hey
will rule with high hand, when the Van
ces, Blairs and Valandighams rule their
councils.


The Democratic party will leave no ef-
fort untried to secure its own supremacy
in the future, even if the negro has to be
forcibly disenfranchised, aud the Fifteenth
Amendment declared imperative. Can
We permit this retrograde movement to
take place? Never The triumph. we
have achieved we must preserve The Re-
publican party must keep the credit of the
nation unimpaired- that the war debt
is honorably paid-and all needful reforms
in our government effected. The Demo-
cratic party is not party Of reform. 1t
has no intention to rule except in the in
terest efignorance, prejudice and caste.-
| Therefore it becomes US, as party, to
heal and reconcile all existing difficulties,
and to close up our ranks for another onset
on the common foe. So long as the ene-
my is in front, there must be no dissen-
sions, no flinching, and no desertion of the
great and glorious party which has done
so much for the country and for the inter-
ests of humanity. Blade.
Year: 1871




There is every reaSun ~ believe that the
Republican party is in the majority in this
State. and it only requires concert of action
in the approaching canvass. 70 insure most
signal victory. The state was lost to the
panty four years ago, through disafrcti"n in
IT'S ranks. and not through the superior
strength Of the Democracy. No one will
undertake TO deny. that with united action
in 1867. the entire Republican ticket would
have been elected. and il is hardly reasona


bile TO suppnse that the party has lost any of
its strength, under the abominable rule Of
the Democratic party. On the cnnirary. the
evidences before US are, that the people Of
all parties are rife for change Of rulers,
and change Of State policy. II therefore
only needs that the great Republican party
act in concert. and as one man. in order 10
redeem the State in the approaching canvass
-Napa Register. -
Year: 1871

Summers attacks on the Administration
and his removal that we're to have disrupt
ed the Republican party, do not appear to
have done much harm in Connecticut.-
Henry Ward Beecher was about right
when he declared that if the removal OF
one man from committee would destroy
the Republican party, it had better be de-
stroyed at once. The Connecticut election
shows that the people care nothing for the
contest between Sumner and the Admin
istration either one way or the other.-Ap-
neal
Year: 1871

Last Sabbath (savs the Wheeling bately-
9eneer OF the 14th) man named Henry
smith, aged about seventy years, died from
exposure to cold, in Sand Hill Township


Marshall County. His history is strange and


interesting, and shows that man can live in a
state of nature as well as the beasts of the
neid. For more than twenty years he lived
In the open air, without roof to shelter him
rom the storm. He was man of weak
mind, and possessed violent and ungovern-
able temper. About thirty eight years ago,
while in grog shop in this city, he quarrell-
ed with man named Joseph Nevet, and dur
ing the affray stabbed him. The wound
proved fatal, and for the crime of murder
Smith was sentenced to the Penitentiary for
sixteen years. At the close of his term of
confinement he desired to remain in prison,
but his request was refused. For many years
he remained at the root Of a fallen tree, and
suDsisted on the provisions that were given
him by the charitable. When hungry he
greedily devoured raw meat and uncooked
vegetables. When clothing was given to him
he tore it into fragments, preferring to be
clothed in filthy rags rather than in clean and
decent apparel. He had sunk even below
the level OF the brutes. Two wears ago his
nelghbors built him comfortable hut but in a
short time he had used it for fuel After
wards he lived in an open field, without any
protection from the inclemency of the
weather. During the severe cold of
last week, he was found lying in a heap of
ashes, with feet and hands frozen. He lin
gered few days in great misery until death
kindly came to his relief and ended his suffer-
Year: 1871

IHE STOLEN PAss.-An editor in Harris


ourg lost his pass on the railroad, and re-
quested the officer of the road to secure the
arrest OF any man who should present il.
The next day he found the pass in the pocket
OF his Sunday trousers, and proceeded to take
trip upon 1t. As soon as he offered il 10
the conductor, that faithful officer knocked
him on the head with his lantern, called in
three brakemen and the baggage-master,
dragged him despite his frantic struggles,
along the floor into the baggage-car, where a
brakeman sat on, while the conductor batter
ed him up lot to keep him quiet; and they
searched him to ascertain what other thefts
he had been perpetrating. With the excep-
tlon OF ticket to the circus, that man had
upon his person absolutely nothing but rail-
road passes He had passes over all the main
roads and branch lines, and feeders and sid
lngs, in the State of Pennsylvania He had
nee tickets over all the railroads in the East
ern, Southern, Middle and Western States.
and in four of the Territories. He had a pass
over railroad from Yeddo to Yokohama.
and another from Calcutta to Bengal. He
had letter promising him one on the new
road which is proposed in Terra del Fuego,
and manuscript puff which he had written
for man who had assured him he should
have pass over the road which the man said
he was about to run under the Mediterranean
from Africa to Italy, as soon as it was built.
Inc conductor concluded that he had caught
the greatest pass kleptomaniac that the world
ever saw. But when he got back to Harris
burg the affair YVES explained. And now if
there is any one editor in the State who is
completely sick of "gentlemanly conductors"
That editor resides in the State capital
Year: 1871

Every farmer should commence to
feed his hogs by the first of September,
as it is much easier to fatten them in
warm weather, than in cold, besides
early pork mostly brings the highest
prices in market. From the present
indications pork will command as high
prices this fall us last, therefore every
farmer should use all the facilities in
his power to fatten them as soon as
possible.


The GROWTH of hogs should be made
as rapid as possible during warm
weather. 1t should be remembered by
every pork raiser, that given amount
of feed will produce larger results in
summer than in winter In winter a
large amount of vitality is expended in
resisting the cold, and therefore an
increase of feed is required just to sus-
tain the system in healthy condition.


At first feed lightly Of grain Give
them all the pumpkins, squashes and
roots they will eat If other feed is
scarce, let the farmer commence cutting
up green corn for his hogs by the first
Of August, or even earlier. 1t will bc
economy to do SO, rather than to let
them go without till it is ripe and then
feed it to them.


If you wish to fatten your pork
rapidly, do not give great quantities of