smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

THE SHAMOKLE COLLIERY EXPLOSION


BY the late explosion in the Henry Clay
Colliery, at ShamOkin, Pennsylvania, at least
ten men were killed The escape of the re-
mainder of the workmen will probably be recl-
oned by those fortunate men as their gain in the
chances which they always take in the pursuit
of their hazardous calling. The habit OF daily
facing danger makes men disregard ordinary
precautions. Even the most foOlhardy miner
would not go into a mine of which he
knows nothing with lighted candle
stuck in his hat; he would take all
the usual preventive measures, use a
safety lamp ; and, no matter how bad the state
of the mne he would come back alive and
unharmed. 1t appears that the Henry Clay
mine was always considered to be absolutely
free from danger; it was the practice of work.
men therein to use only an unprotected light.
One of the fOremen, who should have known
better, went into an unfrequented part Of the
work with candle; as was very natural, he
encountered an accumulation Of fire-damp,
which instantly exploded. There is nothing
remarkable about the matter, except that the
accident had not happened before.


A mine is place-which cannot be depended
upon, to use common phrase; it may be
perfectly safe and free Of fre-damp to-day /;
tomorrow it may be in a most dangerous
condition. During a long period of time, it
appears, this mine was not known to contain
any fre-damp; the men had probably come to
consider it useless precaution TO carry
safety lamps; and in this laxity of discipline
the cause of this and other explosions is
found. No man should be permitted to go
into mine with an exposed flame; and any
infringement of the rule should be visited
with the heaviest penalties. The miners dislike
the safety-lamp; it is to them nuisance and
bother. They would sooner risk any danger
than carry the lamp, which cannot be stuck
in the hat as q candle may be; moreover,
they know that on many occasions it Is an
unnecessary precaution. Nevertheless, the
safety of the men demands the rigid enforce
ment of this rule. Were the discipline of the
works kept up, even in the face Of what
seems to be absolute freedom from danger
these explosions, so sad in their terrifying
results, would be most exceptional occurrences.
The lack of common prudence, to say the
least, has suddenly cut short the lives of ten
stalwart men, carried mourning and dismay
into many families and given new terrOrs to
a vocation which might be made almost abso-
lutely safe.
Year: 1873




The man residing in Ohio, who offered Gov
Capt. Jack throughout the country for a
period of sixty days, certainly gave evidence of
sharp business instincts. The proposition is,
indeed, worthy of Mr.. Barnum's courageous
shrewdness. The passion for seeing sights Is
one which we inherit from our British fathers
and it was all alive In the days of Shakespeare.
Everybody will remember TrinculOs speech
over the PROSTATE Caliban: "Were l in En-
"gland nOw-as once 1 was, and had but this
" fish painted, not holiday fool there but
"would give q piece of silver; there would
/" this monster make q man. any strange
"beast there makes a man." Capt. Jack is a
public character. That he has been talked
about in the newspapers is enough to render
the public eager to see him, gratis if possible,
or for money paidifneed be. At present we have
no particular lion upon his travels. Our latest
ex-Presdent, whose presence was once sufi
cient to attract q crowd of wondering gapers,
is lost in the awful sOlitudes of Tennessee.
Our President is no longer curiosity Of
novelty. In fact, we do not remember a time
when the American public was in such a lion
less condition. Albeit somewhat of diaboG-
cal character, Capt. Jack would be an absolute
godsend. We are getting dull. We have
nobody-no singer, no orator, no warrior, no
fiddler to throw up our hats for. We need q
lion, and why not Capt. Jackf Did not the
great Black Hawk once divide popular hOnOrs
with Old Hickory himself' And is not Jack
a greater even than the Hawk q-mOre famous,
more murderous, quite as brave, and great
deal beastlierf


We are not sure, however, that everybody
will agree with us as to the justice of our last
adjective. Sentimentalists there may be who
will sigh over the fate of Capt. Jack, and
even indulge in metrical manufactures in
praise of him. We suspect this, because we
already find q newspaper called The Western
Watchman proclaiming the Captain to be the
"noblest savage that ever fought for both right
"and freedom The best way, perhaps, of
dissipating this poetical delusion would be to
let the public know, through ocular inspection,
what q mighty mean manner of man Capt
Jack is. Though heimay put on the war paint
an inch thick, and give his war whoop with
sort of sucking dove roar, we are persuaded
that even by tho most poetical of ladies he
will hardly be regarded as miracle of chiv-
alrous courtesy. Whether after showing him
up for sixty days, after all the interviews and
hand-shaking, there would be enough left of
him to hang, we shall not attempt to deter
mine. Perhaps lionizing is a more refined,
but quite as sure a method of execution as
that by hempen strangulation. If ho is to be
killed, may he not be properly killed with
kindness 7 All we ask is that the Bostonians
will promise not to invite him to dinner.


There is u caveat, 80 to speak, in the propo-
sition of the Ohio gentleman. Should Capt.
Jack commit suicide, the contract is to be rem
dered void from that time. and only proper
Year: 1873

It seems that the Mikado Of Japan is not
tho only Oriental potentate who has for
saken the ancient seclusion of his august
rank The Emperor Of China has actually shown
himself TO the vulgar world outside the Dragon
Palace. He lately paid to the tombs Of his
ancestors the annual visit which is exacted Of every
occupant Of the Imperial throne. On coming forth
from the palace, he asked where all the people
The streets according to custom, were as deserted
as those of Coventry when Lady GOdiva took her
famous horseback exercise; even the lathces and
doors were sealed with strips Of paper The Son Of
Heaven, when told that no common eye was
permitted to look upon the form Of The
Emperor of China, replied, rather irreyerently,
that he did not see why the people
should not see him. Accordingly, when he returned
from the ancestral tombs, after several days abb
sence the.Imperial show was witnessed by all who
chose TO look An English correspondent of
Shangha journal, who stood in line most Loyalty
several hours to gaze upon the person Of the Soil
tary Man, describes the Emperor as looking about
40 years of age rather than 10, be is reputed to
be. He had dissipated look, long, pointed face,
with worn expression. The Empress DOwager and
Empress Mother accompanied him, each borne in
chairs on mems shoulders. The procession was
mob of officials and spearmen and was concluded
with eighteen carts covered with yellow cloth, con-
tanning the Imperial concubines. The exhibition,
though significant was Disappointing to the foreign
spectators.
Year: 1873

1t is strange to read the report Of the speeches at
the recent Royal Literary Fund dinner recalling Of
the same time the once bitter contempt Of the
average British lord and knight for the literary
guild. Could snufiy Dr. Johnson ever have believed
that the Dean Of Westminster would publicly
acknowledge the vital obligations of the House OF
Lords to Literature And the good Richardson and
Mr. Joseph Addison-would they have trusted their
ears if told of the centurys change from ndicue OF
"beggarly writers" to the modern fear Of them
regard for them
Year: 1873

The wicked of Chicago have discovered new
swindle. An old hat which would be costly at four
shilings is packed in box and taken to the resi-
dence of some gentleman whose name is In the
directory at an hour when the gentleman Is not al
home. His wife is informed that her husband has
purchased hat has paid 81 on ii, and wishes her
to pay the remainder, which she does When the hus
band comes home at night there is trouble and some
profane language. At one house the lady, having
no money, gave an order on neighboring shop for
81 So This the sharper raised TO S4 80 took it TO
the shop, and received the money Some people
NAV think that the people of Chicago had better be
looking out for another fire.
Year: 1873

1t must be admitted that it is rather rough for q
psrson to preach directly at person in the congre-
CATION. This has happened at village near Bangor,
in Wales. The rector selected as his text " II any
man among you seem to be religious and bridleth
not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart this
mans religion is in vain.D From this text the
reverend gentleman proceeded to deliver Scathing
personal attack upon a respectable and prominent
parishioner with whom he was not well pleased.
Everybody knowing to whom the preacher alluded.
the feelings of the suffering auditor may be imagined
He made for the preacher in the porch after the
service and told him that he was an aTrant
coward" for attacking man in place where reply
was impossible; and all the parsOn did was TO
threaten to have the poor man arrested for brawng
Year: 1873

We alluded in THE TRIBUNE Of the 5th inst. 70
the trial then in progress of DR.. West at Dover DELI
for the murder Of Cooch Turner negro IN his
employ. This is the case in which the body was
fayed, cut up, and hidden in different places the
building in which the deed was done being set on
fire. We now learn that Dr. West has been acquitted
probably on the ground of insanity that plea being
act nm by his attorneys. DR.. West will be detained
for trial upon capital charge Of arson.
Year: 1873

In view of the excessive and unparalleled tringeney in
money matters and the somewhat advance of the Fall
son. we offer our large and elegant Stock Of Clothing at
greatly reduced prices Remember that these the only
goods in the city from the celebrated Manufacturers JAS
WILDE, Jr. & Go. and HENRY JOHN PARCH Such Goods
are rare being fully equal to the best Custom Made and Of
such Fabrics as are only handled by the best Merchant Tai
IOrS Of the country We cordially invite inspection
fr0m the public. - a. =. ROSE,


Il. 90 NEW IS, SQUARE.
Year: 1873

GOLD closed steady in New York
yesterday at 109al09b.


TENNESSEE BONDS were quoted in
New York yesterday at 723 for the old
and 72 for the new issue.


CoTToN was dull in the New York
market yesterday, middling selling at
l64c.
Year: 1873

A traveller from Pekin to Sibe.
ria across the great desert of Go.
bi, tells US that whenever a cam.
els feet become very tender and
sore from long marches, the poor
creatures lie down. His driver
knows at once his feet hurt him,
and he looks to see if the thick
skin of the feet is blistered.-


Whenever blister is found, two
or three strong men, usually Mon
gels, keep watch OF the camel un-
til it is not noticing them. At


just the right moment they make
"a rush altogether upon the camel,
throw it over upon its side, and
make it fast. Then with a nee
die made for that use, they sew a
square piece Of leather large E.
nough to cover the hurt place over
the camel's foot, the skin Of which
is quite thick enough to sew
hroueh3Mithout. hurting the ami
NAL. With his new shoes on, the
camel is quite ready to get up and
march on. The pieces of leather
are very carefully prepared for
this use. It sometimes happens
that a camel lies down in the
midst Of his long march across
the wide desert, and dies. The
natives take the thickest part of
the skin to make shoes Of. These
bits Of skin they take cut, day
after day, when on the march,
and pull them until they become
soft and yielding, and a camel
with bIistered feet seems grateful
to have shoes made of it, although
he would resist the shoeing to the
last were. he not held so that he
could not move
Year: 1873

Without naming any special
enterprise which may or may
not be exceptional, as far as
what we desire to state is APP
plicable to it, we would say that
tits in general a mistake to sup
pose that a publication which
is distributed gratuitously has
any peculiar advantages for the
advertiser. This point is very
often claimed for these ephem-
eral journals and the statement
frequently made that, because a
paper is free, it will be more ac-
ceptable to the reading public,
and more carefully perused.-
But it is well known to some adj
vertisers, and should be remem-
bered by ALL. that neither state
ment is apt to be correct. Peo-
pie are quicker to take what
they pay for. They are more
apt to read a paper thoroughly,
under those conditions, and
think much more Of it, while
they will put aside as worth
less, half-read or not read at
all, paper which they suppose
to be Of little value because it is
given away. Advertising which
Is given away, is thrown away.
Newspaper Reporter.
Year: 1873

To a poetical mind an incident
of q lreeent thunder storm at
Binghamton, N. Y, might sug-
gest itself as a parallel to the IA
nous tradition, "The Angel Of
the Household" We are told by a
local paper that family named
Glazer had just sat down to sup
per when one of the.womeninform-
ed them that she had PRESENT.
ment that lightning would strike
the table, and begged them to
leave the room. They had scarce
ly obeyed when the lightning
came in, smashing their supper
dishes to atoms. The family will
probably be firm believers hereaf-
ter in the theory of supernatural
forewarnings.
Year: 1873

The San Francisco Alta is re.
sponsible for the story that a Ne
vada lawyer had as a client a man
accused of murder, and that the
principal witness in his favor be-
ing his wife, who was incapacita-
ted from giving testimony by rea.
son of her relation to him, he got
the murder trialpostponed, brought
suit for divorce in her behalf and
secured it, and then triumphantly
placed her on the stand to secure
the acquittal of her husband.
Year: 1873

A Norfolk paper contains the
obituary of a gentleman in that
city, and concludes it with the fol-
lowing words: Since writing the
above we are gratifed in being
able to state that be is not yet
dead but he is very low, and not
expected to survive.
Year: 1873

An old gallant asserted that lie
never saw plain lady in bis life.
"One excepted, observed a female
acquaintance at his elbow with a
nose "tip-tilted like the petals of a
flower" "You, Madame are an an
gel that has fallen from heaven,
and had the misfortune to fall on
your nose.
Year: 1873

u Truth enters the heart Of man
when it is empty and clean and still


but when the mind is shaken with pas
sions as with a storm, you can never
hear the voice OF the charmer, charm,
he ever SO wisely. .,f..,
Year: 1873

AZ He who would pass the declin-
ing years Of his life with honor and
comfort, should when young consider
that he may one day become old, and
remember when. he is old, that he has
once been young.
Year: 1873

% We cannot see by the light of
yesterday, nor subsist on yesterday 8
food We need supplies every moment.
So long as we feel our weakness, and
lean upon an Almighty arm we are
safe, but no longer.
Year: 1873

ROYAL 1NCoAIPATIB1LITY.- A report comes


from London that the Marquis of Lorne and


the Princess IOnlse have separated on acco ant
Of incOmpatlbillty of temper-that the PTln-
cess is In religious retirement near Windsor,
and the Marquis has gone abroad No doubt
the circumstance, IL Ii prove true, VIII furnish
a theme for many jest, and the frequent air
ing of the moral that it is rs safe to be beg
gar as a lord particularly when one goes to
marry. But there is no incident of human
life more exacting upon human charity, and
more deserving all that it exacts, than that
which, like this, occasionally puts soGiety tn q
hutter and teammates all the faded gosslpS Of
the town. 1t is not that the Marquis of Iorne
and the Princess Louise alone, of al the world,
possess q secret whose solution might disarm
and blunt the edge of satire, but their
case, If really it is a case in question, is only
prominent among thousands by virtue Of their
position.
Year: 1873

Every man who feels an interest in the govern


ment and who also desires 10 see the people oc-


cupy respectable position in the estimation of


the christian world for morality and virtue must


feel deep sense of shame at the revelations


which have transpred within the last few weeks.


The exposures of the Credit Mobilier scandal


seem not to have daunted the bold men who now


I'LL the most public and responsible stations. In


the Senate Of the United States on Thursday


scene took place that shows how low is the stand


ard ofmen who seek that high position. The effort


now seems only to get into the Senate, no matter


how. If money will purchase tbs vote of leg


islhtors, that course is recognized and sustained
by corrupt party leaders. If legislature can
be secured by cheating at the polls, that is all
rightf the party is only sustained and the Office
holders are allowed to hold over But until
Thursday we had never heard Of a Senator
attempting surreptitiousy to have himself
sworn in as United Statss Senator. In former
days such au attempt would have brought
upon the gentleman making II the contempt
and hdicule Of every man who occupied a
seat in that body. But now 1t is excused and
apologized for, as though dignity and high moral
character were not expected TO be any of the |
characteristics Of the members who are Permit |
ted TO take seats in the highest Legislative body
in the republic.


To be Senator Of the United States now it is /
no longer necessary to be a man of purity of |
purpose and high mental culture Cunning and
brass, backed up BY gold and heavy Income, are
the qualities that win the position occupied and
made honorable and distinctive by such men as
Calhoun, Clay and Clayton. This is deeply to be
regretted. The people who allow such men to
occupy the elevated positions in their govern.
ment are running great risk. Those high posi-
nons should never be bestowed upon men who
are not ht examples for the youth of the country
lnue should always be prerequisite to posi-
lions oil such eminenee, and until VIC arrive at
mat conclusion again and be governed by it in
heir choice of represen tatives, no satisfactory re-
'orm need be expected at Washington.
Year: 1873

AN IMMENSE HOTEL.-The new United
States Hotel TO be erected at Saratoga it is stated
will be the largest in the world. The princinaI
nat will be five hundred feet long by fifty two
feet deep with a wing on The west end one
hundred and sixty Eve feet long. The kitchen
Will be one hundred and twenty Eve feet LONE


and The dining room two hundred and ten feet
long The main halls are to be twenty six feet
vice; and the ceilings twenty feet high. The
are 10 be on equally extensive scale The
piazzas on both sldes Of the wing and front will
be half q mile eighteen rods and two feet In
length. ''s' Al
Year: 1873

1t is recorded that. not many months
ago, there came into the villgae of North
Adams, Mass, widow from the hill
country, with the remains of her hus-
band for burial Coming to the grave,
a slight "caving in caused a delay in
properly placing the coffin in the ground.
So having shed her tears and means,
she left the remains above ground and
went to the minister's house, and was
married to new husband before the
dead body of the old one was covered
with earth
Year: 1873

ter remains a mystery.-lNasch. Union.





The letters of the murdered Mansfield
Tracy Walworth to his wife are really
remarkable productions. we harbor no
desire to treat the memory of cruelty
butchered man in manner that in any
wise savors oflevity, but it is impossible
not to laugh upon reading these blood
thirsty and highly meludramatic epistles.
They are in the true Bombastes Furioso
vein, and one more worthy the pen Of an
Ancient Pistol than that of an educated
man of the world. Blasphemy and bru-
tality emanate from every line of them,
They below for gore, revenge and retri-
button in style that would do credit
to pirate of the yellow-covered-f fiction
school. He seems to have become SO
permeated by the sentiments peculiar to
the outlaw heroes he was so fond of
drawing as to believe that their manner
of expressing themselves was the practice
of everyday life. Rinaldo Rinaldini
was fool to him, and he could have
taught Don Alphonso, the Buecaneer,
the very rudiments of the art of invec-
tive. He wanted to spatter out his wife's
brains, to disembowel his sons and to
take vengence upon the body of his dead
and buried father. We have not been
unaccustomed to this sort of blood and
thunder in high pressure romances and
demoniacal dramas, but we have never
met with them before in real life. Never
theless, we do not concede that such ev-
licences of diseased mind and an en-
ragged nature can possibly justify a son
in imbruing his hands in his fathers
blood. The outrageousiy overweight and
ridiculously absurd tone of the letters
themselves should have protected theil
unhappy writer from all consequence
of his rawlings. He had threatened tot
often to be considered dangerous; if only
through the application of the old axiom
that barking dog never bites.


/ A young and fashionably attired lady
in a Boston street-car was overheard t
say, few days ago, that on recen
visit to New York. she went to the Tomb
to see Stokes She further vouchstatet
the information, in tones loud enough t
edify all the people in the car, that
when reproved by her husband for sucl
conduct, she had informed him that sb


"would rather see Stokes than any othe
living man." There seems to be no plac
in New York more attractive to Gel
tain class of romantic young ladies thar
the "Murderers' row" In the Tombs
Even young school girls, supposed b
their parents and guardians to be deepl


engrossed in the mysteries of geometr
or the beauties of botany, manage to fin


time on their way to and from schoc
to .'calp' at the abode of thieves an
murderers and gaze through the iro
bars upon the well-clad and well-fe
forms of assassins And this sort {
morbid sentimentality is not confined t
the great metropolis. Yesterday morn
ing, Wagner, who stands convicted {
one of the most barbarous and cowardl


crimes On record. was returned to hi
cell in the Jail at Alfred, Ne. His ez
planation of the motive that led to hi
escape was that he wished to see som
d of the pretty girls with whom he firte
in court IF any sense of shame is is,
Year: 1873




A DRUNKARD's WARNING-A young
man entered the bar-room of village
tavern, and called for a drink. mo"
said the landlord, ''you have had too
much already. You have had delirium
tremens once, and [ cannot sell you any
more" He stepped aside to make room
for couple of young men who had just
entered, and the landlord waited upon
them very politely. The other had
stood by silent and sullen, and when
they had finished he walked up to the
landlord, and thus addressed him: "Six
years ago, at their age, stood where
those young men now are, / was man
with fair prospects. Now, at the age of
twenty eight. ] am wreck, body and
mind. You led me to drink. In this
room formed the habit that has been
my ruin. Now sell me few glasses
more, and your work will be done! |
shall soon be out of the way; there is
no hope for me. But they can be saw
ed; they may be men again. Do sell it
to me, and let me die. and the world
will be rid of me; but for Heaven S
sake sell no more to them !" The land
lord listened, pale and trembling. Set
ting down his decanter, he exclaimed,
"God helping me, that is the last drop
l will ever sell to any one!'' And he
kept his word.
Year: 1873

TIME SAME OLD CHAP AS EVER always on
Il Hand at his Post of Trade where Every man
Loves to Trade for Goods in his ne such as HARNESS
and Tinware Livery Stable and Groceries Vctuases
at his House, and Clipper scythes with other Eatables
and good place for travellers horses at his barn.
Irasburgh, VT 2-24
Year: 1873

We see by the Chicago papers that
PROCTOR & GAMBLE have reduced the
price Of their long established and popular
brand NOTIFIED GERMAN SOAP, its pres
ent price and superior quality makes it the
cheapest as well as the best soap for CON
sumers. 6-23dSm
Year: 1873

Reader, the merchant, druggist and gro
Ger where you usually trade, keeps Renne =
Pain Killing Magic Oil for sale. If they
are out they will get anew supply at your
request, but be sure and call for it by the
full name, and take nothing else in its
stead. 1T works like a charm"