smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

A writer in a Californian newspaper
says: About half 4 mile over y mountain
from Bartlett Springs there is what is
called the Gas Spring. This is probably
the greatest curiosity OF the mountains
The water is ice-cold, but bubbling and
foaming as if it boiled, and the greatest
wonder is the inevitable destruction Of life
produced by inhalins the gas. No live
thing is to be found within a circuit of
one hundred yards of the spring. The
very birds, if they happen to fly over it,
drop dead. We experimental with lizard
on its destructive properties by holding it
a:.few feet above the water; it stretched
dead in two minutes. 1t will kill human
being in twenty minutes. We stood over
it about FIVE minutes, when dull, heavy,
aching sensation crept over us. and our
eyes began to swim. The gas which cs-
capes here is the rankest kind Of carbonic.
hence its sure destruction of life also
of quenching Of fame instantaneously.
Year: 1875

On the wedding day the bride and bride.
groom are brought from opposite ends of
the village to the spot where the ceremony
is to be performed. They are made t2 sit
on two bars of iron, that blessings as last
ing. and health as vigorous, may attend
the pair. A cigar and betul leaf, pre-
pared with the areca nut, are nex5 put in
to the hands of the bride and bridegroom.
One of the priests then waves two fowls over
the heads of the couple. and IN long ad
dress TO the Supreme Being calls down
blessings upon the pair. and implorcs that
peace and happiness may attend the union.
After the heads Of the aiIianoed have been
knocked against each other three or four
times, the bridegroom puts the prepared
leaf and cigar into the mouth of the bride.
while she does the same to him, whom she
thus acknowledges as her husband.
Year: 1875

A SPLENDID GENTLEMAN'S RESIDENCE AND
y first class Farm situated at Hicksve Long Island for
$4,000 worth double the amount only - DJ cash For
particulars inquire Of owner CORBETT Van Dyke House
- Bowery
Year: 1875

A war between China and Japan was aver
ted by the evacuation in December of the
Island Of Formosa by the Japanese troops
The war Of the Dutch in Acheen dragged its
weary length along, and at the last dates was
still undecided. In Central Asia, the Russians
and English intrigued, and Yacoob put down
an insurrectiou raised against him by his own
son.
Year: 1875

The Times brings several Daniels" to
judgment on the accuracy Of reporting the
late yacht race at the new lake end, quot
ing from the REPUBLICAN and Picayune,
and then repeating its own statement of
the time made to disprove both. It is only
question Of timo with the Times. and We
are wiling il should be pat down at one
hour and thirty y-eight minutes or three
hours and !Ortytwo minutes, according
TO the powers Of endurance exhibited BY
tho wind. Persona witnessing sailing
race over fifteen mile course always wish


for the time made 70 be as short az possible


for after watching the boats for an


hous or two the thing becomes mono
tonous. AS regards our report OF the
race. which was only mere mention. with
results. a. . matter Oe news. it il we'll
known that the gentleman who was to re.
returning from the race. Left without any
data the Bulletin and Picoyune both fur


nished US proof e!ips Of the work Of their
reporters. 1t was an appreciated kindness
rendered at an Cpportune moment. The
data given US may have been erroneous,
based upon the slip of reporters pencil;
we are quite as grateful. fos q favor was
intended and done for Us. We shall be
pleased 20 learn from the judges that the
Wo.es gave correct information regarding
the time made in the sailing race


the public can then Judge somewhat
OF the strength of the wind when the
boats we're in the contest. The reports
were all published at the same time: no one
has questioned the truth OF the Times,
and yet as if correc. statemen. in its col
umns was remarkable occurrence, i, calls
the attention OF the public 20 the perform
ancc. The exhibitor Of Blind Tom used TO
say. "You will observe, ladies and gentle
men, that Tom applsuds his own perform
ance. Being vain of applause is one of the
pecuiiarities of his weak mind It is
good trait in paper to be accurate in
making statements. and the public appre-
ciates it. even if the subject under discus.
sion be nothing more than goose race o:
dog fight. Let the public reward such an
organ: hut when paper is seen praising
itself. the grinning satisfaction and self-ap-
plause of Blind Tom readily suggested it
self to the train boys who take the journal.
Year: 1875

Some of the officers of the Department of

 Arizona have taken exceptions to our com

 ments on the relative honesty of civil and

 military officers, and have gone so far as to

 construe them to mean something very differ

 ent from what was intended. What we have

 said is, that the fact of mans being either

 m or out of the army is no evidence of his

 honesty or dishonesty; that a civilian is just

 as liable, and no more so, as a soldier to be a

 thief or an honest man, and we here add

 that the circumstance of graduation from

 West Point, Yale or Berkeley is no guaran-

 tee against, nor argument in favor of, mans

 dishonesty. We believe ;here are honest

 men holding office both in and out of the

 Army, and the evidences are not wanting to

 prove the converse of this proposition. It is urged that Army regulations will not al- low dishonest military official to retain his position for any length of time, which is no doubt true when the facts of dishonesty are proven, but investigations are not constantly | being made at every place at once by inspec- | tors in the Army, any more than in the civil [ service, and if the frequent removals from office in the latter are any indication it may

 be fairly inferred that they too occasionally dismiss an officer for dishonesty.

 We are led to make these remarks partly in reply to an officer, whom we hold in the highest esteem, who, a few days since in- formed us that he and others regarded the course Of the MINER as calculated to cast an imputation of dishonesty on all officers of the army. Now, with due difference to his and his brother officers opinions, we submit that we have neither said nor intimated any, thing that could by any fair construction be tortured into any such meaning. On the contrary, We have repeatedly said. and now ieiterate, not only our own belief, but that oi the entire community in which we i've that more honorable, efficient and agreeable fl gentlemen we never met than the officers at e Headquarters and Fort Whipple, and the c same may be said of those whom We have D met from other posts in the Department. and O in the matter of their honesty it has never e been questioned, nor do we believe there are Inc slightest grounds for suspicion. l. is re not our purpose as a journalist to attack. [" olacAen and pull down character. Many V mans hard earned reputation is his entire b' tock in trade, the only valuable accumuIa- lon Of life time. and . newspaper that can of 'e prostituted to the base purpose of cor ri' nptly or carlessly dcspoiling him of his sa 'ood name, is nb better than a thief who 2U obs another of his property. Our purpose wi ' to build up and not pull down. ca
Year: 1875

The Fathers of the Republic expressly coy

 enanted, Tn forming its organic law, that ev-

 cry rnan and woman in the United Stqtes

 should be allowed to worship God according

 to the dictates of each individual conscience

 stipulating only that in so doing they should

 not infringe ufon the rights of others. This

 doctrine we have earnestly endeavored to in-

 cucate through the MINER, and to that end

 have labored to keep the Public Schools free

 from Sectarian influences. With those who

 with the Pope of Rome, believe and declare

 that our torefathers were in error in nrov,-

 ding for the excercise of religious Gbertv

 and that the right to worship God accordinp

 10 ones own conscience is simply right to

 go headlong to hell and a right from the ex-

 ercise of which the people should be re-

 stra'ned We disagree, but if they sincerely

 believe they are worshiping God acceptably

 by their opposition to the American idea of free secular education and in their endeayor to establish an order of things where in the State shali be subservient to the Church in temporal as well as spiritual affairs. We can not blame them therefore we have no fanlt to find with the motive which influences our late representative W. J. ONeil in with | drawing his patronage from us on the ground | as he states it, that we have too much to say about Church and State. The Hon. gen. | teman did wise thing in stopping the pa- per It the advocacy of free Public Schools untrameled by Seetarian influences. grates harshly upon his ear. Had he continued to take It he would have found no crumb of comfort in future more than in the past in his desire for the establishment of religions instead of secular free schools. Those who believe in the jesuitical doctrine that "tbe end )ustities the mesnsn that is that no matter what means you employ. so that an end is achieved more desirable than the means are ought to employ any and all means to attain so great an end as the say. ng of their souls. Therefore We say that while We should oppose them on the ground 'f unbelief in the truth of their doctrine | we should not blame them or imnnon heir motives. ,

 We believe in the free exercise of ,he fight to worship but would of course dis. l ent to the use of means, even for the attain ! nent of good ends, whenever those means ( ontravene the rights of others who have an . qual right to worship in their own WAY. a Ne admire rather than censure the Honor. V le gentleman for having the manliness 10 i VOW his reasons for stepping the paper. T
Year: 1875

TIE dispatches received this morning are up to the 27th and give graphic descrip- ton of the fire in Virginia City confirming those already in type and placing the dam age at from three to four millions.

 Two perons were killed during the fire.

 It originated in house of i'll fame from candle left burning.

 Greenbacks in San Francisco e6I and S14
Year: 1875

For ten years past the United States
by President Grant and the Radical
party have undertaken to manage the
State of Louisiana and the city of New
Orleans. The results of this undertake
ing are the presence in the Gubernator-
ial chair of an adventurer who has no
lawful claim to fill it, and the avowal by
New Orleans of her inability to protect
her financial honor. This is the record
of burning shame mo lie by centraliza-
ton and by Radicali m. Let the coun-
try thank God, then, and rejoice that the
citizens of Louisiana are at last in fair
way to make their own record in their
own way. Worse than the record made
for them by Federal usurpation and by
partisan violence it cannot possibly be,
and we at last rejoice to believe that
"Home Rule" made possible at last to
Louisiana, by the indescribable disasters
and disgrace of its enemies and its assas-
sins, will ere long vindicate itself in the
eyes of the whole country by such new
blsssoming of freedom, order and pres
perity throughout the mighty delta of
the Mississippi, as the NEST sanguine Of
us all hardly dared, one short twelve
month ago, 40 much as to dream of!
Year: 1875

TIE proposed new constitution of
North Carolina puts squarely before


the people the entire religious legsla-


ton that the "God ir the Constitu-
tion' party seek to accomplish, mas
much as it declares that "No, person


who shall deny the being of God, or
the truth of the Christian religion, or
the divine authority of the OLD or
New Testament, or shall hold reli-
gious principles Incompatible with the
freedom or safety of the State, shall
be capable of holding any office or
place Of trust or profit in the civil de-
partment within this State.'' This
Outcropping in Carolina is only an in
dication of the issues that are to be
met over all this country, sooner OF
later. The bigots are not satisfied
with full religious liberty, but desire
Christian Constitution, and when
this is secured will ask Protestant
organic law. Laying aside all consid.
erations of the results to spring from
recognition Of Supreme Being by
the Constitution, or an endorsement
of Jesus Christ in the Fundamental


law of the land, if such could be se
Year: 1875

This years experience has taught
the fruit growers of California that to
market their crops profitably they
must be put up in some shape SO as to
bear transportation, that is, they must
be preserved or dried. The produc-
tion was small owing to the late frosts
yet the San Francisco market was
glutted, and the range of prices very
low. The shipments to the States al
so turned out badly. About one hun
dred car loads principally pears were
sent East, but paid no freight, and
most of them netted a considerable
loss. 1t is now generally admitted
that even with the present area in
orchards full crop will so reduce
prices as to render fruit growing
wholly Improbable. The fruit grow
ers are therefore earnestly consider
ing the question of canning their
crops. According to the best authori-
ties there is practically no limit to the
market for preserved or dried fruit, if
the packages be Of uniform size, and
the proper care be taken to make a
good article. If the price Of preserved
and dried fruit can be reduced so as to
bring them within the reach of the
middle classes, there will be no diff
Guilty in disposing of all the State can
ever grow. Under the auspices of the
State Grange the fruit growers are
preparing G general rules and regula-
tions for the guidance of the business,
and hope to secure such cooperation
as will ensure the success of their eff
forts.
Year: 1875

The increased production of Irish po-
tatoes in Los Angeles has reduced the
price nearer to the rates obta ined in
the West. We believe the lowest
price reached this year is three quar-
ters of a cent per pound. There is
money in this cultivation when half a
cent per pound can be obtained, as the
yield is so large in this section. 1t is
not likely therefore that the decline
in prices this Summer will in the least
check the cultivation. On the contra
ry the area put under cultivation next
Spring will probably double that of
this year It is likely therefore that
there will henceforth be an opening
for new branch of business, the man
ufacture of starch, in this county. The
process of extracting the starch from
this vegetable is extremely simple.
The potato contains twenty per cent
of pure starch, held in simple solution
and combinedw but little foreign
element. The process of manufacture
therefore consists simply OF mechan.
ical separation of the starch. The po-
tato is ground into pulp, and the starch
simply washed out of this by q stream
of water. The wash is allowed to set
tie in tank whence the deposit is ta-
ken, and after being strained, to re.
move dirt and sand, is exposed on
floor to dry, when the process is COM
plete. The requirements therefore for
a satisfactory site isconfined to a small
stream of water with sufficient fall
to drive the scrapers. Such a stream
is now available in a good locality.
The ditch which is being taken out of
the Santa Ana river where il passes
through the Santa Ana mountains
for the purpose of irrigation around
Anaheim, has fall of eighty feet, af-
fording abundant power for a large
factory and a plentiful supply of wa
ter. Starch commands high prices on
the Pacific coast, and there is ready
home market for all that can he pro-
duced. The residue after extraction
of the starch is not wasted, but is util-
lied for fattening hogs or feeding
stock of any description. There is al
so another product which can be man.
ufactured from the starch if found ad-
visable-starch syrup, or grape sugar.
A very large proportion of the syrup
and what is denominated by grocers
as molasses, consumed in the United
States is manufactured from the Irish
potato. This ''golden syrup" as it is
called, sells at remunerative prices in
California. We can then safely claim
that there is fine opening in Los An
geles for capitalists to engage in the
manufacture of starch and starch syr-
Year: 1875

In this mornings HERALD we pub
lish q thoughtful article on that vexed
questionable circulating medium of
the country-in which the writer
takes position in favor Of middle
course between the advocates of re-
turn to hard money ami the imitation
lists. The arguments advanced are
logical and plausible, but the writer
is lame in one Essential particular.
He would adopt medium course be-
tween the two extremes but he does
not inform us toward which side his
policy would eventually grayitate. If
he would as rapidly as possible con-
sistent with the interests of the coun-
try reach a specie basis, he endorses
the platform of the New York Democ-
racy which In our opinion is an en-
bodiment of the sentiments of nine
tenths of the people. If however he
wouldyield to the theory of the adj
ministration apologists that contin-
ued issue of paper money is necessary
to our fnture prosperity, he is in ac-
cord with the platform of the Ohio
Democrats and is an infiationist with
an "if'' which "if'' is easily removed
by the pressure of those who would
have the people believe that ten paper
dollars with 10 market values of one
silver dollar are worth more for CON-
mercial purposes than that silver dol
lur. The financial problem is one
difficult to solve. 1t is clear we shall
lose if we initiate and it is equally clear
that the shrinkage in trade and prop
erty will be great if we contract too
rapidly. The question is by which
method we shall lose the least.
Year: 1875

cured, all sensible men will oppose
the mixture Of politics and religion,
and shun tho discussion which such
an issue would Inevitably engender.
Regret as We may the spread of athe-
ism in the United States, it is not to
be put down in the political arena,
since any attempt to legislate on re-
ligious subjects must necessarily lead
TO embittering the various Christian
sects against each other. The strug-
gle to obtain religious provision in
the Constitution would lead to divis-
ion among Christians that would sure
ly threaten the very existence of the
church itself.
Year: 1875

New YORK, October 9th.-The assay
office in Wall street yesterday sent to
Philadelphia for coinage ten tons of
silver. It is understood that this ship
ment is intended for the SUBSIDIARY
coinage, for conversion into halves,
quarters, twenty and ten cent pieces.
Year: 1875

PHYSICIAN PROTECTS HIS HOME FROM MID


NIGHT RoBBERs-A BURGLAR PROBABLY


FATALLY WOUNDED


Between one and two O'Clock yesterday morning. Dr.
William A. Hammond ex-surgeon General of the
United States Army, residing at No 43 West Fifty
fourth street, awakened by the loud ringing of
burglar alarm bell connected by wires with all the
doors and windows Of his house. Hastily arising the
Doctor seized large barrccd pistol placed
himself upon the defensive. From the window of his
chamber situated on the second>oor he could discern
the forms of three men making preparations to enter
his Office tho floor below, one of the
windows of which was partially raised The
office is situated in the OF the house
while the Doctors bedroom in the front the corner
and commands full view of the side windows of his
Office. Satisfied, beyonda doubt, that the were
burglars Dr. Hammond evelled his pistol and sent n
bullet into their midst. A shrek from one Of the
burglars gave evidence that he had been hit The Doc
tor one OF the men stumble His companions
hastily picked him up and prepared to flee. Two
shots from the physicians pistol had followed the first
before his whereabouts discovered by the robbers
One Of the burglars then exclaimed, "Thats your game
isl damn you!' and fired at the head OF the Doctor
The ball just grazed his left temple, slightly scrapng
the SKIN, and lodging in the wall behind The burglars
then retreatcd in haste carrying their wounded
rade Dr. Hammond sent the last bullet of his weapon
in pursuit OF


THE RErREArING scouNDRELs


The entire affair did not last more than half min
ute, and, within two minutes of the firing of tho first
shot two patrolmen of the Nineteenth precinct who
had hcarddhe shooting, at DIR. Hammonds house.
The burglars, however, had succeeded in making good
their escape. An investigation revealed handkerchief
lying in the yard, near the window, saturated with
blood, which DIR. Hammond pronounced, scrutiny,
to be lung blood 1t would therefore appear that
least of the midnight ntruders had received
probably fatal wound. Blood also found the
fence the rear of the house. which the burglars
climbed in making their escape.


DIR. Hammond does not think that he could identify
of the the darkness prevented him getting
good view of them. He supposes that the burglars
had planned the 'job' beforehand his family
in the country and he had returned unexpectedly Had
they succeeded in getting into the house undecced they
would probably have carried away considerable guam
tity of silver.


The police have yet made arrests.
Year: 1875

Two hundred barrels OF the new crop Of Louisiana
rice arrived here by the steamer cortes yesterday


Mad dogs were shot by the police yesterday at No 81
Washington and at 10th street and Washington





The investigation to discover what was the cause OF
the recent collision in the Bay between the steamer
Northdeld and Twilight will be begun to-day


lPlans for twenty-five new buildings were submitted to
and approved by the Department ofBuildngs last week
The OF the edidces Is 10 aggregate s2'3oOo


Enormous quantities Of peaches have arrived in this
city within the last few days Yesterday lO4 car loads
reached here The fruit is fine quality. and sells from
so 81 basket, and from 81 TO 81 per crate


As Charles Judge aged six years, living at No 3l9
West Seventeenth street. jumped the steps Of an ice
cart yesterday morning he accidentally struck In
the eye by the point OF pair of ice ongs His wound
is considered serious.


William German youth twelve years ofage, was
rnn and Irghtully mutilaed yesterday by Engine
No. Al of the Hudson River Railroad, Fiftieth
street and Eleventh avenue The boy endeav0rlmg
to jump from the tender to the engine
Year: 1875

COX WAVES EXAMINATION AND BAIL FOR HIS


RELEASE Is FIXED.


The case of John p. Cox, who, the evening of
August Is, attempted to assassnate Alderman Daniel
o'Conncll, of the Ninth ward, Brooklyn up for
examination yesterday The alleged provocation for
the assault that the Alderman had been guilty
of improper familiarity with the sster-in-aw of
the accused, Miss Mary Mullen The court room was
crowded by politicians who expected be entertained
by recital of details of interesting and gosspy char
acter They were doomed to disappointment however.
The defence waived examination and the prosecution
did not press their right to introduce testimony.


In the voluntary examination the prisoner said he
lived at the corner of Van Burcn street aud Classon
avenue, is native of Ireland thrty-two years age
and bricklaycr by trade. The plaintiff through his
counsel then asked that Cox be bound keep the
peace he had threatened to take the life Of Alderman
O'Conncl on sight as he obtained release from
jail. He asked for warrant TO rcarrcst the
accused on this charge The prisoner was required by
the Court TO furnish bail In the sum OF 81, 500. Tho
trial will take place in the Court Of sessions before
Judge Moore during the September term
Year: 1875

II expected that the OF the murderous as
sault and highway robbery Borden avenue Long
Island City, which occurred early Sunday morning,
would up for examination before Recorder Parks
yesterday but IL deferred in order to give the police
Offender, aud in the hope that the wounded man,
Ventura Ortiz might be able To appear and identify tho
four men already IN custody on suspicion of bchg inn
pllcatcd in the affair The counsel OF these men,
Mcssrs Noble and kingelman, propose this morning
sue out writ OF habeas corpus and go before tho
Court demanding their release, the ground that
there is no proof against them, and that they being
held contrary to law. Meantime Ortlz remains in a
precarious condition on board his vessel