smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

said he would burn him until he would
work; he has whipped me very hard, and
has said he would punish me till could
not sit up; have q mark on my arm
where he struck me last. December with
horsewhip; it cut through the flesh and
was sore two weeks; have seen him
strike mother with his fist and blacken
her face; saw him strike her a
number Of times; don't know how many;
mother told me always to do what father
liked, and we always tried; he whipped
brother number of times with the butt
end of horsewhip on the head he
knocked him down three or four times
the flesh from his back and feet stuck to
the stove; he whipped him afterward;
never saw my brother since he went into
the bedroom; did tell a lady that !
never expected to see my brother again;
that he had not run away, because he
could not; was not going to tell, be-
cause father had whipped me very hard,
and / was afraid Of him; mother was GO
ing to leave one time; do not know
what the trouble was; she shows marks
where father whipped her; he took
brother in his arms and put him on the
stove and held him there two or three
minutes.


The jury on these facts brought in a
verdict that Martin Mera, sr, had feloni-
ously, Intentionally, and with malice
aforethought, murdered his son, Martin
Mera, jr., on the 18th day of June, and
committed him to appear at the Circuit
Court on Wednesday, the 9th.


The excitement grew until on yester-
day morning, when q body of men,
headed by DR.. B. j. Daniels, Of Gilman,
proceeded to Watseka, hurst open the
Jail, disarmed the sheriff, took Mera to
a grove outside the city, and hung him TO
tree until he was dead. The mob was
orderly and quiet, and consisted OF
about one thousand people. A few min
utes before being hung Mera called
upon the Masons to help him. AS none
came forward, he said bitterly: u for
swear all Masons." He then called
upon the Catholics. A voice said:
"Call on God alone; no one else can
help you" He then said: May the
Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on my
soul, and the Holy Virgin pray for me.
A rope was swung over branch, and
one end tied to Meras neck. He was
then placed in q wagon, and when the
rope was adjusted the wagon was driven
from under him. He struggled terribly
for few minutes, and then settled
down, and soon it was all over. Thus
ended one of the most horrible affairs
that has ever transpired in this State.
Year: 1871

On Wednesday morning / got up and
got breakfast ready; father rose when
breakfast was ready; brother got up, but
felt so badly that he went TO bed again;
father made him get up and 90 out and
feed the stock, and when he came back
father whipped him and sent him TO the
field; he went for him and brought him
in; made him take off his clothing, and
then commenced whipping him; he then
picked him up and laid him on the stove;


the stove was hot enough to heat an iron; l
was baking biscuit; father put him on
the stove twice-brother pleading all the
while, Father, don't burn mel don't
burn mel He screamed very loud, and
the skin stuck TO the stove; his skin
came of from his back and his feet, and
it stuck to the stove; il smeiied so /
opened the door and father Immediately
shut it; while brother was pleading father
Year: 1871

CHARGED WITH HoRRIB LIE CRIME.-Jos
Basney was arrested ut an early hour yes
terday morning charged with attempting
to commit a most horrible outrage on the
person of young married lady of the
highest responsibility, living in the middle
police district in this city. The negro had
been recently employed by the husband Of
the lady. and during his absence attempted
the outrage which, with the circumstances
attending, is the most horrible crime of the
kind that has been recorded in this paper
for some time past. AS soon rs her screams
were heard assistance came to her relief,
and in a short time afterwards the scoun-
drel was arrested by Sergeant Hall. of the
police force, and locked up in the Second
tial hearing before Justice Royster, who
continued the case until the 10Th.
Year: 1871

IMPORTANT TO NoLuNTEERs.-It was ru
mored yesterday that in view of the threat
ened attempt on the part of the negroes to
prevent the execution of the Friend muir
tlerers in Petersburg on the 2Slh instant,
the Governor had decided to send two COM
panies OF State troopS--those now armed
to our sister city on that occasion.
Year: 1871

ATTEMPTED RoBBERY.-An attempt was
made on Tuesday night by thieves to get
into the residence of Mr.. Charles Gassman,
on the corner OF Main and Pine streets. The
gate at the end Of the back yard was broken
open, but the thieves were frightened OIL
before anything was stolen.
Year: 1871

end the standard OF their political influence. The
motto for the coming ages VIII be 'The voice Of
''Vox pODuli, rOI Det'' VIII become q reality. In
matters Of government the Semitic and the Arian
arc now beginning to prove that instead OF man
being made for government government must be
made for man. In this regard


OUR OWN NATION


has produced a more intelligent population than
any other on the face OF the globe Ihis is proved
by the fact that proportional amount OF lcrime
committed here by the natives OF this country is
vastly less than that perpetrated by persons brought
up under the blighting systems OF European mon-
archs, sach as Victoria and Wilhelm. This is true
Of either individual crimlnaty or OF outrages CON-
mitted by masses such as the Orange riots. Liberty
Is natures organic law, and people ever be
great unless they live, move and have their
ave s ne a
Natures s% sSse'nSns France has asS
successful The champions OF liberty In that
country only demanded that the community should
in New York cannot be supposed to be so inter:
ested In The local concerns OF Constantinope or OF


y s as DC sGe an in
questions that may locally belong 10 the other parts
OF the earth than that In which ne resides FOR the
general cosmopolitan government, ana to further
this object we must nave one universal language.
How can we have such languageY Can II be made
to order2


SCHOLARS NEVER MADE A LANGrAGR.T
II has always been the result OF spontaneous &C.
tion and natural selection, like Darwin's theory OF
The origin of man himself. All our systems OF gov
ernment nave proved failures, and even our own
democratic system VIII require q great deal OF tin
kering before 1t can come up to the mark. Look at
the way we make our Judges for instance. The
engineers VINO run on our railroads and The men in
every other sphere OF life VINO have similar duties
10 perform are chosen in a practical, common
way, by men who are most competent to decide
upOn their fitness. All judges should receive their
appointment from the Governor OF the state. Then
we would have judges ABOVE the level OF


PARTY POLITICS AND POPULAR PREJUDICEs.
According to the Communist system the world at
large will be the rich of the future; the Cresus
Of the day will be the community.


Here the half hour for the opening address eX-
pired and the Doctor subsided. He was followed by
several other speakers, who were allowed ten
minutes each and compelled to speak to the subject
of the opening address. The opinions then ex.
pressed were highly novel and caDdre to the multi
tude. A.. MIR. Walter Hyde concluded a serle, of
right; whatever is ID wrong. Order Is Heavens
first law disorder is Heavens second law.n This
was satirically applauded.
Year: 1871

Mr.. VIM. H. H. Peal the Custom house clerk,
living at 224 Hudson street, who shot himself in the
left side Friday evening" is still in Centre street
Hospital IN sinking condition, with scarcely hope
OF his recovery. Coroner Young, being an old and
intimate friend Of Mr.. Pea, yesterday visited HIM
In the hospital but he had no statement Whatever to
maze In regard to his suicidal attempt. Previous to
the commission OF the act Mr.. Peall wrote and ad.
dressed private letter to Coroner Young In regard
to his temporal AFFAIRS and the interview between
them yesterday related wholly to private matters.
which was deemed necessary IN anticipation of his
speedy dissolution. Two accomplished daughters Of
Mr. Peall are In constant attendance upon him.
Year: 1871

We don't remember to have seen any
thing so well taken off and at the same
time SO facetiously as our present system
of civil service in the following paragraph
clipped from a prominent New York
paper:


"The great work of reforming the civil
service, which the President recommend
ed Congress to undertake, and which Con
press in It's turn authorized him to under
take, has Just been pushed on by the
sudden removal of Mf. Moses Grinuel
Year: 1871

PITTsoN, August l5.-When the mine
was closed last night stream Of water
was turned into the mouth Of the shaft,
for the purpose Of creating a current Of
air. In few minutes air was obtained,
so that they were enabled to work with
safety to themselves during the task Of
searching for the twelve remaining bod
les. By arranging door in the passage
way a current OF air was soon obtained
throughout the entire mine and the
work of exhuming the remaining bodies
of the victims proceeded more rapidly
than before, and in a short time their
bodies were discovered and brought to
the foot Of the shaft.


The signal to hoist was given, and
they were drawn out out dead. Another
set of volunteers under the direction OF
Mine Inspector Blewell, then descend
ed, and after diligent search OF an hour
and a-half returned at 3 o'clock with
the body OF Michael Managan, the
driver, but could not find the remaining
three. Soon after another corps Of vol
unteers went down, and about o'clock
the rest were recovered dead, the whole
seventeen having perished. The disas-
ter, though not at first considered so
alarming as the East Pittston
disaster, has been in the number
of deaths as great. 1t is claimed by
some that no explosion took place, and
the tall of rocks which buried the VIC
TINS was caused by not having suf-
ficient pillars, or from not having taken
the necessary precaution to erect props
and brace works to support the roof,
but upon examination Of the bodies
there can be doubt that several, if not
all the men, were instantly killed by
the force Of the explosion, and that an
explosion did take place, as several OF
the bodies are so severely burned as to
scarcely recognizable. a variety OF
opinions are entertained as to the cause
OF the disaster, but the cause must ever
remain a mystery, as not one at work
in that portion OF the mine where the
explosion took place survived 10 give
any information.


Inspector Patrick Blewell is deter,
mined to have thorough investigation
and corps of experienced miners have
been secured to explore the mine thor,
oughly before the inquest is held.


Coroner O'Malley today impannelled
jury, who, after reviewing the bodies,
adjourned until Friday morning at ten
o'clock, in order to give time to have
the mine explored before taking any
testimony. Until then the cause of the
calamity can only be conjectured.


The bodies will be buried in the Odd
Fellows cemetery, tomorrow afternoon,
at which place the funeral services will
be held. The Odd Fellows and several
other civil societies will participate in
the exercises of the occasion.
Year: 1871

As the regular rotation in Eastern
farming consists OF clover, corn, oats.
wheat, or rye, it is worth while TO con-
slider if oats are really the non-exhaust-
ing crop they ARE claimed to be. In
the ash OF oat straw there is over fifteen
per cent Of potash, while the percentage
Of phosphoric acid is very light Oats
cannot therefore be considered as non
exhausting crop, as this is a large
amount of potash to carry of, and pot
ash is substance that We find difficult
to replace. As oats, therefore, seem to
withdraw principally this alkali from
the soil, either lime or ashes is indicated
"a a manure suitable for this crop. and
in practice these are found beneficial
Lime in It's action on soils is known "a
Iiberate and render soluble the potash
contained in them, and hence Its favor
bic effects as q fertilizer.
Year: 1871

We understand that Northern firm
mas recently leased large grazing farm
in Powhatan county, Va, about twelve
or fifteen miles from Richmond, and is
stocking goats, which they intend
raising exclusively. They have already
sent up one or two hundred OF these
animals, and propose to put between
fifteen and eighteen thousand on the
farm as soon as they can get them.
The main profit in this business is the
kid skin, which sell very high in
Northern markets.
Year: 1871

SUSPENSION BRIDGE, August l5.-Yes-
terday the bodies OF two men were dis
covered in the whirlpool, and one Of
them was recovered. They are sup
nosed to have been the persons recently
carried over the falls in boat
Year: 1871

As the moons axis is nearly per-
pendicular to the plane of the ecliptic,
she can scarcely have any change of
seasons. But, what is still more re-
markabie, one half of the moon has
half has two weeks of light and two
of darkness, alternatively {: the in
habitants, if any, of the first half,
back constantly in earthshine, with
out seeing the sun, whilst those of
the second never see the earth at all.
For the earth reflects the light of the
sun to the moon in the same manner
as the moon does to the earth there
fore at the time Of conjunction, or
new moon, her further side must be
enlightened by the sun and the near
CT half by the earth and at the Oppo-
sition or full moon, one half Of her
will be enlightened by the sun, but
the other half will be in total dark
ness. To the lunarians the earth
seems the largest orb in the universe /;
for it appears to them more than
three times the size of the sun, and
thirteen times greater than the moon
does to us-exhibiting similar phases
to herself, but in q reverse order for
when the moon is full, the earth is
invisible to them, and when themO
is new, they will see the earth full.
The face of the moon appears to US
permanent, but to them the earth
presents very different appearances,
the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, in
the course of every twenty-fouI
hours, successfully rivet their atten-
ton. The moon being the fiftieth
part of the bulk of our globe, and
within 23S,O00 miles of us, may be
brought with proper telescope
which magniiles LOGO times, to ap-
pear as she would to the naked eye
were she only $50 miles off.
Year: 1871

Mr.. Edward Carlisle, OF II Park row, was stand
ing yesterda afternoon, with three friends in front
OF the Stevens House. Fear the Staten Island Terry.
Suddenly


QUICK THUD WAS HEARD,
and all eyes were turned In the direction from
which the sound came. Some minutes elapsed. and
no news arrived of the cause OF the mysterious
sound. In few minutes a man. accompanied by q
woman, rush ed out OF the gate of the rhrry house.
At first il seemed as though he labOring only
under excitement but before running far ne ex-
claimed,


"OH, MY GOD, SAVE MEr'


He fell down, and group gathered round him.
It then became known that he was frightfully
scalded and was suffering intense agony. He had
been picked up out OF the water, and in the mad
ness OF pain had rushed through the gates Of the
ferry house into the street. lie was taken
to the hospital, but died before arriving
there 1t is not known whether or
not the woman who rushed out with the poor fellow
referred to was acquainted with him. She had
hardly got outside the gate or the ferry house when
she fell 10 the ground. Her arms and legs were
frghtfuly burned so much so that 1t was necessary
to hold the flesh 70 prevent 1t from falling of. The
poor creature died on the way to the no spital


HEARTRENDING SCENE.


father had gone down to the ferryboat with
four Of his children TO proceed to Staten Island.
He, with two children, stayed for few moments
outside the ferryDoat station to buy some apples.
The other two children had gone on board. Sud-
denly the lrlgntful explosion took place.


HUNDREDS OF HUMAN BODIES
were nung into the air. Shrieks OF agony re-
sounded on all sides, and the dlscOusOlate father,
frantic with excitement at the loss OF his two chill
dreB, rent the air with his cries.


SCENE WORTHY OF THE GRAccHI.


At this time two young men, The flesh actually
dangling from their bodies, rusned ont Of the
ferry gate. They were In frightful agony.
but, despite all their sufrerlngs, they clung 10
each other singular affection. Their strength
seemed gone, and both were every moment
on the point OF falling, but the other, with sudden
and seemingly superhuman DEVOTION clung to the
other The face Of one was mass Of blood without
burns that OF The other one OF burns without blood.
They staggered the nearest drug tore, and were
for the time lost amid the terrible excite ment OF
this sad see ne.
Year: 1871

One OF the most appalling catastrOphes which
ever took place In this city occurred yesterday
afternoon at the foot OF Whitehall street. by which
. large number Of persons were killed and a still
larger number were manned for Mte The laboring
Glasses and Others, VINO toll from morn till
blight SIX days In the week, without a single days
respite, make Sunday a day OF ont-of-town excur-
>eions In the summer time. Among the many places
near by which they resort to for breath Of fresh
air ,s Staten Island. IL is only


BRIEF HOURS SAIL


TO the island from the city, and hundreds every Sun
day make II sort OF duty they owe to their wives
aud little ones, who during the week are pent up in
1oul-smeIling tenemenls, TO 90 TO the island and
spend an hour or two away from the heat and dust
OF the city In the miost OF shady grooves and cosey
nookeres close by the sea.


The weather yesterday was everything that could
have been desired for pleasant sail down
the bay. About noon 1t became too warm
for comfort in the close streets, yet
on the bay there was a refreshing breeze
which proved most grateful TO the excursionst just
emerged from his suGocating tenement or dingy
attic Every boat that had padded It's way 10 the
every part; and nothing occurred mar the general
pleasure OF the day until


THE FERRYBoAT wEsTPIELD


slid into her slip about quarter past one. She
had but few passengers on board when she arrived
but she had taken down 10 the island an hour
before fully seven hundred persons. This time an
dmmense crowd of excursionists were impa-
tenuy awaiting her arrival behind the gateways
and while she was being made fast
TO the pier hundreds could be seen rushing down
Broadway ana from the Brooklyn ferries. hurryina
along at the top OF their speed, fearful lest
they should the boat which IL would
have been well had many failed 10 reach
IL was Just after the dinner nour and
nearly every man was accompanied by some female
relative or companion. Many had their entire
families with them, wife and children.


When the passengers from the island were safely
landed. the gates were thrown open, and
Then began the rush for choice seats on the
pari OF the hundreds VINO we're In the ferry house
aud behind the picketeo enclosure. TIE crowd
seemed to be unusually large, and


THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN


as usual on all excursions predominated
IN point OF numbers. great many, principally
young men, without female companions, made their
way TO the forward part of the boat on the lower
deck The great bulE Of the crowd however, went
mp stairs Everybody endeavored to get o seat on
The front part OF The boat just In front
OF and alongside the pilot house. round the
base OF which ran a sort OF bench nailed
fast W the SIDE 9f the cabin Along the cabins, in
Year: 1871

The scenes along the streets in the neghb0rhood
OF Whitehall when the explosion took place were
scarcely less horrible and agonIzing than those
within the slip tseiI Every avenue leading to and
from the Staten Island Hamilton and South ferries
was crowded with rght-hearted men, women and
chidred, who were on their way to the boats that
were 20 take them oil rejoicing " SUBURBAN neasre
Year: 1871

From the New Orleans Republican, we
learn that the few persons engaged in the
cultivation of ramic in the vicinity ol
New Orleans are constantly in receipt oil
letters from the Northern cities and from
Europe, making inquiries relative to ramie
culture, the price at which it can be sold
and the amount that can be supplied
Some OF the manufacturers who have
tested the value of the fibre by spinning
it into thread, say that it is superior tc
flax, and if there could be any certainty
of supply, it would supersede altogether
the use of flax in thread spinning. 9th
ers assert that they can take the crude
fibre and in four hours convert it into 6
heccy silk worth from three to four dol
lars per pound, and can weave it into
fabrics having all the hcxibility and lus'
tire of the finest foreign silk.
Year: 1871

Forgive and forget-it is better


To fling overy feeling aside,
Than allow the deep cankering fetter
Of revenge in thy breast to abide.
For thy steps through Gfe's path shall Do
When the load from thy bosom is cast,
And the sky that's above thee be brighter
When the cloud of displeasure has


passed.


Though thy spirit swell high with emo


ton


To give back an injustice again,
Let it sink in oblivion's ocean,


For remembrance increases the pain.
And why should we linger in sorrow
When its shadow is passing away,
Or seek to encounter tomorrow
The blast that sweeps DER us to-day?
Oh, memory's varying river,
And though it may placidly glide
When the sunbeams of joy DER it tquiver,
1t foams when the storm meets lts


tide.


Then stir not the current of madness,
For its wrath thou wilt ever regret,
Though tho morning beams break on
Ere the sunset, forgive and forget.
Year: 1871

"a Heaven help the man who imag-
ines he can dodge enemies by trying to
please everybody! If such an individu-
al over succeeded, he should be glad OF
it-not that one should be going through
the world trying to find beams to knock
and thump his head against, disputing
every mans opinion, fighting and elbow
ing, and crowding all who differ from
him. That, again, is another extreme.
Other people have their opinion, so have
you; don't fall into the error of suppo-
sing they illrespcct you more for turn
ing your coat every day, to match the
color OF theirs. Wear your own colors
in spite of wind and weather, storm,
and sunshine. 1t costs the vacillatinG
and irresoluto ten times the trouble to
wind and twist, and shuttle, that it
does honest, manly independence to
stand its ground,