Minnesota weekly times. [volume], August 07, 1855, Image 2

About Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
fpnnt&ota Cimts.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 1855.
TERRIFIC THUNDER STORM.
On Friday morning, about 2 o'clock, wo
wore visitod with one of the most terrific thun
der storms ever witnessed in this or in any
oilier section of the country. The day had
been warm, ami the sky was overcast with
dark clouds, when, towards morning, the dis
tant thunder began to roll up its doleful tones
and the lightning to flicker in the heavens.—
The storm increased in fury, accompanied with
wind, until it reached its height, when it seemed
as though the infernal regions had been let
loose and the elements of Nature were deter
mined to reck vengeance on the sleeping world.
Hither, thither, downward, upward, streaming
and glaring like the eye-halls of demons, the
lightning played “ fantastic tricks before high
heaven," and almost blinded the vision with its
vividness. The thunder, mounting the dark,
gloomy clouds, would ride along for a while,
and then plunge down into the cavernous vaults
below and make even the earth tremble with
its power. Successive sheets of lightning were
followed by rapid claps of thunder, crackling,
seething and even hissing in their course, until
the mind became overpowered with the awful
sublimity and grandeur of the scene. The
storm shifted several times—passing from the
North to the South and then back again, and
each time the lightning became more intensi
fied, and the thunder more terrible. The lines
of the poet were fully verified:
‘•The thmxl rs rollt'«l off «*n t!i«*|r final career*
l.lke th»* last ivruttng groan*of son ♦* perishinc sphere;—
Tin lightnings forth on th*'ir terrible track*
And in terror and tempest the curtain rolled buck.**
lhit still the deep-toned thunder echoed in the
distance, and tiie lightning continued its gay
pranks illuminating the whole city and awaken
ing the inmates from their slumbers. A light
in this dwelling and in that, showed that there
was no more sleep, and the moving of individ
uals too and fro plainly indicated that they had
been aroused to a sense of their danger. The
elements, having exhausted their fury, gradu
ally assumed their functions, and earth’s tired
watchers relapsed into tlmt calmness which al
ways follows in the wake of a terrific storm.
In another column we give the particulars of
the damage done by the storm, and the narrow
escape of several persons from being struck by
lightning.
Sneers.— The Pioneer affects to sneer at
Mr. Marshall because in the infancy of our
Territory, he acted in the capacity of surveyor.
Our neighbor should remember that
<4 if >n t an<l f.imr from no condition
and he who builds himself up by’ his own en
ergies and force of character, is, of all others,
the man to represent the wishes and interests
of the people, It may be quite amusing to the
Pioneer to seek to detract from the merits of
Mr. Ma rsiiai.l, but it is a game played only by
those who are unacquainted with human na
ture, and who, becoming desperate in their
warfare, strike at random in hopes to reach a
vital point, but in this as in other parts played by
the Pioneer, it lias overshot its mark. Mr.
M arshall will be our next Delegate to Con
gress.
Strange Antics. —Wc do not know what to
think of our neighbor down the street—the Pi
oneer, —for one day it proclaims itself in favor of
Mr. Olmsted and the next it exhibits great so
licitude for Mr. Marshall. The last fit it had,
was, that it was fearful that Mr. Marshall’s in
terests would be afiected by our stating that the
Pioneer was in favor ofhiin. In this we think
the Pioneer is right. There is danger, but we
hope in future that our neighbor will he careful,
and so deport himself that his readers may
know where to find him.
flov. Reeder Removed. —The Democrat,
of last evening, learns from Mr. Nelson, that
Uov. Reeder, of Kansas, had been removed
by President Pierce.
II o were told yesterday by a gen
tleman from St. Anthony, that the water had
risen there five incites since the last rain.
friT” Potatoes are now selling in St. Paul
for 80 cents per bushel.
fr-TF” 'flu* market is now* very plentifully
supplied with vegetables of almost every des
cription.
News. —The Pioneer says that Dr. Stringfellow
has been elected Governor of Kansas. This will
doubtless be news to most of our readers, but
among the dozen editors who control the col
umns of our cotemporary, some of them ought
to know whether the information is correct.
Laughablk. —The I’ionocr says, in a patroni
zing tone, that the Minnesotinn has departed
from its “ usual courtesy,” &c. That makes even
the iditor of the Democrat grin, and well it
may.
There is much in a party’s being able to pre
sent as a candidate a man whoso merits consti
tute a recommendation sufficient to entitlo him to
a post of honor. There is much iti feeling assur
ed Mint a man honestly feels, thinks and aets,
•>nd will so represent his parly, and that there
can be no fear of his d parturo from duty either
ns regards himself or his constituents.
The Pioneer is right. Such a man is Wii.
K. Marshall. lie comer before the people pure
-“upon the record of whoso life there is no
stain,” and if ho is elected to the high position
to which he has been nominated, there will ho
“ no fear of his departure from duty, either as
regards himself or constituents.” With such a
man, representing a great principle, how is it
possible for tho Republicans to he defeated?—
Jlut wc have wily foes to cope with and must not
rolax our exertions until the battle is won.
Dices am* Medicine* at Auction-. —We call
attention to tho sale at Auction this afternoon of
the Drugs and Medicines in tho store of Dr. L.
(‘.Kinney. A favorable opportunity is offered
to those who are anxious to lay in a good supply
of physio.
The W rather —. The weather yesterday, after
the aevero thunder storm, was excessively warm.
The atmosphere was close, and scarcely a leaf
moved on the trees. To write editorials under
such circumstances, is a thing next to an impos
sibility. \\ e shall endeavor to keep cool until
something new turns up.
A Rise. —The late rains have caused a rise in
the rivers, and hopes are entertained by the lum
bermen that they will be enabled to get some of
the logs down.
Progressing. —Dr. Kinuey’s new block of stone
buildings, in Eagle st., is progressing finely. By
the way, we call attention to the adv., of the
Doctor, who has a large amount of property to
sell, aud who will dispose of it cheap.
DAMAGES UY TIIE STORM.
The most vivid, terrific and yet magnificent
flashes of lightning, ever w itnessed in this Ter
ritory, accompanied the storm of Thursday
night last. The Hashes were followed with un
commonly loud and prolonged claps of thunder,
and yet so far rs w'e have been able to ascertain,
there was but two bouses struck in the city, one
at the foot of the hill on St. Anthony st., which
was slightly injured, the other on the st. run
ning at right angles with 1 ort st., near the resi
dence of (Jovernor Ramsey, occupied by Mr.
Shaller. The side of this house was literally
perforated, the clapboards torn ofl'and otherwise
injured, but the building was not demolished,
nor was there any one severely hurt, although
there were four persons in the house at the
time and within four led ot a large mirror that
was completely melted by the electric fluid. —
At the moment the house was struck the fami
ly were all asleep, but the crackling, crashing
noise soon awoke them to behold an intensely
vivid glare of light all around them.—
The lady screamed as for very life, when the
husband sprang up in bed hut immediately fell
back ou the pillow, apparently liel] less. T[ie
shock he received was caused only by the inr
tensity of the light, from which he soon recov
ered, and supposing the place to be on fire,
commenced gathering what he could and es
caping with his wile and two children, but on
opening the door they discovered that the ele
ments had done their worst. The fluid made
its entrance down the chimney following the
wall round to the corner of the room, ripping
and tearing the lath and plaster as it sped on
wards, scattering and burning several articles
of furniture, some of which were rendered
useless. After cutting up a countless number
of curious capers and unfamiliar tricks, the un
welcome visitor made its exit through the side
of the building, leaving Mr. Shaller and fami
ly with feelings of fear, joy and congratulation
alternately striving for the mastery, which can
much better be imagined than dcsci •ibed.
P. S.—Since writing the above, we are in
formed that the warehouse of J. It. Irvine &
Co., (at the Upper Leree,) was struck at the
same time, the lightning taking effect near the
centre of the roof, close to the eaves, and run
ning both ways, follow ing the tin water spout,
passing down the corner of the building, tear
ing off and shattering some of the clapboards
and penetrating the inside so as to slightly in
jure the lath and considerably disturb the com
posure of two young gentlemen who xvcrc
sleeping in the building. One of them was
raised from his couch and thrown against the
wall with such violence as to produce a very
unpleasant sensation in one of his elbows.—
Tiie electric fluid then ran round and entered a
stall in which a horse was tied, and split an
upright post close to him, and passed into the
earth immediately under him, and yet the horse
was untouched.
The building in St. Anthony street was not
materially injured.
PRESENTATION OF SILVER PLATE TO
M. GRIFFITH, ESll,
On Tuesday afternoon, at 5 P. M., agreeably to
public notice, the citizens of St. Anthony and
Minneapolis assembled in a beautiful grove on
the East side of the mound upon Xieollett Island,
to witness the presentation of a silver tea service
by the Mississippi River bridge Co., to Thos. M.
Griffith, Esq.
The spot chosen for tho Accession was a very
beautiful one, and the rude and uncultivated place
contrasted strangely with the works of art repre
senting the testimonial. Shortly after the ap
pointed time, I'. Morrison, Esq., President of the
Co., arranged the articles of the service upon a
table. They consist of four pieces, all of which
arc highly ornamental. The principal piece bears
the inscription,—“Presented by tho Mississippi
River Wire Bridge Co., to Thomas M. Griffith,
Esq., their Engineer, St. Anthony Falls, 1833.”
On the reverse is a device of instruments of the
engineering art. Tho minor pieces bear the ini
tials, “T. M. G.” They were manufactured by
Mulford &, Wendell, of Albany, X. Y.
His honor, 11. T. Wells, Mayor of St. Anthony,
who is one of the directors of the Company, came
forward anil asked tho attention and co-operation
of tho audience in a brief and very appropriate
speech. Whereupon, tho lion. 11. 11. Sibley,
who is also a large share holder and a director
:n the Company, came forward and made a neat
and appropriate speech. lie was responded to by
Mr. Griffith in a speech of some length, when the
company dispersed well pleased with the occasion.
The speeches of the gentlemen are too long for
our columns.
Cri T The War Eagle arrived yesterday at noon,
with several passengers and a considerable quan
tity of freight. She left the same day with the
Mail, in the place of the Alhambra, that was due
before tho War Eagle, but did not conic through
on time as she run up to Stillwater.
(Tv?” The Steamer Alhambra arrived yesterdny
at 4 o’clock P. M., with 50 passengers and 00
tons of freight. She left Galena with 100 pas
sengers and 200 tons of freight, a considerable
quantity of which was .shipped for Stillwater, on
the St. Croix. Sho reports water rising very rap
idly below. Ten o'clock is the hour for depart
ure.
M kev, Cißorr and Kegai ly. —These gentlemen
have recently sold a large bill of Goods to be sent
to Pembina, away up among tho Buffaloes. The
firm is now doing a heavy business.
Money. —Money commands two and three per
cent at the present time in St. Paul. Wc have
heard of loans being made for five per cent.—
Real Estate transactions arc dull.
Soda Water. —These arc the days to onjov an
excellent glass of soda water. Plenty of it, and
that too, which is good, can he fouud at the
Store of Wren, Groff k Regally.
Ciitnea Fowls and Rats.—A correspon
dent ot the Prairie Farmer, who was much an
noyed by rats, tried shooting, poisoning, and
everything he could think of, but they defied
the whole c«/-egorv. lie then procured sever
al guinea fowls, and, for over two years past,
has neither seen or heard a rat about his prem
ises.
Relit- or tiik Revolution Many of our citi
zens, says the Boston Journal, as well as numer
ous strangers, doubtless remember the “Old Ad
ams House,” situated nearly opposite the depot
in M eat Cambridge, which has long been noted as
a. relic of the revolutionary times, and has been
visited by thousands of persons for the purpose of
viewing the bullet-holes made bv the British on
the day of the over memorable battle of Lexing
ton. The old house is now undergoing demolition,
and is daily visited by numbers of persons who
are desirous of obtaining some part of it ns me
mento of the times that tried men’s souls. Quite
a number of bullets have been found imbedded
in the walls and timbers, many of which present
flattened and ragged surfaces* made by penetra
ting the oak timbers. The owners of the estate,
Mr. JosiaU Russell, takes pains to secure everv
bullet found in the building and disposes of them
at the rate of one dollar each. Yesterday after
noon a small piece of clapboard, which had been
perforated by a bullet, wns sold fur half a dollar.
The water is now rising very fast.—
It has risen ten inches within four days.
Asi.ket on a Rattlesnake Den—Fearful Posi
tion. — A correspondent of theMissouriDemocrat,
writing from lbtoli, Kansas Territory, on the 17th
of .luno, relates tho following incident of his
personal experience:
“On last Sunday evening tho air was so bc
witchingly balmy, and the sky so softly veiled by
shadowy clouds’ that 1 was induced into a
lengthy stroll along tlie bluffs, which proudly as
pire to overlook the umbrageous woodlands on
the ono side, and the sun-lit plains upon the other
until l reached an elevated pinnacle, so tall ns to
command a panoramic view, whose picturesque
and varied beauties ravished all my senses, and
lost me in most dreamy reveries.
“1 reclined upon the summit of the rock with
my head upon my hand, until, presently, it roll
ed away upon the cushion of springy moss, which
grew there like an emerald diadem, and 1 was
locked in that strange slumber which leaves vou
semi- conscious, and yet restrains volition, i had
lain thus several minutes, with my left arm stretch
ed to its extent, when at tho extremities of the
lingers of that hand there was a sensation, new
and peculiar that sent a thrill of pleasure to the
minn and heart; it was soothing, drawing, and
agreeably titillating, as if the fingers were dis
solving away in a delightful self-absorption.
“Just then, from this sort of blissful abandon,
I was startled by the report of a gunshot within
a few paces of me. 1 sprang to mv feet, and
with astonishment saw my friend Mitchell stand
ing near and gazing at mo with a fixed look of
ghastly terror. Before I could inju re what lie
meant", my attention was caught by the sound of
the most shrill, keen, ringing rattle that ever pen
etrated human ear; and on looking down 1 dis
covered a huge rattle-snake with gory head,quiv
ering and writhing in the agonies ol death, and
sending forth from its erect tail the terrible tocsin
that l heard.
“From his fearful propinquity I began to re
alize mv position, but not until 1 heard an expla
nation from M. could I fully understand and
appreciate its horrors.
‘•He told me that my resting place was the top
of a rattlesnake dm, and pointed out the orifices
through which they passed ; that he was in the
habit of coming there too shoot rattlesnakes; that
when lie approached that evening, uud saw me
lying upon the den, lie supposed 1 had beeu bi ten
and was dead: that he crept nearer and saw my
respiration, and knew 1 was alive, hut discovering
a monstrous snake licking mv hand and covering
it with a slimy coating, preparatory to deglutition
that lie made a slight, involuntary, shuddering
exclamation of My God ! which drew the snake’s
attention and caused him to turn his head, when
he discharged a load of buckshot into his face
and neck, mangling and tearing them to pieces,
and thus saved my life. lie had scarcely told
ino this, which took but a moment, when rattles
all around brought us to a recollection that we
were not yet free from danger.
“We saw ten or fifteen large rattlesnakes ap
proaching us from every quarter, with eyes glar
ing revengefully, barbed tongues thrusting threat
eningly, and rattles sounding alarmingly. They
are brave and cannot he intimidated, and will die
over the dead body of their companion sooner than
desert it. We knew the indomitable character of
our enemy, and M. and I, with his doudlc-bar
relled gun, and iny sticks and stones, fought our
way out as hist we could. You may imagine
that my nerves were slightlv agitated that night.
M. has killed one hundred and seven of them, the
largest cf which had twenty six rattles. He s ys
the Indians who have been in the habit of hunting
them for many years, have killed much older ones,
and have slain thousands.”
Great Discovert—Mercery Taken i rom the
Human System nv Electricity. —Hearing a rumor
on the street that Mercury had been extracted
from the body of a sick man in the form of quick
silver, and being anxious to witness such an ex
periment, we accompanied lhs. Youmans and
Seltzer, the operators, yesterday, for the purpose
of judging for ourself of the truth of the state
ment.
Wc found Mr. Jacob Ilymord, the patient, liv
ing in the south part of the city, who has been
alllictod with the chronic rhuraatism for the last
ten years, lying upon the bod in an enfeebled
state, who told us that ho had heretofore tried
every kind of medical treatment without success.
Ho had swallowed during his sickness vast quan
tities of mercury in the shape of calomel and
blue pills from the effects of which ho had nearly
lost the use of his limbs. lie showed us a glob
ule of quicksilver larger than a good sized pea,
which he said had been gathered from the bottom
of the electric bath in which he had been placed.
He had been seated upon a metallic stool in an
insulated zinc hath, well coated with paint, and
his feet immersed in acidulated water. The gal
vanic battery was then applied, the positive pole
held in the hands of the patient, the negative polo
being in the hath. It is claimed that the power
of electricity upon the system is Such as to eradi
cate every metallic substance, and, by means of
the wire, it is deposited in the bottom of tbo tub.
It requires some twenty-four hours for the glob
ules to collect themselves, so as to be perceptible
to the naked eye, when they may be seen clinging
to the sides and bottom of the bath.
We are informed by the doctors that three
drachms of quicksilver had already been taken
from tho patient, who together with his friends
and relatives present, confirmed the statement.
Although this pumping silver out of the bodv
of a man by the means of a galvanic battcrv mav
seem strange and smell a little of humbug, we
trust our scientific and medical men will not
pass the experiment without a thorough investi
gation.— Columbus ( Ohio) Journal.
A Swimming Contest between a Man and a
Pig.— The Buffalo Courier of Monday relates the
following amusing incident:
Last evening about seven o'clock, a pig having
escaped from its confinement on one of the canal
boats lying near the Main street bridge, and prob
ably deeming a glorious death preferable to a life
of confinement, plunged into tho ditch of yellow
liquid yclept the Eric Canal, and struck out
boldly for the shore ; hut the steep stone walls
on either side forced piggy to keep in a straight
lino toward Washington street. The owner of the
animal, moved perhaps by commisseration for
the probable fate of his pigship, or more proba
bly hv the anticipated loss of sundry rashers of
bacon, hesitated but a few moments, and then
sprang in To recover his property. Quite a crowd
had collected, and it was swim pig, swim owner,
amid cheers nnd laughter, until they had nearly
reached Washington street bridge, when piggy,
disheartened, slackened his efforts, and his biped
pursuer succeeded in capturing him and placing
him in a skiff, in which both returned to their
starting point.
EtS® A number of native Congocs—real
Guinea negroes— lately arrived in Salem,
Mass. One of them being asked how he liked
this country, answerd, “Ah, me no like Mcrican
land—cold morning, cold night, make nose leak
like basket.”
Paste that is Paste.— Dissolve an ounce
of alum in a quart of warm water; when cold,
add as much Hour as will make it the consistence
of cream; then strew into it as much powdered
rosin as will stand on a shilling, and two or
three cloves; boil it to a consistence, stiring all
tlje time. It will keep for twelve months, and
when dry, may be softened with water.
SunAgToroL.—W. R. Whitehead,a graduate
of the Virginia Military Institute, and now at
tached to one of the large hospitals at Sebasto
pol as physician and surgeon, writes home as
follows:
“Events have proved that the English sol
dier is inferior to either the French or Russian,
ami that, with certain exceptions, the Russian
is as good as the French. Sebastopol trill never
le token : it may is blown up by the Russians.”
If you have contracted an injudicious
friendship let it sink gently and gradually.
Neither wealth, Bor birth, but mind and
heart only, should he the aristocracy of a free
people.
Another Railroad Project. —Hon. Eras
tus Corning, of New York, and other heavy
capitalists, have gone into the company which
has in charge the improvement of Fox river
and its connections, in Wisconsin. It is esti
mated that the company will have a surplus of
from one million to fifteen hundred thousand
acres of land appropriated by Congress after
completing the improvement. This it is pro
posed to put into a railroad between St. Paul
and Green Bay. The road will be in the vi
cinitv of five hundred miles in length, and as
these lands are located in the pineries of north
ern II isconsin, they will go far toward the com
pletion of the road.— Chicago Press.
""I"" . .-LULU
MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 1855.
THE 11E PL'II LIE'AN MOVEMENT.
We clip the following from the St. Anthony
Republican. Wo think the editor is right in say
ing that Mr. Rico stands forth as “ tho represen
tative of mercenaries,'* and not the representa
tive of any principle, ns is the enso with tho Re
publican candidate. What a humiliating idea !
a man nominated by tho Democracy—a party
professing to be governed by principle—simply
because his peculiar and cunning qualities fit him
to procuro of the General Government, sums of
money for his own and his friends purposes !
Does not such an idea cause’all honest and hon
ornblo men to turn away with disgust ?
Mr. Olmsted is an upright, honorable man, but
as the Republican remarks, he stands upon a bad
platform—a platform which wc are led to believe
he ignores. We think Mr. Olmsted will not de
cline, but lie will repudiate the platform, and in
such a case there will be a chance for another
candidate to he Irought into tho field—Judge
Chatfield, 11. 11. Sibley or Gov. Gorman. These
are queer times and there is no telling what will
turn up next. Entertaining the views Mr. Olm
sted does, lie cannot consistently occupy the po
sition he has been placed in l>3’ his friends, and if
he does not swallow the food which has been
thrown to him, a queer state of things will follow.
If he does swallow it, every Anti Nebraska man
in this territory will go straight for William It.
Marshall. But road what tho Republican says:
The Candidates nn>! the Platforms,
The nominating conventions are over, and the
people of Minnesota have now a fair view of the
political forces operating amongthem. The ear
ly inovemont for the Republican Convention doubt
less precipitated the campaign for all parties ;
and by bringing out platforms and candidates jn
good season, will enable the people tho better to
determine which ticket has the most just claim
upon their respect.
It is a mistake to say that the Convention
which nominated Air. Rice, has put forth no ex
pressions of views upon public policy; for by
the very manner in which that nomination was ef
fected, and the methods by which it is defended,
it is very plain that Mr. Rico is made to stand as
the representative of mercenaries. Tho chief
reason for nominating and supporting him is
avowed to bo because lie can do so much for Ihc
Territory. Tho Rice Convention, it is true, ven
tured no expression of principles ; it has nothing
to say of Nebraska, or national policy, or Terri
torial policy; it simply endorses a man and
endorses him because he can get money from
the national treasury for the good of the Territo
ry. But even on this low scale the reckoning
may not he safe. Because lie was suecessful in
procuring appropriations from the most corrupt
Congress which ever assembled in Washington,
is it to be taken for granted his peculiar talent
will make h‘m equally efficient in forwarding sim
ilar plans in Congress from which the people have
excluded those unscrupulous politicians? Wheth
er Mr. Rice has or has not acted with a high re
gard for the interest of the tcholc Territory;
whether he has or has not used the advantages of
his position to promote schemes of favoritism at
times, and schemes of selfishness at other times ;
whether he has, or has not a desire to return to
Congrcsss to help forward a grand scheme for
building up an interest entirely distinct from the
interests of Minnesota—these are matters which
all of us may hope to understand better before
the canvass is over. That there is another man
among us who can successfully represent our
wishes and needs in the councils of the nation,
will probably be proved in the Course of a few
months.
The Olmsted Democrats arc in a contradictory
position. Their candidate is an anti-Nebraska
man, supposed to he in sympathy with Republican
principles; and he would have stood a fair
chance of nomination at their hands, had he pre
viously identified himself with their movement.
He is a man well reported of in every rc-pect, ex
cept that he has kept had politic il company.
But as tho Convention which nominated him en
dorsed the Nebraska doctrine and the administra
tion of Franklin Pierce, it is altogether probable
that Mr. Olmsted will decline their nomination
A hearty hatred to 11. M. Rice will prevent many
of tlic Democrat men from voting for him. Sonic
of them will doubtless stick to their candidate at
all hazards; and oth -rs will vote the Republican
ticket, if Mr. Olmsted declines.
Win. R. Marshall stands straight upon the
platform which has for its main plank the union
of freeman for the maintenance of freedom, lie
is also a perpendicular temperance man, and is
heartily in favor of purging out the old leaven of
party corruption from politics. These three ideas
of Liberty, Temperance and Political Reform,
were made by the recent Convention, at the for
mer one, cardinal to the Republican movement.
The candidate was already known to be in sym
pathy with these ideas, and lie is abundantly
qualified to represent them at home or abroad.
Wc went to the Republican Convention solici
tous for two things: a platform that should fully
meet the living issues of the times, and a candi
date who was a reliable adherent to such a plat
form. In both respects we carno home satisfied.
A few verbal changes might have been made to
advantage; hut the substance of that day’s pro
ceedings is so cntirclv satisfactory that wc can
come before the people advocating the principles
of the platform and the merits of the standard
bearer without a blush or a misgiving.
We publish the throe platforms and ask a care
ful comparison. If the people of this Territory
will govern their actions by a candid weighing of
principles, rather than by the passionate impulse
of partizau feeling, wc shall have no fear for the
result.
FOKEIOX NEWS.
Tlic Gnlena arrived last evening. There is no
news of importance. The mail steamship Asia
arrived at Halifax on the Ist of Aug. Roebuck’s
motion of censure of the Government had been
voted down in-Parlinmcnt, by 100 mnj. Lord
John Russell’s place had not been filled. War
news wholly unimportant. The capture of Mala
koff, by the French, was considered probable.—
Lord linglan’s body had been shipped to England.
The French troops formed an avenue for it to pass
through, from the camp to the sea, two miles
long. It is rumored that a difficulty exists be
tween the Czar of Russia and his brother. The
Prince of Prussia acts as a mediator. Dr. Aruaud,
Napoleon’s physician at St. Helena, is dead.
The rupture between .Spain and Romo is said
to he complete. The clergy at Madrid have de
manded passports.
The Black Warrior difficulty with theU. S. is de
finitely settled by indemnity of one million reals.
Provisions dull—money market easy.
The sale of liquor is totally prohibited on
the Indian Reserved lands of Minnesota, and
the law is most rigidly enforced. Neither
Whites nor Indians are allowed to trafic in or
use the article, and when a drunken person is
seen, he is immediately hauled up and com
pelled to tell where he got his liquor, under
penalty of serving 21 hours in the guard house
for not promptly answering. Is the law con
stitutional ?— Grant County Herald.
It strikes us that the Attorney-General
of the Lnited States ought to know, and he
pronounces it constitutional, and the Supreme
Court of the United States acquiesces in his de
cision. And now, then, if this law-is consti
tutional, would not a law passed by the Legis
lature of this Territory, be also constitutional,
unless it was annulled by an act of Congress,
and would it Le annulled by that body if the
people desired its enactment ? The opposition
brought against the Maine Law on constitution
al grounds, appears to us to possess no force,
in view of the existence of the United States
law against the trafic of liquor in the Indian
Territories. If the one is 'constitutional, the
other certainly must be, for if Congress has a
jurisdiction over the Indians,. it has a like ju
risdiction over the Territories, and the law
Avhich would apply to one would apply to the
other.
US® The City Belle arrived at the levee
Saturday afternoon and departed Sunday morn
ing.
Minnesota Abroad —The editor of the Grant
County Herald, who has recently boon among us,
writes to his paper as follow:
St. Paul—How Propellrd.—St. Paul is a
beautifully located and well built city of some
6,000 inhabitants, though the people are so intel
ligent, persevering and skillful, that they are equal
to about 23,000 of any other people w'oever saw,
ami tho same may be said of the people through
out that Territory ; their power is a quadruple
over a iiko number of uuy others. They study to
turn to valuable account every machinery and in
vention of past and present ages, and thus per
form four times as much labor as n like number
of people usually do. Most every man we talked
with makes mechanics and machinery his study,
and though not an inventor, he perfectly under
stands all about every invention that can possibly
be turned to account in Minnesota. It may be
concluded they will become a great nation for
manufacturing and machine economy.
The editor linds fault with Nature becauso she
did not cause tho Mississippi to flow North into
Lake Superior, and then remarks:—“ A large
slice of north-western Wisconsin will fall in with
Minnesota to devour the fruits of Superior, be
cause of the relative location. It is only neces
sary to seo that upper country and study the
map thereof, in order to arrive at the same con
clusion we do,for there is a mathematical clearness
about it.”
This has been quite clear to us for some time
past, and hence our desire that a railroad should
be commence 1 at L ike Superior in Minnesota, and
run through the interior portion of our Territory,
shutting off, if possible, tho “ large slice” which
would otherwise go to feed Wisconsin. We con
fess to a little selfishness in this matter, but the
interests of our Territory we think demand it.
The writer tliiuks that the Minnesotians are
hastening to the same crisis which burst Upon the
Western Country in the year 1837. Whether
there is anything to be feared from his surmises
or not, it would be well for our people to keep
their “eves to the windward.”
The following truthful and manly paragraph
on our climate, docs great credit to the honest
heart of the editor.
Minnesota is a de’ightful Country, and we
could live there to our he irts content. The land,
timber, water and climate are good, healthful,
magnificent, but we think not superior to Wiscon
sin. Wc can hardly conceive that the water-pow
ers are excelled by any other region in the uni
verse, and as lor health, it is all gammon to say
that Minnesota is not about as perfect as earth
affords. We yield to Minnesota in respect to
beauty of scenery, but the lay of our region is
liner for the farm. Vegetables, fruits, and grains
ripen earlier than with us, though planted later ;
their soil, being sandy, is warmer, and herein the
main difference.
Ratification Meetings. —Meetings have been
held at St. Anthony, and elsewhere, to ratify the
nomination of Wji. 11. Marshall. At tho one
held at St. Anthony, Mr. Marshall was present,
and the Republican speaks of him in the follow
ing manner:—
Mr. Marshall being present by invitation, was
called on to speak. Mr. M. said that he was
heartily a Republican, and that he ardently es
poused the great principles of the party. He
then reviewed the perverted course of the Nation
al Government in giving Louisiana, Florida, Tex
as and New Mexico, over to Slavery; and last
the crowning acts of injustice, the repudiation of
the Missouri Compromise ; and said the great ob
ject of Republicans was to bring back the gov
ernment to the side of freedom. At another time
lie would speak bis views to the people of St. An
thony more fully. Amid unanimous and hearty
applause, he took his seat.
Among other resolutions the following one was
passed:—
Resolved, That wo tender the thanks of this
meeting to Hon. Win. It. Marshall, for the expo
sition he h is given us of his position on the ques
tion of Slavery extension, and that we congratu
late the Republicans of this Territory on the nom
ination for Delegate to Congress of a man so
eminently fitted to he a standard-bearer in the
cause of freedom and temperance.
At the ratification meeting held at Minneapolis,
the following resolution was passed :
Resolved, That we heartily approve tho action
of our delegates to tho late Republican Nomina
ting Convention. We accept the platform as in
accordance with our political se’ntiments. and we
will rally as one man to the support of Wm. R.
Marshall.
Our St. Anthony and Hennepin County friends
arc wide awake, and we expect to hear a good
report from them in the Fall.
»
11. M. Rice, whom Goodhue of tiic Pioneer
used to designate as a Federal Whig, will prob
ably be the Democratic Candidate lor Delegate
to Congress from Minnesota, lie is a Pierce
and Douglas man, and was serenaded in honor
of a Democratic victory when news arrived at
St. Paul of the passage of the Nebraska Bill,
lie also represents one of the Fur Company
factions of Minnesota. —Grant County ( fVis.)
Herald.
JP-S” And the Wall s'rcet Railroad inter
ests, and the Lake Superior interests, and the
Indian Traders interests, and the Administra
tion officers interests, and the Slave-holders
interests, and his own interests, and God only
knows what other interests, except the interests
of the people of Minnesota Territory. If such
a man is elected to Congress, we shall have no
faith in the honesty of the masses.
Alt. Saints. —From St. Paul upwards and
out both ways, there arc many Saints. They
have a St. Anthony, a St. Paul, a St. Peter, a
St. Cloud, a St. Benedict, (but not a St. Bene
dict Arnold,) a St. John and a St. Andrew,
(but not Andrew Jackson.) They have no St.
Washington, no St. Jefferson, no St. La Fay
ette, nor any of the Saints of the Revolution,
nor have they any of the Indian Saints ; Black
Ilawk was an Indian Saint, not a Christian,
and therefore has not his name remembered.
In addition to the above, we have a
Saint George, and several other Saints, but we
are ashamed to tell their names. Inasmuch,
however, as Minnesota is about as perfect a
place as can be found in the Union, we see no
reason why we should not lay claim to the
Saints and seek their more intimate acquain
tanceship.
Next Spring. —lt is generally understood
that Hon. Chari.es Sumner, will visit the
\Y est in the Spring, taking Minnesota in his
course, and will address the people at large on
the great question of the day— Slaver r.
Buffalo Calves. —The Buffalo Calves
which were exhibited in this city last week,
were purchased by the editor of the Grant
County Herald, and a Mr. Brown, of Beetown,
\\ isconsin. The price paid, we learn, was
$2-3 apiece.
Runaway.— Two horses attached to a bug
gy, belonging to Messrs. Culver & Farrington,
became frightened on Saturday last, by the
pole of the carriage falling on their heels, and
ran down St. Anthony street, landing them
selves, with the buggy into the drain. No
damage done with the exception of the break
ing of a tug.
Afflicted. —Wc regret to hear of the death of
the little daughter of George 11. Oakes, Esq., of
Sauk Rapids. Since her death his house hag been
struck by lightning, and both the furniture and
the dwelling were considerably injured.
The Time and Tide arrived Saturday
afternoon, and will depart this morning at 9
o’clock.
(*y The fine little steamer 11. S. Allen, makes
regular trips up the Minnesota.
ffy The Kate Casscl arrived Saturday evening.
-W * »
QUEKTIONS TO HON. U. M. RICE.
Will you answer these questions?
Ist. Are you a member of the so-called
Know Nothing Party ? or do you belong to any
Secret Political Association, which has for its
leading objects the abridgement of the political
rights and privileges of the foreign born and
catholic citizens ?
2d. Are you in favor of excluding foreign
born citizens from the right of suffrage—if so,
to what extent ?
3d. Did you send a man from Washington
to organize a Know Nothing Society in Saint
Paul and throughout the Territory of Minne
sota ?
4th. Were not your best friends and con
stant associates in Washington city, all or most
of them Know Nothings?
sth. Did you illuminate your house when
the Know Nothing Mayor was elected in the
city of Washington ?
6th. Did you not give particular instruc
tions to your Know Nothing Leader in Minne
sota, not to admit any man that would not
pledge himself to support II: M. ltice the corn
ing election for Delegate ?
These questions are asked in good faith by—
Many Foreign Burn Citizens.
Sad Case of Drowning at Coney Is
land. —The New York Herald says that on
Wednesday afternoon, the 25th ult., a melan
choly accident occurred tolhe bathers of Coney
Island, near the Oceanic House. Rev. John
11. Elliott, of Willamsburg, L. 1., and his
daughter, accompanied by Miss Easton, of
Tenth street, New York, and Mr. Thomas
Gibbons, went into the surf to bathe. The un
der-current carried the party into deep water,
and Mr. Elliott and his daughter were drown
ed. Miss Easton was saved by means of a
plank.
The peril of Miss Elliott was seen by a Mr.
Gibbons, the affianced husband of the lady,
who immediately waded and swam to where she
struggled in the water, and succeeded in hold
ing her up for some time. The greatest excite
ment prevailed at the moment the tragedy was
being enacted, and no one seemed able to of
fer any assistance. The couple were borne out
rapidly, and those on the shore gave them up
for lost, when it was seen that Mr. Gibbons
had secured a piece of timber, and had seized
it for support, but unfortunately it was not large
enough to uphold both, and Mr. Gibbons dis
engaged himself from Miss Elliott and told
her to grasp the suspenders of his bathing dress
behind, while he held on to the wood. This
she did for a time; hut with a true woman’s
devotion, seeing that her lover was sinking,
and fearing that he would drown, she suppress
ed in that moment of peril, when the horrors of
death were clustering around her, the selfish
instinct of her nature for life, and let go her
hold, though lie begged her for God’s and her
own sake to never mind him,l ut herself. She
soon sank and was seen no more. Mr. Gib
bons was fortunately drifted towards a point of
the island where he found a foothold, and was
dragged ashore by means of ropes.
Solomon Kuh, Brother & Co. — We call
attention to the advertisement of these gentle
men. Wc know nothing about them, hut those
who wish any of their instruments, shopld call
and sec them.
That Oi.d Bridge. —The old bridge in
Jackson street, is being removed in order that
the gully, near the Temperance House, can he
filled in. This will he' a great improvement
to the lower part of the city.
th IT” The water in the St. Croix River is
gradually rising, and as a consequence, the
lumbermen are rejoicing.
Strincs. —Our cotemporaries arc talking of
the many strings Mr. Rice has to pull in the
present campaign. He should he careful, or
he may get one around his neck—political death
will follow.
The weather was cool and delightful
on Saturday. Rivers on the rise, and smiling
faces quite numerous.
Tiic Upper Levee begins to present
a business-like appearance.
JgCiF” Matt Ward, who shot the Yankee
schoolmaster in Kentucky, is a candidate for
Congress in Texas—so says an exchange.
Cholera in Connecticut. —The cholera
has made its dreadful appearance in the valley
of the Connecticut. The telegraph states that
three cases of the regular Asiatic type, occurred
at Portland, Ct., and one at Middletown, on
Monday.
Vermont Democratic Nominations.—
The Administration Democrats of Vermont
held a State Convention at Montpelier, oi\the
25th uit., and made the following nominations
for State officers:—For Governor, Merritt
Clark, of Poultney; for Lieut. Governor, Stod
dard B. Colby, of Montpelier; for Treasurer,
John W. Page, of Montpelier.
CyThe lightning has been very destructive all
through the country this year, no less than eight
persons having been killed by it.
We trust it will not be necessary to ask
our delinquents twice to pay up what they owe us.
We want the money.
Wixoxa Co.—An intelligent citizen of Winona
writes:—
“ In this County the Republicans will be able
to sweep everything. Rice has but little show
outside of the Land Office and the Argus printing
office.”
The Rights or Schoolmasters and Pa
rents.—A case of considerable interest was
tried before Justice Ladd, of Cambridge on
Saturday. A citizen of Newton was complain
ed of for an assault upon the master of a school
at that place. It appeared that the master was
in the habit, as is now the general custom, of
keeping the child of the defendant, with other
scholars after school hours to learn her lessons,
which had been imperfectly recited during the
school hours. The parent believing the deten
tion illegal, went to to the school house and de
manded his child. This was after regular
school hours. The master said that the child
should go as soon as she had recited her lesson.
The parent attempted to enter the school room
to take his child; but the entrance was resisted
by the master, and the assault upon the master
tvas the result. The Court ruled that the keep
ing of a child until the lessons of the day had
been perfected, was legal; that the parent in
attempting to enter the school room, in opposi
tion to the will of the roaster, was wrong; that a
child placed at school by the parents is under the
control of the master, until regularly dismissed,
and that a parent cannot withdraw the child
during the day against the master’s will, ex
cept through the intervention of an officer and
a school committee. The defendant was fined
S3O and costs.— Boston Trav.
FIRE EIWINES—*AR«E ARB SMALL.
A few weeks ago we noticed the Fact that
the Common Council of this city, refuaed to
purchase a small File Engine of Messrs.
Ritchie & McCloud, for the use of the city, the
objection being that the apparatus was too small.
We disapproved of the action of the Council
then and do now, simply because St. Paul needs
a Fire Department and a Fire Engine, and in
asmuch as the city was unable to purchase a
large machine, we considered the purchase of
the small one as absolutely necessary to meet
the wants of the citizens, whose property is now
left to the mercy of the fiery elements. The
day of small things should not be despised, and
some small things are preferable to large ones.
For the benefit of the “City Fathers,” whose
united wisdom decided that the present Fire
apparatus in this city was of no account, we
copy the following remarks from a lecture “on
an improved Fire system,” and commend them
to their careful consideration. The lecture was
delivered by WmT W. Hill, and is reported in
the New EnglaaiFarmer. After speaking of
the present cost of sustaining a Fire Depart
ment, Mr. Hill proceeded to discuss two point*
“ First, is our present system for the preven
tion of fires, efficient? And second, can it bo
made efficient without too great an expenditure of
money? To the first proposition he replied no.
In the country, the engine is often a mile or two
from the burning building, and time is required
before the firemen cm assemble to take the engine
to the tire, and after they get there no reservoir
of water is at hand for their use. Their efforts
are consequently almost useless, and the building
is destroyed. The same is true in a great measure
in regard to cities. This displays the inefficiency
of the present system. Before the department
can get to work, they are powerless before a son
of fire. Our engines are so large and costly, and
it takes so many men to handle them, who also
want compensation, that it is put out of the pow
er of nearly all country towns to keep a sufficient
number to meet ali emergencies.
Taking up the second proposition, the lecturer
forcibly argued that the present system could be
made more efficient, and cheaply too. By the
substitution in Cambridge, for instance, —wboro
they maintain several large engines at an annual
expense of -$11,400, and valued $20,000, —of 100
small engines costing $230 each,with thirty feet
of hose, which would throw a three-eighth inch
stream upon the roof or into the windows of any
ordinary dwelling house, having them distributed
in different parts of the city, they would in loss
than one year pay for themselves by the decreased
losses from fire which would follow by such a sys
tem. Nearly every dwelling would be in tho im
mediate neighborhood of ono ol these engines,
which could be worked with less than half of the
labor now expended upon the large ones, and half
a dozen of them could be upon the ground in a
very few minutes after the alarm was given.—
They would also tend to lessen the losses by fire,
in the obstacle which they would he in the way of
the incendiary through the celerity with which
fire can hi extinguished with them. The}- would
put out ten fires where a large one docs one. Nu
merous cases were cited to sustain these views.
There arc more than one hundred towns in this
commonwealth, which arc entirely unprotected,
while the whole farming interest is in a helpless
condition in case of fire. The small engines, tho
speaker said, had been tested, and found fully
competent to do all that large engines could do,
and in -re than that, would put out a fire before
large engines could be brought to the spot. Their
efficiency has been witnessed by great numbers of
people. The lecturer’s plan is to have a firo de
partment including both small and large engines,
the former to act chiefly as preventives of de
structive fires, and the latter on lofty buildings
and where the fire lias made great headway beforo
being discovered. By the use of one small engine
upon the first breaking out of the disastrous fires
which have occurred in San Francisco, millions of
dollars might doubtless have been saved.
Another argument in favor of small engines is,
that where a town introduces ten or twenty, tho
citizens, witnessing their efficiency and cheapness,
will introduce) others as a special protection for
their own premises—so that the number will bo
indefinitely increased, and the chances of loss by
(ire consequently vastly lessened. Captain Barni
coat, the late veteran chief of the Boston Fire De
partment, had told the lecturer that he considered
the present engines in that city as too large, and
that smaller ones would possess groat advantages
over them.
Another consideration urged by the lecturer
was, that our numerous school-houses, academies,
colleges, alms-houses,&c., arc entirely unprotect
ed from sudden fire, and thus the lives of the in
mates arc greatly hazarded. This danger could
be obviated by having a small engine in the build
ing.
Upon the conclusion of the lecture, some re
marks were made by Mr. Wu. Hall, Representa
tive from Brudfoid, who commended the views
advanced by Mr. llill, and cited cases where his
observation corroborated the statements made by
bint. lie also alluded to the bad moral influences
which cluster around the present fire system, and
which operate so unfavorably upon the young
men connected with them, and lead often to in
cendiarism.”
Arc not the views put forth by Mr. Hill
sensible and reasonable, and do they not put to
blush those who snecringly sought to set at
naught the efforts of those young men, who,
actuated by the desire to form a Fire Depart
ment, assumed the responsibility and purchased
a machine at their own cost in hopes the city
would lake it off their bands? From all we
can learn the small engines will take the pref
erence in the organization of Fire Departments,
and there are many reasons why these ma
chines are preferable in our city to any part of
the Union.
£5?” The Prairie du Chien people are rejoicing
somewhat over the anticipation of a railroad to
that point. The proprietors of the Courior say
that they intend to fit up their office, even at a
loss, so that tbey may be enabled to issue a daily
paper on the arrival of the first train of cars.—
The Cpurier advocates the Republican cause, and
is therefore progressive.
gy The Captain of the clipper ship Sea Witch,
wag murdered by his mate on bis way out. Ihe
mate has been arrested.
gy Every man carries a world within himself,
by knowing which, be may know all the rest of
mankind.
gsgr paring the recent storm of Wednesday
last, the lightning struck the store of Chambers k
Hedderly, Minneapolis. The Democrat says:
The fluid entering the chimney, tearing it to
pieces,passed down into the store, tore ap the floor,
ripped open a keg of tobaoco, sundered a tea chest,
flashed off a small quantity of powder in a keg
which was in one corner of the room, and after
doing sundry other antics, glided along the floor
to the counting room, passing the bodies of Mr. .
Chambers and a boy, who were sleeping upon the
floor, stunned and bruited them both so much so
ns to confine the latter to his room for a few days;
and from thence it entered the cellar, bursted in
the head of a vinegar barrel, emptying the con
tents npon the ground, and then, as if satisfied
with its work of destruction, buried itself in the
earth.
gy Hie Matthias Ward, named as a candidate
for Congress in Texas, is not the murderer, but a
highly respectable gentleman.