WRECK AND BURNINO
173133
Steamer Independence
ONE HOMED AND TWENTY-NINE LIVES LOST!
Terrible gloms on the Beach I
The steamer Star of the West, which arrived at
NOV York on Tuesday, brings intelltget ce from the
miming steam chip Independence, being the total
loss of that verael, with one handred Ind ttecaly-nine
Liner.
We copy the fopouing, detailed and painful
narrative from the San' Francisco Whig and Adcer
tiser of the Ist inst., the Editors of which paper
procured the particulars foun D. J. B Tnitricvp,
Surgeon oh the Independence, and true of the sur
vivors!
The island upon which the ill-fated steamer was
wrecked Is situated on the &fast of Lower Calithe
Ma, 167 miles, north of the point known as the
Ceps'! St. Picas. The coast it; thtaiegion, bold
and rock bourfil, is in many places inaccessible for
vessels or, boats, and presents an iron bat-liar to the
luckless ship coasting its projectioue. The spot
where the steamer struck was en a point of sand
beach, extending seaward torn the coast of the.is
land, bat coveted at high water.
The steamer was going under a fine head of
steam on the 16;h of Febtuary, when at daybreak,
though betore the light was perfectly c.ear, she
suddenly struck and stopped. The land could be
seen towards the coast,- but very intlisenctly. At
the moment the vessel struck, an indescribable
scene of eottfetsion occurred on board. A rush was
ma t te by the passengers to the various ha!ChWa
end the upper deck was soon entirely crowded
with human being s . Capt. Sampson was on the
wheel house , and at once ordered the eitgir.eer to
back her, which was done, the steamer backing a
with apparent ease. The land at this time appear
ed on the larboard bow, and made out in a narrow
point or cape; the sea was mime!), anti the steam
er drawing seven leet of water ; nu breakers were
visible from any quarter. The concussion was riot
violent, but df such fore., as to arouse the whole
ship, and in a few momenta every soul on board
was oa the uppet deck.
As soon as the vessel was backed into deep wa
ter, Cap'. Sampson gave secret orders that the
pumps should be sounded, when it was discovered
that there were eight feet of water in di t hold. It
was of importance that this alarming tact should be
kept from the passengers, to prevent confusion,
e trite ins!ant measures were adopted to beach the
ship at the nearest available spot. The news hoW.
ever quickly flew from mouth to mouth, and then
ensued a scene of which no idea can be given,
save :o those who have been-similarly situated.--
Here was the population ol a small town, will, ma
ny women and children, death staring them In the
face, with, no visible means of succor at hand.—
A rush was at once made for the most valuable ar
ticles of private property. Marty were thus tram
pled and bruised. Bu' it was soon found that the
ship could not be kept afloat and her head was poin•
tad up the coast with the intention to, beach her in
some convenient sate pkce. To facilitate this, an
immense amount of dry wood was heaped into the
furnaces, and a heavy head of steam kept up. Our
informant thinks that that must have run up the
coast nearly five miles before a snitable place was
foetid. During this time quiet had been somewhat
restored on board, and the greatest -anxiety was
manifested its the progress of the vessel. Daylight
had now dawned, anti they found themselves run
ning along a rock-bound coast, surmounted by stu
pendous mountains, entirely destitute of verdure
and apparently uninhabited.
At length a large guile) , or ravine was discover
ed, which appeared to make out into a sand beach,
and into this nook the bows ol the steamer were
turned. The crowd was now so great around the
stem to avoid the anticipated danger of theconeus
sion, that the helmsman could with difficult steer
the ship. She wart, however, beached hand -rime
ly and with considerable force. ilati ilea been the
only danger, there is no &edit diet every soul on
board would have been saved ; but in the elm lions
to get up steam 'to hurry the vessel's progress a
tremendous heat had been made in the ['enactor ;
the water, now last increasing in the vessel's hold,
stopped the flues and (*stewed the draught in.°
the chimneys ; the furnace doors were of course
burst openautil a vivid volume of dame twenty feet
in length shot into the fire room, (hiving, everybody
before it with the intense hea', and instantly set
ting the wood work into a blaze All efforts to
control the flames were utterly ineflectual, and Iron
this moment the fire ran tepidly over the vessel.—
But iu describing the origin of the fire we have gone
beyond the story dour informant.
When the steamer was beached with her bows
on, and before the flames had broken out, a rush
was mettle for the bows, but the sea thoueh smooth
ofl the shore ran in heavy surf on the beach, arid
-there was a distance of some three hundred yards
between-the vessel and the land. Capt. Samson
now , gave the order to Inver away a boat, and the
Chief Mate with one other undertook to carry a
line to the shore; the progress of the boat was
watched with eager eyes by the assembled multi.
tuJe on-board the ship; but as some of the sailors
on board had predicted, she was swamped by the
surf, the line was lost and the venturers with then
boat were thrown upon the beach, and the two men
barely escaped with their lives. A second boat
was now towered and manned by volunteers from
amour the firemen, who we do not hesitate to say
have shown themselves the most noble-hearted and
heroic of men by their fortitude and courage through
the terrible scenes which followed. These brave
fellows reached the shore and oucceetted in mak
ing a small three inch hauling line fast to a pro.
jocting rock, which was at once hauled taut by .hose
no board. The precise object of this line we do not
perceive, at it seems that immediwe use was not
made of it, and a third boat was lowered by order
oh the Captain This boat was put in charge of
Capt Steel, and experienced shipmaster, who was
• pasiterager on board,
During this time the shin remained immovable,
the surf striking her in the stern and perhaps tend
ing to set her firm in the sand. The third boat
having been lowered, it was found that she was
half fall of meet, and of no service unless bailed
out, and Doctor Conlin sprang into for the purpose;
this effectedisix ladies were passed down into the
boat, among whom were Miss Conway, Mrs. Ha
ley, Mrs. Seymour and Mrs. Cons; there were two
other ladies whose name we have not learned ;
the boat rode the first breaker but was filled and
swamped by the second and those already on shore
rushed in to the rescue of the ladies and dragged
them on to the beach. Doctor Correct was in this
boat and gaining the shore turned towards the ship
at the cries of terror proceeding from her, and be
bald the quarter deck enveloped in flames.
And now ensued one of the most harrowing
scenes ever recorded in the history of shipwreck ;
the flames leaped rapidly across the alter part of
the ship, driving the masses before it, and dozens
sprang into the water and was seen struggling in the
surf. MI the boats were now gone, and it was im
possible to regain the ship from the shore or to ren
der any and succor whatever; dreadful cries and
screams proceeded from the ship, which, mingled
with the roaring of the Sea, the crackling of the
flames and shouting of those on shore, who could
only gaze helplessly on the sight, most have been
an ear of terrer in the lives of these who beLeld it
from the beach As the flames advanced forward,
,the unhappy victims were forced into the sea, and
every surf came freighted with corpses or exhaust
ed half-drowned men, women and children. Such
a scene has never before been witnessed on the
Pacific' coast. To add to the excitement, the flames
had now communicated to the powder magazine,
which exploded, tearing the run and stern to
pieces and splintering aft that portion of the ship;
the two guns surrounded ty the flames, also sent
their solemn booming over the scene.
:Nose who were fortunate enough to get within
reach of their friends on shore, were dragged half
dead out of reach of the surf, while others were
swept around the sterner! the steamer, or out to
sew,: there being a strong current making seaward
from the ship. At one moment Dot less than thirty
corpses and bodies of the dying were in the edge.
of the surf, some.of them divested of clothing. Out
of a party of eighteen Jews who were'on board, 16
perished front the weight of coin it was supposed,
which they attempted to bring with them through
the waves. Tit!. outward current above mentioned
carried off numbers of persons eho were good
swimmers, or floatetLialio would otherwise have
been saved; several women thus floating were
swept away, the baggage much its would float, also
went out with the ebb; none of it was saved by
drifting iu to shot e
have spoken above of the manly conduct of
the sailors, firemen and coal passers Some of
these noble fellows, disregarding their own danger,
seized little children in their arms, or lashed them
itu themselves, and attempted to gain the shore.—
Several are known to have thus sacrificed them
selves. We hive no..space or heart to insect the
Humeroas att c l ing nista:ices of coorage and self
sacrifice of 4 4 4101 we have received OCCOU'ibi. r --
Among the most conspicnourr is that of Mr Tins, of
Sacramento, who lost his life in attempting to save
a eon of Mr. %Valium. They came ashore together
—both .frowned. ale of the firemen, whose name
we did not learn, brought on shore two childieti,
parents were both drowned. Another fire
mtin brought a beautiful boy ashore to his mother
who had just been washed to the beach. Her tics
bind and two children were drowned, and she sup.
posed this chad had shared the same fate The
meeting may be imagined.
The purser of the ship, Mr James Freeborn.
remained upon the deck until maven tufi by the fire
whet , sponging overboard, lie clung to a floating
spar, and, was washed ashore in-etc. tble : ire was
resu-ciiated, but barely escaped wi.h are life,being
attacked with a virulent fever. There is one (be
mire known as Toni Sawyer. a reckless
scamp, but whose feu! e , be they what they may,
should hencelort!, be forgonen ; this helve fellow,
entirely slapped, went to and front the wreck four
times ; lie is only nineteen years of age. After the
third time, and when neatly exhausted with his
exertions lie learned that the Chief Engineer, Mr.
was unable to swim and likely in drown,
lie immediately started pfd again through the surf
with a life preserver, fastened it around the help
less man and accompanied him to the beach ; tie
was also instrutnen al in preset ving, the lives of sev
eral others.
Most of these ashore were too exhausted to ren
der ris , istance to those beating about in the surf.—
People ran about the beach perfectly frantic; one
party attempted to launch a boat to reach the ttea
trier, but it was overwhelmed by the surf, arid this
accident intimidated others so that it was impossi
ble to muster the requisite force to launch a second
Meantime the ship had become a living mass of
fire ; the heat was intense, even on the shore, and
every moment the beach received new accessions
to the list of dead and dying The scene was truly
harrowing, and when at last the steamer was a
charred and smoking hulk, her stern lifted, and she
swung heavily round and went up broadside on
the beach.
Same few provisions were saved from the wreck
such as salt beef, pork, molasses, vinegar, a few
titt cans of preserved meats and some cheese, but
no water, nor was there a.drop of water on the Isl." ,
arid, which we have before observed was 'merry
barren and uninhabited The usual amount of Buf
fering. parkularly among the women and children
was experienced. During the first day attempts
were made by the survivors, after burying the dead
to procure water In condensing steal. 1, but the ex•
periment failed. There were now some two hun
dred and seventy souls congregated on the beach,
and they all went without tasting water for fifty-six
liners : the salt provisions only aggravated their
sufferings.
Shortly after the scene we have described above
a party started for the neighboting mountains, and
on reaching their summit they were enabled to de•
scry Magdalena Bay on the mainland opposite,
from which the island of Margarita is removed
some fifteen miles; here they obsetied four ships
at anchor; they proved to be whalers, busily en
ga6ed iu trying out otl, while beyond, in the vas
panorama, they observed several small 1 oils in
full chase after a a hale, for Magdalena Bay is re
sorted to by whales in the winter season Observ
ing this, the party descended to the wreck, and tbe
chief mare ; the engineers, anti a few others, slung
one of the cannons of the bdependefice, dragged
and lugged it with great toil to the top of the hull,
and with what little powder they had, fired twice
to attract the attention of the a balers ; the boats, in
their pursuit of the whale, had insensibly neared
the eastern shore of the island, arid were at once
attracted by the discharge and the smoke against
the ckar,sky. The sound was also heard by those
onboard the ship*, and signals were ,observed to
go op to each masthead recalling the boats
‘Vhile this system of telegraphing was going on
between the shipwrecked and the whaling fleet,
another party had taken an iron boat belonging to
the steamer and carried it bodily across to the lee
side of the Island, and there launched it to pull for
the fleet ; on their way they fell in with the retur
ning whaling boats, who were obeying the signal
to return. The news of the wreck of the steamer
and the dreadful sufferings of the passengers emus
, ed all the natural instincts of sailor hospitality in
the crews of the ships. Every boat was at once
called into requisition ; they were loaded down
with provisions, and despatched to the scene of the
wreck. The assistance &it, - dot artiste a nu ment
too soon ; the women and children were cornplete
ly exhausted by abstinence, and their sofler!iers by
the deprivation of water was most acme. Purser
Freeborn went on board the ship Omega, Captain
Fisher, where every attention was shown him and
his companions. Captain Fisher also vent direct.
ions that the suflerers should cross over to the lee
side of the island, where boats would be real). to
convey them on board the ships.
Among the incidents cf the day, after the wreck
a child was born on the beach, and is now health.
and thriving ; the mother was carried actoss the
t mountains in a hammock, and evert walked part of
the way to the boats. Many of the passen_ers, es
pecially among the females. suffered much from
want of clothing The dead were buried near the
wreck. Holes were deg in the sand with boards,
and eablecorisse received a separate grave. The
number kriowo to have perished, is one hundred
and forty, and as the graves number sixty, there
were, of course, eighty who were drowned or burn
ed, and whose bodies were not recovered. The
bodiesiuf Mr. Tarr, of Sacramento, Mr. Knox, of
Rhode Wand, and of Senor Limo, of Valparaiso,
were not recovered The last named was a Cha
im gentleman of wealth and standing in Valparai
so ; finding himseff driven into the wrives by the
flames, he turned to a few who were about him
and offered e 50,000 to any person who would as•
gist him to save his lile, but in such a moment
none could Mink of the offer ; seeing that his end
was near, he said " Farewell ! ft is only once !`"
add plunged into the water ; he was very quickly
drowned.
The body of Martin E. O'Meara, an Irishman,
was also lost ; he had many friends in New Or
leans. Dr. Shaw, who was among the passengers,
went back to Mexico by the way of La Paz and
Mazatlan ;he was carried oot by the under-tow of
the surf beyond die steamer but eventually reach
ed the shore byjncreilible exertions. When he
had landed he threw himself upon the beach and
wept like a child. After the Independence - swung
room! broadside te the beach, her coal took tire,
and the sight will long be remembered by those
who saw it. The mass of coal become ignited, and
seen through the blackened ribs of the ship, it gave
her the appearance of a gigantic, grate of coal
fire.
We sincerely trust that this dreadful occurrence
will be thorougSly investigated by the public au
thorities, as in the case of the Lexington in 1838,
and in that of the Reindeer and Henry Clay in la
ter yam A large number of fellow•beings have
been suddenly cut off from existence by the terri.
ble agency of are and shipwreck. Of the cause Of
this lamentable disaster we ere not yet prepared to
speak We hope, however, that in the investiga.
lion about to be made, nothing may be elicited to
mar the confidence of the public in the probity of
the Vandetbili line, or the capability of Capt.Samp
son and his officers. - The sacred mud ol hundreds
ol lives imposed upon a shipsmaster, requires on
hi s p ar t A l b and ability. It is useless for us to die ,
guise the fact that these are questioned by the sur.
vicing passengers of this steamer. Let us condemn
or uphold the character ut Capt. Sampson as the
.vidence shall dictate. In our opinion, want te
honesty and the blackest corruption are not more
worthy of reprobation than a lack of those qualities
that constitute the earelot and experienced sea cap
tain. The destruction of the Independence is probe
bly one ol those untoward a cc id ents w hi c h we fi e .
ble Jo befall the carefullest seaman.
In the list of the lost we find the names-of three
Penns) kat/earls—En C. Rums, T. M. W 11.6011,
and W. A. Sctioriew
azesPactstios
Passengers lost
Crew lust
Total lives lost.. .
Passengers saved.
Crew saved '
Total persons saved
Aggregate numberoo board the Independence 418
President and Vice-President—ail Vacancies
not Provided for.
The act of Congress of March, 1792, in case of
the disability of both President and Vice-President
of the United States, authorizes the President of the
Senate pro fempore. and in case there shall be no
President of the Serta'e, then the Speaker of the
House of Representatives for the time being to act
as President of the Uni.ed States, until the disabil
ity be removed, or ['resident shall be elected. The
act further says : Whenever the offices of Presi
dent and Vice President shall both become vacant,
the Secretary of State shalt forthwith cause a tiolifi
ca•iou to be made to the Executive of every State,
and putiltsited in at least one of the newspapers
printed in each State, specify ing that electors of the
Pt esidein and Voce President of the Urine., States
shall be appointed or chosen in the several States,
within thirty lour days preceding the first Wednes
day in DeZeinber next ensuing, if dime shall be the
space of two months between the date of such noti
fication and the said Wednesday. Bo if there shall
not be tire space of two months between such date
and Wednesday, and if the term for which
the President and Vice President last in office was
shall not expire on the 3d day of March next ensu
ing, he shall specify on the notification that the
electors shalt be appointed or chosen within thirty
four days preceding the first Wednesday in Decem
ber of the year next ensuing, within which time
the electors shall be appointed or chosen ;and they
shall meet and give their votes on such Wednes
day, and the proceedings and duties of the electors
st . a:I he pursuant to the direct fors abovede e.ibe I.
But suppose both the President of the Senate and
the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
be dead, or become incompetent, as might happen
in the event of cholera, or some other pestilential
disease raging at Washington, or the term of those
officers should have expired, on whom then would
the Presidential office fall 1 There seems to be
no provisidn made for such an event. It would
'there appear to an act of high prudence (+eeing
that our lamented Vice President is no more,) for
the National Legi-lature to look carefully into this
subjtct. A competent individual should always
be ready, under some legal enactment, to take up.
on him the Presidential office—at least till the Sen
ate should convene and elect a new presiding offs
cer of their body. whe might by law be President.
Perhaps it would-be bast to assign that duty to the
Chiet Jurice, and in the event of his (heath to one
of the Judges of the Supreme Court, till the Senate
should elect their President, which would, ofeourse
be done in a very short time.
It will b 3 worthy the attention of the members
of Congress to investigate this question, and it will
also be important for them-to examine into their
por.ers, and see to what extent they reach, in the
event of the death of both President and Vice Pres.
istent. If they have the power to direct a special
election, (which the Congress of r 92 thought they
hail,) then it may be proper for them to say wheth
or it is lot the balance of the unexpited tour years,
cr for the full term. The Constitution, however,
does not seem to contemplate a Presidency for a
less term than four years. It runs alas :—" The
Executive Power shall be vested in a ['lenient of
the United States of America. Ile shall hold his
office doting the term at four years, and, together
with the Vice President , chosen for the same peri
od, shall be elected,
The sixth section of the second article of the
Constitution says: " Congress may provide by law
for the case of removal, death, resignation, or ina
bility, both of the President and Vice President of
the United States, declar ing . what officer shall act ;
an I such officer shall act accordingly, until the dis
ability be remove d or a President shall be elect
ed " This passage in the Constitution does not di
rect Congress to order a special election, nor does
it speak of a new one being held. We do not, how
ever, say that Congress may not have the power to
order ono. All that we wish to be understood as
suggesting, in connexion with this subject, is, that
Congress, at its next session, ought not to overtook
it One point was, however, think we have made
apparent, and that is, that as the law now stands,
the United States may be left without a President
to exercise the duties that appertain to that high
office. From such a serious calamity may a kind
Providence protect us.
A THRILLING ScENC.—The ship Trade-Wind,
which took fire on her passage from New York to
San Francisco, had among her passengers eight
mis-ionaries and their families, sent out to Califor
nia and Oregon, by the Home Missionary Society
One of them writes home the following description
of the scene on board :
On the morning of the twenty• first day of our
passage. when in latitude I deg. 14 mins., and lon•
gitude 32 deg+. 38 mins., one of the sa ilors came
running to the officer on the quarter deck, crying
not, The ship is on fire!'' The fire was in the
cargo somewhere, it was supposed, between the
second and thud decks; but how extensive could
riot be immediately ase.ertaitied. A hole was cut
throi.gh the deck, and a stream of water from the
force-pump, which would throw about five barrels
per minute, was thrown in upon the burning mass.
The magazine was hoisted upon the upper deck,
and placed where it could be easily thrown over.
board ; the life boats got out and the provisions and
water, and the clothing which we would need till
we could reach the land, made ready. At this time
another large opening was made, and a box on fire,
was broken to pieces, and the contents passed up
on the deck. Another and another were broken
up in the same marmer, till a place was made large
enough to admit one ofi the sailors, who boldly
went down with the hose in in his hand. He di
reeled it against the burning mass, till he fell ex
hausted on the floor. , He was drag,ged out and
another, as bold as he, came to his place. In a mo•
ment or two he fell like his companion, and was
dragged out insensible, and earned upon the deck
Another and another took his place, and shared his
fate. Thus it went on-till every one of the sixty
sailors had taken his turn. At one time I counted
sixteen of these generous fellows lying together on
the deck. The ladies came from the cabin, and
bathed their heads with cams hot, which would in
most cases bring them to in a short time. As soon
as one was recovered sufficiently to walk, he would
go back and oiler his services again. Several of
them were brought up out of this place as malty as
eight times. On the most of them the gas which
they enhaled seemed to have an effect somewhat
like that of laughing gas, particularly when they
were partially resuscitated. It was no easy matter
to restrain those powerful men when they endeav
ored to throw themselves overboard, or do them
selves or iris some personal harm.
For four hours we labored in this way, and you
may imagine the terror Of. our positions. We could
but fear that the strength olthe men,selfsacrificing
as they were,. would not hold out till the flames
were extinguished.
Mretbrovb ?Aepovter.
Free Sell, Free Speech, Free Men
Freedoms for AINIee l'irrUery.
...114
Towanda, Saturday, April 30, 1853.
... ...... -129
...244
47
-2139
Terms 02 The Reporter.
11121 50 per annum—if paid within the year 80 cents will
re deducted—rot cub paid actually ill advance $1 00 will be
deducted. No paper sent overtwo years, unless paid (or.
Ativattrismemers, per square of ten lines. 50 cents for the
drst and 25 cents (or each subsequent insertion.
El - Office in the Union Block," north side of the Public
Squaretext door to the Bradford Hotel. Entrance between
Messrs. Adameand Elwell's law offices.
CANAL COMMISSIONER.
THOMAS H. FORSYTH, or PHILA. CO
•tniiron GENERAL.
EPHRAIM BANKS, OF MIFFLIN, Co
FOR SURVEYOR GENERAL.
J. PORTER BRAWLEY, or CRAWFORD CO
By the last advices from California, we have re
ceived intelligence of the death of Lieutenant ED.
RUSSELL, of the 4th Infantry, U. S. A. It appears
from the report, that in consequence of the numer
ous depredations committed by the Indians in Co
lusa county, Lieut. R was ordered by Col Wright
to that part of the country, and when on his way to
a ranch in the mountains, he had met and captured
same eight or ten, whom he immediately disarm.
ed, placing their bows and arrows in the hands of
his interpreter, an Indian boy. He then continued
his course in tte direction of the ranch.
In a short time, he, together with his guide, in
terpreter and prisoners, being some distance in ad
vance of his men, got still further separated from
them in consequence of each party taking a differ
ent direction around a bill. It was while going
around this hill, that the Indians, snatching their
arms from the boy, fell upon Lieut. 11 At the time
of the attack the guide, an old mountain man, was
about one hundred yards behind, bat before ne could
reach the ground the Indiana had unhorsed the un
fortunate Lieutenant, and beaten his brains out with
clubs—but not before he had shot one of the Indians
dead and wounded a second, and the guide killed
some two or three more, the remainder making
their escape. Lieut. IL had seven arrows in his
body.
Lieut. R•tsselt was a native of Windham town•
ship, in this county, and about 32 years of age.—
He entered the Military Academy at West Point in
1842, and graduated in 1846 with high honors—
immediately after graduating he was attacl.ed to
7th Infantry and ordered to Fort Smith, in Arkan
sas, where he remained until the spring of 1847,
when he was transferred to the 4ib Infantry, and im
mediately joined his Regiment which was then on itis
way from Vera Cruz to Mexico, under Gen. Scott.
In the battle of Cherubusco he took an active part,
and at the storming of Chapultivec, he was assign
ed an important put by the commanding officer,
being paced in charge of a heavy battery, and for
fee skill with which he discharged this duty, receiv•
ed a flatlet ing compliment from Gen. Scott in his ot•
flcial report. At the battle of Nlolino Delßay, he
was in the thickest of the fight, his company being
almost entirely cut to pieces in this engagement—
Fur his gallant conduct upon this occasion, he was
immediately promoted:to the rank of Ist Lieut. Since
the close of the Mexican war, Lieut.. R., has, for
the most of the time, been in command of the
Fort at Sant Ste Mare, until the last sommer, when
he was ordered with his Regiment to California to
protect the citizens of that country from the num
erous bands of marauding Indians, and in the
performance of which duty he lost his life. Lieut.
Russell leaves a very extensive circle of relatives
in this county, to whom the news of this horrid and
untimely end, will be an affliction.
MAY PARTY.-.A party will be given by C. F.
listuna in Putrid's Hall, Athens, on Wednesday
evening next, May 4th. The spaciou; saloon fitted
up by Mr. Pyratcx has no equal in the County, as
to size and convenience. That ihe arrangements
for this affair, will be in splendid style, no one will
question.
(I* Among the Railroads incorporated by the
late Legislature of this State, we find the " Towanda
and Franklin Railroad Company" and the tr Tunk
hannock Railroad Company," which latter road is
a branch of the Canton and Waverly Road, extend
ing down the river from Towanda to Tunkhannock.'
Later from Havana and Mexico
NEW Vona, April 17.--The Steamship Black
IVarrior, with Havana dates to the 12th mat, arriv
ed about noon.
On the 9:11, 45 political prisoners, charged with
insurrectionary attempts, were shipped for Ca'2iz,
there to await the decision of the Queen. Among
them were those who were recently condemned
to death, but reprieved at the garotte. There was
a number r monk them of high-standing, including
Count Pasas Dulces, Joaquin Fottusi and others
They were allowed to receive the visits of their
friends be lore departing.
A private letter gives the following additional
names of the prisoners :— Louis EJ wardo Chrism,
a landed proprietor; Juan Gonzales Alvarez, a
wealthy plants' ; Joaquin Miranda, a lawyer edu.
mated in Conflation! ; Senor Pinto, also a lawyer ;
Gassie, a doctor of laws • and Francisco Valcez,
who was at the head of& cartridge Manufactory.
The English Mail Steamer Avon, arrived at Ha.
vana on the 10th, from Vera Cruz
Gen Santa Anna landed there on the Ist, and
was received with much enthusiasm On the sec.
ond, he issued a proclamation to the people of
Mexico, in which he makes magnificent promis
es for_ther regeneration of his beloved country
Hostarted for the capital on the 6:h ills,.
Some excitement has been occasioned at Hay
ana by the detection of a conspiracy amon g
. the
prisoners confined in the city prison. They had
procured arms, and intended to rise upon their
keepers. The ringleader was a German, who for
merly occupied The position of cashier in a mercan
tile house and had been imprisoned for embez
zling the funds of his employers. A German at
fetched to the Revere House has also been arrested
for participation in the conspiracy.
Martin Gallianb, the tate Secretary of the Capt
ain General, has been married to Mies Scull, the
daughter of an American, long a resident of the
Island.
E. 0. GOODRICH, EDITOR.
Democratic State Nominations.
Death of Lieut. Russell. 1,4
ntrat Conitnlttee.
The P f esiden of the late Democratic Slate Con;
vernier!, onnou.ces the following Slate Central
Committee, in “nformity with the resolution of the
Convention, dir cling him to appoint 'the Commit
tee. The Corn • Wes will meet at the Merchant's
Hotel, the Ci yof Philadelphia, on Saturday, th e
21st day of May, at 4 oclock P. M. .The Demo
cratic papers in the State will please publish this
notiee.
In order to m , ke a convenient and effective or
ganization thru shout the State, it Will be proposed
to constitute a t eneral State Committee .of Corre&-
pindence, pom .osed of one from each County, In
view of this arangement, the Den °crane Standing
Committee of , sch County is requested to nomi
nate one mem .er for said Committee, and forward
thei nomination to the subscriber-in time to lay be
fore the meeti of the State Central Committee to
be held on the Ist of May.
Philatlelphia April 21, 18.53.
STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE.
John A. Ahl Cumberland.
Hon. James Burnside, Centre.
William Bart.;er, Philadelphia.
Henry B. Beardi:lee, Wayne.
Hon. Byron D. Hamlin, McKean.
Hon. Charles H. Backalew, Columbia.
William Curtis, Philadelphia.
Hon John Cessna, Bedford
James C. Clirk, Westmoreland.
Francis C. (tarson, Dauphin.
Hon. William Dock, Dauphin.
Hon. John L. Dawson, Fayette.
Henry L Deiflenbach, Clinton.
John C. Ev
F, Berks.
Hon. Thom B. Florence, Philadelphia.
Oliver B. F etz, Montgomery.
John W. F rhey, Philadelphia.
Hon. Robe I Fisher, York.
Thomas S. Fenton, Philadelphia: -
Hon. %Whim Goodwin, Philadelphia
David Lyn h, Allegheny.
Charles H Hunter, Berks.
Charles M t Halt, Schuylkill.
George T Harvey, Bucks
Wm. H Ifutter, Northampton.
Jas Y. James, Warren.
Thomas Jameson, York.
Owen Jones, Montgomery.
Hon. R Kneass, Philadelphia.
Samuel G. King, Philadelphia.
Hon. John S. McCalmont, Clarion.
Henry S. Mott ; Pike
R. Emtnet Monaghan, Chester.
William H. Miller, Perry.
John O'Brien, Philadelphia.
Benjamin Parke, Dauphin.
Henry M. Phelps,_Philadelphia. --
George Pitt, Philadelphia.
Hon. James W. Qniggle, Clinton.
James L. Reynolds, Lancaster.
Levi Reynolds, Deleware.
J. L Ringwalt, Monroe.
Hon. John Robbins, Jr , PhilaJelphia.
Edmund N. Stagers, Philadelphia.
Hon. George Sanderson, Bradford,
T. J. P. Stokes, Philadelphia.
.F. B. Streeter, Susquehanna.
Thomas S Stewart, Philadelphia.
Hiram B. S. warr, Lancaster.
James C Vandve, Philadelphia.
Richard Vaux, Philadelphia.
Harrison Wright, Luzerne.
George Williams, Philadelphia.
-W. W Wise, Jefferson.
Him. 1V illiam H. Wine, Philadelphia.
William Henry Welsh, York.
Preparing Food for Arctic Voyagers.
The second Giinneil expedition for the iiiscovery
of Sir John Franklin-, which is soon to leave our
shores, takes with it an admit-a:4 systematized
dietry—the result, evidently, of much careful study
For low , Marches, where the labor of „carriage re
quires tie greatest economy of is eight, a condone.
ea and portable food becomes of paramount impor
tance. Until very lately the rifle was the larder of
the frontiers-man, but we are now in the midst of a
great exodus. Alen, women and children strike
out into our western deserts, and the vast interspace
between our Antlantic and Pacific civilizations, is
a mass of moving life. We think that a valuable
practical lesson might be taught to such emigrants,
by the preparation of this little Arctic Party. They
take out with them, the meat biscuit of Borden, the
desiccated vegetables of Cholet, the impacted millk
cake of :he Messrs Abhatt, and the Pem-can of the
Indian voyageurs The meat biscut has. after (ire
ful experiment, been adopted by Dr. Kann fir his
sledge journeys. It combines the essential. ele.
ments of flour and beef, and six ounces a day have
been proved to be sufficient to sustain lile, while
in active exercise. Sir Lyon Mayfair, who analys
ed this article at the IVorld's Fair, reports to lingual.
ified terms as to its value. The vegetables are dri
ed by rapidly changing atmosphere, ai,d compress
ed by hydraulic power so Is to occupy an !neon.
ceivably small bulk. The milk, which is destined
to do away with passenger eows, was as hard as a
brick-bat, but with the aid - of a little -water, was
hardly distinguishable from breakfast cream. But
the great stand-by, the sheet anchor of Arctic voy
agers, was the Pemican. All our Northern Indian
trioes, but especially the Crees and Chippewyans,
use this -preparation for their long marches. It con
sists of the pounded meats of the moose orbulialo,
carefully dried by fire and sun, and incorporated
with tat or marrow. The word Pemis, which, in the
Algonquin, signifies grease, is probably the origin
of the term. The Pemican of the American expe
dition was prepared on a large scale from beef, and
in its manufacture we were much interested. We
were shown into a large kiln of some twenty-five
feet square, heated to a temperature of about 140
degrees Fahrenheit, and completely filled with beef
Masks. No less than 4,000 lbs of carefully cut
rump pieces were strung upon wooden frames, and
undergoing the process of drying The steak, when
dried to one-fourth of its original weight, was
ground in a mill to the size of pounded hommony,
and then mixed with an equal weight of pure lard
Four thousand pounds of meat and one of lard will
make about two thousand of this concentrated die f,
and the scale of Dr. Kane's rations for his final
sledge journey over the Polar ice, is limited to two
pounds per man per diem of this novel compound
of beef and grease.
M ARRI ED,
In Towanda, on the 24th inst., by the Rev. S. F.
Colt, Mr. JOSRPiI C. TANNER. of Binghamton, to
Miss MATiLnii C. Taraon, of the former place.
EXECUTOR'S NOTICE
ALL persons indebted to the estate of JAMES
LAMB, dec'd late of LEROY 'twp., are
hereby requested to make immediate payment and
those having claims against said estate, will
please present them duly authenticated for settle
ment. EDMUND KELLY,
April 30,1853. Executor.
ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTICE.
T ETTERS of administraton having been granted
'A the undersigned by the Register of Bradford
county, on the estate of Daniel O'Keefe, late of said
county, deceased ; all persons indebted to said es
tate are hereby notified to make immediate payment
to the undersigned, and those having claims against
said estate will present them duly authenticated for
settlement- CATHARINE O'KEEFE,
JEREMIAH AHEARN, Adrers
JOHN FLYNN,
April 14,1859.
ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTICE. A LL persons indebted to the estate of l'Oseph
Brigham, dec'd late of Rideberry tp. are hereby
requested to make payment without delay : and all
those having demands against said estate will pre
sent them duly althenticated for settlement.
WM. I- FULLER,
April 20. IBM. Administrator.
EARLY PP AS.—A quantity of early Peaa in pa.
pers and packages ; also, by the quart, peck or
bushel, at ern MERCUR'S.
SPRING' GOO,iRs
uaaaftlni,
I. now receiving a large assortment of an ki nds
or
SPRING and SUMMER GOODS, which wa l
positively be sold cheaper than the cheapest ;
and see.
Towanda. April 29, 1853.
NEW SPRING GOOD.
THE subscriber has just returned from the
with a very large and most superiur
r it ,
ion of
g:lure &MD sumanza seeps,
which in if spent to style and prices will ling o ,
tionably give satisfaction to all that may favor z
with a call. JOSEPH KINGBEIERV.
Towanda, April 30, 1953.
WM L. H 1 UST.
Carpeting.
S EVERAL new pieces of Carpeting added to t h e
etoek, making the assortment good, for ; al e ,
the moat reasonable terms.
BOOKS AND STA TIONIRY.
An extensive eatalongue of School and NESet"
newts BOOKS and' STATIONARY, itw rtcerr"eda.
which will be sold at the Lowest prices.
April, 30,1853. 1138 * It INUSBERY
_ _
Grocery and Provision Store.
11177 OPOO3r.
T HE subscriber being desirous or eL l argmtr, 113
business at the old stars , ' (corner of Main as!
Bridge streets) would respectfully announce to inp
citizens of Towanda, and victntiy, that he a •a,t
receiving from New York, and is now uperon?Ar
sale a large aseortment of
GROCERIES,
such as teas, sugars, coffee rice inolasses,nirraa's
syrup, tobacco, ginger peper, spice, dor m tice,
nutmeg, cinamon, saleralus, cream tarar,
ground mustard, pepper sauce, catsup, candles, bar
and shaving soaps. vinegar, starch, drc. lie hi
also on hand a large stock of
PROI*IS
including hams and shoulders, Mackerel, etv! .
herring, potatoes, beans, driettaltpleA, wheat
lard, butter, cheese, soda, butter and Boston Cray,.
ere ; also, most kinds of fruit and nuts, presers.
prunes, citron, figs, raisins, oranges and lena , t. , ,
together with a large stork of German, Frenei
ay
American TOY:3 of coepy description and pm,
a"7 Please give him a tall before purchari:
elsewhere,;,l A. J. NOBLE
Towanda, April 30,1833.
CANAL LETTING.
QEA LED PROPOSALS, will be received at
k...) Canal Office in Towanda until G o'clock, P.. 11
of Saturday the 7th day of May 1853, r :he cur.
struction of twu and five eights miles, co the Not
Branch Extensto k Pennsylvania Canal, being snit
part of the Extension lying between section A. lc
the State line, comprising three sec! ,on 4 nd
Loch.
- Bids will be received, staling a cross sum.
nishing all materials and couNtracttng the ent* ,
work, or the price per t.. , eccion, at the 0p..:
bidder.
Proposals must contain names in fu!: of a 74r.
nershfps or tirtnq„ Lle:.lgna ling the r.,art.s: p
fice. By threctlon of the 8,a,.1 tar.% r 7.'"
MIME
Supt. N. B. E. PPn:,'a. o
Canal Office, Towanda, Apr:: !I, 1.3' , :3
_
WORLD'S FA;R
PRIZE CHURN!
INVENTED Di W. 11. DAVIS, STErEIN CO..
TO this CHl'fiN was awarded tha PreTcom t.
the late Fair of all Na:wris he'd ',antic.—
It also took the Premium an he I P
.'a r.
Fair, hell in Toronto, in i a; , , , :e:r
ed a silver Medal and Dip! , ma at the Fair of
New Enaland Mei hanic's Char: able A.ssoc.a.es
held in Boston, October, 1850. lii Sh rt ht, :t.•
en the first Premium at all t , tate and Couz.o
wherever it has been exhibiied, and is an 7 , 4 . 50
approvef by all Dairy-Mat and Da: ,
where they have become acquainnd snit
This CHURN is constructed I r tin N,Iti:,.siTS
ERING. WORKING AND 141TiVG run 11l TIER '
CO - These CELLPRATED 4 - 111'11` , . are Mar.:aeer•
ed and sold I , y WELLS & . 1' a nda, Peril
nearly opposite the Ward House.
Tow.rnda. April 21. IS:3. _ _
ALL persona indebted t:, ihe estwe Thos.
Bennight, dec'd, late of R:.izbufy lon'iLP, are
hereby requested to make immediate ?37.mvu. and
those having claims against said e•tve. ouf
present thew duly authenticated for w,;etneat.
PHEBE BENNIGHT.
Etectrrt.
April 21, 1883
TAKEN 171'.
JAMES T. TAYLOR, took up. ,n the 1311330
1.1 of April, 1853, 2 ordmarr stied arks witc
were afloat in the Susquehanna river ; said
appear to have been made, at least a year agu, an:
are composed of about 3000 teet oC Lumb'r": l
Towanda, April 21. 1852. J. T. TAYLOR.
• PAPER HANGINGS.
THE only assm tment of Paper Hangingi kett.t
this vicinity, with a fresh stock rst convat
at unusually low prices. 0. D. BARTLETT.
Towanda, Apr)! 21, 1853.
RDEN SEED.—Every kind of n ••!
rien •
..1
Gfor sale at np2l NlEliar ,.
. _
\X TATERED RIBBONS.—.I new artlc!e s ,‘p , trt
V calved at 422 ~ YtIERL lR
.._,
Apprentice Wanted.
4
BOY about 17 years of age, she can ''V
well recommended as to moral chntacterk.:
can get a situation as an apprent , re to the TO
PIING bnainesa by applying 1m medt3te/c to
Towanda, April 15, 1853. HALL a-
NEW AND CHEAP GOODS
OD. BARTLETT, is now receiving a wr
• and carefully selected dock 01
NEW GOODS,
bought for cash since the late decline la Pr' .6 s
which he will offer for ready pay at pi.m
cannot fail to give satisfaction—amonO crt '"" c
-he invites particular attention to his- asscaseal
Dress Goode.
Towanda, Aped 15, 1858.
_
341/1101S TIMACDAILLASIO
ATTORNEY AT LAW, TOWANDA.
Offitee in the north end of the Ward llo,e , e,(! 1 : , '!"
by Laporte. Nlason & Co.)
Towanda, March. 5, 187)3. - -
. for I ' s
Bingham L im e,- -
ton Stone
O UR arrangemente are now complete for rrlP . l ,t '
lag any quantity of this celebrated lime to,
from the Kiln at short notice and low prire.:ll,l6
ranted good or no sale. - WELLS 6:1LOO•
Athens, April 23, 1853:
To Contractors and Others.
TOTE have on band, pork. beef, butter, CO'rn W,
wheat, buckwheat, beans, dried applet.: f 3 t6 4
feed, iron, steel, shovels, bars, powder, fo
il
°
tea, coffee, sugar, molasses, soap, tobacco, sa
cement for sale as cheap as at any other house;
Athens, April 23, 11353. WELLS 6r,
Nails and Glass.
ALARGE supply uf Nails and Windom Goef
almost every size for sale at MERCI'IfS
April 22, 1853.
Nan %belittlements
Ile WC 111,11 V
LtIZiVil.E.
and ratcuted Apr
EXECUTOR'S ;No . ICE