4
NEW BLOOMFIELD, TENN'A.
Tuesday, April 7, 1874.
The contcBt for United States Senator
still continues in the Massachusetts Legis
lature. Neither party appears disposed to
give way and it is impossible to tell what
the result will be ; but it does not seem pos
sible that eithor of tho present Republican
candidates, Dawes, .or Hoar can bo elected.
TnmiE was considerable excitement
throughout the State during tho past ten
days on account of a threatened riot of
considerable proportions at Susquehanna
Dopot, on tho Erie rail road. About
1,000 hands had gathered there and for a
timo stopped all trains. Tho Shoriff of
the county of Susquehanna called upon
the Governor of this State for aid, and
troops wore sent on Saturday a week. This
move had tho desired effect, and tho trains
now run as usual. Most of tho troops woro
cnt home on Thursday last, while a few
remain to guard the shops until matters
get fully settled down. The strike origina
ted in the neglect of the company to pay
the February wages, as promised.
The Judicial Districts.
The following is the Judicial Apportion
ment under tho new bill, which, became a
law last week :
1 Philadelphia.
2 Lancaster.
S Northampton.
4 Tioga, Potter Mc-
Ecan and Cameron.
5 Allegheny.
6 Erie.
7 Bucks.
8 Northumberland.
9 Cumberland.
10 Westmoreland.
11 Iozerne.
Id Dauphin & Lcban'c
13 Bradford.
14 Fayette & Greene.
15 Chester.
10 Bedford and Bom-
creet.
17 Butler fc Lawrence,
18 Clarion ii Jelferson.
19 York.
20 Union, Snyder and
Minim.
21 Bchuyklll.
2a Wayne and IUko.
23 Borks.
24 Huntingdon, Blair
and Cambria.
25 Centre, Clearfield
and Clinton.
20 Columbla.Snllivan,
Wyoming & Montour.
27 Washington.
28 Venanpo.
29 Lyeominir.
30 Crawford.
31 Lehigh.
82 Delaware.
33 Armstrong.
84 Susquehanna.
35 Mercer.
SO Beaver.
87 Warren, Forest and
Elk.
38 Montgomery.
89 Franklin and Ful
ton.
40 Indiana.
41 Juniata and Perry.
42 Adams.
43 Carbon and Mon-
Disnstroug Fire at Mlllcrstown.
Millerstown, Butlor Co., April 1. A
fire, broke out here at half-past one this
morning, in tho Central Hotel, from gas
used in the building, as is supposod. Seven
persons were burnod to death, their bodies
being recovered. The names of the vic
tims are as follows : Norah Carty of
Fleasantville ; George Deet, a German ;
Captain Oliver, oil operator ; Martin Phil
lips and Sanford Acert, drillers. The names
of the other two are unknown.
Norah McCarty jumped from a third.
story window of the Central House, and
was badly injured, but is still alive.
Ninety-six buildings in all, have been
burned. . More persons are thought to
have been burned, but have not yet been
recovered. The loss as far as ascertained,
is $232,800; insurance, 134,850.
A Brave Watchman.
Jersey City, March 80 At midnight
last night four masked robbers entered
Jacob Glass's house, 128 Railroad avenue,
where Mr. Muller, watchman of Dommills
& Brothers' jewelry manufactory sloops.
They seized and bound him, and 'two re
mained as sentinels while tho other two
ransacked the house for the keys of the
manufactory. They failed to find them
and threatened Muller with death. lie
firmly refused to deliver up the keys, and
the robbers gathered bedding togother,
saturated it with oil and But it on (ire
They then went out, leaving Muller to a
horrible death. Fortunately he succeeded
in breaking the bandages on bis legs and
gave an alarm. He was rescued, narrowly
with life. The house was totally consumed,
The thieves escaped.
'Plymouth church, Brooklyn, was
never so crowded as it is now, and Mr,
Beecher really seems to be at the height,
both of his popularity and power. This
church has GOO free seats free to the first
corner, and the pews are rented with the
depress condition that the ushers may fill
up all vacancies when service begins. It is
estimated that at least 1,000 strangers are
seated every Sunday morning. The hos
pitality of the members of the ohurch
has become proverbial.
tW Christiana Lackeuniayer, a middle-
aged woman, of respectable appearance.
was on Saturday, morning sentenced In the
Esses co N.J, .court to the Still Prison for
one year for sotting fire to her own house,
She )s the mother of six children, one of
them a babe three months , old. Her hus
band and children were all in court at the
time she was sentenced, and the scene is
described as truly . hoartreuding. ,
Western Correspondence.
Bolow will bo found anothor interesting
letter from a correspondent in Indian Ter
ritory.
Wewoka, I. T., March 20th, 1874.
Mr. Editor : In my former letter from
this place, I promised a sequel that should
describe tho home-life and certain peculiar
customs of the Indians, yet retained from
their uncivilized Btate.
Each tribe is sub-divided into a number
of clans or bands, as they are bailed, hav
ing at the head a "band-chief who ex
ercises immodiato supervision ovor them,
and to whom all disputes are referred for
adjudication. In the Semiuolo nation he
represents thorn in the "Council," which
1b a sort of combined legislature and su
preme court, mooting at irregular times
when summoned by tho head chiof of the
tribe. (I should have Baid imprimis, that
the tribo is governed by a head chief and a
second, orvico chief).
But in tho Creek nation tho baud chiefs
duty is comprised solely in tho regulation
of and enforcing attendance upon the
"Busking," nu annual ceremony which
shall be described presently. There was a
time when it was also incumbent on him to
be heedful to the comforts and necessities
of tho widows, see that their corn was
hoed, etc., and to exercise guardianship
upon the orphans. But those as obliga
tions of his office are now obsolete. Iu this
nation the council consists of two houses ;
one called by the rather high sounding
titlo of "thohouso of Kings;" the other
by the equally chivalrous name of "tho
house oi Warners." Each band sends a
King, but the Warriors are elected "pro
rata" I think one for every 200 popula
tion.
The " Busking," above alluded to, is
almost tho last of tho aboriginal customs ;
and, as it is essentially inimical in both its
design and prosecution to the spread of
Christianity, is opposed strenuously by the
advocates of a progressive civilization, and
as wainily upheld and insisted upon by
the least cultivated and indeed, many very
influential among them, who use as a con
vincing argument, "lotus once loso our
ancient customs and our nationality is do
stroyed." The band chiefs strive to rigor
ously enforce attendance and exact a for
feited taxation for absence. But those
who have been converted to Christianity
disclaim fealty to the band chief ; and the
attempt to levy the impost on thoir defec
tion is of course resisted and compels much
bad feeling. It is a rite that at one time
was the embodiment and manifestation of
thoir religion, and is dear to those who
look back with pride to the glories of that
mighty Maskokee nation, that driven out
of the place of their nativity, Mexico, by
the conquering army of Cortes, marched
across the continent to the shore of the
Atlantic ocean, overcoming and amalga
mating eight othor great tribes ; there
again to be met by the ever victorious
white man and once more turned back to
ward the setting sun, but sadly diminished
iu numbers and power.
The usBomblago for the observance of
this ceremony takes place in the latter part
of tho Summer, when the new corn is ripe
enough to be eaten. Each band has its
own mooting place. That of the largest,
the Tukabachee, is near this point the
postal station. Upon the' banks of the
meandering Wewoka,hiddon away amongst
the thickly-growing bushes and trees,
stands the edifice devoted to this ceremonial
the Bhrine of thoir divinity. It would be
a difficult task to give an intolligible de
scription of this building ; not because of
its immensity or beauty, but on account of
the eccentrio and barbarous taste displayed
in its architecture. It is a building with,
out a nail ; a large open shed, without
walls, quadrangular in form, inclosing a
square plot of ground not covered by the
roof, upon which the votaries perform their
mystio evolutions. The roof of the build.
iug is made of clap-boards upon which logs
are laid to keop them in their places. In
the centre of this enclosed ground is built a
fire a sacred fire, with much ceremony and
many incantations attendant upon its
making, by one appointed to this duty,
called " the fire-maker," elected for tife ;
no white man or indifferent spectator being
pormitted to witness it. The fire must be
kindled in the good old heathen way ; a
hole is punctured in a dry log into which a
pointed stick is inserted . and rapidly re
volved until the friction sets the wood on
fire. This feeble spark is fanned or blown
into a flame which is carefully kept up
throughout the whole proceedings which,
continue for seven days. Iu the buildings
surroun ding the square, sit the spectators
and those not engaged iu the dancing, who,
being exhausted, retire for a spell. In a
seat reserved for him, on one side, in a
pulpit like structure site in stern majesty
the band-chief enrolled in his official rega
lia and glittering with ornaments, com
manding a view of the dancers and issuing
his orders. Sometimes, . however, he de
scends from his throne of state to take the
Uad in the solemnities. There is some
thing fascinating to the Indian in the noisy
and demonstrative exhibition, and many
christianized Indians, who come merely as
spectators, yield to this infectious , excite
ment and the pressure of opinions and
persuasion brought to bear upon them and
join in the mummeries, thereby losing their
standing as professed Christians and be
coming excommunioated by the church,
And those apostates often sink to a more
obstinate bonightedness than previous to
their sunnosed conversion. It is the great
temptation and most successful obstacle to
piety here ; tor in tnis territory tnat otner
most powerful foe to virtue and good reso
lution, rum, is by the most stringent laws
entirely excluded. The building of the fire
inaugurates the ceremonies, aud on that
day the people assemble., From every di
rection, on loot ana on norseuacic, ciotucu
in varied costumos, thoy come to partici
pate in the yearly thanksglving.or uusking.
All dav lone men and women, with chil
dren of all sizes, straggle into the encamp
ment, bringing wagons, tents, cooking
utonsils, etc., to make themselves comfort
able for the seven days they will remain
and very few luxuries suffice to make an
Indian comfortable. As they arrive the
men separate themselves from thoir reti
nues aud with the most portentious gravity
and in digniflod silenco, walk round among
the different groups, shaking hands with
each individual. It is but a singlo, lifeless
shako, unaccompanied by a singlo word ot
greeting, except upon seeing a whito man
when they-briefly but pointedly inquire,
" How ?" Thoy bring with them, as camp
followors, a score of mongrel curs whose
snarlings and snapping niakc amends for
the absenco of vocal effort on the part of
their masters. littlo attentioiv is paid to
the womon by the men, and to them falls
all tho labor of putting up the tents, gath
ering fuel and preparing tho food. As the
night approaches tho dancors and specta
tors enter the sheds surrounding the enclo
sure. At tho call of the criers, the men fall
into single fllo and begin slowly marching
in a circle around tho fire, the loader ut
tering at short intervals peculiar guttural
cries, like a suppressed whoop, which is re
sponded to by the rest with similar sounds.
As they warm up the cries incroase to
yells and the march quickens into a suc
cession of short jumps, with occasional
" spurts" of rapid walking. As the excite
ment rises aud they gradually "got up
steam" tho women enter tho ring and
complete tho circle. Tho latter arrivals
bear on their ankles a number of tortoise
shells tilled with pebbles, the noiso of
which keeps time with the movement of
their limbs, which with a drum vigorously
pounded, by a man seated on nnelovation
near the chief, furnish the musio for the
dance. Louder and faster grows the yell
ing, and now the march is a shuttle, the
arms are tossed about wildly, and thero is
a unique display of fancy gymnastics. As
they revolve, their savage howls and more
savage countenances, their disheveled hair
and uncouth gestures present a spectacle
that for a while amuses the onlookers, but
at length becomes wearisomo, even painful.
The clamor augments, the shufiling, hop
ping and iloundoring grows more furious,
the tossing and flourishing of arms is re
doubled, the cries become unbroken and
all the voices in unison swell into a wild,
barbarous, unmelodious chant; and this
continues until perfect exhaustion compels
them to cease, and their places are taken
by fresh dancers. This scene is repeated
constantly throughout the night or until
the chief gives the order to stop ; at whioh
time generally all the participants are ut
terly prostrated and so hoarse as to be in
audible. One who hasjwitnessed the noctur
nal orgie will retire, not to sleep, but to lie
awake with the hidoous sounds still ring
ing in his ears, and suffering the most
acute nervous distress. The sfcond day is
devoted to performances by the gentler sex
alone, the men remaining quiescent and
fortifying themselves against the austeri
ties of tho next day. The womon array
themselves in their most gorgeous apparel,
"bravely bedecked" in calicoes of brilliant
Eattcrns, and ribbons a-flying. They ex
ibit the same vanity and delight in adorn
ment of thoir persons for which women are
everywhere proverbial. ' Their faces be
token thoir conviction that they appear to
advantage before their husbands and lovers.
As they slowly fi!o into the ring the maid
ens with downcast eyes and palpitating
bustles, the elder ladies with firm stop and
heads erect, to the musio of the rattles
affixed to their ankles, and the singing or
roaring of two lusty fellows detailed to
furnish a vocal accompaniment to thoir
" o-pa-ne-tuh," the only qualification pos
sessed by them being the power of their
lungs. It is a pageant to excite the admi
ration of every beholder.
Their dance is similar to that of the pre
ceding night, except, that the vocalization
is modified, both in volume aud discord
ance. This continues all day with Bhort
intervals for food and rest. When night
comes the men again unite with them for a
time : but on this night tbey desist early as
they have a trying day before them.
On the first and second days they are
permitted and encouraged to eat to satisfy,
several oxen being roasted and consumed.
The morning of the third day begins a
fasting of twenty-four hours duration a
total abstinence from everything except
tobacco ; a period of penance, contrition,
mortification of the body aud purification;
The men dance throughout the day and
night, tho women encouraging them with
dulcet vocal strains and performance upon
the harmonious tortoise shell. On this day
can be seon some striking tableaux, as lu
dicrous to those not concerned in the for
malities as it is solemn and harrowing to
the votary.
The 'fire-maker" prepares an enormous
pot of a decoction of certain roots, called
"the black drink," whioh is a powerful
and prompt emetio. After it is brewed
gourds are hung beside it and it behooves
every man to step forward and quaff the
nauseous stuff. After the dose has had the
desired effect it is repeated and continued
during the day, although they persist in
danoiug in the pendancy of ejecting the
drink. Many bring flasks with them. and.
filling from the large earthen pot, carry
thera about with thorn and imbibe as oc
casion demands. It is affecting to behold
a group or soverai grave ana austerely dig
nified old gentlemen engaged in a talk in
their slow ponderous manner, each nrovt
ded with bis "pooket pistol," as one might
call it. , .,.
As from time to timo the remembrance
of his duty presents itself, each one draws
out his flask takes quant, suf., and restores
the receptacle to his pocket.- The conver
sation goes on until one, jogged by his sou.
sibllities, solemnly and decorously stalks to
tho nearest tree, and ' leaning against It,
tumultuously and explosively "rids his
uuwjin ui wo paruuua muir, ana men re
turns as slowly and era vol v to his former
position not a feather rum pled, not a par
ticle of bis stately composure disturbed.
And thus he lounges and vomits the happy
hours away. Bat it 1 indeed a distressing
sight when the sufferers are infirm and
feeble old men. The fearful bodily con
tortions; the dire distress depicted on his
lugubrious face, retchings and strainings
that raise him on tiptoe and make every
nerve quiver, and the expression of disgust
and weariness on his countenance when at
last the bitter, nasty upheaval takes place,
would excite the commiseration of the most
obdurate And as the poor tottering old
martyr to his faith walks away, wiping the
tears from his eyes, with many a Spasmodio
shake of the head and ghastly grimace, be
is in truth to be sorrowed for. Upon the
third day and night they neither sleep nor
eat, hence the fourth day is spent iu pro
found slumber and absolute silenco and in
action reign over tho camp, except for a
short period whon thoy aro employed in
gorging themselves to recompense them for
the abstinence of the previous day. On
the fifth day the men all go hunting, the
womon remaining behind to bako broad,
and tho night is spent in feasting.
The sixth day is a repetition of tho sec
ond day's proceedings, together with a
"band oouucil." On the morning of tho
seventh day thoy again have recourso to
the cleaning drink of the third day. Once
more thoy fill tho flowing bowl and pa
tiently await the overflow, and after this
renewed purification they scatter to their
homes, worn out pilurims.
ino cliants connected with their dances
are hymns of thanksgiving to tho Great
(spirit ior tne Harvest ana invocations lor a
continuance of his favors.
The fire maker is a sacred porsonace, a
sort oi nigu pnost nnd oracle. The lacts
connoctod with tho death of tho last fire-
maker of the Tukabachee band shows how
accident or coincidence sometimes favors
them iu securing a belief in their supernat
ural powers. He had for a long time been
charging the members of tho band with
indifl'orenco to the importance of the
" busk," and accusing them of failuie in
attendance, and frequently . " prophesied"
that their want of zeal would cause his
death. Sure enough, during the time of
tne last " uusk ' lie died ; and ot course his
name will long live iu the traditions of the
tribo as a divinely endowed mortal.
It may be though, that his death might
do accredited to an overdose ot his own
vile compound. But be that as it may,
aftor a generous goblet or two of the bev
erage,
"Ho smiled a kinder sickly smile, and curled
upon the floor.
And the subsequent proceeding Interested him
no more."
and the singularity of his demise gives ad
ditional prestige to his successor.
I have yet many things distinctive of
tne Indians and peculiar to the two tribes
with which 1 am best acquainted to tell
you but shall reserve them for another
time. . A. W. C.
Miscellaneous News Items.
t3B" The leader of a great revival of re.
ligion in De Kalb county, 111., is a boy of
14, doscribed as " a most fluent exborter.'?
E3F" A postmistress in Mississippi dis
charged her husband from a clerkship the
other day for non-attendance to duty. .
ty Near Fort Ticondoroga recently a
wagon containing 1,200 pounds of nitro
glycerine fell over a bluff, but fortunately
did not explode.
ClTAt Boston on Sunday evening Mr.
Goglery, organist at the Baptist ohurch,
West Concord street, died of heart disease
in his seat whilo conducting the service.
t3f On Friday evening a week, William
Marks, a stone mason of Allentown, Pa.,
dropped dead at his work. He leaves a
wife and several childron.
E3T At the Oakland park on tho 2d inst.,
the California maro, Lady Mac, made what
is said to be the best time on reoord in a
five mile trotting race. She trotted against
Jerome and Omaha. She sold in pools at
$2 against their $20 and $0 respectivly,
and won the race in thirteen minutes. .
tW The women of Worcester, : Mass.,
have abandoned the Dio Lewis plan of
operation against liquor-dealers, and have
decided to go to work privately visiting
owners of buildings occupied by liquor
doalors and endeavoring to induce them to
sign a pledge not to let their promises to
any one for the salo of liquor. .
tW This is what we learn ' from the
Cleveland Voice ! A West-sider, who
keeps a general store, in descanting on the
completeness of his stock says he tries to
keep everything in creation but the ten
commandments ; and he would keep them,
but no one else keeps them and ho don't
want to appear eccentrio.
t3T A lady at Madison, Ohio, thinking
pleasantly to surprise one of her boarders,
put a gold ring which be had lost in a pan,
cake aud placed the production on his plate
at breakfast. But the boarder bolted the
pancake in such large bites that the pres
ence of the ring was not discovered, and
now it is lost again.
tSTAt Reading, on Sunday, whilo a littlo
daughter of Adam Dease was passing along
the street, on her way to Bunday School,
her clothing took fire, as is supposed from
a lighted stump of a cigar being thrown
upon her. She was taken into a bouse and
quiokly stripped of her clothing, but was
so badly burned that her condition is now
critical. , . , . : i
tW About 600 operatives in the hosiery
null aud bleachery of the' Boston manu
facturing company, in Waltham, Mass,
have struck for 10 per cent, advance on the
wages. There : is much excitement in
Waltham and it is generally believed the
company will not aooede to the demand,
In the hosiery department only A few girls
are left, and of the bleachery bands only
small number are at work. The whole
number employed by the oompaay is about
1,300. , .
tS" A dispatch from Austin 'Nevada,
received at San. Franoisco on Wednesday
night, gives the particulars of a horrible
tragedy in Smoky Valley in that State. It
appears that Christopher Reckstein had
been for a long time jealous of his wife in
consequence of attentions paid to her by a
young man named Norton, and they had
frequent quarrels about ' him. Yesterday a
man named Ostcrhaus went to Rockstein's
house, aud, receiving no response to his de
mands for admission, broke open tho door.
On tho floor lay the naked body of Mrs.
Reckstein, cut in pieces and her head split
open. At her feet were the bodios of thoir
two littlo girls their heads nearly severed
from their bodies, and near were tho bodies
of Reckstein and young Norton, grappled
as iu a death struggle Reckstein grasped
in his right baud a largo bowie knife, cov
ered with blood, and ill Norton's right hand
was a dragoon pistol, two chambers of
which were discharged. There is no living
witness to this terrible affair.
tW In no part of tho country have fo-
malo crusaders met with a more obstinate
and successful resistance than from Mrs.
Ward, of Greenville, Tennessee. The con
test has lasted for soverai weeks, and boen
conductod with determination on both
sides. In rain and sleet the women have
stood before the saloon, singing, and pray-,
ing and adjuring, whilo Mrs. Ward stood
inshle defying and laughing. She has even
taken out another license, tho old one hay
ing expired. At tho latest advices, noon
of St, Patrick's day, alio showod no signs
of yielding. The ladies aro equally resolv
ed, and Greenville thinks that it's getting
monotonous.
New York, March 81, 1874. Mr. Oliver
Davidson, a wealthy builder of Brooklyn,
entered tho Park hotel, nodded sociably to
the clerk and took a seat in the reading
room. He made one or two common-place
remarks and then became silent. Present
ly the clerk noticed that whilo he preserv
ed his provious position, his head fell un
naturally back. A closer inspection reveal
ed immohilo features, and the staring eye
of death.
tW Tho Rev. Mr. Kerus, of Clintonvillo,
Centre oounty, was chopping wood to
kindle a fire when a chip struck him in the
eye and knocked it out upon his cheek.
He then took his handkerchief and wiped
his face when he found, to his honor,
that he had wiped out his eye.
Foreign Items.
Paris, March 80. The report that Hen
ri Rochefort and Paschal Grousset have
escaped from New Caledonia is confirmed.
A dispatch from Melbourne of to-day's
date says they, with Gourde and Bulliere,
and two other convicts, have arrived at
New Castle, New South Wales.
Political disquiotude throughout the
country is on the increase, and the various
political factions are again disoussiog the
probabilities of important changes in the
administration at no distant date. The re
cent debates in the assembly, from their
general tone and character, have weak
ened the confidence of the country in the
permanence of the seven year presidential
system. ' ' -1 -
An apprehonsion is becoming popular
that France and Germany will soon be
again involved in dangerous complications
and that an early renewal of the late war
between the two countries is unavoidable.
"Housekeeper" of Health.
The liver being the gront depurating or
blood cleansing organ of the system set
this great " housekeeper of our health" at
work, and the foul corruptions which gen
dor in the blood, and rot out, as it were, the
machinery of life, are gradually expelled,
from the system. For this purpose Dr.
Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery with
very small daily doses of Dr. Pierce's
Pleasant Purgative Pellets are pre-eminently
the articles needod. They cure every
kind of humor from the worst scrofula to
the common pimple, blotch or eruption.
Groat eating ulcers kindly heal under their
mighty curative influence. Virulent blood
poisons that lurk in the system aro by
them robbed of their terrors, and by their
persevering and sofnewhat protracted use
the most tainted systems may be complete
ly renovated and built up anew. Enlarged
glands, tumors and swellings dwindle away
and disappear under the influence of these,
great resolvents.
DOCTOltS couldjt't iiem1 niM.
Moigsville, Morgan Co., O., March 24th
1872. Dear Dr. I'ieroe: i
When I was 12 or 15 years of age I took
what is called King's Evil, and by constant
doctoring it would heal in one place and
break out in another. I first found your
name in the ChriiianAdocat, and sent 10
miles for the first bottle, which did me
more good than all other medicines I ever
used. I am 28 years old and doctored with
flvo doctors, and not one of them helped
me so much as your bottle of Discovery.
I have got well aud able to do a good day's
work. John A. Wilson.
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