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BY S. B. ROW.
CLEARFIELD, PA., "WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1858.
vol. 5-m. a.
5 3
1 f
; f For the "Rafts-man's Journal'
MV DESTINY'S STAR.
My heart flutters wildly when fond recollection
Annihilates spaco, that divides me afar
From one who possesses my whole heart's affection,
And who has ever boon My Destiny's Star.
I met her, and loTod her when youth's hopes were
shining. mar,
And nothing appeared our bright prospects to
When round oar fond hearts thoso pure feelings
were twining. Star.
Y?hich mad a her and keeps her My Deatiny's
Long years hare elnpsed. and a sad separation,
- All hopes of a anion forever debar.
Cut in sadness and sorrow, and great tribulation,
" She has been, as ever, My Destiny's Star.
-Ar.d bow, when despair o'er my spirit is creeping.
And pleasure hns flown from my bosom afar,
Por very grief A. affliction that dear one is weeping
Oh, sweet gentle spirit. My Destiny's Star.
Far down in the future. I ses fato revealing
Thelove which has so long been bound in despair;
A vision of gladness upon uic comes stealing.
- - And raises my thoughts to My Destiny's Star.
I look to that orb which, with constancy beaming.
Illumines my pathway thro' life's varied war.
And behold ir. its brightness an end of all dreaming,
A union immortal with Destiny's Star.
IIcoo
Till: Cl'LPRIT JUDGE.
A TALE Or THE BEXCH AM BAR. ',
2o one of the Western States I vas onco
trosecuting Attorney. The settler's axe was
then familiar music, and this prairies away from
the woodlands had not heard the scream of the
team whistle. All the branches of society,
W trade, of business and professions, were iu
h. transition ttutc. Of course the Judges wore
not men of vast learning or of rare character;
nd, lest I appear vain, I may add, that the
lawyer)i were by no means Chief Justice
Taneys f
- TUi Judge who travelled the circuit with lis
In the counties round about the city of , had
J;eii i;i early life a horse jockey, and picked
v.p a large amount of tact, know ledge of men,
and of human nature, and of social motive,
that was of much use to him in his legal walk.
At the West he had been a member of" the first
Constitutional Convention in our State, and
liein good talker and of quick natural intel
lect, bad shone in the debates. Of course it
wis natural that as he made the law, he should
cl.iiai to be able to expound it. And at the
election, alter the State was admitted, he was
cliospn a Judge.
I noTer liked him. With ail his affability
ad apparent deference of manner, there was
in his composition an under strata of cunning
that I suspected and became wary of. When
1 was chosen people's solicitor, he sought my
vonfidence, but I repelled it, and, except in
Court, wo were little together. Many a time
on the civil aide had be given a charge on
lacJj, or acquiesced in my law when I felt that
I was wrong, nor could I fathom why he thus
tight the winning side of me.
1 suspected him of knavery. When priso
ners were convicted, his discretion of punish
ment and sentence were oddly inconsistent,
lie fined when be should have imprisoned,
and confined when a nominal punishment
would have answered the justice of the case.
But I never could get any clue, and with the
populace he was regarded as a man of rare in
tegrity and firmness ot mind.
One night at the inn, in the little Tillage of
Washington, where a week's court was to be
held. I went to my '-boarded oft" bed-room for
an afternoon nap, and was soon fast asleep.
I was awakened by a confused liitirimiring,
that, alter I was thoroughly aroused, I per
ceived to come from the adjoining room ; one
appropriated to Judge C.
He is committing his Grand Jury charge,"
said I to myself, when I heard a strange voice
a.iy."th boodle is most used of the old stripe."
Now, "boodle" is a flash term used by coun
terfeiters, and it immediately attracted my
"prosecuting" attention. As I sat upon the
bid s:de, a ray of light came through a chink
in the boarded partition. As a man, honor
would have forbidden a "peep ;" as an officer
of t he law, prudence commanded it. So, draw
ing myself noiselessly and closely to the wall,
or the" board separation. I looked through the
crack, and saw Judge C seated at a table
w ith a sinister looking man. who wore a pair
i t remarkable whiskers; and the two were
counting quite a pile of new bank bills. I
listened, but not a word was spoken for some
time. I saw the money divided into three
piles, and the Judge placed one in his pocket,
and the whiskered man took the oilier, and
then drawing oft' his boots divided the third
pile between each boot inside of it, and then
he again placed them on bis feet. Next the
Judge said : "Be careful and send it to the
proper place. His sinister companion gave a
meaning smile ; they shook hands ; the stran
ger left tbo room cautiously ; and then sat
down to some papers. I continued to look
for eveval minutes, bnt he was absorbed in
his duties, when just as I was about quitting
my point literally a point of observation, ho
arose, and taking out his roll of bills, placed
them up the chimney ! and then continued bis
reading.
I mnst say my blood ran cold, for a grave
suspicion bad often crossed my mind that he
was a rascal ; but I never suspected him I be
ing connected with the drovers, trappers, and
tradcrs.who occasionally make fpurious money
their commodity. Nor, osl sat collecting my
thoughts, could I conceive it possible, when I
remember bow severe he bad always been upon
the passage of counterfeit money, and how
earnestly and solemnly bo always in his charges
in such cases declared against the enormity of
Tenders who substituted spurious currency
to.- good. I therefore concluded that the word
"boodle," and tho suspicious "boot-stuffing
janst rclat to some other kiud of offence con
nected with which I felt assured be must be.
Stealthily going out, I carefully descended
tbe stairs and entered the bar-room. 1 he sin
ister looking man was seated at a tab o read
ing the last Cincinnati paper, as calm ami
placid as if he were the Methodist minister of
the tiding. I sat down and pulled out a law
paper, pretending to read it, but I was glanc
ing over its top at tho stranger. His oyes did
not wander from a particular point of the pa
per. Nor did the sheet, after several minutes
turn ; I therefore concluded ho was not read
ing, but reflecting. I endeavored to catch bis
eye, bnt could not. I next thought of trying
the demeanor of the Judge ; so making In tuy
mind ao exeuse relating to my official duties,
J again walked up stairs and knocked at the
door. Ills pleasant voice, in an unembar
rassed lone, cried, "Walk in," and I entered.
After getting through with my exenses and
fcss1ns5; I ta'd In s careless tone "What hare
yon been doing all tho afternoon, Judgo ?'
He answered just as carelessly, "Going thro'
my charge, and a decision or two I have to
make up to-morrow. As yet I have not seen
any one since I arrived."
The last lie was an unnecesary one, as I
knew its falsity, for be needed not to have as
serted the fact an immaterial one. This,
therefore, the more confirmed my suspicions ;
because I had found these immaterial asser
tions to be always mado by witnesses when
they are committing perjury, just as cowards
whistle to keep up courage.
We continued chatting until the bell rang
for tea, but not a tone or an act betrayed that
the Judge was troubled or uneasy. Wo went
down stairs toguther and began our meals.
The whiskered stranger sat opposite, bnt he
and tho Judge were to each other as if they
had not met. One or two civilities passed be
tween them, but they were accompanied with
freezing politeness, somewhat unusual in our
western way of life. All this satisfied me
there was something out of the way, and I re
solved while at the table to furnish myself with
some evidence. I finished the meal first, and
went up stairs into the Judge's room, and
groping to the chimrey in the dark felt for a
loose brick, found it, and discovered a roll of
paper, took oil one or two pieces, and replaced
the balance hastily and left the room.
Nothing more occurred that night worth nar
rating, but next day in Court I found on the
calendar the case of a man who bad been in
dicted some months betore lor counterfeiting
and had been out on bail.
"What does this mean?" I asked of the
clerk, "I did not authorize the trial, nor am I
prepared with witnesses."
"Judge C ordered it on last term for this
day," answered the clerk, "producing your
request."
".My request," stammered I.
"Yes; and here it is," as be handed me a
piece of paper, bearing in my writing tho
words, "Give Judge C his request!" I re
membered, now I say it, that I had written
the paper, but could not recall the apparently
trivial circumstances which had prompted it.
Just then Jud?e C entered, and Court bu
siness began. The case in question being
called I arose to postpone it on the ground of
not Iwing prepared.
A stranger arose from among tho lawyers,
and said he was counsel for the prisoner, and
came from Cincinnati to try the case, at much
trouble, and as be understood, because it had
been ordered on for that day. The cov.nsvl via
the Hack vhiskertd companion of the Judge.
Tho latter with a bland smile, and dipping
his pen in tha ink, ready for the memorandum,
asked, "What is your name, sir?"
I was so astonished at this cool impudence
that I did not hear the answer, but proceeded
to deny any understanding, and to charge that
there was some trick.
My opponent warily rejoined, and moved if
the case was not tried, that his client lie dis
charged on bail. This was giving him liberty
to run if ho pleased, and I opposed this mo
tion. My adversary ajain rejoined, and to my
utter astonishment Judge C granted there
quest, and ordered the clerk to cancel the
trial bone.
At this juncture I sat amid the titter of my
brethern, who were ready enough to laugh at
W. being caught napping, as they phrased it.
While I was meditating my wrath and my re
venge the clerk announced the panel of Grand
Jurors was now complete, and they were rea
dy for business. Judge C arose to address
and charge them. lie was as cool and placid
as the morning itself.
Oh, you hypocrite ! f muttered through my j
teeth, as the black whiskered consul and j
confederate, as I fully knew him to be slily ;
sneered at me nnd drew his chair close to the
bench in attitude of deferential listening.
The charge was an elaborate one. It was
an essay on crime and its enormities, and
seemed dramatically worked up. Its abjura
tions to th grand jury to fearlessly mves-j
tigate were very pathetic. Its encomiums on
virtue were touching!)- true. j
Scarcely had the jury retired, than, in my
capacity as a prosecuting officer I followed
the members to their chamber. To the form-'
al question, "What was the first business ?'.'
I answered ; "To investigate a charge or mal
feasance in ollico against the the Judge."
The foreman and his fellows looked at each
other in astonishment. Finally one of them
said with a smile "Take care, brother W. that
your professional rivalry docs not get you
into trouble."
I replied by telling my story and narrating
all the suspicious circumstances of tho past
twenty-four hours, and concluded by request
ing that the black whiskered counsel be called
and examined. Amid tho astonished silence
of tho grand inquest the constable in attend
ance went after and returned with the stranger.
He entered easily and unabashed, saying as
he took a chair, "I am told you desire me to
be a witness ?"
Perhaps culprit !" 1 exclaimed in a pas
sion, ectirely losing my control. And then
not heeding the hand of the foreman on my
shoulder in restraint, I said to the constable
who bad lingered by the door, "Take ofl his
boots!"
The stranger made two bounds, and was at
tho window which led into tho garden of the
jail. But the grip of the constable was on
him securely. In an instant one of the jurors
took his arm another took his leg, and be
fore any one bad time to speak the boots were
off, and two rolls of bills fell on the floor.
The firmness and presence of mind of the
stranger forsook him ; he trembled in every
muscle; and as I whispered to him "Villain,
not even your friend, Judge C.,can save you."
be turned ghastly pale.
He was seated on a chair.
"Is this eood money or
bad?" said the
foreman, breaking the dull
ceeded the struggle.
"Am I a witness or am
silence that suc
I accused !" be
stammered, looking toward rac.
"Witness," said I, "if you tell all you know
about Judgo C , who is far better game than
you."
"I know nothing about Judge C , he
stammered, I never saw bim until this day."
"Liar!" I shouted, forgetting any official
dignity, in my rage at his falsehood. "Last
ni'ht you and he were together, exchanging
monev, and, in bis presence, you concealed
vour -boodle" in your boots." -"
Immediately he stood up tn an attitude of
defiance tlen sat down half rose again
turned red, and then pale; while Luge drops
of sweat stood on his face.
no saw ho was, by some means, cornered ;
and, in a moment, recovering himself, answer-
ed, "I will be witness the judgo is guiltier
than I !"
I have not space for his story, but its a
monat was, that long before the judge remov
ed to the West, they bad been confederates
at tho East in circulating counterfeit money
while horsejockeying. They were connected
with a well-organized and secret band. The
leaders were the manufacturersand bankers of
the "boodle." Middle-men brought it and
dispensed it to tho underlings who purchased
it at a discount of fifty cents, to pass it off at
par. As fast as the last counterfeit was dis
covered, a new one was made. Judge C ,
while upon the bench, was able to be as moral
and as severe as be pleased with the underling
classes, who never knew the haunts and ways
and companionships of those above them.
But the man whose trial was for the day, for
whom Judge C had interceded, was one of
the upper class, and hence the necessity of
the action.
"It is time now to sec tho Judge," said I,
turning to tho Grand Juryman, who were pet
rified at the tale they had just heard.
.No one answered.
I will go and prepare him for your action,"
I next said ; "for to indict him in his own
court, while he is upon the bench, will be a
scandal upon justice."
As I entered tho court room he was announ
cing the noon recess. There was a little room
ofl, containing a few law books and a desk,
into Which bo usually retired, and thither I
followed him.
"Judge," said I and my voice trembled
like the voice of a man under severe ague, so
terribly was I wrought up by the excitement
of the morning's accusations and confession
"Judge, I have very, very bad news for
you."
"For me ?" said be, with tho utmost non
chalance, notwithstanding the peculiarity and
mystery cf my manner.
"Yes, for you ; the Cincinnati lawyer has
told all," I shook out rather than spoke.
lie still smiled; it was awful t see his hy
pocrisy and calmness of demeanor, and for
a moment I knew not what to say. Then ta
king from my vest pocket two of the bills
unrolled from his chimney depositc, I held
them before him and said: -IIo has told
about these; and I myself, last night, saw you
place tho counterfeit money in the fire-place,
when he placed his in his boots."
His composure was instantly gone. He
wilted like a scorched weed on the prairie,
and his manhood gave way as it he had been
afffictod with sudden paralysis. Tho room
rather swam before my eys, for tho sight ot
a culprit Judge was not an every day onj, and
then I found him at my knees grovelling on
the floor like a dog.
He tore his hair, wrenched his bands, his
eyes glared, and his powerful frame quivered
in every part. Indeed I was unmanned my
self, to behold so sudden and wretched a
sight.
"Oh good W. ! dear W.! don't betray me!
Consider how dreadful ! And I a Judge ! Oh !
the disgrace! My wife and children ? What
will they say? Don't betray ine ! I was to be
the next Governor you' know that! Oh oh
oh how dreadful !" and ho rocked himself
on his knees to and fro, almost bursting with
agony.
These were some of the heart-harrowing in
coherences which I can now remember over
all the dreadful sconces that followed.
I raised him from the floor, nnd placed him
in a cljair, and then said: "Alas, Judge G.,
appeals to mo are too late. Your confederate
has told all, and the Grand Jury has taken his
testimony." His eye-balls glared at me like
those of a maniac. Then, as if wrung by some
wonderful impulse, he became calm. Indeed
that calmness was more dreadiul to bthold
than had been his excitement, imprecations,
and agonizing entreaty.
u ell, if it must be so, it must. Hut let me
see the foreman only for a moment, bring him
up-go for him leave the room go do go
go 1"
His excitement was returning ; ar.d without
reflecting, as I should have done, I turned and
left the room, amid the curious looks ot tho
crowd who had now gathered for, in those
es'ern settlements, secrecy was of no moment
about Grand Jury matters, and hall the village
already knew the ttory I had just crossed the
court room, I repeat, when I heard a dreadful
groan and a simultaneous pistol report.
It was then succeeded by an instant of terri
ble silence, and then the crowd burst into the
room.
Judge C. lay upon the floor, with his blood
and brains shockingly scattered about the lit
tle chamber. When I returned he had drawn
his pistol, and to his other crimes added that
of suicide, lie was a ghastly sight to see, nor
shall I ever forget the memories of that dread
ful day, when I was compelled to behold the
living agony and the dving woes of a culprit
judge, in sight of that bench and bar whereat
he had so often presided in convicting and
sentencing villains less guilty than he himself
had been.
Power of Steam "Is it stamc 7" said an
Irishman. "By the saintly St. Pathrick, but
it's a mighty grate thing, intirely, for dhriving
things 1 It put me through nine States in a
day ! Divil a word o' lie in it."
"N ine States !" exclaimed a dozen in aston
ishment. "Yes, nine o' them, be jabers ! as aisy as a
cat ud lick her ear. D'ye see, now, how I got
married in New York in the morning, and
went w id my Biddy to Baltimore the same day
honld your whist now. and count the States.
There was a state of matrimony I entered from
a single State, in a solier state, in the State of
New York, and I went through New Jarsey,
Pinsylvany, and Dilawar, into Maryland where
I arrived in a most beautiful state of jollifica
tion. There is nine, by the holy poker, count
'em If yez like ! Och! but stame's a scrou
erl" Our readers have all heard the saying that
"nine tailors make one man."' Possibly,
however, some of them would like to know
the origin of the saying. Here it is: In
1482, an orphan beggar boy applied for alms
at a tailor's shop in London, in which nine
journeymen were employed. His lorlorn but
intelligent appearance touched the hearts of
the benevolent tailors who gave him a shil
ling each. With this capital the young hero
purchased fruit, which he retailed at a profit.
From this beginning, by industry and perseve
rance, he rose to destinctlon and usefulness.
When bis carriage was built, ho caused to be
painted on the panned. "Nipe tailors made
me a njap."
, INVENTION" OF TIIE STEAM ENGINE.
In 1543, it appears that such a thing as a
steam vessel was known in Spain. This is a
fact not widely circulated. At that date a
Spaniard exhibited in the presence of Charles
V. and all his court, in the harbor of Barcelo
na, a vessel of 200 tons, propelled -by an en
gine, the construction of which was a secret
to all but the inventor. The chronicles of that
day inform ns that there was a great cauldron
of boiling water within, and two wheels on the
outside, which moved the vessel. The treas
urer of the kingdom objected to its introduc
tion. It seems to have been quite perfect,
since the objections urged against it were that
it was too complicated, very expensive, and
the boiler apt to explode. But Spain was not
ripe for it; the world was not ripe for it. The
inventor, disgusted with the wantaf apprecia
tion displayed by the court, took the engine
out of the vessel, allowed the ship to rot in
the arsenal, and bis secret perished with him
in his grave.
One century later and the same problem was
offered to France. A celebrated female, e
quaily renowned for her beauty, immoralities,
misfortunes, and longevity also, lor she died
at tho age of 131 years the famous Marie do
l'Orme, so well known to the readers of mod
ern fiction has furnished ns, in a letter to an
admirer, written in 1841, these most astonish
ing details. The celebrated Marquis of Wor
cester was then on a visit to Madame in Paris,
and with her visited a mad-house in the capi
tal. While crossing the court-yard Of that
dismal establishment, the lady was almost par
alyzed with terror, nnd while clinging to her
companion she saw a frightful face looking
throngh the bars of a window of a building,
and heard these strange words : "I am not
mad! I am not mad! I have made a discovery
which shall entich the kingdom that adopts
it." Tho question was asked by one ot the
visitors, what is St that this man has discover
ed ? The answer of tho visiter, with a mock
ing laugh was, "Oh, it's not much ; it's some
thing about the power of steam." And so the
lady laughed that a man should go mad about
so frivolous a thing as that.
This man, it seems, came from Normandy
to bring before the king his discovery of the
fact that steam could be used to navigate tho
ocean, and in short there was nothing that ho
did not claim could be done by the power of
steam. Cardinal Kichelien was uppermost
then, and though he was most sagacious and
enlightened as worldly wisdom goes, yet he
turned his back on the. inventor. The mm
followed him from placo to place, and the car
dinal, getting tired of his pertinacity, sent him
to tho mad-house. The man even wrote a
book on tho subject of his thoughts, entitled
Moving Powers. The Marquis of Worcesier
was much interested in this book, and used
some of its ideas afterward in his own works.
So we sec that France in 1641, as Spain in
1543, proved her inability to take up and wield
this mortal thunderbolt.
Tho problem was reserved for tho Anglo
Saxon raco to grapple with and conquer, and
thereafter the mechanical skill of England was
turned to this invention with various success,
till in the middle of the last century, after tho
idea had been floating lor 200 years in ingeni
ous minds, the steam engine, that scarcely in
auimatc Titan, that living, burning mechan
ism, was brought t.o perfection by James Watt.
Thenceforth the engines of labor, marshalled
by tho power which Watt brought forward,
were to make their bloodless triumph, not for
the destruction but for the blessing ot man
kind. All hail to thee, mute, indefatigable a
gent of strength, wot king in deep mines, mo
ving along the pathways of trade, toiling in
the service of man ! No fatigue can palsy thy
herculean arm ! No trampled hosts writhe
under thy feet ! No widowed hearts bleed at
thy beneficent victories !
England solved t'ie problem, but it seems
as if it were tho will of Providence that she
should not go so far as to apply steam to the
navigation of the ocean. This part of the
problem remained for the other branch of the
Anglo-Saxon raco the branch of that West
ern Hemisphere whose expanded territories
arc traversed by some of the noblest rivers,
and separated from England by an almost
world-wide ocean. The thoughts of the men
of tho last centnry after the-devolution were
turned to the development of steam. One of
those men attracted theattention of him whom
nothing escaped that belonged to tho welfare
of this country of Washington and ho ex
pressed his satisfaction of the experiments of
Rnmsey. It seems almost providential that
steam was not invented in ocean navigation at
the time of the Revolution, for it would have
given her vast resources and powers to bear
more swiftly and directly on the struggling
colonists; with what effect no one can tell.
But the Revolutionary peritd was passed,
and independence established, the hour had
come, and the man was there. In the year
1799 the thought became mature in Fulton's
mind, and Chancellor Livingston took a deep
interest in the scheme of water navigation by
steam. They applied to the New York Legis
lature for an act of incorporation. I am sorry
to say that America at that time did not seem
much wiser than France and Spain had been
liefore her. Livingston tells us that the young
men of tho Legislature, when tired of the
graver matters of tho law. would call op tho
steam bill, as they called it, and have a little
fun. Y'onng America did not on that occasion
show himself much wiser than his seniors.
But, nothing discouraged, Fulton and his co
adjutors persevered, and twenty years had not
passed away before steam was found on our
sounds, lakes, and great rivers, and that at a
time when it was known only by hearsay in
Europe. This was all that was needed then.
Twenty years more elapsed before English cap
ital was first applied to the navigation ot the
ocean itself by steam which America little
needed, but which England desired as giving
to her access to tho Western world. Edward
Everett's late Speech at Danvers.
Where Fine Shawls are Feom. In Bock
hara, the-camel is watched while the fine hair
on the under part of the body is growing.
This fine hair is cut of so carefully that not a
fibre is lost. It is then put by until there is
enough to spin into a yarn, unequalled for
softness, and then it is dyed a'l manner of col
ors, and woven into strips eight inches wide,
of shawl patterns, such as with all our pains,
and cost, with all our designs of study and art
wo-ar not yet able to rival. These strips
aro then, sewed .together so cunningly that no
European, can discover the joints. They arc
then taken fifteen hundred miles to the borders
of Rnssla abdoldV ':
PARSON CUMMINGS' WIG.
Abingdon, the county seat of Washington
county, Virginia, was settled soon after the
close of the Indian war, and a small fort cal
led Black Fort, was erected on a creek just
south of the Tillage. It was nothing more
than a rude structure, similar to those usual
ly erected by the early settlers, and consisted
of a few log cabins, surrounded by a stockade
for defence agrinst predatory bands of Indi
ans; for although the war had virtually clos
ed, yet occasional parties of warriors would
go out upon the war path, to secure scalps and
drive off cattle.
Some of the settlers wore adventurous e
nough to erect their cabins without the pro
tection of the fort, disregarding the danger
from the Indians.. One of these was a man by
the name of Cummitigs, familiarly known as
"Parson Cuminings," from the fact that he
occasionally preached to the settlers whenever
he happened to be at the fort on Sunday, and
sometimes the good natured parson would
make it bis especial errand to attend the Til
lage or fort for that purpose. His cabin was
situated about two and a half miles out In a
north-west direction lrotn the Tillage, where
he bad cleared a few acres and planted his
crops, which promised bim an ample return.
On one occasion, an alarm from Indians had
driven the settlers tto the protection of the
fort, nnd among the rest who sought its friend
ly shelter, was the parson and his family.
It happened, alter a while, from the num
bers who had assembled, that the provisions
began to run short, and soon run so low that
it was necessary to pet the members npon
short allowance. As this state of things could
not long continue without some steps taken to
supply the deficiency, it ws decided to send
out a party to one of the clearings to obtain
the necessary supplies. Now the parson was
a good hearted, generous man, and offered to
conduct a party to his clearing, and get from
his fields the required munitions. Accord
ingly a party, embracing souie of the most ath
letic men of the garrison started with a wagon
lor the parson's place. The fear of the Indi
ans had somewhat subsided, as none had been
9een or heard of for a number of days, and it
was supposed they had decamped fiom the
neighborhood. ' At least this is the most like
ly supposition, and in no other way can the
negligence of the party in preparing them
selves for the emergency of meeting the sava.
ges, and their careless manner of proceeding
be accounted for. The party were pursuing
their way, thoughtlessly laughing, talking and
shouting to each other, when from a ravine
which skirted the road, near half a mile from
the fort, they received a volley from the rifles
of a number ot Indians, who, warned of the
approach of the whites by their inconsiderate
noise, had laid an ambush for them at this point
The horses before tho wagon were killed, two
or three of the men wounded, and one killed
outright, having received three balls through
his body. The others, entirely unprepared
for such an attack, fled into the bushes and
undertook to elude the savages, who fired and
then rushed upon tho astonished party to use
the scalping knife. And tho sccae was an ex
citing one. The whites, recovering from, their
first panic, sprang each to a tree, and endea
vored to gain tho vantage ground they had
lost. The respective parties were pretty equal
in numbers, but the Indians had gained the
supremacy in the first onset from the amaze
ment of their opponents; and although they
lost two or three of their number from the tire
of the wbites, yet they maintained their ad
vantage atid drove them back, until those who
could were obliged to take to their heels, and
after an exciting raco of half a mile, they
reached the fort in safety. Those who were
wounded by biding and dodging, managed to
escape the red skins without further injury.
But what became of the parson 7 Well, tho
parson, being quite fat, in truth too pnrsey to
think of walking far, bad taken bis seat in the
wagon to drive, and seeing that his horses
would not do any more driving alter they were
shot, and believing that
He who fights and runs away,
May live to fight another day,
leaped or rather rolled out of the wagon and
took to his heels in the most undignified and
unbecoming manner in the world. The parson
wore a large, powdered, curled wig, the kind
so much worn in olden times, though he did
not use a wig because he wished to follow the
fashion but because he was perfectly bald his
head was as bare and destitute of hair as a
baby's face. As he reached hia feet and start
ed to run, this splendid head of hair was a
striking object and attracted the cupidity of
one of the savages, who determined to secure
so valuable a trophy. The parson was not
long in discovering that he was an especial ob
ject of pursuit, and be urged his clumsy lower
limbs to the utmost ; but be soon lound be
was no match for the fleet red-skin, and find
ing him almost to his heels, ducked his head
and crept into the sheltering embrace of a
clump of thorny underbrush which grew near.
In doing so, he left the wig which had marked
him out so prominently in the pursuit, npon a
bramble. The Indian, thinking the head was
beneath it, of course, made two bounds, and
bis fingers were twined in tho copious cnrls,
and his tomahawk raised to give the fatal blow.
As ho jerked the supposed head aside, how
ever, to strike the supposed victim in the
temple, it was disengaged, and he held in
hand an empty scalp. Picture to yourself,
dear reader, for I cannot describe, the look of
that poor dumpfonnded Indian as he discover
ed the cheat, and imagine. the mingled dis
gust, disappointment, anger, and chagrin with
which be threw it npon tho ground, and
stamping upon it he exclaimed, "D dlie!"
and turning, he gave up the chase. He had
probably never before seen a wig, and was as
much pnzzled as he was disgusted at such a
mode of taking scalps.
The parson who was puffing and blowing in
the uncomfortable but friendly clump of brush,
as may bo supposed, rejoieed at tho favorable
close of the adventure, although he could not
help mourning for the loss of bis favorite wig.
Terrible Scffeeiso tkom Thirst. A long
letter appears m a Texas paper concerning the
passage of M'CuIJoch's emigrant train across
the staked plain to California. The Great
Ameiican Desert, through which the train
passed, is a barren waste, and poorly supplied
with water. Out of 1600 head of cttle, 950
died for lack of water, and for a period of seventy-six
honrs were without a drop to slake
their thirst. The men also su tiered terribly,
and many shot down famishing bullocks on
tho road,pnlU?d off their boots or shoes, caught
the fWcfc Ao blcod, and, drank it freely. .
ARMY LIFE IN UTAH.
A writer from the camp at Salt Lake, in
letter dated 31st August says:
The Army camp is about to bo removed a
few miles, to a point where preparations are
being made for tho winter. Huts are being
built there of clay, in the shape of large sized
bricks and dried in the sun, (adopoj. Each
ofSccr is to have a room 15 leet square, with
walls 7 leet high tho earth for a floor, and,
perhaps heaven for a ceiling, in part at least,
for though a sort of roof will bo made, it will
be a holy one. The Mormons are at work mak
ing the adopes ; at least one hundred Mormons
are now at work, and they have contracted to
make one million and a half of them. ' After
they are completed the troops will move, and
it will take the soldiers a month to make their
preparations for 'Winter.
This tear is a capital thing for the Mormons ;
they sell ibcir Vegetables, &c, at their own
price,, pretty generally, though every day aft
officer is detailed to attend to the prices, of
things brought to the camp to sell; then, thef
requ ire Mormon prices for their labor ; in short
it is a fine thing for the Mormons to' have tho
troops ont here to eat all they want, to sell. ' "
As to Drigbam, he fares sumptuously every
day. His house is very fine ; it is said to have
cost sixty thousand dollars. On the cupalo is
a bec hive, beautifully caived in wood, la
this bouse he attends to business, receives vis
itors, and here resides Mrs. Brighani Xo. 1.
In the house next to this, all tho other Mrs.
Brigham's live say fifty or sixty, and over
the portico of this house is a largo lion,
carved trom stone. The lion is finely done,
and is in a recumlcnt position. Around these
two houses is an immense wall, built of stone,
enclosing the entire square, (about as large aa
one of your Washipgton squares.) The gates
are heavy and strong, like the sally-ports of a
fort. Within this wall aie always forty or fif
ty armed men. Brighani is quite a domestic
man ; perhaps be is a little afraid to go at
large, and then he has. no doubt, a fine socie
ty at home. He must be, literally, a lion at
one of his wifes soirees.
Gov. Banks, of Mass., Attacked bt x ma
Womas. Governor Banks visited the North'
ampton (Mass.) Insane Asylum, on the 27th
nit., and while viewing the inmates, Mrs.
Phelps, the woman who some Tears since was
charged with poisoning her husband, and af
terwards became deranged, seized the Gover
nor by the arm and declared that "she woaM
instantly drag him to execution it was use
less to resist she was commissioned to bang"
him and must do it." and snit?ng the action to
tho word, she seized the Governor by the col.
lar, and probably, but for his earnest resist
ance and timely aid of Dr. Trince, the com
mcnwealtb would to da J-have been without
her chief executive magistrate.
A Max Sua ted with akAozk. Since beards
and razors were invented, says the Abingdon
firginiau, we never heard of an innovation or
improvement upon the latter until Tuesday
last. On the evening of that day, two men
in the neighborhood of onr depot, getting into
a fracas, one of them struck at the other with
a foot-ad.e, and completely shared his ekin at
one stroke, without materially injuring lb
meat. We learn that the shaved man was the
aggressor and that the other one tUdtid him
in self-delence. May the Lord deliver us
from such a barber and such a razor.
The latest novelty from Germany is a mn
sical bed, which receive the weary body, and
immediately "laps it into Elysium." It is an
invention of a mechanic in Bohemia, and is
so constructed that by means of a hidden me
chanism, a pressure upon the bed causes a soft
and gentle air of Auber to be played which
continues to lull the most wakefnl to sleep.
At the head is a clock, the hand of which be
ing placed at the hour the sleeper wishes to
rise, when the time arrives the bed plays a
inarch of Spotoni, with drums and cymbals,
and, in short, with noise enough to rouse the
seven sleepers.
Wo.iPF.RrrL Achievement. M. Garrani, a
French machinist, has, it is said, perfected an
atrial ship, at the cost of 200,000 francs and
made a voyage to Algiers, Africa, and back,
with it, a distance of fifteen hundred miles
from the starting point. The average speed
was almost one hundred miles an horrr, tbo
voyage occupying eighteen hours. M. Gar-rani
is to make the attempt from Havre to the
city of New York, as soon as be has further
tested the character of his invention by a few
shot t trips over the Mediterranean and neigh
boring provinces.
Kats. A lady correspondent of a country
exchange writes that the simplest way of get-
ting rid of those intolerable vermin, rats, is to
dissolve copperas in cold water (make it
strong) and sprinkle the solution in tbe moat
frequent places of resort. Tbis -will make
them leave tbe premises. The writer tried it
successfully, and has never been troubled
since. The unpleasant method of poisoning,
aud tho troublesome way ot trapping, may
now very well be. dispensed with.
Paddv is nfrpn nnot icollt- yrtl;?iJ- rin l.ir
ing up and returning a lady's parasol which
hnd Iwia.. k1. .. f 1 1 , I . .
""u uiyi u uui vi ner nana, s giiiaut
Irishman said, "Faith, miss, ah' if ye was as
sthrong as yer handsome, be jabers, a hurri
cane could'nt have snatched it from ye." ,
The officers of Covington, Ky., have captu
red a good looking girl, sixteen years old, who
was dressed in male attire, and has been liv
ing in the woods near the city for some time
subsisting on stolen poultry and provisions..
A lady, writing from Texas, speaks of Laving
waked up one morning and found herself In'
bed with a serpent. A great many ladiebwre
found themselves in the same predicament'
and some gentlemen. - . . i ::!!
- Secretary Cobb's hard money policy is clear-'
ly defined. He is in favor or hard money. Hei
issues twenty millions of dollars of "ragsj'
and takes gold for them.- The people get, .
rags and the Government the gold ,
In Iowa, the other day, a brute .aman.
kicked his wife. The indignant nenborVJf"'
sembled and made a jackass kic bin V'V
wife was kicked by much thoJder .
the two. " ;
"You don't seem to knr",0,r fk?
said a vulgar fellow to .gentleman ' ..'--. '
suited. res I do," a" entlt X ,
ing nun oyta www
II