Raftsman's journal. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, November 27, 1861, Image 1

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    , " , Jiff 1 .... . ... ... . ' - . I -III ' ...... . . r l . t l
t-
H
"i
-
j i
I
VOL. 8.-NO. IS.
BI S. J. ROW.
CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1861.
THE LOVEK'S IK VOCATION.
"Come to tbe trysting. come f
The night is cold and drear,
The star, shine dim from their shrouded home,
Bring m sweet morning no ,
The morning and the simmer "nl
Are in thy presence rue, - .... .
Thongh theVreath of the wintry wind the while
Breathes chill o'er the tide of life '."
The cold night passed, and the icy morn,
And sun-beams waked the flowers of spring,
'And incense gifts on the light breeze borne,
t it?, from their gay enamelling ;
.And still it sounded low,
That sad imploring strain,' .
The prayer that passed where the dower-scents go,
Ne er to rtaurn again !
"Come to the tryst ing, here ! ,
The glorious moon is high,
The stars are burning warm and clear
Far up the vaulted sky ;
Cut the breath of flowers is breathed in vain ;
All heavily and drear !
And the star-light loads my heart with pain ;
Thou dost not meet me here !"
Spring's glories from the earth are gone.
The rosy flowers lie crushed and dead ;
The song hag ceased in forest lone,
The summer minstrels all are fled.
List ! for the wailing cry,
Lift ? for the sorrowing noun ;
Seeks it in yonder blessed sky
Love e blossom, lost and gone ?
"Come to the trysting now I -
Love's voice is not in vain,
If earth yet holds thy being, thou !
Come to my heart again,
No more; and from the stars above
I hear thy sommons now, .
It calls me by thy changeless love,
Come to thy trysting. thou '."
THE SLAVE WIFE;
OK THE SUDDEN DUEL.
At the close of the Mexican war, the city of
.Brownsville, on the Texan bank of the Kio
Grande river, and immediately opposite to
Mataraoras, sprung up suddenly as If by magic,
developing the fall growth of an urbane com
munity within the course of a few months.
This singular flow of emigration and rapid ad
vancement in business was the result of the
living spirit of American enterprise, the com
mercial passion of a restless people,jeager alike
for glory and gain.
Among the many adventurers who swarmed
to the Kio Grande in the first prime of its
golden promise was a young lawyer, one Cleru
Parks, recently from South Carolina. Al
though descended from an ancient line of an
cestors, and bearing in his veins the blood of
the devolution, and having received a classi
cal education, jet his father's vices having
squandered an immense fortune the son, was
left poor, to fight the fierce battle of life, re
lying altogether on bis own resources, without
hope of aid or comfort from kindred or friends.
Nature had endowed him with a handsome
person, excellent judgment and true courage.
On arriving at his new sphere of action,
young Parks encountered an unexpected dif
ficulty. He discovered that there was very
little lucrative business transacted in the
court, and this bad already fallen into the
hands of a few advocates, who managed adroit
ly to monopolize every case of the smallest
importance. It was evidently impossible to
kit down and patiently wait nntil matters would
mend by the doubtful evolutions of time or
cbance. The price of board and lodging were
dear, and his wardrobe needed renovation even
before he was fitted to appear in the forum at
all. In this crisis of his fate he conceived a
.plan that looked in the light of reason, wild
jwJ visionary. He sold off bis books at auc
tion, and with the proceeds opened a garden,
wilhin a mile of the city, tor the purpose of
supplying the market with vegetables, which
happened at that period to be extremely
scarce, as the natives of the soil wanted both
the will and the wisdom to turn the rich allu
vial of the soil to any account. As the expe
riment flourished, and Mexican labor was very
cheap, the ex-attorney urged his operations
still further, and the little garden soon expand
ed into a fluid. To sum up the general result
in a single sentence, the end of three years
found him not only independent, but wealthy.
Having amassed sufficient fortune to satisfy
his desires, he thought of selling out, and re
curring again to the profession which he had
been forced to abandon, when an incident oc
curred to change his purpose. A family by
tlie name of Gracta, assumed to be of Spanish
origin, arrived at Brownsville, from New Or
leans. They were apparently in affluent cir
cumstances, intelligent, polished in their man
ners, and remarkably handsome in their per
sons. They were all dark featured, as is the
fact with the race from which they claimed
their descent. Indeed, they made it a matter
of boast that a slight tincture of Moorish blood
colored the current in their veins. Wealth
possesses a golden key to unlock the most ex
clusive doors, and beauty has the force of Are
to melt the hardest heart so that the new ad
dition to the society of the Kio Grande, as
one might well imagine, caused the utmost
enthusiasm, and was hailed as an era in the
history of frontier life. ' '
There was one member of this comely
household who immediately became an es
pecial favorite in the community, and drew
admiring attention of every observer b
he powers of her unspeakable loveliness.
47 Gracia was one of those rare combina
tions of graceful form, luminous features, and
.fpiritual expression, that resembles the fault
ier ideas of imagination, or the radient pic
tures of perfection which glitter in the bright
flreamg of early youth, rather than the shapes
,f flesh and blood that breathed common air
and mingled with the things of earth. Her
email, regular, exquisite face, revealed a com
V exion somewhat dark in its tints, but liter
aly translacent, where ,the warm blood could
Jeen spreading its rich, rosy suffusion-like,
unfading blush of maiden modesty; , Her eyes
f the deepest jet, appeared to swim in a sea
flight wild, waving and mixed with liquid
,Dre' Her long, dark hair flowed freely around
gbDst and bosom of indescribable symmetry,
put her voice possessed the most marvelous
Jcination of all. It was clear, silvery and
jjnging, with a gectle cadence in its tone, at
r Ml of each sentence, like the lisping raur
mt of soft windi among the pine tops. . . ..
etnales of any description were scarce in
u community, and thia beautiful creature,
"o seemed to have dropped, as it were, sud
"eD'y from the clouds, before the end of six
nth, had refused half a hundred excellent
nweerf the little boy Cupid, who
fai " out e?ery fair form as a mark for his
'Hill
g arrows, found this beautiful one at last.
. In company with a number of young persons
sue paid a visit of mere curiosity to the fam
ous flower garden, and fell in love at first sight
with the handsome proprietor, who responded
to her affection with equal ardor. The fruits
of their union, within three years, were a son
and daughter, who, as a matter of course, be
came the idols of their fond mother and father
for it seems to be a general, if not a ps3rco
logical law that human parents love their
children in proportion to their passionate ten
derness for each other; A charming white
cottage was their home in the flower garden
and the business of the happy horticulturist
prospered more than ever, so that with the
addition of the ample fortune brought into
matrimonial partnership by his beautiful com
panion, he might well be considered, for that
country, a man of wealth.
One bright morning of mid-summer, upon
his return from a neighboring city, the garden
er was astonished to find his lovely wife in a
paroxysm of tears, and evincing other tokens
of the utmost terror and anguish. But all bis
entreaties failed to elicit any explanation from
her lips, except the assurance that she felt op
pressed by tlio dark foreshadowing of some
unknown and mysterious, but dreadful danger.
However, after she became a degieo more
tranquil, having an affair of importance to ar
range, he went to town.
On his arrival he was accosted in the street
by a person he did not recollect to have seen
before. The stranger was a man of middle
age, with coarse, sinister features, gleaming
black eyes, raven hair streaked with silver
and a massive form revealing the appearance
of herculean strength and agility, lie was
dressed in rich black cloth, cut in the latest
fashion and profusely disfigured, rather than
adorned, with gems and precious ornaments.
A huge golden seal, enclosing a costly stone,
dangled from his heavy watch chain, which
be twirled incessently with his fingers, lie
spoke in a loud, brusque tone : "Mr. Parks
they say that is your name allow me to in
troduce myself, I am Colonel Powers, of New
Orleans, and have visited Texas in search of
runaway slaves. I am told that you harbor
them."
"You have been misinformed," replied the
gardener sternly. "There is not a slave or
even a colored person on my plantation."
"No, sir, I am not mistaken. The woman
that you call your wife is a slave, and was ac
tually born in ray kitchen. Here is a bill of
sule, containing the names of her father and
mother, for whose bodies I paid down three
thousand dollars. There you behold the seal
of the recorder's court !"
The other reeled as if he had been struck a
terrible blow with an iron hammer, and gasped
out
"Merciful God ! it cannot be so. This man
must be insane, or I am dreaming."
"If you doubt my word," twirling his watch
chain angrily, "yonder comes old Judge Rice,
who is familiar with the circumstances, and
can prove every item of my assertion."
The individual alluded to, who had been a
member of the New Orleans bar for many
years, confirmed the stranger's story in all its
particulars.
It would bo impossible to give the faintest
idea of the indiscribable agony depicted in the
countenance of Mr. Parks, as the astounding
truth, with its horrible consequences, burst
upon his soul, like a flash of lurid lightning.
He turned pale as death, and staggered, as it
about to fall to the earth ; but, by a great ef
fort, lie wrestled with his grief, and, conquer
ing, became apparently calm, but still as pal
lid as a piece of white paper.
"Why has this matter been kept a secret for
so long 7" the gardener demanded in tones of
terrible meaning. "Was it a cunning device
to win gold out of human tears and the blood
of innocent hearts 7"
The Colonel laughed with delight at the re
membrance of his craft, boldly avowed his own
infamy.
"Yes," he said, "I was smart. I noted how
beautiful the slaves were, and I determined
to make it pay to the highest figure. I had
them well educated, and made., them, fools,
believe that they were free. Under this im
pression they removed to the Kio Grande. 1
gave them money, which they have increased
with more than compound interest, and now I
have come to get my pay for all my trouble."
And the unblushing villain twirled bis watch
chain joyously.
How much do you expect me to pay for my
wife and children ?" inquired Parks with an
awful smile.
"I must have ten thousand dollars, besides
the return of her fortune, amounting to as
much more !" answered the Colonel, with the
most business-like coolness.
"Scoundrel, coward, thief, assassin ! you
shall never own one cent from the earnings of
myyears of toil!" exclaimed Parks, in a voice
of uncontrollable fury.
Mind what you say, for I will have bloody
satisfaction for eveiy insulting word you em
ploy," said the Colonel, growing white with
rage.
"Then take it now 7" shouted Parks, strik
ing the other with such force in the face that
he rolled on the ground. '
But Powers suddenly regained his feet, and
wiping the crimson streams from his mouth
and nose, vociferated
"I claim mortal satisfaction on the spot !"
Yes, you shall have it now here !" re
plied the gardiner, in a voice that resembled
the wrathful yell of a demon.
Some accommodating bystanders, who had
collected around the 8cene,proffered their ser
vices as seconds, and the terms of the duel was
immediately arranged. It was settled that the
two principals should each be armed with a
pistol, and assuming their stations twenty
yards apart, at the signal might stand or ad-
vance'and fire which they pleasert.
At the word, Parks moved calmly and stead
ly, with moderate steps, towards his enemy.
The latter remained fixed as a marble statute
in his position, with his arm elevated firmly,
and his dark eye gleamed through the sights
with deadly aim at his mortal mark. When
the other arrived at the distance of ten paces
the pistol pointed at his heart, exploded with
a lond roar. But he faltered not paused not
changed not his march.' The ballet bad bit
a silver coin, which happened to be in the
pocket of his vest, and that alone had saved
his life, lie never stopped until he was with
in three feet of bis foe, when for the first time
raising bis weapon, he blew, out the Colonel's
brains. ' : .'."''
Parks, with his family, and ail the Gracias,
the next day removed into Mexico, where they
yet reside. - -
THE BATTLE OF BEAUFORT.
Farther Particulars and Incidents.
Attack bt Rebel Gunboats. Whilst sev
eial of our gunboats were engaged in taking
scundings, previous to the engagement, five
Rebel gunboats suddenly appeared from be
hind a head which had hitherto concealed
them. They boldly ran down, and,-without
hesitation, engaged our gunboats. The skir
mish was a sharp one, lasting about throe
quarters of an hour, and terminating in the
complete triumph of our boats, and the retue
ment of the Rebel steamers.
I he 1 lan of Attack. The attack was
simple, admirable and effective, being neither
more nor less than for the ships to steam in a
circle, or ellipse, running close to one shore
as they came down the river, drifting or steam
ing as slowly as possible past the batteries
there, and paying their fiery respects, then
making the turn to go back, and as they went
up the river, favoring the other batteries with
a similar compliment the game to be contin
ued ad la bitum, or until the rebel flag came
down.
The Vessels Move into Line. At about
half-past nine o'clock they began their mag
nificent march, in an appointed order, as near
ly as it could be preserved. After making the
first round it was found feasible and more
effective to change slightly the plan, and pro
ceed in a single line, which was done in obe
dience to orders signalled from the flagship.
The strangeness of the sight of this fine fleet,
now so quiet, but bearing a more destructive
armament, moving so gracefully in precise
lines to bloody slaughter, the moody shores
where as yet the only moving things were the
waving palmetto trees and the flitting birds
and butterflies; and the knowledge that the
white decks were so soon to be slippery with
blood, and the whiter sands of the beach so
soon to drink deeply of the same precious
fluid, was scarcely thought of by the excited
throng that looked so eargly on, and were on
ly anxious for the deadly work to begin.
Commencement of the Action. The action
commenced at precisely ten a. in., the first
shot being lrom the Hilton Head fortification
at the flag ship, and three guns were fired be
fore we replied. The shots then elicited a
reply. The entire broadsides of the Wabash,
composed of two batteries of twenty-six guns
each, and the pivot gun, at once .poured in
their fearful storm of shells upon the batteries
on both sides of the river at once. The men,
who had stripped to their work, instantly re
loaded the guns, and as the frigate moved
with just sufficient speed to give her steerage
vay, and keep her under control, she had the
battery in range for twenty minutes. After the
first fire she nse.d only the starboard guns.
More Rebel Batteries. As soon as the
action fairly commenced, a fact, that had be
fore been merely suspected was plainly dem
onstrated that iu the gunboat reconnoisance
of. Tuesday morning, though that brisk affair
before its close assumed almost the propor
tions of a battle, the rebels had, with their
customary shrewdness, concealed, or rather,
had not shown, the full strength of their bat
teries. Tbey now brought their full force in
to play, and disclosed several more guns than
they had used in the affair of Tuesday, but,
luckily, no more than we were fully prepared
to attend to. .. ,. .
The Location. The peculiar make of the
river is such that not more than eight of our
ships could bring their guns to Dear on the
shore batteries at the same time, but even
then the sight was one of the most magnificent
conceivable. Eight vessels would deliver a
broadside of not less than fifty guns at a single
fire, led by the battery of the Wabash of twenty-seven
guns, and as each gun could be load
ed and discharged once in a minute at the very
lowest estimate, and being in rango about 20
minutes, it will be seen that more than fllty
bombs and other terribly destructive projec
tiles were rained into the Hilton Head fortifi
cation every minute that the fleet was within
range.
Effect of the Firing. Nothing could
stand before this fiery storm guns were hurl
ed from their carriages ; houses were knocked
into heaps of mortar and brick, and beams and
boards ; the formidable fort walls, of the soli
dest masonry, were in places torn and splin
tered, and the tough trees, of the pitch pine
woods, were shivered, twisted, wrenched, and
cut off like slender reeds. . ---
Rebel Expectations. The rebels had con
fidently calculated on being able to sink the
entire fleet in twenty minutes, as we learn
ed from some copies of Southern papers, and
from some cf the rebel letters, many of which
fell into our hands, and in several of which
the result is confidently predicted, and was
looked upon almost as an accomplished fact.
The utter destruction of the entire expedition
was considered so positively, assured, and
their belief in the ability of their batteries to
put an effectual quietus upon Lincoln's fleet
was so perfect, that in one or two of the doc
uments the writers lamented the necessity
they should be under of sending the ships to
the bottom, when the Confederates are so
much in need of ships. It was taken for
granted that the tremendous execution to be
done by their heavy guns wonld perforate the
hulls of our ships, and send them to the bot
tom instantly. - Having this confident expec
tation, the rebels looked eagerly after each fire
to see'some of our ships go down. They espe
cially concentrated their guns on the Wabash.
Chagrin of the Rebels. The prisoners in- j
formed ns that their officers were much sur
prised that the Wabash persisted in remaining
afloat. : When the ships had all passed their
battery in safety for the fiist time, and bad
"peppered them well," and had all got off
without apparent injury,' the astonishment was
great, and the universal impression began to
prevail that there was some mistake. For the
second time the fleet came steaming down;
for the second time they poured in that terrible
fire, dismantling the guns,' shattering the
buildings, and stretching in death numbers of
their men ; and for the second time the fleet
passed on in safety, showing not the slightest
sign of any intention of going to the bottom. .
. Third Terrible Round op the Fleet.
Without paying more attention to the barking
of the battery at Fort Beauregard, on . Bay
Point, than to pitch them an occasional shot
merely to let them know tbey were not forgot
ten, for the third time-the fleet rounded their
circular track, and came slowly down to pay
their respects again. Again was : the whole
fire of. the fort concentrated on the Wabash,
and afterward in tarn on each one of tbeahips,
as tbey passed in a fiery procession before the
shore, delivering with the utmost coolness and
the most exact precision their murderous flrei
running even nearer than before, firing more
effectually than ever, and again steaming away
unbarmed,and turning the point for still another
round. ....
Panic and Root of the Rebels. The ut
most consternation now took possession of the
rebels, and in an -uncontrollable panic . they
fled with the utmost precipitation. . The panic
at Bull Run was not more complete ; indeed,
not half so much so, for the rebels in their
mortal terror ran for tho woods without stop
ping for anything whatever. They left in their
tents hundreds of dollars of money, gold
watches, costly swords, and other valuables,
showing that their fear was uncontrolable and
complete. ......
Raising the U. S. Flag. Upon discovering
the flight of the rebels Capt. John Rogers, now
commander of the sloop-of-war Flag, who had
been on board the Wabash, acting as aid to
Flag Officer Dupont during the fight, was at
once sent on shogg in a boat with a flag of
truce to ascertain it the flight was real or a
feint. He found the fort entirely deserted,
and immediately with his own hand ran up the
stars and stripes on the ramparts. At precise
ly three o'clock p. m., of Thursday, Nov. 7,
1861, the American flag was planted in South
Carolina, on a South Carolina fort, for the first
time since it was hauled down at the disgrace
ful capture of Fort Sumter.
The Rebel's hasty Flight. In their hurry
the rebels left their tents standing, and left
everything not already upon their persons.
The tents were filled with clothing, arms, food,
bedding, and everything usually pertaining to
a camp. In some of the tents were tables with
everything laid for dinner, and covered with a
bountiful supply of cold meats, bread, biscuit,
etc. About two thousand dollars in gold and
silver were left in one place; and many other
valuable articles and considerable sums of
South Carolina paper money were also found.
Ammunition Taken. Among the spoils are
three hundred muskets, the complete camp
equipage of three regiments, fifty cannon, and
immense quantities of ammunition. It is a
noticeable fact that all the powder is the very
best English powder, that many of the car
tridges are of English make, and that some of
the projectiles for the rifled connon are of a
kind unknown in our service, but which answer
to the description of certain new English in
ventions. The muskets are our own Spring
field rifled musket,and, together with the camp
equipage, and the clothing found, are of the
veiy best quality .
Pluck of our Men. Many of the mon had
never been in a battle, but, as far as known,
not a single man.tlinched or faltered. The
officers look upon their men as already veterans
in point of bravery .coolness and utter indiffer
ence to danger.
'Cost of the Battle. According to a pub
lished statement, the estimated cost of the
expedition is as follows : Rent of the vessels
up to this time say $3,600,000 ; Pay of the
soldiers, etc., $630,000; Value of rations,
$220,000 ; Clothing worn out, $165,000 ; Pow
der burned, $28,000 ; Vessels lost, $160,000 ;
Total, $4,903,000. This estimate includes all
expenses from the first enlistment of the men,
up to the time of the battle.
Incident. The moment Gen. Drayton took
to his horse in the panic of the 7th, his two
hundred servants went directly to the Wabash.
This is worthy of notice as putting down the
romance that the slaves were ready to fight
for their masters. They surrounded Capt.
Ammon in crowds at Beaufort one of them
calling out in the joy of his heart, "I didn't
think you could do it, massa." So says an
extract from a private letter from an officer
engaged in the bombardment. .
Ihe Negroes Trading. Early in the morn
ing after the victory the plantation negroes
began to come into camp, and. with the genuino
African instinct for trade, each had provided
himself with a turkey, a shoulder of bacon,
or two shoulders and a brace of hams in the
shape of a struggling porker, which he bore
kicking and squealing under his arm. It was
amusing to see the pertinacity with which the
fellows would cling to their prize, cpn while
being questioned under a guard of soldiers.
The instant one was spoken to, the rimless
crown of straw which did duty as a bat. was
jerked off and the negro would stand scraping
and bowing, answering the questions, as well
as tie could, with the noisy and struggling
beast distracting his attention. All seemed
ready to work. , : ,
A Brave Sailor. T-he case of Thomas
Jackson, coxswain of the Wabash, deserves
notice. He was struck by a shot, or a splinter,
which so nearly cut his leg off as to leave it
hanging but by a small portion of the muscle
and skin. Partially raising and leaning pain
fully against a gun, Jackson glanced at his
mangled limb, and, in an instant perceived its
hopeless condition. Feeling behind his back
in his belt, where seamen always carry their
knives,he drew his sheath-knife from its leather
scabbard and deliberately began to saw away
at his leg, but his krjife was dull and he could
not cut the limb off. As he was borne below
by bis mates, and afterward, be asked continu
ally how the fight was going, and kept saying,
"I hope we'll win it, I hope we'll win." In
two hours he died, his last words being a wish
for our victory in this battle, , and a word of
thanks that he had been able to do something
for the honor of the "dear old flag."
The Yankees Coming. One negro approach
ed and said : "O Lord, massa, .we'se so glad
to see you. , We'se prayed and prayed the
good Lord that he would send you Yankees,
and we knowed you'so was coming.?' , Dr.
Ciavan asked, "How could you know that 7
You can't read the paper, how did you get the
news 7" The darkey replied, "No, massa,
we'so can't read, but we'se can listen. : Massa
and misses uses to read, and sometimes they's
would read aloud, and then we would listen
so" making an expressive gesture, indicative
of listening at a key-hole " When I'se git a
chance, 1'se would .listen, and Jim would
listen, and we put the bits together, and . we
knew'd the Yankees were coming. -Bless the
Lord, massa." This shows bow the slaves
obtain their information.
Slaves of all Colors. One correspondent
says that the slaves at Beaufort are of all col
ors. ; Darkies . of. genuine Congo physiques,
and darkies of the genuine Uncle Tom pattern,
darkies young .and jubilant,: darkies middle
aged,, and eager, and . gray-haired solemn
looking fellows. ; Such as came in were; hud
dled in a shed near the Fort. A naval officer
in passing looked in an asked, "Well, well,
what are you all about?".' The response.was,
"Dafs jest what we'd like to find out, mas'r."
The officer then assured them that tbey. would
.a
be taken care of and perhaps found something
to do ; when they replied "Tank Uod lor aai,
mas'r."
A Brave Bot. On the ship Bienville, par
ticular mention was made and special thanks
returned, in presence of the ship's company,
to William Henry Steele, a boy not fourteen
years old, from New York, who conducted
himself with distinguished bravery. He Is a
powder boy, and not only never flinched or
dodged a shot, but when two men were killed
at his gun, he did not turn pale or cease for
an instant his duties, but handed the cartridge
he bad in his hand to the gunner, stepped
carefully over the bodies and hastened below
for more ammunition.
Conversations with Contrabrands. Two
negroes who were brought in to Fort Walker,
said they belonged to Mrs. Pinckny of Charles
ton, and came down to "see what de white
people were all about." They said the white
people all ran away when the ships came up,
crying "Great God ! Great God ! Great God !
the Yankees are coming ; fire the boats !"
Other slaves reported that "when do white
folks see de little boats coming up, dey laffed
at them ; but when they see de big checker
sided vessels com in ; they lafled on de odcr
side der moufs." ' -
Three Hundred Men Bcried in a Mine.
The foreign papers give accounts of a terrible
casualty in the department of Gard, France.
In consequence of a powerful storm--the
bursting of a water spout, according to some
statements the Lalie mine was flooded, and
the sides fell In burying all tho working men.
An explosion of gas took place at the same
time, by which a portion of the mine was
blown up. The number of men missing, and
considered as killed by the accident, is nearly
three hundred. The casualty took place on
the 13th ult. The Gazette de Mudi publishes
the following account : The mine had been
flooded by the late rain?, a land-slip took place
and more than one hundred workmen were
either smothered or drowned. The Prefect of
the Gard, having been apprised of tho circum
stance at ten at night, left his residence, ac
companied by several public functionaries and
by the chief engineer of the department," and
proceeded to the mine in a special train. On
arriving at the scene of the disaster it was
ascertained that on lnfndred and seventeen
miners were mtesing, and that 1,800,000 cubic
yards of water had rushed into the mine, and
caused numerous laudsbips. The engineers
are of opinion that it will require three months
to pump out the water. Public rnmor casts
the blame on the engineers, but the fact is that
a water spout burst and caused a torrent, which
rushed into the mine with such violence and
rapidity that even the overseers had not time
to save themselves. " An explosion of gas took
place at the same time, by which a portion of
the mine was blown up. Though every means
of rescuing the victims have been taken .there
is but little probability of saving the lives of
those who are buried in the mine. The ut
most that can be done is to bring the dead
bodiesto the surface. The number of working
men missing, and considered as killed by the
accident, is nearly three hundred. '
Confiscation of Northern Propertt ih
the South. It is stated, in the journals of
the day, that Jeflerson Davis has lately declar
ed it to be the intention of the Southern reb
els to confiscate everything in the shape of
Northern property in the Confederate States,
and that this will amount to about eight hun
dred millions of dollars. The otitsido amount
of loss to the loyal States cannot, however, we
think, be over from four to five hundred mil
lions a large sum, and there is sufficient mal
ice and dishonesty, we do not question, on
the part of Southern leaders to induce them
to carry out their menace. Two, however,
let the South know, can play at this game.
By the 1st of January our armies will have
obtained a strong foothold in South Carolina,
and Georgia ; our armies will have advanced
into the heart of Tennessee and Virginia ;
nearly half a million of brave, loyal and vic
torious troops, will have opened some of the
principal forts of the South and insurrection
will be at the mercy of the federal Govern
ment. The planters and slaveholders of the
South, who have been so persistent in treason,
will see the 4,000,000 of slaves, they now own,
transferred to the possession of those loyal cit
itizens of the South, who are anxiously await
ing the opportunity to greet with rejoicing the
clcvatiou everywhere of our glorious flag, and
the shameful confiscations of Jeff. Davis and
'his associates will be amply retaliated. Six
hundred millions of property in slaves and
cotton alone will be lost to those actively en
gaged in treason, without taking into account
their possessions in real estate and personal
property.
Patent Sermon for the Times. It is a
miserable propensity that gloat a over the dark
side of affairs, and employs-itself in choking
up every chink and cranny through which a
ray of hopeful light can creep in to comfort a
body. The day may be full of storm and
tempest ; but when did a gale blow forever 7
The night may be pitchy dark ; but when has
the blessed morning failed to come 7 Never,
verily. Worry ourselves as we may, there is
a beneficienl Being at the helm of the universe,
"whose tender mercies are over all his works."
What though he sends a day of cloud, tho next
day's sunlight is all the brighter for it ; what
though he vouchsafes a week of pain, how
much more richly do we enjoy the months and
years of health that follow ! Certes,it is sorely
trying to the flesh of an enterprising man to
And business lag, while day after day steals
slowly along and brings nothing to call into
play his energies of mind or body. But will
grumbling help the case 7 ' Not a whit. Let
him go to work and mend matters if . he can ;
bnt if he cannot, which is tolerably probable,
let him console . himself with the reflection
that he is not at fault, and be thankful that
affairs are no worse. A good time is coming,
and will come early or late ; impatience will
not hurry it along. In the meantime, let us
all feel, look and speak hopefully. ' It is good
philosophy and better .religion, and, will pay
well in comfort, and, more likely, in dollars
too.. Besides, it' saves the . nerves and helps
the health generally So be it. ' '.
, The Louisville Journal says Zollicofler'a only
military achievement thus far is the whipping
of one of his spies who led hint into the Wild
Cat disaster.1 - ''. ' ' '." ''
Tho assessed value of the real estate and
personal property of the city, of- Si. Louis is
$85,603,551.. ; : ' '
THE J OU 11 X A L.
INTERESTING WAR NEWS.
Somewhat of a sensation was produced on the
20th in the western section of Baltimore by
the Provost Marshall Bending a Urge force of
police to Miller's Hotel, at the corner ot Ger
man and Paca streets, seizing the whole estab
lishment with all its contents, including a
large number of horses and the contents of
the bar-room, safe and vault. The object of
this movement is said to prostrato the mail ar
rangments of the rebel sympathizers there. It
Is supposed that f rom this hotel thero has been
a regular communication kept up with teams
to West river and thence to Virginia. The
proprietors of the house are net suspected,
being generally regarded as Union men, but
it is supposed that certain employees or lodg
ers have been receiving and transmitting let
ters to forward to secessla. A number of let
ters were seized, but have not been examined.
Two parties, Wm Hart and John Earl were ar
rested. The nature of the evidence against
them is not known.
A letter from Port Royal dated tha 16th,
states Gen. Sherman on the 2Uh, sent one of
his aids, Lieut. Wagner, under a flag of truce
to carry bis proclamation to the people of
South Carolina. Lieut. Wagner was accom
panied by Dr. Bacon of the Sixth Conneticut
regiment. They proceeded within two miles
of Gardner's corner place, opposite Port Roy--al
ferry, which was said to be occupied by reb
el troops and there had an interview with the'
rebel officers under the flag of truce. The
latter admitted that tho depredations on tho
property of the citizens of Beaufort were the
work of the blacks, and entirely exculpated
our troops from any complicity with them.
On their retnrn they met a squad of rebel cav-
airy, who gave them fodder for their horses.
Col. Canby having made a requisition upon
the Governor of New Mexico for twelve thou
sand militia men for the United States Army
service, the latter issued an order to tbe Ma
jor Generals of divisions in which be designa
ted the proportion of men each is to furnish
The forces thus raised will be stationed at tho
different posts in the territory to garrison
them whilst the regulars and volunteers are in
service in tbe field. Four handred men will
be stationed at Fort Union, four hundred at
Alberqueque, four hundred at Santa Fe and
two hundred at Fort Craig.
The Memphis Appeal says: "A journey
from Richmond to Memphis now occupies
four days, owing to tho destruction of the
bridges in east Tennessee. Two of these
bridges were costly, and cannot be speedily
rebuilt. The railroad managers are using
every effort to keep up the communicatiou be
tween them by ferries and temporary bridges."
Great excitement prevailed along the route,
especially at Knoxville. Parson Brownlow
had left for parts unknown. Five hundred
Unionists were reported to be at Uniontownr
when the bridge was destroyed.
A letter has been received by Capt. Charles
Candy, Assistant Adjudant General to Land
er's brigade lrom? Coi. Lee of the 20th Mas
sachsetts regiment now a prisoner at Rich
mond. Col. Lee states that be and the other
imprisoned officers have been Very kindly
treated, and makes inquiries as to the dispo
sition made of the enemy captured at Ball's
Bluff. The rebels1 say that fewer of the Mas
sachusetts officers would have been killed had
they not been too preud to surrender.-
The gun-boat Conestoga on an exploring
expedition np the Tennessee river on the 19th,
discovered a rebel battery neaf the Tennessee
line. She threw one shell, which routed tbe
rebels. Still further up another battery was
discovered, and she engaged the rebels and
again routed them with a number killed. The
Conestoga was but slightly damaged in the
encounter. She-returned the next day.
The advices brought by the steamer Atlan
tic gives assurance that tho portion of tbe
Federal troops at Port Royal is considered
safe. Extensive works are rapidly progres
sing and guns- are being mounted. Tbe en
trenchments extend to Seville; about fiWe
miles from the fort on Hilton nead, and are
under the supervision of Capt. Gilmoro.
The oath not to bear arms against the Uni
ted States has been administered to twenty
nine rebel prisoners at tbe old capitol ; anoth
er has signified his desire to take the oath of
allegiance. These proceedings are prelimin
ary to their release for an eqUaf number who
have been or may be released by the rebel an
iborities.
A letter from Charleston dated' October 3rd
sent by Havana to gentleman in England
and thence remailed to New York city, was
received here yesterday. The writer repre
sents tho condition of affairs as deplorable.
Business was prostrated, provisions at starva
tion prices, and- no prospect of a change for
the better. " . . -i -
The reported transfer of Zollicoffer's forces
from Cumberland Gap to Easton, Ky.. was un
founded. ' The latest Nashville and Memphis
papers show that Zollicoffer was still at the
Gap with 5,000 troops. -A brigade of Ten
nesseeans, under Gen. Carroll's order, were
sent to reinforce Zollicoffer from Middle Ten
nessee. ' ;; ' r
A special dispatch received here from Fort
ress Monroe, dated the 20th, , states that
Lieutenant Waiden,- released "by tho: rebels,
says that the intelligence of the arrest of Ma
son and Slidell had caused great excitemenff
among the rebels, who rejoiced in the pros
pect of retaliation by England.
Tenders ot troopr continue to be made to
the War Department, and it is-probable that
before the meeting of Congress the half mil
lion authorized to be accepted will be supplied
Offers of additional regiments of cavalry are'
declined owing to a sufficiency of that branch
of the army . ' - ' . : : ' '
Reliable information reached" Jeflerson City
on' the.20tb, that our cavalry under" Major
Hugh had overtaken and captured the Rebels
wha seized our supply train, near Warrens
burg, on Monday last.! About one -hundred
and fifty prisoners were taken, and' the wagons
recovered. '
' Governor Harris, of Tennessee, in a procla
mation dated' the J2th ibst., Urgently appeals
for privateassistar.ee to arm the five regi
ments of Tennessee rebel troops now in camp,
and threatens peremptorily tt disband them
if no arms be furnished. ; -. t-: -V ; -
. The report of an attempted'attaek on W il
sbn's Zouaves by the rebels received via Ha
vana is confirmed! Tbe rebels were'shelled
from the Island by the Colorado and retreated
to . Pensacqla ,The health jf .WiLsan.' 2ou
a?e is excellent -- v:.' - - r I "
! :
v
4
'I':
f?
!i
II