Decatur Democrat, Volume 25, Number 51, Decatur, Adams County, 24 March 1882 — Page 1

VOLUME XXV, •

THE IMPROVISION OF AMERICAN CITIZENS. While Secor Robeson and his worthy associates were boasting in the house of Representatives of the conduct of the Republican party in protecting the rights of naturalized citizens abroad, The N. Y. Sun republished from the Irish World a correspondence between Mr. D. McSweeney an Irish-American citizen imprisoned in Dundalk jail,and Mr. Lowell, Minister of the United States at London. It appears that Mr. McSweeney was arrested, ‘•condemned, and sentenced to sixteen months’ imprisonment, without trial by Judge or jury.” He was only permitted to know the nature of the complaint against him by the allegations in the warrant or arrest. He applied to Mr. Lowell for his official intervention, and the comfort be got from that diplomatic representative is bast made known in his own words: ‘Legation of the United States Sept. 22, 1881. “Mr. D. McSweeney. “Sir - —I have to acknowledge your letter of the 17th instant. I have not thought it proper to make any application for your release from prison,for the following reasons: The Coercion act, however exceptional and arbitrary, and contrary to the spirit and fundamental principles of both English and American jurisprudence, is still the law of the land, and controls all part es domiciled in the proclaimed districts of Ireland, whether they are British subjects or not. It would be manifestly futile to claim that naturalized citizens of the United States should bo excepted from 'its operation.” This is the sort of answer which Mr. Blaine gave, while Secretary of State, in Mr. O'Connor’s case, and those of other “naturalized eitizenaof the United States,” who had been seized by the British Government and cast into dungeons upon warrants perhaps issued on the testimony of paid and perjured informers. They were allowed no opportunity of defence or fair bearing. The British authorities would not bring them to trial, and would give no explanation beyond the charges on which the arbitrary arrests were made. Mr. Blaine ami Mr. Lowell came to the conclusion that “it would be manifestly futile to claim that naturalised citizens [drawing a wide line between them and natural born citizens] of the United States should be excepted from its operation.” In other words, despite our treaty, American citizens may be forcibly taken to prison and kept there indefinitely, upon mere allegations, without a ehance to establish their rights or to prove their innocence.

This monstrous doctrine, for far less than which we went to war seventy years ago, is submissively accepted by the Republican party and its official organs without a word of protest. And in the recent debate involving the whole principle at stake on this subject, there was not a single member of the House who exposed the outrage as ought to have been done. If England will not do justice to their imprisoned citizens of the I uiteb States, then the Minister who is there should be instantly withdrawn. This is thejshort way of cutting the knot. What sort of an envoy is it who tells a fellow citizen harshly shut out from 1 is family and his friends, I have not thought It proper to make any.application for your release from prison ?’’ No self-respecting Government would tolerate this impressment of its citizens or subjects without a peremptory demand for redress. The ins deuce which Mr. Blaine and Mr. Lowell submitted to from the Foreign Office in London, without even a weak word of remonstrance, almost surpasses belief. When Mr. Lowell meekly asked for an explanation in the one case, here is the account he gives ol the answer: "In another, dated the Bth of July last, he (Lord Granville) stated, in regard to my request to be furnished with the particulars of the unlawfu acts alleged to have been committed bv Mr. Walsh, that the Government could make no distinction [between foreignersand British subjects and that in the ease of the latter [(which applies to both) the only information that could be given was that contained in the warrant.” 80 that [her Majesty’s Secretary would not even condescend to tell Mr. Lowell the grounds of proceeding annv And our gracious Minister thought it "futile,” in the face of the snub given to his mild inquiry, to pursue the subject any further. The Minister could not thin <> < is turbing his personal or his socia >relation with the courton account of Irish American citizens, who may have ex pressed their opiaions freely abou: the oppression of Ireland. They would be allowed to rot in their cell, without a uanly effort or a brave word for thl releae, while the Minister and the Foreign Becre ]^ nt^ they 'did the bearing and -The Chinese government is no favnr of tbe immigration of more in favor o n are X the Louisville Courier-Journal, Tnd which anyone know-ing anything of China will subscribe to. If the empire were, in fac*. to have its way, tbeie would be neither commercial nor personal intercourse between the two countries.

The Decatur Democrat.

CONGRESSIONAL. ... SENATE. Washington, March 13.-A numrefer°re<r tUiOnS WMe P resent «d and The following reports were made: lo provide for the allotment of lauds in severalty to Indians. of tL e i Xt * Ud » t .°i ludiall3 the Protection Calen la*’ ° f the Btstes and territori es. e . rection of “ public building at Hot Springs, Ark. Calendar. ’ For the appointmentofacommittee on public expenditures, to consist of seven senators. Calendar. After an executive session of three hours the senate adjourned. HOUSE. The speaker announced the select committee on woman suffrage as Camp, White, Sherwin, Stone, Hepburne Springer, Vance, Muldrew and Shackleford. Senate bill was taken up to punish polygamy, on which the (Bth of March) point of order had been made by Mr. Converse, of Ohio, that it must receive its first consideration in committee of the whole, as it provided for i an appropriation. A call of the house was ordered, but! on mo’ion of Mr. Haskell further proceedings undei the call were dispensed with and the house took a recess until 11:30 a. in. to-morrow, when the bill will retain the position which it has at present. SENATE. Washington, March 14.—A memorial was presented from the Wisconsin legislature in favor of the improvement of the Mississippi and its tributaries in connection with the great lakes. Upon the conclusion of Mr. Call’s remarks the subject was laid aside The postal appropriation bill was proceeded with, the Holman amendment relating to sub contracts giving rise to a discussion. Mr. Plumb defended the provisions as reported, aud Mr. McMillan supported it. Without action the senate adjourned. HOUSE. The house met in continuance of Monday's session. The speaker announced unfinished business for consideration, the antipolygamy bill, the opening question to be on seconding the demand for the previous question on the third reading of the bill. The bill then passed in exactly the i shape in which it came from the sen- j ate—yeas, 199; nays, 42. The reading of the journal having been postponed, the anti-Chinese bill, substituting the senate bill for that of the house, was taken up. Mr. Calkins, of Indiana, in his advocacy of this bill planted himself on the broad ground that the government owed protection to the labor of the country, and he challenged any sentimentalist or humanitarian who was opposed to the bill to reconcile his views on this subject with his views of a protective tariff. The matter then Went over for the day, Mr. Page, of Colorado, holding the floor. Adjourned. SENATE. Washington, March 15. — Mr. Brown, from the railroad committee, reported with amendments the bill granting the right of way for a railway and telegraph line through the lands of the Choctow and Chicasaw Indians to the St. Louis & San Fran cisco railway company. Restored to its former place on the calendar. Consideration of the poetoffice appropriation bill was then resumed. Without further progress the bill was laid over as unfinished business for to-morrow. The senate then went into executive session and adjourned. HOUSE. MY. Houk, chairman of the committee on war claims, reported back the bill for the allowance of certain claims reported allowed by the accounting officer of the treasury department. Passed without division. It appropriates $291,000 for the payment of thirteen hundred hundred claims. SENATE. Washington,March 16. —The house amendments to the senate joint resolution making a farther appropriation to relieve the sufferers ty the Mississippi overflow, were taken up,and the first, increasing the appropriation by $50,000, was concurred in. Mr. Sherman presented a protest from many ex-Union soldiers against the passage of any bill restoring to the rolls of the army of Fitz John Porter. , . . Mr. Vorhees in l reduced a bill to increase the pensions of persons who have lost a leg or arm or have been permanently disabled in the military Sr naval service. It increases the pension of such per.-ons from $36 to $45 per month, and provides they shall be naid the difference between said sums monthly from February 28, 1877, to the time of the approval of Consideration of the postoffice appropriation bill was resumed. Without further progress on the bill the senate, after restoring the tariff commission bill to its place as regular order, went into exucutive session and adjourned. HOUSE. The house resumed consideration of the Chinese question,and was addressed by Mr. Miller, of Kentucky, who congratulated the people of California and the people of the whole country that they were at least to receive substantial if not entire relief from the evils of Chinese emigration. 1 Mr Page, of California, stated that if he could call up the bill to-morrow he would demand the previous question at 3 o’clock. If he could not obtain the floor to-morrow he would cal! the previous question at 3 o clock Sat“rMn Henderson, of Illinois, from the committee on military affairs, reported the resolution calling secretary of war for a statement of all fact® before him at the time he authoiized the sending of troops to Nebraska, together with the reasons th The f °lpeaker P an d nounced the committee to carry out the resolution for the erection of a monument to Chief Justice Marshall. Adjourned. senate. , . Washington, March 17.—The chair submitted a joint resolution of the lowa legislature asking congress to amend the act donating public lands to states and territories which may provide colleges of agriculture and mechanics arts so the state may loan the fund derived from the sales of real estate security, etc. Referred. A resolution was introduced by Mr. Brown declaring against the contraction of the currency by the withdrawal of silver certificates, <fcc. Referred to the finance committee witnOUt debate. . , .k.mnrnUpon the conclusion of the ™orn ing hour, the regular business, the tariff commi eion bill, was tempowily laid aside to proceed with the

postoffice appropriation bill, which was taken up amt the remaining committee amendments adopted The bill then passed. The fortification appropriation bill, reported by the appropriation committee without amendment, was read, and Mr. Morgan protested against the conversion or manufacture of smoothbore guns on the Crispin plan. After an executive session the adjourned till Monday. HOUSE. The speaker laid before the house a communication from the secretary of war, transmitting estimates of the number of persons destitute by the overflow of the Mississippi river and its tributaries. The communication estimates the number of persons destitute at 85,000, as follows: Missouri, 2,200; Illinois, 22,000; Kentucky, 8,000; Tennessee, 5,000; Mississippi, 30,000: Arkansas, 30,000; Louisiana, 25,000. Rations distributed, 713,000. The appropriation already made is sufficient to purchase 800,000 rations of a substantial kind. The supply will be exhausted in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, about the i 21st. No estimate can be made of the time during w hich the necessity for I which congressional aid will continue. I N further demands are expected from Illinois and Kentucky, but from Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi, the department has information that the necessity for subsistence will continue for a period variously estimated at from thirty to sixty days. The department has no information, but it is thought it may be placed in the same category as Mississippi. HOUSE. Washington, March 18.—There was a slim attendance in the house to listen to the debate on the Chinese bill. Mr. Speer was the first speaker. He paid a high tribute to the colored race. Mr. Gunther said he would vote for the bill. Let congress stamp this threatening danger out of existence before it could grow large enough to require the most serious measures for its suppression. He would like to limit the time of suspension to ten years, but he would vote for the bill as it stood for fear that no other restrictive measure will be advocated. Mr. Moore, of Tennessee, created a sensation by making a strong speech against the bill. Mr. Flower made a speech against the further importation of what he termed “eating, drinking and opiummaking lepers.” Mr. Williams, of Wisconsin, spoke against the bill aud said: "My sentiments in regard to this bill is to express the hope that as one president vetoed the other, so may another pr-sident veto this bill.” [Applause on the Republican side.] Mr. Brumm supported the bill. He made the point that every Chinaman who was in this country had kept out one honest German or Irishman. After other speeches the house adjourned. _________

HEALTH AND STRENGTH. 2 When you wish to renew your 1 health; when the various organs of ■ lite are awakened by long suffering and distressed, then use a medicine j that will act in perfect harmony with the entire system. Use a medicine ■ that will build up without tearing , down. Use a medicine that will ere- ( ate a healthy apetite. Use a medi- . cine that will strengthen every part ] of the body and remove all blood im- j purities, thus giving disease no op- | portunity for reaction. Such remedy is Dr. Guysott’s Yellow Dock and Sasaparilla. It is a true strengthener, a sure reviver, a perfect enricher of . theblood. It contains nothing hurt- 1 ful to the most delicate constitution. 1 Its principal ingredients are Yellow Dock, Sassaparilla, Juniper, Buchu, ’ Calisaya Bark and Celery. Try one bottle. Its effect is chaiimg. Mr. John N. McFarland, of Ash land, Ky., writes: "I will say of ’ what sickness I was curred. My back 1 ached, so, I could hardly bend it. My 1 urine was dark colored and full of 1 sediment. My liver and stomach ! gave me great pain. My bowels were 1 sometimes loose and sometimes con- 1 stipated. I was very nervous. I could 1 not sleep well nights. My dreams 1 were horrible. My memory was bad. My whole system was run down and my blood seemed poisoned. I took no pleasure in eat ing. I found n« joy in living. Dr. Guysott’s Yellow Dock and Sarsaparilla cured me of all my ‘ distress. I think it is the best medicine in the world.” The Princess Louise who attended a concert at the Royal Academy of Mu- 1 sic in a gown of red satin broche, cut ! square at the throat and made with 1 a train, over a petticoat of gold bro- 1 cade with colored flowers, and wore long Mousquetaire tan-colored gloves, was agonized by being asked to sit on a pink satin couch with plentiful gilding. Two fellows went into a ring to tight at Waterford, N. Y. The first blow did not knock its recipient down or injure him much, but it convinced him that there would be no fun in even finishing the round, and he took the sponge out of his aeoond’s hands and threw it up. The Story of a Battle Flag. In the sharply contested battle of Cedar Mountain, fought on the 9th of August, 1862, the Twenty-eighth New York Volunteers, after losing nearly half of its officers and men, including its colonel, was captured, together with its regimental flag. The flag bore no name or inscription, but the man who carried it cut a piece out of one corner before it passed out of his possession so that it might be identified. It was never seen again by any member of the regiment until a few days since. Colonel E. F. Brown, who was lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-eighth New York at the battle of Cedar Mountain, who lost an arm in that action, and who has since the war been a custodian of the piece cut from the flag accidentally discovered the flag itself in this city in a collection of recaptured Union colors found in Richmond when that city was taken in 1865. He at once wrote to the Secretary of War on behalf of the surviving members of the regiment asking that the flag be restored to them. The request was [granted, and, in pursuance of an order issued yesterday by Adjutant-General Drum i> flag was turned over to Colonel Brown, and will be presented to the surviving members of the regiment at their next annual reunion, which ill take place in a few weeks. A pretty young lady, at Rochester, Indiana, of the highest respectability, dressed up in men’s clothes and made the rounds of the gambling dens and drinking places. She says she had a rerfecfevalation of the wickedness of men and will never, never marry. The only drawback to the evening s pleasure was that the police arrested her and put her in jail until she revealed her name and her parents came in hot haste for her.

DECATUR, AD AMS COUNTY, INDIANA, FRIDAY. MARCH 24, 1882

TELEGRAPHIC. Detroit, March 15.—Chas. A. Nesbitt, a silver plater, who done business in this city and Cleveland, was arrested this morning charged with making and passing counterfeit coin. Chas. H. Chapman, a printer of this city, was arrested at the same time as his confederate. The latter claims to be entirely innocent. The officers claim to have a clear case against both. John M. Leonard, of Union City, pleaded guilty in the United States court this morning to making and passing counterfeit coin and was remanded for sentence. Chicago, March 15.— Howard, White & Co., publishers of the daily Commercial Bulletin, in their annual report of the hog packing of Chicago, say the winter packing is reported at 2 361,100 hogs of an average net weight of 216,98 pounds, and the yield of lard 39,75 pounds. All foreign cuts show a decrease. Columbus, Ohio, March 15.—Fred W. Newbergh, late assistant secretary of the state board of public works, against whom fifty -two indictments were returned, for forgene; on the state treasury amotfhting to over $20,000, was found guilty to-day in the common pleas court. The case goes to the supreme court. Lynn, Mass., March 15. —The boiler in Goodwin Bros, shoe factory exploded this morning, leveling the ouilding and killing several men. The tire department was quickly called out and immediately went to work to remove the debris. From the end of the building near Exchange street, one poor fellow badly mangled was taken out. His first words were, “there are more in there.” Soon after the dead body of John Moore, the engineer, terribly crushed, was recovered. Half an hour after another body Was found. Four men who usually came to work at six o’clock every morning are missing. A portion of the boiler weighing a ton was thrown a quarter of a mile to Newhall street, striking a house in that street. It glanced across and drove itself into the front doorway of the house of Councilman Burrill. Had the accident happened half an hour later the loss o f life must have been terrible. Fifty people work in the building above the boiler, and fortunately had not arrived when the explosion occurred. Another piece of boiler went through a large covered w’alk across the court leading from the street lo the scene of the catastrophe in an opposite direction from that portion which flew to Newhall street. Cincinnati, March 15.—The steam tow-boat Etna exploded her boilers at three o’clock this morning in the Great Kanawha, three miles above Point Pleasant. Dunce Anderson, of Pomeroy, a colored fireman, was killed and Captain Henderson and several others were severely injured. The steamer took fire and burned to the water’s edge. Cincinnati, March 15.—The Cincinnati Price Current will to-morrow print reports of tlie wheat crop covering points in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Michigan, Kentucky - and Tennessee, and from a few places in western states, from which it makes the conclusion that the winter crop of wheat now promises an outcome equal to any previous year, and if the spring sowing is an average one the wheat crop of 1882 may be counted on as reaching 500,000,000 bushels and the chances of even larger results than the great crop of 1880.

Pittsburg, March 15.—The bank- > ing firm of Ralston, McQuaid & Co., 1 of Fairview, Pa., suspended to-day. < Liabilities between $200,000 and $300,000; assets unknown. Jeffersonville,lnd., March 16. — ■ Mrs. Anna Maria Hermann, who was sent from here to the county poor 1 asylum sixty-two days ago, died in ! that institution yesterday of starva- 1 tion. She was a lady of superior intelligence and a native of Germany 1 and for a time taught the language in : this city to a few young ladies. One 1 day in January last she suddenly be- 1 came violently insane ana was arrest- 1 ed. She requested the arresting offi- ' cers to kill her, as she desired to go 1 to heaven without delay. When this i was refused her she determined to die ’ by starving herself. She was sent to ’ the insane department of the Clark I county poor asylum near Charles- I town. The visiting physicians and I superintendent used every effort in I their power to induce her to partake 1 of food, but to no purpose. One day I shortly after her arrival at the i asylum she ate a portion ’ of an apple, but since that time the ■ superintendent avers that she has partook of no food whatever. She would 1 drink a little water once a day fora 1 while, but lately had been unable to : retain it on her stomach. Many persons have doubted the statement of i Superintendent Baldrock, to the es- 1 feet that she had fasted during the time stated, but as he is a responsible and truthful gentleman, his statement can not be successfully contradicted. He said to a reporter: “lam cerrain she has not taken a drop of water or a morsel of food without my knowledge. Frequently we would place food beside her at night and it would remain undisturbed. Some time age we put some nourishment to her mouth, but she spit it out as soon as it touched her lips. She would drink nothing but pure water, and I am positive during the sixty-two-days of her confinement in the asylum nothing was given her but what I have stated. For two weeks past Miss Harmon has been greatlyreduced in strength, but she retained her mind to the last moment. She conversed intelligently on Thursday, and when the doctor called to see her she remarked: “I did not send for you, aud as you are intruding I wish you would retire.” From a very stout person weighing more than two hundred pounds, she was reduced to about eighty, and the little flesh which clung to her bones was almost mortified, having turned black in a few days. Hundreds of persons called to see her, many of them living far away. It is probably the longest fast ever accomplished by anv person in .this country. She was fifty-four years of age. _ New Orleans, March 16.—The . river here remains about stationary, 1 eight inches below the high water o [ 1874. while at Vicksburg it is th ry - eight inches above. The hope is e i tertained here that the heavy Jise at Vicksburg since Saturday will oe ’ dissipated by the crevasses below that ’ t and by the heavy current which ■ has set in from lhe Mississippi up the mouth of Red river and through the Atchafalaha, relieving in a measure all points below the mouth of Red river. Vicksburg, March 16.—A heavy rain and wind storm occurred here about 8 o’clock this morning. The latest from Yazoo City reports the river rising there twelve inches in

twenty-four hours. The country in the rear of Mayersville is one sheet of water, and unless the rise is checked that place will be entirely submerged. The people at Duckport are living In the upper part of their houses. Baltimore, March 16.—A collision occurred on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad yesterday afternoon between the 4:30 express, from Washingion, and the accommodation which le.t Washington ten minutes later, at a point between Laurel and Annapolis junction. The engine of the express train became disabled and was detached, and moved on alone to Annapolis junction, leaving the baggage car, a parlor car and two ordinara passenger coaches standing on thy track. Shortly afterwards a waytrain came rushing around the curve and the locomotive crashed into the parlor car. The passengers were thrown from their seats and received severe bruises, but no one was seriously injured. Senatoi Gorman was witlr bis wife in the parlor car, and seeing the way-train approach they moved toward the front end and escaped. St Louis, March 16.—A dispatch from San Antonia, Texas, says: Gen. Sherman, it is understood, will report favorably on the abolition of Forts Clark, Stockton, Concha and McKavitt, and the establishment of twelve company posts in San Antonia from which troops can be forwarded by rail. Fort Bliss will also be res ommended as a twelve company post. Forts Duncan, Mclntosh and Ringgold, on the Rio Graude, will be maintained with a small garrison. The $20,000 already appropriated to building and improving the depots of Texas posts will be spent in erecting twelve company posts in San Antonia. Defiance, Ohio, March 16. —A fire broke out in Fiedeman’s ashery at 2 o’clock this morning, and before assistance could be rendered the building witli its contents, excepting the furnaces and kettles, was completely destroyed. The fire started in a lot of wood stacked up in the center of the building, a light frame fifty by eighty feet, and is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary. The warehouse adjoining, containing stock, was saved. Mr. Fiedeman’s loss is estimated at one thousand dollars, seven hundred on stock and three hundred on the building. The latter Is covered by insurance. Denver, March 17.—At Gopher Station, on the Kansas Pacific railroad this morning, while Thomas Pitman and brother and John Ebberts, section men, were at breakfast, two em grants. Thomas Watson and James McClellan, entered and ordered the men to hold up their hands. The order not being immediately obeyed, the emigrants opened fire. One of the Pitmans was wounded in the shoulder, the other in the thigh aud Ebberts in the face. Watson was shot in the shoulder by one of the Pitmans. After the shooting the emigrants robbed the wounded section men and escaped.! Cincinnati, March 17.—Captain Bogardus, the well known shot, is in the city testing the Sigansky clay pigeon, an invention by the son of a former Cincinnati journalist which is intended to take the place of the glass ball, which is Captain Bogardus’ own invention. He has made a match for the sth of April for $250 a side, in which he will undertake to break 500 clay pigeons in thirty minutes. Captain Bogardus announces his attention of abandoning the glass ball, and is of the opinion that in time sporting men will prefer the clay pigeon to live birds for all matches.

New Orleans, March 18. —There are now reported twenty-three breaks in levees between Hushpuckannaand Greenville, and terrible suffering is experienced. A dispatch says the water from Milliken’s bend submerged the town of Duckport and the houses are floating for miles Into the country. The steamer Cannon arrived at Vicksburg yesterday. Captain Campbell says he rescued over 200 head of cattle, mules, etc.,and a number of families from the ends of levees, and at one place went out into the swamp about a mile and a half for thirty people who -were literally starving to death. The captain reports a terrible condition of affairs below, and says that in many instances there is not only a lack of means, but absolute poverty. The pilots of the Cannon report five feet of water over Newtown, Mississippi. Below Newtown, the whole country, with the exception of Natchez, is submerged. On the Louisiana side, Drauland planta tion, at Point Caupee, Hogs’ Point, four miles below Red river. Gibson place, sixteen miles from Natchez, and Coleman plan’ation, about two miles above Water Proof, are the only sites where land can be seen at all. So far the damage to the sugar producing section of Louisiana has been comparatively light. Two hundred and sixty thousand government rations have been distributed in this state, besides contributions by private citizens.

Governor McEnery has received applications for rations for 70,060 people, Madison parish having added 12,000 to the previous applications. The clerk of the steamer Natchez >-ays matters are a good deal worse than the last trip. The stock is in a terrible condition. On any little knoll in the overflowed district you see thirty or forty cattle and some times several dead ones lying beside their living companions, and the gnats are literally eating them alive. On one part of the levee on the down trip there was a pile of wood about half submerged, and on the top of it twenty sh“ep and a large number of hogs that had taken refuge from the water, but would starve,

Memphis, March 18.—The river fell two inches to-day, and now marks thirty-five feet two inches on the gauge. The government steamer C. B. Reese arrived to-day and will be provisioned to supply the needy at points below. Major Benham, of St. Louis, will arrive to-morrow and have charge of the distribution. Lieutenant Vedder left to-day to investigate the suffering at points below Vicksburg. Captain Loud departs tomorrow on the same mission. Reports from below are all to the effect that tne river is gradually falling from Memphis to Vicksburg. The Appeal’s Helena special says: The river has fell inches in the last twenty-four hours. The overflow, however, fell less than one inch. Beyond this there are no notable changes. Cries for assistance are heard from every quarter. Every effort is being put forth by private citizens to render such relief as is in their power. The steady and continued fall of the river has infused new life in our people, and they are almost jubilant, but are temperately prudent for the future. There is very great suffering in the region of Helena, some of the people being reduced to eating the carcasses of drowned animals, and others are beginning to present the appearance of persons going insane from starvation.

A QUEER DROVE. The method followed by the natives of St. Paul’s and St. George’s Islands, off the Alaska coast in capturing the fur seals, is curious. During the sum mer season the seals frequent the shores of these islands and gather on the beach in vast numbers. The younger male or bull seals are the only ones that are killed, and they are the only ones that are killed,and they are found assembled by themselves away from the breeding rookeries. The natives go down to the beach in the early morning and quietly surround a group of 100 or more seals, getting between them and the water. The seals are then alarmed with shouts and cries, and terrified,flee inland along the only way left open. They are driven in this way to lhe killing place near the village on the shores of the island. Driving them is a very easy thing, although it takes them some time to accomplish the distance; but they blunder along stimulated by the cries of their captors. The old bull seals that may be in the drove are apt to show fight, but if they do they are allowed to drop out of the crowd, which are as easy to drive as a flock of sheep. The seals, when finally driven up on the flats between the east landing and the village, and almost under the windows of the dwellings, are herded there until cool and rested. The drives are usually made very - early in the morning, at the first breaking of day, which is 1:30 to 2 o'clock o June and July in these latitudes They arrive and cool off' on the slaughtering grounds, so that by six or seven o’clock, after breakfast, the able-bodied male population turn out from the village and go down to engage in the work ot slaughter. The men are dressed in their ordinary working garb of thick flannel shirts, stout eassimere or canvass pants,over which the “tarbossa” boots ar« draw - n if it rains, they wear the “kamlaikas” made of the intestines and throats of the sea lion and fur seal. Thus dress ed they are each armed with a club, a lout oaken or hickory bludgeon, which have been made particularly for the purpose at New London, Connecticut, and imported here for this special service. These sealing clubs are about five or six feet in length, three inches in diameter at their heads, and the thickness of a man’s fore arm where they are grasped by the hands. Each native also has his stabbing knife, his skinning knife and his whetstone ;* these are laid upon the grass convenient, when the work of braining or knocking the seals down is in progress. This is all the apparatus which they have for killing and skinning. the killing. When the men gather for work they are under the control of their chosen foremen or chiefs; usually on St. Paul, divided into two working parties at the village, a id a sub-party at northeast point, where another salt house and slaugtering field is established. At the signal of the chief the work of the day begins by the men stepping into the drove, eorraled on the flats, and driving out from it 100 or 150 which they surrounded in a circle, huddling the seals one on another as they narrow it down, tilun they are directly within reach and under their clubs. Then the chie, [ after he has cast his experience eyes. over the struggling, writhing kauticle in the centre, passes the word that such and snch a seal is bitten, and that such and such a seal is too young, and that such aud such a seal is too old, the attention of his men being called to these points, he gives the word strike, and instantly the heavy clubs come down all around, and every one that is eligible is streched out stunned and motionless in less time, really, than I take to tell it. Those seals spared by the chief, now struggle from under and over their insensible companions and pass, hustled off by the natives back to sea. Then the carcasses are skinned, aud the pelts prepared for shipment. The common or popular notion in regard to seal skins is, that they are worn I y those animals just as they appear when offered for sale: that the fur seals swim about exposing the soft coat with which our ladies of fashion so delight to cover their tender forms during inclement winter. This is a very great mistake; few skins are less attractive than is the seal skin when it Is taken from the creature. The fur is not visible; it is concealed entirely by a coat of stiff overhair, dull, gray brown and grizzled. It takes three of them to make a lady’s sacque and boa, Fitting them for the market is a tedious, costly process, requiring great skill. As the summer wanes the seals forsake the islands, and the old and young take to.the sea, and it is supposed spend their intervening months, until next season, on the flshngi banks of the North Pacific.

ANATOMY OF THE EYE. Interesting Lecture by Dr. Realing Before the Microscopial Society. At the last meeting of the Baltimore Microscopical Society, held at the Maryland Academy of Sciences, Dr. George Reuling read a paper on the “Microscopic Anatomy of the Eye.” He said: “The more highly organized the individual, the more complicated is the nervous apparatus which conveys the impression of the outside world to its owner. While certain animals of the lower classes possess only a small pigment dot from w hich the optic nerve leads to their very primitive brains, thus enabling them to have the impressions of light and darkness, the higher classes possess at the end of their nerves of vision a more or complete optical apparatus, which he is often capable of perceiving the finest and most minute variations of the physical conditions and objects of the outside world. The ability to see distinct pictures is owing to the ability of the eye to separate single points of light reflected from surrounding objects and carrying them in regular order to isolated points of the optic nerve, by which the so-arranged mosaic-like picture is conveyed to the brain. Insects and crustaceans have eyes of this description, Qut of the least per* feet form, and in most eases, can only see objects which are in the prolongation of the radial axis of the eye, but cannot jugde of distances. In the morehighly organized animals the eye is furnished with a camera obscura, and while in some the opening or pupil is so small as to admit of but one single ray from each point of the object viewed, in others the opening is larger, and thus gives more illumination. “In the highest of object-seeing eyes there is, besides the camera obscura, a collecting lens, or an eye constructed on the same general plan as the ordinary camera obscura of the photographer, and, besides this, they have a certain power of adaptability which is wanting in the other form.’ The doctoi then described the different parts of the human eye, which he illustrated by models, drawings, and freshly cut eyes, besides numerous

microscopic slides. He showed how each part was supplied with blood vessels and nerves, besides the cell structure of each, as shown by the microscope. Special reference was made to the iris, the retina, and the crystalline lens. In speaking of the iris, he showed that the uvea, or its posterior covering, consisted of a thick stratum of cel's, which are round, densely packed and filled with dark pigment molecules. This pigment layer is only sparely developed in light clue eyes, aud almost totally wanting in the eyes of the Albinos; while in dark eyes it is richer, and gives to the eye a dark brown or black appearance. The oris, as a rule, is a soft, loose tissue, and can be stretched out more than half without tearing. The retina, which is the most important and most highly organized tissue of the eye, emanates from the optic nerve. It is a very delicate, complicated, and perfectly transparent tissue, upon the structure of which histologists by no means agree. In speaking of the rods and cenes of the retina, the doctor said that in many animals the cones are wholly wanting, and we always find this to be the case in the retinae of such animals as live in darkness—as the bat, the mole, and many others. Birds with acute vision have the retina plentifully supplied with cones, as much so as the retina of man. Those birds which prefer twilight—as the owl—have but very few and small cones in the retina. There is a peculiarity in the cones of birds. Each has a powerfully reflecting globule of an intensely yellow or red color connected with its extremity, through which the light has to pass, Throughout the animal kingdom, where only imperfect vision is needed, and no distinct perception of colors is required, a quantitative supply of light only being demanded, the rods are found at the expense of the cones. On the other hand, wherever we find acuteness of vision, with a nice distinction of color, there we find the cones largely prevailing, or exclusively existing. To perfect vision three things are essential : The perception of light, the perception of colors, and the conception of space. The first function may be performed by the rods alone. The cones evidently are connected with the second,’and perhaps with the third. The microscopical structure of the crystalline lens, the most important light refracting medium of the eye, is also very interesting. The multiplication of centicular fibres is quite active at birth, but diminishes as age advances, aud in later years ceases altogether. The deep seated fibres of the lens disappear by atrophy, and get more rigid, so that the lens becomes more solid, less elastic, and more flattened, all of which, obviously, has its influence on the accommndatiuc action, with such regularity that it may be denominated a fixed physiological law that “eyes have a certain accommodative power at a certain age.”

Why no Scotc men go to Heaven. Long years ago, in times so remete that history does nos fix the epoch, a dreadful war was waged by the King of Scotland. Scottish valor prevailed, and the King of Scotland, elated by his success, sent for his prime minister, Lord Alexander. “Well, Sandy,” said he, “is there ne’er a Fing we canna conquer roo?” “An’ it please your majesty, I ken o’ a king that your majesty canna vanguish.” “An' who is he, Sandy?” Lord Alexander, reverently looking up, said: ’’The king o’ heaven.” “The o' whur, Sandy?” “The king o’ heaven.” The Scottish king did not understand, but was unwilling to exhibit any ignorance. “Just gang your ways, Sandy, and tell the king o’ heaven to gi’e up his dominions, or I’ll come mysel’ and ding him oot o’ them; and mind, Sandy, ye dinna come back to us until ye hae’dune oor biddin’.” Lord Alexander retired much perplexed, but met a priest, and, reassured, returned and presented himself. “Well, Sandy,” said the king, ••ha' ye seen the king o’ heaven, and what says he to oor biddin’.” “An’ it please your majesty, I have seen ane o’ his accredited ministers.” “Weel, an’ woat says he?” “He says your majesty may e’en hae his kingdom for the askid’ o’ it.” “Was he sae civil?” said the king, warming to magnanimity. “Just gang your ways back, Sandy, an’ tell the king o’ heaven, that for his civility the deil a Scotchman shall set foot in his kingdom.”

Bead lor a Purpose. It is a mistake to suppose that the more a person reads the wiser he will grow, as a matter of course. 1 know a young girl of perhaps fourteen, who is a devourer ol hooks of the'story sort, sueh as fill most of our Sunday-school libraries. Every spare minute she gives to the business, and travels through the volumes at a most rapid pace. But it seems exactly liKc. pouring water through a sieve. Not a valuable idea stays in the mind. The whole attention is absorbed in finding out “how the story turns out,’’ with no reference whatever to its teachings. Daniel Webster, when a boy, obtained more information from a farmer’s almanac than she would from whole shelves-full of books read in that manner.

Indeed such reading weakens the mind instead of strengthening it. Nor does it soften the heart toward real suffering to have the feelings touched and even greatly moved by fictitious sorrows. Even a high admiration of self-denial and moral heroism in a favorite character leads to no corresponding action in the readers’ life. Rather all demands upon her sympathy and self-denial make her only peevish and . irritable. Have you never seen an absorb- ( ed reader of fiction weeping over a pathet- , ic tale, but indignant when a weary mother called her off to attend to neglected du- , ties. How angrily the thread of ever-day work was taken np, and how little her presence contributed to lighten the home . cares! Any reading that has such an es- j feet on the mind is an evil of a decided | character and of most serious magnitude. A well-written story which has a decided 1 point to it is a relaxation for both mind j and body; but stories of perverted moral J sentiment, where black Js invariably painted white, and vice versa, are only pernicious, destroying both soul and body. ( Read for a purpose, and make the pointe of the book your own. If a story is read for recreation, let it be a good one in the truest sense, and do not make such reading the sole literary food. When we have 1 found an author who sets our own minds 1 at work in a laudable direction, we have opened a good mine. There are some w riters who stop us, in effect, in every half I page or less, with new trains of thought which their words have awakened ; and better still, they set us to doing as well as thinking. Cultivate such helpful friends and you will then secure the noblest end of reading, and will have paved the way for high improvement. After the habit is once well formed of reading for a high aud noble purpose, it will be found a source of eujoymeut never dreamed of in the old days when reading was only an amusement.

NUMBER 51.

INDIANA. There lives near Purcoll, KnoTVo., a boy 15 years old, who weighs 208 pounds. According to the Advance Spencer county has nearly 9,500 children of school ago. Stock in the Princeton building loan associatian is now quoted at a premium. There are twenty-three persons in Pike county who pay taxes on $7,000 and over. For many years Lebanon has collected SIOO per annum from each and every saloon, and they never seriously objected to it. Hiram Kees, a young man living about four miles northeast of Greenwood, was dangerously kicked by a horse on Thursday, breaking three ribs and injuring his right lung in such away that his condition is a serious one. Thos. Fleener, an Arlington tollgate keeper, was robbed a few nights ago of sllß and a fine Smith A Wesson revolver. Ninety dollars of this money belonged to his son, and was hid under the b d. A lot of jewelry and other valuables were left undisturbed. As a freight train was passing Springport, Henry county, going about ten miles per hour, Charley, sou of Dr. Estabrook, attempted to board the train, and in doing soldi beneath the cars and had both legs cut off. His condition is reported very critical. A pack of stray curs broke into Mark E. Reeve’s deer park,near Richmond, and killed four stags that had east their horns and were unable to defend themselves. The does escaped from the incloseure and has not been heard from since. There were twenty five deer in the park when the dogs got in. The Lafayett Fish Association is after violators of the fish law with a sharp stick. The first indictment was tried yesterday morning, and resulted in a fine of $lO and costs, amounting to about S4O. The association has employed able legal talent, and no quartes is to be shown to those who violate the laws. Burglars effected an entrance through a back door to the residence of C. D. Stewart, of Milroy, chloroformed the family and abstracted a suit of clothing lying at the foot of the bed belonging to Mr. Stewart. The clothes contained $24 in money, and about SSOO in notes. The notes and pocket-book were found afterward. The wife of Isaac Houghland, a prominent business man of Folsomville, six miles north of Boonville, committed suicide at her residence Tuesdy night by’ shooting herself with a revolver. The ball entered her mouth, ranging back, and lodging near the occipital protuberance. What caused her to end her life is a mystery.

The Quakers are holding revival meetings thiough the country, and one under the management of Elwood Scott, of Marion, has just closed at Richmond, at which there were one hundred and fifty’ coversions. The excitement ran so high in consequence of his millenial teaching that Miss Maggie Kendall became insane, and will be sent to the asylum. The report of State-Mine-Inspector Wilson, filed with the Governor today, shows that 5,000 men and boys were employed in the mines of the State during 1881, and but ten fatal accidents occurred, mainly attributable to the carelessness of the victims. The number of mines is 86: output of coal in 1881, 1,771,536 tons; capital invested, $1,442,210. The State ranks fourth in the list of coal-produc-ing states in the Union. In Judge Kibby’s decision in the suit of the negroes of Cambridge City against the school board of that place to compel them to ad nut colored children to the white schools, lie denies a writ of mandate on the ground that it is discretionary with the board under the laws of 1877. The decision is based on the supposition that separate schools have been provided for them, equal in every respect to the white schools; this, liowev r is not the case, and anew hearing has been asked on an amended complaint stating that such schools have not been provided. A young lady of Evansville, has had an unpleasantly narrow escape from being buried alive. On Saturday she attended a singing school, and after her retutn home was seised with convulsions, from which she sank gradually into a comatose condition, in which she lay foui days. Her friends, thinking her dead, cut oft her hair and prepared her for burial. Her neck and limbs were stiff, her lips were purple, and her eyes were fixed and staring. Her body, however, was not cold, and a physician prescribed the application of hot lye to the body accompanied by vigorous rubbing. This treatment was commenced on Wednesday night, and continued without intermission until Thursday morning about 10 o’clock, when her cheeks i ecame flushed, and she began to breathe and show other signs of life. The young lady- says that she was conscious during the whole time her friends thought she was dead, heard and understood everything that was said, and witnessed the preparations for the burial. She describes her feelings as terrible n I the extreme. ’ While crime in the west is often ' followed by summary punishment at the hands of lynchers, it also happens in numerous cases that murderers escape their deserts for years, to be at length lawfully prosecuted. Jacob Kosone is now under arrest at Ahanapec, Wisconsin, for a murder committed in 1878; three desperadoes, Ivey, Butler, and Henry, are awaiting trial at Little Rock for a butchery In 1872; Kendrick Moxley has just been exposed at Sedalia, Mo., as the perpetrator of a murder in 1865. Instances of tins kind are quite common. As section after section becomes law abiding and law enforcing, the old crimes are investigated, witnesses no longer fear the consequences of testifying, and justice is tardily done. On one occasion while the English naturalist Gould was wandering along the banks of the Thames with a party of friends, a rare laugh was created at his exIpense. He had climbed a tree for the purpose of exploring the contents of a nest. On suddenly looking down at a hollow 1 formed by two branches of the tree, and B which at the time contained a pool of s water, he exclaimed: “As I nt a living j man, if there is not a large owl here in y this hole, looking straight at me.’' The 1S excitement was intense, but was ijKtr the p turned to a shout of nierriuwfs hand to a naturalist on putting,,''discovered that it n seize the supptf>W?lection cf his own imj! was siiiM’Water. . air*'