Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1885 — Page 3

OLD-TIME LEGISLATORS.

Veterans of 1850-’sl Reunite at the State Capital, And Indulge inr Reminiscences of By-gone Days. Historical. Biographical, and Anecdotal. (From the Indianapolis Sentinel.] Survivors of the Convention of 1850. There was bnt a small gathering of visitors at the opening session of the rennion of the members of the Constitutional Convention of I*so at English's Opera House, the meeting b:ing simply for the purpose of organization. The spectators occupied the main auditor.nm, the stage being reserved for the members and the press. Hon. Wm. McKee Dunn, delegate to the Constitutional Convention from Jefferson County, called the meeting to order. Hon. Geo. W. Carr, who wa3 a delegate from the County of Lawrence to the State Constitutional i onvention of 185 c, and who was elected Pres dent of the convention by a vote almost unanimous, was called upon to preside over this meeting of the survivors of the convention. Hon. William H. English, who was the principal Secretary of the Constitutional Convention, was unanimously elected Secretary of the meeting. The following members responded to their names: Oliver P. Badger, delegate from Putnam County. Cromwell W, Barbour, delegate from Vigo County. Othnell Beeson, delegate from Wayne County, Horace P. Biddell, delegate from Cass County. Alexander B. Conduit, delegate from Morgan County. William McKee Dunn, delegate from Jefferson County. James B. Foley, delegate from Decatur County. John A. Graham, delegate from Miami C ounty, Jefferson Helm, delegate from Kush County. Thomas A. Hendricks, delegate from Shelby County. William S. Holman, delegate from Dearborn County, Phmeas M. Kent, delegate from Floyd County. Beattie McClelland, delegate from Randolph County. Samuel Pepper, delegate from Crawford County. James Keeney, delegate from Johnson County. S. B. Taylor, delegate from Laporte County. Henry G. Todd, delegate from Hendricks County. George W. Carr, delegate from Lawrence County. As the roll was called the Secretary announced the names of those who were certainly known to be dead, and it was found that the total survivors aggregated but thirty-three out of a convention composed of about 160 members. Utton conclusion of the roll-coil, Hon. Oliver P. Badger, delegate lrom Putnam County in the Constitutional Convention, invoked the divine blessing, the members rising to their feet. The ecretary announced that he had letters from two of the members of the convention, and on motion they were read. The letters were from Christopher C. Grah im and Gen. R. H. Milroy. A paper on “The Unwritten History of the Constiiutional Convention." written by Hon. John i. Morrison, a short time before his death, was read by Mr. English, to whom it was present d by & daughter of the writer. The evei ing session of the reunion was more largely attended by spectators than was that of the afternoon, and ihe programme proved an interesting one, addresses be ng made by Vice President Hendricks on “The Constitution and Its Amendments;” Hon. William H.English on“ The Personnel of the Convention;" Hon. William McKee Dunn, u on the Srominent features of the work of the conve ion; Hon Oliver P. Badger ot Putn m County, in an address which was in the beginning sentimental, in the middle biographical, and at the close humorous; and by Col. Taylor of Cuicago, Who was a member of the convention from Laporte County, and is still vigorous at the age of 84 years. Survivors of the Legislature of 1851. Fifty members of the Legislature of 1851 are still Jiving, and of these thirtv-el. ht were in attendance at the reunion at English’s Opera House. There was a fair audience'of ladies and gentlemen, the proceed.ngs being principally of au informal na ure, most of the time of the session being spent in renewing acquaintanceships and indulging in reminiscences of “ye olden time.” The meeting was called to order by Judge Niblack, and Hon. William H. English, Speaker of the first House under the new constitution, was called to pre-ide, and Dr. Andrew J. Hi y was chosen Secretary. The roll-call showed the following members present: Senate—William E. Niblack, Knox, Daviess and Martin; Josej h H. Defrees. Elkhart; R. D. Logan, Kush; J. A. Caven*, Washington. Believed to be living, but not present—George Berry, Eranklin; John Hunt, Hancock and Mad son mow living In Arkansas'; Ben Newland, Lawrence; John Witherow, Hendricks (now in ( alifornia); Frank Emerson, .lackson and Scott; 0. P. Davis, Park and Vermillion; Job Hatfield, Perry; James M. Seeth, Shelby. Total— l 2. House—Wm- H. English, Scott; Isaac D. G. Nelson, Allen; Andrew J. Hay, Clark: William S. Holman, Dearborn; Michael Thompson, Delaware: Phineas M. Kent, El yd; Samuel Davis, Franklin; Andrew Humphreys,Greene: John Lyle king, Jefferson; Martin D. Crim, Martin; RichardE’. Donaldson, Miami; Mahlon D. Manson, Montgomery; George W. McConnell, Steuben and Dervalb; Robert N. Hudson, Vigo; Calvin Cowgill, Wabash: Joseph M. Bulla, Wayne. Total—l 6. Bt-lieved to be living, but not present—John Crawford, Adams: Wi liam B Beach mow living at Providence, R. L , Bo ne; Joun Scudder, Daviess; Henry W. Barker, Dubois; Jacob Dice. Fountain; Zimri Reynolds, Grant; Samuel T. Wells, Jackson; Robert Huey, Jay; Francis F. Mayfield, Jefferson: Edward P. Hicks, Jennings; Franc.s Henry, Lagrange; John Eaverty (now th mght to be living in Nebrask i), Morgan; Daniel C. Stover, Montgomery; David S. Hnffstetter, Orange; Milton Walker, Ferry; D. C. Donahue, Putn in; Hiram H. Hart, lUplev; Thomas M. Smith, Spencer; Theophilus Chowning, Sullivan; Gilbert C. Mudget , Steuben and BeKalb: Godlove O. Behrn, Tippecanoe. Total members of House believed to be llviu37. Hon. W. H. Fnglish, on taking the chair at the evening session, said: Gentlemen of the reunion: I thank you sincerely for assigning me the dnty ot presiding over this meeting, and I recognize that the selection is made, mainly, because I am the surviving presiding o i cer of the first Leg.slature held under the present Constitution. I perform the duty with mingled feelings of pleasure and of pain, which I find it difficult to express—pleasure in meeting azain comrades of a thi d of a century ago, and pain at the realization of the fact that so manv have passed away, and that the others must speedily lollow J have never so fully realized the shortness of life and the transitory nature of all worldly honors and r spons bilitles, as 1 have since the call far this reunion has developed that so many of my old comrades are dead. “When 1 remember all The f iends so link’d together J’ve seen around me fall. Like leaves in wintry weather, I feel 11 re one Who treads alone Some banquet hall deserted, Whose light- a e Hod, Whose eat lands dead. And all but he departed.” Of the little body of great men who formed the first Constitution of Indiana, in Kuo, all have long since passed awi-y, as have also, 1 believe. all the members of the first thirteen General Assemblies of the Stat ■. 1 may be m staken in thi‘, but if there be a surviving member of any Legislature of this St te, held prior to 1811, Ido not know it, and I h ve made dii g nt in ui -v to a-c it in. The General Assembly wh’ch met in 1835 was the ‘2oth that had bpen held up to that date, and the tot 1 Ol members e’e-ted would nggregatt thousands, and yet to day you coul 1 piobanly count all who survive on the lingers of one hind. Even including all the Legislatures up to 1840, th re are probably not over a dozen surviving of the thousands com: osing the twentyfive Legislatures which had then be n held. Coming fi-e years further on, to 1K45, would probably nos increase the number to over twenty-five. "Sou would doubtless like to know who these

venerable arid patriotic survivors are. To state something of the personnel of the first General Assembly held under the present Constitution, and to give some account as to who are the survivors ot the preceding Legislatures, will be the object of this address. I have already said that I hare not heard of any one being alive who was a member of any Legislature of this State held prior to 1831. There may be, of course, and one of my objects in making this address is to call ont the f«cts as they exist. 1831I may be mistaken, but I think that Hon. Alexander C. Stevenson, who represented Putnam County In the House of Representatives in 18J1-2, Is theonly surviving member. f that Legislature, and ot all the Legislatures back to the organization of the State. 1832I next come to the General Assembly of 1832-3. I have not been able to find that any member of that Legi.-lature survives except John C. Parker, then one of the Representatives from the County of Clarke. 1833My father was a member of the Legislature of 1832-3 and also of lt>33-4, and I have often heard him talk about the session being held in the old Court House of Marion County, and also about who were then members, but I have been unable to find that any of the Legislature of 1833-4 are now alive. Daniel M. Bradbu> y was a member of that Legislature from Wayne County, and was taking much interest in this rennion, but unfortunately he died since the call was Issued, as aid also Senator George B. Walker, of Cass County, and Representative Thomas S. Stanfield, of St. Joseph County, showing how rapidly these pioneers in the legislation of the State are passing away. 1834I now come to the Legislature of 1834-5. I have knowledge of but one member of that body being alive, and that is my distinguished friend, Col. Xtichard W. 'ihoinpson, whom I am sure you all delight to honor. Incidentally I will state a fact in connection with this Legislature which may be of interest, as it illustrates the wonderful progress the country has made sin je that time. It is that the record shows that Henry Brady, who recently died near this city, was then (1835) the sole representative of Marion and Hamilton counties and all the country north of the great Miami Ke-ervation. 183 -6. I find that my friend Thompson was returned to the next Legislature, which met in December, 1835, and with him < ame another of my old friends—David Macy—then a Representative from Henry County, and now a highly esteemed citizen of Indianapolis, and, as far as 1 know, is another old friend, Christopher C. Graham, now a resident of Red Wing, Minn. 1836It is a little singular that the same three gentlemen, Thompson, Macy, and Graham, are survivors of then xt Legislature— 1 36-7—to which may be added Joshua B. Huckaby, a Representative from Perry County, and Dr. Graham N. E itch, who subsequently served with distinction in the Senate of the United States. 1837Macy and Graham again turned up as the sole survivors, as far as I know, of the Legislature of 1837-8. My friend Thompson seems not to have been a member. Whether a political cyclone struck him about that time, or he went up higher, or got tired of the business, he can tell you more entertainingly than any man alive. 1838As to the General Assembly of 1838-t), George W. Carr and 0. C. Graham are, as far as I know, the only survivors; so that it would seem that of the twenty-three Legislatures held up to that tim ■, there are probably less tha i a dozen now living. I know of but eight at this time, but there may be more, and probably are. These Legislatures were all held before my day, but I now come to Legislatures of which I have some personal knowledge 1839The first Legislature I ever saw was the Indiana Legislature of X839-’4O It was a great event to me, at that time of my humble life, and has made a marked impression on my memory. I rode three days on horseback from Scott County to Indianapolis, in winter weather and over the worst possible roads, to see it and to attend a Democratic State Convention, although I was not then of age by several rears. Incidentally, I may say that the convention nominated General Tighlman A. How rd for Governor. He was badly beaten, .although a very superior man; so 1 tasted the bitter of the political defeat of my party early, and had so much i f it in he last twenty-live vears that I have lea: ned to take such things unite philosophically. Indianapolis had then a population of only a few thousands, but was putting on city airs even at that eaily date. I remember there was a riot one night soon after my arrival, grow ing ont of he m rriage of a negro man and whl.e woman, and it made a terrible sensation Mv father, who was a member of the Indiana Leg slature > t one time or another for nearly twenty years, was a member of that Legislature, and I re l ember thao I boarded with him, during my stay of several weeks, at a house kspt by Bazil Brown on the east side of Indiana avenue, near Tennessee street. The house is still standing, bnt I think every one of the persons stopping there, and there were many, have long since passed away, and I know of bnt lour members of that Legislature now alive. They are Judge Fabius M. Finch, Alexander C. Stevenson, James S. Shively, and Amzi L. Wheeler. 1810-41. As to the Legislature of 1840-41, theonly members of It that I know to be alive are A. C. Stevenson, Geo. W. Carr. James Ritchey, C. C. Graham, and Aaron Rawlings. 1841At the next Legislature, 1841-42, my venerable friend Josepn F. Brown, who I am glad to see here to-night, was principal Clerk of the House, and he iniorms me that tie knows of but seven members of that Legislature now living, viz.: Geo W. Carr, James Ritchey, A. C. Stevenson, Christopher C. Graham, Aaron Rawlings, James S. Shively, and John Pitcher. 1842I was present at the organization of the Legislature of 1842-43, and had acquaintance With many of the m mbers, as I was then, for the firt-t time, a candidate for a legislative office and trying to learn the art of "electioneering with the members.” Of th ise surviving of that delegation I can name only: Aqudla Jones, now Kostmastir of lndianapo is: Amzi L. Wheelor, George W. Carr, Joshua B. imekaby, James Ritchey and E’ranklin Hardin. 1843I had a very intimate acquaintance with the members of the Legislature of 1843-4 by reason of being th? principal Clerk of the House of Representatives. Judge William T. Otto, long the Reporter of the Supreme Courtof the United States, was the Secretary of that Senate, and is st 11 living, but Jess j D. Bright the President of the Senate, and Andrew T., Robinson, tha Speaker of the House, and nearly all of the 150 men who were my associates in that Legislature, busy with the affairs of state, and full of the hopes and ambitions and cares of life, have gone to their eternal rest. I called the roll of the 100 members of that House a great many times in that day, but alas, were I to call it now 1 know but five members left to answer, and but four Senators. George W. Carr, George Berry, James R tch y, and John Pitcher are the Senators, and the Representatives are Augustus C. Handy, W. VV. Connor, Dsvid Macy, and my old and highly valued friend, David McClure, who was from my own conntv. We rode three days on horseback over the wor t roads ever seen by mortal man to reach the capital. He came a greater distance in about three hours to attend this meeting. 1844I now come to the Legislature of 1844-5. When that l egislature met, the duty devolved on me, as Chief CLrk, or calling the House to order If I should call the same old roll tonight, I think iess than a dozen would be found al ve to answer. I will call mch as I know to bo living: A. O. Stevenson, Speaker; Alexander B. Con uit, Franklin Hardin, David McClure, James S. Shiveley, J. B. Huckaby, William W r . Conner, 1 obert Huey, Augustus 0. Handy; and of the Senate, George Berry and James Ritchey. There may he others, but these are all I know ti be alive. 1 went to Washing on City before the cl se of that ses ion, where I rem fined several years, and, consequently, had no connection with the Indiana Legislature until I was elected to the hist one held under the new Constitution. FltOM ’45 TO ’sl. I pass over the Leg slatures which met during mv absence in Wash ngton becutseof my lack of information about them and because othirs are here better prepared to speak of them—such m n as William El. Niblack. Delano El. Williamson, Andrew flumphrois. M. L. Bundy, Joa. i). Deirces. I. B. Julian, JohnW. Dodd, J. A. Cravens, Jonathan S. Harvey. Joseph M. Bulla, Michael Thompson. C. F. Donaldson, A. B. Conduit, George W. Carr, and other gentlemen who l see present,but have not time to name, were members ot those Legisla-

tures. and they were all important and able Legislatures. 1851-2. In what I have further to say on this occasion I sha 1 sneak only of the first Legislature held under the present constitution It was the understanding in advance that it was going to be a i egislature of unusnal importance. The new Constitution had just been adopted by an immense majority of the electors. Its adoption made a careful revision of the laws necessary in ordei that they should conform to Its prov sions. The work devolved on the Legislature was, in fact, a continuation of the work begun and outlined by the convention. The new Constitution required that the forms and practice in the courts, which had before that time been very intricate and voluminous, should be revised and simplified, the pleading made more uniform, the then prevailing distinction between law and equity abolished, and that the general statute law of the State should be redu ed to a plain and systematic code. "The whole temple of State government, from spire to foundation stone, had to be taken down, remodeled, and rebuilt, so as to conform to the new Constitution and the progress and improvements of the age.” To do all this properly, and much more that was devolved on the first Legislature, required time, and conse.,uen ly that Legislature was not restricted by the Constitution as to length or session. It was necessarily longer in session than any Legislature ever held in the State, having met on the Ist of December, 1851, and adjourned on the 15th of June, 1852. The public wisely recognized the need of doing the work well of these great reforms, and, looking to that end, elected a strong Legislature. Many of the members had served in the convention which framed the Constitution and in previous Legislatures, and, as a whole, it was a splendid body of representative men. A dance over the list will > how many names of high standing and recogDized abil ty, most of whom were called to high and honorable positions. Great as was the number of mem-bt-rs of the Constitutional Convention called to represent the people in the Congress of the United States, more were called from the Legislature, viz: ,iames H. Lane, John G. Davis, Norman Eddy, George G. Dunn, David P. Holloway, Janies I). Williams, all dead; and William El. Niblack, James A. Cravens, Joseph H. Defrees, Mahlon 1). Manson, Andrew Humphr ys, Calvin Cowgill. William S’. Holman and William H. English, all of whom are present. This Legislature is also ahead as to the number of its members Uansferred to the Supreme Bench, the convention having furnished three and the Legislature five, as follows: W. E. Niblack, who will next address you, and Samuel H. Buskirk, James H. Hannah, William E\ fctewart, and Samuel B. Gookins, who are dead. This Legislature also furnished a Governor of the state, James D. Williams; a Lieutenant Governor, Mahlon D. Munson; a Clerk of tne Sui reme Court, William B. Beach; two Secretaries of State, Norman Eddy and James S. Athon; two Generals in the Union army, Slack and Manson, and numerous other public officers. At the close of Mr. English's remarks Judge Niblaik was introduced, and addressed the meeting at length. He was followed by Hon. W. S. Holman, Hon. Robert N. Hudson of Vigo County, Hon. John Lyle King of Chicago, and Col. R. W. Thompson. The hour for adjournment having arrived, Mr. English rose and said: “In the act of adjourning the House of Representatives of the first Legislature held under the present constitution, my last and parting words to the memb ra from the Speaker’s chair were these: ” *’ ‘Eet ns separate as a band of brothers, each one prepared to say of the other through the rest ot lire, ‘‘he is my friend; we served together in the first Legislature under the new constitution.” “These words are as appropriate to-night as they were a third of a century ago, and so now,'with the consciousness that we shall not all ever meet again on this earth, I repeat, not only to the members present of the Legislature of 1851-2, bnt to all the members of this reunion: "' Let us separate as a band of brothers, each one prepared to say to the other through the rest of life, he is my friend—we served together in the councils of the State many long years ago, and renewed our friendship in the great legislative reunion of 1885.” 1 now perform the last melancholy duty of declaring this greeting adjourned.”

The Queen of the Antilles.

[New Y'ork telegram.] A meeting of Cubans was held in the University Club theater to-night to discuss the project of annexing the Island of Cuba to the United States. Mr. Bnbiera, who is foremost in the movement, said the Spanish property-owners on the island know that Cuba can not remain long under the control of Spain, and they know, or think at all events, that if Cuba were annexed to the United States their property would double in value. So they have on foot a movement to bring about that end. Last July, Mr. Kubiera says, a secret meeting was held of Spanish representatives from each of tbfe forty-four districts in Cuba. These gentlemen assembled quietly at Saratoga, and there met those prominent American bankers from New York who are interested in the enterprise, and discussed the best means of bringing the matter favorably before Congress. 'J he result was 'that a committee was sent to Newport to meet and confer with ex-President Arthur with the view to securing his services as legal adviser in tho enterprise. The native Cubans are not in sympathy with the plan. They say that first of all must come independence from Spain, and then if the matter is put before the Cuban people for a vote and the decision is favorable there will be ample time to consider a basis of annexation to the American Union. Mr. Bnbiera read extracts from a Cuban letter written to a Madrid paper in which the writer said that the people of Spnin would be much surprised were they to hear the names of the wealthy and distinguished Spanish residents of Cuba who were interesting themselves actively in this plan of annexation to the United States. Their idea was to approach the American Congress with such terms as would tempt this Government to enter into negotiations for the purchase outright of the island.

Duty of an Alien.

[Hartford(Conn.) special.J A case involving an interesting question was decided yesterday in the Waterbury City Court. Several days ago a Waterbary policeman met with considerable resistance in taking a prisoner to the police station. He called upon a bystander, John Bagley, an Englishman, for assistance. Bagley refused on the ground that as an alien he was free from obligation to assist in y reserving the public peace, as bo was free from being compelled to serve in the United States army during the war. He was subsequently arrested for refusing to help the officer, and made the same plea to tho court. The penalty was from $5 <0 S3O, and the court, while declining to consider his peculiar claim, imposed only the minimum penalty.

A Sioux Custom.

Miss Alice Fletcher, the student of Indim household customs, says that among the Sioux, when one family borrows a kettle from another it is expected that when tho kettle is returned a small portion of the food that has been cooked in it will bo left* rn the bottom. The language has a particular word lo designate this remnant. “.Should this custom be disregarded by any one, that person would never be able to borrow again, ns the owner must always know what was cooked in her kettle” A. white woman, on one occasion, returned a scoured kettle, intending to teach a lesson in cleanliness; but her act became the talk of tho camp as a fresh example of the meanness of whites.

SMALL-POX.

Ravages of the Pestilence in Canada and Elsewhere A Contagious Steamer at Detroit. [Montreal special ] Miss Flora Campbell and Miss Bnsh. who have been patients in the small-pox hospital, make some very damaging charges against the sys em of treating small-pox patients in the hospital. They state that they had been put in beds which bad been occupied by other patients, and that the sheets hid not been changed; that some of the poor creatures in the ward in which they were had the disease very bad, and that the smell was dreadful; that attendants bade them good-night when they were most needed; that the first night Miss Bush was in the hospital she was given a bed without bed-clothes, and she was forced to lie there a:l night as she came into the building; that a little girl brought some food to them, carrying the bread in her bare hands, on which marks of smallpox were still fresh; that patients changed their own clothes as long as they were able, and, when they were not, those patients who could go about did it for them; that they were often ill during tho night and wanted attendance when there were no nurses about; that during the night some patients would keep knocking against the wall or floor, but no one went near them to see what was wanted, and no assistance was given to those who were unable to get up; that patients had sometimes to wait for hours for a drink, and that those whose eyes were closed with the disease* sometimes begged for a long time for a lotion that was used to wash them before they would get it; that the dirt, and filth, and vile smells were terrible; that as soon as the breath was out of a patient’s body men came and sewed it up in a sheet, and instead of lifting it on a stretcher, let it fall to the floor with a thud that startled every one in the ward. These charges are being investigated. The officials of the hospital deny the truth of thorn, and Dr. Nolin has been requested to prepare an official statement for tho medical health officer. The modical health officer reports that there were forty-nine well-authenticated new cases of small-pox yesterday. The civic Board of Health now believe themselves to be on the track of nearly every case of small-pox. There is a great rush for vaccinnation in the East End, owing to the manufacturers requiring their employes to be vacciunated.

A Contagious Craft. * I Detroit telegram.] The officers of the propeller Cuba called at the Custom House this forenoon for the necessary papers to allow the boat to receive coal here. When they said the propeller was from Montreal, Health Officer Wight was at once notified. He found the boat at the foot of Third street, while heavers were loading coal. The boat was loaded with iron for a Canadian port on Lake St. Clair. The crew of a dozen persons was at once arrested aud the boat quarantined. The captain and purser under oath said that a sailor sick with small-pox had been put ashore in Chicago Sept. 18, and another at St. Catharine’s a short time before, on the way to Chicago. The Cuba has since been to Montreal, and left that infected city Oct. 2. The coal-heavers were all examined and found to bear vaccination marks. The crew were vaccinated, and this afternoon ten pounds of sulphur were burned on the vessel. All communication with the boat is denied. As soon as possible the boat will be hustled off on its journey. Scared Travelers. [New Y'ork dispatch. J A sick negro arrived at Albany from Montreal, and a physician said he was suffering from the preliminary symptoms of small-pox. A purse was made up and he was put on board a train for New York this morning. After the train pulled out he announced the nature of his ailment and inside of a minute had the car all to himself. The car was detached from the train and side-tracked, but under orders was hitched to a later train, and with its solitary passenger hauled to this city, where tho health officers declared that he was not suffering from tho disease. He was, however, isolated. The arrival of his car at the Grand Central Depot caused a sensation. Precautions at liuflUlo. [Buffalo special. I In order to prevent ihe importation of small-pox from Canada to this city a quarantine has been established. The Sanitary Inspectors of the city, all of whom are physicians, will be stationed at Clifton, Ont., one Inspector being on duty each day in the week. The Customs Department has also been requested to hold any vessel coming from a port in Canada at which small-pox is raging. In Quebec Villages. [Quebec telegram.] Seven cases of small-pox, with one 4eath, are reported from Esconmins, an almost isolated village on the north shore of the St. Lawrence Biver, about one hundred and sixty miles below here. Three cases are reported at Lorette, and one in St. Sauvre. An Important Move. [Albany dispatch.] Dr. Carroll, of the State Board of Health, to-day telegraphed the local Health Commissioners at Niagara Falls and Suspension Bridge not to allow any one to cross into this State without showing indications of recent vaccination. Two Cases at Newport. [Newport (R. I.) special.] Two cases of small-pox were discovered here to-day. Stringent measures are being taken to prevent the disease from spreading.

ST. LOUIS’ BIG EVENT.

A UriUlant Street Parade and a Grand Bail. (St. Louis dispatch.] The seventh annual parade of Veiled Prophets took place to-night, and was a very brilliant affair. It consisted of twenty-two floats, representing and illustrating about a dozen Arabian Nights stories, and was witnessed by an immense throng of people, who densely packed the sidewalks and every available foot of space along the line of march. The usnal ball in connection with this affair is now in progress at the great hall of the Merchants’ Exchange and is attendee} ,by, th® cite and fashion of the city. Over one hundred thousand strangers were in the city to-night.

SHATTERED BY DYNAMITE.

: 11 k*& i\ TT* Flood Rock, in New York Harbor, Torn Asunder by Powerful Explosives. Interesting Account or the Destruction of Mnc Acres of Dangerons ' Rock. [New York special] The nine acres of rock comprising the famous Flood Bock Island were shattered into fragments this morning. The 300,000 pounds of explosives with which the tuunels were charged went off simultaneously, and, so far as to-day’s examinations have Rhown, the reef was completely destroyed. It is believed now that a clear ohannel has been opened for steamers from the East lliver into Long Island Hound, and that the dangers that have beset the mariners in those waters for centuries and which caused the old Knickerbockers of early New York to call the place Hell Gate are bow a reminiscence. No damage was caused to sursounding property by tbo explosion. Indeed, those who wero within a thousand feet of it felt little or no commotion, either in the air or in the earth. A greater distance from the scene, however, almost throughout the entire city, a slight tremor was felt. In some places a decided shake-up was observed About 75,000 people witnessed the scene from the surrounding shores. Miss Mary Newton, the young daughter of Gen. .John Newton, touched the electric button which set off the battery and caused the explosion. It was she who porfoimod the same act nine years ago for the Hallet’s Beef explosion. Gen. Newton and Lieut. Derby express themselves entirely satisfied with the result of their operations, and sky that they will have tho channel cleared of tho broken rock beforo six months have passed. It was precisely 11:15 o'clock when the people wailing to see Flood Bock go up in the air heard a dull, crackling noise as if a thunder cloud were bursting in the middle of tho earth instead of overhead. There was nothing sharp about it as the report of exploding dynamite usually is, nor was the tremor of the earth so great as to cause alarm. It felt just us if an immense ball were rolling around underneath the surface, trying to find some opening through which to get out into the air. On the spot to whioh all eyes were directed, however, there was quite a commotion. An immense wall of frothing, seething water was rapidly rising, apparently out of the very rocks thoy had just seen. First but a thin column of a light bluish tint wus outlined against the sunny sky of the marniug. It rapidly increased in volume and in height, however, and as it did so it became a purer white. Another column and still another shot up on either side of the first one, but the difference in time.between their rising was so short that the three shot up almost simultaneously. • ; r i . When they bad reached a summit of fully 300 feet: the spectators imagined that they were gazing from afar off on a short range of snow-capped mountains, whose white tops were, hiddeu front view in! la pale-blue mist, 'jhe crackliug noise had ceased, however, and obl/ei ‘(lull 1 irumble could bo heard. «JThc, three geysers gradually lowered, but .they subsided much slower" 1 'thfth' 1 thsy 1 had 1 dfiWt ' up. As they got Iqwer fi^iey,, Jpst, ,tht*r whiteness. When the mixture of water, rock, and sticks 'Was jhb height Of fifty Finally the hvholfl tnasß broke life into hiindreds of pygmy mountains, .almost blink with dirt aim'fbcw.' ibdked'liko’i cSitcifg field, with the jbijg in tbto center and the side-show tents scatteied all round it. The first thing that Was didarnable through the mist was the old derrick. Its outlines could be seen in the midst of tho column-when-it* was about twenty-five es • mass. Tbenjthe; i pjtjeWs) pud idtonea to fly. Thousands ,of fragments shot in the air as 'fSfetd 1 dlre^ ! Wrfila l bo idbt of the op^ug course wus rortupately straight up . and down. Indcssthurtihajfaminute tjie tarnover. ThbuWflWliteadkd JaVout'jthi&sport with great fury, and lushed themselves into bigi'yfAHfeWof WkW.'fetit IlJd there was not .tie iwr mense commotion that nacl taken place., In the idea hlitnfe itoestcajaersi were blow 4 ing their shrill [whistles, thousands ot people were waidug hrfridketdhtefs ana ‘knotting, and were .thrown: to the, brqoze from iAnumerabli staffs iff bight from the shore. >, Xtyp jfqftqtfbg <qf; tbOJ water Heerned to be ink signal for vessels of all sizes ty make for the,' Spot where Flood Bock hdd stood. Hundreds of littlerowboats seamed to hdie coiffc up froth beneath the water and made its surface black, while steam launchesf, yachts, schooners;' load even the excursion steamers,, started to make ’al’ tour ' atouriu tie spot, Some .were: looking sos . little souvenirs, others mote, ppbsttntial reminders in the shape of huge limbers that werp floating about, while T othefs busied themselves in filling their boats with the thousands of doad fish which bad been killed by the concussion. The rock had been so utUesoab, tered that the channel was at once declared open for steamers as usual and the police line withdrawn. 1' While witnessing the, explosion Charles Merritt, 'of Chicago, 1 fell from a tree and, was severely injured, Ho was sont to the hospital. , Gen.’ Newton was slightly injured on the neck by a piede of jheinse attached to th® photographic! catoeiki 1 7

ALL SORTS.

Hallo, a Louisiana town, wants} ts nam® changed. ' Thebe are 300 words in some of Canon Farrar’s sentences. Frank James, the Missouri desperado, haß been employed as a clerk in a Nevada store., .John H. YatJssj, the author of the “Old Man’s Ballads,” is a grocery clerk in BataVia, N. Y. The Ballimore Grand Jury reports that the introduction of the whipping-post to punish wifo-bfatersi has had a salutary effect. Frank de Leon, a New York boy, is, a hiimailr’ and, sticks 5,0 pins and needles In his breast Without pain to hirusolf, !, , j.; jjr :! "