Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1877 — Page 2

m %v , TT . The Rensselaer Union. iiiiii.il. • RENSSELAER, . - INDIANA.

EPITOME OF THE WEEK.

XtsMsfr Condensed Telegraphic News. onunt PARAGRApm. The toUl number of Russians In Rou■uU is estimatedat 417.000. The election* in Prance hare been postponed UU the 14th of October. The lowa Democratic State Convention I* to be held on the 18th of August. George Fister, of Mahanoy City, Pa., died of hydrophobia a few days ago. A conspiracy to blow op the banks of the Sues Canal had been unearthed at Alexandria. _ . Austria has 88,000 men on the frontier In Dalmatia, Croatia, Sclavonla, Bamit and Transylvania. The rumors of the conclusion of peace with Abyssinia were denied in an Alexandria (Egypt) dispatch of the 37th. Robert Dale Owen, tbe Spiritualist, and aa eminent author, died a few days ago at Lake George, N. Y. He was seventysix years old. The Supreme Court of Indiana has recently died a decision sustaining the decision of tbe Dearborn Circuit Court declaring that Utah divorces arc illegal. Lees than one-third of the amount of property destroyed by the tire in St. John, N. 8., is oevered by insurance, the amount of the latter being about 00,000,000. Gen. Grant and wife were received by the Queen of Great Britain, at Windsor Castle, on the 98th. In the evening a grand din-ner-party was given in his honor. Orders have been given by the Ordnance Bureau for the issue of 1,000 stand of arms te the State of Oregon, 500 to the Territory of Idaho and 800 to Washington Terrimy. . - Eleven of the Mollie Maguire conspirators of the Pennsylvania coal region, convicted of murder, were hanged on the 21st—six at Pottoville, four at Mauch Chunk and one at Wtlkesbarre. On the 25th, an insane man called at the Executive Mansion in Washington to obtain an order for the payment to him of the Geneva award. He had a large bundle of papers supporting his claim. A special election was held in Charleston County, 8. C., a few days ago, for seventeen members of the Legislature. Tbe Republicans decided to make no nomination, and the Democratic candidates—fourteen whites and three colored—were elected without opposition.

Nearly a year ago a young lady named Mary Ella Harrington waa abdneted from East Boston, Maas., and her body was recently found in the Merrimack River, six males from Lowell. The body waa bound with ropes and compressed into tbe smallest possible compass, sewed in sacks and weighted down. A large number of Jewish firms in Gin clnnxti have eigned a pledge not to have nereatter anything to do with the firm of A.T. Stewart .& Co., of which Judge Hilton, of Mew York, is the acknowledged head. This action is taken in view of the discrimination made, by order of Mr. Hilton, against Israelites at the Grand Union Hotel of Saratoga. On the 21st, the Secretary of State of New York, in defending the action in Tweed's case, said that, while the matter was under oonsideration by the Attorney-Gener-al, information reached him that Tweed bad to his credit in Europe, and that he Seabed hia discharge only to enable him to embark with confederates in a large street railway enterprise in Madrid. Aceordktg to the Washington Daily Nation of the 21st, dispatches had been received there gravely hinting that the Rothschilds might withdraw from the Syndicate and oppose American credit in Europe, in consequence of the action of Mr. Hilton toward Mr. Belton an. The course of Judge Hilton had bedh denounced by the Secretary of the Treasury as unwarranted. An old man named Patrick Golden, aged eighty-three years, was brutally murdered at his own house in Nicholson, Wyoming County, a few days ago. He was sitting with his wife in the parlor, when a masked man entered and shot him twice, inflicting wounds of which he died in a few minutes. The murderer then escaped. This occurred the day after the Molly Maguire execution in the Btate. A resolution indorsing the Southern policy of the National Administration, and the recent circular relative to office-holders and partisanship in politics, was introduced by a Democratic member into the New Hampshire House of Representatives, a few days ago. A lively discussion ensued, after which the resolution was referred to the Committee on National Affairs, by a strict party vote.

A large section of country in Northern Missouri, lowa, Northern and Central Illinois and Southern Wisconsin was visited by heavy wind and rain storms on the 23th. Considerable damage was done in some localities. A passenger trai n from Cb icago for Cincinnati was blown from the track near Kankakee, 111., one of the seren cars being lifted on to an embankment six feet high. Fortunately no one was fatally injured by the accident, though six of the ISO people on board the train were somewhat seriously hurt Bx-President Grant, writing to G. W. Childs, of Philadelphia, under date London, June 6th, says: “ I appreciate the fact, and am proud of it, that the attentions I am receiving are intended more for our country than for me personally. I love to see our country honored and respected abroad, and I ant proud to believe that it is by most all Nations, and by some even loved. It has always been my desire to see all jealousy between England and the United States abated, and every sore healed. Together they are more powerful for the spread Of commerce and civilization than all the others combined,

and can do more to remove the causes of war* by creating mutual Interests that would be so much endangered by war.” On the SBd, the President addressed a circular to all promiuent Federal officers, calling attention to a paragraph in a previous letter to the Secretary of the Treasury on the conduct of Government officers |n respect to elections, as follows: “No officer should be required or permitted to take part in tbe management of political organisations, caucuses, conventions or election campaigns. Their right to rote and to express their views on public questions, either orally or through the press, is not denied, provided it does not interfere with the discharge of their official, duties. No aaaossment for political purposes of officers or subordinates should be allowed.” Tbe President adds: “This rule la applicable to every department of the Civil Service. It should be understood by every officer of the General Government that he is expected to conform his conduct to its requirements.”

THE TCRCO-RUSMIAN WAR. The passage of the Danube has strengthened the war party In Greece. Austria has formally refused to intervene In behalf of Montenegro, unless the latter acknowledges herself hopelessly pros tratc, and makes a direct application for assistance. An official dispatch of the 24th from Constantinople announces the evacuation of Cettinje by the Montenegrins. Constantinople telegrams of the 24th say the Turkish Chamber of Deputies had voted for the continuance of the war to the death, even if all Europe combines against Turkey. On the 22d, the Russian Army effected the passage of the Danube at Galatz, by means of pontoon bridges located at a point beyond the reach of Turkish batteries, and secured and at last accounts were fortifylug a Me dr pant on the Turkish shore. A London telegram of the 22d says an arrangement had been effected by which England, with the consent of the Khedive and Bultan, would occupy Egypt—England to determine when the occupation should begin. Dispatches from correspondents of London papers, published on the 22d, say the Turks had secured all the strategic positions In Montenegro, and that the war with the Montenegrins was substantially closed. On the 26th, an artillery duel was in progress between the Russians at Glurgevo and the Turks at Rustchuk. The former town was partially destroyed and in the latter over 1,500 shells had been dropped, rendering the place untenable except by Turkish soldiers. The Turks had evacuated and the Russians occupied Hlrsova. Up to the 26th, 28,000 Russians had crossed the Danube at Ibrail. A Constantinople dispatch of the 26th says advices from Erzeroum state that Mukhtar Pasha had won a great victory near that place and taken 1,000 Russian prisoners. Tchern&voda and Medjidi, in the Dobrudsc.ha, were evacuated by the Turks on the 27th. The Russian cavalry was spreading all over the Interior and the Infantry slowly following. Vigorous cannonading continued all along the Danube. The bombardment of Rustchuk continued. One hundred and twenty Russians had been killed at Glurgevo, amoug them a General of Division. One Turkish battery had been silenced at Widdin and another at Rahova. The whole bank of the Danube from Hirsova to Tultscha was occupied by Russians. Latest advices from Erzeroum report that both the Turkish and Russian Armies, operating in Asia Minor, had been greatly reinforced and placed in condition for offensive operations. A Russian official dispatch, published in London, on the morning of the 28tb, says the Turks bad attacked the right wing of the Russians, and been repulsed with great loss, after a battle lasting eight and a half hours. The Russian loss was 150 killed and wounded. The'late battle at Delibaba is acknowledged to have been indecisive. The Russians fell back with heavy loss, aud the Turks had about 400 killed aud 2,000 wounded. A Constantinople telegram of the 27th reports that Mehemet All bad advanced to the River Moratscha, in Montenegro, and burned 1,540 houses, sparing the churches and monasteries. Over 5,000 Montenegrins were encountered and defeated, with a loss of 1,500 men, after a six hours’ fight. The Turkish loss was 175. The Roumanian batteries opened fire on the Turkish position at Widdin on the evening of the 27th, and the task of its reduction has been assigned to the Roumanian Army.- ■ The Russian cruisers have been operating in the Black Sea at points so near the Bosphorus as to argue contempt for the Turkish fleet. Three merchant vessels which were loading in the harbor of Heraclta were lately destroyed.

CBSBKAI. 1 Citizens of Deadwood, D. T., telegraphed the Secretary of War, on the 21st, that the Indiana were raiding the Valleys of Bear Buttes, False Bottom and WUitewood, killing the ranchmen and driving the settlers to Deadwood for safety. Military protection was demanded to protect the agricultural interests of the Black Hills. It was stated, in Washington, on the same day, that Gao- Sherman would leave, on the 2sth, for the Black Hills and Yellowstone regions. On the 21st, subscriptions were started in the principal cities of the country for the relief of the suffering inhabitants of St. John, X. B. The entire business and a large part of the residence portion of the citv were burned over, and thirty dead bodies had been recovered from the ruins up to the morning of the 22d. As many more were still missing. From 15,000 to 20,000 were homeless and destitute, and there was great need of immediate assistance. On the 22d, the French Senate, by a vote of 150 to 130, decided in favor of the Government's proposition for the dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies. On the 22d, according to San Francisco dispatches, the Indian situation in Northern Idaho was exceedingly grave, and the settlement of the difficulties would tax the best resources of Government and people. The citizens there and in Oregon were oiganisiug. volunteer companies and asking for Government arms. In the raid on Balmon Creek, the Indians killed the men, but spared the women and children, and seat them, under the escort of friendly squaws, to State Creek, where the whites had constructed a stockade. A Mauch Chunk (Pa.) dispatch of the 24th ■ays the MolUe Mag aim had murdered Wm.

O'Connor near White Haven and John Grady, a Lehigh miner. James McDermott aud Michael O’Brien, who were the witnesses •gainst the executed Mollies, had also mysteriously disappeared aud (ears were entertained that they bad been • foully dealt with. A, destructive wind-storm visited Bt, Jo|eph. Mo., on the night of the 23d. Several buildings in tlie center of the dty were unroof< d und several persons were more or less injured. On the 28d, near the Village of Gore, Ohio, John Weld jn, Mrs. MeClurg, his sister, aud her daughter were foully murdered. The object of the murder was plunder. Joseph King and Wm. Terrell were arrested for the deed and the latter confessed, throwing the burden of the crime on King. The latter denied all knowledge of the atfulr. It was believed that Terrell did most of the horrible, work. Four men boarded a train on the Lake Shore A Michigan Southern Railroad, near Llgonier, Ind., on the night of thc22d, and attempted to rob the express car; but the messenger, having been warned that such an event would occur, had inen secreted In the car, who came to his assistance, and the would-be robbers were captured, after a desperate fight. Their names arc Lallo, Hillman, Hathaway and Christy, ail of Ligouicr. A London telegram of the 25th says the English Cabinet had, after due deliberatien, disapproved of GortsehakofTs declaration as to the policy of Russia In the Eastern war; and the British Government had resolved not to allow even the temporary occupation of Constantinople by the Russians. The thriving manufacturing Town of Marblehead, Mass., suffered the loss of its entire business district by fire, at an early hour on the morning of the 25th. Over seventy buildings were destroyed. Two hundred Mormons from Europe, bound for Salt Lake City, arrived at New York a few days ago. Vienna dispatches of the 26th say the Deputies from Tyrol had resigned their seats in the Reichsrath, because that body had refused to grant wider autonomy to South Tyrol. The President and members of his Cabinet arrived in Boston on the 26th. Along the route from Washington the distinguished party was everywhere well received. On their arrival at Boston, the city was profusely decorated. They were met at the depot by Gov. Rice and other distinguished citizens and escorted to a hotel. Tn the afternoon the President held a reception at Faneuil Hall, and in the evening a private banquet was given to the President by Gov. Rice, after which a concert was given in his honor by the Apollo Club. A Belgrade dispatch of the 27th says the general feeling seemed to be that Servia should come to the assistance of Montenegro. The condition of the latter was believed to be desperate. The reunion of the Grand Army of the Republic was begun at Providence, R. 1., on the 26th. Mayor Doyle delivered the address of welcome aud Gov. Hartranft eloquently responded. A cable dispatch was sent to Gen. Grant thanking England for tne attention shown theex-President. A resolution was adopted declaring the intent of Memorial Day to be the preservation of the memories of those who fought in defense of National Unity. The lowa State Convention, in session at DesMoiues on the 27th, nominated: For Governor, John H. Gear, of Burlington; Lieutenant-Gov'ernor, Frank L. Campbell; Supreme Judge, Chief-Justice Day, renominated; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Prof. Von Coellen. The resolutions adopted declare, among other things—that the United States are a Nation and not a League; that the w ork of the Republican party will not be complete until the truths declared in the Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal, etc., are universally recognized and-cheerfully obeyed; that the permanent pacification of the Southern section of the Union, and complete protection to all citizens in the free enjoyment of all their rights, is a duty to which the Republican party stands sacredly pledged; in favor of the gradual resumption of specie payment, and the repeal of the law suspending the coinage of the silver dollar, and the making of silver a legal-tender, the same as gold, for the payment of all debts, both public aud private; a wisely-adjusted tariff for revenue; tl e enforcement of the Prohibitory Liquor law of the State. Considerable excitement was created by the introduction of a resolution indorsing the President’s Southern policy, but a motion to lay on the table was carried by about a three-fourths vote.

Bijah and Barnum.

When Mr. Snow, Baruum’s press agent, was here, he called on Bijali and they had a long visit. When he was on the poiut of going away he h&qded the old janitor an envelope. Inside of -it was a ticket. The ticket read: PASS BIJAH INTO THE SHOW After he PAYS FIFTY CENTS. And as soon as Barnum himself arrived in Detroit he sent for Bijah to come and see him. The good old man parted his hair in the middle, changed ends with his paper collar, and otherwise slicked himself up, and by-and-by he might have been seen in the presence of the great showman. “I’ve heard of you, and you’ve heard of me,” brusquely began Mr. Barnum. “ How would you like to travel with me *” “First rate. I just hanker to roll from town to town.” “ You shall be one of my cannibals at fifteen dollars per week,” continued Mr. Barnum. > Bijah ’s jaw fell. “Or you can have a cage all by yourself, and be known as the wild hyena of Australia.” Bijah began to get red in the face. “Or if you had rather,” softly continued Mr. Barnum. “you can sit behind a screen and exhibit those feet of yours to the astonished public. We will label one, ‘The Eastern Hemisphere,’ the other, ‘The Western Hemisphere,’ and you can read dime novels behind the canvas while the populace gaze in wonder and awe. When can you leave?” Bijah left in about a minute. He said he wanted to go down stairs and get a toothpick, and he never returned. —Detroit Free Press. _ —Until the week before his death, the late Dr. Taylor Lewis dictated to his daughter. In the course of this work he once stoppedand remarked: “Buskinhas written much about the beauties of nature, but he has never seen anything so beautiful as my dear old wife and devoted daughter tending night and day to all my wants.”

SEISE AND NONSENSE.

False-hair is becoming unfashionable. Thk drunkard's pet song—" When tbe tiialUnte homeward fly.” Trunk lines: “ It will be more freightcarnal if we all {tool together.” Two BANDs-of gold linked by a chain ore fashionable sleeve-buttons. A Mabsachi’bbtt* girl says site should like to see one of those Bushful-Bazouks. Wide ruchings, made of frayed-out silk, are worn on thin dressed, particularly as a finish for the neck. Why is a man more devout when he has a cold in his head ? Because he is on his sneeze most of the time. A Yankee editor wishes no bodily harm to his subscribers, but he hopes that some of them in Arrears will he seized with a remittent fever. “It is well to leave something for those who come after us,” as a man suid when he threw a barrel in the way of a Constable who was chasing him. A WITNESS on the stand, in reply to a question as to what the character of Mr. was for truth and veracity, said: “Well, I should say that he handles truth very carelessly.” An Irishman has defined nothing to be “a footless stocking without legs.” A description by another Emeralder: “What is nothing r” he asked. “ Shut your eyes and you’fi see it.” In Florida, a man who has lost an arm or a leg, no matter how, is exempt from taxation on his business, unless it he liquor-selling. This is quite a legacy for the unfortunate maimed. Only a country boy can tell how heavy’ a big calf’s head will weigh, when the critter insists upon getting the last drop of feed bv shoving its nose to the bottom of the milk-pail.— Chicago Journal. A schoolmaster told a young miss that the word “ obligatory” meant binding, whereupon she laid her head upon her hand, and, after a brief cogitation, handed the teacher this sentence: “The obligatory of my spelling-book is worn out.” A Connecticut youth fired a gun over the head of his sweetheart without giving her notice, to see if she had any pluck, and it is now feared the girl will have to be sent to the insafic asylum. As for the youth, he should be sent to an asylum for idiots. A little four-year-old girl visiting a neighbor was asked if she would have some bread and butter. “No,” she rcplied, rather sorrowfully, “ my ma said I musn’t ask you for bread and butter;” then suddenly brightening up, she said, “ Have you got any cookies ?" A San Francisco man told his wife that he was tired of her, and she obligingly poisoned herself. A New York woman, when she discovered that her husband was tired of her, raised a frightful wart on his head as large as a goose-egg, and then eloped with a handsome man. Dialogue between the Sultan and an old officer, privileged by his age and long service : Sire, lam exhausted by the labors which my position exacts of me.” “Very well; I am going to give you a place in which you wall have nothing to do—Paymaster.” —New Ur la ink Picanun* A IS ew England philosopher lias unfolded a new theory of the cause of the appetite for stimulants. He says the custom of dressing in black is responsible for the craving for drink, and that if peopic would dress in white the sun would furnish the nerves all the stimulus required. A young lady in Hudson, Me., is now teaching in the same school-room where her mother and grandmother have tauglil before her. She derives consolation from the thought that neither lady developed into an old maid, and that the family traditions forecast a great-granddaughter at the head of the school. It happened the other day that our wife §ot hold of a war map, representing the Hack Sea and Russian and Turkies Armies, and when we got home she liad cut out two new dresses and a neat basque by it, and was beginning on a'new fashioned coat for ourselves. She thought ’twas a fashion cut—and she believes so yet.— Oil City Call. At a dinner, and between the sherry and champagne—to which period the enfant terrible of the family’ had been unfortunately permitted to linger—tile host had gone to praising his own wine in a fashion which was certainly an evidence of its great intoxicating qualities. “ That sherri’, sir, cost me sixty dollars a dozen. I bought it at the auction of the Emperor Napoleon’s wines, and imported it myself.” “Why, papa!” interrupted the enfant, “ that was all gone long ago, and mamma filled tbe bottles up from the California keg. She said that you never had any triends who could tell the differ ence.” One of our city physicians the other day’ engaged to teach a young college graduate the practical art of healing the sick. He was called hi a German who was down with the delirium tremens, and asked him his age and his business. He was a musician and forty’ years old. The learned doctor then told his student that all brass instruments were so severe a tax upon the player’s larynx that the throat frequently’ needed a iittle wetting in the form of beer or brandy. A sad result of this fact was the patient before him. The latter asked what instrument he played. He answered, “I blays zecond viddle most alvays.”— Providence Prett. A prominent pisciculturist lately sent a very valuable present of trout spawn to a San Francisco magnate who is more remarkable for wealth than refinement. The giver’s idea was that the trout might be hatched, and would thrive in a small artificial lake, which was a feature of tbe millionaire’s grounds. He was much surprised at receiving the following note some days afterward: “My dear friend— Them water-peas as you sent was way up and was excellent fried. I had considerable railway people, and one or two bankers to dinner the night they came. We never would have knew what the concerns were only for Maria, who has just graduated at a female school, and knows a sight. She told us as them peas were quite common, and that they grew under water same as you sent ’em. We all send kind regards, and would be pleased to have some more water-vegetables when • vou are sending to the citv.”

THE BOMBARDMENT OF BUSTCHUK.

The City Riddled with Shells and In Rains—Ren, Women and Children Blown to Atoms In the Streets—The Horrors of War. A London dispatch to the New York Herald of the 27th gives the following particulars of the bombardment by the Kussiamrof the Turkish City of Rustchuk: During Friday and Saturday the lookouts posted on the roofs of the mosques and on Ihe ridges behind the town, over which passes the main road to Shumla, discovered and reported an unusual ac-

tivity on die part of tbe Russian* at Giurgevo and it* vicinity. Trains of small wagons were observed to pase frequently between the batteries on the river bank aud the town, and there were groupings of men in the works that suggested preparations of an extraordinary character. Fears were entertained in Rustchuk that the ominous signs meant a sudden crossing of the river under cover of a heavy fire from the Russian batteries. Id view of this the Turkish Commander ordered large bodies of troops that had been previously encamped behind the southern defenses of the town to move out toward Maratin and along the Sistova road, in order to cover the railroad line and to guard against a flank attack on the westward suppliesof artillery. Ammunition from the not overlarge magazines behind Rustchuk were sent to the batteries' along the river front and to the field-works recently erected covering the railroad. Aa far as possible every precaution was taken to guard against surprise. The sun had scarcely risen on Sunday morning ere the anxious watchers at Rustchuk discovered, through the river mists, horsemen riding furiously back and forth from Giurgevo. As these horsemen were evidently carrying messages between the batteries and the town, the suspense among the people in Rustchuk became painful; for the belief was general that the day would witness some important event. Suddenly, from one of the Russian batteries, a flash was seen in the center of a globe of grayish-white smoke, and a shell sped screaming over Rustchuk, to explode on the slope of the hill crowned by Fort Hanamdj. It was the signal for the bombardment. Immediately "after it seemed as if every Russian gun was fired simultaneously, for the earth fairly trembled with the roar of the artillery, and the shells flew over the doomed city with an awful and indescribable sound. Although the Roumanian shore above, below, and in front of Giurgevo was entirely obstructed by the smoke from the Russian guns, the Turkish batteries promptly opened an answering tire, and soon nothing could be seen on the river banks but dense, rolling volumes of smoke, through which almost every two seconds flashes would dart like lightning through storm-clouds. Boom! boom! went the Turkish guns, with au uninterrupted regularity, plthough the Russian shells were falling in and around the works with a fatal precision. This extraordinary artillery duel was maintained at a range of not more than three thousand yards. The guns on both sides being heavy pieces, the fire was direct and the trajectory of the missiles very flat; consequently every object hit in Rustchuk was rent and torn by penetration or demolished by the explosion that followed. The effects of the Turkish fire could only be observed at internals when the smoke would clear a little, but it is evident that considerable damage waa inflicted on the Russian batteries. The terribly effective character of the Russian fire can scarcely be described. The gunners seem to have directed every shot at Rustchuk, without regard to the buildings liable to be injured. Shell after shell came crushing through the roofs of the houses and burying themselves in the floors, where they exploded, demolishing the walls. The mosques seemed to be selected as particular targets at times, for two, three, and often more, shells would fall on and around them, tearing pinnacle and dome with fearful effect. Not even the hospitals were spared by this awful rain of shells. Several of these buildings happened to be quite exposed, and although surmounted by flags indicating their character, they were involved in the storm, aud their inmates in many cases were killed in their beds. This has caased the utmost indignation among the Turks, and the authorities have requested the foreign Consuls to testify to the occurrence, so that the Pcrte may make a formal protest against what it deems to be uncivilized warfare. Although the flags of England and other European powers were displayed over their respective Consulates, the Russian fire did not spare the buildings. Theguns were aimed at Rustchuk, ana everything, animate and inanimate, within its limits. Shells have no neutrality, and do not discriminate between Consulates, mosques and hospitals. The unfortunate inhabitants of Rustchuk suffered terribly during the bombardment. Hid away in deep recesses or sheltered behind thick walls, the Russian shells found and destroyed them. As they darted through the streets toward places of greater security, their bodies were shattered in fragments by the explosion of these terrible missiles. Women, flying from their burning or ruined homes,’ were killed as they ran. Little children, clasped in the arms of their terrified parents, were struck dead by the fatal fragments. The scene was one of unqualified horror throughout. The Russian fire continued during Monday and with still more terrible effect. Such of the people as could muster up courage to fly from their nooks of shelter have hurried away to the interior. The ruin of the town is almost complete, but the fortifications are practically intact, and not much damaged.

Blowing Up a Monitor with Torpedoes.

The correspondent of the London Daily News, at Plojesti, gives the following account of the destruction of a Turkish monitor by torpedoes, by Russian officers: “ The little expedition which succeeded in blowing up tne Turkish monitor was composed of tour small steam launches, two of which were to make the attack ana the two others to hold themselves in readiness to render assistance in case, as was probable, of an accident to either of the attacking ones. The two launches which were to make the attack were commanded by Lieut. Dubasoff and Sbestakotl, and manned, one by fourteen, the other by nine, men. The crews were protected by an iron screen or awning, which covered the boat completely over from stem to stem, and which was sufficiently thick to stop a bullet. “After an hour’s steaming they ‘came within the immediate neighborhood of the enemy’s flotilla. The engines of the launches were so constructed as to make very little noise, and when they were slowed down all the sound they made was a low, doll kind of throbbing noise, that was almoet drowned by the continual croaking of the frogs, which are very large and very numerous along the marshes of the Danube. Nevertheless, the quick ear of a Turkish sentinel caught the unusual sound and cried oat, ‘ Who goes there f in Turkish. “ Then the Russians, who were by that time very near the doomed monitor, heard a noise in the ship. There was a scuffling of feet, tne rushing about of sailors, cries and shouts, and the voice of an officer commanding them to prepare the guns for action. They heard the order given for the gun in the bow to be fired. Thev heard it given three times', and three times

they heard the click of the hammer, showing that an attempt had been made to fire, and that the gun had refused to «o oft. Finally, the third time the order was given, a globe of flame leapt over the side of the gunboat, and a shell went whistling over their heads. They were evidently seen by the Turks. One of tlie boats, that of Shestakoff, now drew off, while that of Dubasoff continued to advance. Each boat was armed with two torpedoes, attached to the end of a long spar that projected from the bow. These spars were arranged to move on pivots, and could be swung round so as to describe a half-circle. “ A lively fusillade had now been opened upon tlie boat by the Turks, but in spite of this the launch of Dubasotf shot under the bow of the monitor, the chain which was fastened to the torpedo was flung round a chain or rope that was hanging from the bow of the ship, the torpedo was dropped from tlie spar and th? current of the river carried it against the bottom of the ship. The launch then shot away again until the fuH length of the electric wire had been reached. The officer applied it to the battery round his chest, and at tlie same instant a huge volume of water rose up into the air which half filled and nearly swamped DubasofTs launch, and a fearful explosion was heard, which completely drowned the shouts and cries and firing of the Turks. “In the meantime llie other monitors bdeame alarmed, and without knowing the cause fired at random, and a fearful scene of terror and confusion emued. They not only fired on the Russian launches, that still kept dodging about like mosquitoes, but in their panic and confusion fired into each other. The bullets rattled over the iron awnings of the launches, but did them no harm. They were not once struck, although the bow of one was pierced aud sunk by a piece of a shell that exploded near it. The two launches were now on opposite sides of the doomed ship. Dubasoff perceived that the monitor was sinking down before, but very slowly; while the Turks continued to fire awav blindly, out incessantly, both with small arms and .cannon. Dubasoff cried out to Shestakoff to try and place another torpedo in order to make sure of the ship, and the latter slipped in under the stem and put down another torpedo in the same manner as the previous one. He then shot off until he was at a safe distance, applied the electric battery in the same manner and a still more terrible explosion followed. “ Parts of the ship were blown into the air, ss they very soon perceived by a large plank which a few seconds later came down endways, driving its way through the iron screen into the boat between two of the sailors who were back to back close to each other without injuring either of them. Then the monitor sank rapidly, and after afew moments nothing but her masts was visible above water.”

FACTS AND FIGURES.

The dogs of New York City have paid (20,000 for licenses this year. San Francisco worries along with six hundred and twenty-six lawyers. Ten thousand sheep have lately died around Desert Springs, near Mojave, Cal. Cincinnati proposes to economize by lighting her public lamps a half hour later and extinguishing them a half hour earlier than heretofore. The estimated saving is (90,000 yearly, which is enough to make the change an object. The trade of the United States with Russia during the calendar year of 1876 was so small as to be positively absurd. The exports to Russia weye only (9,689,000, and (8,266,000 of that was raw cotton, and (956,000 more was petroleum. The imports were only. (626,000. It is not known what is the total area of waste lands in Scotland, but an example taken from the Highlands will convey some idea of it. In Sutherlandshire, out of 1.207,188 acres represented in the owners of lands’ returns, only 25,635 acres are under cultivation, being only a little over 2 per cent. Twelve States will hold elections during the present year, to-wit: Kentucky, Aug. 6; Vermont, Sept. 4; California, Sept. 5; Maine, Sept. 10; lowa and Ohio, Oct. 9; and Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin, Nov. 6. In four of these States Legislatures are to be chosen. The increase in the population of the City of Berlin, during the last 150 years, is very remarkable In 1721, the population was 65,300; in 1766,125,878; in 1831, 248,682; in 1858, 448,588, and, in 1875, the total population was only a fraction under 1,000,000. Thus, in point of population, the German Capital is the third of European cities. The average annual mortality from hydrophobia in England is one to about 500,000 inhabitants, or nearly the same as in New York City; in France and Germany it is somewhat higher; for the United States generally there are no satisfactory statistics, but the fatality is probably not greater than in New York. The disease is peculiarly one of the Temperate Zone, and is very rare in Turkey, Syria and Egypt, although it is said to occur in China and India. The potency of the contagion varies in different epidemics, in different dogs, and at different times in the same dog. On the authority of the Carriage Monthly, ' mo r e in j urv is done to carriages and wagons by greasing too much than the reverse. Tallow is the bestlubricantforwood axles, and castor oil for iron. Lard and common grease are apt to penetrate the hub, and work their way out around the tenons of the spokes and spoil the wheel. For common wood axles, just enough grease should be applied to tne spindle to give it a light coating. To oil an iron axle, first wipe clean with a cloth wet with turpentine, and then apply a few drops of cas-tor-oil near the shoulder and end. One teaspoonful is enough for the four wheels. Carriages are sometimes oiled so much that their appearance Is spoiled by having the grease spattered upon their varnished surfaces. When they are washed in that condition, the grease is sure to be transferred to the chamois from the wheel, and trom thence to the panels. ‘ —An interesting case of feminine constancy and devotion is noted in San Franciscol A short time since, in that city, a lady called upon Capt Douglas, of the police force, and made some inquiries concerning Harry Courtaine, a bibulous comedian. After a few moments’ conversation, the Captain recognized her as the wife of Courtaine, who left him seventeen years ago, and has since been living in England. She stated that recently she picked up a newspaper and saw a notice that Courtaine was lying ill in the hospital in that city, and she came all the way to see him once more. Bhe learned at the hospital that he had been discharged, and she desired to find him. With the Captain’s assistance the recreant husband was found and the couple reconciled.