Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE KEELY MOTOR, AGAIN. A Statement from One of the Holders of the Secret. Further particulars in relation to the Keely motor, which has heeu referred to by most of the leading newspapers of the ?country, have been given to the Tinm by Mr. Sergeant, of the firm of Sergeant & Cuttiugworth, of this city. According to the statements of this gentleman, the newly discovered power is inevitably de? stined to revolutionize the entire me? chanical world and render possible, and ?even easy, feats which seem now beyond the power of the most perfect machinery in the world. Gun9 are to be fired by the same power that drives the ship that carries them; explosions are to be ren? dered comparatively harmless; engines <of 5,000 horse power are to be construct? ed so as to occupy no more space than an ordinary steam engine, and all the mar? vels which are accomplished by steam Are to be performed with infinitely greater ease by tire cold vapor evolved trom air and water. The wildest dreams of the Arabian story-teller seem com? monplace when compared with the mar? vels that are promised in this newly dis? covered force of nature, if the statements ?of a well known business man of good standing, and of high repute as a scien? tific inventor, are to receive the credence that would be given to them on any other subject. ? All the difficulties naturally to be expected in learning the use of so tre? mendous an agency have been encount? ered in the experiments that have been made with this. New tools have been made with which the parts of a new en? gine are being fashioned for the use of the motive power. Metal has been made especially for its construction. A new scientific vocabulary has been fashioned to express the operations hitherto, un? known in mechanics, and perfect success has attended the experiments made thus far. Mr. Sergeant says: One year ago to? day I began an investigation into the powers and properties of \vhat is termed the Keeley motor. I was at first an utter sceptic, knowing that the things which were claimed for it were utterly opposed to all my scientific teachings, and that, according to all that was known on the subject, the claims of Mr. Keely were ar rantly absurd. But I had some curiosity on the subject, and, being applied to by a number of persons, some of whom were pecuniarily interested in the discovery, And all of whom desired a careful investi fition to be made, I concluded to go to hiladelphia and examine it as an ex? pert. They offered to pay my expenses while I did this, but I preferred to pay them myself, and did so. Mr. Keely claimed that he was able, by the utiliza? tion of a power comiug from the con? sumption of air and water, to produce a pressure of thousands of pounds to the square inch, and do it immediately, al? most instantaneously. I was incredu? lous, and the surroundings made me still more so. I said to Mr. Keeley that in the introduction of all the great inven? tions or discoveries of which I had ever heard, the discoverer had had great trou? bles to persuade people to listen to him, and greater yet to" persuade any one to invest money in the novelty. But here this was reversed. People were invest? ing money in something of which they knew nothing except what he chose to say about it. That of itself looked sus? picious to me, and the extravagant stories which he told convinced me of the fallacy of believing him. He was VERY JEALOUS OF HIS SECRET. He would not for a long time admit me to see what he was doing that I might investigate the matter. It was only after a strong pressure had been brought to bear on him that he consented to do as i much as let me see him work, and when this was at length accomplished by the intervention of his friends who were in? terested in the invention, he had in the room a man named Beckel, who has worked for him a number of years, who would be able to testify, if need be, that on such a day he (Keely) had exhibited his invention to me. And so great w<ts his anxiety to keep the secret that the very stockholders were kept out of the room while we were together, and their counsel, coming to the closed doors, knocked, and was answered by Mr. Keely, who would not admit him. I said to him that if he would, in the way he described, show me, not a press-! ure of thousand of pounds, but of a hun- I dred pounds to the square inch, produced immediately, I would believe that he had a new invention. He showed me at once a pressure of a thousand pounds. I was confounded. I dared not believe him, even although I had told him that I would. I thought he must have some kind of seidlitz powder concealed some? where, or some gun-cotton, or nitro-glyce rine, or some other powerful explosive. I examined closely, expecting to find some little pea somewhere that would ex? plain the wonder to me. I found none, And yet I was not convinced, even by see? ing. The thing was too wonderful for me. But I continued ray investigations until I FOUND NO ROOM FOR ANY FURTHER DOUBT. I did more. After being with Mr. Keely for a long enough time to solve all my doubts, I went away and consulted ?with others. I went especially to one man whose name would be instantly re? cognized, if I should tell it, as that of a scientist known all over the country. He was a sceptic, as I had been. I told him what I had seen. He heard me through, and told me I must be deceived; that Mr. Keely was using some chemical of which he kept me in iguorance. fie thought at first from my descriptions, that it was carboline, or a vapor from it, and, at my request, he produced a jet of that vapor. 1 allowed the jet to play upon my hand, and found that it was so cold as to produce a stinging sensation. I said, "This is not Keely's vapor. That is pleasant to the touch." I srnelled of the carboline vapor, and it was utterly unlike Keely's, for the carboline had a scent about it which Keely's had not, al? though the professors said the carboline could be produced with scarcely a trace of the scent. But I have swallowed all I could get of Keely's vapor, and I find it is pleasant. You can live on it. I asked the professor if the carboline vapor was capable of condensation by simple ex? pansion. He said no, and I knew it was not Keely's, for that is condensed by sim? ple expansion. It turns back to water, and that water I can drink. After each conversation with the professor, in which be would tell me that I was deceived in this thing or that, I would go back to Mr. Keely and watch and study his ope? rations until I knew I was not deceived. At length he allowed me to work his ma? chinery myself, and I found I couid do as he did; and the machinery for pro? ducing the vapor is so simple that a child eight years old could work it* Deception was impossible under such circumstances. Some of the articles that have appeared in relation to the Keely motor being based, as all these articles have been, on the reports and statements of thee who know nothing about the matter, have contained the most absurd statements. It has been asserted that we do not know the difference between press? ure and power; that we claim to have a perpetual-motion machine ; that we pre? tend to be able to make something out of nothing, and many similar things are put forth by persons who ought to know better than to assert such things in rela? tion to the men who are connected with the Keely motor. The assertion that I do not know the difference between press? ure and power is sufficiently answered by the reputation of the firm of which I am a member. It is not likely that we could have obtained that reputation if we were so ignorant of the very principles involv? ed in the work we do. A perpetual-mo? tion machine is one that makes its own power. One that does not make its own power cannot be a perpetual-motion ma? chine. Now, Keely pretends to do no such thing as that. On the contrary, Mr. Keely's claim is entirely different. He claims to produce from the consump? tion of air ana water a cold vapor capa? ble of condensation by simple expansion and which contains power enough to produce a pressure of 20,000 or 30,000 pounds to the square inch. It is admit? ted that no cold vapor capable of con? densation by simple expansion can be produced by chemicals, but I know that by Keely's method it can be produced, for I have produced it, and condensed it inju5t that way, and drank the water produced by the condensation. The pro? fessor to whom I have alluded, when I told him that I had drank the water so produced, said, "Oh, you are deceived." He thought that Keely had substituted the water which I had drank in a surrep? titious manner. I went back to Keely and tried it again to be sure that I had not been deceived in that manner, and I convinced myself that I had not. As to the idea that Keely claims to produce something from nothing it is absurd, for that is just what he does not claim to do. He claims to have DISCOVERED ONE OF THE LAWS OF NA? TURE, by which this vapor can be produced. When I talk to the scientists about a pressure of 10,000 pounds to the square inch they are incredulous, but I have seen it at 10,500, and I have weighed it, so that I krow there is no mistake. We are now having a guage made by which we can weigh it up to 50,000 pounds. One of the difficulties in our way has been that we have not yet handled the thing at the great pressures at which it can be used. It takes time to make all the experiments needed, and, although we are pursuing them as rapidly as possi? ble, we cannot do everything in a day. We have used it up to 16,500 pounds pressure, and are going on as fast as we can. There is one hindrance. We do not know what we can cover with our letters patent. We cannot, of course, cover a natural law by a patent, and what we can cover we must describe so fully that any person expert in such mat? ters can do the same thing from our de? scription in order that he may know when and how he infringes on our patents. This we have not yet been able to do, because we have not yet used it at the heavy pressures at which it can be used. We know that it will produce TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY TIMES THE PRESSURE THAT STEAM WILL, and in order to control this agency we must have engines of Austrian gun ractal. The engine we use is a regular yacht engine, with a pair of three by three cylinders, and capable of working under a pressure of from 500 to 1,000 pounds to the inch on the piston, but the engine we are constructing will be capa? ble of working under the tremendous pressure which we shall produce. It has been asked how we will harness such tremendous power. We will do it with gun-metal, and in such a way that will be safe. In making guns, such ex? actness is possible that they are able to tell how many times the gun can be fired before it will burst, and the bursting comes, not from the force of the explo? sion itself, but from the unequal strain produced by the burning ot powder. This element of destruction we do not have to contend with, because our press? ure is even, and with machinery made on scientific principles there will be no dan? ger or possibility of an explosion. But even if there should be an explosion, which could only come from some defect in construction, there would be no dan? ger, excepting from some flying piece, which might do damage, of eourse. In explosion of a steam boiler the destruc? tion is caused by the sudden and marvel? ous increase of pressure which occurs at the moment of explosion. This is not understood scientifically, but the fact re? mains that when a boiler explodes under a pressure of thirty or forty pounds, at the instant of the explosiou there will be a pressure of 10,000 pounds on the sud? den liberation of the steam, and it is this which causes the damage which results. Now, with the Keely motor, it is entire? ly different. Supposing there should be, from some defect in the machinery, an explosion, p.tjd the motor suddenly libe? rated. By its expansion it would be con? densed to water, and no damage would be done. The Keely motor not only will do the work of steam, but is applicable to all I purposes for which gunpowder is used, and is FAR SUPERIOR TO GUNPOWDER or any other explosive known. We have a riHe from which we have fired hun? dreds of bullets with it, and these experi? ments have demonstrated its superiority to gunpowder. It is well understood that the force of the gasses generated by the. explosion of powder lessens as the ball travels on its way through the bar? rel, and that if the barrel were long enough, a partial vacuum would be found behind the ball. The study of the sub? ject has led to the experiment of explod? ing three or four cartridges in succession behind the ball as it travels through the barrel. By this means a tremendous im? petus can be given to the ball, as has been repeatedly demonstrated by experi? ment. But the pressure of the Keely motor is continued up to the time the ball leaves the muzzle of the gun, when of course by further expansion the motor is condensed to water. One of the remarkable things about the Keely motor is that it cannot be transmitted at a lower pressure than 1,000 pounds. It can be used, of course, at a lower pressure alter iL is put in ac? tion. It can be regulated like steam, but its transmission at less than 1,000 pounds pressure causes its condensation. It is like steam in this respect, only, of course, the pressure at which it can be transmitted is much higher than that of steam. This disposes at once of the absurd allegation that it does some cer ! tain tilings at a low pressure, but that it is doubtful whether it will work at high pressure. The time will certainly come when our gunboats will be worked by the same tower which will fire their guns. After this power had been discovered by Mr. Keely, a copartnership was first formed and he continued his experiments. Afterward a joint stock company was or? ganized through the instrumentality of Mr. Charles B. Collier, who is now one of the four men who know what the mo? tor is. The four are Mr. Keely, his work? man, Beekel, Mr. Collier and myself. After this stock company was organized, it was resolved to offer a-limited amouut of the stock for sale. The amouut was fixed at $50*000 worth, and I offered to take it all myself. This was, however, objected to, as there were other parties who wanted to buy stock, and it was thought not best for one person to have more than a limited amount. Another company has been organized in New Englaud, which has purchased the priv elege to buy the patent for the six New England States. They have paid the first instalment of the purchase money for the privelege, which is &0;000, and they have two other payments to make of the same amount. When these are paid, they will have the right to buy the assignment of the patent for those six States, paying for it one-half of their capital stock. The buyers of stock in these companies are influenced solely by their confidence in the men who know what the motor is. They have no kowl edge of it themselves, although private exhibitions of it have been given nnder great pressure from the stocknolders, who demanded to be shown what the thing was. An engine was shown, work? ing by the new power, but it was im? possible for any one who saw it to un? derstand the motor. There is no neces? sity for telling the public about it, be? cause we have plenty of money to follow it up ourselves, and ask nonejfrom the public and our great anxiety is to keep the secret untill we shall have perfected our system of working the power so as to be able to take out letters patent that will protect us. It has been said that Mr. Keely has received large sums of money, and has been raised from poverty to comparative affluence by those who expect to benefit by his invention. The facts are that he receives two hundred dollars a month for his personal expenses, and his machin? ist's bills arc paid. This money is ad? vanced to him, and if he receives other money it must he from a sale of his in? terest, and I don't think he would sell a dollar's worth of that as a matter of principle, for if he were to dispose of Iiis interest it would be demoralizing in its effect on his associates, fie works on his invention so constantly that I have repeatedly taken him away from it, and taken him out driving, fearing that his constant application would be injurious. It is of course, uncertain how soon his labors will be completed, but it is proba? ble that before long the patents will be taken out, and the whole thing given to the world. Until that time, of course we can say no more than has been said. The stockholders are impatient, ami not being men of science, arc unable to see why we cannot patent what we have, then pafen the improvements that wc are also to make. I have had considerable expe-rience in such matters, and have takenout so many patents that I have learnedthat it is best to perfect an inven? tion before patenting it. YVoFFORD Col leg i?.?We have sel? dom, if ever, chronicled an item of in? formation with greater pleasure, than that contained in the letter of our Spar taoburg correspondent, announcing the election of Prof. James H. Carlisle, LL. D., to the Presidency of Woffbrd Col? lege. The administration of Dr. Shipp, has been signalized by the most distin? guished wisdom and ability ; and the an? nouncement some time ago of his accep? tance of the call to Vauderbilt, aroused universal regret. He leaves a shining record behind him, and carries with him to his new field the confident expecta? tions of numerous friends, that he will win fresh honors there. The new pres eident will enter upon his duties with the hearty good will, and enthusiastic confidence, uot only of mcthodists, but of the cutire people of South Carolina. A devoted Christian, an accomplished gentleman, a thorough scholar, and in every respect a worthy model for many youth, it would have been impossible for the Trustees to make a more judicious selection for his responsible position, We congratulate the college, the Confer? ence, and the State, upon the wisdom of their action. The three additional Professors, arc comparatively young men whose career thus far indicates their fitness for the po? sitions to which they have been called, and gives confident promise that they will achieve enviable reputation for themselves and the institution, in their several chairs. With the original able Faculty, strengthened by those vigorous additions, Woffbrd College presents edu? cational advantages second to none in the country and sounds a call for pa? tronage which should crowd the halls to overflowing with the young men of the State.?Southern Christian Advocate. ? He was aguest at the Stanwix from the rural "destricks." Being seated, a waiter passed him the'bill of fare. The guest from the aforesaid rural districts became instantly ruffled in temper, and exclaimed: "Now, look here, I pay my bills at the office and darned if I'm go? ing to pay that bill till I've had my dinner." ? "Dan," said a little four-year old, "give me six-pence to buy a monkey." "We have got one monkey in the house now," replied the elder brother. "Who is it, Dan?" asked the little fellow. "You," was the reply. "Then give me six-pence to buy the monkey some nuts." The brother could uot resist. The Negro in Politics. All the signs justify the belief that the negro is at last opening his eyes to his true interests, aud is inclined to break the bondage which has so long held him as the slave of demagogues and design? ing knaves, who sold his vote and stole his hard savings. While the army and civil power of the Administration were used to uphold the thieving crew of car? pet-baggers, it was not surprising that the negroes, in their ignorance, depen? dent habits, and superstitious nature, should be massed together and led to the polls like sheep to the shambles, j The Republican leaders and managers cared nothing for the elevation or im? provement of the black man, or they never would have concocted the wicked policy by which his moral condition was made worse than in slavery. They wan? ted the eight hundred thousand colored voters as a means of controlling the Southern States, and therefore enforce? ment acts, civil rights bills, and other in? iquities were passed, in order to run a color line between the two races, and force them apart in discord and strife. This atrocious system was maintained for years by an unscrnpulous President, who employed the Federal troops and misapplied "the public money to promote it, with the full sanction and encourage? ment of the Republican majorities in Congress. Success of the party was the motive, and that success, as the country has seen, was utilized by the carpet-bag? gers to enrich themselves by the most infamous and corrupt means. Finally, public opinion revolted at these outrages, which were not only iniquitous in themselves, but imposed a large bur? den on the taxpayers. Arkansas was saved from the President's violent at? tempt to continue the misrule of the plunderers, who had brought the State to bankruptcy and anarchy. Then fol? lowed the compromise in Louisiana, and the exposure of the frauds in Alabama. The reaction which follows these events might have been expected, for even in this short experience it has been proved beyond all controversy that the charges made by the Administration and its con? federates were false and fabricated, and that their whole policy rested on fraud. In thirty days after the fall of Clayton, Dorsey, McClure, and their Ring in Ar? kansas, the State was perfectly tranquil, credit was restored, the races harmonized, enterprise became active, and labor was contented ? none of which had been known during ten years of carpet-bag rule. The colored people of Arkansas are as well protected in their rights under a Democratic Governor as arc those of Massachusetts. They recognized the fact, and admit the deception by which they have heretofore been estranged from the white race, among whom their des? tiny is cast. Their children are educated and the door is open to preferment with far more liberality than exists in most of the Northern States. Even in Louisiana peace reigns. The people accepted a compromise which cheated them outof rights fairly acquired at the polls. But they had either to take what a Republican committee forced down their throats, or to confront the powerful persecution of Grant, Sheridan, Kellogg, aud Casey, backed by the strength of the army, navy, aud Treasury. They chose the lesser of the two evils, and this submission is likely to be well rewarded. Alabama, though but partially freed from the yoke of the carpet-baggers, is greatly improved in condition, and since the villainies of Spencer and his gang have been exposed by their forinesr con? federates, the Administration will hardly dare to repeat the atrocities of last year, when treasure and troops were scattered over the State to support an organized band of public robbers. The blacks have seen the practical ef? fect of the changes in these three States, aud find that instead of being injured they arc benefited in proportion as the power of the carpet-bagger is diminished or entirely disappears. As a consequence, they are drawn more closely to the native whites, and the old confidence is fast coming back under the new relation be? tween the races. In this condition of things it is evident the negroes cannot be made to vote as they have done since reconstruction. Many of them who are intelligent and upright, separated from the main body before they had at: inducements to act independently. Tens of thousands will now follow this example, and when that step has been taken, it will be the begin? ning of a new era for the black man. Destroy the color line, let him exercise suffrage upon some principle, and share in the sentiments which divide the rest of the community, then he will be really emancipated. As the tool and ally of the carpet-bagger, lie is not only a degraded slave, but the worst enemy of his own interests. The utter ruin of the Frecdman's Bank, from which nearly three millions of dollars were stolen by the Washing? ton Ring, did much to awaken the seven? ty thousand poor and betrayed depositors to the real character of their friends, who managed that institution for their own profit. More recently, the appropriation of Howard University by the Congrega? tional Church, and the virtual exclusion of the colored people from what they regarded as their peculiar institution, have aroused no small degree of wrath, and with much reason. Fred Douglass and L?ngsten have both denounced this proceeding, and intimated pretty broad? ly that they will not stand the usage to which their race has been subjected any longer. Their resentment is natural but it is not from such personal explosions that we look for the improvement which is so much needed among the colored people. The so-called leaders of this race have taken pretty good care of themselves, and are measurably responsible lor the evils which they now affect to deplore. They sustained the Administration in every act, advocated the Rings, and helped to wage a bitter war against the people of the South. They saw the money of their own race filched before their very eyes at Wash ton, without a word of remonstrance. In fact, some of them aided in that villainy, and after the magnitude of the fraud was known, Fred Douglass himself sought to soothe its victims by assurances which have proved groundless. Even now they have not one brave word of personal de? nunciation for the rogues who stripped the vaults of the frecdman's Bank, and are flourishing at the capital. We have little faith in leaders who are only quick to resent when the shoe picbes their own i corns. The redemption of the colored race from political bondage is to come in another way, and they are fortunate in not being dependent upon any doubtful assistance. They will work out the prob? lem themselves.?N. Y. Sun. Affairs in Edgefield County. Last month Governor Chamberlain wrote to Judge Carpenter, saying that the people of Edgefield County complain that the highways are neglected, that the school fund is wasted, that the county officers are incompetent, that Sheriff has totally failed to do his duty, that the past indebtedness is unadjusted and a fund of $13,000 is still undisturbed, and that the indictments against the public officers have not been duly pressed. Governor Chamberlain so wrote because he had assured the people, last winter, that all their wrongs could be redressed in the courts, and because he fears not a little for the peace of the county this summer. He urged Judge Carpenter to apply any preventive or remedy that might occur to him, suggested that an extra term of the Court be held, and declared himself ready to take any official or personal action which will, in any degree, tend to the advautage of the good citizens of the county. In reply, under date of July 8, Judge Carpenter asserts that he will heartily co-operate with the Executive in main? taining law, order, and an honest govern? ment, but does not see what he can do in the specified causes of complaint. The $13,000 had not been distributed, because there had not been time to take proof of the indebtedness ; it is not the duty of a judge to become detective, prosecutor nor solicitor; "if the people elect incompetent or corrupt officers, it is deeply to be regretted; but the remedy is educatioual, moral and political, not judicial." Judge Carpenter is far from believing the fears for the peace of the county unfounded ; but there are but few cases pending against officials, and he would not feel justified in putting the people to the trouble and expense of an extra term. One cause which, in his judgment, tends largely to the unfortu? nate condition of affairs in the county is described as follows: "It is politcal in character. The gen? eral and indiscriminate denunciation of all public officers of one political party by members of the other would seem to sustain this view. The abuse is too gen? eral and extended not to excite suspicion of its fairness, aud seems to arise from the same spirit as the ancient inquiry: 'Can anything good come out of Naza? reth?' The minority is dissatisfied with the political complexion of the county. They assert that 'the people who have the property, the intelligence and the true heritage of command' are entitled to the sole administration of County affairs. Consequently they are dissatis? fied with some of the local appointments of your Excellency, not only on account of their manner of conducting official affairs, but because, in their opinion, the obnoxious appointees manipulate and control the dominant party, and they have no hope of success while the per? sons referred to have local place and power. I do not, in the remotest degree, criticise these appointments, nor intimate the propriety of any suspensions from office. These are matters belonging ex? clusively to the political department of the government, with which the judiciary can have no official concern." We may be wrong, but we believe that the white citizens of Edgefield denounce their public officers because they know thenl to be, with or without exceptions, ignorant or corrupt, and not because of their politics. What they demand is an honest and economical expenditure of the public money, and intelligence, bold? ness and impartiality, throughout the County in the discharge of every public duty. When Edgefield enjoys this there will be security and hopefulness in the County. Whether any good thing can come out of Nazareth, is not for us to say ; but if Nazareth stands, in this instance, for South Carolina Radicalism, no good hat} come out of Nazareth for the citizens of Edgefield. Judge Carpenter says it is not his duty to become Solicitor. Granted ; but it is his duty to see that the Solicitor is not negligent. It is within the power of the Court to appoint counsel to assist the Solicitor, and if some gentlemen we can name were associated with Solicitor Run kle, for the pure love of the thing, the accused officers would very soon be brought to trial. It is a salutary rule that persons shall be deemed innocent until they are proved guilty, but this does not apply to the bulk of the Radical officials in this State. Their character, their manner of living and their quickly amassed fortunes, tell sadly against them as presumptive proof of criminal conduct and of their capacity for crime, and so the public understand it! Judge Carpenter's letter is very nice, and so is that of Governor Chamberlain, but the Judge can straighten out things in Edgefield, if he puts politics to Ijed and ceases to remember that the Judicial election comes oil'next winter; and the Governor can pacify the people and en? sure quiet by removing such of his ap? pointees as are shown to be violent, ig? norant, wasteful or dishonest.?News and Courier. Tue Homestead Law.?We -were struck the other day with an application of the homestead law which shows that that boasted provision, for the poor man, is not au unmitigated blessing. The circumstances were these: The wife of a decent, hardworking, but poor colored man was convicted before a Trial Justice of the venial and technical of? fence of a trespass. So slight was the offence, that the Justice only inflicted a fine of one dollar. The husband, how? ever, being dissatisfied with the decision, ; desired to appeal to a higher jurisdic? tion ; and in order to keep Iiis wile from going to jaii, he offered to sign her re? cognizance. This the Justice, fixed at the small amount of two hundred dollars. The husband was worth double that amount, but unfortunately, the home? stead law protected (?) him, and as his properly did not exceed the amount ex? empted, he was in the same position as though pecuniarily worthless; and the Justice could not accept him as a surety, And so he was compelled either to aban? don his appeal or let his wife lie in the jail. The Radical parly, claiming to he the protector of the pour, is the parent of this law; audit is one of its proudest achievements; but when such was its consequences, we think a poor man may well exclaim, Heaven, save ua from our friends. ? Winnsboro News. From the Hei\ F)ean Sigura GunnarsswCs Report. Desolation in Iceland. Hallormstad, April 24. On Easter Monday, early in the morn? ing, loud rumbling noises were heard to the westward, and apparently traveled toward the northeast, in the direction of the mountain ranges bounding the valley of Fljotsdalsherad to the north. Pres? ently the sounds turned backward along the southern mountains as well. The air was heavy and jet black toward the north aud northeast. About 9 o'clock whitish gray scoriaceous sand began to fall from the sky, the particles averaging the size of a grain, but in shape longer. The dark column moved on nearer and nearer, and the darkness rapidly increas? ed, while the scoriaceous hail thickened at tue same rate. A full hour before noon candles had to be lighted in the houses, and at noon the darkness was as dense as that of a windowless house; even abroad the fingers ol the hand could not be distinguished at the distance of a few inches from the eye. The pitch darkness lasted for about an hour. Du? ring the dark all glass windows appeared like mirrors to those inside, reflecting the objects on which the light fell as if they had been covered outside with a coat of quicksilver. For four consecu? tive hours it was necessary to have light? ed candles in the houses. During all that time the ashes and the sand were falling thick and fast. Lightning and claps of thunder were at the same time seen and heard in rapid succession, and the earth and everything seemed to trem? ble again. The air was charged with electricity to such an extent that pinna? cles and staff-pikes of iron, when turned into the air, and even one's hands when held up seemed all ablaze. But the thunder differed from ordinary claps iu this, that it traveled in rapidly repeated echoes across the skies. When the dark? ness wore off, the fall of the ashes aba? ted. The dark column now moved inland toward the upper valleys; but, being met by a counter-current of air, it re? mained at first stationary for a while, and afterward moved slowly down country again along the valleys, so that once more the daylight was changed into dusk, which was accompanied by the fall of fine ashe3. After the fall the earth was covered with a layer of ashes and scoria? from one and a half inches to eight inches deep ; coarsest where it lay thick? est, in many cases exhibiting pumice boulders twice as large as the first. In these places the ashes fell hot as embers on the ground. At first the fall of the ashes was accompanied by a foul sulphur? ous smell, which, however, very soon vanished. When the ashes had any per? ceptible taste it was that of salt and" iron. For three days after the fall still weather prevailed, and the ashes lay undisturbed on the earth. Before the fall of the ashes the land was snowless and pasture plentiful ; but after it not a creature could be let out of doors, and the sheep, if they were let out would run as if mad in all directions. On the fourth day a pretty stiff southwest gale blew the ashes away from the hillocks and mounds, ex? cept the finest part, which remained on the sward, presenting the appearance of a compact scurf. But what little good this gale might have done was undone the next day by a wind blowing from the northwest. This fearful visitation has brought with it an immense destruction of pasturage and fodder for cattle about these districts. But it is a great mercy that our Heavenly Father has, as yet, spared some of the northern and southern districts of Mu lasysla. Into these districts, therefore, people have fled with the greater part of their herds, and shortly the flight will have to be performed with every remain? ing beast, cows included, which may es? caped the slaughterer's knife, when the country not affected by the scoria? shall have developed sufficient verdure. The dwellers in the unaffected districts have everywhere shown the greatest readiness to assist us, who dwell in this ash-covered country, with all help in their power. A most praiseworthy zeal in this respect has been shown by the inhabitants of Vopnafjord, Hlid, Tonga, Hja'tastadar thingha, Breiddal, and elsewhere. Into these districts enormous multitudes of sheep have been driven from the ash covered lands, and are watched there by numbers of herdsmen. The more south? erly country sides have also vindicated their honor when their charity has been called iu requisition. From this fearful visitation all husban? dry in this cast country must come to utter ruin, and famine and distress are imminent. All the country sides here which used to be considered among the most prosperous in the country are now the worst off; and the neighboring dis? tricts, which are free from the ashes, cannot possibly bear up against the heavy strain which this distress must bring to bear upon them. How Greenback Paper is Made.? All the paper for the money issued by the United States Government is manu? factured on a sixty-two-inch Foiirdrinier machine, at the Glen Mills, near West Chester, Fa. Short pieces of red silk are mixed with the pulp in the engine, and the finished stuff is conducted to the wire without passing through any screens, which might retain the silk threads. By an arrangement above the wire cloth, a shower of short pieces of fine blue silk thread is dropped in streaks upon the paper while it is being formed. The up? per side, on which the blue silk is drop? ped, is the one used for the face of the notes, and, from the manner in which the threads arc applied, must show them more distinctly than the reverse side, although they are imbedded deeply enough to re? main fixed. The mill is guarded night and day, by officials, to prevent the ab? straction yf any paper.?Paper Trade Journal. ? Quite a controversy has been going on in the columns of the Richmond Dis? patch as to the origin aud use of the word "commencement" as applied to colleges. The upshot of the whole matter seems to be this: "A college commencement is not the anniversary of the day when the college commenced its existence; nor is it so called because the graduate, then "commences life" or enters upon its ac? tive duties ; but because the student then Commences to be Bachelor of Arts or Jbis teroj Arts:' ? An Irishman was once standing be? fore a looking glass with his eyes shut, and on being asked why he stood there, replied : 'I'm afther seeing how 1 look when I'm aslape.' THE "FEVER TREE." A Vegetable Disinfectant for Swamps that Cannot he Properly Drained. The eucalyptus, or blue-gum tree of Australia, was discovered by a French scientist, Lahillardierre, who visited Van Diemen's Land in 1792. The great size and beauty of the tree soon gave it a place in the botanical gardens of Europe. Its medicinal qualities, however, for which it is now so famous, do not seem to have become known until about thirty years ago. The colonists of Tasmania used it for a great variety of purposes, but were ignorant of its power as an an? tiseptic. This was apparently discover* ed in Spain. In 13U0 the neighborhood of the city of Valentia was planted with the eucalyptus. A marked improvement in the hcalthfulness of the locality fol? lowed. The Spaniards forthwith dubbed it the "fever tree." It was soon after? ward introduced into Algeria, the cli? mate of which seemed especially adapted to it. It may fairly be said to *be natu? ralized there, at the Cape of Good Hope, in the La Plata States of South America, and in California. After a trial for many years in south? ern France, it has failed, as a rule, to be? come hardy, or to suck up and destroy the poisonous vapors of the swamps in Which it was planted. The few dozen specimens planted within the walls of Rome are nearly all alive, but very few of them are vigorous. Within a year or two the Trappist Monks at the Tre Fon? tane Convent have set out large planta? tions of the trees, and are tending them with the utmost care. This may be fair? ly looked upon as a decisive experiment. The place known as the Tie Fontane? the Three Fountains?lies some miles south of Rome, and is the seat of a mag? nificent monastery. Yet its climate is so deadly that the splendid buildings, rich in mosaics, marbles, and frescoes, are wholly deserted during the summer. Trying to live in them then would be certain death. If the blue-gum tree makes the Tre Fontane healthy, it can be relied ou to do the same work any? where else. Its record as an antiseptic and disinfectant is already a good oue. The districts in which it is indigenous are healthy, and those into which it has been trans-planted and in which it has thriven have become healthy. A few miles from the city of Algiers there was a farm which was noted for its deadly fevers. Life on it in July was almost impossible. In the spring of 1SG7 thir? teen hundred eucalyptus trees were plant? ed there. They were nine feet high by the next July, and not a caseof fever ap? peared. Nor has oue appeared since. Xcar Con-tantine, Algeria, there were vast swamps, never dry even in the hot? test summers, and productive of violent periodic fevers. About fourteen thou? sand eucalyptus trees dried up every square foot of swamp and killed the fever. Maison Carree, near Hanasch, was once a great market for quinine. The demand for that drug has ceased since the blue-gum tree was planted there. Mercantile books are said to show a similar decline in the amount of quinine consumed in Mexico and Cuba of late, and a similar cause is given for it. A very unhealthy railroad station in the Department of Yar, Southern France, has been made healthy by a grove of forty of these remarkable trees.? Chicago Tribune. A Woman Married Seven Times. ?Benjamin Abbott and Mrs. Mary Pratt were wedded on the 30th ult., at Smyrna, Del. This is the seventh time the brido has been led to the altar, and the'Smyrna Tunes prints some interesting gossip con? cerning her past life. The contracting parties to these nuptials, it says, are well up the ascending grade to eighty years. The groom is a quiet, unassuming old man, a widower, with means enough (particularly if combined with her iu come) to meet his not very numerous wants. The bride was the relict of the late ex-Sheriff Henry Pratt, of Kent county, who was the la-t anti-Democratic Sheriff'trim has filled that office in that county. He was elected Sheriff iu 1844 by the Whigs. His descendants, chil? dren, grandchildren, and great-grand? children, at the time of his marriage numbered over 15(5. and yet he had never then had but one death in his family? his first wife. Mrs. Abbott's names have been eight in all?.Miss Williams, Mrs. Truax, Mrs. Farrow, Mrs. Kisrgs, Mrs. Wallace, Mrs. Berry, Mrs. Pratt, and now Mrs. Abbott. "In every instance," says the Times, "save the first she has married a widower, some of them with a goodly number of children. She, however, has never sus? tained the maternal relation by consan? guinity. She was reared in this commu? nity, as have been all her husbands, so far as we can learn, and hence her record has been as an open book to all her seven companions, yet record, age, nor aught else seems to work fatality to "the charm that wins," whatever that may be, and to find that out is the rub. The live years and over of widowhood that existed be? tween her last and her present husband is the longest she has endured. This, however, may not be wholly her fault, as we are certain that in one instance at least she offered to share her comfortable home with one of our most worthy old citizens ; but the mere proposition filled him with fear and trembling, and to avoid a repetition be hurriedly married a young lady in her teens, with whom and "his little prattler he is now enjoying the fullest share of domestic bliss. We Inn c no intimation, however, that her nume? rous conquests have been made by open, direct assault. On the contrary, we think they have not. It has been assert? ed on good authority that she has con? fessed to a presentiment that she should have seven husbands. She now eujn\^ the fulfillment of this prophetic notion, and hale, seventy odd, she wears her bridal wreath with becoming dignity." ? The Buffalo Erprrss, relating some of the adventures of the census takei - in that neighborhood, says that in some of the wards of the city the idea prevail > that the census is simply the precursor of a diaft and another war. "lie w:? just lb' yean oH on last St. Patrick' day," says Mrs. t f'Grady to the cense man, referring to the age of her son, a big strapping fcUow 35 years old at least, "and he is a poor, weak schlip of a boy, not able to work at all, at all."' ? A Minnesota sheriff carried a bul'ot in his head for ten years, and when tin y removed it the other day he became fo.- ? ish. They are looking for .-omc one iu shoot him again.