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BYE. B. MURRAY & 007 ANDERSON, S. C, THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY 10, 1884._VOLUME XIX.-NO. 26. A MAN WHO WAS SCALPED, Onejof Cnjrt?r'?ESoIdien Tells a Graphic v Story2?f ?IFight "With the Indians and B:ow;he,was Mutilated. Marvin Holly, of Dearborn County, Ind., w^vhitingTfriends in Went Thir? teenth "street. New York. Mr. Holly was a soldier in the United States infan? try, under Caster, and participated in many of the battles with the Indians during .his ^campaign of 1869, among them the bloody fight with Black Kettle's band in the Big Horn Valley. In this engagement Mr. Holly'was wounded and scalped by the Indians, and is one of the very few persons who were scalped and lived to tell of it. As evidence of his sacrifice he showa a round, bare, flat spot on the top of his head, probably three inches in diameter, where his scalp was cut and torn away. Although fourteen years have passed since he was scalped, the spot is otill extremely? .tender. It is of a pale red color, and in very damp or cold weather ie painful. Mr. Holly gives a graphic and realistic description of the circumstances which led to the mutilation and his sensations while the Indian was securing the trophy from hit head. "We had heard that Black Kettle was encamped somewhere in the Big Horn Valley," says Mr. Holly, "and was al ?mo'it daily sending out preparatory bands of his warriors to plunder settlers and emigrant'trains, and General Custer de? cided to hunt him up and punish him. Tho infantry was gome two miles in ad? vance of the cavalry; when one day, just at daylight, we came in sight of the ene? my's camp. We were on.a high hill overlooking the valley and the Indians were below. It was in the depth of Winter and the snow was very deep. Their camp was in a rocky spot, and as the women and children were there, it was evident that it was the headquarters of the band. It was determined to sur? prise the village, and a portion of our command was tent through the woods to the right to get in the rear of the camp, white the remainder advanced quietly down the mountain, from the top of which a good trail led to the valley through the thick woods. This ma? noeuvring was so successful that before our presence was discovered by the In? dians we were within 400 yards of the isamp, and the detachment sent to open fire in the rear bad arrived in position. We knew by the yells of the Indians and the great commotion among them that we were discovered, and we at once be? gan the attack, firing began on both aides of them at once, and tbns caused /What at first promised to be a panic imong the Indians that would make our victory an easy one, but suddenly an In? dian of unusual size, with his face streak? ed with bright yellow and vermilion paint, in cross bars, came dashing from some place among the rocks on a black pony. His yell could be heard above everything else, as he tore to and fro among the warriors, and the effect of his presence at once became apparent. In leas than two minutes after our first fire every Indian was in .position behind tome rock or tree, and we knew that the fight would be a desperate one. We were in a secure position, bat the Indians were just as secure as we were, and the only way we could hopd to defeat them was to 'charge upon their strongholds, dislodge them, and settle the fight hand to hand. We were ordered to charge down the hill upon the enemy, and, every man of us yelling aa hideously as the red devils themselves, we rushed right into the en? emy's camp. As soon as we emerged from the woods we were met with rifle balls from every side, and a good many poor fellows never reached the camp. The detachment in the rear of the camp came into tbe conflict from that side, and we forced the Indians out from their hiding places to the open ground, and ? the terrible battle waged right among their tents. Black Kettle seemed to be everywhere, and his hideous presence alone prolonged the fight. He held his warriors to' their ground, and the fight ?became free and general. The Indian women and even the children took part . in it, and among the dead that soon sire wed the snow, squaws and papooses were mingled. In a few minutes the snow was as red for rods around as the paint on Black Kettle's face from the blood of dead and wounded. Iu a band to-band fight like this, of course, it was every one for himself, and I soon found myself in one edge of the camp, firing and bayoneting and clubbing with my gun, just as the situation required. A soldier named Wilson, who had messed with me, was killed right by my side by an Indian who fired from behind a tent Tbe next instant a ball shattered my right arm, at the elbow, and it fell help? less at my side. Immediately following that shot a big Indian, no doubt the one who killed Wilson and wounded me, sprang from behind tbe tent and rushed at me with his tomahawk raised. My gun wsfc empty and my left hand being useless I could not load. I think I could have ran my bayonet through the Indi? an, though, but an Indian woman stole up behind me and. throwing one arm abbat my neck, jerked me backward in the snow. The thickest part of the figbt was in another part of tbe camp, and none of onr men were near me, except ' poor dead Wilson. The Indian seemed to be tbe only one, too, that was not in the general engagement, except a lot of j aqoawa and papooses that swarmed io tents from all directions to the spot where I lay. the squaw who threw me holding me down by the hair, while other women j aid papooses spit in my face, jumped on j my body, kicked me, pinched me, and j tortured me in every way they could. My arm was very painful, and was bleed? ing profusely. Fortunately tbe Indian, who had jumped from behind the tent with his tomahawk drawn, gave the women and papooses too much time to have their fun with me, thinking, per? haps, that he had me sure. Suddenly I heard a shot, and two squaws fell dead in the snow by my side. One of our boys had discovered my situation. The papooses and sq?aws inBtantly escaped away, but the Indian was determined to run the risk of getting my scalp anyhow, and he pounced down on me with his knees on my chest, drew bis knife and the next second, although it seemed hours to me, the lop of ray head was in his hand, and he was gone. Imagine some one who hates you with the utmost intensity grabbing a handful of your hair while you are lying pros? trate and helpless, and giving it a sud? den jerk upward with force enough al? most to loosen the scalp; then, while this painful tension is not relaxed, ima? gine tbe not particularly sharp blade of a knife being run quickly in a circle around your scalp with a saw like mo? tion. Then let your imagination grasp if it can the effect that a strong, quick jerk on tbe tuft of bair to release the scalp from any clinging particles that may still hold it in place would have on your nervous and physical systems, and Jou will have some idea how it feels to e scalped. When that Indian sawed his knife around the top of my head first a sense of cold numbness pervaded my whole body. This was quickly followed by a flash of pain that started at my feet and ran like an electric shock to my brain. That was but momentary, but it was terrible. When the Indian tore my scalp from my head it seemed as if it must have been connected with cords to every part of my body. The pain that followed the cutting around the scalp bad been frightful, but it was ecstacy compared with the torture that followed the tearing of it from my head. Btreaks of pain shot in every nerve. My knees were drawn up almost to my chin, and my fingers closed convulsively together in the snow, and that was all I remem? bered. When I came to I was in a tent. The cavalry had come up in the mean ! time, and the Indians were routed. ? Only a few escaped, but Black Kettle : was among them. A comrade told me that he .ad shot and killed the Indian who scalpel me, but tbe scalp was not recovered at any rate. I, with the rest of the wounded, was sent to the nearest agency, and I lay helpless and suffering untold misery for weeks, and when I re? covered I concluded that I had seen enough of Indian fighting, and asked for my discharge. The nature of my wounds were Buch that I received my dischargd at once. General Custer jocularly re? marked to me afterward that I made a mistake in leaving the service. "Think," said he, "how surprised and disgusted some red devil of an Indian might be if you should stay with us and happen to fall in his hands when he went to raise your hair to find tbtt some one has been there before him." The Deadliest Drug. "I will wager $1,000 that it was not prussic acid," said a medical man who had read an article about the death of a cat from prussic acid mentioned in the first edition of the Press. "What is prussic acid worth?" was asked of tbe chemist at Strong, Cobb & Co's. wholesale drug store. "We never sell it," was the response; "It is not an article of commerce. Scheuer, the Swedish chemist, who dis? covered chlorine, Scheuer'? green, ?&c, was found dead in his laboratory, about which there lingered a peculiar, pungent smell. When one has eaten a fresh peach and cracked the. pit he will get a faint odor that resembles prussic acid, although tbe smell of this acid is slightly sweeter. It can also be found in bitter almonds." "Some housewives in preserving peach? es add a few pits to the confection by way of improving the flavor. It may sound extravagant, but it is nevertheless a fact that the improvement of the con? diment is due partly to prussic acid. It is in such minute quantities, however, that it is not injurious to health. Indeed, what is commonly called prussic acid is given as a medicine. It is really hydro? cyanic acid, two parts of the acid to ninety-eight parts of water. S. M. Strong relates that when his father was very sick with pneumonia the doctors prescribed three drops of hydrocyanic acid. The sick man was himself an excellent doctor, and he advised that the dose be increased to six drops. The attending physicians did not dare do it. Tbe sick man died, and his friends enter? tained a lingering belief that he would have pulled through had tbe doctors followed his advice." Prussic acid is the most deadly of all poisons, and tbe fumes would instantly kill the person who iuhaled it. It is not known what the symptoms attending the death are, for the victim dies too sudden? ly to manifest any. There appears to be a sort of suffocation and a general par? alysis. Hydrocyanic acid is sometimes taken internally with suicidal intent and death is almost instantaneous, the blood taking up tbe acid wonderfully quick. It is colorless as water. A tragic story of a strange duel between a medical man and his rival in a beautiful New Orleans woman's affections, many years ago, is told. The medical man, who had the right to choose the weapons, selected the deadly poison before mentioned. Two pills were made, one harmless, the other containing the poison to kill a dozen men. The duellists threw dice for the first choice of the pills. Tbe medical man, pale but firm, swallowed one and bis rival the other. For a moment each stood and glared at the other. Th^u the medical man saw bis rival make a move, as if to place his hand on his heart, while a look of horror came over his lace. The doctor turned away, unable to wit? ness the terrible sight. Almost before he could turn on his heel his rival drop? ped dead.?Cleveland Press Interview. Advice to a Young Man. You will perceive, my boy, that every time man undertakes to manufacture a little Bible on his own account, he makes a mortifying failure of it. He is caught at it, and in one-tenth of the time it took him to conceive his fraud, in as many hours as it took him months to prepare it, he is exposed, and his hand-made addition to the Bible is swept away in the other rubbish of olher counterfeit? ers. You see, my son, the Bible dosen't need any of these nineteenth century proofs of its truth; it aeeds the word of no man to establish its gen? uineness; it has stood by itself, "an anvil that has worn out many hammers," through century, after century, unchang? ed and unchangeable. Every time a man manufactures a new verse or a new chapter we know it is not genuine, we detect the counterfeit. The Bible has no need of tbe supporting prop of a fraudlent ark or a leather Deuterouomy. There was a complete Bible centuries before Shapira happened, and there will be the same Bible ages after Shapira and his putent Deuteronomy have together crumbled into indistinguishable dust. The Bible doesn't need our help, our testimony, our indorsement. And if there had never been discovered in all the world a bit of parchment, a piece of broken pottery or a scratched stone, the Bible would be just as strong as it is to? day, and men would believe just as firmly and trustfully in its truth. Don't you worry, my, boy, because Shapira's ancient manuscript wa3 written with London ink, aud don't fret because the ark in the gla? cier turns out to be put together with Pittsburgh nails. That all the frauds on the Biole and its history are so quickly aud easily detected should ouly convince you how impossible it is to counterfeit the work of God. Wait until some man fools us with au artificial moon; aud until some philosopher stores away the sunlight in parlor lamps, before you be? lieve that mau can successfully imitate what man never made.?Burdctte. ? It appears to us that the dentist's game is always a draw. ? In one district in Yucatan in i. fort? night there were killed 30,000 pounds of grasshoppers and over 11,000 pounds of locusts. ? The Turkish woman is marriageable at the age of nine years. In this coun? try girls don't even think of marriage until tbey get to be over ten. ? The wretch has been arrested who at a social party said that a young lady playing the pianoforte was like au ape because her fingers were 'mong keys. ' CHRISTMAS DAT, Visions of Childhood and Old Ago. Atlanta ConzliixUxon. There is a little halo around these Christmas holidays that brighten up the fireside and makes things lively, weather or no weather. There are hopes and ex? pectations and everybody is in a good humor. Even the dog and the cat seem happier than usual, and the turkey gob? bler struts and gobbles like he was proud to be sacrificed and have the place of honor at the head of the table. I see the old folks and sisters of the naborhood perusing around the stores in the village and looking at the pretty things and try? ing to make np their minds what to buy, and hide away for the little folks and the little folks are laying their mysterious plans to surprise mama and papa. Carl and Jessie have begged a little change from their mother to buy me a pipe, and a little more from me to buy her some cologne, and, of course, we are not to tell anybody, and now they hare got a little store by the big gate on tho road and got nabor Freeman's children to help, and they are eelling apples and crackers and cheese and oranges and old clothes and broken crockery and everything else they can beg from their mothers. Consider? ing what the partners eat up themselves and sell to the darkies on credit, I think the concern is getting shaky and will fail before long. Imagination now wings its flight over the civilized world ana see thousands, yes millions A happy children around the Christmas trees, or gathered in the parlor to receive the beautiful presents that old Santa Claus has brought. Ar? rayed in their best clothes and with joy? ful faces they must present to the All Seeing eye a beautiful and lovely Bight. Would to God that this was the only child picture to be seen on next Christ? mas morning. There are thousands who will see no Christmas tree, no stockings by the mantle, perhaps no stockings to put there, no Christmas dinner, no good warm clothes, no, nothing but poverty, pinching poverty, that chills the warm blood of youth and withers hope and feeds despair. What shall we do, what can we do for the children of the poor ? Well, I will tell you children who have been blessed with comforts and hardly ever knew a want; you can divide?di? vide. Pick out some poor child and make him or her happy even for a little while and then you will be happy too. Company , is coming, kindred and friends are expected and things are sorter in a hurly-burly at my house. I hear the lively beat of the pestle and morter as-the cinamon and the mace and the ginger are being crushed. I hear the chopping knife in the tray for Mrs. Arp is making up mince meat, aod there is a powerful to do over it and so I got ready to take a little hunt and depart these coasts and get out of it, but she saw me and said she had two' widths of a carpet that looked right well on the wrong side and she wanted me to put them down in the hall, a strip on each side as it were and then to put down a strip of cocoa matting in the middle and just cover the edges of the carpeting. Well, I've done it all nice and straight, and nobody will know but what the hall is carpeted all over and the matting put down in the middle over it to walk on and catch all the dirt. But as sure as you are born there is nothing under that matting but the floor. Now who would have thought of that but a contriving ingenious woman. She has got through with the sausage meat and I think is satisfied with that job, for while I was writing up stsire she was working away in the basement and had plenty of help, and ever and anon would cook a fragment and send it up to me to taste and wanted to know wheth? er it wanted more Bait or more pepper or more wge or what. Well I tasted and tasted and eat it all up and looked wise and said it was just about right?in fact it couldent be better?it was exactly right, it was splendid. In about half an hour she sent up another little dab and said she had put in more salt and more sage, and so I tried it again and said it was mighty good before, but now it was delightful. The next time she sent some and said she put in more pepper and so I eat it all with a gush and pronounced it immaculate, infallible, in discrisable, and all tho adjectives and adverbs I could think of. And so after she had satisfied herself the sausage was pronounced all right. There is nothing like having a good wife to mix things ana a good husband to taste and pronounce judgment. When both work together these domestic affairs are a grand success. But what worries me now is the abun? dance of good things that cluster around these Christmas holidays. Why I never saw the like in my life. Here is the hog killing that briogB us sparerib and back? bone and sausage and souce and hog brains and cracklinB, and nabor Freeman sent us down a quarter of a nice fat calf, and now comes the turkey and mince pies cloee on, and the children in Florida sent us two boxes of oranges and I'm afraid we will eat ourselves to death, or if we don't we will all perish when these good things are gone. It is a feast or a famine at my bouse. But the good of it all is that it dident take any money hard? ly and so its nobody's business but ours. The pride of a farmer's life is to raise his good things at home. His meat, his fowls, his butter, and potatoes and apples and sage and so forth, and his wife can set her company down to a good dinner and say here is enough for a dozen and it has not cost us more than 25 cents. That is farming and I wish we could all do it, and I believe we could if we would try. Home productions are the best, for they are always pure and genuine. Let us keep our money at home and quit running after people who say and think, "I like your money firstrate, but dad burn your morals and your politics." I'm going to let them fellers alone I am, I dou't ask them any odds. I own half a dozen children and three darkeys end they all do as I say, and think I'm a good father and a good master, and I don't want them fellers to interfere with the one or the other. Just let us alone and we will all get to heaven as soon as they will and live as happily in this subloonary world. I wouldent sell one of my niggers any sooner than 1 would one of my chil? dren, for they love me and don't want to go. Bill Arp. ? Fifteen years ago an Alabama man killed a peddler. Ever since that time his wile has held the crime over him as a whip, obliging him to split all the wood, build the tires and rock the baby. Kendered desperate by her treatment he has given himself up to be hung. ? The Winter exodus from the North to Florida is unusually large this year. About 250 people leave New York every day for Jacksonville, and probably 500 people arrive iu the latter city every day from different parts of the country. Tho number will continue increasing until February. A good many settlers are go? ing at present. A majority of the set? tlers go to South Florida, in the neigh? borhood of San ford. Great numbers are going from New England, New York and Pennsylvania. HOW HILL WAS SLAIN. A Narrative Detailing the Circumstances ol his Fall. The only men who saw Gen. A. P. Hill killed before Petersburg, on April 2,1865, were two Federal soldiers, names un? known, and Sergt. G. W. Tucker. The latter was chief of Gen. Hill's couriers, and was riding with the distinguished officer at the time of the tragic occurence. For the first time Mr. Tucker tells of the death-shot, and describes tbe death scene. In the current number of the Southern Historical Society Papers he says: About midnight the cannonading in front of Petersburg, which had begun at nightfall, became very heavy, increasing as the hours went by. Col. Palmer, chief of staff, woke Maj. Starke, A. A. G., and requested him to find out tbe cause and effect of the prolonged firing. This was between 2 and 3 o'clock on the morning of April 2. Maj Starke returned before daylight, and reported that "the enemy had part of our line near the Rives salient, and that matters looked critical on the lines in the front of the city." This he communicated to Gen. Hill at Venable's. Before sunrise Gen. Hill came over and asked Col. Palmer if be had any re? port from Gens. Wilcox and Heath, whose divisions on tbe right extended from the front of Fort Gregg, to and beyond Bur? gess's mill, on Hatcher's run. The Colo? nel told him that he had heard nothing from them, and bad nothing further to report beyond Maj.Starke's statement. The General then passed on to his tent, and a few minutes later the Colonel, noticing bis colored servant, Charles, leading the General's saddled horse to his tent, ran to him just as he was mount? ing and asked permission to accompany him. He told the Colonel no, and de? sired him to wake up the staff, get every? thing in readiness and have the head? quarters' wagon bitched up. He added that he was going to Gen. Lee's, and would take Sergt. Tucker and two couri? ers, and that as soon as he could have an interview with Gen. Lee he would return. movements op gen. hill. Gen. Hill then rode to tbe couriers' quarters and found me in the act of grooming my horse. [I did not then have the slightest intimation of what had taken place since our return from the lines tbe night before.] He directed me to follow him with two couriers immedi? ately to Gen. Lee's headquarters. He then rode off rapidly. It was our custom in critical times to have during the night two of the couriers' horses always saddled. I called to Kjrkpatrick and Jenkins, the couriers next in turn, to follow the Gen? eral as quickly as possible. I saddled up at once and followed them. Kirkpatrick and Jenkins arrived at Gen. Lee,a to? gether, only a few minutes after Gen. Hill, who at once directed Kirkpatrick to ride rapidly back to our quarters (I met him on tbe road, going at full speed) and tell Col. Palmer to follow him to tho right. This was the first information re? ceived at corps headquarters that our right had given way. Gen. Hill then rode, attended only by Jenkins, to the front gate of Gen. Lee's headquarters (Turnbull house, on the Cox road, nearly one and a half miles westerly from Gen. Hill's) where I met them. We went directly across the road into tbe opposite field, and riding due south a Bhort distance, the General drew rein and for a few moments used his field-glass, which, in my still profound, ignorance of what had happened, seemed exceedingly queer. We then rode cn iu the same di? rection down a declivity toward a small branch running eastward to Old Town Creek and a quarter of a mile from Gen. Lee's. We had gone little more than half this distance when we suddenly came upon two of the enemy's armed in? fantrymen. Jenkins and myself, who up to this time rode immediately behind the General, were instantly upon them, when at the demand "surrender" they laid down their guns. Turning to the General I asked what should be done with the prisoners ; he caid : "Jenkins, take them to Gen. Lee." Jenkins started back with his men aud we rode on. "to the eight." Though not invited, I was at the Gen? eral's side, and my attention having now been aroused, and looking carefully ahead and around I saw a lot of people in and about the old log hut, win? ter quarters of Gen. Mahone's division, situated to the right of Whitworth house and on the hill beyond the branch we were approrobing. Now as I knew that these quartern had been vacant since about March 25 by the transfer of Ma hone to the north of the Appomattox, and feeling that it was tbe enemy's troops in possession, with nothing looking like a Confederate anywhere, remarked, point? ing to the old camp, "General, what troops are those ?" He quickly replied, "The enemy's." Proceeding still further and Gen. Hill making no further remark, I became so impressed with the great risk he was running that 1 made bold to say : "Please excuse me, General, but where are you going?" He answered: "Ser? geant, I must go to tbe right as quickly as possible." Then, pointing southwest, he said: "We will go up this side of the branch to the woods, which will cover us until reaching the field in rear of Gen. Heth's quarters; I hope to find tbe road clear at Gen. Heth's." From that time on I kept slightly ahead of tbe General. I had kept a Colt's army pistol drawn since the affair of tbe Federal stragglers. We then made the branch, becoming obscured from the enemy, and, crossing the Bowdtoin f not "Boydlown," as some writers have called it.) plauk road, soon made the woods, which were kept for about a mile, in which distance we did not see a single person, and emerging into the field oppo? site Gen. Heth's at a point two miles duo southwest from Gen. Lee's headquarters at tbe Turnbull house, and at right angles with the Bowdtoin plank road at the "Harman" house, which was distant half a mile. When going through the I woods thfe only words between Gen. Hill and myself, except a few relating to the route, were by himself. He called my attention and said: "Sergeant, should anything happen to me you must go back to Gen. Leo and report it. the enemy. We came into the field near its corner, at the foot of a small declivity, rising which I could plainly see that tbe road was full of troops of some kind. The General, raising his field-glass, said: "They are there." 1 understood perfectly that he meant the enemy, and asked : "Which way now General ?" He pointed to that side of the woods parallel to the Bowdtoin plank road, about one hundred yards down bill from where our horses stood, saying: "We must keep ou to the right." I spurred ahead and we had made two-thirds of tbe distance and, coming to a walk looked intently into the woods, at tbe immediate edge of which there were several large trees. I saw wbat r- ? peared to be six or eight Federals, two of whom, being some distance in advance of the rest, who halted some forty or fifty yards from the field, ran quickly forward to the cover of one of tbe large trees and, one above the other on the same side, lev? elled their guns. I looked around to Gen. Hill. He said : "We'muBt take them," at the same time drawing?for the first time that day, his Colt's navy pistol. I said: "Stay there, I'll take them." By this time wo were.in twenty yards of the two behind the tree and getting closer every monient. I shouted: "If you fire, you'll be swept to hell! Our men are here?surrender I" When Gen. Hill was at my side calling "surrender," now within'^ten'yards of the men covering us with their muskets (the upper one the general,Jthe lower one my? self,) the lower soldier let the stock of his gun down from his aholder, but recov? ered quickly as his comrade spoke to him (I'only[saw his.lipsmovej.and both fired. Throwing out my right hand (he was on that side) toward the General, I caught the bridle of his horse, and wheeliug'to the left, turned iu the saddle and saw my General on the ground, with ;his limbs extended motionless. REPORTING TO GENTLER. Instantly retracing the ground, leading his horse, which gave me no trouble, I entered the woods again where we had left them, and realizing the importance, and of all things most desirous of obey? ing my General's last order, "to report to Gen. Lee," I changed to his horse, a very superior one and quite fresh, and letting mine free kept on as fast as the nature of the ground would permit. But after sighting and avoidiug several parties of Federal stragglers and skirmishers, I felt that it would be best to take to the open country and run for it. After some dis? tance of this I made for the Mabone di? vision log hut winter quarters, which were still full of the enemy, upon the principle of greater safety in running through its narrow streets than taking their leisurely fire in the open. Emerg? ing thence down hill to the branch, along the north side of which Gen. Hill had so shortly ridden in his most earnest en deaver to reach our separated and shat? tered right, and in a straight line for Gen. Lee's headquarters, I came in sight of a mounted party of our own people, who, when the branch was crossed and the hill risen, proved to be Lieut-Gen. Long Btreet and staff, just arrived from north of the Appomattox. Meanwhile, meet? ing Cols. Palmer and Wingate and oth? ers of Gen. Hill's staff andlcouriers, and halting a moment to answer the kindly expressed inquiries of Geu. Lougstreet, we rode on and found Gen. Lee mounted at the Cox road in front of army head? quarters. I reported to him Gen. Hill's last order to me. Geu. Lec then asked for details, receiving which aud express? ing his sorrow, he directed me to accom? pany Col. Palmer to Mrs. Hill. Geu. Lee said : "Colonel, break the news to her as gently as possible." Fonr Blind Brothers, The four blind musical brothers of Uniontown reads more like the caption to a tale in the "Arabian Nights" than a simple statement of facts. A family of this singular description have, however, been living in a suburb of Washington. Uniontown is a little settlement that has grown up across the East branch of the Potomac, within easy reach of the navy yard. It is a sleepy, tumble down vil? lage, whose chief claim to aristocracy is the nomenclature of the streets, which bear the name of every President to Buchanan. Its chief citizen is, perhaps, Frederick Douglass, who owus a fine country place near the river's bank. Some years ago a family moved into this village from Baltimore of the com? mon name of Smith, but of a very extra? ordinary family make up. There were or had been twelve or fifteen children, every one of whom, in regular proces? sion, had been born blind. Of this nu? merous and singular progeny all who were born with sight died but one, a girl, and at present only five children are left, this girl and four blind brothers, named James, Ignatius, George and Alfred. They are all smart and happy, all are masters of some trade, aud all are musi? cal. When in a frolicsome mood each in turn will play on the family fiddle while the others dance. Cue of the brothers is quite an accomplished musician, and supports himself by giving lessons on the piano. The others play merely for re? creation. Two are broom makers by trade, and make a broom which is famous through the neighborhood for its excellence. The remaining brother is a cabinet maker, with a special knack at coffins: The oldest of the brothers has a high reputation in Uniontown. Not only does he make the best broom in all the region and make the violin sing, but he is en? dowed with a wonderfully acute sense of touch. It is said, for iustauce, that he can tell a five from a ten dollar bill by feeling the two notes. One of the two brothers is married aud has a large family. The sister is the wife of an elderly carpenter. They all live together with their widowed mother aud seem to be an affectionate and happy household. Recently they have moved from the settlement some five miles into the country, but they frequent the village Btill to sell their brooms or provide a cof? fin.? Washington Special. Important Society Hints. It is no longer considered en regie to kiss the bride at a wedding. Take it out on the bridesmaids. Both dress and demeanor should al? ways be appropriate to the occasion. Even a full suit of the deepest black will not excuse joking with the sexton at a funeral. When making a morning call carry your bat with you to the parlor and hold it in your hand until you depart. The city is full of sneak thieves, and hat racks are their favorite prey. At dinner do uot throw the bones uu der the table. This rule may be relied on, for it was one of those made by no less a personage than Queen Elizabeth for the government of her court. When invited to dinner accept or re? ject the invitation the same day. It is no longer considered g iod form to sneak around and ask your host's cook what the bill of fare ia to be before roplying. If you use tobacco do not put a fresh quid in your mouth just before entering a strange house. Some parlors are not furnished with cuspidors, aud frequently raising the window interrupts conversa? tion. Never call on a lady simply because she asks you to "come again." Wait for a more urgent hint. "Come again" is a mere superfluous conventionality, like the word "obey" in tho rnurriage service. A presentation to a lady at a ball does not authorize you to claim her acquaint? ance afterward unless she first showB some desire to renew the intercourse. Such presentations are like sumraor-re sort-engagemeut8, more formalities. At an evening party carefully note tho location and size of the house and the probable value of the furniture and bric a-brac. If there are evidences of wealth aud refinement ou every side, devote your attention to your host's unmarried daughter. ? The jewel of assurance is best kept in the cabinet of an bumble heart. LOSING A PRISONER. How (ho Guard Escaped Censure. Thomas B. Lore, of Hill County, Tex., was a Confederate Soldier under Brig. Gen. Lyons, and while the command was on the march in Western Kentucky, in the Winter of 1865, a Federal, who turned out to be a notorious spy and bushwhacker, was captured. After the command went into camp for the night the prisoner was sentenced to die next morning. Love came on guard at 8 o'clock, and the rest of the story is given in his own words : By this time all were sound asleep, as the men were thoroughly worn out. The prisoner and I sat on opposite sides of the fire. An hour passed and not a word was spoken between us. He seemed all the while thinking of the morrow, know? ing full well that if he ever saw the sun rise a prisoner it would be his last day on earth. I was only 17 years old and a little reckless, but strict to obey orders. I had no pity for him, and perhaps he realized this and was silent. The pris? oner sat beside a post or stump, some? times leaning against it, and the distance between us was not over eight feet. About 9 o'clock a comrade, who bad been out foraging, returned and emptied a bag of apples just behind me. I turned partly around to pick up one and as I turned back I did not look di? rectly at the prisoner, for I was certain he was all rigbt, I having beard no sound to arouse my suspicions to the contrary. As my side was to bim wben I picked up the apples, he must have stolen away as noiselessly as a shadow, as soon as ho caught my eyes off of bim. ? can now imagine that he went on a 2:40 gait. I went on eating my apples, certain that the post he was sitting by was the pris? oner himself and all right. I suppose fifteen minutes had passed whilst eating apples. About this time our captain had occasion to get up. He noticed that the prisoner was not there' and asked me where he was. I almost jumped out of my boots?mute with as? tonishment?when I realized what had happened, and my tongue almost became aralyzed. The captain motioned me to e still. I finally asked him what on earth I would do, knowing full well what a stern general we had when duty called for it, notwithstanding he carried' a great big heart and none of us but would nave died for him in a moment. The captain was satisfied that I bad not purposely let the prisoner escape, so he told me to take out a pair of my pistols and go up a creek that run through the lot and away from the house, and fire as fast as I could, yelling halt I halt I halt! You may believe I obeyed orders promptly that time. The prisoner had been gone, I nuppose. at least twenty minutes. The firing raised Old Harry ; all were up and in arms in an instant, thinking the Fed? erals were in camp. The general came out half dressed, and when I came back he asked me if I thought I hit him. I told him I was almost sure I had filled him with pistol shots, and while be looked a bit doubtful I escaped censure. Lest She Should Fall Dead. Philip Guyer, of Paterson, losu a large sum of money by theft recently. He suspected an old woman of the neighbor? hood, but did not have sufficient evidence to warrant bis making a complaint against her. What made it the more suspicious was that the woman called every morning to aelc Mr. Guyer if he bad got any trace of the thief. The following story is told by a Paterson po? lice official: Mr. Guyer ascertained that she was very superstitious, and the next morning when she called and asked, as usual, if there was any news of the thief, be replied: "No; but I expect to know who it was to-night." "How," asked the woman. "Do you see those nails ?" Baid Mr. Guyer, showing the woman three very old and rusty nails. "Well, they came from a coffin that had bsen buried for a hundred years." "The Virgin save us," said the woman, crossing herself. "And do you see that paper ?" "I do." "Well, that is a prayer, which I just got from the priest." "And what are you going to do with those things ?" "Well," answered Mr. Guyer, slowly and impressively, looking the woman in the face, "to-night at 12 o'clock I am going into a certain yard where there is a pear tree. I am to nail that prayer to the tree with these three nails. Every time I drive a nail I am to repeat that prayer aloud. When I drive the last nail and repeat the prayer for the last time the peraon who stole the money will drop deaa." The woman turned pale and departed without saying a word. That evening about 8 o'clock there was a rap at bis front door. He went to the door and there was no one in sight, but on the sill he found a small package containing the money that had been p.colen.?New York Sun. Scheming to Evade Giving Christmas Presents, A boy of twelve stood leaning against the fence on Duflield street yester? day, hat pulled down, feet crossed, and his right hand going up occasionally to wipe his nose, when along came another anatomy about bis size and asked : "Sick ?" "No." " Any the family >fcad ?" "No, I've just been licked." "Who dun it?" "Dad." "Did your ma ask him to?" "YeB. She told him I bad been aching for it more than a month," "Say," .aid the new arrival, "you are in luck. I am trying my best to get dad to whale me. I'd give fifty cents if he tanned me this noon and it was all through hurting." "Why?" "Why I Haven't I got $3 saved up to buy pap and marm Christmas presents, and if I can get them to whale me be? fore Christmas won't I spend every cent of that money on myself? How much you got?" "Two dollars." "Bully! You are all right 1 You've bin licked, and they won't expect even a stick of gum from their rounded son. I'll go home and slam the baby around aud steal sugar and kick the cat and sass mother, and if I can get wolloped to? night I'll meet you here to-morrow, and we'll pool in and buy more pistols and scalping knives acu rock-candy and nuts and raisins than you ever saw before 1 Yip ! peel me down, dear father; hang my hide on the fence, mother darling." ?Detroit l'oit. ? "Oh, will he bite ?" exclaimed one of Middlelown's sweetest girls, with a look of alarm, when she saw one of the dancing bears on the street the other day. "No," replied her escort, "be can net bite?he is muzzled; but he can hug." "Oh," she said, with a distract? ing smile, "I don't mind that." JEWELS OF THE LOST CAUSE. The Hidden Treasure Box of tho Confed? eracy Accidentally Found in Georgia. Atlanta, Ga., Decer.oer 29.?Wilkes County, this State, is iu great excitement over the discovery of a large quantity of Confederate treasure, about which so much has been said and written. During a storm this week a small oak tree was blown down nine miles from Washington. John Frank, while riding by, saw some? thing shining, and examined the roots of the tree. He found almost a peck of gold, and a large quantity of jewels and precious stones. Among the latter were diamonds, rubies and pearls and many pieces of exquisite workmanship, the value of which has been placed by sever? al connoisseurs at $20,000. [ The belief expressed by all who have seen the treasure is that it is part of that lost by the Confederate Cabinet during its flight through this section. The road ' upon which the treasure was found is the same over which the Confederates re? treated. It is supposed that the person who secured this part of the treasure, being unable to carry it off in safety, hid it and either died a natural death or was killed soon after, and consequently tho treasure was never unearthed. The great quantity of jewelry and precious stones suggest that they must be the contents of the mysterious jewelry box intrusted to Mrs. Moss, and taken from her shortly afterward by a Btranger while retreating through the country. President Davis and his Cabinet, together with other distinguished Confederates, stopped at the residence of Mrs. Moss, an aged widow, where it is believed the last counsel of the Confederacy was held. When the meeting was about over, General John C. Breckenridge called in Mrs. Mots, and, handing her a box of quaint device, told her it was of great value, containing rare jewelry which had been pawned by ladies of the Confederacy for the benefit of the cause, and desired her to ucrete it until some one with proper authority should come to claim it. When the party resumed its retreat Mrs. Mosa examined the contents of the box, and was dazzled by the brilliance which met her gaze. For several weeks she kept her trust a profound secret, and garded it from hundreds of men who were searching the country for remnants of the robbed treasure train. One night a horseman rode up to her residence. Alighting, he called Mrs Moss aside, and, in whispered words, told her he was the accredited agent of the persons who had left the jewelry box in her possession, and that he had been instructed to call for it. Completely deceived by the man's assurance and appearance of hon? esty, she placed the box in his hands, to see him disappear in the darkness, and to realize the next day that she had been cruelly imposed upon. She died a month later. The fact that the jewels just found correspond so well with the contents of the mysterious box, lends color to the supposition that they are the same. Beast Taming, . Falmali, the celebrated tamer of wild beasts, declares that there is no empiri? cal receipt for beast-taming, and that the great secret is, fear nothing. No doubt, it is to a great extent a matter of nervous organization; but the-animals are prob? ably also subdued by deprivation of sleep, no food, and by the administration of lowering drugs. And herein, in our opinion, constitutes the difference be? tween the sportsman who boldly seeks his carnivorous opponent in its native haunts, and him who seeks to further subjugate an already half-broken-in ani? mal. It seems that the hyena is the least intelligent and most irreclaimable of all the Carnivora; the leopard, the most affectionate and tractable; while the Cape liou is in this respect superior to his congenor of the Sahara and Sene? gal. Individuals of the same species, however, show great differences in dispo? sition. The lion is most easily tamed between three and four years old, while his character is, so to speak, in process of development. The young lion retains his infantine sportiveness, enjoying a game or a roll on the floor up to six years old, but after that age becomes serious and saturine. Care as to ventilation and cleanliness is much required for the health of the animals, which are more liable to Buffer from heat than from cold. The lion re? fuses mutton, goat's flesh, cat and dog, prefers veal and beef, but will accept fowl, rabbit and horse. The tiger, wolf and hyena are less fastidious, and the latter prefers its meat "high;" black bears eat bread, meat and fruit, and can fast for a week without inconvenience. All the great Carnivora have a passion for milk. Though the wild animals will breed pretty freely in captivity, Falmali's ex? perience was that the young are never vigorous or healthy; ana of eighty lion whelps born in his menagerie, we are surprised to learn that one survived its third or fourth year. In most of the feline tribe, the maternal instinct requires to be assisted by a curious precaution? the total exclusion of light from the mother and cubs during the first nine or ten days of their existence; otherwise these fierce matrons would reverse the order of nature, by devouring instead of nourishing their young. According to the authority quoted, an adult tiger is the most expensive of the Carnivora, costing six thousand francs, but as much or more may be given for a chimpanzee. The lion costs an equal sum; but the lioness may be bad from twelve hundred to fifteen hundred francs. The price of jaguars varies from one to two thousand francs; that of Java pan? thers, from two thousand to three thou? sand ; and of lynxes, from six to eight hundred; while leopards are sold for twelve hundred francs per pair. Wolves may be had at a much cheaper rate; and hyenas from sixty to one handred francs; but in Africa the latter may be purchased as low as a franc.? Chamber's Journal. A Hatch Found For a Boston Quiz. Two Boston gentlemen while tramping through the White mountains the past summer came across a lonely hut among the hills from which the prospect was particularly fine and extended. The proprietor of the establishment was hoe? ing in a small garden, and the travelers began to quiz him. Said one: "You nave an excellent view from your house." "Purty fair," replied the farmer. '?I suppose," continued the first speaker, winking to his companion, "on a fair day you can see almost to Eu? rope?" - "Kin see further 'n that," returned the man. "How bo V- was asked in surprise. "We don't think nothin' of seem' as fur as the mune."?Boston Courier. ? Genuine products of the dime novel are discovered in three Boston small boys who were arrested in the suburbs of New York, where they had made arrange? ments to abduct blushing maidens and wealthy tourists, 1 Horrible Tragedy in North Carolina. Charlotte Observer says: News was received in this city yester? day afternoon of a strange and fatal poisoning affair that occurred near Beaver Dam, in Union county, last Sunday morning, resulting in the death of Mr. J. C. March, a young lawyer, and the almostv;fatal^sickne33 of three of his friends. The party were poisoned by eating eggs that were impregnated with strychnine. It^appears that on last Sunday morning Mr. Marsh accompanied by Miss Maraie.Peterson, of Morganton, and Messrs. James Boylin and Eeese Blair, of Monroe, went out to .Mr. Marsh's new home, a short distance'.from Beaver Dam, to spend the day. Mr. Marsh had recently completed a new residence^and^was just furnishing it for occupancy by himself and wife. The party arrived at the house in due time and breakfast being prepared for them, they proceeded to dispatch it. Friea eggs constituted one of the dishes and of this Mr. Marsh and his friends partook quiet freely. Shortly after eating they were all taken violently sick, and it was evident that something was wrong. The whole party were put to bed, and medical assistance was at once summoned. Dr. Asbcraft soon arrived, and on making himself acquainted with the symptoms, saw at once that it was a case of poison? ing. He set about immediately doing what he could for the relief of the un? fortunate victims, and soon had the sat? isfaction of seeing Miss Peterson and Messrs. Boylin and Blair showing signs of improvement. Mr. Marsh, however, failed to rally despite all efforts, and a little before noon be expired. An investigation was made into the cause of the poisoning, and it was found that the eggs eaten by the party contain? ed a quantity of strychnine. The eggs were purchased at Austin's store in Beaver Dam. Mr. Austin bought them from a countryman, but beyond this nothing is known that will throw light upon the affair. There are no suspicions of foul play, as it is generally thought to be the result of carelessness on the part of the countryman, who it is supposed had poisoned a lot of eggs with the in tention of catching a thief, or an egg Bucking dog. In collecting a basket of eggs to take to the store, he had through ignorance, accident or carelessness mixed the poisoned eggs with the others and Bold them to Mr. Austin in turn, being ignorant of their fatal contents and never dreaming of anything being wrong with them, sold them to Mr. Marsh and hence' the tragedy. The matter is to undergo a full and searching investigation. The victim of this deplorable affair was a young lawyer of talents and had a bright future before him. He was married about four months ago to Miss Gillespie, of Morganton, whom he leaves crushed and overwhelmed with grief at his sad ending. The community is stir? red to its heart with sympathy for the family of the deceased. Mr. Marsh was to have moved into his new home to-day, and for some time past had been busily engaged in arranging it for occupancy. How Many Murderers Escape. It appears that from 1860 to 1882 a hundred and seventy persons were tried in Massachusetts for murder in the first degree. Of this number only twenty nine were convicted and only sixteen paid the extreme penalty of the law. Of those convicted one committed suicide and twelve got their sentences commut? ed. Here, then, during a period of little more than twenty years were a hundred and seventy murders in one State and only sixteen executions. In Connecticut during a period of thirty years, from 1850 to 1880, ninety seven persons were tried for murder in the first degree. Of these only thirteen were convicted of that crime and not more than seven were hanged. The statistics forotber States would doubtless show similar results. In New York city there were a hundred and eighty-five homicides during the four years ending with 1877. Thero was an average of nearly one homicide a week. During the same period there were four executions, or just one a year. The number of persons tried for murder in the first degree in the city is about twenty-five every year, the number hanged does not exceed on the average one or two a year. These figures are full or significance. They show that either through the fault of the law itself or its administration by juries the statute imposing the death penalty for murder is in the vast majori? ty of cases a dead letter. They further show that while murder is a common crime the murderer in a great many in entirely.?N. Y. Herald. Weather Troubles. We must remember that this is a large country, and that our troubles from bad weather are really almost always com? paratively local. With our railroads uniting all parts of the country, bringing the farmers of the extremes as near each other as residents of a county used to be, there is far less cause for melancholy foreboding than in the days of our grand? fathers, when a single snow storm or cold snap might cut off all traffic and commu? nication between comparatively near neighbors for whole weeks at a time. Now, if the hay crop is short, or our corn is frozen, we can fisd plenty of either waiting for a market almost at our very doors. To the farmer who lives from "hand to moutb," who uses up each year what each year produces, a short crop means a degree of want, possibly hunger and cold, but this is not the character of the farmers generally. We believe that there is no considerable class of working people in the community who from year to year suffer less from actual want than the farmers. Their very occupation teaches them to look ahead and provide for the future. Tradesmen and manu? facturers have their poor years, and far? mers must not expect to be exempt. As one extreme is expected to follow another we may hope for an exceptionally pro? ductive season next year.?New England Farmer. A Soldier's Bones in the Wilderness. A relic of the battle of the Wilderness was discovered by Mr. B. A. Larkins, of this city, who has just returned from Chancellorsville, where be spent a few weeks. Mr. Larkins stated to a Republi? can reporter, yesterday evening, that while he was forcing his way through a dense thicket on the tragic battle-field last Thursday, digging bullets out of the trees, he suddenly came across the skele? ton of a Confederate soldier, who had evidently crawled into the thicket after being wounded. The skeleton was bare and white. The clothing was destroyed, and the only mark of identification was the waist-belt, with its "C. S. A." The skull still reclined on a knapsack and the remaining portions of a gray blanket. A Catholic Bible was also found, but the inscription on its fly-leaf was illegible. The skeleton was buried near by the gloomy thicket where the soldier died.