Newspaper Page Text
Old Series-—Vol. 25, No. 122.
The cholera is raging at Damascus.
Four hundred cases a day are reported.
The American rifle team has arrived
in France, and has been specially re
ceived by Victor Hugo.
The dispatches this morning indicate
that the trail of old Spinner’s missing
847,000 has been struck at last.
The news from the Mississippi river
this morning indicates that it has
about reached its highest. The great
everflow anticipated will hardly come
this time.
Now that Parker is out and gone, for
good, Governor Chamberlain can re
turn with perfect safety. There is no
danger of his being on the witness
stand.
Our special correspondent at Saw
dust sends us the brief details of a
terrible boiler explosion, the killing of
one man and fatal injury of two
others.
The other side of the Prescription
question is given in our columns this
morning. We call attention to it as a
short, sharp and decisive review of
“ Mechanic's” statement.
m
A dispatch from Fort Barrancas
says seventy cases of yellow fever have
occurred there in all, and thirty deaths.
It has stopped because there is no
more material to feed upon.
Alexander Duncan, of Scotland,
father of Wm. Butler Duncan is worth
88,000,000, and so the New York bank
rupt is still very comfortably situated.
It is a famous thing to have a prodi
giously wealthy parent in Europe
when one breaks in America.
It appears to us that if the people of
Columbia want Parker, their abscond
ing Treasurer, they could easily find
him. They seem to be idling away
time on street corners speculating how
he made his escape. The truth is they
are glad he is gone and hope he will
never return again.
Keepers of isolated stores will read
the tragedy on Satilla river with pecu
liar interest. The negro is rapidly de
veloping a frightful character for cold
blooded murder. They seem to select
these country and suburban shopkeep
ers more than anybody else for their
victims, robbery being their sole mo
tive.
MoCreery has swept the State of
Kentucky by forty-five thousand ma
jority. Where is the boasted and once
powerful Radical party ! An exploded
humbug. Let it pass away forever. It
has entailed more misery and woe upon
the country than it will recover from
in ten generations. Never was collapse
more sudden or complete.
Senator Morton has entered the
Ohio campaign, and yesterday made a
speech at Urbaua. He favors resump
tion of specie payments, and accuses
Ihe Democrats of wanting to break up
greenbacks and re-establish State
banks. Here the Ajax of Grant is
wrong. What we complain of is not
having hardly any greenbacks at all.
A private letter from Athens says an
examination of the floor of the Library,
where Dr. Tucker held his levee, and
which gave two distinct premonitions
of giving way that night whilst five
hundred people were upon it, revealed
the fact that it sunk three and one
half inches. In addition to the people,
the floor held fifteen tons of books.—
Had it fallen, there would have been
the most frightful calamity ever heal'd
of in Georgia. Even now it makes one
tremble to think of it.
A few days since we published a let
ter from Portsmouth reflecting rather
severely upon the conductor of a sleep
ing coach on the C., C. & A. R. R. This
conductor has called upon us and states
that he is not guilty of the offense
charged; that the whole matter has
been distorted and misrepresented; and
that an official investigation of the af
fair will be made and published. We
shall be pleased to give all sides a fair
hearing.
We publish on the third page an im
portant communication upon the sNp
ject of building anew railroad from
Augusta to Greenwood. One interest
ing fact omitted by the correspondent
is that when the people of Elbert coun
ty get their road finished to Toccoa,
Augusta will lose every bale of cotton
from their county which we have
heretofore received. The road is now
graded and ready for the iron. We are
doing nothing to counteract this move.
Unless we do something we will soon
have no trade at all from the Savannah
river country above Richmond county.
In the Georgia news column will be
found the death of the last survivor of
the aborigines of that portion of
Georgia upon which Augusta now
stands—the Ucliees ! He died in Haw
kiusville, where he was long known by
the name of Indian Sam, and, from the
obituary given, we judge he has been a
slave from his youth. The LTchees are
described by a Georgia historian “as
gentle as women,” and “without those
fierce traits characteristic of other
tribes.” We doubt not this short record
of the death of the last living member
of this race will be read this morning
by their successors and conquerors
without a single regret. How different
from the death of the Duchess of
Rochester, the last of the Pi.antaga
netts !
Alas ! The Poor Little Darlings!
Ottawa, August 7.—A dispatch from
Gaitenan says three children, while
picking berries in the bushes, were at
tacked and killed by a bear. Only the
feet and arms of one of the chil
dren can be found.
Ihe laito tastitatioiraliit
FOREIGN DISPATCHES.
The American Squadron—Drumming
for the Centennial.
London, August 7.—The American
squadron will shortly sail from South
ampton for Gibraltar.
American gentlemen in Paris say too
little interest is manifested for their
Centennial. The reason is that English
and French manufacturers have not
been sufficiently informed of the de
tails. A movement is on foot in Paris
to organize a bureau of information.
Home people need stimulation to work
in Europe while there is time.
The Cholera—Pour Hundred Daily
Cases at Damascus.
The Secretary of the Universal Alli
ance, in a letter to the Times, says Da
mascus dates of July 22d report the
cholera raging. Four hundred cases
are reported daily, but the real number
is concealed. Christian quarters de
serted. Mission schools closed and
children dispersed.
The British Parliament.
The Pall Mall Gazette says Parlia
ment adjourns Tuesday to Friday,
when it will be prorogued.
Dublin, August 7.—Excursions, field
sports and amnesty demonstration to
day in Glancoin Cemetery, where
O’Connell is buried. Four thousand
present. Resolutions favor home rule
and amnesty for imprisoned Fenians.
Working of Plimsoll Leaven.
The crew of the ship Clydesdale,
from Greenock, August 4th, for Que
bec, have refused to proceed to sea on
account of the alleged unseaworthiness
of the vessel.
A Vicksburger Wins a Prize.
Stuttgart, August 7.—Mr. Choessege,
of Vicksburg, Miss., won a silver cup
in the rifle shooting here to-day.
The Rifle Team in France.
Paris, August 7.—The American Rifle
Team is iiere. It was received last
night by Victor Hugo. Hugo said he
was proud of Americans and grateful
for the recognition given him aud his
books.
And the Spaniard Wants Money!
Madrid, August 7.—lt is reported
that the government intends contract
ing a loan of seven millions. Indemni
ty for the' owners of Porto Rico eman
cipated slaves is officially denied.
GOVERNOR MORTON ON THE FI
NANCES.
He is for Specie Payment, and Ar
raigns the Democrats.
Urbana, ()., August 7. —Gov. Morton,
of Indiana, after speaking in support
of the Specie Resumption bill of the
last Congress, said :
“ I had something to do with the
preparation of this bill. Voted for it
in good faith and intend to stand by it
until experience has demonstrated that
it is impracticable or needs amend
ment. Its feature, fixing a day for re
sumption and providing for it,l had pro
posed to the Senate six years before.
Its the method by which I "believe specie
payments can and will be reached. It
established the policy of free banking,
the slow, gradual, but certain return to
specie payments, and no contraction or
expansion of the currency until that
time.” He then addressed his remarks
to the Democratic platform of Ohio,
and combatted the greenback theory,
and claimed that Democrats had
always been enemies of greenbacks.
He said: “This whole scheme of a
further issue of greenbacks in lieu of
national bank notes, I arraign here to
day as hypocritical and treacherous,
designed in the first place to affect the
destruction of national banks and then
by their volume and by the decision of
the courts to destroy the greenbacks
themselves, and pave the way for the
restoration of the old State bank sys
tem. The State sovereignty party will
never stop short of State banks. A
national currency, whether of green
backs or bank notes, is hateful
to the party which abhors the
national idea and declares that
there is not a nation, but thirty
seven independent and sovereign pow
ers. The party which clamors con
stantly about centralism and Federal
assumption can never be the friend of
the greenback, which represents the
highest form of national sovereignty.
Every year the proposition has been
brought forward in Congress to repeal
the law taxing the notes of State banks,
which drove those banks out of exist
ence, and the repeal of which would
again open up the flood-gates for pub
lic and private robbery, by the estab
lishment of innumerable kiting and
worthless banks in all the States. Only
last year Mr. Thurman and every Demo
cratic Senator voted for a proposition
to repeal that law, which was offered as
an amendment to a finance bill.
SPINNER’S MISSING $47,000.
Arrest of Several Charming Young
Men.
Washington, August 7. —Detectives
brought Theo. W. Brown, known as
“peg leg Brown,” here from Saratoga,
charged with complicity in the 847,000
theft from the Treasury. Benj. B. Hal
leck, clerk iu the Treasury cash room,
now on leave of absence, was arrested
in New York by detectives McDevitt
and McElfresh, on the same charge.
Wm. H. Ottman, restaurant keeper of
this city, was arrested. The theory is
that Hulleck took the money. Some
of it was left with Ottman aud that
Brown went to Saratoga to work some
of it off. Meanwhile Halleck was
making arrangements to buy jewelry,
clothes, harness, and other para
phernalia of fast life iu New York.
—
GRAND METHODIST FIELD DAY.
Fifteen Thousand at Camp Meeting.
Old Orchard Beach, Maine, August
7.—There are 15,000 at the National
Methodist Camp Meeting. Searl, of
New Haven, Wood, of Baltimore,
Graves, Hughes aud Gray, of Philadel
j phia, officiated in devotions.
THE KENTUCKY ELECTION.
McCreery’s Majority 45,000—The Con
vention Lost.
Louisville, August 7.—McCreery’s
majority will reach 45,000. Convention
probably lost.
Dull News from Louisiana.
New Orleans, August 7.—Gov. Kel
logg has addressed a letter to the
Sheriffs of the several parishes of North
Louisiana, where a number of murders
and other deeds of violence were re
ported recently, directing them to call
in the aid of the better class of citizens
to bring to justice the perpetrators.
The Funding Board has adjourned
until September, and will fund no more
bonds until then.
AUGUSTA, GA.., SUNDAY MORNTHSTG, AULT GIT ST 8, 1875.
O’CONNELL.
Further Details of the Great Cen
tennary Centennial
Dublin, August 6.—Midnight.—A
grand banquet exhibition at the palace.
The Mayor presided. No incident oc
curred until in the regular programme
toast. The legislative independence of
Ireland was reached. The Mayor
called on Chas. Garvin Duffy to report.
Duffy’s rising created tremendous up
roar, which lasted 20 minutes, when the
Mayor withdrew. Dr. Butt rose to
speak, wheu the gas was put out. The
company dispersed in great confusion.
New York, August 7.—A Dublin
special reports Home Rule members
of Parliament have promised to attend
the demonstration to-day, which is to
consider the proceedings of the Lord
Mayor yesterday. The Rome dispatch
states that in the oration on O’Connell
by Professor Ariairte, in the church of
St. Agatha yesterday, O’Connell was
claimed as the pioneer of the revival of
Catholicism in England, and that the
discourse was ultramontane through
out.
New York, August 7.—A Dublin dis
patch says a proclamation has been is
sued by the Lord Mayor prohibiting
the proposed pyrotechnic display at
Phoenix Park to-night. The cause as
signed for this is that information was
received that a disturbance was in
tended.
—
OUR NATIONAL FINANCES.
The Greenback Situation.
Washington, August 7.— Customs re
ceipts to-day, 868,967 50 ; for the
month, to date, 82,801,069. Internal
revenue receipts to-day, 8317,298 ; for
the month, to date, 81,969,375. Na
tional bank notes outstanding, 8348,-
947,939, of which 82,599,000 are in Na
tional gold bank notes. Bonds held by
the Treasurer as security for National
bank circulation, 8374,927,862, aud for
public deposits, 818,792,200. Shipments
of United States notes for the week,
82,862,956.
The Treasury books for the fiscal
year about closed will show the na
tional income larger than any estimates
that have been made.
.
THE WESTERN FLOODS.
Special Signal Office Report
Washington, August 7. —The Ohio
will rise slowly below Louisville, fall at
and above Cincinnati. The Mississippi
will rise from Cairo to Vicksburg.
The Ohio has probably reached its
maximum height at Louisville aud will
rise slowly before this station and fall
at ihe stations above, except Pittsburg,
where it will remain stationary or rise
slightly. The Mississippi will rise
slowly below Cairo; it has probably
reached its maximum height at this
station The Mississippi has risen very
slight at stations between Cairo and
Vicksburg, and fallen two feet at St.
Louis, has probably reached its maxi
mum height at Cairo where it is five
feet and two inches above the danger
line, it is one foot above the danger
line at Helena, nine below at Memphis
and one foot and a half below at Vicks
burg.
THE TURF.
Poughkeepsie Races
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., August 7.
The Summer meeting of the Hudson
River Racing Association closed to
day. In the first race, 2:31 class,
in which 81,250 went to the first,
8625 to the second, mile heats, three in
five, in harness, St. Julian took the
first money, and Tom Moore the sec
ond. Time, 2:26%, 2 30, 2:28, 2:26%.
In the second race, 2:27 class, purse
or 84,000, 82,000 to the first, 81,000 to
the second. 8600 to the third, 8400 to
the 4th, mile heats, three iu five, in
harness, Bonner took the first money,
Frank Firguseu the second, Maybird
the third, and Eli White the fourth.
Time, 2:27, 2:26, 2:24%, 2:29.
The third race was free for all, 82,500
to the first, 81,500 to the second, 8750
to the third, mile heats, 3 in 5, in har
ness. Goldsmith Maid, 2,1,1, 1; Ame
rican Girl, 1,2, 2, 2 ; Himpress, 3,3, 3,
3. Judge Fullerton, Hopeful and Lady
Maud drawn. Time—2:l7%, 2:18,2:19%,
2:20.
—i
GLORIOUS NEWS FROM POUGH
KEEPSIE.
Bob Alston, the Kirkwood Granger,
Makes a Speech.
Poughkeepsie, Agugust 7.—C01.
R. A. Alston, of the Atlanta Her
ald, was serenaded here to-night aud
made a speech.
FATAL EXPLOSION.
Twenty Boys Injured.
Philadelphia, August 7. —An explo
sion this morning at the arsenal. About
20 injured. Some fatally. All boys.
One boy killed.
YELLOW JACK.
Better Reports from Pensacola.
Pensacola, August 7. —No new cases.
No death since yesterday’s report. Dr.
Sternberg is this morning sitting up a
little in bed. All others are doing well.
Correct the report about the death of
Col. Randall’s child. It was his sou, an
infant, and not his daughter.
Commodore Cooper telegraphs all
well at Pensacola Navy Yard.
THE NAMELESS OUTRAGE.
The Negro Speedily Killed.
Cincinnati, August 7. —A special says
a negro attempted to rape Mrs. John
son Howard, of Athens, McMinn coun
ty, Tenn., on the highway. The negro
was captured, taken from the jail and
killed. Citizens are arming from fear
that the negroes will attack the town.
Later —Reports state that quiet has
been restored.
Robbery of a Cincinnati Pawn Shop-
Murder of Four Men.
Cincinnati, August 7.—Solomon
Porus, pawn broker, was robbed of ten
thousand dollars worth of jewelry.
His wife and daughter were sitting
outside the door, when the thieves en
tered the rear.
It is thought the bodies of the four
young men found in the river, first
supposed drowned, met with foul play.
Their bodies were hopelessly mangled.
Their effects were 8800, and their
guns, rings and watches were stolen.
The Regular Hoosic Accident.
Springfield, Mass., August 7.—A
large mass of soft rock fell in the
Hoosic tunnel. Smaller particles falling
prevent the approach of workmen to
ascertain the extent of damage.
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
EXPLOSION OF A SAW MILL
BOILER.
Wm. Parker, of the Georgia Railroad,
Blown to Pieces—Edmund Palmer
and James Tudor Fatally Injured.
[Special Correspondence Constitutionalist.)
Sawdust, Ga., August 7, 1875.
A terrible calamity happened at Saw
dust this morning at six and a half
o’clock. The boiler of the engine at
tached to the steam mill and giu of T.
L. Clary, Wm. Lansdell and N. J. Ben
net, exploded killing Mr. Wm. Parker,
a Georgia Railroad fireman, literally
tearing him to pieces and making him
totally unrecognizable.
The mill building was torn all to
pieces, several large pieces of the
boiler being blown several hundred
yards. Mr. Edmund Palmer and Mr.
James Tudor, son of Mr. Thos. Tudor,
were also seriously, if not fatally,
wounded. The loss is estimated at
about 82,500.
Parker leaves a wife and two child
ren. He was an upright, steady young
man, and would doubtless have been
promoted to the position of engineer
on the Georgia Railroad this Fall.
W. F. Kelsey.
LETTER FROM ATLANTA.
A Glorious Gala-day for the Children
—Fulton County Sunday School
Union— A New Bonanza—The Build
ing Mania—A New Paper.
[Correspondence of the Constitutionalist.]
Atlanta, August 6, 1875.
Since happy May Day, the little folks
have not had so glorious a time as they
did to-day at Oglethorpe Park. They
celebrated the anniversary of the Ful
ton county Sunday School Union and
had a regular jubilee.
Just think of nearly 4,000 children
singing at one time! Several familiar
Sunday School hymns were sung, and
the chorus drowned every note of the
organ. Hon. Juo. H. James offered a
prize of 85 in gold to the school most
proficient iu singing. The prize was
won by Edgewood school. The child
ren enjoyed themselves splendidly, as
did all the children of larger growth.
A New Tributary.
With characteristic pomposity, At
lanta swells with pride at the prospect
of adding anew bonanza of mineral,
agricultural, horticultural and too-rural
wealth to her charming necklace of
tributaries. She has her progressive
eye on the Eiberton Air Line Road,
which diverges from the Atlanta and
Richmond Air-Line at Toccoa City, and
runs through the counties of Franklin,
Hall and Madison. The country is rich,
and Atlanta hopes to bask in the sun
shine of its richness ere long. The
people of Atlanta are called upon to
subscribe to the building of this road,
and, iu order to seduce the dollar from
the wallet, the wealth of this country
and the advantages to the Atlanta mar
ket are pictured in glowing colors.
Impi’ovemeuts.
I can’t imagine what gave the city
the present impetus to build. At
every turn one sees new buildings going
up. Every vacant lot that possessed
the slightest advantage as a good loca
tion has rubbed up and now looks like
business. You would scarcely imagine
that money is scarce or that times are
hard to look at these manifestations.
There are stores, residences, mills, fac
tories and other classes of buildings,
and the town looks like it was hurry
ing to put on anew dress for winter.
Death of Willie Lowry.
Willie, a promising little eon of Mr.
R. J. Lowry, a prominent, banker here,
died last Wednesday morning after an
illness of eleven weeks. Although Wil
lie was only twelve years old, the en
tire city seemed to have felt the loss,
aud the expression of sympathy for
the family was universal and sincere.
His funeral was largely attended. The
First Presbyterian Church was so
crowded with friends that they filled
the churchyard.
New Paper.
Col. C. R. Hanlieter, a well known
printer, with Judge Peterson, an old
journalist, have commenced the publi
cation of anew evening daily. It is a
resuscitation of the old National Ameri
can, which was run by the same par
ties nearly fifteen years ago. It is a
very neat little sheet, but devotes but
little space as yet to local news. Be
ing too small to enter into the discus
sions of general affairs, it should con
fine itself to local affairs entirely. At
any rate we wish it success.
Martha.
im m
Minor Telegrams.
Col. Jack Brown has been commis
sioned Collector of the Fourth Georgia
District. He leaves Monday night.
Paris, August 7. —Continuous rain in
different parts of France, especially in
the basin of the Rhiue. A flood is ap
prehended at Lyons.
Springfield, Mass., August 7. —The
Northampton Anchor Tape and Web
bing Company has failed. Liabilities,
830,000.
Ottawa, August 7.—McGraw’s saw
mills, Richmond’s roads, burned. Loss
over 8100,000.
Memphis, August 7.—Judge Trigg
has granted a writ of habeas corpus for
Waddy Thompson.
Frankfort, Pa. August 7.—The Bri
desburg arsenal explosion was caused
by the breaking up of condemned me
tallic ammunition. A boy killed and
20 seriously injured, some fatally.
Sailing of Cardinal McCloskey.
New York, August 7. —Cardinal Mc-
Closkey with his Secretary sailed for
Europe to-day. A large number of the
Catholic clergy and laymen assembled
at the wharf. Members of the Catholic
Union presented him an informal ad
dress expressive of loyalty and devo
tion to the Church and Holy Father.
Tweed’s Bail.
New York, August 7.—Tweed’s
counsel gave notice of appeal from
Judge Barrett’s decision refusing to re
duce Tweed’s bail.
A fussy and over-particular young
lady was having her photograph taken,
and just as the operator had got her
down to the “perfect still business,”
she suddenly threw up her arms and
exclaimed : “There, I forgot to put my
bustle on.”
We met Oglesby on the streets of
Washington one day in a linon duster,
with a carpet-bag in his hand.
“How long do you remain with us?”
says we.
“Long as my money lasts,” quoth he.
“Good-bye, Oglesby,” says we, grasp
ing his manly hand, “sorry your etay
should be so brief.—Don Pif’t
NEW YORK LOTTERIES.
THE WAY BEN. WOOD HAS GOT
RICH.
The Dangers of Lotteries to the Poor—
Their Protits for the Rich.
[Special Correspondence of the Cincinnati
Gazette.]
New York, July 28.
During the spring I took occasion to
exhibit through the columns of the
Gazette the rottenness of the police
system of this city, and the immunity
enjoyed by all classes of criminals who
could afford to bribe in a liberal man
ner.
Since then a commission has been
appointed by the Legislature to exam
ine into these abuses and my state
ments have been abundantly verified.
While the commission is dealing with
municipal iniquity, I urge it to devote
at least a brief attention to the lottery
system, which is a vast abomination.
Its magnitude corresponds with the
genius of its master, Ben. Wood. This
man has spent a quarter of a century,
or thereabouts, in learning the busi
ness, and has been a proficient student.
He is to the lottery business what A.
T. Stewart is to dry goods, or what
Vanderbilt is to railroads. Ben. Wood’s
character might be judged from the
fact that he is Fernando Wood’s broth
er, arcades ambo. It is doubtful if ever
before these two brothers were more
alike, with the sole exception, perhaps,
of the twins of Greek mythology. One
point of great similarity is their politi
cal ambition. Ben. has been glorified
in Congress, while Fernando has been
both Congressman and Mayor. The
country surely would perish were it not
for such guardians.
How Ben Got at It.
Ben and Fernando are old residents
of this city. They began poor, but had
the common ambition to live without
labor. So they turned speculators.—
About twenty-eight years ago, I used
to notice a tiny sign on a door-post in
South street, which read “Fernando
Wood.” He was then shifting along,
shaving any one he could get hold of,
and dipping into any parties of whom
he could get credit. I need not refer
any further to the honorable Fernando,
for the history of the equally honorable
Benjamin is more to our purpose. All
idlers aud adventurers are addicted to
the study of chance, and out of this
class a few of the more lucky get rich.
Ben. early saw the golden field of lot
tery practice, and from small begin
nings became its masterspirit. This is
the way Ben got at it.
Details of Luck,
Ben’s little shop soon did so much
business that he opened a branch, and
then another, aud so on until several
hundred were established. One may
see in five minutes’ walk in any street
inhabited by the poor various little of
fices dignified by the name “exchange.”
The shop purports to be a broker’s of
fice, but what does a money broker do
in these parts ? There is a screen be
fore the door, and a curtain at the
window, aud it is evident that what
ever business is done here is not in
tended for the public eye. But how
does this office live? You may watch
it all the forenoon without seeing any
one enter. So you may all the after
noon. Evening comes, aud now the
scene becomes one of life. Here enters
the mechanic, with his tools under his
arm, just returning from his day’s
work. He has all day been calculating
on figures, aud now will take anew
chance. Next comes a housemaid who
has a dream book, and has dreamed a
lucky number, which, of course, she
must try ; aud iiere is a grocer’s clerk
whose pilferings enable him to buy a
ticket. In this way for several hours
the business will rush iu, and will make
up for the morning idleness. There
are nearly 1,000 of these offices in this
city, and the largest part of them is
owned by Ben. Wood. He pays each
manager a percentage on the business,
and draws the lion’s share to his own
purse. No wonder he could buy his
way into Congress, and can run a news
paper, besides living like a prince.
Chief Customers.
The fools are not all dead yet. The
harvest of this class is larger than ever.
Anything that affects chance is sure
to take. Gift enterprises and similar
swindles never fail to attract rich re
turns, and of course lotteries have the
same charm. There is a certain class
which believe in luck. According to
their doctrine there is a mysterious
something which some people get hold
of in a mysterious way, that is, in a
way not easily explained. Some are
lucky in fishing and always bring home
a“‘mess.” Others are continually find
ing money aud other valuables, while
some have a knack of getting people to
die and leave them fortunes. The
writer, on the contrary, never had any
gift in that line, never was good at the
art piscatorial, never found money,
never had a legacy, never made any
thing in speculation, never drew a prize
or even owned a lottery ticket. What
ever he has got is the fruit of plodding
labor. Iu other words he is not a
lucky man, and he is very thankful for
it.
Worshipers of Luck.
Others, however, as has been stated,
are worshipers of luck, and their be
lief is well expressed iu the language
or one of them to the writer. “It is
better to be born lucky than rich.” It
is maintained by these people that
there are lucky days and numbers, and
if one can only contrive to be born on
a lucky day, and then also continue to
get a lucky number iu the lottery, “why
he needn’t work for a living ; only let
him go in and win,” etc. Out of tins
lucky class Ben Wood has made his
fortune. With reference to lucky num
bers, I am unfortunately so poorly in
formed that I cannot speak accurately,
but Ben Wood can, and so can all his
agents. There is a prize to be drawn,
and they know that the man who draws
it must strike boldly and not faint.
“You drew a blank, you did,” said one
of these agents to a disappointed
youth who came to inquire. “I knew
you would. You haven’t cheek enough
to bring luck toward you. Try again,
and go in strong, and you may fetch it
next time.” Yes, that is the rule, try
again.
How Tliey Talk.
Just listen to the gospel of this fel
low : “If you have had a run of bad
luck, why just keep on, for it is a rule
that luck must turn. Only keep on,
for you may stop just the minute be
fore the turu comes. There’s a fellow
that lost steady for two years, but he
knew the thing must change after a
while, and so he drove right along till
the luck changed, and he drew 850,000. ’
Good doctrine that, at least for Ben.
Wood, and to illustrate its practical ef
fect I may refer to the defaulting tel
ler of the Fulton Bank in this city, who,
a few years ago, was sent to State
prison for robbing the bank. This man
confessed that he had for the space of
one year, expended 8100 per day in
lottery tickets. Pretty well for Ben.
Wood, but who is to blame? Perhaps
if the young man had only bought one
more ticket he would have drawn that
8100,000, for which he subsequently
but vainly served four years iu Sing
Sing. Among this class who believe
in lucky numbers are clerks and even
business men, while women of the
town are largely addicted to lottery ex
citements.
The Colored Man’s Sin.
The colored people of this city are
notorious for the same vice. Indeed it
seems almost universal among them,
notwithstanding the pulpit objurgations
of their preachers. 1 well remember
hearing a colored Boanerges denounce
“playing policy,” as it is commonly
called. I presume that the profits
made out of the colored devotees of the
policy business in this city, are suffi
cient to afford Ben. Wood a handsome
income, and he certainly should re
member this when joining in the cry
against “the nigger.” Perhaps if it
were not for the “nigger” the Honorable
Benjamin might be obliged to work for
his bread.
What About Lucky Numbers?
I am told, but I cannot speak from
experience, that to dream of a number
three times entitles it to be called
“lucky.” Three, five and seven are
lucky numbers, and if you try them
your chance is good, unless a more
lucky person than yourself be a ticket
holder, in which case his luck may be
so strong that there is no going against
it. I know a man who is well satisfied
what are lucky unmbers, and the only
reason why ho has never drawn a prize
is because some person who was “born
to good luck” carried it off iu spite of
the lucky number. There is no sight
when these fellows are around, aud on
that account men must keep on trying
the lucky numbers. One of these days
there will not be such a born lucky man
iu the list, and then the lucky number
is bound to fetch the prize, “hit or
miss.”
A Tempting Display.
In the policy shops the drawings for
the year are carefully displayed, and
are continually studied by the fortune
hunting crowd, in order to Team what
are the lucky numbers. I have refer
red to three, five, seven, etc., but these,
though lucky, may be made still more
so by a lucky combination. Now here
are a few of these combinations, say
334,077, 335,077, 335,707, etc. Who can
tell which of these three contain just
the right arithmetic to enchain that
mercurial “something” which we called
“luck?” One may see men, women,
and even children, studying these lists
with anxious gaze, and even trying to
read each other’s faces, or catch the
figures which they are penciling with
nervous hand. There are washer
women taking shares worth five cents
each, and even children are accommo
dated with chances at one cent apiece.
From this juvenile rate the tickets
range up to five dollars, and even fifty
dollars.
Drawings.
These take place twice a day—noon
and evening; that is, they are thus re
ported by telegraph from the offices
which, of course, are located out of
this State. Out of every batch of
seventy-five tickets, or chances, thirteen
petty prizes are drawn. There is a
slang or “patter” peculiar to this trade,
and one hears at the shops such terms
as “gigs,” “saddles,” “horses” “cross
gigs,” words which refer to the differ
ent chances. The headquarters of the
business are in the Bowery, and at 294.
Murray & Cos. are supposed to repre
sent the ex-Congressman, editor, and
Hon. Benjamin Wood, Esq, etc. He
employs about forty clerks, of whom
only two or three are visible at a time,
the others being hid by a screen.
How to Conceal.
As this business is by statute crimi
nal, every precaution is used to conceal
the managers. No one can answer any
questions except that “ he is clerk.”—
He does not know who pays him. inas
much as his weekly stipend is sent him
in an envelope. He obeys a superior
clerk, or if he be the head clerk him
self, he can not tell who is employer.
Someone has requested him by letter
or through an agent, to go to the place
and do duty, aud so he is there. Ah !
Ben, the Congressman, knows how to
evade laws as well as to make laws,
and there in his den he moves the pup
pets called Murray & Cos., safe from all
danger and legal interference.
Other Tools.
Not far from Murray & Cos. is the
office of Mclntyre & Cos., and besides
these there are also Simmons & Cos.
and Sturges & Cos., but these latter are
small compared with the patriotic Ben
jamin. We may at least thus conclude
Trom the fact that Murray & Cos. re
ceived during two months, nearly 8400,-
000. Now, supposing that the other
three coucerns reached only 825,000 in
the same time, here is more than half
a million invested in this accursed sys
tem in the brief space referred to. But
the two months referred to are the
dullest of the year, and taking a fair
average, I am forced to believe that
more than 84,000,000 are annually
taken in by the above establishments.
Now this would be a large amount if
spent by the rich,but when weconsider
that it is taken by the poor, the case
becomes greatly aggravated. Just
think what a fine thing it would be if
that sum were deposited by this needy
class in a savings-bank. Still more,
let us suppose that even one-half of it
had been annually deposited during
the past ten years, what a difference
it would make in the condition of the
masses these hard times. But between
the tap-room and the policy office, the
doom of the poor man is almost sealed.
Of these two evils, I am inclined to be
lieve that the latter is the more des
tructive.
Chances of Gain.
Like all other gambling institutions,
the chances of lotteries are greatly in
favor of the owners. It is a well-ascer
tained fact that of every hundred
ticket-buyers not three make a “hit,”
that is, a large prize. The ruinous ef
fect on children may be judged from
our previous statement that chances
are offered at one cent each, which in
duces an incessant gambling among
newsboys, bootblacks, errand-boys,
and youth generally.
Lottery Managers.
It has been learned that the man
agers of the concern, 294 Bowery, are
five in number, viz: Colton, Franz,
Bauch, King and Benjamin Wood, and
that the latter signs all the receipts,
and the concern goes by the name of
Murray & Cos. The gross receipts of
the policy shops in this city average
815,000 per day. Of this sum the shop
keepers retain one-eighth, which makes
a profit in their behalf of 81,875.
Effect of Lotteries.
It is well known that the excitement
inseparable from this nefarious pur
suit unfits any one for business. No
man can succeed unless his mind is on
his work, and no man can have his
mind thus fixed if it is devoured by
the furore of the policy shops. Me
chanics and other employes frequently
lose situations because their minds are
off their business, dreaming over
chances at Ben’s machinery of fraud.
Ah ! Ben, you are rich aud kuow not
what it is to suffer cold and hanger,
and you are hardened against the suf
fering of others, which makes you
great; but they say that sometimes
the handwriting appears on the wall,
4,11, 44, and that these mystic num
bers carry an interpretation you dare
not tell, even to Knickerbocker.
BROTHER SHEARMAN.
A LEGAL PILGRIM IN ENGLAND.
The British Public Beguiled by a Men
dacious Brooklyn Pettifogger—Bull
ing Beecher Stock by Lies and Slan
ders—How the Dog Returns to His
Vomit.
[New York Times.]
Mr. Shearman has been making a
speech in England which it is quite im
possible for the newspapers to pass
over unnoticed. We do not know
whether the people in England have
any idea who or what Mr. Shearman is;
perhaps it will help them to understand
him if we mention the fact that he was
one of Jim Fisk’s most active lawyers,
aud the man who was personally mixed
up with the grossest of the scandals
which were perpetrated in the time of
the corrupt Tammany Judges. He
either suggested them or carried them
out. There was no so-called “legal”
infamy too great for this man Shear
man to be engaged in. This is a mat
ter of history, proof of which we are
ready to furnish at any moment, in
court or out of it. This same lawyer is
now on a sort of lecturiug tour in
England in behalf of Mr. Beecher.—
So long as he stuck to his
brief, we should probably have
allowed him to go on unquestioned ;
but the pettifogger goes far beyond
his instructions, and defames the whole
body of the American clergy, to say
nothing of American women. He told
a meeting in London that Mr. Beecher
had not been guilty of any “impro
prieties.” Ho had, indeed, kissed Mrs.
Tilton, but if this was wrong “a vast
proportion of American society must
be condemned, for Mr. Beecher was
really more cautious in his relations
with ladies thus brought up in his
church than was usual among the
clergy in America.” Then what on
earth is usual among the clergy iu
America? Many a husband or father
must have asked himself this question
when he heard Shearman’s statement,
and when he remembered that Mr.
Beecher acknowledged in his evidence
that it was his habit to kiss Mrs. Tilton
whenever he met her. More cautious
than the American clergy generally!
Yet Mrs. Tilton’s brother swore that
once when he entered a room where
Mr. Beecher and Mrs. Tilton wore shut
up together, he saw “Mis. Tilton mak
ing a very hasty motion, and with a
highly-flushed face, away from the po
sition that Mr. Beecher occupied.” “It
was such a situation,” he added, “as
left an indelible impression on my
mind.”
If incidents like these occur in the
relations of a pastor with the female
members of iiis congregation, when that
pastor is “unusually cautious,” what
must be the general character of such
intercourse? Of course, this man
Shearman wantonly and wickedly li
beled the American clergy. Yet, we
suppose there will be many in England
who will believe his vile slanders. Ac
cording to a report in another paper,
Shearman said that “it was the com
mon practice for gentlemen and cler
gymen to kiss the wives of their inti
mate friends.” It may be Shearman’s
practice when he is visiting in Brook
lyn, but if he tried it on anywhere else
he would soon find himself kicked out
into the street.
This unscrupulous “ lawyer ” then
said that the charge against Mr. Beech
er was entirely und simply the result
of a conspiracy, aud that the whole
case “ rested upon the word of Mr.
Moulton, a man of very low origin,
whose word, even in commercial mat
ters, was in very bad repute.” In reali
ty, Moulton’s testimony was of far less
importance than the evidence which is
contained in the letters of Mr. Beecher
and Mrs. Tilton. That is testimony
which Mr. Beecher will never be able
to live down. In the review of the
evidence published in this journal just
after the trial this fact was strongly
dwelt upon. In the revised edition of
that review there are some important
additions, among them a comparison
of quotations from tho letters of Beech
er, Mrs. Tilton and Mrs. Morse. We
extract from this comparison a few
passages, the authenticity of whicii
even Shearman would not dare to dis
pute :
Mrs. Tilton to her Husband.
“When, by your threats, my mother cried
out in agony to me, ‘why, what have you
done, Elizabeth, my child?’ her worst sus
picions were aroused, and I laid bare my
heart then, that from my lips, and not
yours, she might receive the dagger into her
heart."
“Did not my dear child. Florence, learn
enough by insinuation, that her sweet, pure
soul agonized in secret, till she broke out
with the dreadful question ? I know not but
it hath been her death-blow,”
“When you say to my beloved brother,
‘Mr. B.’ preaches to forty of his mistresses
every Sunday, then follow with tae remark
that after my death you have a dreadful
secret to reveal, need he be told any more ere
the sword pass into his soul !”
(To her mother.) “I should mourn great
ly if my life was to be made yet known to
my father; his head would be bowed indeed
to the grave.
Beecher to Moulton.
“f ask, through you, Theodore Tilton’s
forgiveness, and I humble myself before
him as I do before my God !”
“Ho iTilton] had condoned his wife’s
fault. He had enjoined upon me with the
utmost earnestness and solemnity not to be
tray his ivife, nor leave his children to a
blight."
“if my destruction would place him all
right, that shall not stand in the way. I
am willing to step down and out. Ido not
think that anything would be gained by it.
I should be destroyed, but he would not be
s ived. E. and the children would have their
future clouded.
To live on the sharp and ragged edge of
anxiety, remorse, fear, despair, and yet to
Eut on all the appearance of serenity and
appiness, can not be endured much
longer.”
In the revised edition of the Review
there are other equally remarkable pas
sages quoted, and pray what do they
all refer to? “Oh, nothing,” says
Brother Shearman, “merely a little
pleasantry on both sides. You see, Mr.
Beecher had known Mrs. Tilton from
childhood, and when he spoke of east
ing a blight on Tilton’s children, he
was merely in fun. It was all a joke
between the parties!” This was the
sort of argument which Mr. Shearman
used to find answer very well when he
went to plead before Judges whom his
client had, to his knowledge, carefully
bribed as a preliminary step in the pro
ceedings; but he will probably find it
less successful before the bar of public
opinion. What may be thought of
Shearman in Euglaud we do not know;
what will be thought of him here is
that he is an impudent rascal.
New Series—Vol. 3. No. 6.
THAT FLOOD.
The Bladder of an Inflationist Pricked
by Authority—Opinions of the Louis
iana Press.
[New Orleans Times.l
Although a feeling of uneasiness
during c >ntinuous rains is perhaps
natural, apprehensions of a serious
flood are not well founded. Disasters,
similar to that of 1873, owe their origin
to a combination of circumstances. An
nually the Mississippi’s banks are twice
filled from natural causes. The melting
of the snow on the eastern range of
mountains, which occurs only in the
Spring, Alls the Alleghany, Monouga
hela, Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee.
Quite frequently they overflow their
banks, and in the narrow valleys great
destruction of property occurs. This
volume spreads out over the broad ex
panse of the Mississippi is compara
tively insignificant, and the rise of a
few inches is the sole indication that
the waters above have swollen. Later
in the season the same phenomena are
manifest in the West. The snow on
the Rocky Mountains and plains swell
to enormous proportions the tributa
ries of the Missouri, that river is also
enlarged, and wo have the “June rise.”
If by accident these two freshets
come in conjunction, or one of
them were followed by continued
local rains, apprehension would
be justified. At the present sea
son this is impossible. The melt
ed snow which accumulated in the
valleys of the Cumberland and Alle
ghan'ies, reached the Gulf in the latter
part of April. That from the West
swept past the city more than a month
ago, and were the rainfall of the West
even doubled, its accumulations could
not materially affect the Lower Missis
sippi. The apprehensive forget that
numbers of low places, bayous, and
other outlets stretching along its banks
for hundreds of miles, absorb vast
quantities of this surplus fluid. High
water is first indicated by the filling up
of these receptacles, and frequently
water backs up into the interior, a dis
tance of ten or fifteen miles. It is safe
to assert that a rise of thirty feet at
Pittsburg would not increase the depth
of the Mississippi more than a few
inches at New Orleans.
The steady decline in wheat is the
surest indication that the reports which
constantly reach us are more or less ex
aggerated. That streams confined with
in narrow banks rise with alarming ra
pidity is undoubted true, and equally
is it the case that great local suffering
is the immediate result, but the effect
of neighborhood disasters upon the
aggregate products of the country is
inconsiderable. From the present out
look we have nothing to apprehend, but
on the contrary, much to be sincerely
thankful for. Our crops are assured,
the cotton is already opening, and were
it possible for the worm to make its ap
pearance now, which is not the case,
his devastation would amount to noth
ing. The corn is being harvested and
the rice crop will be gathered within a
very few weeks. Nothing save a sud
den and severe frost could disastrously
effect the cans and such a calamity is
not anticipated. The recent unseason
ably cool weather might, were great
imprudence exhibited, produce ague
and fever, but old residents are too
well acquainted with the peculiarities
of the clime, to run any great risks.
All things considered we are having a
most fortunate year, and one upon
which we are to be heartily congratu
lated.
[N. O. Picayune.]
We are pleased to observe that the
alarm as to a possible overflow in Lou
isiana is subsiding, even faster than the
waters which inspired it. Our readers
will probably recollect that in the Tues
day afternoon’s edition of the Picayune
we pointed out the improbability of any
such disaster as the Associated Press
reports would lead us to apprehend.
And that view of the case appears now,
in the light of subsequent events, to
have been eminently accurate. W T hat
the signal office terms the “Central
Mississippi,” to-wit: between Cairo and
the lower Arkansas counties, will suffer
some further injury, and no doubt a
great deal of distress and even ruin is
to be expected among the bottom lands
of Arkansas and upper Mississippi;
but that there can ensue anything like
a general inundation need hardly be
discussed with serious concern now.
Our diagnosis receives the verification
of facts, and the Memphis Ass.
Press man, with his “inevitable over
flow,” requires explanation.
Crops.
Upland corn in many sections is very
poor and a great deal beyond redemp
tion. In the lowlands it is good. Cot
ton has improved under the influence
of the rains, but they have been and
still continue to be very partial. The
situation is not very encouraging. Wo
hear of some places where no rain has
fallen since May. People generally are
living very close and economizing every
way. We hear cf some planters who
have discharged a good many of their
hands. The warehouse-men have not
advanced near so much as last year.
Much cotton business, however, that
went elsewhere last year will bo
brought here the coming season.—Co
lumbus Enquirer.
The Prescription Question.
Mr. Editor : In your issue of Satur
day “Mechanic” thinks it hard that a
druggist would not prescribe for his
sick child,though perfectly willing to sell
him medicine. It is a druggist’s busi
ness to sell drugs, but, by way of in
ducing people to deal with him, he can
not prescribe for diseases (unless he be
a physician as well as a druggist) with
out laying himself open to a tine of
SSOO for the first offense and an impris
onment of two months for the second.
For the last half century the laws of
Georgia have been very strict in requir
ing that only duly authorized physi
cians should prescribe and duly author
ized apothecaries compound medicines,
and upon reflection your correspond
ent will see the propriety of such
regulations. Otherwise the helpless
bodies of the sick would be the prey of
ignorant pretenders, dabbling hap
hazard with dangerous drugs. The
law is for the benefit of all classes, and
so far from the legislation of Georgia
bearing hardly upon mechanics, it has
always treated that useful portion of
the community with particular favor.
In the first Constitution of the State,
adopted ninety-eight years ago, he who
had “any mechanic trade” was a quali
fied elector, while no one else could
vote unless he owned property to the
value of ten pounds sterling and was a
tax payer ; and in the present Constitu
tion the mechanic and laborer alone
have a lien for their material or labor,
which the Legislature itself cannot take
away. _
In these days no lady appears per'
fectly unruffled,