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A Wonderful Escape.
Cram the Note Book of the late Capt Robt. Bonham.
]t was in the autumn of 1799 that a party of
0!l loft the Falls of the Ohio, in keel-boats,
under the command of Major Rodgers, for the
purpose of making an attack upon the Indians
jt the old town of Chillicothc. On our way
B p the river wo met with no remarkable ad
venture, till wc approached the mouth of the
Licking—which tve did about sunset of a de
lightful day. We observed a few Indiansstand-
ing upon a projecting sand bar, at a point
shore the twostrearas unite, apparently watch
ing some companions in a canoe, who were
crossing to them from the opposite bants of the
tmaller stream. If they saw us there was
nothing to indicate the fact; and thinking it
posiblc to fake them by surprise, Major Rodg
ers ordered the boats to be runup under some
bushes along the shore, and all the men. save five
—some seventy in number—to advance cau
tiously through the wood, and completely sur
round the spot where tho savages were.
We all set off in fine spirits, thinking only
of the surprise we should givo the enemy.—
Quietly, stealthily, we pushed onward, spread
ing out as we advanced, till at length we reach
ed and fairly encircled the fated spot; when,
just as the order was being given to rush in
upon the foe, we were startled and thrown in
to the greatest confusion by the uprising on
every side of us of several hundred yelling In
dians.
Wc Imd been drawn into a complete nrnbus-
eade—had been taken by our enemies in the
very trap wc bad set for them. Instantly
they poured in a destructive fire, and then
fell upon us with knife and tomahawk; when
the pnnic on our part became fearful and the
slaughter tremendous. Like frightened sheep
wc huddled together; and then, finding our
selves hemmed in by our foes, who hewed us
as fast as they reached us, wc turned at bay,
and poured back a volley from our side. Then,
with yells as wild aud savage as their own, wc
broke through their lines, and rushed for our
boats. But the Indians, comprehending our
design, reached them before us, and made a
capture of all save one, in which the men left
ia charge made their escape. Our only chance
now was to break their lines again, and start
through the forest to tho station at Ilarrods-
burgh. Favored by the gathering shades of
night, some twenty of our whole party escap
ed, though hotly pursued <>y our bloodthirsty
foes.
llat I was not one of that fortunate few; foi
ls 1 was in the net of clearing some five or sis
of the enemy, who barred my way to a dense
thicket, and just as I had cut down a couple
of the nearest, a ball passed through my hips,
nattering the bones. At once I fell, hut luck
ily among some thick bushes which, for the
n oment, concealed me; and the others, prob-
ady thinking me dend or escaped, immediate
ly darted o§’ in pursuit of my flying friends.
1 bad iny rifle still in my hands; and, wound
ed and suffering as I was, I proceeded to load
it as I lay on the ground—my only hope now
being that I should succeed in killing one more
of the wretches before a terminus should be
put to my own existence.
As ininuto after minute went by, howover,
and tho yells of the savages grew more nnd
iiiore distant, and night bpgan fast to envelope
me iu her welcome pall of darkness, a ne.v
h >pe sprung up in my breast, that I might
possibly so secrete n.yeclf as to escape the ob
servation of the enemy altogether. Slowly
dragging myself through the bushes to a fal
len tree, which lay within a few feet of me.
1 with the most excruciating pate crept under
die branches, which I disposed above my per
ron in the best manner I could.
Here for hours I lay, suffering agonies of
body and mind which no language lias power
to describe. I dnred not stir again, scarcely to
breathe. I heard the Indians return, and I
could tell by the sound that they were going
over the ground and butchering all the wound
ed they could find. About midnight, as near
ns 1 could judge, they once more drew off and
lit their camp fires, the glimmering o£ vrMeh f
could faintly perceive through the thick foliage
which surrounded me.
Let me pass over that night of horror. If
any one would have the faintest idea of what
1 suffered, he must imagine himself in my sit
uation—there—in the branches of that tree—
with both hips shattered—surrounded by my
dead friends—and, worse still, my living foes.
1 dared not change my position, nor give vent
to a single groan; and at times it seemed that
nature must compel from me some expression
of pain, in spite of my utmost will. O, it was
a horrible night! and may God deliver me
from ever passing such another.
Hut the end was not yet. Horrible as that
was, I dreaded to see the morrow.. How could
1 expect to escape tho lynx eyes of so many
ravages, when they should begin to beat over the
ground for plunder? And at times the thought
of this so worked upon my feelings, that I was
more than once tempted to shriek out, and let
my position be known, and thus bring upon
myself the relief of a speedy death; for I knew,
from my disabled condition, that the Indians
would not think of taking me prisoner, but
butcher me at once. And yet the instincts of
life were greater than the temptation I speak
of. And these same instincts, by the way,
seem wisely sent for our preservation—to act
when reason tells us that hope is lost, nnd wc
bad better end our woes at once.
How painfully I watched the dawning of the
day! hew eagerly and trembling I listened to
every sound! At length I could hear the In
dians astir; and soon after they began to trav
erse the scene of slaughter, and gather up the
arms of my companions and strip their bodies
of every garment. They were hours at their
work; and to me those hours were ages. At
times when some of them drew near the spot
this poor animal a messenger of hope? Had
Providence directed it hither for my preserva
tion ? I fancied so then—I almost fancy so
still. At all events I cautiously raised my on
ly remaining friend, my rifle, took a quick
but certain turn, and fired. The ball sped to
its mark, aud the animal dropped dead within
a fe w feet of me: and as I raised myself among
the limbs, with the intention of dragging my
self to it, I was startled by hearing a liumai
cry.
Fearing the Indians had not all gone, I hast
ily- reloaded my rifle, and then remained per
fectly still, trembling at the thought of what
I might next behold, hut determined to sell
ray life dearly, and shoot the first human figure
I should see approaching me. Presently I
heard the same loud, startling cry repeated
but this time much nearer than before. Still
I kept silent, my rifle firmly grasped, for 1
could rcognizc nothing like tho voice of one of
my race. Again I heard the same singular
sound, but still nearer yet. and arustlin.,
mong the underbrush, apparently at the dis
tance of twenty yards. I now cocked my rifle,
nnd poised it, resolved to shoot the first object
that should appear. But fortunately nothing
did appear till my heart had been made to leap
for joy, by the utterance of words, in my na
tive toDguc, which fell clearly and distinctly
upon iny car, and assured racit was a country
man, perhaps a companion.
“Who are you 1 where are you ? For God’s
6ake, speak!” cried the voice.
I now gave an answering shoul ; and soon I
was gratified by the sight of a human figure,
pushing rapidly through the bushes, whom,
notwithstanding his haggard and bloodstained
features, I at orce recognized as Peter Brent.
On_ getting sight of me. he stopped, and ex
claimed, “ My God, Capt. Bcnham! is this
you 1 How did you escape ? I thought I was
the only being left alive by the butchering
wretches!”
“Alas!” I returned, “I am as good as dead,
for I am badly wounded in my hips, and can
not walk a step.”
“See!” he rejoined, “I’m no better off—both
my arms are broken, and I’ve no power to use
a weapon, and conld not feed myself if I had
anything to eat. I think of the two. Captain,
you’re the best off, after all; for you, at least,
can shoot game, nnd so won’t starve!”
'“Aye," I said, “but how am I to get it when
1 have shot it ?”
“ I see,” he replied, with a sort of laugh.
“ the two of us only make one decent man.—
You’ve got arms and I’ve legs ; and if we ever
get out of this infernal scrape at all, I reckon
we’ll have to work out together. And if
Heaven is willing, and the red devils will let
us alone, we’ll be able to do it yet, and cheat
the howling imps of two scalps, anyhow 7”
It was a very singular and remarkable oc
currence, that only two men should have es
caped from that scene of slaughter; and of
these the one with his hips broken, andthcother
with arms. Brent, like myself, had nothing
to cat for more than twenty four hours. And
like myself, too, lie had escaped, after being
shot, by crawling into a thicket, and lying flat
upon the fttaTtli, at a point where the Indians
had passed within a few feet of him. Here be
had remained concealed through the night nnd
day, till the savages had departed, when the
pangs of hunger had brought him forward in
search of food,-which he had little hope of find
ing, nnd he knew not by what means he might
get it into his mouth, if obtained. On hearing
the report of my rifle, a faint hope had sprung
up in his breast that a companion might be
near; but whether it should prove to be a
friend or an enemy, he determined to make
himself known, and risk captivity, or even
death, rather than remain in his hopeless con
dition.
We now began our singular mode of living
which probably has never been paralleled in
the world’s history. The first thing Brent did
was to search for the raccoon I bad shot, and
push it along to me with his feet. I then
dressed it, and kindling a fire with my sticks,
which he also pushed up to me in the same
manner, I broiled it, and on this we mnde our
supper—as hearty and as palatable a meal as
ever I ate in my life—I feeding him as he sat
beside me. Uur hunger appeased, we felt
more sensibly the pangs of thirst, and at first
we could devise no means for obtaining the
water so near us. Necessity, however, is the
mother of invention, and luckily bethinking
me of my hat, I placed the rim in my compan
ion’s mouth and told him to wade into the riv
er, until he should be able to dip the hat un
der, and then, by returning quickly. I fancied
a good portion of the water might be retained,
after allowing for the leakage. The plan suc
ceeded, and taking the half-filled hat from his
teeth, I held it for him to drink, and then drank
.myself, the most refreshing and invigorating
draught that ever passed my lips.
The immediate wants of nature being now
fully supplied, we began to be more cheerful
and hopeful, though still suffering extreme pain
from our shattered limbs, which I next pro
ceeded to dress as well as our circumstances
would permit. Making some rude splints with
my knife, I took oft’ my shirt and tore it into
strips, and then putting the bones of Brent’s
arms together as well as I could I bound the
splints around them. This done, I proceeded
to dress my own wounds in the same iucom-
plcte way.
Another night now set in, which we passed
together, lying close in the thicket, and suf
fering a great deal of pain. We slept little,
but spent the tedious hours in talking of the
dire events which had happened, and mourning
the loss of our brave companions.
The second day, beginning early in the
morning, and keeping a sharp look-out for
game, I 'fas fortunate enough to shoot two
squirrels and a wild turkey, the latter being
qn.Ue numerous in that region. This served
'•fid it seemed -is it' I should die of suffocation, ns for food through the day, and on the third
Twice a small party of them were so close that 1 succeeded in shooting a couple more squirrels
Icould see tl dr half-naked, hideously printed nnd a few birds—my companion always kicking
formsYbreiS the leaves; and once a single the game to me with h.s fee., and pushing up
warrior stalked by me, within reach of my rifle
ble, even to each other; every day, too. our
condition seemed to grow worse, instead of
better ; and at last, with a sinking heart, I in
formed Brent we had hut four charges of pow
der in oar horn.
“God help us!” was his reply.
Matters were thus at their very worst, when
one day Peter burst suddenly into our shanty,
where I sat shivering over a few embers, and,
with tears in his eyes, exclaimed, “ Blessed be
God! Captain Bonham, we’re saved—there’s
a llatboat just turning the bend above us!”
Who shall describe my feelings then! I
started up and hobbled down to the bank of
the river, shouting wildly as I went, lest the
boat, yet scarcely within sight, should pass us
ere I could reach the beach. Oh! bow pain
fully anxious we watched its slow approach,
coutinuallv shouting to attract the.attention of
men too far distant to hear us, and makiug
every kind of signal we could possibly think
of for the same purpose.
Gradually the boat neared us. and at length
we could see its crew gathered together and
pointing toward us. But, oh Heaven! imagine,
if you can, our horror when we saw them sud
denly betake to their oars, push over to the
Ohio shore, and then row past us with all their
might, amid our frantic gesticulations and pit
eous prayer for help! On they swept down the
river, and then Brent and I, looking at each
other with silent horror, sunk down together
upon the cold beach and mentally prayed for
death to end our sufferings.
Suddenly—oh, sight of agonizing joy!—we
saw a canoe put off from the larger boat and ap-
proach-us, and then we got up and fairly scream
ed and begged for assistance. When the rowers
had come near enough to converse with us
they stopped and told us they feared we were
decoys, put there to draw them to the shore,
that the Indians might fall upon and murder
them, and it took no little time, and the most
earnest asseverations and piteous appeals, to
convince them to the contrary. At last, after
rowing past us two or three times, and closely
inspecting the shore, and getting us to come
far out on the sandbar, they ventured to take
us aboard. We were kindly treated by these
men when they heard our story; being taken by
then to the garrison at the Falls (now Louis
ville, Ky.,) we were placed under the care of
a skillful surgeon, and soon rootored to our
Usual health and strength.
Reader, is not this story remarkable for the
fact that two men should singularly escape
from the savages, aud live six weeks in the
wilderness—the one with uselets arms, the
other with useless legs—the two together mak
ing, as it were, only one whole man! Who
ever shall to-day stand upon the levee of the
now large, flourishing city of Cincinnati, and
glance his eye across the beautiful Ohio, shall
behold the very spot where these remarkable
events occurred at a time when all around, on
cither shore, was a wild, howling wilderness.
Up aud down, and over the ground they pass-
til and rc-passed many times, till they were
t'idently satisfied that none of the dead and
•winded had escaped their notice. 1 bey then
•lit* off in 8 body along the bank of the river,
•hue they remained for hours—in fact, till lute
inthe day—when, being joined by the rest of
their companions, who had probably made a
long jourm y in pursuit of the fugitives, they
ttpaired to the buats.
With a feeling of thankfulness which I can
not express, 1 in urd them put off from the
shore, and every sound gradually die away to
‘ilrnee. And yet abort ly after, there came an
»*lul revulsion ot feeling: for I now felt that
Isas alone—alone in the wilderness—alar from
fiiends—so crippled that I could not walk—
*®old only move my body, iu fact, by a great
tflort—suffering all the time the mo.,r excruci-
ating agonies, and in danger of perishing from
narration. Had I been able to move about,
* y en though never so slowly and feebly,' I could
Jejr iced in my good fortune; but situat-
samc manner, and 1
the animals, aud feeding
ha\«
'dasla-Ml i, lt that uu overruling Providence,
»* bad so far preserved me, could still
ave me from a more hoi i ible- doom than 1 bad
•taped.
, I thus lay on my back, iu a position which
, scarcely been changed for more than
" ' Hy hours, 1 looked up through the leaves,
, I . ,0 surprise, I might almost say joy,
raccoon in the act of descending tin
u ‘“k of a large tree, some of whose branches
canopied the spot where I lay. Was
stick and brusli
dressing and cookin
him.
So matters went on for several days, the
game gradually becoming scarcer, and requir
ing a great deal more labor on Brent’s part to
drive within the reach of my rifle- Days thus
passed on, and even weeks, before uiv wounds
were so far healed as to permit me to hobble
about on crutches, and during all this time we
saw not a human soul, though anxiously watch
ing for some chance boat to pass down the l i\ ci
nnd take us oft.
Our garments being thin, and our shirts
tom up for bandages, and the weather setting
in cold, our future prospects looked cheerless
indeed, and wc were much concerned lest we
should be obliged to winter where we were.—
To be prepared for any emergency, we, with
much labor put up a kind of rude shanty, which
served in some measure to protect us from the
almost wintry blasts which now began to sweep
over the desolate scene.
As the season grew colder and moie incle
ment,. the game became so scarce that iny
companion with difficulty drove enough within
rifle shot to give us a siugle meal a day ; and
with all the rest our powder was so low in the
horn that 1 could count the charges, aud dared
not fire except when certain of my mark.—
Then it was we began to feel the horrors ot
despair, and sometimes to regret that we bad
outlived the dead around us. Almost uaked,
with unshaven, haggard faces, hollow cheeks
and sunken eyes, we now indeed looked pitia-
West Point Examination.
The usual review and examination was ia
progress at West Point last week, before the
Beard of Visitors. From a letter in the New
York Evening Post wc extract the following :
But the baud strikes up a chorus from
Lucretin Borgia,” and cadets “in thick and
serried order,” the light battery, a squad of
sappers and miners and the dragoons, march
to the parade ground. The line is formed
with promptitude and accuracy, underthe com
wand of Col. Hardee, a most accomplished
tactician and the author of the book on tactics
used at the Point. Major Delafield, arm-in-arm
with Gov. Davis, of Indiana. President of the
Board, followed by the Board and staff, went
through the standing review. Next came a
marching review at common time; presently,
another at quick time, and then a third at
double-quick, the latter constituting the prom
inent feature of the day’s entertainment. It
is popularly known at the Point as “the Shang
hai drill,” being done at a trot throughout.—
It is an adaption from that of the French Chas
seurs de Vincennes, and has been prepared for
our service by Col. Hardee. In bringing it
to perfection in the French Ecole Politcchni-
que, the cadets were required to make all their
movements at this trotting pace, whether the
distance they were to go were five rods or as
many miles. By dint of constant practice,
the muscles become so inured to it that in time
they were without unusual fatigue, enabled
to run out from Paris ten miles without halt,
drill there an hour, aud then run back at the
same gait. This is the drill which our cadets
are now taught.
After the review at quick time, the band
played “Pop goes the weasel,” and “pop." a-
way went the cadets at a jolly pace, their step
as perfect, their lines as straight, their wheel
ing as faultless, their salute as graceful as with
common time, the light battery and dragoons
following at full trot. It was a beautiful spec
tacle. eliciting the admiration of every behold
er, that of the writer, who now visited the Point
for the first time, and to whom it was a new
sensation.” It is scarcely possibleto imagine
a military display more faultless in every part
than this. The cadets coming from every < "on-
gressional district of the country, each posses
sing qualities and capabilities upon the devel
opment of which is mainly to depend the mili
tary reputation, honor—perhaps the safety of
the country-are here receiving the first lessons
in that stern art which henceforth is to be the
practical work of their lives. Two hundred aud
twenty-five were to-day doing the rough du
ty of the common soldier, and each upon bis
good behavior. It is a terrible ordeal through
which they must pass to achieve success. And
how few attain it. The present graduating
class numbers twenty-seven; it entered with
oue hundred and ten. Each year it has toun-
dergoa weedingout of the chaff from the wheat,
and those who finally get through are pretiy sure
to prove worth the honor. The cadet upon
whom this year is to be conferred the first
honor is Win. C. Paine, of Massachusetts—a
tall, finely-proportioned, graceful young_ gen
tleman. The examination will be continued
for a couple of weeks, during which there will
be daily drills, reviews, and exercises in every
branch of military science.
Tliv Bottoms Planting Plow.
While in Thomasville, a few da j's since,
• were shown, by the inventor, Thomas J.
Bottoms, Esq., a recently constructed plant
ing plow, which we consider a valuable and
important acquisition to agricultural imple
ments.
This plow drops corn from six feet down to
any distance, and will also drop cotton 6eed,
Opening the furrow and coveting the seed ;il
the same time, aud is entirely correct and re
liable in its operations. Wc entertain no doubt
of the success of this invention, and of the re
munerative value it will be to Mr. Bottoms.
—Bain bridge Argus*
Louis Napoleon on the Isthmus Canal*
In the second volume ot his works Louis
Napoleon discusses the practicability aud im
portance of the Nicaragua Cana). After dwell
ing ou the marvellous tertility and wealth ot the
soil of Central America, aud examining the five
routes already suggested—namely, the Isth
mus of 1 ehuautepec, the Isthmus ot Nicaragua,
tho Isthmus of Panama, and two by theGultot
Darien—the Emperor decides in tavor of the
second, proceeding by the river Sau Juan and
the Lake of Nicaragua.
A fine shower of Rain in Macon on Monday
morning.
From (he Pennsylvanian.
Progress of Siberia.
An interesting correspondence between the
Administration and Mr. P. McD. Collins, com
mercial agent of the United States tor the ex
ploration of the Amoor river, was recently sub
mitted to Congress. Mr. Collins embarked on
the 12th of April, I85G. for Liverpool, thence
to proceed to St. Petersburg, and by way of
Moscow, Nijne Novgorod into Siberia. Owing
to the state of the roads in autumn, and other
unavoidable causes, he was detained in Moscow
till December, 1856. Having been furnished
by this time with all the facilities within the
gift of the Russ'an Government, of whoso kind
attentions Mr. Collins speaks in the highest
terms, he started in company of a high Rus
sian officer for Eastern Siberia. After a pas
sage of 35 days, in sleighs and post-coaches,
he reached Irkoutsk on the 7th of January,
1857. Of the postal system of Russian, Mr.
Collins says: ,
“It is very complete and seems to work well,
and is worthy of consideration to our govern
ment in case a post-road be established from our
Western frontiers to California- The distance
from Moscow to this city (Irkoutsk) is 3.426
miles. This is accomplished under ordinary
circumstances in 25 to 26 days,and by Govern
ment couriers in 15 to 20 days—ordinarily in
16, 17, or 18 days. There are 310 stations or
changes of horses, this gives the average of 16§
miles to the station—that is each relay of hor
ses has to run 16J miles.”
Those who associate with Siberia the idea
of an almost uninhabited waste, are somewhat
mistaken. On this immense distance from
Moscow to Irkoutsk it did not occur half a
dozen times, says Mr. Collins, that the change
of horses did not take place in a city, town, or
village.
“1 have no hesitation in saying that I pass
ed through, between this and Moscow, 500
cities, towns, and villages, which have been the
work of time and a strong government. * •
• There is much to be learned in it which might
be of real service to us in solving the prob
lem as to a post-road being the avanl courier
of the Pacific Railroad.”
Mr. Collins then visited Kyachta. a city
some 370 miles from Irkoutsk. Kyachta is
about 1,000 miles from Pekiu, the capital of
China; and Irkoutsk and Kyachta form the
centre of the Kusso-Chiuese trade. Kyachta
is close upon the Chinese frontier, only a rifle
shot distant from the Chinese city Mai-nat
tschin. The value of annual trade carried on
here is 30,000,000 roubles; but there is besides
this auother place to the west, where much tea
finds its way into Russia. The country around
Kyachta on both sides of the frontier was well
settled, “producing cattle, grain, horses, sheep
etc.”
This region which has never before been
penetrated by an American, and indeed by
few European travellers, not Russians, so far
from being in a semi-barbarou3 condition, en
joys an already advanced state of civilization.
Tho cities, says Mr. Collins, are “well built,
in fact there is considerable elegance and luxu
ry in many of their bouses audappoiiitinents.”
Mr. Collins, with several of the principal
merchants and Russian officers assisted at a
fete iu Mai-tnat-tschin, where “the number,
kind, aud quality of the dishes—or rather bowls
—which were constantly being served, was
absolutely beyond computation." Confectiou-
ery and fruit were served, also, into the great
est variety, and Chinese and European wines
and sparkling champagne were freely drank.
After diuner the party resorted to the theatre
and thence to tea. where they met a number of
Russian ladies from Kyachta and Irkoutsk.
The streets w« re illuminated and enlivened by
music. In this city Mr. Collins saw exteusive
warehouses, mostly Qilcci nitb tea, ready for
au exchange for Russian skins and cloth, or
gold and silver. On the Russian side he visi
ted among other industrial establishments the
Getrofsky iron-works, which turned out good
looking castings and excellent bar ire n. These
iron-works, and many of the Siberian mines
were worked by convicts, under military dis
cipline. Russia proper, which has no prisous,
but transports all criminals to Siberia, thus
makes them earn their daily bread, and pay
theiexpenses of their detention by labor. The
system has the advantage of instructing con
victs in a trade which after their liberation may
afford them the means of procuring an honest
subsistence, thus removingoneof the greatest
incentives to crime. Mr. Collius gives a glow
ing account of the mineral wealth of Siberia.
Visiting Great-Nerchinsk, he found that city
to be the centre “of one of the richest and
most extensive silver countries in the world.
Nor was silver the only mineral; there was al
so tin, gold, lead, coal, copper and iron. He
describes one of the numerous mines of tho
neighborhood, as follows:
“We descended by a vertical shaft and along
gloomy and hollow-sounding passages 240 feet
beneath the surface, where, entering au im
mense chamber, hollowed out of nearly solid
silver ore, we were shown the richest mine in
Asia—perhaps the world. To say how much
silver there is in that mountain would test too
strongly human credibility, but 1 can say with
truth that it was the first time I had ever been
walled in with bright sparkling, massive, silv
er walls.”
Having spent several days in examining the
silver mines, Mr. Collins paid a visit to the
gold region on the river Ouon, where he was
shown the diggings aud washings, worked by
convicts, aud through the hospitals, workshops
and prison; “every department being on a
scale of order and clcauiness, only to be seen
in a well-regulated military establishment.”
The mountains of the country generally were
well wooded ; there were also extensive tracks
of rolling prairie, with a firm sod, capable to
sustain large herds of cattle; game existed in
the greatest abundance, and the most valuable
of fur animals, were found amid the wilds of Si
beria, while the rivers teemed with fish and
foul. Within the vast area covered by the
Amoor and its branches, “sufficient for one of
tho first Empires of theglobe. was found every
natural requisite for the habitation of fifty
millions ot liuinau beings.” The actual popu
lation of Russian Siberia amounts, however,
to 4,000,000 only—most of them free Rus
sian settlers, agriculturalists, and merchants
whom Mr. Collius describes as be:ng of a cheer
ful and most hospitable disposition. Great
abundance of grain, vegetables and provisions
were produced near the villages by them, while
even the native, semi-savage Tartar tribes,
though yet residing in tlieir own primitive
huts, enjoying their own peculiar religious and
social customs, and governed by their own
chiefs, ■ but yielding willing obedience to the
Russian authorities, were already so far civil
ized us to engage iu the Russian towns and
cities as laborers, mechanics, or on the roads as
teamsters. They were also drafted as sol
diers, with which change they seemed much
pleased. The task which the Russian Gov
ernment has imposed upon itself in these distant
wastes of Siberia, is thus not oue of unmitiga
ted tyranny aud oppression, uor is Siberia the
dark region of gloom and despondency it has
been represented to be by writers who never
saw it, who wrote from hearsay, or drew upon
their own imaginations. Russia sends her able
officers and engineers, into those wilds not for
tax collecting puposes, not for governmental
plunder of au industrious people, but to aid and
assist that people to overcome the difficulties
aud natural obstacles in the way of a higher
social and political development. They sur
vey the country and point out eligible situa
tions fortowns and vil lages to thenew settlers
advise them and assist them in their labois ol
social organization, plan stupendous public
works, construct canals and roads, improve
navigable rivers, and introduce steam boats to
unite ill a common boud the distant isolated
settlements, securing to them material pros
perity and promotingtheirmoral welfare. The
work which Russia has so silently and persever-
ingly pursued for centuries in Siberia isoncot
humanity and civilization. Such is the impres
sion conveyed by, Mr. Collins’s interesting cor
respondence. The mam object of ibis courage
ous and able explorer was to inquire into the
practicability' and prospects of a trade between
San Francisco and Russian Siberia, by way of
the Pacific and the Amoor. He descended the
whole length of the river to its mouth, a dis
tance of 7,220 miles from St. Petersburg, ex
amining its depth, and finally reached, by way
of California, Washington again, having made
the circuit of the globe. His opinions in re
ference to a Russo-American Pacific trade
which are quite favorable, we purpose to dis
cuss in another article.
Curious, if True.
Mr. D. H. Ilayes, of Cairo, Decatur coun
ty, Ga., in a communication to the Wiregrass
Reporter says—
Several years ago, one of my dogs was bitten
by a snake, on Sunday evening. I gave the
dog some brandy and used other remedies, but
on Monday night it died.—Having heard that
a snake would form in side of a dog that was
bitteu by a snake, in company with auother
gentleman I had the dog opened and found a
snaky looking substance 2i feet long, with di
amonds on the back, and six rings around the
tail end. It had no visible head, only one
end blunter the other, and had the appear
ance of having sucked its substance from the
blood of the dog. It lived several hours.
A Graphic Picture.
A correspondent of the Minnesotian draws
the folloivingpen-and-ink sketch of the recent
combat betwean the Sioux aud Chippewas, at
Shukropec:
When the first fire commenced, opposite
Major Mm-pliy’o, 1>;« wife, duv.5l.1c> and two
lady visitors arose and stepped upon the riv
er’s brink and watched the whole affair, quite
uucouccined, although at one time the rifle
balls whistled and sang past them, striking in
close proximity. Before the battle ended, a
large number of the population of men women
and children of tl e cuy were gathered around
the dead, dying and wouuded warriors which
the Sioux had brought over the river, mid f
their e'evated position could see with ilm naked
eye every movement ot the eombatauts, and
with the aid of telescopes counted the number
of Chippewas which collected ou the opposite
bluffs, where the Sioux had driven them.
The ground from the river to the bluffs
(about three-fourths of a mile) is a level, grassy
plain, with a few large elm trees uear the
north bank; while the south bank, ou which
wc stood, is high, overlooking the whole scene
as perfectly as one could sit m the boxes of a
theatre and observe the play upon the stage.
Only thiuk of what a sight we had of Indians,
stripped to the bi eechcloth, ruuniug, skulking,
crawhug, shootmg.touiahawkiug, scalping, mu
tilating—the squaws carfylug the wounded,
shouting and encouraging lheir .br. ves, who
were jelling, fighting, bleeding, dying. cross
ing and re-crosoing ihe river. The retreat of
the Chippewas to the opposite lulls, gathering
under the trees, where all thuir gestures and
actions were clearly visible through the teles
cope—while among us, aud at our feet were
ladies and Chippewa scalps, horses and carri
ages and Chippewa heads, getitlemau aud Chip
pewa hauds, children and strips of Chippewa
sklu, barking dogs, moaning squaw, dv ing
warriors, bleeding braves, cryiug children,
yelliug eombatauts, neighing horses, cackling
hens, whistling bullets, cracking rifles, pufliug
smokiug Dutchmen, mixed up with the different
languages, including the silvery.tones of beau
tiful women—the whole concluding with the
building of a fire, apnearauce of the headless
trunk a Chippewa, a very extensive retrograde
movement on the pare of the ladies aud chil
dren, the contention of those who advocated or
objected to the consummation of the barbarous
act, the roaring of the flames, the broiling of
the incense, aud the general leaving in disgust
or lingering for curiosity of the crowd—and
all this adjourning a city of a thousand inhabi
tants.
DELIGHTFUL
TO THE EYE
Ami accessible to the Purses of flic
Million 2
DEMI & WATERMAN’S
NEW STOCK OF
SPRING A\D SUMMER GOODS,
JUST RECEIVED,
Silk, Bcrnge, Gingham, Cambric
and Margravine
Printed Jaconet, Swiss mid Oigandit
MUSLIN of every grade;
Bordered Prints, Expan
sion Skirts, French
Lace and Chan
tilly Lace
Ma,ntillas.
Duiuestic Goods ot every descript lot
Head Dresses, Gloves, Hosiery, On
sets and Articles for the Toilet. All
of which being purchased late in the
season, can be offered at a great reduc
tion on former PRICES.
SEW DRUG STOKE.
ALEX. A. MENARD,
RALSTON'S BUILDING, CUEARY ST„ MACON, GA
-.1 rind is now opening a fresh
LJA s 111st ruc-toi
II stock of
omen,
Chemical*,
Painl-. Oils,
l»i < -«Mnrl-
ra, Hlmrll
•reparation*. A*c
■ i< ol
ill,
; they are fieri, nnd
, ami
.1 ^£1
n,il> M,-th
at all hours
The Ocean Postage Bill
Appropriates $346,500 for the transporta
tion of the mails from New York to Liverpool,
with a proviso that there be paid therefrom so
much as may be required to procure the trans
portation of the mails on such days as the Col-
fins steamers may fail to take them from New
York. Out of the same appropriation is to be
paid $16,757 for outward trips from New York
to Liverpool in February and April. 1857, and
February and April. 1857, and February,
March, and April, 1858, when the Collins line
tailed to perform tho service, and a further
sum of $35,000, or so much as may be neces
sary to enable the Postmaster General to pro
cure the transportation of the mails from New
York to Liverpool and back on the 24th of
April, 8th and 22d of May, and 5th aud ]9rh
of June, 1858, if the Collins line fail to perform
the service, and a farther sum of $25,000, or
so much as may be necessary to enable the
Postmaster General to procure the transporta
tion of the mails from New York to Liverpool
'and back on the 34th of April. 8th and 22d
of May, aud 5tb and 19th of June, 1858, if the
Collins line fail to perform the service on those
days. Two hundred and sixty-one thousand
dollars is appropriated for the mails from New
York to Orleans. Charleston. Savannah. Havre,
Cbagres and back ; $328 380 for the mails
from Panama to California, O, Cgon and back ;
$122,000 for tin* mails between San Francisco
and Olympia; $22 400 for the mails on Pu
get’s Sound ; $230.U,,U for the mails f „m New
York, via Southampton or Cowes to Havre:
$50,000 for the mails between Charleston nnd
Havana, and $100,000 for the mails across the
Isthmus. It is not lawful for the Postmaster
to make any steamship or other new contract
for conveying the mails ou sea for a longer pe
riod than two years, nor ftirany other compen
sation than sea and inland postages. He is
authorized lo cause the maiisto be transported
between the United States and by any lines
or port or ports by steamships, paying there
for ; if by an American vessel, sea inland pos
tage, and if by a foreign vessel, sea postage
only. Preference is always to be given to an
American over a foreign Steamship, when de
parting from the same port for the same des
tination within three days of each other.
WOOD’S
a 3
realcr attractions titan
m
Presents
ever!
HUNDREDS OF PICTURES
2@Kf8
2?
THE PHOTOGRAPHS
Taken at his Gallery, surpass any thing ever offered
t<» tho public, both as rognrds
*111 si II i t y a 11 a I'rice.
By sending a common Dannery cotype you can
obtain a
it—
for a very s nail xum .arid as natural as life Call and
and see them they sp*»ik tor themselves.
MR. BKKaFP.
5?A23I93liJo
I? /still the Arfiat at thin Gallery.
Taken in superior,stilo and at very low prices.
Macon, May 25. 1858. tf
G-EOBG-IA
Mastic Roofing
<0 m jp et ny ?
PROPRIETORS OF
RUSSELL’S PATENT
IFire <3c. "VT'afier Proof
MASTIC BOOTING
O 1ST O ^ r<r -V ^ s.
HAVING purchased the right to use and sell the
above ROOKING for several SOUTHERN
STATES, we are now prepared to do
UOliFING or SELL RIGHTS
to use the same.
This roofing is adapted to new or old BUILDING*,
steep or fltt roofs and can be put over Plank or
old leaky shingles,Tin or Iron Roofs - it costs
about half the price and is much better
than Tin—is not affected by beat or
cold and is impervious to wa
ter ; it is fire proof, and it
is tho best roofing ev
er invented for
STEAMBOAT DECKS,
Rail Road Cars,
Bridges, &c.
Sec. It is warranted to give entire satisfaction. P01
further information apply to
FREEMAN A ROBERTS, or
janl9 tf A. P. CHERRY -
Macon, Ga.
GRANT
The telegraph reports that Jim Lane who re
cently killed another free State man. in Kan
sas for drawing water at his well, and was shot
in the leg in return, is likely to lose that use
ful member, “and may have the lock-jaw.” If
he has got to lose anything, by his ruffianism,
we trust it will be his “jaw,” instead of bis
“leg”—for the country has had too much of
the latter, in the right direction. If his
■•jaw” had been “locked” some two or three
years ago, it would have been a public bless
ing. Jenkins, the man shot by Lane, was his
Adjutant General! The feeling was very gen
eral against Lane, and an attempt was made
to lynch him. He is now in jail—and if he gets
bis deserts, will be kept there during bis na
tural life.
Patent Wire Braced Grain
(RADLE8,
My Druijs h
♦moetn their purify \ud quality
may be fnjjy relied on
£9" Order* Faithfully
Physicians* Preserjpridn
•ines put up with neatness nnd a
>f th»* dnv or night.
'IP* A large lot ofArlificinl Te^th just received
DECLINE IN DRY GOODS,
GREAT REDUCTION \H PRICES.
BOSTICK & KEIN
H AVING been exceedingly snecessfYil this Sj ring
in the sale ofth(-*ir Merchandize, having Id
RETAIL, by fnr more than an house ever sola be-
f*» e in Macon of RICH.
FANCY DR? GOODS
in one season, would now offer to (heir LKIEND&
AND PATRONS
Extraordinary Bargains
FROM THIS DATE TILL FIRST SEPTEMBER
Tli'- following are our reason", why we CAN AND
WILLSELL lower than any other house, viz :
Every body knows that we have no old dilapidated
Goods to work off on our customers. Our stock is
FEESH AND BEAUTIFUL,
And our concern has been represented
THREE TIMES THIS SPRING IN NEW YORE,
by one of the BEST and most TASTEFUL bj yers,
’(and tho best posted according to the New York
Merchants) that visits the Northern Market.
OURDRESS GOODS
ARE DIRECT FROM THE
AUCTION SALES,
\nd our oTAPLE GOODS fresh from the Manufac
turer's,
Bought principally for Cash.
We have been so thronged with customers during
the entire 011 tinve not bad time to
tiiki* m EXAt T INVENTORY' ot OCR -
STOCK but will say that OUlt'S is
complete and
DECIDEDLY ATTRACTIVE,
OUR THIRD AND LA T ST.icK of this Season
just opeue l, THE LADIES INFORM US is the
RICHEST and CHEAPEST
the city, and from tile way they “pitch into them,”
We cannot doubt but what they speak correctly.
Again—We have already sold more Goods than
e expected to sell this Spring and Summer, and as
we intend preparing for au
e normous trade this Fall,
It is uece&Mry that we should iusticat»* sow little
during the warm we at he/ to bo qnuliiTrti lor that
work. ConftTqueutly oui prices will b«* made so
VERY LOW,
(hat we hope to sell almost «oi by the 1st of July, so
uj to enable us to visit our friends, aud obtain ft few
ve*-kV respite from business.
A c have elegant five strip’d, double SHrt aud •' reo
FLOUNCED ROBES
of every quality, ju^t received, and manjf
oth«r styles of Dress Goods, at
4:0 Pei* Cent.
below ordinary prices. OUITJS is the IIOl’>E for
BARGAINS.
the worth of
K KEIN..
In fact, if you want to get more th*
your money, call soon on
juue 8 BOST1
New Spring
\ I RS. AUDOUIN in now receivin
.» I LI \ NT AbSOR 1 MEN I' OF
tXD SUMMER
Goods.
a BBII-
iPKLNG '
GOOD
listing of Eine French Cn*ne and Straw BON-
ETs. Hair and Braid BONNETS, HATS and
KLVTSo' all the newest and most improved Shfrt,
both for Ladies’ an.l Misses’. Infant-’ and Boys’ H.rie,
broideries. .Mourning Sets, Dress Trimmings,
lair Braids of cverv variety. Fancy Hair I’ins. Bri-
1 vl Wreaths. Head Dresses of every riyle. and Fans.
.I,,,,, „ tull nas.atiucnl ot Corsets, Extension, Wave,
teel, Spring and
Sltclcton SU-irts.
Also, a general axmrnnePt «'t KANl Y AHTI-
LES, all of which th<* offeie LOW FORt’ASH —
L tdie> are especially invited to rail ;uuJ o.\;»niine
nr Goods before | urcliM.-injr elsewhere. Tli «nl»ful
r past favors, she still solicits a share of p;*t;\m-
m »\ 4
COMMENCEMENT.
W ILL bet><ken at PUGH’S FINE ART GAL
LERY, for a short time if wanted by thedoz.,
Superior Photographs,
FOB ONLY 50 CENTS APIECE.
Now is ) our lime; you can give all of your friends
good Jikenc-ss at a less cost by a hundred per cent.
ian if you go elsewhere, and we will warrant every
picture as good as can be had at any Gallery in the
ate. COLORED PHOTOGRAl-HS life sizestill
ken at REASONABLE PRICES.
Ambrotypes, Melaneotypes, &c.,
ut lip in neat cases .‘or ONE DOLLAR and up
wards.
Our motto is to do a large bu-iness at sm dl pro
fits. So give us a call and see if we don’t please 1 ou.
{00111s ill TRIANGULAR BLOCK. june 8
C AND O FIGURE- 5 and
O VER STEEL SYTHEi
GRA-hS HOOKS;
mav 18
nrranted Blades: ‘ML
SNATHES. SICKLES.
iTBAW R AKES, f r sale by
N. WEED. Mac on, Ga.
THRASHING mmn
N. WEED, M,
HORSE POWEI
E
MOR Y'S Celnbi a
SINCLAIR S L
WHITMANS L
>f which \rc. warrant
se. For tale at M
ay 18
1 R til R
, r Horse
d td
rk
tIL
ut i
W lieat
C -t R ANT'S Patent Fan Mills
J CLINTON’S Celebru-ed
BROWN’S Virginia Fill
all complete with Sieves and
X. WEED, M> eon,
*ans.
all sizes ;
Fan Mills, all si
Mills.all sizes,
l arranted. for si
X. WEED. 'Eicon.
Mackerel and Shad.
O NE HUNDRED packages -V '
10 1
Daily expected by J. B
apl IS
ekled Shad,
St W. A. ROSS
Bacon,
OA AAALBS. A No. 1. Tennessee Bieon.well
OU.' 'UU cured and trimmed, in store and for
gale fiy BEARDEN A GAINES,
may 4—11
CE ! ICE ! ! !CE ! ! !
MACON ICE COMPANY.
D DEMPSEY, J .. Third-Street, Macon, Ga ,
.Agentof M Powell A Co, Savannah, grateful
lor past patronage, begs leave to inform the citizens
of Macon and euriounling country, that he is pre
pared to furnish lee in any quantity during tile sea
son, at the lolhiwi g prices, viz :
Ice by the Block, lj cents per pound, cost price
or Blanket.
Ice t\ the Hhd. li cents per pound, cost price for
«lhd.
Ice by the Bid. 1 j cents per pound, cost price for
l>\
«ll qua*
•a eV t:<
tin
nts pi-
ou lid.
1 J'-ll
addr
faitl.tu
Thcp 1
ir a'sha
1 of public patr
for three \
ears the
h. is a guara.
liter
■ that
■ "*PP l y at
all t
tmis,
House our <
awn
Ice
- cdtoD I
I,.;:,,
illv uTteude
d to
hat theie v
ill t
>e no
:he season.
\\ <
■ ask
aiiti shall e
indtr
avor
rush and ch<
)ice
sup-
D. Dempsey, Jr., also of
ply of
Groceries
Fruits, F'.rb in 1 asoE. Pickled .Meats, Ham, Bacon,
Laird, fine Hotter and family Supplies in general—
constantly renewed, ns good as can he furnished in
Hits market and at theuu .-t reason.-, ble prices Call
u.d.- c. D. DEMPSEY, Jr.,
may -A'. 1 m.
aw Mill.
Mill in Houston
New Die am
H
AV1NG btarted i. Attain Su
County, bunt civcu miles
lending from R rr\ to Aim
>, that wc can tun.Lh >.sgn
hun any other Mill, Imvin
Timber, and t>imd JSaw\ers.
V\ < 5 will
rid the surroundi.- n - . . r
other Mills, or tho time.- wi'l nJinit ot
nut Lumber will u»» dmiht, hud it u
c tho tel
>l better Lu
best ol I*in
I Bills from Macau. Fort Valley.
,ng com try. upon „s good lei
to gl
turn :
u» tl
• ills'
pos
ri.-ibJ*-
. rv, Houston county, Ga.
JOHN H. THOMAS, and
JOilN A. . HO.Y1A5.
e 15-tf
: Journal A Messenger copy tf.