Georgia telegraph. (Macon, Ga.) 1844-1858, June 29, 1858, Image 1

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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.