'71
r
1
JL 1
HTRI.ISHED WEEKLY BY CII C. RABOTEAU,
TERMS: $2 50 PER ANNUM IN ADVANCE, OR
53 00 IF PAIMIEST IS BELATED SIX JIOXTCS.
, EDITOR AM ?riOPRIETOIU-
V ' -
VOL. III.
RALEIGH, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 1850.
NO. 35
mm
i i y 1 1 lilt i i
VOL JLJ kJ'o
TERMS.
Tun Ru.eim Timkb will be iieut to Subscribers
at Txru Dollars and lr." ,er annum, if paid iu ad
vaiir.0. 'Hires IMInrj will be chargfld, if payment
b - dnlsyod six iiiuiiiIm. Tlii-se Terms will be invaria
bly adhered to.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
For evry Sixteen linen, or left, One Dollar for the
first, anil Twenty-five Cents for each subsequent iu
S'rtion. Court Onleia, tit:, will be charged 25 per
ci"it. higher; hut a reasonable deduction will be made
to those who advertise by the year.
TT Letters mi business, and all Communications
Iitended lor publiculioti, ivust be addressed to the
Kdilor, and pot paid.
v From tko Times Extra, of July 27,
The Five Certifiers
Who they are.
Our self respect forbids us to en
ter into any personal controversy
with the pettifogger and toad
eater who edits that vile and in
famous sheet the Raleigh Standard;
and does all the filthy work of his
party with the gusto of a mean
soul fed on rancour and falsehood
for many years past.
Yielding him the palm with all
cheerfulness, in that line for which
he seems to have a natural procliv
ity and congenial taste, we shall
continue to keep the public advised
of the troth in relation : to the
slanderous charge brought by cer
tain Rockingham gentry ag'tist Gov j
Manly, first of whom is the honor-j
able David S. Reid, backed by T B
Wheeler, J S Robinson, jr. E W
Hancock, J W Ellington, and T
Ruflin, jr.
The character of lieid is well
known. ; The inquiry instituted into
it, during two canvasses, has suffi
ciently exposed, the hypocrisy and
ihconsistencies of his public life
and his private character may hard
ly escape censure, when we consi
der the 'morality which permitted
him to throw himself into the arena
as the inventor and, propagator of
charges which his pure and high
minded competitor at once pro
nounced false and calumnious ! '
The I ivc certifiers above named
have been brought before the public
in that vilo and dirty sheet the J2al.
Standard, which lavishes upon them
the extreme of fulsome panegyric.
It begins at the end, and informs us
that "T Ruffin jr. is a son of Chief
Justice Ruffirr !" Is it possible! Of
course, thciij every virtue undcrhca
ven belongs to him of right ! How
dare you, base plebians., to doubt the
word of "a son of Judge Ruffin ?
The son of such an exalted person
age, the inference is, could never
misunderstand, and therefore mis
represent anybody, even a political
opponent ! But that is not all.
"TB Wheeler i3 the Clerk of
Rockingham court," which court
we are not informed. All right a
gain ! I A clerk never lies! "Messrs
Ellington, Robinson and Hancock
a re also gentlemen of respectability
and well known in Rockingham and
the adjoining counties as men of
veracity and honor. DCr" Some of
the signers are Whigs," Acc.
Not living in an adjoining county
of course we know little or nothing
about these "gentlemen of respect
ability," But a friend upon whom
we can rely, and who knows them
Veil, advises us as follows:
"GaEEKSBOttu' July 25th, 1850,
C. C. Raboteab, Esq.
Dear Sir: I have just received slip from
Jon in which the names of the persons who have
given a certificate of the position assumed for Gov.
thinly in his address at Wcntwnrth appear.
t wan not preaent at the discussion, but have
seen wimp as respectable persons as (lie State af
fords who were present, and who by no Means un
derstood Manly at those person whose certificate
Iran fttrntshed fur the Standard. The certificate
slates that some of them are Whigs, anil by no
means c'i sire to injure the election of Guv. Maaly.
1 know the men very Welt, and their politics alio,
except Joseph S. Robinson, Jr. .. .. .
Tin ma U. Wheeler is a Democrat t Lor ofoco
xaml is etcrnuHy interfering and intriguing in
every elrffion thai takes place in the County,
tolifluvr by the Cmirt 4f the" people," and fCrnnies
tin ether qnalifkujinn in the Candidate but Demo
cracy. He it even busily engaged in electioneer
hig fur professional men who are Democrats iu tlie
prosecution of their ordinary pOrsnils. . - .' .
E IV.; or EiAicl Wheeler Hantnek is Ilia fle
pVw, arid is never regarded as having ;iny opinion
of his own, hut acting in all thirds under (he
elreciinn utid control of his uncle T. O. Wheeler.
lit ii-a Pi'tiifK'rat, of conrsev .
J. W. r.!linj". married the auutof Cot. Reik
and is one of the must rabid Democrats of the
Slate, and recognises no qualification for office but
Locnfocoism,
T. Ruffin is a Democratic candidate in that
County for the House of Commons.
Joseph S. Robinson, jr. la a young man ; a
neighbor of Col. Reid; and has always been un
derstood to be a Democrat, as his father is; and is
an obscure young man. If he casts a Whig vote
this summer for Mr. Manly, I snppose it will be the
first he ever cast in his life. Of one thing I am
certain, that there are no Whigt, as stated in the
certificate.
The facts above stated would be coroborated by
every respectable man in the County. If the bal
ance of the statement made by Reid's uncle and
others be as antrue as that "some of these are
Whigs, and hare therefore no vish to in
jure (roe. Manly or hit election," they ought to
give nobody any uneasiness. It is certain they
did not believe it themselves, or felt conscious that
the world would not believe them; or they would
not have attempted to borrow ihecharacter of Whigs
to endorse them. Let the Register and other pa
pert have these facts, if you think them important.
Yours, with respect."
So fiiv the letter. We shall spire no pains
to investigate this outrageous and deceitful fraud
to the bottom. The truth we are determined to
have, and we fear the face of no man in its search
and exposition. Our informant above is reliable,
and every confidence may be placed in his state
ments. The Election is clusa at hand but this matter
will not terminate with its conclusion, The truth '
is bound to come.
MISCELLANY.
"PRESIDENTIAL STATISTICS."
The "Union," after remarking that Gens. Har
rison and Taylor are the only two Presidents who
died during the terms for which they were respec
tively elected, and Gen. Taylor's the only death
of a President which has occurred during the sess
ion of Congress, gives the following "Presidential
Statistics." ..'
"Gen. Washington closed his Administration on
on the 3d of March, 1797, and survived that event
near three years, having died on the 14th of De
cember, 1799, in the 6Sth year of his age.
John Adams followed General Washington on
the 4th of Much, 1797, and his administration
ceased or. theWof March, 1801. He survived
25 years, as he breathed his last on the same day
with Mr. Jefferson, VI: : on '.he 4th of July, 1826.
Thomat Jefferson succeeded ou the 4th of March,
1801, and his two terms ceased on the 3d of
March, 18ns. Ha srrvived the expiration of his
office 17 yeirs, as he died on theithof July, S2G,
in the 84th year of his age.
James Madison succeeded bis illustrious friend
on the 4th of Ma rch, 1809 On the 3d of March,
1817, his administration was brought to a close.
He survived until the 28th of June, 1836, in the
86th year of bis age.
James Monroe succoeded Mr. Madison on the
4th of March, 1817, and closed his administration,
on the 3d of March, 1 825. He died on the 4th of
July, 1831, in the 72d year of hit age.
The administration of Mr. John Q. Adams (the
only President who was elected by the House of
Representatives) commenrad on the 4th of March,
1825, and closed on the 3d of March, 1829. He
breathed his hist on the February, 1848.
Gen. Andrew Jackson succeeded Mr. Adams on
the 4th of March, 1829, and closed bis adminis
(ration on the 3d of March, 1837. lie died on the
8lhof June, 1845.
Martin Van Buren succecdei on the 4th of
March, 1837, and closed his administration on the
3d of March, 1841. He is still living.
General W. H. Harrison commenced his admin
istration on the 4th of March, 1841, which conlin
ed only for one month having breathed his last on
the 3th of April, 1841 , in the 69th year of his age.
He died at Washington during the recast of Con
gress. .
John Tyler was the first Vice President who
succeeded to the Presidency on the death of the
President. He followed Gen. Harrison in April,
1841, and closed his administration on the 3d of
March, 1845. He is still living. When Mr.Ty.
ler became the acting President, Mr. Southard be
came the acting Vice President, and upon hit
death, Mr. Mangum, one of the present Senators
from North Carolina, was elected and remained
the presiding ofticuf of "ie Senate until tlie end of
Mr, Tyler's term. ,
James K. Polk succeeded Mr. Tyler orl the 4th
of March, 1845, and closed his adiiiinittration on
the 3d of March, 1849. A few months after he
closed his eventful life.
Gen. Taylor came to the Presidency on the 4th
of March, 1849, and expired on the night of the
9th of July, I860, whilst Congress was in session.
lie is succeededby Millard Fillmore, the sec
ond Vice President who takes the place of the de
ceased President. He has succeeded to office in
the midst of a crisis which has never before oc
curred. Every friend to the country wishes him
success in contributing his best and most earnest
efforts towards adjusting all these questions, and
giving peace to his distracted country." ,
V1 "DONE TO THE LIFE." :
Any one who has heard a fashionable young la
dy ting at art evening pany and who hat not en
joyed that extraordinary pleasure t will recog
nizt the following picture at drawn from life :
i - !.i,.M-, . , , Rich. Republican.
"The young lady, nn being led for the piano,
first throws a timh) glance arotnd the Rkw, osten
sibly evince a gentle ennfosion, but In reality to
tee who blocking l her. Slis tlien observes to
the Buttress of the house, that she it not h very
h) voice, which she confirms bv a faint to and.
tcincihing between t igh, a tiuilif and a single j
knock tough. The hostess replies, Oh, but you
always ting so delightfully.' The young lady an
swers, that 'she cannot sing this evening'; to
strengthen which opinion, she makes tome young
gentleman exceedingly joyous, by giving him her
'bouquet to hold, and drawing off her gloves in the
ulbst approved style, tucks them behind one of the
candlesticks, together with her flimsy handerchief,
in such a fashion that its deep laced border or em
broidered name may be seen to the best advant
age. The top of the piano, which had b.;jn open
ed for the quadrilles, it then shutdown by an ac
tive gentleman, who pinches his fingers in the at
tempt ; the musician forma a series of dissolving
views, and disappears, no one knows where, nor
ev.er will ; and the young lady takes her place
at tho piano, ud .as tiie plays the cords of
die key she it about to luxuriate in, eveiy one is
not perfectly silent, to the finds the music stool is
too high, or too low, or something of that kind, and
the pedals are exceedingly hard to find. At
length, everything being still, she plays the sym
phony again, and then smiling at the hostess, and
saying that she is certain she shall break down,
brings out the opening note of the recitative, which
makes the drops of the chandelier vibrate again,
and silences a couple who are whispering all torts
of soft nothings on a causeuse in the backdrawing
room." :
an Incident of the president.
The acts and speeches which marked the closing
scenes of Gen. Taylor's life will doubtless be gath
ered up and treasured in the memory cfhia coun
trymen. The following anecdote is related of him
and whether truly reported or not, is certainly
characteristic. The New York Mirror says :
It is but a few days since, when a delegation
raited upon bim to remonstrate against his liberal
position on the slavery question, and to talk of
(istminn as the inevitable consequence of tho ad
mission of California as a free state, that he utter
ed those memorable .words : "Gentlemen," said
the President, "if ever the flag of Disunion is rais
ed within the borders of these TJ. States while I
occupy the Chair, I will plant tlie stars and stripes
alongside of it, and with mv otvn hand strike it
down, if nota soul comes to my aid south of Ma
son and Dixon's line." :
PATRIOTISM AND RESIGNATION.
There is no virtue more highly commended by
philosophy and religion than Resignation, or an
uncomplaining submission to those events which
cannot be avoided. Where thit submission is
prompt and cheerful, so much the more exalted is
the virtue. Resigning an office where it cannot
be retained, is an evidence ol very exalted merit !
The following paragraph from the Asheville (N.
C.) Messenger, is an illustration -.Rich. Rep.
"Gek, Saunder's Patriotism 'The moment
I heard, (said Gen. S. in his spepch to the Demo
cratic Convention,) that Gen. Zachary Taylor
was to occupy the White Hour", sent home my
resignation.' Tremendous applause; but the Gen
eral added with emphasis,1!' at the sometime said
to the department, if you sec proper to retain me, I
shall be pleased to serve my country, or you may
act your pleasure.' At this finishing stroke of
patriotism ard independence, the silence of death
reigned throughout the cap Hot. The 'tiring was
pulled in the wrong place."
GOV. GRAHAM.
The Petersburg Intelligencer paid the following
compliment to North Carolina and to Gov. Gra
ham, when the rumor of his appointment to a Ca
binet station first appeared : "Among the names
mentioned in connection with the new Cabinet, we
have been much gratified to observe that of Wm.
A. Graham, of North Carolina. Wo have had,
perhaps, better opportunities than any Editor out
of North Carolina, to learn the character of this
gentleman, and we can truly say that we know of
no Cabinet appointment which ought to give more
entire satisfaction to the South thau that ot Gov.
Graham, With great talents, he combines firm
nets, moderation, and a character which scandal
itself has never attempted to stain. Our contem
poraries ii North Carolina, with a proper telf-re-
spect, have never complained of tho distribution of
distinguished offices ander Genl. Taylor's admin
islrafion. But it may be permitted to an Editor in
another State to tay that the did not receive under
that administration what wat due to her. When
other States veered from their true orbits, and when
our own Virginia twice in ten years turned her
back jon her native born tons, North Carolina
truly and steadily maintained the ascendancy Of
Whig principles; and she wat entitled to tome-
thing better than t mission to Spain, if in truth
that appointmeut was given to her, or in compli
ance with her solicitation."
MRS. PARTINGTON AGAIN.'
It will be seen by the following, that Mrs, Par
tington hi still about :
"Put on your shawl and bonnet, and come right
along, said Mrs. Partington, at she ruthed
breathless into her neighbor'!. ''An antiquated
gentleman lias just surrfred in town with i fem
inine priestcraft right from Egypt ,1 wouldn't
have believed it, nototiut for voracity. A live
mummy three thousand yean ohf. ' She got baliny
whenihe wat eighteen, and an't grown old a
particle since. But only think Mrs1. Cranbyl
they're going to strip her right before the auditory,
Shant you faint f Mrs. Peabody says there wont
be a single immortal feeling engendered, .as the
mummy man knows nothing about genders.-'
Do hurry ! for I wt of to hnt the interruption
of the hipnputtainattet fonnd in the sysosparow
grass." A Mrs. Archer, of Eaton, O'lis, recently presen
ted her astonished husband with four little respon
sibilities. 'IiH!Ktt- AWeIirvoitU rtntone snflxe?"
A KISSING HOLIDAY.
The English correspondent of the New York
Commercial Advertiser gives the following des
cription of one of the Easter Holidays, which
he passed in a small town in the heart of Staf
fordshire: On discending to the httle parlor of the inn, on
Monday morning, I perceived that all the hou
hold were in the gayest attire, and that no one en
tertained any serious notion! of work or business.
I had dispatched my solita7 breakfast of ham and
eggs and other country dainties, and wat looking
out with mixed feelings of delight and envy upon
the prospect before me, when the dour of my room
was suddenly flung open, and six rosy .cheeked,
ringleted young women entered, touring very
m uch, and looking very foolish at each other, and
then at inc.
But to be left alone in a little room with half a
dozen girls requires some ne rve, and I conless I
began to feel rather qualmish. I am rather bash
ful besides very bashful, and therefore have a
mortal repugnance to being thus exhibited gratis,
and so lo put an end to the scene I said, in as
careless a tope as I could command: "what't the
matter, Mary ?"
"Well, sir," she answered, "I see you don't un
derstand our ways, but you must sit in this chair
which I had not perceived, in the back staves of
which were entwined laurel, ivy and flowers."
Anxious to conciliate them, I complied with her
request, resigning myself to my fate with desper
ate fortitude. Scarcely had I taken my seat when
they lifted me up in the chair as high as they
could, three or four times, laughing most out
rageously at my looks of bewildered horror. I
gave myself up for lost, an unfortunate youth,
who had strayed into a rustic wilderness, far
from his home and his frends, entrapped, ensnared
and forcibly carried away by six violently beau
tiful girls ; but if I was horror-struck at this pro
ceeding, judge, what was my consternation when
the leader of the assailants, that very Mary, who
had brought my breakfast halfan hour before, and
leered upon me as only a charming wicked wo
man can leer, advanced, sized me ronnd the neck,
and impressed upon my half parted lips a fero
cious kiss ! This was the climax. I defied des
tiny from that instant, and resolved to meet my
fate like a martyr. "La, sir," said Mary, "I de
clare you are quite alarmed ; I must have another
to bring you to your senses." Ar.d she had an
other, and it did bring me to my senses. How
soon one gets used to kissing ! All my terror had
vanished at the salute or the third damsel, and I
repaid the lip-service of the sixth with interest. I
got to fond of the sport that i even wanted to re
peat the performance and would not have cared to
employ the whole day in such pastime.
"Now, sir," said Mary , "you must know that
this it our 'heaving day ;' to-day the yonng girls
heaves the young men, whoever they can catch,
gentle or simple ; and to-morrow the young men
heaves we, as they can catch us, and them as
don't get a kiss, man or woman, pays forfeit."
I was also informed that it was customary to give
some trifling gratuity to the ladies as a keep-sake;
a practice to which I conformed by giving tome
trifle of money, which they did not keep long, and
they left mo well pleased with the success of their
exploit while I was no loss so.
I rode in the mail coac h, to within about two
miles of my friends hou-;e, and wtlked the remain
ing distance. My road lay through narrow lanes
and across fields, until I en me upon a small village,
Hitherto I had not met a soul, but was walking
merrily on whistling or singing, in love with all
the world, not omitting the most important item in
the aggregate myself. , But hs I entered the
straggling villiage, I could perceive gowns and
many colored caps fitting backward and forward,
and I had an intuitive consciousness of women,
resolved on heaving achievements, lying in am
bnsh behind impervious hedges, which filled me
with strange trepidation. I proceeded, however,
calling up a look of magnificent stand-off-or-I'll
bite you exp ression, thinking, in the innocence
of my head, to check too familiar advantages by
an assumed hauteur.
I wat miscrebly deceived, for a strong built
young lady, in a state of the most barbarous health,
came forward to meet me, with an artful careless
ness of manner evidently wishing topursuade me
that I was unnoticed, and that she was only going
to the spring for a pail of water ; but when the
arrived within grappling distance she flung her pail
away, clasped me rudely around the Waist, and
before I could say alas, the lifted me from my feet
and kissed me with violence. She offered no a
pology for thut assaulting me on the Queen's
highway, but laughed in my face immoderately
and called out "Sukey, I've got him !'' Oh dear,
scarcely had she spoke before Sukey ami Bet and
Polly and a dozen others sprang into being from in
visible placet, and I was surrounded by a laugh
ing, shouting group of unfeeling, robustious fe
males. '.-,'.;...
i expostulated and entreated in vain;, i was
pulled about, lilted up and tossed without mercy,
till making a desperate rally, I burst from their em
braces tnd fled along the lane at the top of my
speed, followed by derisive cheers from my baffled
pursuers, and thout of laughter from the ir hut
bands, fathers atld brothers, who had left the Red
Lion to tee the sport ! .
i i I, a. j.
. , A writer in the Augusta Republic suggests tha
it would be well for the public to know who are
managing the newspapers of the South, fie de
sires to knew wliere the editors were "burn or ed
etd,or both." We can inform the Republic
tha t most of them Were not bom at all. They gen
erally came by chance, tome were won In a ruffle,
some floated down the river on a plank, and some
enme from no where In particular. As to their
education, at Mr. Toots says, "that' of no con
sequence whatever, not the slightest."
K, O. Picmjun:
THE SUBJECT OF TEMPERANCE.
A Circular has been addressed by the Central
Temperance Union, to the citizens of the State.
The Meeting was addressed by A. G. Coffin, Judge
Dick, Rev. Mr. Montgomery, of Lexington, Rev.
John A. Gretter and others; when, on motion, the
following manifesto was unanimously adopted as
embodying the views and sentimentsof this Union.
And the co-operation of the moral and religions of
every sect, party and denomination is respectfully
solicited, to aid and assist by every lawful, honor
able and constitutional means, to bring the subject
in its proper light before our next Legislature.
The iV(ft Carolina Temperance Union, lo the
Citizens of the Slate Greeting : In viewing the
many evils growing out of the abuse of alcoholic
drinks, we are at a loss to suggest any idea of re
form which will meet the exegenciee of the case
short of total abstinence; still we believe, some
thing may be done by calling the attention of tlie
public to the existing license law to retail spirits
by the small measure.
Tlie present law, as generally understood, it that
when a man can prove a good moral character tho
County Court is compelled to grant him a license
to retail spirits thereby giving a legal sanction to
the practice of tipling. Let us pause a moment
and look to the law of probabilities as to the result
even in point of economy. Here we increase the
funds of the State some ten doliars, and give to one
individual a r.(,,it to charge an extravagant price
for an article which is neither food nor raiment;
but from which spring riot, disorders, disease and
death. Are not the chances aeainst tlie svstem ?
Will not the expenses of prosecutions against the
frequenters of those respectable places of refresh'
ment, (to say nothing of private loss,) overbalance
the sums imposed by law on the keepers of those
establishments? We say unhesitatingly that they
will. If we are wrong, v hope some kind person
will set us right.
We would now ask who is benefited by the sys
tem? Not that highly gifted physician, whose
bloated countenance and uncertain sten heaneak
the premature decayofall his powers physicalann
intellectual. Not that popular and talented lawyer,
whose frequent absence from the post of duty
shakes the confidence of hit numerous and res-
pectable clients; whose blunders and mcohersncies
grieve his friends and afford a subject of triumph
to his enemies. Not that fair and promising stu
dent, the pride and hope ot parents and friends,
who, allured by the example of bis elders who
stand high in the estimation of the world, takes an
occasional glass at the fashionable and respecta
ble confectionary, until found in the lowest hole of
abomination with which the village or town in
which he resides it cuned an awful specimen of
youthful depravity.
We believe it S conceded fact, that the laws of
our S.-.e are intended to be formed on, and to be
agreeable to, common sense and justice ; and if
found to be otherwise, should be repealed or a
mended. Now we suggest to the public the pro
priety of so altering the present law as to give to
the Justices of the several counties, a majority
being present, the discretionary power of granting
or withholding license tn retail spirits in their to
speclive counties, and to make the vender of spirit
ons liquors liable to the owners of slaves, to mas
ters of indented apprentices, to guardians, and pa
rent", for any loss that they may sustain arising
from the effect of spirilous liquors told to any slave,
apprentice, child or ward under age, without a
written consent from the masler,parent er guardian,
Further we beliere the practice of hawking
spirits about to our public vendues, elections and
musters by free negroes and white people of the
worst imaginable character, to be a nuisance, and
to require the more strict enforcement of tho pres
ent laws or the enactment of some new ones, in or
der to arrest the strong current of vice and intem
perance which is now sweeping over our land.
In making this appeal we disclaim all motives
save the welfare and happiness of the whole com
munity ; but believing that those who tow the wind
will reap the whirlwind, we have been induced to
publish thit manifesto, for the teriout considera
tion of all moral and religious persona.
Al) Editors friendly to temperance are request
ed to copy the above.
, Signed by order of Cent. Tern. Union,
JESSE WHEELER, Pres. pro tem.
Jcnr Beesou, See. pro tem.
WONDERFUL CASE.
In the Americas Journal of the Medical
Sciences, edited by Isaac Hats, M. D., and pub
lished by Lea Si Blanchard the July number
we find a full account of one of those marvellous
surgical eases of tremendous injury to tho most vi
tal organ, followtd by unexpected recovery and
restoration to perfect health which every one
feels lo be so incredible per tt aa to require th'
most absolute and overwhelming proof in every
particular before yielding belief.
The ease we allude to, which occurred in New
England nearly two years ago, and was then one
of the nine days' wonders of tlie press, wat thai
of a man who, by a premature explosion while
blasting rooks, had a large bar of iron drtvon
through his head clear through, traversing face
and brain 'Without being killed on .the spot, or,
indeed, teeming to be very unusually harmed
thereby.: The American Journal of the Medical
Sconces has, for its initial article, a full, com
plete, and authentic history of the case, from the
time when it occurred on tlie 13th of September,
1840, up to January of the present year, when the
patient vUited Boston, and was examined by vari
ous medical bodies sad distinguished -practitioner!,
Including Dr. HekrT J. Giactow, Professor Of
Surgery in Harvard University, by whom the des
cription is contributed to U Jounlil. The papr
includes the official statements of Dr. Ebwaito
II. Williams, of Nurthfield, Vermont, wlio fjr,i
saw the patient, and Dr. J, M. Harlow, of Cav
endish, who attended him throughout tho wholo
case; as well as certificates from J eph A-lsms,
a justice of the peace, and the Ri-v. 'oseph Free
man, who were witnesses personally' conversant
Willi the facts. It is altogether so smtzihg esse,
so perfectly authenticated in all particulars, and of
an interest so fur above all mere techniral or pro
fessional interest, that we think we ran du no bet
ter than condense its leading features lor the grat
ification of our readers.
The sufferer in the case, PhineasP. Gsje, a
young man of twenty-five,"shrewd and intelligent,"
a contractor nr head-wurkman on the Rutland and
Burlington railroad, had charged with gunpowder
a hole drilled in the rock, and directed his assis
tant to fill in the siind; supposing which done, he
dropped his tamping iron into the hole to drive the
sand homo. It happened, however, through some
inadvertence, that the sand had not been poured
in ; and the yjonstrikinefire upon the rock, tlio
powder wail inflamed and the accident produced,
by the iron being blown out like ramrod shot
from a gun. The tamping iron was a round rod
three feet seven inches in length, and an inch ami a
quarter in diameter, tapering toa point at the top,
and weighing thirteen and a quarter pounds.
The whole o( this immeiise weight and length,
this bar or bludgeon of iron, was driven through
Gage's face and brain, as he stooped over the
hole in the act of tamping the sand. It struck him
on the left cheek inst IwhinH nnil hplnw tho mm,it.
a?cenJed j)to ,he brai, W(ind ,he k,ft '
from the skull, which it shattered and raised up,
"like an inverted funnel," for a distance of about
two inches in every direction around the wound,
flew through the air, and was picked up by the
workmen, "covered with blood and brains," sev
eral rods behind where he stood. Gage, who was
also more or less scerched, was prostrated, appa
rently less by the blow of the iron than the force or
the explosion. He fell on his back, gave a few
convulsive twitches of the extremities, but "spoke
in a few minutes." His men placed him in art
ox-cart, in which he rode three quarters of a mile
tahis lodgings, sitting erect ; got out ol the cart
himself, and with but little assistance ; walked to
the niazza and afterwards nn stairs, lalliinir railnn.
,0 llle phvsiciang and ivi ft cmpr
account of the accident than his friends could ;oc
casionally vomiting up blood, the effort of which
caused haemorrhage from the wound, with the ac
tual loss of a considerable portion of the substance
of the brain. The left eye was dull and glassy,
but was sensible to the impression ol light. Gage
bore his sufferings with heroic fortitude, telling Dr.
Williams, "here is business enough for you," and
expressing to Dr. Harlow the hope thit "he was
not much hurt."
Of course it forms no part of our intention to
give a detailed account of the treatment and man
agement of the case, which is not varied by any
circumstance of interest to persons not of the me
dical profession We merely note, generally, fb-.t
for the first ten days everything went on we!!, G.
being, with some intervals of natural delirium from
fever, pretty rational and hopeful. At the clnseof
this period, he lost the sight of the 1'e.t and
lay for nearly a fortnfghl in a semi-ccmalose state,
or partial stupor ; that he then began to improve .
in body and mind ; was, within two months, walk
ing about the streets, in defiance of instructions;
suffered- a relapse, in consequence ; and, finally,
being recovered from thit. was, in the tenth week,
free from pain, a nd rapidly convalescing. C
"The leading featureof thitease,'' says Profes
sor Bigelow, "is its Improbability." A physician,
who holds in his hands a crowbar three feet and a
half long nd more than thirteen pounds in weight,
will not readily believe that it has been driven with
a crash through the brain of a man who ft still
able to walk off. talking with composure and equa
nimity of the hole in his head." Prof. B. justly
describe the case at one perhaps onpart deled In -the
annals of surgery, and says that at first he was
wholly skeptical, but that he was personally con.
vinced. Mr. Gage, as we said, visited Boston in
January, and was for tome time nndef the Profes
sor's observation, who had hia head shaved and a
cast taken ; which, with the tamping iron, It now
deposited in the Museum of the Massachusetts Me
dical College. At that time the woundt were per
fectly healed, tlie only vestiges cf tlie accident br
ing blindness, and an unusual prominence of the
left eye, with paralysii of the lido scar en the
cheek, and another on the skull, showing the irre
gular elevation of a piece of bone about the site of
the palm of the hand and behind it, ah irregular
and deep hollow, several inches in length, beneath
which the pulsations of the brain are perceptible.
Taking all the circumstances into consideration,
ssys Prof. Bipelow, it may be doubted whether the
present it not the most remarkable history of Mtjsry
to the bfaln which hat ever been recorded. Thit
is unquestionably true ( but considering She little
res! injury done to Mr. Unge't head, by the past
age of a tumping Iron through it, tlie wonde is
fhst a pistol bullet a buckshot or evens Ijttlo
needle dan do to much execution on the heads of
other people.
AN OLD SALT.
Capt. Tucker, who was master of an East In.
diaman, often elicited remarks from his acquain
tances on his appearance, Si fee invariably kept nn
hi!,"nauticalt" in pojtviswellat atsea. When
in Calcutt, oneia friend, eyeing his pea-jack
and sou' cstor, said :
"Captain, why tfbiit you 'pruw p,,' wh,, n
port? r ' ' ' ' '"
"Oh," laid tile captain, tdpdy knows mft
lier.". ; '; .. '.- . ' i ...,. , .",
: ship rfiW Salem. vj, he -Ctpuin.
MUt'.let'ing up, the wharf In fcin"Sj( iln.U, was
t S uu ""eu mm inrpauie .
ijueo.
on. , -
Iny dear fellow'!, lie rrplW, vfry
knows me here," i .