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About Grant County news. (Canyon City, Or.) 1879-1908 | View Entire Issue (May 6, 1882)
The Grant County News. ri79LKHXDZTXKr ATUXDAT X9XXIX3 AT C1ITOK CITY, OEMOI, BY J". JE 2$TF) ATi. Almost Burled Alive, According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Josephine Ryman, a fair-haired, blue eyed young woman, is just recovering from a remarkable illness at the home of her sister, Mrs. Brown, at Evansville, Ind. Her parents died some years ago, and Josephine went to work in St. James, a little village near by. One Saturday night last winter she went to the singing sohool. She had not been in her seat long when she felt a very strange sensation about her head, accom panied by pains in the back. She arose to her feet, as if to start out of the church, when she fell in a dead faint, and was carried home. Her friends at first thought that the attack was but a mere fainting spell, and the usual restoratives were applied, but the girl continued to lie as if dead. Sunday came and went, but still there was no change. The body became colder and colder, the eyes were open and staring, the lips were apart, there was no perceptible pulse.and every indication pointed to death. Physioians pronounced life extinct. The priest was sent for to administer the last rites, and the weeping sisters and friends of the family prepared to bid Josephine the last farewell. The coffin was ordered, busy fingers began'to prepare the white olothes in which to bury the corpse, and in fact, every preparation was made for the final scene. Thus passed Monday. On the evening of that day there was a slight change in the appearance of the body, which gave the startled watchers a faint hope that the girl lay in a trance, and that this was but death s counterfeit. The body lay on its back, with arms folded, just as the attendants placed it. There was not the least perceptible breathing: the eves stil had that stony, unmeaning gaze; the face was as pallid as white marble; but the iciness of real death was wanting. The feet and limbs were not warm, but they did not have that chilly touch that is i sure accompaniment of actual dissolu tion. There was sufficient doubt in the minds of those in attendance to warrant cautidn, and so another day and night passed. On Wednesday, or the fourth day after the girl was first stricken down, the priest was again sent for. After crit ically examining the case and consulting with the physician, he saiu: "It is a trance. She may come to herself, but it will be but momentary. When she re lapses all will be over. She can't live." Accordingly the funeral was set for the next day. Imagine the feelings of hor ror which possessed this girl when it is . known that she "was cognizant of every word that was spoken in that room, and could see the forms of her friends and watchers about her couch. Her terrible situation is best told by herself. She said: "Oh, sir, it was horrible. As I lay there on my back, stretched out on the boards, with my arms crossed and feet tied together, with the lighted candles about my head, and could see my sisters and neignbors come anu peer into my face it was awful. I heard every word spoken. My body, limbs and arms were as cold as ice. I thought of the agony of being buried alive, of being nailed m a coffin and lowered in the ground. I tried to make some noise or move just a little to let them know that I was alive, but it was impossible. I saw my sisters come in one by one anu jook into my face. 'Poor Josie, she s gone. Their tears dropped on my hair, and their kisses were warm to my Irps. As they turned to leave me, it seemed as if I must make an effort to attract their at tention, if only by moving my eyelids. But I conldn't do it. I felt like scream ing. I tried to, but I couldn't move a muscle. The priest came in, and felt my arms and wrists. He shook his head. Then he placed his ear to my heart. It was no use. He could not hear it beat. After saying a short prayer for the re pose of my soul, he turned and left me, and my agony and horror were redoubled. Will no one find out that I live?' said I to myself. 'Must I be buried to wake only when it is too late? Must I come back to life when they put me in the vault, and all of the people have gone away, only to die of fright and horror and suffocation?' The thought was madness! Why dosen't the doctor do something to bring mo to myself? I am not dead!' It was of no use. There I lay thinking and listening to every word that was said. I could hear a woman giving directions as to the making of a shroud. I heard the time set for the fun eral and all. I tried to look conscious and let them know that I understood it all, but it was impossible. It is a won der I did not die of fright and agony. I often think that I would sooner die, a thousand times sooner, than go through that experience again. Finally, when all had left the room but two or three, some one said: 'Ain't you going to cut her hair off?' My hair was done up in long braids and fell down my back. 'Yes,' said my sisterwe'll cut it now.' Then they got the scissors and came up to me. While one of them took hold of my head and turned it to one side, the other, with the scissors, began the cutting. I could feel the cold on my neck. I realized that this was about the last thing they'd do before putting me in the coffin. The woman began to clip, and a second or two one long braid of my hair was taken off and laid aside. My head was then turned the other way to allow them to get at the other braid, but this was not touched. Thank God! something in my condition, or some movement, I don't know what it was, caused my sister to scream, and I was saved. The scissors dropped to the floor with a loud noise, the woman jumped back, nearly scared to death, and I sat up. You should have seen the house a little while after that. I thought everybody had gone crazy. 'Venie's alive!' 'Venie's alive!' The whole neighborhood came rushing in as soon as they heard of it, and for several days there was nothing talked about but me. My folks thought I didn't know what was going on. Little they thought that every word spoken in that room was heard and understood by me. They tried to keep everybody from referring to the fact that my shroud was bought, the coffin ordered and the funeral arranged. They made an ex cuse, too, for part of my hair being cut off. They told me the reason of it was that a plaster had been put on the back of my neck, and my hair got so tangled that it had to be cut away. I didn't say anything. One day my little brother said to ne: ''Venie, you was going to be buried last Thursday, and they cut your hair off.' He never imagined that I knew more about it than he did. The recollection of those terrible days and nights will never leave me. I pray to God that I may never be called upon to pass through it again. I would rather die." Agriculture in America. Most prominent among the factors that have contributed toward the extra ordinary development and prosperity of agriculture in the United States is, un questionably, the great native fertility of soils, ns yet unexhausted in the newer States and territories, whioh are thus enabled to pour out upon the East and upon Europe the accumulated soil treas ures of many ages. That these cannot hold out forever, or even for years to come, is an inexorable law of nature; and the steady diminution per acre in the States east of the Mississippi river resulting in their increased inability to compete in the growing of cereals with the newer States, has long given warn ing that the experience of the Old World is being repeated on the new continent, and that the old and ever re curring question is upon us of maintain ing profitable productiveness by means of systematic culture and returns to the soil. Whether this question shall be allow- eel to assume the aspect 01 the menace that annually confronts the European : n. i:. "vr . or whether an ounce ot intelligent pre vention shall forestall the heavy burdens that will otherwise rest upon the coming generation and its industries, is the issue that must largely be determined by enlightened government action, in the face of the already inveterate bad habits of the vast majority of American farmers that are, as usual, promptly adopted by the European immigrant. The ravaging of the virgin soils by heavy cropping without change, or even the slighest attempt at return, followed by the "tnrning-out of the "tired land, and too often, by the washing away of the the surface soil from the hard plow-sole formed by shallow tillage, not uncom monly resulting in the definitive ruin of the land for agricultural purposes, is re peated more or less m every newly set tled region. Deserted homesteads, and melancholy old fields scarred with gul lies, mar the face ot the lanrt in the rear of the pioneer farmer, and impose upon his steadier successor a heavy tax, in the way of reclamation, on soils that if ra tionally cultivated would not have felt the need of manure for scores of years. For the want of the most rudimentary knowledge of agricultural facts and principles, the planters of the South have for three-quarters of a century wasted nine crops of cotton for every one made, by failing to utilize the chiet pro duct of their fields cotton seed for re turns to the soil, which needs but little more to maintain its full productiveness forever. Such a crving evil as this would hardly have been allowed to exist so long in any country less averse to the least semblance of paternal government with out something more than the faint warn- and remonstrances uttered from time to time in the periodical press, or in government documents. The great perfection attained by agricultural im plements for large-scale culture under the hands of American inventive skill, serves out to aau to tne rapidity witn which the process oi soil devastation is carried forward into new fields. Eugeue W. Hilgard in April Atlantic. Salt for the Throat. In these days, writes a correspondent, when diseases of the throat are so uni versally prevalent, and in so many cases fatal, we feel it our duty to say a worn in behalf of a most effectual, if not pos- itive, cure for sore throat, jjor many years past, indeed, we may say during the whole of a lite ot more tuan iorty 1 1 1. i. r. - vears,we nave oeen snujeut m tui unuuu and more particularly to a dry, hacking cough, which is not only distressing to ourselves, but to our friends and those . . . I 1 ! with whom we are Drought into uusiuess contact. Last fall we were induced to try what virtue there was in common salt. We commenced by using it three imes a day morning, noon, and night. We dissolved a large tablespoonfnl ot . . ... .lie- ii pure table salt m aoout nan a smau tumblerful of water. With this we gar gled the throat most thoroughly just be- ore each meal time. The result has bfipn flint, flnrinnr flip nnfivA uMiifpr Wfi were not only free from coughs and colds . O ..I 4- il. .1 i i.r -l i i i i aisappearea. we attrioute these gooa T - -i TtTF . . .1 . t I results soieiy to tne use oi salt gargle, and most .cordially recommend a trial of it to those who are subiecfc to diseases of tlio throat. 1 THE DRAW- BY JULIA K. HILDRETH. Polly Gardner had bean spending her vaca tion with Aunt Mary in the country. She would have been "perfectly happy" but that her father and mother were obliged to remain in the city. It was five weeks since she had seen them, and it seemed to Polly like five months. One lovely afternoon Polly sat on the horse block idly kicking one foot backward and for ward, watching Aunt Mary as she drove off on a visit to a sick neighbor. The birds were singing, bees wero humming, and the slender branches of the great gray-green willows that shadowed the road moved softly with every light puff of wind. Away off in the field over the hills Polly could hear the ring of the mow ers' scythes. Everything was so pleasanc and peaceful that she wished her parents were there to enjoy it with her. Just as Aunt Mary was hidden from Bight by a bend in the road, she hoard the crunching of wheels in the opposite direction, and, on look ing up, found it was another wagon, driven by Mr. Ward, the grocer and postman of Wil low Grove. He checked his horse at the gate, and began fumbling slowly in his coat pocket for something. After considerable searching he drew out a white envelope, and turning it Ikst one way and then another, shook his head, and began feeling in his pockets again, brought forth his spectacles, adjusted them carefully upon his nose, and once more began examining the let ter. At last he read in a loud voice: " 'Miss Pollv Garduor, in care of Mrs. Mary West, Willow "Grove. In haste.'" Then he peeped over his glasses severely at Polly, and asked sharply, "Who's Miss Polly Gardner? Do you know, little girl?" "Oh, that's me!" cried Polly, jumping from the horse-block, "and Mrs. Mary West is aunty, Please give me my letter. It is from mamma. I am so glad!" "Can you read?" asked Mr. Ward, he still holding the letter far above Polly's reach. "Yes, of course I can," criod Polly, indig nantly. "I am nine years old next week." "Well, well, Miss Polly Gardner, here's your letter. But if your mar hadn't put 'In haste' on the outside of it, you would have had to como and fetch yourself," said Mr. Ward, as he handed the letter down to Polly. "Thank you over so much," said Polly, tear ing her lotter open ne vously. After reading it once she said, "Oh!" in a delighted voice. "Nothing the matter?" inquired Mr. Ward, who still sa looking at Poll'. "No; but mother and father are coming to day, if this is the 24th of August.' "Yes, it's the 24th of August. But let's see your letter, anu l can ten you wliat they mean." Polly handed her letter back to Mr. Ward, who read it aloud slowly: Deaiiest Polly. Papa finds that ho can leave hiB business for a short time, 80 we have concluded to spend the reiuainder of your vacation with you and aunt Mary. We will take the train that reaches Willow Grove at 4:30 P. Al., on the 24th. Tell aunt Mury to meet us if she has the time. 'Love to all, and a thousand kisses from " 'Mamma and Papa.' "Well," said Mr. Ward, as he gave Polly back her letter, "they'll be here in about a half-hour, for it's almost four now. I guess I'll be moving: it's time I was back to the store." So he chirped to his horse, and then" turned the wagon, and was soon out of sight. s aunt Mary would not return before five o'clock, Polly determined to walk down to the railroad station, and meet her father and moth er alone. She had often been there with aunt Mary to watch the trains como and go. It was a small station, and very few people stopped there. Just before reaching the station the railroad crossed a draw-bridge. Polly liked to watch the men open and shut the draw as the boats in the river passed through. Thero was a foot path over this bridge, and Polly had once cross ed it- with aunt Mary. Thoy had stopped to speak to the flagman, who was pleasant and good-natured. He told Polly whero she could find some beautiful white lillies in a pond not far away. That was more than a week ago, and the flowers were not then open, and. now as Polly ran down the road, she thought she would have time to gather some for her par onts before the train arrived. When Polly reached the station sho found no ono there, and on looking at the clock, saw that it was only ten minutes past four, so she had twentv minutes to wait. Then she ran on quickly. The flagman stood by the draw, and Polly saw, some distance aown tno river, a small vessel coming toward the bri ;ge. She ran along rapidly, and as sho passed the flagman he called out: "Going for the pond lillies? The pond was all white with them when I went by this morn ing." "Yes, sir; I want to pick'Some for mamma and papa. They wrote me a letter and said thev were coming m the next tram." "You don't say so! Well, I guoss you're lorl T.nnlr mif fnr Hin lnnmnnfivn. fttirl 1nn'f take too long picking your nowors, ana you il havo plenty of time to get back before the train comes in. Polly thanked him and ran on. In about five minutes she reached the pond. How lovely the lilies looked, with their snowy cups resting uuon the dark water! But their stems were long and tough, and most of them grew far be- vond her reach. She contrived to secure four. Pollv was sorry to leave so many behind, but was afraid if she lingered too long she would miss the train. So, gathering up the blossoms, she pinned them into her belt, and scampered back toward the bridge. The boat had just sailed through the draw, and the man stood ready to close the bridge when Polly came up. He looked over Jtt her from the center of the bridge, and called out with a smile: "Couldn't you get any more flowers than these? If I had time to go to the pond you should have as many as you could carry. Polly smiled back at lum, and then began to watch him as he made ready to turn the trreat bridge back into place for the train to pass over. His nana was aireauy on tne crann, when a rope dangling over the railing of the bridcre attracted his attention. As he tried to pull it in it seemea to oe cangm unuorneam. Polly watched him lean over to get a petter hold, when, to lier great norror, me piece oi railing to which he held gave way. There was a sudden scream, and a great sDlash in the water. But before the waves oi " .... ,. i .i i. T).ii the SWlftlV HOWing river eiuaeu uci mm, x heard the cry. "The train! the nag!" Ponr little Pollv! She was so alarmed for the poor man's safety that for some moments sho could think of nothing else, and ran back- .1 i .1 rr-i i rr Vint hands in Mf- tto an TnrwH.ru hiiukiuk aih - ono 1 1 AO IIP rilSli LU IIIU OLHiaw ,;de frantic sestures to her, and pointed " a ,nfl fl.nm which the train was to come. Hg Beerae(i to be able to keep himself above 1,0 with vnrv little effort, and Polly Baw it,;, w riiof. tho accident had been observed POLLY GARDNER AND BRIDGE. j by the occupants of the vessel. The man in the water struck out toward the boat, and Polly could hear shouts and cheers from the men on board. All at once she was startled by the far off whistle of the approaching locomotive. In a moment she understood the meaning of the flagman's gestures. She looked at the open space and then at the bridge. In five minutes or less the tram would come dashing into the terrible chasm. Polly's hair almost rose on her head with horror. It was as much as she could do now to keep her senses. There must be some wav to avert tho awful calamity. She ran swiftly along toward tho rapidly approaching train. Lying on the ground just by the small wooden house whore tho flagman generally sat, Pollv saw a red flacr. She remembered having heard that this flag was used in cases oi uanger, or wnen there was any reason for stopping tko cars, She did not know whether there was yet time, but she seiz ed tho flag and flew wildly up the track. "Oh, my papa! oh, my mamma!" she cried: "thoy will fall into tho river and be drowned! What slall I do? and Polly waved the flag back ward and forward as she ran. Then came the train around the curve. She could see tho white steam pufting from the pipe and could hear tho panting of the engine. "I know they'll run over me, but if mamma and papa are killed, I don't care to live," sho said to herself, as she approached the great black noisy engine. When it was about three hundred feet away from her, sho saw a head thrust out of tho lit tle window by the locoraotivo, and thon, with a great pufting, snorting, and whistling, it began to move slower and slower, until at last, when it was almost upon Pollv, it stopped entiroly. All tho windows were alive with heads and hands. The passengers screamed and waved her off the track. She stepped off and ran close up to thesidoof the engine and gasped out, "The bridge is open and tho man has fal len into the river. Please stop the train or you will be drowned. The engineer stared in amazement, as well he might, to see a small girl with a flushed face, hair blown wildlv about, and four lillies pinned in her belt, waving the red flag as though she had been used to flagging trains all her life. At that momont another remarkable figure presented itself to the astonished eyes of the passengors. A maj, dripping wet, bruised and scratched as though he had been drawn through briers, came tearing toward the cars, stum bling and almost falling at every step. As he reached littlo Polly, he snatched her up and covered her face with kisses. "You little darling," he cried, "do you know what you've done? You've saved the lives of more thau a hundred people." Polly, nervous and excited, began to cry One after another the passengers came hurry ing out of the train and crowded around her, praising and kissing her, until she was quite ashamed, and hid her head upon the kind II a; man's shoulder, whispering, "Please take me awav and find mamma and papa." Almo-t the last to alight were Pollv's parents, "Why, it's our Polly I" they both exclaimed at once. The draw was now being closed again, and the conductor cried, "All aboard !" The pas sengers scrambled back to their seats again. Pollv s father took her into the car with him, and now she looked calmly at the people as thoy gathered around, and answered politely all questions put to her, but refused the rings, chains, bracelets, and watches that the grateful passengers pressed her to accept as tokens of their gratitude for saving their hvos. At last Polly grew tired of so much praise, and spoke out: Really I don't deserve your thanks, for I never once thought of any one but papa and mamma, bo keep your presents for your own little girls. Thank you all the same." Those that heard her laughed, seeing they could do nothing better for her than to let her remain unnoticed for the short distance she had to go. When Polly was lifted out of the car, and stood upon tho steps of the station whilo her father looked after tho luggage, the passengers throw kisses and waved their handkerchiefs to her until they wore out of sight. A few days afterward Polly was astonished at receiving a beautiful ivory box containing an exquisitely enamelled medal, with those words engraved on it : "Presented to Polly Gardner, whose courage and presence of mind saved a hundred lives. Johu TTentwortU on Calhoun ana Ben- ton. John Wentworth,of Illinois, delivered a lecture in Chicaeo recently on remin iscences of some great statesmen whom he has known. In it he said of Calhoun: "He invited me to his residence one evening, and he had me alone. He was the most charming man in conversation whom I ever heard. Ha spoke of Chi cago very interestingly, of which he had derived considerable information through his official intercourse with the officers of Fort Dearborn while becietary of War from 1817 to 1825. He spoke of the West as the natural ally of the South, and of the Mississippi and upper Jakes as great inland seas, deserving tne same Governmental consideration as the oceanic waters. He presented me with a , i i i i dook containing nis uiograpuy and speeches with his com pliments and autograph. I wrote a narrative ot the evening s conversation and pasted it in the book, but the Chicago fire has prevented me from giving you the seuuetive language of one who had been for years plotting the dissolution of the union to a young and inexperienced member of congress. I overtook Colonel Benton on my way home, and when he ascertained where I had been and saw my book, he became extremely violent, averring that he could tell me every word that Ualhonn had uttered. He said it was Mr. Cal houn's custom to early procure inter- views with young men ana inscn into their minds the seeds of secession, nulli fication and treason. At the close of the Tyler administration he went into pri vate life, and there he remained until he came to the senate in December, 1845, where he continued until his death. March 31, 1850. I heard his last speech, and was at his lunerai.' The lake at Manzanillo, Mexico, burst its confines and poured into the sea. The lake was full of alligators and the harbor of sharks. Vhen the monsters met. a water battle immediately began, and it was waged for several days in the pres ence of most of the people of Manzanillo. For a long time victory trembled in the balance, but the sharks finally prevailed and dined on the rear guard of the alligators. THOMPSON, DiABT & il ron & Steel MEECHAOTS AND DEALERS IN Shelf and Heavy Hardware, BLACKSMITHS' TOOLS, Farmers' and Mechanics' Supplies, WAGON AND CARRIAGE WOOD STOCK, CAHBIAGE IIASDWAKE. cloth a.vd m T?TTVTTT ATrift JLlLA.TiIEK JL JLIJLJ.TJLJLTJLJjL- Files, Twist Drills, Hammers, Sledges, Tongs, mocks anu JJies, Xorway and Refined Iron, Horse Shoes ana flails, Lnmueriana loai, CII.V1NS, COBDAGE OP ALL XINDS. Blocks, Oakmn, Oars, Capstans, etc. BOLTS, RIVETS, SPIKES nails. OUR STOCK OF Fapflafli Camp Material IS THE LARGEST AND BEST ASSORTED ON THE COAST. 14 First St., ITU and 1T5 Frost St., corner Yamhill, Portland, Oregon. BUCKINGHAM & HECHT'S BOOTS AND SHOES Are the BEST and COST NO MORE than Other Brands, and if the Merchant with whom you Trade does not keep our Goods it is because It PAYS better io sell a pair of Boots or Shoes every TWO Months than eTery FOUR or FIVE. TVE WARRANT EVERY PAIR We make. All Merchants is Good Credit can procure these Goods at our Ware houses in PORTLAND or San Francisco. TRY OUR "HERCULES" BOOTS. HECHT BROS. & CO. CARPENTERS' TOOLS. The largest and best assortment in the city PBOIC THE Best Makers in the United States, AT THE LOWEST RATES. AT F. JR. CHOWS, DEAIiEB IN Shelf and Heavy Hardware. 43 FIRST 8TM near AIK, PORTLAKD. PACIFIC COAST A CORPORATION. President -WENDELL E18TON Vice Pre, and Gen. Manager. GEO. W. FRINK Treasurer ANG0-CaLIFORNIaN 3A.NK Secretary F. B. WILDE Hoard or Dlrectots. J. O ELDRIDGE, I RANT 1. TAGGART, G. W. FKINK, I F. o. WILDE, WENDELL ErON Principal Plnce of BnHlneNS. 22 Montgomery Street, San Francisco. ub-Aeencies a en ch county Feat of the State. Afrencs lor Sale ami r-xcbuige f Varm int: lands. I rjfo tmciN subdivided and sold at auction or private anle. 3rColonist: and Immierants located Careful appraisements made for Banks. Courts Adminis trators, Trustees, e'c. Legal forms ccmplled with. Full records of sales in each county on file at the General Office. 'Assume entire charge of property, pay taxes, insurance etc. etc. flIO KY TO I.QAN WILLIAM COLLIER, "T r a H t !- t rv-i r- r-n JLVJL. C3u. JCO JL LN J- 3 L -Sealer la Xew and SECOND HAND MACHINERY, 8 XndlKonSt., Portland, Or. Partlen delrlnje Boiler, Engine or SAW mm.ju kai;uukx can leenre by adareMlngr 3tr. Celller. New and Second Hand Machinery Boaght and sold or traded to ndvnntntre. 1882 SPRING 1882. MRS. G- H. CiLARKE, Fourth and Columbia sts., Portland, Or., Would announce to the ladles of this county that Bne n&s received ner SPRING STOCK OF MILLIE ERY, ORDERS GIVEN PROHPT ATTENTION' t