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Newspaper
Bristol Phenix
Location
Bristol, Rhode Island, United States of America
Date
Apr 30, 1853
Page
2
A press fragment from Bristol on April 30, 1853 notes the General Assembly meeting at Newport on Tuesday to vote for Governor, General officers, and Con apeiron member. It forecasts delays to the U.S. Senate election until October, and comments on Democratic majorities and expected policy moves.
An engineer will begin work on the proposed railroad between this town and Providence on Monday. The line should be usable by January, bringing bustle to Bristol as residents confront change from quiet village life and concerns about crime rising with growth.
The Annual Report of the Commissioner of Public Schools details aid to deaf and dumb students twelve blind recipients and four for idiots and imbeciles. It lists town and state funding totaling 115160.21 with 96200 scholars and an average attendance of 18772.
The text notes Geo. H. Reynolds, Esq., will commence duties as Collector of the Customs for this part on Monday next. It also mentions the President’s health has been seriously endangered by the presence of many office seekers around the White House, with ten to thirty applicants for one office.
Funds from a Saturday quilt exhibition were divided with one portion going to William Gladding who has been blind for several years and the remainder allocated to the Colporteurage cause.
Local recommendation extols the Portable Summer Cooking Range sold by Mr. Chas. A. Greene as economical and complete. A tester praises the oven size and baking quality noting it uses only a quarter of the fuel of stoves and that the family is pleased.
The newspaper depot of Mr. Q. W. Easterbrooks welcomes Hansen's New Mowrang for Mey marking the end of its third year and noting astonishing circulation growth. The fourth year promises 118,000 monthly copies beginning next year as subscriptions are urged.
Residents report a week of travel to Providence for apparent clapboard purchases and home repairs. Citizens discuss General James possibly involved, but details remain unclear as the sequence centers on a stately mansion repair in progress.
Reports from the Star of the Week disaster detail the wreck of the steamship Independence with about 140 known dead and 60 missing. Witness accounts describe flames and chaos as rescuers saved survivors and buried the dead near the wreck. Notable victims include R A Knox of Warwick and Senor Larco of Valparaiso.
The New York Tribune cites a correspondent blaming the Independence for being unseaworthy and overfilled. It argues the captain aimed to beach near shore to save lives, yet crew and owners acted from reckless greed, causing a third of the passengers to die. Public opinion may deem the proprietors and others chiefly responsible.
Report notes Portuguese captains and crew have reached the country for three Baltimore clippers to continue a grave voyage between Africa and Cuba, aiding transatlantic shipping efforts.
A cryptic newspaper fragment describes a man in New York seeking a wife through a personal advertisement. The unusual wording suggests a matrimonial proposal amid unclear details and era-specific phrasing.
Report suggests health concerns may prevent the project leader from returning to work as planned. Officials express uncertainty about his ability to proceed with the envisioned program.
Reports describe a steamship wreck after running aground on a beach three hundred yards offshore. A rapid fire from the furnace caused a blaze and a powder magazine explosion. Passengers and crew faced horrific surf as boats filled and many perished. About 150 to 200 were lost. survivors endured fifty six hours on a waterless island before rescue. Names of some lost include Morris, J. Jones, Geo. E. Light, Hartman, and others. The Panama voyage, floods in California, and military actions against Indian depredations are also noted.
The steamship Uncle Sam from Aspinwall arrived carrying passengers and 650000 in specie with 260000 in passengers hands. Passengers from San Francisco via Cortes reached Panama on April 14. A Chinese dramatic company is aboard and isthmus health is reported good despite some elbow fever at Kingston.
The Champion, Capt. Ripley, arrived at port after a nineteen month absence. She brings 2200 barrels of oil and 30,000 pounds of bale, earning over $1,000 monthly profit after insurance. New sails and entire outfit, unseen before, complete the voyage. Vineyard Gazette, 22d.
Mrs. Hiram Caswell of Greenfield Massachusetts has given her husband two pairs of wins in the last fifteen months.
A traveler reports twenty bodies removed after last night’s disaster near Chicago. Many injured were dying as of his departure, with Conductor Whiting severely hurt aboard the express train. The incident details point to a deadly crash involving the emigrant train Romian Mica.
Fifteen dead bodies from the scene of the late railroad accident reached Chicago last night amid confusion. The Galena mail to Boston and Albany was robbed of the bags believed to contain valuable packages.
Reports detail a rail accident near Burravo by Chicago on April 28 1853 with gruesome scenes of mangled bodies and injured survivors. Descriptions portray wreckage on the track depot chaos and grieving families including a woman with a dead child in her arms and children left orphaned. Authorities face blame in denouncing railway-connected parties.
Report describes four deaths in the Tombs jail cells attributed to carbonic acid gas from drunk inmates. A district attorney and chemist inspected a cell and found dangerous gas levels. physicians note ventilation. Professor Rood cites respiration research showing alcohol increases carbonic acid in exhaled air and warns of harsh confinement of drunken prisoners.
In the Supreme Court at Lowell a verdict found against Dr. Joseph Kittredge of Andover for sixteen hundred seventy five dollars. The case involved a boy named Ashworth who injured his arm by mill machinery. The arm was amputated after mortification set in, with praise for brandy and salt in arresting the infection.
A heavy shower drenched the city last evening followed by a bright chain lightning flash at 9:30. The electric discharge charged the fire alarms, followed by a heavy thunderclap that rattled and reverberated, signaling clearing skies and pleasant weather to come.
A woman of color, formerly enslaved and known as Proctor, died at the Almshouse in Charter Town today. She had been purchased years ago by benevolent residents of Mercury and left a quiet, long life in the city.
A severe storm in Buffalo damaged the Lee office destroying three instruments and pipes and causing a fire. Oliver Lee's Bank and several exchange brokers offices in the building were affected. From Philadelphia reports say the line to Lancaster was broken with hail as large as musket balls and much glass broken.
Reports describe a vivid lightning strike at a residence with gas lights extinguished and occupants startled by the shock. Minor damage occurred as the fluid likely escaped along conductors. nearby witnesses across the district felt strong effects, with some nearly fainting during the storm.
The Saramat quotes the U S Circuit Court ruling that a Sylvan ia postmaster in Scriven county was fined 15 for delaying a letter. The law requires postmasters to forward all mail at least half an hour before the mail departs unless the Postmaster General grants a longer window due to office business.
William Kating was found guilty of murdering two children Mary and Daniel O'Brien and sentenced to be hanged on July twenty eighth. The Holme's Hole plan to run a steamer between New Bedford Woods Hole Holmes Hole and Edgartown is noted along with a ship movement update from August to Australia.
The New York city government adopts hackney coach fares with a one dollar hourly rate for the full day and additional charges for shorter trips. A base fare of 50 cents for one passenger and 75 cents for two with extra riders at 37 1/2 cents each is listed, plus specified city routes and returns with time limits and escalating sums to up to three dollars for long trips.
Nashville New Hampshire residents at a Wednesday town meeting formed a three member committee to enforce a new state act requiring all children to attend school and follow rules under penalties of fines and possible imprisonment.
Gouverneur Lane proclaims he acts on his responsibility to hold the disputed Mecilla Valley until boundary questions are settled. Intelligence from El Paso via San Antonio notes the seizure and outlines the governor’s stance amid the Rio Grande disaster where the steamer Thomas McKenney boiler explosion killed one or more and wounded several.
New Orleans April 25 report the steamer Albatross en route from New York to Vera Cruz wrecked on the night of the 16th. All passengers and crew were saved. The boat was a total loss valued at $60,000 and insured in Wall Street.
The April issue notes Saldgam, newly minted minister from Peru to Bogota, staying at a hotel with a rate listed as thirteen dollars. The hotel keeper was mentioned along with the doors to the establishment.
Mrs Begg sister of Burns residing in Ayr Scotland at 82 sends a plain pair of white lambs wool socks made by herself for the New York exhibition via the New York Herald editor.
The 19 year old daughter of the Rev. Lynden of Fulton New York reportedly married a man named Allen after running away. Citizens of Palton, upon learning the match, drove Allen out of town. She says she was brought up in a strict environment and offered that as her defense.
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