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Leader (1850-1860), 18th October 1856, Edition 2 of 2, Page 4

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      America. The Deplorable Animosity Betwee...

      Whiting—* name rather provocative of a pun under the C 1 I ^ n \ y R Taber , editorof the Charleston Mercury , has been ' iiiled in a duel . Mr . Taber , since bis connexion -with the Mercury , has been noted as one of the most strenuous advocates of slavery extension . The steamer Niagara has been burnt while off Port Washington , and from sixty to seventy lives have been lost . '

      988 __, Jtjljl^J A:D E R - {Xo. 34g, ; S...

      988 __ , JTJLJL ^ J E R - { Xo . 34 g , SATTObAT .

      The American Dince Of Death. A Ghastly S...

      THE AMERICAN DiNCE OF DEATH . A ghastly story , so like the overpiled horrors of a nightmare that we must be allowed , for our common humanity ' s sake , to doubt the accuracy of all the details , was published in the Times of Wednesday on the authority of a Georgian correspondent . On the following * day , our ( contemporary had a leading article on the same subject , in which the editor states that he delayed the publication of the letter for some days , to inquire into the accuracy of the allegations , and the result is that there is no doubt of their truth . Subjoined , then , is the sanguinary tale , as reproduced in the leading article : we leave the reader to form his own judgment with respect to belief or nonbelief : —

      " Here is a train consisting of one long passenger car and a luggage car -with seats for smokers . It atarts with twenty-five passengers , occasionally taking up some and putting down some in the course of a journey which begins at five in the afternoon and ends at half-past three the next morning . The passengers know about as much of one another at starting as passengers usually do . Three get into the train together ; another is an acquaintance of theirs ; another is the father of one of them ; two others are friends , and there are two fathers-with their sons . In the course of ten hours and a half in this select community , no larger than is sometimes assembled round a private dinner-table in this metropolis , there are five actual duels with fatal results ; a sixth duel ,

      • which was arranged , but did not come off , owing to the death of an intended principal in another duel ; a seventh duel , which there was every reason to believe had taken place , though the train went on too soon for the results to transpire ; eighthly , a murder . Of the two dozen passengers , fifteen are mentioned as entering more or less into the action of the drama ; twelve took a direct part in duels ; six were killed ; and three were left on the way fighting . Four of the duels were fought at convenient spots , the train stopping for the purpose ; one was fought in the luggage-caT-while the train was in motion ; and the one with uncertain results was fought at a regular stopping-place . - Three of the dead bodies were left behind ; one was carried from the scene of the duel and deposited on the luggage ; another lay where it fell in

      the luggage-car ; another-was thrown out on the road ^ - side . Of the six : killed , two were fathers and two were their sons , one father killed while avenging his son , and one child ; murdored for lamenting his father . On the occasion of the first duel the train did not stay it out , but the result followed by telegraph . At the second and fourth , the conductor , becoming keen in the sport , waited , and the survivors remounted the train ; but in the last instance the conductor seems to have felt a qualm , and he managed to leave one of the survivors on the road , while , with the aid of the firemen , he boxed up the other to prevent further slaughter . The time was generally night , the last affair being at three in the morning . It is stated that these are not uncommon incidents , and that scarce a week passes without some fatal encounter on the road . -fa .

      " It has been calculated , though we cannot vouch for the calculation , that if the whole human race started by an . express train for the sun they would never reach it , ainc « 3 on the average of Tailway accidents , they would all either bb tilled or laid up on the road . That seems rather preposterous * hut in this instance twenty-five per cent , of the passengers -weTt . killed in ten hours and a half , and at the same rate of slaughter , if the journey from Macon to Augusta had taken forty-eight hours instead of ten and a half , only one would have entered the latter town alive- Half , it is true , would have been found laid out on theix luggage , but the rest would be left on the battle-field or flung overboard . This suggests some rather serious reflections as to the future of the United States , for what we have described appears to be the ' normal' state of things . The date of the narrative la the 28 th of August last , only six weeks ago : the ia

      Georgpupor » were wholly silent as to the- affair ; so , of course , nobody was bright to justice . Indeed , the conductor of the train , simply lor uls ovm comfort , had adroitly managed to leave the murderer par excellence behind on the road . But the idea of law or investigation seems to be the last to disturb their thoughts . Thoro is only one thing at all out of character with the occasion , or suggestive of a doubt as to this being the way in which the peopl « of Georgia live—that is to say , dio . It is , that the stranger who performed tho principal part in the night ' s work thought it necessary to plead Ms own justification , and to pnviso what he called the nubi « an ) 1 honourable institution of duolling . Else it ulJTl , - WB * mattOp of course , without any necd-Intered th c 8 ' ^ % * P rincl l >^ - Tho young women fonuS « « ¦ n W J h th 0 ful 1 knowledge that a « dif-SaV ^ T ^ w * * p their own conduct ™ «» cause of it , and that of thoir two malo friends A had

      proposed tlie trip ; they had accepted it from B , and A had resolved to spoil it , which he did by going with Mm . A and B , in fact , had arranged to combine a pleasure trip and a duel , and the only question to be settled was the weapons . The real baulk of the journey was , that JB , not being prompt enough with A , got lulled by C . The ' conversation' was kept up the whole of the night , sometimes on duels generally , and on remarkable cases ; sometimes on the private experience of the gentlemen present , sometimes on the particular duel then in process of arrangement , and sometimes on that -which had just taken place . The guns , revolvers , and Monte Cristo , or noiseless pistols , that were to do or had done the work were freely handed round the company , and

      the principals had an opportunity of examining the weapons with which they were to be killed . From the moment of starting till within sight of Augusta , there was always at least one duel on hand , and generally one or more in reversion . The partners engaged themselves for this dance of death quite as freely as at our own county balls , and on as slight an introduction . The boy , of course , had no right there , so his throat was cut and he was thrown over . An old woman sat out the whole affair without saying a word or seeming to take any notice . During a great part of the night , the young woman who had caused it all by Jilting A , and accepting the trip from his wealthier rival , was incessantly entreating the passengers , sometimes collectively , sometimes one by one , to avenge B ' s death . One young fellow entered the car ,

      recognized her , complied with her request , returned to the smoking car with C , fought , and fell , all in five minutes . The young woman ' s conduct was extravagant enough , for , -when too excited to speak collectedly , she had a written form provided for her , which slie read as well as she could to the company , still inviting fresh champions . But there was nothing extraordinary , or even rough , in the appearance of the combatants . B , who fell , was a French hairdresser ; C , who fought three of Jthe duels , was a tall , muscular , hard-visaged man , of a mien by no means repulsive or disagreeable . The first duel was between a white-headed man , past sixty at least , and a respeetable-looking man about forty-five . The victim of the third duel was a young fellow under twenty-iive , who had been smoking comfortably fcy himseK up to that minute , and only appeared on the scene to leave it for ever . " . "

      Continental Notes. ¦ ¦ " ¦¦ ¦ . ¦ Fkajfc...

      CONTINENTAL NOTES . ¦ ¦ " ¦¦ ¦ . ¦ FKAJfCE . ¦' . ' ¦ . ¦ ¦ ' ¦¦ . ¦ .- ' ' ¦ The Sehats publishes an article signed by M . tie Sacy on the meeting of the Paris Congress . It states that the question of tlie Serpents Island has been already settled , as the island is to be restored to Turkey ; and that , as regards the islands of the Lower Danube , they also mil be ceded to the Porte . With respect to the Commission charged with the question of uniting Moldavia and Wallachia , the Debats observes that it must first be determined whether France , Austria , England , 01 Turkey , is to have the Presidency—a post which is one of " influence . "

      As a consequence of tho recent successes of tlie French in Algeria , the Beni-Koufis , the Beni-Mcn < lez , the Mechtras , the Isil-ou-Moulas , the Cheurla-IriKkens , and the Bouchennachas ( native Arabic tribes ) , have made their submission , accepting without remonstrance all the conditions imposed on them . Some further defeats have been sustained by the natives . The following placard has been secretly posted in various quarters of Paris : —

      " To the Italian People . —Insukrectiox is the Hoijuest of Duties . " July 14 , August 10 , February 24 , January 12 , March 22 , February 9 . " Brothers and Friends , —Honour to you who have not been crushed by your many oppressors—who have not been discouraged by the most cruel deception ! It is now centuries since the spirit of evil fell upon Italy , as the noblest piey it could devour , clutching you in its two talons—Papacy and Empire . For centuries this spirit has sucked your blood , and striven to poison your soul with its pestiferous breath . But your soul is immortal ! That priest who returned to Home through a smoking breach—that Bourbon in whoso bosom , beats the heart of Tiberius —those Austrian ravens that croak upon tho harmonious hanks of tho Adigc , all know and feel , and tremble at tho knowledge , that intelligence and life have

      not abandoned their victim . They all feel that tho soil of Italy quivers under their accursed feet , and that there are there undaunted giants , such as were foun < l formerly in tn « inountulnu uf liuroic Sicily . Tho blood of the martyrs has Imt fertilized your soil . You possess courage , intelligence , and constancy , and you have that oxperienco which is bought by long misfortune . You want but ono tiling—arms ! You shall havo tliom . You must havo them . Already you have appoalcd to the true children of Italy . Every ono of them lias offered his mite , so that thoso who shall first havo tho honour to proclaim your emancipation may find ready to their hands the instruments wherewith to carry on tho holy war . Our hearts have leaped with joy at tho news como to us across tho Alps that you arc secretly storing up your first muskets while waiting for tho day of your doliveranco . Wa nl 3 O desire to como to your aid and takts pnrt in your fraternal union . Receive , brothers and

      fr iends , the produce of the French subscription - receh it not only as a proof of sympathy , but also as an offe ,-ing- of gratitude for you are setting a great and usef ,, i example—that of extreme constancy under theweicrU of extreme oppression ; and it is , perhaps , from youths the spark will proceed which is destined to reanimate tl worfd . No nation has suffered more than Italy ™ h none , if there be justice upon earth , will have a m-oiuW place among regenerate nations—For the peoole ' ini students of Paris , —The Committee . " P Ud " The monthly publication of the Bank ' s statemcrt » says tho Morning Post , " has answered previous & xnZ tations . The metallic deposit has undergone a dimim . i ? ¦ " ??» 8 » e « l . bdIer > M tuTS

      ^ .. ^ ;; deficit would be at least 80 , 000 , 000 , and it is uWenenl opamon that the late measures taken by the Bank Coi missioners ^ have prevented this anticipated difference " The Portefeuille shows an increase of 72 , 000 , 000 The advances on ingots present an increase of 34 000 000 whilst those on public securities and railways present « decrease of 19 , 000 , 000 . The rentes originated by he ' reserve have been augmented by 30 , 000 , 000 The premiums paid on gold and silver show a rise on the l « f month of 632 , 000 fr . The issue of shares has inc eased by 6 , 000 , 000 . The account with the Treasury prSnts a diminution of 17 , 000 , 000 . There lias been very little variation in current accounts . "

      A special embassy from Burmah , of a complimentary character , is now in Paris . The Ambassador is bimself a Frenchman , going by the name of General d'Orgoni his real patronymic being Girodon , of which d'Orgoni is an anagram . His military rank belongs to the B unnese army .- ¦ - .. ¦¦ ' . ¦ . ' . ¦ ., ' ¦ ' ¦ ., '¦ . ¦ . - .. . -. ¦¦¦ . Count Walewski has sent a circular to the French diplomatic agents at foreign Courts in answer to that of Russia of September 2 nd . There have been rumours of a coming strike at Paris among the plasterers , the workmen on the quays , and a portion of the hackney-coach drivers . Nothing of the kind , however , has yet taken place .

      The Emperor rode on horseback on Tuesday , attended by a brilliant staff and a Squadron of the Cent-Gardes , through the Faubourg St . Antoine , in the midst of the workmen . He proceeded to St . Maur , where he held a

      re . Among the distinguished persons included in the . first list of guests at the Imperial festivities of Compiegiie are M . Auber , the celebrated composer , M . Ingres , the painter , and M . Alfred deVigny , author of the novel Cinq Mars , Sac . . ;

      . ¦ - ¦ ' : ¦ - . . . . . ' AUSTRIA . - - ¦ . . - . , : ' The Vienna papers ( says the Times Austrian ¦ ' correspondent ) are just now engaged in a violent controverton the subject of the conduct of certain members of the Administrative Council of the Credit Bank . - . It is ' generally believed that the persons in question toot uiidue advantage of their position for the furtherance of their private speculations , but the matter will prolably . h hushed up , and the offender * receive their ten per cent , tantieme , as a rewnrrt for speculating a la iaisse in the shares of tlie institution .

      A letter from Vienna says that " the garrisoii of Milan is to be considerably increased during the stay of tho Emperor in that city ; " but it makes haste to ' that " this measure is only adopted in consequent of tho present garrison being insufficient to perform the service required by the presence of his Majesty . " It appears to be more than probable that Russia h ; i 5 sent . an urgent note to the Austrian cabinet , in whii'h it is distinctly said that it is absolutely necessary to counteract the proceedings of the Western Powers against the King of Naples . From Cattaro we learn thnt a few days ago an Austrian colonel and an imperial envoy went to Cattinjc , the capital of Montenegro , " to hold official converse villi tho Prince and some of the Montenegrin senntors . "

      " Among the numerous devices to ¦ which tlie anthoritics at Milan have had recourse for the purpose of arranging . a becoming reception for the emperor , " say .- * the Tivies Turin correspondent , " has been that of raising the wages of the labourers employed in the renovations of the royal palaces . These men are paid extravagantly , it is said , under n compact that they shall cry ' God bless him ! ' when tho emperor appears , and they sire placed under the special care of the police in onler that they may not secede from their agreement . Another power which the Government has invoked for its ns-slstam-o is

      tho Church , and -the Archbishop of Milan hns scuta circular to his parish priests , calling on them toinculiiite on the faithful , both from tho pulpit and in . the cimftssional , the duty of repairing to Milan en masse to give n " enthusiastic welcome to thoir Imperial Majesties . The bettor to encourage the zeal of the clergy in this undortuking , Unron Hurgcr has received discretionary V'O ' . vcrs from Vienna to distribute rewards of various kh \ d * among them . " What a comment on tho -vicegerents of Heaven ! Wlint ii revelation of the hidden cau .-J of popular ' enthusiasm' on the appearance of tlie am nilcJ of tho Church .

      . It is stated that tho Prussian Government , m fl punishment of Switzerland for its conduct in res ] "t ^ Noufchatol , has determined to submit to tbo ( J ( M ' "" Diet n proposition for excluding Swiss production * fi '»' J tho German markets . An interruption of * con . i » lcrCl

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 18, 1856, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_18101856/page/4/