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Staunton Spectator: March , 1870 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

To the Property-Holders of Staunton
(Column 01)

Summary: The Staunton fire department effectively prevented widespread property damage by containing two major fires in the past week. The Spectator heavily praised their efforts and asked property-holders to donate funds for the purchase of new equipment.

Full Text of Article:

We think the experience of the past week has fully proved the promptness, and efficiency of our fire department. The fire of Wednesday morning, though occurring at two o'clock A.M., an hour when the whole town was wrapped in sleep, had burned scarcely ten minutes, when they were upon the ground, playing a stream of water on the light, dry wood buildings adjoining; thus saving them from inevitable destruction. But for the timely assistance rendered, it is difficult to say where the flames would have been arrested, or how many poor families would have been turned homeless on the charities of the Town.

The fire of Thursday night broke out in a locality, and among material peculiarly adapted to make wide-spread destruction, and but for the prompt, well-directed efforts of the fire department, such would doubtless have been the result. We have been lookers-on at fires in large cities, where paid fire Companies and paid Police were supposed to render all aid, and to the credit of this fire organization we can truly say that we never saw a more efficient, better-governed body of men -- respecting private property, and zealous to do their whole duty -- than this Company shows, and from our citizens, they deserve something more than mere thanks. Should property-holders lose twenty or thirty thousand dollars in some fire -- likely at any time to occur -- they would then awaken to a sense of their duty; but would that not be locking the door after the horse was stolen? To any one who will ask himself what destruction either of these fires might have done, had the nights been windy, and then consider the inadequacy of the apparatus of the Fire Company to prevent it, this appeal will not be in vain. This Organization is made up of our best young men -- they have given not only their time, but largely of their private means to promote the efficiency of this body. -- No one receives a single penny for his services -- they certainly deserve to be well provided with suitable apparatus.

No more competent officers, or willing and self-sacrificing men can be found in any Town or City than those who make up this body. -- They deserve a new Engine, Hose, and a Hook and Ladder carriage fully equipped; the necessity of which is evident to every one, knowing anything about this perilous business. We ask you, as a Town Corporation, Insurance Companies and individual property-holders, to move in this matter. Place in their hands suitable apparatus, and we are not afraid to guarantee that all which human hands, with human aid, can do to protect your homes, will be cheerfully and promptly done.

Income Tax
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper announced that the repeal of the income tax will take effect after taxes for 1869 are paid. The editors did not anticipate a revival of the tax in the near future.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The Baltimore Gazette called for resistance to the fifteenth amendment. Claimed the amendment was passed solely by "force and fraud" and predicted that the American people would soon rally against the men who forced the amendment upon the country.

Full Text of Article:

The Balt. Gazette says that, to the transparent and infamous usurpations of the Federal Congress this journal has advocated, and will advocate, active resistance where that be possible, passive resistance where that is available, and non-acquiescence under all circumstances and at any cost. The Fifteenth Amendment is, as all men know, and none better than the Radical majority in Congress, the result of force and fraud. It is not, as they know, the work of the American people. It has not, as they know, been fairly ratified. It is not, as they know, legally part and parcel of the Constitution. * * * * * * * If the capacity of the American people for self-government be not a dream; if their hatred of oppression be not a delusion; if their love of their rights and liberties be not a sham, the time cannot be far distant when they will call to account the knavish and reckless conspirators who are daily trampling upon the Constitution and upon the fundamental principles upon which alone it is possible for a Republican Government long to endure.

Appointments of the M. E. Church South
(Column 04)

Summary: The following appointments for the district including Staunton were made at the conference of the M. E. Church, South: H. H. Kennedy, Staunton; A. P. Boude, Shenandoah Iron Mills; J. W. Wolf, Mount Sidney; Joseph J. Engle and G. R. Jefferson, Churchville; William A. Harris, principal, Wesleyan Female Institute.
(Names in announcement: H. H. Kennedy, A. P. Boude, J. W. Wolf, Joseph J. Engle, G. R. Jefferson, William A. Harris)

Appointments of the M. E. Church
(Column 04)

Summary: The following appointments for the district including Augusta were made at the conference of the M. E. Church: Henry G. Simpers, Augusta; W. H. Forsyth, Staunton; James Murray, Middlebrook; E. H. Prosser, White Sulpher.
(Names in announcement: Henry G. Simpers, W. H. Forsyth, James Murray, E. H. Prosser)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: William S. Boyd and Miss Eddie G. Rothwell, both of Augusta, were married at New Hope on March 10th by the Rev. John H. Taylor.
(Names in announcement: William S. Boyd, Eddie G. Rothwell, Rev. John H. Taylor)

Deaths
(Column 03)

Summary: The M. E. Sunday School South passed resolutions of sympathy and respect upon the death of Hattie Jane Harlan, who suffered for a year before her death. Harlan was a noted student of the school.
(Names in announcement: Hattie Jane Harlan, C. W. Hunter, James W. Newton, John W. Carroll, E. M. Cushing)