The Bedford Independent
Wednesday, Sept. 27, 1865

LOCAL FACTS AND FANCIES.

Common Pleas Court, October Term, will begin its session on Monday next.

*******************

The town of Bedford has been as dull during the week just past as--as a--well, a poor man's funeral. That's expressive.

*******************

Attention is directed to the advertisement of JONES, BROTHERS, & Co. We some time ago received a copy of Mr. RICHARDSON's book, and indorse everything said of it by the press elsewhere.

*********************

RETURNED.--The many friends of Rev. Wm. F. HARNED, will be gratified to learn that his ministrations will be continued for another year, Brother H. is a gentlman, and a good judge of--gospel.

******************

THAT'S SO.--It may be well to remind our friends that the Independent office took the first premium on Job Printing, at he Lawrence Co. Agricultural Fair. By the way, when was the last Fair held? Can any of our old citizens recollect?

*********************

Every other man you meet has his pockets full; every boy carries a basket loaded with them, and the pavements are rendered dangerous by being so plentifully sprinkled with the peels. No! we don't take them on subscrition--pawpaws we mean.

*********************

GOOD WORK.--The Minutes of the Bedford Baptist Association, are now ready for distribution. We were favored with an examination of the book, and believe, in point of mechanical execution, the job surpasses anything ever turned out this side of Springville. It was done at the Independent Book and Job Office.

***************************

18th I. V. I.--The 18th Regiment arrived at Indianapolis, a week ago last Monday, commanded by Col. Doil BOWDEN and Major Henry N. DANIELS, of Bedford--the latter a knight of the "sitck and rule." The friends of these gallant soldiers yesterday met and welcomed them once more to the pleasures of home.

***********************

PETER-OLEUM.--The oil well at COLEMAN's Quarry, one mile east of town, has reached a depth of sixty-seven feet. A species of crystalized sand rock was penetrated by the drill, at a depth of near sixty feet. Oil indications are said to be good--better than at North Vernon, where a well has been sunk 900 feet from the surface, and only about 200 feet from Pekin.

*****************

A man getting out of an omnibus that runs between the BARNES House and the O. & M. R. Road Depot, in Bedford, a few days ago, made use of two rows of knees as banisters to steady himself, at which the ladies took offence and one of them cried aloud, 'A perfect savage.' 'True,' said a wag, 'he belongs to the Paw-Knee tribe.'

*****************

EXCITEMENT AT THE :KEERS."--A large crowd collected on the depot platform, yesterday, to witness the unloading of three cars, jammed full of what appeared to be illuminated show bills; but as bale after bale was tumbled out, it became noised abroad that the Independent office had received another immense invoice of colored paper and cards--there must have been $2 worth. Call and see.

******************

MUSICAL.--The members of the Bedford Brass Band still "come to blows," but without the disastrous results that usually attend such demonstrations. Four hundred years hence, when the historian sits upon a ruined arch of Leatherwood bridge, gazing down into the rippling waters, faint, sweet echoes of a note dropped here and there, will in fancy carry him back to the time when the Muses were wont to disport themslves in Bedford. May the B. B. B. continue to improve, "and eventually with all the redeemed," &c.

***********************

SUICIDE.--Two men came up to Mitchell from Louisville on Saturday, with the intention of going to St. Louis on the 2 o'clock train next morning, and stopped at the FAULKNER House. Within an hour of train time one of the travelers awoke, dressed himself, and telling his comrade to rise, descended to the dining room. After breakfasting, he became impatient at the tardiness of his companion, and proceeding to the room, discovered him suspended by his neck to the bed-post, quite dead. He had thrown his whole weight upon the rope to produce strangulation, as was evident from the position in which he was found. It is supposed he committed the act while laboring under a temporary fit of melancholy, induced by epileptic fits, to which he was subject. His comrade, who had been working with him for five months, had no reason to believe he had meditated the rash act previous to its perpetration. Deceased was but 23 years of age, and a carpenter by trade.

*******************

LITERARY SOCIETY.--Pursuant to a call in last week's Independent, a number of our citizens met at the Court House, on Friday night last, for the purpose of forming a Litereary Society. The meeting was regularly organized by calling Hon. Thos. R. COBB to the Chair, and the appointment of A. C. VORIS, Esq., as Secretary. After some discussion as to the relative advantages of Debating Clubs and Literary Societies, it was determined to form a Literary Society, and a committee of three was appointed to draft a Constuitution and By-Laws, to be presented to the members at their next meeting, which is to be at the same place, on Friday night next, at 7 o'clock.

In view of the many benefits derived from an organization of this character, we hope for the success of the project. Many pleasant and profitable hours may be spent by the members during the long nights of the coming winter, if a Society, such as the one projected, can be organized and brought into successful operation. It will indue more solid reading, more careful thought, and rid many of the village storerooms of the loungers who nightly patronize them during the winter months. All who feel an interest in this matter, can give no better practical evidence of it than by meeting with the Society on Friday night, when the Constitution and By-Laws will be submitted, and the objects of the Society more clearly stated.

********************

BUTCHER WIRTZ.--The trial of this inhuman monster drags its slow length through the Washington Court, while he is evidently ...?.. of terror at the exposure of his atroicious crimes. The monstered ..?..reveled in sight of the ago..?.. thousands of brave men dying of exposure and starvation, in an o..?.. pen, reeking with filth, and over run with vermin; who, impatient at the slow process of starvation, with demoniac malignity dispatched his victims with the pistol and bludgeon, or hunted them down with bloodhounds for fleeing from the most horrible of deaths, when the rebellion expired, was seized with a mortal dread of the future--a poor, abject, cowering wretch, the mark of Cain indellibly stamped upon his forehead, he slunk from the sight of loyal men, realizing a thousandfold, in his own person, all the horrors that pursued the eldest murderer. Capable of committing any inhumanity against the defenseless being in his hands, as soon as the power which protected him was removed, he proved himself what might have been expected from the author of so much cruelty--a trembling coward.

Revolting and fiendish as were the crimes of Wirtz, there are still others more guilty than he. Guilty as he was of the murder of brave and patriotic men, he was but the instrument of the rebel government at Richmond, which knew and approved his atrocities, and to-day he shares, in smaller proportion, the responsibility of these crimes with Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, James A. Seddon, and their associates and compeers in treason. If the mere instrument of rebel barbarity is to die the death of a felon, what should be done with those under whose authority he acted, and whose behests he only too faithfully obeyed?

****************

REMINDS US OF A STORY.--About the time Noah had laid the keel of his ark, which so successfully rode out the forty-day storm, another boat-builder, emulated by a vision of heavy freight charges to and from Mt. Ararat, as well as to preserve his family, began the constucion of a craft after his own model. Noah finished his ark, and it rode triumphantly at anchor; his competitor having placed on board all the modern improvements, such as Yankee clocks, hoop-skirts, etc., on a certain day made his launch, when lo! the waves dashed to pieces his pretty craft. Rendered desparate by his ill success, the owner of the ruined boat declared he "didn't care a darn--didn't believe it was going to be much of a shower, anyhow!" Well, New Albany has got the Female College, and we can't see that they will be very much profited thereby,. In our humble opinion, one good turnpike road would be of infinitely more benefit to the town of Bedfrod, than a half dozen colleges; and we would respectfully suggest, the propriety of applying the $30,000 subscribed for a college, in the building of such a road as Bedford needs--such an one as she must have, if her citizens do not intend the town to dwindle away for the want of trade to support it. Before the war, the business of Bedford was double that she enjoys now. The largest stocks of goods in the county were found here, and here the people come to trade. In the last three years, good stores, with full stocks, have been established at nearly all the little post-offices of the county, and it is hardly reasonable to suppose the farmer will drag his team over two, three, or even one mile more of the horrible roads with which Lawrence abounds, when he can purchase every article of necessity, or even luxury, so much nearer home. We have had a season of good health and crops; hundreds of men have been returned to us from the army, and yet we do not see that revival of trade in Bedford, so confidently predicted by many--our merchants will find their former customers at Leesville, Heltonville, ...?...., Mitchell, Fayetteville, ...?... ..?.. villages of the county. ...?... gentlemen, who ..?... money in the good old...?... way, and who do not .... to realize that business is ..?..ted differently to-day from what it was twenty years ago, will countless be unable to see the ex-...?... linary benefits arising form the construction of good McAdamized roads, but the experience of the next two years will teach the citizens of Bedford, that with them th..?.. e will be --roads or ruin.

Typed and donated by Diana Flynn.