The Contra Costa Gazette Martinez, Contra Costa County, California Saturday, 10 OCTOBER 1874 ********************************************* MARRIED - WITHEROW-MORGAN - In Martinez, Oct. 3d, by Hon. Thomas A. BROWN, County Judge; Mr. William WITHEROW and Miss Barbara L. MORGAN, both of Nortonville. MARRIED - BACON-NORTON - At Tacoma, W.T., Sept. 27th, by Judge S.S. WHITE; S. BACON of Concord, Contra Costa county, Cal., and Mrs. M.J. NORTON of Seattle, W.T. DIED - HAMILTON - Near Pacheco, Sept. 20th, George William, infant son of John B. and Sarah D. HAMILTON, aged 4 months, 29 days. DIED - HAYS - In Sycamore Valley, Oct. 2d, Van, only son of Mr.&Mrs. Wade HAYS, aged about 9 years. WM. P. KELLOGG, having been appointed Superintendent of the Justice mine at Gold Hill, last Saturday evening went with 4 armed men to take possession, when they were fired upon by a party in a building at the mine and all of them killed. CHAPTER of SERIOUS ACCIDENTS - Within a short time past a number of quite serous accidents have occurred in the Sycamore Valley District neighborhood, all within a few days. Something more than 2 weeks ago, as we hear, Mr. Timothy FITZGERALD, by a fall from his wagon, was seriously hurt, both externally and internally, but to what extent our informant was unable to report. A lad named DOBSON, about 12 years old, step-son of Mr. John CAMP, had his hand shattered terribly by the accidental discharge of a gun that he was lifting by the muzzle. He was removed to the Alameda hospital for treatment, and it was feared that he might have to suffer an amputation of the injured member. A Mr. SIMPSON, of the same neighborhood, about the same time, while replacing a sack of wheat that had fallen off his load, was thrown by the turning of his team, so that the wagon passed over and crushed his leg, fracturing it badly. COMING HOME - The letter from Dr. HOWARD in this issue is probably the last of the graphic, instructive and interesting series, given to the readers of the 'Gazette' and 'Ledger,' from time to time, during his late visit to the other side of the continent, as a note accompanying this letter, dated at Chicago, Sept. 30th, informs us that he expects to be home in about 2 weeks from that date. With exception of the eldest daughter, "Etta," the Doctor and his family are well; and friends will regret to learn that she is suffering from a severe cold, taken upon the lungs in July last, attended with daily hectic symptoms and increasing debility. HORSE BREAKING - Mr. R.H. TAPP, of whose system of making horses obedient and gentle for use Mr. COUSINS of Pinole speaks so favorably in a note published in this issue of the 'Gazette,' proposes opening a school for instruction in his methods at the low charge of $1 for each person instructed; and will give the 1st lesson today (Saturday), at BENNETT's stable, at 1 o'clock p.m. FOUND - Mr. F.D. BRIARE, of this place, would be pleased to restore 2 shawls and a pair of lady's shoes, if the owners by whom they were accidentally left at his ice cream stand during the Fair last week, will call for and identify them. SERIOUS EXPLOSION - By the premature explosion of a charge, several men who were firing an anvil salute at Guerneville, Sonoma county, last week, in jubilation over the Local Option decision of the Supreme Court, were quite seriously, and some of them perhaps fatally injured. The Santa Rose 'Democrat' gives the following report of the casualty: The firing continued from 11 to 1 o'clock on Wednesday morning. The 4 were close around the anvil. From the best account we could get, one of the young men was priming the anvil; Wash FINLEY stood near with a bottle of powder, containing, it is thought, 3 pounds. In firing anvils the cavity is filled with powder, a card is placed over the charge and another anvil on top; it is then fired with a heated iron rod. It is supposed that a particle of the card which covered the previous charge was on fire, either in the anvil or around it. As they were preparing for the shot, the explosion came; simultaneously the bottle burst in the hand of FINLEY, and the whole party were hurled from 15 to 20 feet through the air. The scene which followed was painful beyond description. FINLEY, who held the bottle, was fearfully burned. His face, hands and neck are badly powder-stained, and cut by fragments of glass. He can hardly speak, and his eyesight is in great danger. A fragment of flying gl ass s evered TAGGERT's jugular vein, and the blood spurted to a distance of several feet from the wound. For a time his life was in jeopardy. A man named HICKEY succeeded in tying the vein, TAGGERT's face is also badly cut and power-marked. John WILSON received a bad cut over the eye, which lowered the upper lid over the cheek; he is otherwise cut and burned. The 4th man, whose name we did not learn, escaped with little injury. Transcribed by Dee Sardoch To see more old newspapers, visit http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/