The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-09-01
LOCAL MATTERS.

On last Saturday morning about O'Clock F
our city was visited by the first fire Of any
extentwc have ever had. The extensive /
Foundry Of Mcssrs. LcClaire, Davenport y
Co. was entirely consumed, together with
the patterns. etc. The books, papers, etc.
we're saved and much Of the machinery,
though the latter was in damaged condE
ton. They estimate their loss at from
500 900 S25 900, with an insurance OF only
from $4,000 to $4,000. Workmen were on
the ground Monday clearing away the rub
bish, preparatory to the erection Of Foun-
dry on still larger scale. In three
weeks, Mr.. LeClairc informs US, they ex-
pect to be again in successful operation, 80
that those depending upon the establihmcnt
/ for work will not meet with much disap-
pointment Its a fitting time to remind
our citizens of the necessity of having eth
cient fire apparatus; though an engine could
not have accomplished much ut this fire,
yet at the next it might be the means OF
saving thousands of property. Our city
instead of contracting any more debts for
Railroads, had better apply little of her
resources to the protection Of the property
Of her citizens.
aa-SuIcipE.- are panied to have
to announce the death by suicide on last
Sunday night of Col Samuel Hedges OF
this county. He was discovered on Monday
morning suspended by halter in the stable
of relative where he boarded. Col. 5. was
naturally an intelligent man and an excel
lent mathematician. He was one Of the
earliest settlers Of this county and ut the
time of his violent death was engaged in
building a mill on the Waubesipinccon
river Many attribute the cause of his
death to spiritual rappings,' in which ne
was firm believer, pretending to receive
revelations from his deceased wife. twas
always favorite tenet of the Colonefs,
however, he being an Universalist, that
when man could no longer enjoy this life
he should seek better, and We presume ne
! was bur carrying out this principle. Col.
i.
several children to mourn his melancholy
end.
i Our friend Burdick and his young g
wife very nearly had their honeymoon cut
short last week by the upsetting OF small
iron boat in which they were sailing on the
river He displayed much presence of mind
ON the occasion, seizing his wife with one
arm and holding on to the boat with the
other until rescued. That iron boat is only
suited for sailing in dead calm!
T -TELEGRAPH LtSE.-Mr Sweet, OF
Letting subscriptions for line OF telegraph
hence to Peru, connecting there with Chi
cogo and the eastern cities. The line is TO
be constructed of durable materials, cedar
posts and the best of wire, and in all re-
spects to be equal to any in the country
All the subscription asked is merely suf
fcient to pay the expense of gutta percha
crossing, etc. for this place. It is time we
were placed in telegraphic connection with
the crest Of mankind"
We presume the appropriation for the
improvement of the Rapids is not all expen-
ded yet, as We perceive few Of the recon-
noissants are still in the vicinity.
THE Comet which last week was OBJ
served by SO many of our citizens, was first
discovered at Gottingen on the 10th of June
last. Its perihelion passage occurred on
last Saturday. There is no danger of it
hurting anybody at present, as it is ninety
millions Of miles from the earth and we will
have time to get out Of its way before it
overtakes US.
MIR. David II. Smith has brought US
in Tomato which weighs 2 pounds and
OF. Who can beat it!
We are indebted to the obliging Off
GERS of the steamboat Danr. IIillman for a
budget of late St. Louis papers.
Mr.. d. p McKown has placed on
onr table couple of peaches, which he
claims to be the largest raised in the coun-
/, ty. They are freestones and measure ten
inches in circumference. We are inclined
to think they can be beaten-we shall
see.
-Messrs. Renwick g. Son are now
Agents of the Express Company. Better
than having the Agent located in Rock Is
land.
4 Our enterprising citizens, Messrs,
John Jordan and J. Renwck, have leased
and are now operating the saw mill former
ly owned by Mr.. Howard.
Somebody brought us a watermelon
last week, but in our absence it fell into
the hands OF the Phiiistnes and was en-
boweled.
The Mckee, as will be seen by adj
vertlsement, now leaves this place on sta
ted days.
WASHINGTON, Aug. %.
The Walton Mills, on James River near
Richmond, were burned on Thursday night
Loss estimated at about 100000. Insured
$4,000. The IIax Hall Flour Mills near
\ by, were damaged to the amount of $4,000.
I Retweep fyya and thyac hupdrad opoyatyoS