The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-03-24
Coming to Minnesota.


igration meeting recently held in Pennington,
Maine, from the Chronicle, published in that
place, of March /:
Met February 24th, according to adjournment
A large number present. The objects of the
meeting being stated Mr.. Holt, Of New Sharon
was called upon and made some interesting re-
marks respecting the climate. and advantages
of Minnesota. Mr.. G. T. Jones, of Norridg ge-
wock, who spent the past summer and fall in
the Territory, gave favorable account of the
climate and confirmed, the account given by
Mr.. Holt. Both gentlemen thought very high
ly of the climate for those who were afflicted
with lung diseases, having experienced bene-
fetal effects in this respect themselves. 1t be-
ing ascertained that thirty persons or more
were calculating to see Minnesota this season.
Mr.. Holt was appointed to make arrangements
with some railroad agent respecting reduction
of fare. The emigrants decided to start from
Boston. A number of gentlemen were ap-
pointed committee of correspondence, to
correspond with any who are desiring to go
with the company. s:
Adjourned to meet at Boston, April 2, '55.
-. ~ .r+r.. i. BURSLEY,
..l..e.. -... .......... Chairman.
5. T. MORRILL,, Secretary.
We learn that farmer from Washington,
Maine, arrived at Hudson, Wisconsin, a few
weeks since, with his family; having made the
entire journey by land. with his own team.
We alluded some days since to the fact that
Col Benton's residence at Washington was de-
stroyed by fire on the 9th ult 1t appears
from the following, which we copy from the
National Intelligencer OF the following day,
that the loss not only falls heavily upon the
distinguished owner Of the premises, but also
upon his fellow-countrymen All of his valua-
BILE manuscripts and correspondence, collected
during his eventful lifetime, go with the ruins
Col. B., in published card, returned thanks to
the firemen and citizens Of Washington who Ia
bored to save his property, and appeared to
bear his great loss with the fortitude of a true
philosopher. The Intelligencer thus states the
incidents Of the calamity:
The residence in this city of the Hon. Thos
Il. Benton, of Missouri, situated on C street,
between Third and Four-and-ahalf, was de-
strOyed by fire yesterday afternoon, together
with nearly all of the furniture, the library,
and, most unfortunate of all, the manuscript
papers of Mr.. Benton.
At about three O'Clock, smoke was discovered
issuing from the Office, or study, of Mr.. Benton,
in the second story, and upon opening the door
it was found that the room was filled with
smoke and flame and so rapid was the spread
of the fire that the family had but little time to
save themselves.
Mr.. Benton arrived from the capitol in
brief time. and at once asked respecting his
books and papers. One of his daughters, who
had taken refuge at Colonel Fremont's, one of
the adjacent dwellings, replied, we have saw
ed nothing, father, but ourselves your papers
are lost" "Then let the house burn on'' said
Mr.. Benton, in an apparently calm manner !;
and for time he continued to look OH the
scene with more concern for the men who were
at work, encased in icy armor, than for any in
terest he might be supposed to- possess in the
perishing property.
The destruction of the dwelling.house, furni-
ture, library, and valuable wardrobe of an en-
tire family, upon none of which was there any
insurance,) of course involvesa heavy loss but
all these are of little moment when compared
with the accumulated store of manuscripts of
one of the most industrious and prolific as we'll
as ablest writer's of the times, and one whose
correspondence has, no doubt, been as volumin-
Gus and important as that of any other of our
statesmen. Fortunately, Mr.. Benton is posses
sed OF the most extraordinary fortitude and to
this we may add, as not unworthy Of fconsidera-
tion, nor unimportant to any man in the hour
OF trial, that the sympathy OF whole commnnl-
ty is with him in his hour of calamity.
The fire companies worked with the greatest
energy, under the most intense cold. and al
though they could not subdue the flames in
Col. Benton's house, they prevented the fire
spreading beyond it, aud saved the adjoining
ones, which was marvel, considering the
height of tho wind and the want of an abund-
ant supply Of water. y4s s CIV
The cause Of this eondagration was dofec.
tive chimney fus.