Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-08-17
From tho Toledo Blade.
The Great Illinois Gathering.

ing, your correspondent lett Dhiayette,
Ind, for this place, on the I. d w. cars, b.
E. Bullock, conductor. When fairly under
wav tremendous explosion was heard
Hon. John Petit I'D. D." Judge of the Su-
preme Court Of Kansas being on board, we
thought it a salute in honor Of his leaving
the State of Indiana, where he had been
spending few weeks looking after the in
terests Of Breck and Lane. We soon found,
however, that the salute was intended for
all of us, as instantly the cars filled with
hot steam and ashes, and the train came to
sudden staDd-stil. When the steam had
cleared away, so we could see, we found the
engine had exploded, and was perfect
wreck; but fortunately it blew out both
sides alike and left the train on the track.
Nobody hurt but the engineer, and be not
dangerously. 1t was a miraculous escape
as it happened on the Wea embankment,
which is not less than fifty feet high. We
we're detained about three hours, SO that we
did not reach this city until o'clock in
tho morning.
To-day the Republicans of the great
State of Illinois have come to their Capital
in immense multitudes to have kind of
State Jubilee, in honor of the nomination
of their fayorite statesman, Abraham Lin
coin, for the Presidency. 1t was presumed
there would be great gathering, but none
expected that the entire inhabitants of the
State and its surroundings, would be here.
From the balcony of the State House, a
view of the crowded streets and the long
cavalcades pouring in from every avenue,
the immense trains loaded down, coming in
on every Railroad centering here would
lead one to suppose that all Illinois were
congregatipg in one place. 1t is without
doubt the largest and most enthusiastic po-
litical gathering that has ever taken place
on this continent. They have como from
all parts Of tho State, in long caravans,
with banners and bands of music. One
caravan from Champaign Co., consists of
1873 wagons loaded with men and women,
camped out two nights in order to be here
early, and 50 of other counties for so miles
each way
At 10 o'clock the procession began to
move and was two and one-half hours in
} passing the residence of Mr.. Lincoln
: There were over 1900 wagons, many Of
, them drawn by 4, 6, and horses, illustrat-
ed by all manner of devices, some of which
were very appropriate and some ludicrous.
Ono wagon drawn by twenty-one yoke of
oxen, on which was complete blacksmith
shop, with some twenty men at work, some
making horse shoes, some nails, and one
man was actually shoeing live horse. On
another wagon was caloric engine fred
up and running a Power-Loom and various
other machinery, with banner-"Protec-
ton to home manufactures" Eight wagons
from different points with young ladies to
. represent each State and Territory, formed
a beautiful feature in the procession
: Another was filled with little misses, dress
ed in white, with small banners flying from
each tiny hand, and large banner on
which was inscribed, "Ksnsas. They won't
let mo in" A tribe of fifty Indians,
mounted Oh, horseback, with the motto,
"Boston Tea E..-tv." attracted mach atten-
> tion. Immense fat-boats on wheels floated
past, and numerous squads of Rail-Split-
ters were making logs into rails as easily as
r though they were in the woods on terra
firma.
!. 1t would fill your paper for several days
! to describe the whole procession, so [ will
add only few of the mottoes-"We do
care whether slavery is voted up or down.
? "Broderick the Martyr-Douglas the Trait
y or" "We will subdue YOU" "Abe Lin
Is coins Flat-Boat will never navigate Salt
! River" We won't dissolve the Union, and
we won't let you" "My Great Principle
c illustrated by portrait of very 'Lita'
h Giant"0
S While the procession was passing, Mr.
Lincoln stood on the elevated steps of hi
residence, where all could see him as they
5 passed. Mrs. Lincoln was frequently called
out, and very modestly received the cheers
of the assembled thousands.
Old John Hanks, got upon the gate-posi
and made many laughsble remarks. He told
a the people that he and "Abe" made more
9 than 10000 rails one winter, and he was
b going to take one of them to Washington
D next spring when "Abe" is to be inaugura
z ted President.
Q The procession proceeded to the Fail
e Grounds where the vast crowds were ad
dressed from six different stands by distin
guished speakers from various parts of the
!, country.
: At night the whole city was illuminated
F" and 5000 Wide Awakes, with lighteC
torches and Roman Candles, paraded tn,
:. streets, making one of the greatest specta
l. cles ever witnessed.
e 1t is agreed by all parties that not les
% than $4,000 people are here to-day--thirt
D thousand by count, passed into the Fai
y grounds, and yet there appeared to be NJ
10 diminution of the people in the Streets
IS Those who stayed in the city thought Their
could not be many at the Fair Grounds.
At At o'clock Mr.. Lincoln appeared on tn
re ground in a carriage with few friends
In An indescribable uproar ensued. The pee
a pie broke away from all the speakers an
n. rushed around the carriage en- masse, shout
ing and cheering by thousands like mad
men. 1t was feared the carriage would
le crushed and Mr.. Lincoln injured; but
q, was taken from the carriage and borne
is the crowd to one of the platforms, wher
fn he endeavored to speak to the audience. =
is Several minutes elapsed before his voic
could be heard in the deafening cheer
" which went forth from tens Of thousands Z
y throats.