Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-03-28

fW1 1A - Cave i-Atat W 't'-aA "
The present site of the beautiful ant
nourishing city OF Davenport, Iowa, was IL
1922, called 'Stubbs's Ferry" after Capt
Stubbs of the U. $. army, who had. previ.
ously graduated at West Point, and was
stationed at Rock Island, where he remained
four years, The Captain was an eccentric
genius, and in 1889, built n cave in the south
side Of a mound standing at the mouth of q
neighboring valley. -.i esr .r I.t
The ''History of Scott County" Of which
Davenport is the metropolis, relates the
following "reminiscences of the Captain s
| peculiarities, habits, family connections, &C.,
which wal be new and novel, we doubt not
to many readers. The historian says of him:
During my stay upon this beautiful island,
at this early day, away from the crowded
city, he formed an attachment for this wild
and enchanting country, that terminated only
| with his life. He was q brother-in-law to
| Judge Mclean, and in 1927 he returned east
and served under him in the Postoffice
Department, and from there went to Cincn-
| natl, where he was clerk in the Postotiice for
some years. But in 1893 he gratifed his
long pent up desire to return to the West.
On his return to Rock Island however, there
seemed TO have come over him q great
change. He seemed to have lost all that
vivacity of life and spirit SO natural to his
character. Deep melancholy at times
intellect seemed at once to give way. Vari-
Gus were the causes attributed to his state of
mind. Some surmised it was a matter of
love, but none knew. The secret was ever
buried in his own bosom. He sought relief
like thousands in the inebriating bowl. His
talents were bright, his education liberal,
and his honesty beyond all question. He
sought retirement from the world, and Sc
lected the secluded spot in East Davenport
,rA ~1a,
from its mouth, he could look out upon the
beautiful Mississippi, as its rippled current
moved ON in its endless journey to the sunny
South. Here he lived II hermits life for
nearly eight years. His only companions
were a pet pig and cat, with sometimes
dog. This was his family, and many a
lecture did these mute listeners get from
their eccentric master. All quarrels among
these were settled by the captain in judi
cial manner, and the guilty. one punished.
In his morning or evening rambles along
the bank of the Mississippi his entire family
would be seen with him, marching behind
him in military file, with all proper deeorum,
and often in his visits to the village, he was
accompanied by his pig and cat.
A. G. Fulton, Esq, tells this anecdote of
his first visit to the cave in the summer of
1872 He had wandered up the banks OF the
river looking at the country for the first
ing the little creek below the present site of
Mr.. Dalam's store, he hastened toward the
top of the Plound, in order to obtain a more
extensive view of the little plateau of ground
TO which he had arrived. In passing up the |
side of the mound, he caught the sound of
human voice, but he could not determine |
from whence it came, as he could not see any |
one near him. The noise increased, and |
seemed to be a very earnest dispute, mingled |
with not a few hard words, when suddenly |
Mr.. Fulton discovered the place from which |
issued the sound. He was near the top of |
the chimney or hole from which the light, |
smoke and heat of Captain Stubbss residence |
escaped, and not dreaming that he was in |
the vicinity of a habitat;on, he was some
what startled, but cried out at the top of his
voice, as he looked down the cavity. "Hallol
What are you doing down there?" To which
the answer came back in quick response,
What are you doing. up there? Get off my
house sirl" This was his first introduction
to Capt. Stubbs who in after years, received
many kind tokens of regard from the hand of
Mr.. Fulton. The only cause of the disturb
ance in the Captains domicil was that the pet
pig had probably without malice a. dforethought,
undertaken to assist his master in the
culinary department, and accidently Tor for
want Of better training) partially destroyed
pone of corn bread which the captain had
been preparing for the first table. Captain
Stubs was a surveyor, and run out many of
the first settlers claims and often drew up
deeds and contracts between parties at that
early day. In lS46 he was induced to come
forth from his hermitage and settle in Dayen-
port, where he was elected Justice of the
Peace, which office he filled to the time
ofhis death, which occurred in May, ls4s.