The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-12-09
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RsruBLrooY 6ALr KIvKa, |
6rcrsuoN CRY. Dec. 3, 1864.

RruBLIo0Y BAIT HIvKa,
srczsuoK CTrY, Dec. s, 1854. y
Editor cfsAe Gate City:
/ arrived ct the Big Fork Of Salt river
some day. since, ssd would have written
to you sooner, bat thought it best 70
wat till / could send you the oflciA re-
turns Of this nourishipg Rspablic.
It's now known that Gcnsral G. B
MoClell.n, Inspector General Of guabepis,
il daily elected President Of the Rspsblic
of Salt River. he having received TWEEN
ty-one electoral votes in the electoral col
lege.
The Republic Of Salt River has grown
npidly in population and importance since
the 9Th Of November Thousands we're
added to our population on that memoir
Bile day, and hundreds are daily pushing
in. Your readers are fully informed that
the explosion Of the great ocean steamer,
Chicago Platform, increased our popula-
ton. A few hours after the explosion !
was present and saw the living, the dead
and the dying. notice that accounts Of
this great catastrophe are conflicting. !
deem it unnecessary to give particulars
farther than to correct some false state.
ments aHoat.
The celebrated ocean steamer, Chicago
Platform, was built at the Chicago dock.
yard. Neither the vessel nor the i'm.
mense cargo was insured. All the mate.
rails of the vessel we're imported from
Richmond, England and Canada. Thu
ship had clearance papers for Washing
ton, but the officers intended to run the
blockade at Richmond.
The voyage. as all know, was a stormy
one, especially on the sth of November
On this terrible day, a. 6 O'Clock, p. m.
the storm was rapidly drawing the shiI
toward the secession breakers. near th'
mouth of Salt river. To avoid founderint
here, the pilot ran his vessel into tn,
mouth Of Salt river, intending to procee,
up it far enough to escape the fury Of th
storm. The terror of the scene was in
creased BY the sudden appearance Of
suspicious vessel, supposed to be siear
ram from Baltimore. To escape prob
able collision barrel Of +" dmocratic lie,
or rather secession soap grease, was ai
ded 10 the fuel. The intolerable "stink
drove tie fireman from The furnace, an
the extra pressure of steam caused an e,
plosion that blew large portion Of h
officers and passengers upon the bluffs. o
each side of the river. Captain McCle
Ian was blown through the top of DR.
tree. the enags of which tore off his eI
auettes and regimeutals generally. as
passed.
The day after the sbipwreck hundred
of the ill-fated passengers came up to S
cession City, some in carriages, some
carts and some. aias, in smbulancss,
seek burial place in their native city
Among the :" iilustrious dead " notice
your fellow countryman, Hon. Henri
Clay Dean. As he lay conspicuous anon
the " noble dead" his nosirils distende
in the breeze. l though. Of that beaulifa
poetic ami classicalline. namely: "Peac
to thy soap grease"-ahem excuse
slip OF the tongus-I intended to say
"Peace to thy ashes" All with whom
have conversed agree that had Mr.. Dea
survived he would have been entitled /
the highest position in the Salt Rive
Cabinet, namely: "Grand Griddl
Greaser"
Yours, most truly,
OLD HuxPHREY.