The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-10-11

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explained that it must not happen again; that
! had been sick too, very sick Of the whole
affair, and that the watchman had become
demoralized and run away, that it was near
ly midsummer and that all Flushing was
laughing mt us.
The watchman lived in little place not
bigger than good sized dog kennel that lie
constructed from pieces Of the roof and the
boys Of the neighborhood considered it fine
sport to pay him visit Of dark night, and
signalize their presence by a shower of
stones. His food was never luxurious, being
cooked by himself under many disadvantages
and with few utensils. And when his money
became scant, was supplied mainly through
the charity Of the neighbors He had no bed
ding, and no change Of clothes; and when
n murder was committed near by, and the
murderer was hunted through the place by
constables, officers and half the people Of
the place as posse comitatus, accompanied by
all the dogs in the village, and the crowd
yelling, screaming and fighting, rushed over
the watchman's kennel at midnight, waking
him out Of sleep, he could stand it no longer,
but incontinently fled to parts unknown. So
that Sille had not arrived too soon, and
found everything needing care and attention
He went to work at once, and bringing order
out of chaos, began rapidly to construct the
confused mass Of material into the form and
stature Of dwelling.
Murders are abhorrent things to me, either
from some natural idiosyncracy from the
trainings of my profession which teaches
obedience to the powers that be, and prefers
technicalities to violence have species
Of horror at the thought of numbering any
one or being murdered myself, especially
~ N.ta Il &. 80, 4 L.
body is 80 dreadful to look and SO hard to
dispose Of, and it is so sudden and altogether
unpleasant. / was anxious to know before
settling in Flushing, il murder was one of
the institutions, and was TO be avoided
like chills and fever, musketoes and other
similar visitations. A day or two after the
occurrence, | applied to my invaluable friend
Neville for information, and inquired if
murders were a common event. His man
nerin reply was very encouraging. lie had
lived in Flushing nine years, and this was
the first case of the kind. 1t was the most
peaceable place he ever knew; in fact he
had hardly ever heard loud word spo-
ken. He pictured it as the abiding place Of
angels or Quakers, AMI put my scruples en-
tirely Al rest. Violence or disputes even
among the Flushingites, were not hearl of,
and m,Pders were far rarer than deaths by
lightning. The day after this conversation,
there was little friendly contest among the
several fire companies Of this peaceable vii
lage, to determine which engine could throw
the highest stream Of water; and what was
my amazement on reading the accounts in the
daily papers, to learn that the contest wound
up with free fight that knives, pistols and
clubs, were freely used, and that four per
sons were killed and forty wounded. For
family Of semi-angels, this was doing well.
The philosophy Of average furnishes one
consolation, however-Flushing had evident
ly concentrated into one day, its allowance of
murders for the next five years
None of Stiles men were in the fight,
though Mt first, anticipated finding my eel
lar hospital; and he kept steadily on. ad-
ding boards and windows. and siding and
beams together. till they took on the sem
and open rs yet. One man fell between the
timbers, another out of the window, third
from the roof, but that did not hurt the
house.
Two lrishmen were at work digging a
we'll, and fell to moralizing at their fate:
doomed to lower existence than hewers Of
wood and drawers of water, not sufficiently
intelligent even to cut sticks, and condemned
TO carry wood and dig for water. missing on
their hard lot, peerel down into the deep
hole they were making in the ground during
the intense heats Of summer, wondering how
soon science would raise the lowest OF men
above the condition of beasts of burthen.
when one Of them glancing up. perceived
me, and inquired: ..Was the boss. :" | an
swered the affirmative and he informed me
that it was customary for the boss to stand
something, when he first came on the ground.
Moved by my sympathy, stood quarter
apiece, explaining that it must not be wasted
for liquor, to which they assented with great
hilarity. Alas for sympathy, and charity.
and human mildness. Those wretched men
Immediately dubbed their quarters together
and converting them into gin. knocked of
work, and proceeded to get drunk. They
remained incoherent, as the term goes that
is applied to their betters, all the next day.
As it was essential that the well should be
finished as rapidly as possible. my sympathy
was ended, and never stood anything Of the
kind again.
What with drunken Irishmen and injured
workmcn, murdered villagers and fighting
tremen. the country house progressed but
slowly towards completion. The walls, il is
true, arose like mushrooms delicious
vegetables night the roof climbed into
place, partitions grew, and floors were laid,
windows crept into their sash cases and
doors and blinds were hung. but 'the end
was not yet The seventh of July had come
and gone, and the country house bid fair to
be finished about Christmas time.
OF the cost of the progressing dwelling, it
is not pleasant to speak; but as this verita-
bic history depends greatly for its value to
future generations upon its accuracy and mi
nuteness, will admit that the expense was
not despicable. Labor was high. as the
Nantucket builder explained, and timber
was high, and bricks were high. and Irish
men occasionally got high, and altogether,
he was compelled against his wishes
Ito charge high price As the building
progressed-or rather failed to progress, it
was suggested that he may have charged
enough to cover few days delay at ten dol
lars a day But that would hardly have ac-
corded with the honesty of Nantucke!an.
l concluded to hire house hear by, which,
though not the one had expected to occu-
py, was doubtless rs good, and had the adj
yantagcs of tight roof and solid walls.
Here could conveniently watch the progress
of the undertaking, without being 80 deeply
interested rs If my lodging depended on it.
As distance is supposed to lend enchantment
to the view, the distant prospect,f the com
pletion Of my houses hould have been en-
chanting; and as the summers invariably
return every year, it would be only qucs-
ton of few MONTHS and my summer house
would be merely next summer house.
AGREAT NATURAL CuRIosITY.-Several Of
our citizens returned last week from visit
Al.