The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-07-11
FROM LELAND.
THE FOURTH.

THE FOURTH
Our little city was rather dull on the 4th, as
there was nothing doing Many persons "lefted"
On the the trains for Aurora, Plano or Earl.-a
good many to the latter place, on the night of
the 3D., to a ball gotten up by the Earlvillians,-
and few to the county seat, to witness the
Great II. W. Horse Fair
BRICK
We have three brick yards at this place, at
each OF which goodly number of men are en-
ployed, and brick are being moulded by the
thousand daily. 1t is said the clay is tolerably
good, and profitable thing it will be if such
proves to be the case. Building will soon COM
mence on the ground where the late fire occur
red, and then will our little city loom up on
Railroad Avenue and be beautiful to look
upon" Messrs. Watson & Ball have already
commenced the work for their part Of the job,
and will raise establishment 90 by 80 feet.
Previous TO the fire the block that burned down
was built on the railroad land, but it will be re-
built back to the north, distance of fifty feet,
which will look somewhat more sensible, besides
giving us much wider street. 1t is proposed
or nearly all owners of lots in the block com.
mencing nearly simultaneously
SCHOOL.
Our school has closed, having wound up last
Friday for the present school year. A vacation
of two months, and then it again commences !;
and as our present teachers, Prof. j. Freeman
and his wife, can not be hired for another year
for the same wages as the past, it is recommended
by some that his wages be raised. He is offered
$1,000 per year Of 10 months, at Polo, ILL., and
as he gets but 81 $50 for the same length of time
here, it would be something Of an object for him
to teach at the former place. I hear he is willing
to teach here for 81 400 per annum, and pre-
sumo he will be hired by our illustrious Board
Of School Trustees sooner than be let loose. to
ramble at will DER our green prairies.
TOWN PUMP AND ARTEsIAN WELL.
Our economical city fathers, being DESTROYS of
accommodating the public as much as possible,
took a novel way of doing So As most of the
Board of Trustees were business men, it was
natural for them to look to their interest and as
getting we'll made in the street would increase
trade, they went for one An artesian well was
ordered to be dug, pump put in, and some
thought we would be supplied with plenty of
water. The well was dug sixty feet, and when
finished cost $3.50 or SI75. 1t was filled up full
twenty feet at the bottom with sticks and stones
by some Of the little boys, the pump put in, but
it was found that stones and sticks could not be
pumped. So our citizens suspect they have been
cheated to the amount OF $40
THE STORM on SUNDAY
During the past four weeks but little rain had
visited US but on Sunday morning everything
indicated storm. The air was quite sultry,
and everything foreboded thunder shower.
The clouds began 10 gather and thicken, the
wind being in the east, and about eleven o'clock
the rain descended, accompanied by a vast
amount of thunder and lightning A few miles
north of this place hear that hail stones fell of
good size and thick as hops" but not much
damage was done, considering the forwardness
OF crops Among the numerous antics an.
nounced next day as having been performed BY
the lightning during this storm may be men.
toned the following remarkable
ACCIDENTS.
About seven miles north of Leland is the farm
OF Rev. Frank Dale, the grain merchant of this
place During the storm four head of his horses
were huddled closely together on the farm,
about one-half mile from the house, when the
lightning struck and killed them all, three of
them falling with their heads across the fence.
They were valued at $3.50, and were quite a
severe loss. Two OF them were mares one a
large colt and one mule Again, several fences
and trees We're struck and scattered to the -four
Winds" one fence having eleven posts smashed
at one clip, but one and half miles from town.
Within a shor, distance of where these horses
were killed occurred another sad spectacle. Mr..
Dement, had his large barn struck and burned
up; new corn shelter, most of a reaper, and
other machinery, burning up with it. also
learn that two other horses were killed near
Roses Grove, but could not ascertain the name
OF the owner.
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS 49, g
The Democrats OH Tuesday held their caucus,
elected their delegates to the county convention,
their delegate to the county club, adopted a
series of resolutions, and effected an orgariza.
ton, the first one ever made in this town. "a,
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uD..s~n ILL.,