Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-06-26
Correspondence.
CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE.

Sporting Matters-The Races between
ON a Western Course.The BrickIay-
ers' Strtke-What is being done and
Low tf Will end-Publfc schools of
Chicago-Crtme ON the Increase-A
sad, Strange HistOry-The old Story
ofJune and January--InfideIify SUE
feide, Insanity and Poverty.
CHICAGO, THURSDAY, June IL, 1S6S.-The
subject most frequently referred to, il not of
the most Importance, during the past week,
Is the trotting races between Ba shaw Jr.
and Rocky, for ten thousand dollars. The
nrst race was to wagons, and was won by
BashaW, IN 2:3O, on a heavy track. But the
grand match took place ON the 9Th inst, to
harness, and was attended by at least five
thousand persons. The exhibition of speed
was very fine, and the time made the best
ever shown by western horse on western
track. For seven-year old, 2:26, 2:24 4-5,
and 221 is brilliant record, especially on
Dexter Park, which is a very slow track, and
places hockey (who won the race in three
straight heats) among the best trotters In
the country. Indeed, his owner has already
refused an offer of twenty-five thousand dol
iars Tor NM Before the race he could have
been bought for fifteen.
Every one supposed Bashaw would win the
second, as he did the first race, and the bet
tlnS IN his favor was four to one, so those who
invested on Rockey made handsome thing
by 1t. At least seventy-five thousand dollars
The regular spring meeting of the Dexter
Park Irotting Club commences ON the 18th
INST, and promises to be well attended. 1t
VIII last i've days. Bashaw and Rockey are
to be among the attractions
The strike of the brickiayers shows no sign
OF abatement and both parties remain firm
The Journsymen, OF whom there are nearly
three hundred on the strike have held meet
ings every day during the week, and been
addressed by small, windy spouters, but no
Ornn6 raSTIifS haa
employers have agreed to pay the wages de-
manded, (hye dollars per day. but majority
say they will not give this amount to ali
though they are willing to pay it to the best
men, ana hlre others for what they are worth.
Ihls does not suit the journeymen however
and they refuse to work with 'sscabs " as
those who get less than five dollars are
termed.
Meanwhile work on MANY buildings is at
stand-still, and contractors are looking else
where for men. 1t is asserted that they have
already engaged enough to go ON with the
most pressing work, and will resume opera-
tons in a few days. When this is ATTEMPTED
it Is feared trouble will occur between the
newcomers and the resident journeymen, and
not few predict riots and bloodshed.
Potter Palmer, the retired merchant who
owns a large amount of real estate in the
best part of the city, and recently offered to
build upon two hundred feet a year for ten
years, on one street (State). if made of
work upon the stores he is now erecting, and
declares that none of the present strikers
shall ever work upon building put up by
him. Other employers have made the same
threats, and, as there are plenty of brick
layers in the country, it is probable the affair
will result only in injury to those engaged
in it,
The journeymen, as they lose hope of re-
ceiving their demands, talk of forming build
ing associations, and taking contracts for
work themselves. But before anything of this
kind can be done, fall will be here, the work
of the season will be finished, and they will
be staring bleak winter in the face with emp
ty pockets.
Strikes are costly luxrries, and American
mechanics should begin to realize the fact
few statistics regarding the schools of Chicago,
which have just been made public, may be of in
terest to your readers: The public schools of this
city cost than $500, 600 year. of which $780,
900 is paid to teachers. The Superintendent re-
ceives $4,000, male principals from So 900 to 80 So
female principals 81 900 and assistants $500 There
800 teachers employed at present and it is est
mated that 450 will be required within year. The
number of children enrolled the school books is
% 491, and the average daily attendance is 927
The property owned by the city land many of the
schools are held in rented budingsl is worth over
S1,000,000. The principal buildings, such as the
Carpenter, Holden, Wells, Newberry and High
Schools cost from $50 900 to $4,000 each. In the
matter of furniture and appointments, the schools
of Chicago stand unsurpassed, and some of them
unequalled in the United States. For these ad-
vantages, much credit is due to the firm of Geo.
c. W. Sherwood, los Madison street, who are not
only great manufacturers of school furniture and
apparatus, but are the only publishers of school
books in the northwest. They do four times the
business of any house in the school furnishing line
The Carpenter School, recently furnished by them,
is model of excellence, and competent judges say
it has rival in the whole country. The series of
Edwards and Webb's Analytical Readers, published
by Messrs. Sherwood, are acknowledged to be the
best in use, and rapidly taking the place of all
others, being equalled in sale only by Sherwood's
series of Charts and Spelling Books, which accom-
pany them. The Chicago Board of Education re-
Gently introduced the entire series into all our
schools, and State Superintendents, principals and
teachers, all over the west, endorsing them
"a word to the wise is sufficient"
The democrats have made arrangements by which
all parties wishing to attend their National Conven-
ton, i'll New York, obtain tickets from this
point and back for twenty dollars the return ticket
to be good until the 18th of July 1t is expected
that large outside delegations will attend.
Our police force is becoming utterly useless for
the prevention Of crime, though the most noted
desperadoeS are well known to the guardians of
the peace" Burglaries becoming as common
divorce suits. Can anything more De said ?
Here is an instance of the manner in which opera
tlons are performed A night or two since gen.
tleman was awakened by ring at his front door. !
Going down in his night clothes and opening the
door, four with revolvers walked into the hail.
and presenting him with their compliments advis-
ed the owner of the night clothes to keep remarka-
bly, quiet. While two stood guard over him, the /
others then went through the house, taking every
thing of value. As they retired, the burglars po-
litely wished the gentleman good night and urged !
him to take something warm before retiring. He /
that he felt rather chilled by their
cool proceedings, and may have followed the adj 4
vice, AT any rate, when ne had sufficiently recOv-
ed his senses to give an ALARM the burglars
not to be found.
The McCormicks, of reaper and mower notoriety, |
have got into quarrel among themselves and the |
public thus learns that the assets of the firm
nearly S4,O0O,000. The private property of its
members will amount to double that sum.
A sad strange history came to light in the Police
Court yesterday, when Bridget Thompson, young |
lunatic who had been found wandering about the |
streets, was called up before the Judge. Three |
years ago, when but eighteen, she married an old /
man of sixty, named Thompson. 1t not mar
rage of love on her part, but Thompson had money
and she had none. As a matter of course, they
lived unhappily together, and she proved false to
the marriage VOW. On occasion, when she re-
fused to submit to his embraces, he demanded the
return of large amount of money, which had been
placed in her hands for safe keeping. She taunt-
ingy told him 1t had been given to her lover, when
the old man jumped from his bed and blew out his
brains. A will had been made, by which all of
ThOmpsons property was left to the young wife.
With this (which was CONSIDERABLE she commenced
life of gaiety and dissipation and has gone from
bad to worse until yesterday she was brought to
the Armory, ravlng maniac pursued, she
thinks, by the ghost of her dead husband, who is
importuning her for money money!"
The day before her arrest she drew the last of he
ll-gotten wealth-fve hundred dollars-from tn :
bank, and had actually thrown the greater portion
Of it at the feet of the dreaded apparition. When
left alone her cries and means terrible Dearly,
but perhaps justly, has she paid for her freedom
and temporary wealth. NAIRBo.
...z@z.zzzzzzm-@
Arrest of LOtta's Father-A Mixed Case.