davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-09-09

Tho young ladies of Dover,
Wayne county, Ohio, have formed a
society for the redemption of young
mon whose habits do not suit them,
pledging themselves not to receive
the attention ofany young man that
swears, smokes, chews, loafs on the
street corners or drinks. The amount
OF Sitting up with the girls" done in
that region since the society went
into operation is nothing worth
speaking Of" An agitation in favor
OF 'suspending the rules" for two
evenings week is expected.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-09-09

o"iSeo''oo oeieno myself
with.
Anderson Have you, ever said
that you would shoot meif jumped
on you2
Swiggctte.-I perhaps havo said a
good many things.
Anderson. Amt you got sonsc
enough to know what you did say?
Swiggette.-I think / have.
When Capt. Swiggettc had made
this last reply he had no idea that
Anderson intended striking him, but
thought..it had ended psaceably, and
not keeping his eye on Anderson,
was knocked down before he was
aware that any assault was intended.
At this the rest Of the mob carno
yelling like demons, -go for him 90
for him! kill him! kill him kill the
Cd id son Of q b-hl &C., &C.,
Anderson following up his first blow
with such rapidity by kicks and
blows that swiggette could not dc.
fend himself in the least; part of the
mob by force preventing Swiggette's
friends from rendering him any as
sistance, in making his escape from
them, tho rest joining in with Ander-
son kicking him, and beating him
with clubs. At one time Capt. Sheets
succeeded in striking Anderson with
q piece Of a board on the shoulder
stunning him somewhat for a mo-
ment which was probably the means
Of saving Swiggette's life, as Ander-
son was kicking him at that time
very savagely about thejaw and neck
Swiggette lying on the ground seem.
ingly unconscious. In q moment
however he seemed to rally,and tried
to get back to the store, but was
knocked down again near the middle
of the street, by one of the mob an
other striking him q heavy blow
with large cane, which was raised
for . second blow when Mr.. Patch
seized hold Of the cane.' and held it.
Swiggette now succeeded in getting
near the side walk whore he was
first attacked, and gained his first
opportunity Of trying to defend
himself, which he did by drawing his
revolver and firing at Anderson, do
ing no damage as the ball was carried
out Of it's true course by one Of the
mob striking Swiggette's arm. He
was struck but once more when Mr..
Wilson seized hold Of him and imme-
diately dragged him into the store,
when the doors were quickly locked
and he was saved from their savage
fury. Some of the demons were not
satisfied and wanted to break the
doors in, and as they expressed, it
"finish him." but in this they were
divided and did not make the at.
tempt.
Thus ended the most damnsble
outrage ever perpetrated in our coun-
ty, and if justice is done the perpe-
traitors of it, the last ono will haul
up in the States prison. Ku Klux
outrages may do in Tennessee, but
they will not be tolerated in Iowa.
That Capt. Swiggette is alive to-day
is owing solely to the efforts OF VIM.
81. II. Asbury, Mr.. Patch, Capt.
Sheets, Mr.. Wilson and T. 8. Tharp
in his behalf TRUTH.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-09-09
REMEMBER
uSQUEBAuG
OR
OLD SETTLERS BITTERS,
rs WARRANTED.

to do you more good than any other medicine,
tonic or bitters that Is recommended for bill
lionsness, costiyeness. dyspepsia, all com.
fanguor, general debility, loss Of appetite dier.
rhoea, cholera morbus, the Usquebaugh HAS
NO EQUAL in the wide world. Its great cel-
ebrity In Scotland, England and Ireland, for
the last two hundred years, is sufficient proof
that its virtues and extraordinary com6ina-
ton is unrivalled. No proprietary medicine
known has the precedence Of UsQuebaugh.
No one that has tried Il fol above and relative
complaints will be without it. ~ Il 10 far pleas
anter and acts milder than any other cathar.
the thing" for business men; chat cannot give
time to slow and weakening effects Of the or
binary course, enabling them to cure them
more alacrity every day of its use Until the
system IL properly restored.
Sole Proprietors, Fl. Madison, Iowa.
Sold by all dealers in medicines. At whole.
sale by TAYLOR BLAKE q 90.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-09-09
Mrs Mary E. Rawlins, Danbury,

Mrs Mary E. Rawlins, Danbury,
Conn:
Your beloved husband expired at
II minutes after 4 o'clock this after.
noon; to be mourned by a family of
Friends who loved him for his pcr.
sonal worth and services to his coun.
try, and . nation who acknowledges
their debt of gratitude. Il is deter.
mined that he should Be buried In tho
Congressional burying ground.as tho
most appropriate place. unless you
have other suggestions to make
The time of the funeral is not vet ar
ranged, but probably it will take
place on Thursday next.
(Sfgned) u. S. GRANT.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-09-09
A CARD.

had thought that enough had
been said by myself and friends in
regard to my action two years ago,
whom l was the defeated candidate
in the Republican Convention for
the, nomination for Treasurer, but
my attention has been called to the
statement made by w. J. Ross ESQ.
and for fear that some may be misled
BY it, | desire to make the following
statement in regard to the letter
written to Mr.. Rose, which he did
not read, but which was recalled by
me.
Before writing that letter the of.
fer was made to me by a gentleman
who claimed to be the friend and
fellow democrat of Mr.. Ross, that if
l would work for his (Ross') election
ne would make mo his deputy. The
gentleman making the offer said
that he was authorized by Mr.. Ross
to make it. emphatically and at
once spurned the offer, all of which
the gentleman referred to will sub
stantiate upon his oath. I do not
mention the gentlemans name as Mr..
Ross does not, but he we'll knows
what that gentleman will swear to.
which is that he (Ross) authorized
the above offer TO be made to me, and
that | positively declined it. I did
however, write letter to Mr.. Ross
declining his offer in..toto; but.at the
same time I did say in that letter
that | felt that / had been lily treat
ed in the convention, but while this
was the case, thatit was no reason in
the world, why l should in any man.
ner support the Democracy, or re-
fuse to support the Republican ticket
put in nomination. After the letter
had been mailed, it occurred to me
that l ought not to have made any
remark in the letter In regard to the
proceedings of the convention, and
90 took the trouble to intercept the
letter before Mr.. Ross read it. If
there be any offerse on my part to-
wards the Republican party or can
didates it is only as above stated.
The letter published in the Cop
perhead, said to have been written by
me is a base forgery, and l challenge
any and all persons to produce that
letter or any other OF the kind from
my pen, or written at my dictation,
or with my approval or knowledge.
llabored zealously for the Repub
lican ticket, and as l trust. with effect
two years ago, and for every man on
it; while some Of my friends felt dis
posed to influence me to the contra
ry. hope to SO far have recovered
from the brutal treatment received
ut the hands of some of my unprin-
cipled political enemies as, to be able
to 60 through tho county in tho two
weeks before the election.
S, A. SWIGGETTE.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-09-09
FROM KEOKUK.
The Great Commercial Con.
ventiOn.

Special Correspondence Of the Courier.
KEokuK, Sept. Z, $50.
DEAR Courier
Keokuk has emphati-
cally putits best foot foremost in the
way Of making preparations for the
reception and entertainment Of the
delegates to the Great Commercial
Convention.
At 8 o'clock to-day, Gen. Add. II.
Sanders, editor Davenport Journal
and Chairman of Committee of Ar
rangements, scalled the Convention
to order, in Gibbons Opera House,
and on his motion Gen: Cyrus Bussoy
Of N. O., formerly Of Iowa, was made
Chairman, ard Sam. M. Clarke of the
Gate CITY, Messrs. Budd and Ocke, Of
New Orleans, and James of Chatta-
nooga, were chosen Secretaries pro.
tenn. i ii
Gen. Bussey and Col. Leighton de-
iivcred El;e;tnna araaahas; the former
on taking the chair, and the latter in
behalf of Keokuk, welcoming the
delegates to the Inequalities Of the
city.
Delegates were present from Iowa,
Missouri, Illinois. Wisconsin, Minnc-
sofa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kansas,
Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mis-
sissippi, Louisiana, and Alabama.
Gen. Saunders feelingly announced
the death of Gen. Rawlins. followed
by eloquent eulogies from Gems. Tut
tie, Vandever, and Bussey.
Mr.. Shyrock, President st. Lon;s
Board ofTrade, spoke for the remor.
al OF the distractions to the Missis.
sippi River, and in behalf of the mao
pie Of FL the I. Great Mississippi Valley, de-
manded that Congress should aDnro-
ate $l0, OOO,O 900 for that purpose.
Convention then adjourned to ga.
m. tomorrow morning.
treat preparations are making tor
the Banquet en- the night of the 9Th.
The Keokuk Trotting Park Asso.
cation are putting their grounds in
readiness for the State Fair in a su-
perb manner.
Inc grounds are the best, and the
indications are that the Fair will be
the best ever given in Iowa.
MORE ANON.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-09-09
Reduction of the Public Debt.


Gen. Grant since tho 4th of March
last has reduced the public debt 49,
5co, 900, over 81 million of which
was in the month last passed. This
is what the Administration set out
to do and what it promised when it
assumed the power, and this is what
it will continue to do, during the
three and half years to come, and we
now predict that one-sixth of the
public debt will be paid If at the end
Of Grants administration. This re-
duction ofthe public debt when it
first commenced disturbed but very
little the equanimity of tho Copper
head rebel element; but now that it
looms up and goes to the people as a
great work accomplished, and con.
tinues to lesson with grand strides
the public debt, and still the financial
condition otthe country prospers, the
Copperhead papers from the World
IN New York to tho humblest Of the
pack begin to howl, and Secretary
Boutwell,, is actually charged with
stealing their reputation thunder,
and all because he is buying up Gov.
eminent bonds,at their market value.
It would hereally very hard to please
Modern Democracy, just as hard to
please them now, as it was when
Grant had his death grip, upon the
citadel of Vicksburg, or Meade was
again making famous the ever-mem-
orable 4th of July on the field Of
Gettysburg. They never could be
pleased when the Union arms trium-
Pied over their allies the rebels Of
the South, and it is not expected that
they will be pleased to see the credit
of the Nation, taking higher, and
higher ground, through the means of
the same great party and leader that
crushed the Rebellion. Copperheads
very plainly see that this rapid pay
ment of the public debt, is the best
evidence of the integrity, and good
policy, of the Republican party, and
they SEQ in it the last glimmer of the
faintest hope for the success of mod
ern democracy-and SO pass away
the visions OF the spoils, SO eficacious
tor cohesive power in that party
No wonder that they howl and la.
ment to see Grant faithfully and hon
estly collecting the revenues, and Of
faithfully applying them to pay ou1
debts s
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-09-09
The Chicago Post says:

4
"There will be reunion of the
Fifteenth Iowa Infantry at Keokuk
during the State fair, which will be.
gin on the 14tk inst, and not on the
4th, as enormously stated by tele-
gram in . morning paper"
This is erroneous. Gen'l. Hedrick
tho last Col. of the 18th Iowa, merely
requested that SO many of the 18th
Iowa as could should meet at the
State Fair at Kcokuk, fol the purpose
of making an arrangement for re-
union of that regiment at some flu
ture time. We regret that the above
should have appeared in the Post, as
il may lead to some misunderstanding
and take this early opportunity to
correct the error.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-09-09

The population ofthe four cities OF
Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, and st.
Louis, as given by the health officers
of the various cities together with
the ratio OF deaths to the population
is as follows:
"Chicago population $4,000, ratio
Of deaths one person to every ILL
Boston population gao, 900, ratio of
deaths one i'm 80. St..Louis popula-
ton 100000, ratio. Of deaths one in
Ito. Cincinnati population 23o, 900,
ratio OF deaths one in 104."
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-09-09
THE COMMERCIAL CON.
VENTION.
Letter from Hon. VIM. Loughridge.

OskALoosA, Iowa, Sept. 1, 'e9.
To Messrs. Add II. Sanders, r. f.
Bo,cer and others, Committee
GENTLEMEN: had the honor of
receiving your circular of Aug. Sd,
inviting me to attend the Mississippi
Valley Commercial Convention, to Be
held at Keokuk on tho 9TH Of this
month.
1t would give me great pleasure to
be able to attend the Convention, but.
/ find that other engagements will
prevent ;but | assure you, gentlemen.
tnat shall enter most heartily into
any course of concerted action that
the Convention, as the result of its
deliberations, may conclude to be ex-
pedient and practical, and that may
be within the limits of that reasona-
bic and prudent economy which 1
think it necessary to practice; and [
have chat confidence in the CONNER
cial men of the Mississippi Valley to
believe that they would ask Of the
General Government nothing un-
reasonable or inexpedient.
Inmy opinion, the interests of the
people in the Mississippi Valley have
never received that assistance and
encouragement, from the General
Government, which they had q right
to expect, and which justice demand
ed. But the course of Empire'' has
made of the Valley Of the Mississippi
q mighty poweri in the land and given
it voice that will, from this time
forth, be omnipotent in the Halls of
Congress land VIC may look for and
expect justice and a fair share in the
appropriations for internal improve
-nents, p-oportioned to the magnitude
and Importance of tho work to be
done.
Hoping that the result of your de-
liberations may be for the advance
ment Of the interests and prosperity
of the great West, and of our com
mon country,
l am, yours most respectfully,
VIM. LoUGHRIDGE.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-09-09

4 ARRlyED.-Thc iron bridge of the
sCacago 4 Southwestern Railroad for
Platte River, arrived at the depot on
Thursday evening last. The parties
ssare on hand TO put it mp at once
They expect to have it completed by
the meeting of the Fair.-Border
Times.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-09-09
Important.

GEN. J. M. HEDRIcK,
The Surveyors chain
exhibited to us by Mr.. John Grant,
of your place, is great improve.
n,ent upon the rude and unreliable
instrument in common use, and if
generally adopted will do away with
those vexatious corrections and bal.
ancings necessary in the present
usage.
As means of verifying measure.
ments by trlangulation in the different
stages Of the work; for engineering
purposes as well as for the more gen.
ieral purpose of common surveying
it is o dissideratum.
N. NoRRIs HALsTED,
STEPHEN ALEXANDER,
T. Il. GRAHAM, G. 3.
CHAs. d. MORE.
OF the party detailed to observe tho
Aug. Eclipse at Ottumwa. w3m-10
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-09-09

Monday morning, the eth, a terri
BILE calamity occurred at Avondale
coal mines, about 20 miles south of
Scranton, Pa, involving tho lives of
202 men and boys.
1t seems that a fire occurred in the
timbers in the bottom of coal shaft,
owned by the Delaware Lackawana
and Western Railroad Company, I'LL
ing tho mine with smoke, fire, and
poisonous gases, and pouring out of
the shaft, destroyed the elevating
tackle, and thus cutting off all means
escape for tho victims.
Our first dispatches stated:
"The latest information from the
Avondale mine states that the shaft
was cleared and two men went down
and penetrated it for some sixty or
seventy yards to closed gang-way
door which they could not force open.
After the rubbish of the bottom
shaft was cleared away, two miners
descended in bucket and sent word
up to send down picks and shovels to
clear the doors with. The bucket was
then brought up and two men started
down with the tools. As they were
starting, the men at the bottom re-
quested them to hurry, and on their
reaching the bottom, both were found
dead"
Our latest from Scranton up to
yesterday evening the 7th instant,
says:
Especial trains this morning run
free to Avordale every hour until IL
o'clock, when the crowds became so
dense that they obstructed the relief
parties and they were suspended.
At the scene of the disaster forty
six miners were enrolled under com.
petent Superintendents togo down
INTO the mines, and one party went
down and safely returned after ma
king explorations as before tele-
graphed.
The second partythen went down
and returned safely, as had the first.
They penetrated tho gangway a dis
lance Of seventy five feet, and found
the large door wide open. They then
went hundred feet further in ono of
the passages and found small door
closed. After opening this door 10
give circulation Of air around to the
entrance, they returned. Had this
small door been opened there might
have been shade of hope, as the
gas, smoke and fire would have had
free passage around the circuit and
out again. As il is, the fears are that
the smoke has penetrated the inner
mine and suffocated all the men,.
The main door way leading to the
mine has not yet been reached.
A third set of men, in number,
went down and came back in Is
minutes, two Of them SO overcome
with the effects of gas that they are
being restored with difficulty. Gas
is coming out ofthe outer minc very
fast since the passage was opened
The widest excitement prevails, and
the mass of the people are kept back
with great difficulty.
LATER. 100 p. M.-Thc two miners
are saved at last. 1t seems idle to
peril life by any further attempt to
go down, so long as the gas is so
strong. No attempt can Of course
be made to reach the main door, or
TO penetrate the nine uutil tho outer
|sangway is cleared of gas. Its un-
certain how long this will take.-I
There is no ground t. hope that
single life remains of those who went
lat work in the mine. Every body
gives them up Nothing probably
remains to be done but recover tho
bodies.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-09-09
JUSTICE.
Blakesburg, Iowa,
Sept. 4th, 1869.

MEssRs. EDIToRs:-
There being a great many
different stories afoat in regard 10
the ARRAY that occurred at Blakes.
burg on Wednesday, the 25th Of Au.
gust, thought it proper to give you
statement of the facts as they oc-
CURED on that day.
In the morning of that day about
sor 9 o'clock, Ball and Capt. Sheets
had a dispute in regard 20 diseased
limb of a horse, q matter Of no i'm
portance whatever, Ball using very
abusive language-saying he could
whip Capt. Sheets or any of that
name. Old Mr.. JOS. Sheets, a broth
or of the Capt. disagreed with him
on that point, whereupoL Ball be-
came very much onraged, picked up
. piece Of brick, drew back his arm
as if about throwing. Mr.. Jos.
Sheets had an axe in hand and void
have knocked Ball down if Capt
Swiggette had not caught it; thereby
saving Bali's life probably. One of
the younger Sheets said as Ball pro-
posed to whip any Of the name that
he would fight him if he would come
out and fight like man; but Balls
courage had all left by this time and
he ssid that he had bettor take in
his friend swiggetto. Capt swig-
gette up to this time had said moth
ing. He then said to Sheets that
Ball was too cowardly to fight him.
Ball then left and was next seen con-
sulting Capt. Jacob Jamison. He
went Immediately from there after
Pleas Anderson. They were seen
leaving Anderson's together, and
were seen within a half q mule Of
town, but came into town at differ.
emit times.
just previous to the arrival of OF.
ther, John Thompson told a man
that Ball had Como out after Pleas
Anderson and that "h-ll would be
raised in town directly"
When Anderson came into town
he followed to one of the gang
"whoopeel here we are!" The re-
Spouse was "all right" When Ball
got into town and everything was
ready, Ball, Asbury, and Anderson
came on to the walk where Can't.
Swiggette was sitting in a chair near
Patch & Boals Store door, unaware of
the impending danger. Anderson
sat down on the pillow beam, swig-
gette's chair leaning against the han
dies, Ball stepped nearly in front of
him. Ball said "Swiggstte did you
call me Cd id lying son of
b-h this morning?" Sw'ggette's
reply was "no, l have not u~ed such
language to my knowledge for fif.
teen years." After another question
or two, finding that Swiggettc was
not disposed to quarrel with him, he
left; tho crowd that had gathered
around them in tho meantime ard
who seemed to be posted as to what
was to. take place, also left, going
over near Fritz's store, leaving An
derson and Swiggettc alone, when
the following conversation took
place:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, how many
revolvers do you carry?
Ssiggette.-Not many.
Anderson.-Do you carry a revol-
YER to shoot me?
Swiggette.-I do not carry re-
volver to shoot you or any one else. |
Anderson.--What do you carry
yhen for?
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-09-09
Blake.burg, Iowa,
Sept. 9th 1869.

0tpt. OLh 1867.
EDITORS COURIER,
GENTS
You have already
given some notice through your COL
umns, of the cowardly and murder.
GUS assault made upon Capt. Swig-
gette, by a set of low bred scoun.
drels a few days since.
The attack was made without any
provocation on the part of Can't. s.
whatever, and was made to get rid
of an outspoken and staunch Repub.
lican |; man who has boon such for
fifteen years or. during his residence
in this place, and whom they hate
because of his loyalty during the
war and since. I do not wish to be
understood as saying that all the
democrats in this part are personal
enemies of Capt. s. or that they all
countensncc the assault made upon
him; but it was made, and is counte-
nanced only by that class of persons
who would have made good Border
Ruffians. during the Kansas troubles !;
or to come down to war times, had
they lived in Missouri would have
been shot for bushwhacking. They
are men who mover see inside of a
church house, nor do a good act with
q good intention.
Capt. Swiggette is not a quarrel
som man as his neighbors, regardless
of party will attest, but he is outspo-
ken, and will defend his principles
and person from assault, come frotn
what quarter they may.
He is enterprising and favors pub
lie improvements. Through him and
a few others such, the fine school
house at this place was built. and
had we few more such, the church
es hore would not be in a condition
to tumble down. But men like Capt.
Swiggette are out of place at Blakes-
burg. IF they have been loyal dur
ing the war and were conspicuous as
such; if they come to Blakesburg
they must romain silent, or prepare
themselves with bowie knife and re.
volver to eight it out on that line"
Capt 8. in consequence Of threats
and attempts to kill him during the
year past has been compelled to act
somewhat on this principle. Had it
not been for burning other houses
they would have burned his dwelling
and store last fall; at least one of the
party that assaulted him the other
day said so. @ at
Why would they have done this?
For no other reason in Gods world
but because he is conspicuos as a Re
publican, and is fearless in ADVOCATING
has principles. There was but one Of
those fiends the other day who as
saulted him that he euer spoke an un-
kind Uord to.
JJJSTTCE
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-09-09

The Grinnell Herald states that
Democrats are 80 scarce in that place
that no one could be found to distrib
ute posters announcing Gillaspy till
the Hon. J. B. Grinnell took kindly
notion to do it.