The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-09-14
OLD SETTLERS YlC.NlC,

Notwithstanding the heavy rain of last
night and the unfavorsbleuess of the weather
this morning, quite delegation from Dsv.
export met the company from this side on the
levee about 10 o'clock, when they proceeded
in procession headed by BiehPs band to
the Court House Square, where was formed
a grand procession consisting Of more than
| fifty wagons and carriages heavily loaded,
which proceeded BY the music of the band to
the appointed place on the Island where the
company dispersed to enjoy themselves as
best they could until assembled by the
sound of the voice of Mr.. Cook. of Daven-
port, who is the absence Of the president OF
the society bid the people q pleasant well
come in few very appropriate remarks.
| He then introducedsRsv. Mr.. Powell, OF
DavenporI, who opened the exercises OF the
day with prayer.
Mr.. Cook then introd uced to the audience
REV. BISHOP LEE,
who addressed the people in q most pleasing,
attractive and forcible manner. He briefly
recounted the reasons which had brought
tee old settlers of the twin counties together.
He spoke of the former occupation of the
Island by the Indians. their famous city, at
the mouth of Rock river, of the renowned
| cave at the lower end of the leland, and Of
the Chief, Black Hawk, whose name is
among the most famous of those who figured
in the early history of the country. He
drew q most pleasing and forcible contrast
between the past history of the Island with
its native inhabitants and its present condi-
ton o. improvement with the finest govern
ment works in the country, the whole sur
rounded by three fourishing cities, whose
combined population numbers upwards of
$4,000 The Bishop gave in glowing terms
the history of Black Hawk and his tribe,
mentioning in connection the several tribes
that inhabited this part of the country, from
ton of the Mississippi by the Rock river
He gave pleasing account of the chiefs
superstitious views concerning the Island
cave and the spirit which inhabited it, which
was often seen by the inhabitants. To the
| delight of his hearers he read in Black
hawks own words his views con
corning the state of the Island when
occupied by the red man and its condition
as modified BY civilization. The speaker
told of the fort on the Island, Of the first
inhsbitauts and their dwellings in this
vicinity, and of q prophecy which was uttered
over forty years ago by one of the old
pioneers that the then present site of one or
| two houses on either side of the river at this
point would at no distant period be the
dwelling place of thousands OF enterprising
citizens engaged in all that tends to make
| hourishing cities. He then spoke Of the
fulfllment of that phrophetic uttersncs and
of the still greater realizstions Of growth yet
TO be witnessed BY the people of this
community The Bishop then briefly
reoounted the Island scenes during the late
| civil war, of thousands Of soldiers upon it.
grounds, and of the incidents attending
their stay upon the spot which to day is the
| scene of widely different state of affairs.
| In fine, the speaker gave a general his
| tory of the Island, its surroundings and its
| inha bitants from the time of its first settle
ment until tc-iay it is the gem of the Father
of Waters, surrounded by everything
tending to make it one of the most beaut-
full and noted places in the heart of this
great country. The Bishops speech was
pronounced by many to be the ablest ad
dress ever given before the Society. 1t was
fine effort Of the kind because it most
admirably suited the occasion, and was just
wha, the Old Settlers like to have rehearsed
and what the new ones and strangers most
delighted to learn.
Following the address was music, after
which came the