The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1871-01-26

HeaVy Sleet-Gr Damage to Fruit
Trees Decatur "A Good Sermon
and Fi,as Singing-A HillsbOro Boy,
&c. &c.
DECATUR, Ill, Jan. 16, 1871.
Last Tuesday morning left Woos-
ter, Ohio, as did a number of Holmes
county Democrats who had been "mak-
ing a night of it'' at the Democratic
jubilee, which was honored by the
presence also of the great Vallandig
ham!
Wednesday found me first at Terre
Haute, Ind, subsequently, at Nation,
Ill, and then at Centralia.
Thursday I progressed as far as Du
Quoin, Ill, where I found the air as
soft and warm as summer breeze
overcoats a nuisance and fires not to
be thought of, and yet this region had
just been visited with "spell" of the
severest weather known for years to
that oft-quoted individual, "the oldest
inhabitant," ). and which was told has
again blighted the hopes of the peach
growers.
This far-famed fruit country, 1 think
from what 1 have learned in my sew
eral visits to it, has been slightly over
rated, and though 1 have quite pen
chant for fruit-growing, do mt think
I shall ever try my hand at it in
Southern Illinois.
When about to leave, and while
walking up the track to get into the
caboose of the freight train, I noticed
heavy set man following me and ev-
identity intending to Overtake me. AS
he had his cap drawn down over his
eyes and his hands thrust in his over
coat pockets, visions of Ku-Klux and
revOTvers arose, very distinctly before
my eyes.
Conscious that I might have. been
recognized by some Egyptian, as one
of the 24th Ohio Battery, who assisted
in blocking their "little game" at Chi
cago during the war-when so many
of them saw the inside'of Camp Doug
las in a different manner from what
they had expected thought best to
stop where 1 was and not get too far
away from the depot.
The stranger advanced steadily, and
drawing from his coat pocket-not a
revolver, but a good, hOnest-lOOking
hand, which he extended towards me
in friendly manner-said, "I thought
1 knew you when first saw you cross
ing the street." And so he did. 1t
was an old Highlander, Sam1 Arthur,
Esq, looking well and hearty. From
him 1 heard of L. L. Daniels, and the
Humphreys and others, from Old
Highland, now living near here.
Leaving Du Quoin I rode until 2
A. NJ. Friday morning, landing in
ShelbyviIle, Ill.
At about A. NJ. the weather COM
menced growing colder, and before
night we had a perfect storm of snow,
sIeet and rain, which continued until
Saturday night, at which time 1 had
reached Decatur.
Sunday morning, while the ground
was covered with snow, the trees and
! fences were coated with sleet as with a
covering of silver. North of Decatur,
and around Bloomington, great dam
age has been done by the icy coat; for
thousands of trees have been nearly
stripped of their branches-whole trees
sometimes giving way under the enor-
nous weight, and even numbers of
telegraph poles have been prOstrated
by it.
1t has been estimated that thousands
of dollars damage has been done to
houses and furniture by the leakage of
roofs in many of the towns in this part
of the country. At hotel where l
stopped Friday night, there was barely
a dry spot or bed in the house, a build
ing too that has few superiOrs in size
and finish in this section of the State,
i On Sabbath morning heard SER
mon from the Rev. DR.. Noble, of the
First M. E. Church of Decatur. Il
was a discourse addressed to those
members of his church who have not
attended the series of meetings he has
held In his church since the New Yeal
began. 1t was an earnest and power
full appeal to the "other nine" who had
been cleansed from their leprOsy and
had not returned to 'give glory tc
God"
In the evening l attended the Uni
versalist Church. The minister is IN
doubtedly man of talent, and 1 wal
pleased with his discourse. The choir
however, astonished me. mail m!
; travels have heard no choir that sur
), passed, and few that equal it. Tn
: leader is a young lawyer of Decatur
: by the name of Bum, and has as fin
\ a tenor voice as have ever hear
among amateurs. To say that thei
, singing was beautiful-grGnd-is say
j.. ing no more than they deserve.
o How so many congregations through
It out the country can get along year al
f; ter year with the SfeleSs, drawing al
tempts at singing which they enjoy (!
!. 1 am at loss to tell.
T The sermon of DIR. Noble in th
d morning, aud the singing of the Uni
g ,,orsaIisF choir in TIM eveninO haY