davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-10-19

MIR. Greeley says he is approaching
the decline of life. Ho ie not, how.
ever, approaching the decline Of
office. Hc wants to be President.
1t is said that there arc but two
soap factories throughout the whole
OF Spain. Any one who has Travelled
through that country can easily be
lieve il.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-10-19

The Times says Gen. Grant gets
his friends tight Well, he doesn't
let his enemies escape. That's tho
way he got Ice.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-10-19

A part of the house in which Stc-
rhen A. Douglass taught school, at
Winchester, Scott Co., ILL.,, is still
standing, and is now used as a black
smith shop.
Tho first pair of India rubber shoes
ever seen in tho United States was
in 1920. They were gilt, and pointed
like the slippers of a Chinese Man
DARN.
A boy in Nashua, Now Hampshire
who three years ago swallowed 4
tin whistle, died recently, after pro
senting oil the symptoms of fconsump
ton,
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-10-19

Nj. Thicrs drags out an existence
on salary of sl20,000 per annum,
with s32, 500 for contingencies"
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-10-19

rsse UHEEN DALI WV AAs
On Sunday night about 8 o'clock
fire broke out in the south part OF
the Belgian settlement at Brussels,
Door county, destroying lSO houses
and leaving nothing OF the largo and
fiourishing settlement but five houses.
Nine persons.are missing; they are
supposed to have perlshed. This
morning two hundred people break
tasted on four ioaves of bread.
The most pitiable state OF things
exists all through tho district visited
by the fire, and hunger anu starva-
tion are staring tho wretched inhab-
itants in The face.
Wiliiamson's mill at Sturgeon Bay,
is reported burned, and fiay lives
were lost.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-10-19

wells. 1t is most fortunate now that
in tho days OF Chicago's prosperity
80 many artesian wells were sunk,
which will now bc of inestimable
value in supplying tho demands OF
the community.
Third National Bank vault was
found all straight. Everything is
taken out of the American Express
Combany's safe in perfect condition.
The Traders National Bank vault
has been found to be perfectly un-
harmed. The Merchants Saving,
Loan and Trust Company's vault is
apparently all right, yet there are
some fears as to the safety of the
contents. We are assured, however,
that their depositors will not lose
The Mechanics Savings Bank on
Twenty.second street started prompt.
" this morning paying its deposits.
It is utterly impossible to form
anything like q just idea Of the mag
nitude Of the great fire. As help
in SO doing we may cay that gentle
man. who has. taken contracts for
preparing grounds for building pur-
poses, says that the debris OF the burnt
district could not be removed for less
than . million dollars, even though
carted no farther than the lake.
The loss Of the city cannot be es-
timated with anything like accuracy.
It will reach several hundred mil.
lions. Tho general impression IL
that the insurance is worthless, owing
to the magnitude OF the losses. But
some agents of first-class companies
assure us that their policies viii be
paid in full. In other cases it is said
that considerable discount will have
to be made. 1t is ineyitable that
hundreds of insurance companies
must 60 down.
Over twenty thousand people are
on the prairie north and west Of the
city. Measures are now being taken
to have them brought into the city
and cared for.
Notwithstanding all the terrible
devastation which occurred, Chicago
business men are not agoing to say
tdie," and many of them who had
places Gf business on tho most proml-
nent thoroughfares have set up
signs in front of the ruins, inform
ing passers that they have located
themselves IN an Office for the present
which is generally situated in the
West Division, as that is tho only
available portion Of the city.
One thing particularly strikes tho
passengers through all the streets
tho absence Of everything of o COM
bustible matter. Brick, stone, and
iron abound, and make up whatever
is left OF the most magnificent and
costly STRUCTURES. Dirt in the ordi-
nary sense OF the term, has vanished ;
all is calm, but oh, how desolate.
Another thing is tho uniformity of
the destruction. The marble palace
and cheaper brick and mortar blocks
lie in common disorder. There is no
distinction except in the presence OF
iron pillars and marble door and
window ornaments.
All these attending circumstances
ofwhat in history will be handed
down to future generations as tho
"Great Fro of Chicago" will re-
main vividly in the memory of all
who were prcsont in Chicago on the
7th, Sth and 9th of October, A. d.,
1871.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-10-19

APpANoosE COUNTY.-Parkor, Re-
publican candidate for Senator, and
Reynolds for Treasurer, arc beaten
hy tho democracy in Appanoose
county by small majorities.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-10-19
MANIsTEE, Oct. IL.

MANISTEE, Oct. Ill.
The fire which broke out in the
pineries northeas. of here last week
was almost subdued, when heavy
gale sprang up from tho southward,
driving the flames and cinders TO-
ward Clifford l. Ruddock's mills.
This the fire company checked but
Sunday evening q fire broke out near
Canfield's mill, which is situated at
the mouth of the river, and SO intense
was the heat that men could not get,
within q thousand yards OF it. In
less than half an hour the mill, to-
gether with about twenty dwelling
houses and boarding. houses were to-
tally consumed. A hill interviewed
between this and the town, the fire
could run no further, and people
were already congratulating them
selves upon the narrow escape OF
Manistee, when bright light was
noticed northwest from the scene,
and, repairing TO the spot, we found
q number of dwellings, wrapped IN
flames, and . regular equinoctiai gallo
blowing-thus making it beyond hu-
man control to stay the condagra-
ton. The damage at present is in
estimable, but the largest part OF the
town, which ID on the South Side, is
destroyed, while 90 far, twenty-seven
buildings are totally gone on Tho
North Side.
The loss, as near as we can learn,
amounts to one million three hun
dred thousand dollars, With only
about one fifth insurance. ,l
The SWING bridge is entirely de-
stroyed; the schooner Seneca Chief
is burned to the waters edge. Every
building ON the North Side {exoept--
ing the Fourth Ward School House,
the residence of George Thorp and,
the Catholic church, is completely
consumed.
Several serious accidents occurred,
and some lives have been lost, but
there is such tumult and excitement
that no one can give fair answer to
. question.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-10-19

John Mahin, OF the Journal, is
boaton 10 Muscatine county for rep
resentativc. This gives the democ-
racy a representative IN . county
kshere the republican majority is
1aO. There is . tale to be yet ur.
iolded in regard 10 these republican
defeats on tholegislative tickets in so
many counties.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-10-19
CnIcAao, Oct. l3.


The Tribunes commercial article
says there is but little doing in the
produce circles, but our commission
| merchants and grain dealers arc
hard ut work preparing to open ont
us soon as the pccuniary arrange
ments will permit, which will be in a
day or two, probably by the first of
next week. Many OF them are busy
helping TO distribute food and cloth.
ing to the destitute, the remainder
are fitting up offices in the vicinity OF
the temporary Board of Trade rooms,
at Nos. 81 and SO, Canal streets,
where the Board of Trade will do
business until the Chamber of Com
merce can be rebuilt. Some grain is
moving out, four charters were re.
ported to-day. II is expected that
grain will be moved out.much more
rapidly towards Monday, as the
banks will be able to make advances
by that time. So far none of the
bank vaults have been found at all
injured.
A noticeable fact, and one of i'm
mense Importance, in the rebuilding
| of the city, is the almost perfect con-
dition in which tho fire has loft tho
Nicholson pavement, tho damage is
SO trihing as not TO be worthy OF
! mention. Miles OF pavement on the
| North sido arealmost unscorohed and
| perfectly free of debris, and oven in
the South division, ,wheroboth sides of
tho streets were lined with lofty brick
aud stone buildings, thero is scarcely
n point where carriage may not be
| driven through tho streets, indeed,
except where buildings were blown up
in endeavort to stop the progress Of the
flames, tho ruins havo almost entire
ly fallen upon their own sites Al
points whore tho pavements were not
burned and tho fire only charred it,
it is o question whether the process
will not adj to their durability. Evi-
dcnce is accommodating that tho loss
OF lifo is moro than was estimated,
and that great numbers Of persons
are still searching for the missing
members of families.
i The Supervisors of this county
met today and unanimously passed
a resolution to rebuild tho cour'
house,
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-10-19
The New Departure

For. the present condition OF the
Democratic party SEQ Proverbs xxyi
chap, VII.
So endeth this lesson!
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-10-19
The Day Dawns-The General Loss :
The Water SuPpIy-Business 70 be
Resumed Of lncendiarios The
Future Chicago and tho Prospect.


An approximate estimate of the
total losses is about 100000, 900.
The area burned over is over 1000
acres. The number of buildings
burned is not below 10000. The
number of lives lost is believed to be
at least 200. There are about loo,
900 persons in need of relief.
Great hardships are being endured
from want of water, aud thousands
who-when a liberal supply was pro-
durable before the great tire-were
in the habit of wasting what has be.
come precious fluid, would now
pay liberally for even fractional
portion Of that which they threw
away, The utmost economy has to
be exercised in the use OF the indis-
pensable fluid, and, asa consequence,
persons who are most scrupu,ously
clean in their habits are compelled
to ,forego their former luxurious use
of wator and soap, while all clean lin
en- on hand has to be jealously
watched and brought into requisition
under the most economical rcgula-
tions. Tho artesian wells, Union
Park ard the Lake Front are crowd
ed with men, women and children
conveying vessels of iron, tin, wood
and earthenware of almost every
imaginable shape and size, in which
to procure supply OF water. Thous-
ands of carts, wagons, wheelbarrows,
and other vehicles are also employed
in the same capacity, while the
authorities have chartered almost
every street sprinkling machine in
the city to procure water and distrib-
ate it free OF cost in necessary but not
extavagant quantities, to those who
need it. In some sections of the city
thero exist private wells, which tor
some years have not been used, and
many of these now on being opened
are found to be foul and useless. One
man on West Twelfth street who
owns well, which happens TO con-
tain fair quality OF water, refused
to allow any one, except a few of his
relations who live in the city, to
draw from il, and SO determined ia
he in his Partially, which under
some circumstances might be COM
paratively justifablc, but under ex-
istin circumstances, to say the least,
| is british, that an eye witness do
claros the fellow mounted guard over
tho we'll with cooked and loaded
revolver and drove off all applicants
except tho favored ones alluded to
irrespective of age or sex. Indeed,
this is not the only case of tho kind
reported, while therc ore men going
round with barrels of water on wag
ons. and selling the fluid ut ten cents
a pint, a pailful, and so on. The ar
ran ngements arc beng made by which
water will DO pun from the lax,
by stationary cDg,, -nto tho mainl
SO that Easements and first floors viii
have a supply.
Last night was looked forward t
| as one OF terrible suffering among
the thousands who quartercd ont up
on the prairie, in the streets, in tn
alleys and by ways, and as the oven
| inp drew OF the air became chill,
and the atmosphere was heavy wit
cold blightning dew which was a
most as bitter as frost. The entir
West Division was crowded full 6
suffering little ones without any she
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-10-19
Msvvspapsr Decisiens.
THE OTTUMWA COURIER


a. "a -. : q,
no s'1e = s'0'ory 1T uo''o"n
.,l q. =. = .'o.s'y, I, '.o.s
~ .5s se> 49,. 3 -. 'o =
- 80 s , s -. !. 81,
~ .ss..s - 4 ~ 80 80
~. 5000, ....s.r
:....n-... !. T,.-..-....
-. 90 :....,,a paa.h,;a..
-. !.
r..s... !. s '.,s.,. I. -. s. !,
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-10-19
THE DAMAGE.


From gentlemen who arrived on
the 5:15 train last evening, tho graft
flying information ia obtained, that
while tho damage already inflicted
very large. it bas not been sc
general Us has been supposed.
This unexpected immunity may bt
attributed to tho precautions Of the
settlers, in either plowlng around
their premises or starting q systom
of "back- -fires'' when information o
the approaching danger was frs
received. But IN spite OF every pre-
caution Of effort, the total loss vii
be a sad record, and ono which fall
with crushing weight upon man.
who have bnilt homes upon the fror
tiers, only to see everything swep
away at touch frcm tho leapins
blasting flames.
/ A gentleman named VIM. Arm
strong living about four miles fro,
Forest City. was ovcrtakon by tb
fro before no had made any prcpar,
lion for it, and everything he had
tho world, house, furniture, horse
cattle, stocks, and agricultural impl
mcnts and machinery, wero burne
and destroyed.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-10-19
WATER.

The scarcity of water in the city
is ono Of tho most deplorable and
alarming features of tho situation, as
in the event Of other fires, occurring
IN any part OF the city distant from
the river or lake, the most deplorable
results would be inevitable. For do
mestic purposes persons must seek
for some time to come yet, their wa
tor supply from the lake and srteslan
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-09-02
4 Sunbeam.

The greatest Of physical paradoIes
10 in the sunbeam. 1t is the most
potent and versatile force We have,
and vet it behaves itselflike the gen.
tlestand most accommodating, Moth
ing can fall more softly or more ST.
lently upon the earth than the raysof
our great lumiuary-not even the
teathory fakes Of snow, which thread
their way through the atmosphere rs
II they were too fllmy to yield to the
demands Of gravity, like grosser
things. The most delicate Slip Of
gold-lesf exposed as a target to the
suns shafts, is not stirred to the eI-
tent OF 8 hair, though an infants
fsintest breath would setit into trem-
ulous motion. The tcnlerest Of hu-
man organs-the spple Of the eye
though pierced and bufleted each day
by thousands Of %sunbeams, suffers no
pain during the process, but rejoices
in their sweetness, and blesses the
useful light. Yet a few of those rays,
lnslnnuatlng themselves into q mass
Of iron, like the Britannia Tubular
Bridge, will compel the c~losely.kuit
particles 10 separate, aud will move
the whole enormous fabric with as
much ease as a giant would stir q
straw, The play of those beams up
on our sheets OF water lifts up layer
after layer into the atmosphere, and
HOSTS whole rivers from their beds,
only to drop them upon the hills, or
in ~fsttening showers upon the plains.
Let butthe air drink in a little more
sunshine at one place than another,
and out Off springs the tempest or
the hurricane, which desolates =
whole region in its lunstic wrath
The marvel is that q power which
10 capable Of assuming such a diver
sity offorms, and producing such stu
pendous results, should come to us
ms gentle, so peaceful and so mpre-
tentious a gui'e,-(British Quarterly
Review
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-09-02
India Rubber Inexhaustible.

The belt of land around the gloLe,
five hundred miles north and five
hundred. miles south OF the equator,
abounds in trees producing the gum Of
India rubber. Theyc can be tapped, tits
stated, for twenty successive seasons,
without injury and the trees stand
50 close together that one man can
gather the sap of eighty in a day,
each tree, yielding, on an average,
three tablespoonsiul daily. Forty
three thousand of these trees have
been counted in a tract Of country
thirty miles long by eighty wide.
There are in America and Europe
more than one hundred and fifty
manufacturers Of India rubber ar.
ticles, employing some five hundred
operatives each, consuming more
than 100000 pounds Of gum per
year, and the business ia considered
70 be still in it, infancy. But TO
whatever extent II may increase,
there will still be plenty Of rubber to
supply the demand.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-09-02
NAPOLTON.
The Plans and Aspirations Of tho
EN-EmperOr.


NEW York, Aug. IA gentleman
has just returned from Europe where
lie has been on intimate social rela-
tons with the French Imperial family,
informs an interviewer OF a morning
paper that believes in his early reStora-
lion, that the Government of Thiers
IS regarded rs mere make-shiit, and
that his death at that time would he
followed by another civil war. Gam
BETA is looked upon as an ambitious,
intriguing, able man. Bazaine waits
for history to Justify him lie BOeTuN is
"a wretched creature. The Empress is
well, and intends to send the Prince
on a tour through the United States
when he is & little older. The impe.
rial family receive the attention ofroy.
atty and the nobility Of England,
There are two parties in France, the
lmperialists and Red Republicans.
The Bourbons are no where. European
diplomatists abroad favor his return,
believing the restoration of Napoleon
could keep in subsection the d~isorGerly
elements Of the French which are now
q constant menace to Europe.
1t is also stated that England Is
threatened with serious revolutionary
troubles, and il was believed that the
Government would satisfy demands Of
lhepeOple.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-09-02

WHAT Tie MICR0sCoFL REVEALS
Leweuboeck tells Of an insect seen
with the microscope ofwhich twenty
seven millions would only equal a
mite.
Insect, Of various kind may be
seen in the cavities Of q grain OF
sand.
Mould isa forest Of beautiful trees.
with the branches, leaves and fruit.
Butterflies are fully feathcred.
Hairs are hollow tubes.
The surface Of ourbodiesi is covered
with scales Ike q fish O single grain
Of sand would cover one hundred
and fifty Of these scales, and yet a
scale cover: five hundred pores.
Through these narrow openings the
sweat force, itself like water through
q sieve.
The mites make five hundred step.
& second.
Each drop Of stagnant water con-
tlus q world Of animated beings,
swimming with as much liberty as
whales in the sea.
Each leaf la: q colony Of insect:
grazing On il, Ike cows Oh q meadow.
Home and Health.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-09-02

Poultry raising j. uJi:.. il
which s. sge interested, tor t.o..
WHO 90 not engage practically II the
rearing q poultry sEe interested in
ham and cggz, and, therefore, 81.
s-ol-1 encourage chicken raising.
IL order 70 make poultry g. object
o. l-'c.e:- the same principle shog!d
Ja adopted that govern tie rearing
Of Inc 5.oCdcd cattle :ud horses. As
X il . set..c1 question ~, good at
&c a-1 4oI:ss pay better than poor
C-ss, 20 $50 :-guld I, he cgrI.1ered
. settled IL, good fowls par better
t-4l tL.ss o. 81 iLteHcr lass.
There Ire. two c.s..es q ioE!s
claiming sps.i1l attention - wyeu
and )'i.,el., End e~yeF.N..ing lsyers
ana noa-s.aer.. III: i tie desire
to obtain bath egg z1d chickens.
TIE frs. c.a:: should be selected Int
II egg: only are the object, lie alter
class should be 1dQpIf.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-09-02
Cutting Corn stalks.

Nearly every spring or winter ]
notice in the agricultural papers in
ouiries for, or advertisements Of corn
stalk cutters. Now almost every
farmer in the West who has much
ofa stalk field to plow has an i'm
plemcnt at hand that answers every
purpose as well. if not better than the
/ best stalk cutters made for that use,
l refer to a good large forty tooth
harrow. All that is wanting is to
know how to use it, and | will tell
you how | have done it for several
yesrs, and likeit the best Of any way
| have tried or seen, 10 prepare the
stalks for blowing under. Select the
first aud every real dry day, sunny
day (till the work is done, and not
before nine or ten O'Clock, or when
the stalks are perfectly dry snd brit
tie, l put three horses, i'll have them,
before the harrow, and So much
weight on top Of it as they can walk
of lively with without worrying
them 4; pass over two rows Of stalks.
1T is immatcrial whether it is the
same way | intend to plow or not
AT the end turn around and so back
over the same two rows and you
will ind them broken snd crumbled
up finer than any cutter with bniyes
will do it, and what is Of more conse-
quence than the fineness, is that
most OF the stalks will be broken
from thcroots st the surface Of the
ground which is much better than il
even a few inches Of stalks adhere TO
the roots. If but two horses are used,
it works better TO spread them so
that they will straddle two rows in
Stead OF one. This is done by splic-
ing or lengthening in some way the
inside reins about TWO feet four in
ches. A long evener is better, but
not Indispensable. Remember to op-
crate only when the stalks are per-
fectly dry, and the drier and tlrmer
the ground the better, 50 as to hold
The roots, instead OF their being
out Of the ground by the har-
row. Those who have used stalk
know that the best Of them
10 not work satisfactorily only in
ike conditions Of perfect dryneSs.
The sharper your harrow teeth the
FOR this SIS well as all other
york,-Amcrican Farm Journal,
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-09-02

WHY CATTLE NEED SALT.-A cores
pendent wishes the reason why cattle
need salt, 1t is because phosphate o.
soda must be furnished to the blood.
whereas it is phosphate Of potash that
exists in grains and grasses grown on
soils deficient, as most soils are in saline
or sodic compound, When salt is takeS
into the animal system 1t is partially
dccomposed. Some Of its clorine unitcs
with the potassium of the potash, while
the liberated sodium is oxydizcd tC
form soda, and this combines with the
phoSphorie acid from the potash phos-
phNto to form phosphate of soda. Soda
also exists in milk. 1t is this which
gives the fluid its slightly alkaline taste
when first drawn. Ii this lie absent, q
when cattle are not supplied In some
way with salt, the milk is unwholosome.
Cattle are apt to prefer grass grown on
lands tOp-dressCd with two or three
hundred weight Of salt to the acre, for
the reason that the salt renders the
grass Sweeter, more tender, and more
succulent. The weight of grass grown
on sailed land is, however. likely to be
diminished IL proportion, a. ~rankness
of growth is prcycntcd.-Rtr1l N,t-
Yorker
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-09-02

FIRE-PBooF FENCE.-Make a wash
of one part fine sand and one part
wood ashes, well Siftcd, and three
parts lime ground up with oil, and
mix together. Apply this to tie
fence with brush-thc first coat thin,
the second thick. This abheres to
the boards or planks so strongly as
to resist al iron tool or fire, and is,
aesidcs, impenetrable by1water.