The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-08

Saturday afternoons, with colt-selllng races
as accomplishments, which caused many
fights,
Washington Hall, the Wing headquarters
OF Indiana, was erected in 1886; the finest
building in town, owned by company.
The Episcopal church was erected in 1887.
The executive mansion was first occupied
by Governor Wallace in 1889, and by the
successive governors down to and includ-
ing Morton. 1t was unhealthy. Governor
Wright lost two wives there, and Whitcomb
one. Morton refused to live in it finally,
going to the Bates House in 1864, and the
Legislature ordered 1t to be sold
The cows of early Indianapolis were driven
out 10 communistc pastures by boys every
day The first Thanksgiving was celebrated
in 1880 The canal was opened in 1889, which
never did much but bring wood, and it was
used as a mill-race. The railroad from Indi-
annapolis toward Madison turned out to be
dead failure for years. and suddenly became
very profitable when completed. Henry
Ward Beecher started the first horticultural
society in 1910, when the Palmer House was
also built and became the Democratic head
quarters, and after the Bates House was
opened the Republicans made 1T their head
quarters.
The Harrison campaign of 1910 was an i'm
mense thing, and the battle of Tippecanoe
was fought i'll Indianapolis, and cider and
whisky flowed free. The town produced
poet named George W, Cutter, who wrote
some good songs in the Harrison campaign.
Henry Clay visited the place in 1912 and the
same year Colonel Richard NJ Johnson, who
killed Tecumseh, also came, being then Vice
president He was poor speaker, having
but slight ability, and boosted of his five
wounds" He was altogether excelled an
orator by Tilghman A. Howard, who became
the first American minister to Texas Har-
rison got in Indianapolis S72 votes; Van Blu
rem, SIS.
At General Harrison's death Henry Ward
Beecher addressed the funeral celebration. A
daguerreotypist came to the town in 1912.
President Van Buren, arrived in the midst of
grand parade the same year. and held re-
ception at the State-house; heard Henry
Ward Beecher, and the stagecoach upset him
after leaving the capital. The Wings were
very much astonished to find Van Buren,
gentleman with real courtesy. Then came
Henry Clay hunting the Wing nomination.
1t is said that 20, 600 persons were assembled
at indianapolis. He made q poor speech,
and boosted upon his attainments.
{ Then followed mesmeric and millwright
excitements and Washington Hall partly
burned down, the Rev. Mr.. Beecher dstin-
guished himself by carrying hose-pipe and
bloodying his face.
The State Lunatic Asylum was erected in
1896 and cost $751; 900; and has since cost
100000. Among the trustees of the Deaf
and Dumb Asylum screated in 1874, were
Beecher and the Rev. Matthew Simpson. The
cemetery was laid out in place of the old
graveyard. In 1874 Governor Cass came
along, and had reception at the Palmer
House. General Lew Wallace turned up in
1916 as a lieutenant for the Mexican War.
Gamblers were driven out of the capital in
1S47 Some engineering was done on the
streets, aud the grades made. The first tele-
graph dispatches from Dayto came through
in 1913.
Governor Wallace, being in Congress, voted
for an appropriation to build the first tele
graph line for Morse, and it beat him among
the people, who thought the telegraph was
humbug!
The Merchants Exchange was built by
John D. Defrees and L. J. Calling the in
ventor of the Calling gun, among Others A
gas company was chartered in 1851. The
same year several of the railroad companies
began to run. Kossuth received a great ova-
ton, and collected 81 600 in indianapolis,
though the Irish hated him A Georgia
planter came in and seized a colored white
washer named Freeman There was the look
of riot Banks began to smash up in 1855,
and the Democrats carried the city election
for the last time.
In the following political campaign there
were professions illustrating the border ruff
fans of Kansas and BufOrd's thieves In
1858 the tax list netted $40, 100000 and Indi-
annapolis had more than $500 voters that
were Republicans and that have generally
been so since. Abraham Lincoln spoke in
1859 at indianapolis. The town took its big
Jump between the close of the war and 1878,
and is said to have been worse staggered at
the result of its enterprise than any city in
the central West, but is now hopeful and
hearty again, and a center of light, congenial-
ity and political ambition.