Kansas City journal., 1898-02-06

fhave had to endure the storms of winter
and the heat OF summer for thirty-hye
years. they are still intact and successfully
q clear sweep of eighty feet and produce
force equal TO many horse power.
It's History.
This quaint old structure was built In
| |1Sc3 and was operated as a grist and hour
| ing mill and plow manufactory for more
than twenty years. On July 81. 1855, the
mill ceased 10 grind. Since then it has
stood still to rot and decay. the home of
bats and owls, disturbed only by an oc-
casional noctural visit Of spook and van
daiS. The old windmill or what remains
of the once stately structure. with its arms
badly broken and falling away, its win
dows out and foundation slowly crumblinE,
is still the subject of the verdant artist
touch and the listener OF many an ardent
lovers fairy tale. The hobgoblins and the
marauder now hold high carnival in its
vacant tower. while poet and novelist have
made its virtues the theme of their story
and song.
How IL Came to BE Built.
The reader may be interested in learning
how the Swedish windmill came TO be
planted on Kansas soil. 1t happened this
way: In the early days of Kansas there
were no large Touring mills and the farm
er was compelled to grind his own grain or
make a journey of many days TO the adjoin-
ing state. There no steam or water
power. The raging Kaw had not been
checked and Bowersocks dam had not
been built. The need for Il mill was great.
In the spring OF 1862 a young Swede had
left his native land to make his fortune
in the far out West. He stopped at Law
renee. The gentle Kansas zephyr did not.
ii met Mr.. Palm. kissed his cheek. took his
hat and passed rapidly on to welcome an
other stranger. An idea struck him. what
an ideal place to start a windmill in
Sweden they harness the unruly breeze
and make il grind the grain. and Kansas
that spring furnished plenty of power,
Thought he, for all the mills in the land. :.
young Yankee. and both talked il over S~r
with Editor Trask. The plan was a good
one. except IT would take $4,000. and
Palm would furnish the experience. Wilder
the energy. and Trask should find the
money. and he did, An Englishman, Mr..
Garrett, had offered 10 invest just that
what safer place to put II than in a wind
mill in Kansas. Accordingly Palm went
TO Sweden and secured twelve skilled
Torkmen to come and build the mill.
Wilder furnished the hill on which to
gather the wind and Trask whooped up
the enterprise in the daily press.
The QunntreII Raid.
On July ], 1863. Palm returned and the
work was begun; but on August q came
that fateful day for Lawrence, ever after
known as ''Quantrells Raid" and every
thing was destroyed. The Swede escaped
but soon returned TO the safe retreat of
their native land. Trask was killed. leav-
ing Wilder and Palm TO build the mill. But
the $4,000 had not been drawn from the
bank. and FOR several days IL was thought
the enterprise must fail. Banker Lykens
had, however. not trusted his funds to re-
main In the little safe, but had hid them
In an underground vault and thew were
saved. The Englishman came on, approved
Agent Trask's plan and furnished the
money and the windmill was soon built at
a cost of 900.
II had capacity OF twenty bushels of
wheat per hour and was the finest mill
IN all the land. Neither was there another
Ike II in the United States. There was
one built by these same workmen in Mime
sofa. but ii was burned soon afterward
The litigation which has somewhat in
volveo the mill since Ii has been closed has
left the property unprotected. There is n
movement on foot Just now by some of the
citizens of Lawrence TO buy The old mill
and restore its shattered wings and thus
relic.