Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-12-27
RECOLLECTIONS OF PIONEER
Historical Incidents That Have Been Crowded Into the Re-
markabe Life Of A.C. Fulton

by Hon. y. {. Fulton, covering impor-
tant achievements of the past, many
of which in the last 90 years came
under his personal observation:
Dear Sir: You ask me to jot down
departed times biography. l suppose
YOU look on Old Sailor j as Il connect
ing link between the 18th and 10th
centuries. The biography will pre-
sent n multiplicity of stirring events
that will bewilder the imagination
and cause your readers to eXclaim,
a wonderful past! L know, and will
say it is a convincing array of facts
which can never be antiquated. But
space compels me to to cut nearly
two centuries down to the very verge
of destruction.
In 1901 African slavery was author
lied by the Spanish crown. In 1911
Don Diego Nelasquez, with his Span
ish troops, raided Cuba and conquer
ed the Indians after great slaughter.
In 1913 Balboa, a Spanish cavalier,
crossed over the cordilleras and was
the first known person to sight the
great Pacific ocean and there gave it
its name. In 1924 Spanish mission
aries entered our now Texas and
erected vast churches, with stone
arched ceilings, within the massive
walls of which chants and prayers
were offered up to the great Supreme,
and where the unciyiliZed Cado and
Comanche bowed head before the
holy cross. In one of these, in the
revolutionary days of 1885, L for a
brief time quartered. No chant or
prayer then; all was quiet and still
as darkness.
The first habitation for a white
man in New York was erected in 1910.
Previous to 1641 Massachusetts, and
New Hampshire were one state. In
1914 Massachusetts sent out the first
missionaries to convert the Indians
In June, 1919, Charles I. of England
was beheaded. The monarchy was
declared abolished and England to be
hencefOrth a commonwealth. In 1864
Oliver CromwelIs ships and troops
entered the new world and took pos
session of Novia Scotia.
The first American flag was I'M
furled by Washington on Jan. l, 1915
now 124 years past and gone. In Aug
ust. I776, one of the most disastrous
battles of the revolution took place
at Flatbush. near New York. Gems
Howe and Clinton commanded the
British forces, and the German gen.
eral. Hester. commanded the Hes
slams, who slaughtered hundreds OF
retreating Americans. On the 10Th OF
April, 1882, Holland recognized the in
dependence of the United States. On
April II, 1888. the American congress
aI-,ir Cd Of
against Great Britain and an indie
pendent republic sprang to life.
On Nov. l. 1874. congress assembled
at Trenton, \. j., a town but lately
the headquarters of the British Gen
Howe and his Hessian troops under
Gems. Knyphausen and Count DOnope
who was the Nero of his day, and who
laid waste western New Jersey anC
eastern Pennsylvania, previously the
garden of the states.
In the early years of the past cen
fury. gray haired mothers, whose eyes
had not yet ceased weeping, did pa
thetically rehearse to me the horrors
of that day, when the torch had con
sumed their homes, they had on theil
Bonded knees knelt on the cold eartl
and prayed the Great Supreme to give
them bread and protect their off
spring from ruthless hands.
In 1890 the first Sunday school il
the United States was organized il
Philadelphia. The first patent right
law was passed on the 18th day OF
April, 1890. The first census was TAX
en- in 1890 and gave us a population OF
3, 929, S27, now increased to &c, 3O4, 799
In 1898 congress passed an act sus
pending commercial relations will
France. Soon the sloOp of war Della
ware, Commander Decatur, captured
French privateer, name obliterated
and the American Constellation de
feated and took possession of the SUI
perior French ship of war Iresenta a:
prize and many of her merchan
vessels were captured as prizes o
war. Napoleon Bonaparte having oh
tanned absolute power in 1899, peace
was made with France.
In 1898 the naturalization laws were
amended, requiring a residence il
this country of Ia years, instead o
five, before becoming a citizen.
In 1899 the New York Legislature
passed an act for the gradual enamel
patton of slaves in that state, ant
Georgia prohibited the importation
of African slaves in to the state il
1898. Some other southern state
had preceded her, as imported slave
affected the home market.
The great Washington took hi
flight from earth to the home of tn
blessed Dec. IA, 1899.
The Indian tribes of nations il
North America, between the Atlanti
and Pacific, numbered SS1. Many o
these nations were able to hold on
troops at bay and have defeated wei
armed and drilled armies. Where ar
they now? Most of them beneath tn
earth.
In 1snN the canital WINS removed I.