davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-17
Wonderful Facts are These

eihc and Southern Pacific west OF
Omaha and north of San Francisco.
The Great Northern, Northern Pacific
and Burlington are making Portland
their traffic center in the Pacific
Northwest
Onwise railroad manipulation made
every effort up TO the beginning OF
1905 70 force the trade OF the Coast
over unnatural lines, but all now unite
IN the opinion that God made the only
highway through the Cascade and
Coast mountain ranges. The Column
bia River is the only natural route
from the interior 10 the sea between
Mexico and British Columbia.
All Oregon and the Columbia River
Valley has a downgrade route to
Portland, making il possible 10 haul
the longest trains entering any citv
IN the United States. From Montana
TO Utah, heavy freight trains roll 20
Portland. barely feeling the tuV az
locomotive, The altitude Of railway
tracks on the Portland routes 10 he
interior al the crest OF the Cascade
Mountains is less than ESQ feet above
sea level
A1vs % 1ailroaa aanding.
From the most conservative sources
Of information, il Is estimated that 2a
per cent Of all railway building In the
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-17

An army Of men is employed in
manufacturing in Portland. With raw
materials available, power cheap, an
unlimited supply Of pure water and
with competitive transportation. both
ran and ocean, manufacturers End all
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-17

From the most conservative sources
OF information, il Is estimated that 2a
per cent Of all railway building IN the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01

born in those primitive days before
there was a trolley car, telephone,
bicycle, motor car or a typewriter,
as we know it now, in Iowa. or Illi-
nois. In the old days-not four de-
cades ago-there, was a premium on
legs that you who are carried here
and there, and talk over the wires,
cannot appreciate. Then the live
news brought in had been literally
run down.
Record of Press Club.
The Tri-City Press Club, if it were
to go out of commission today,
would leave a splendid record for
great work actually done. 1t has
brought together in the circle of
friends those, who without it, would
know each other by name. What
you have done in the years that have
gone is only token of what you
may do in the years that are to
come. You will always have at your
call the most eminent men in the
country, men who have won distinc-
ton in politics, in science, in learn
ing, in art, in reaching the north
pole, and even that greater prize, the
White house. Continue to render
that service for which you have be-
come noted in this community, whose
future is so certainly assured that
the next 20 years will see its busi-
ness and its population more than
doubled. You men who control the
press have the making of the good
name the tri-cities are to enjoy.
l think that those who succeed. are
more indebted than they are likely
to admit, to those who fail. l have
seen newspapers, many of them born
and die in Davenport, Rock Island
and in Moline; but those that sur
vive have profited by the experience
of those that have disappeared.
Peary could never have planted the
flag at the topmost point of the
world, had it not been for the other
brave men who went down in what
was then considered by most persons
the impossible struggle.
After two score of years l indulge
the belief that l am entitled to
vacation and this am taking.
Whether 1 shall be able to resist the
longing to return to the active duty
of the profession 1 cannot now tell;
but if the return comes l hope it will
be with steadier nerves.
With hearty good wishes for ev-
cry member, present and future, of
the Tri-City Press Club. l remain,
Yours very sincerely.
B. F. TILLINGHAST.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01

the first frame house in the territory
of Iowa. William X. Conway, secre-
tary of Iowa territory, upon the nom
arrival of Governor Lucas, stranded
on a sand bar in the Ohio river. deemed
that a vacancy existed and under au-
thority of the organizing act of con-
gress selected Davenport as the seat
of government, took residence in the
capital and issued ether orders as act
ing governor. He laid claim to the
tract now known as Mcclellan Heights.
so that George l. Davenport, the son
of Colonel George Davenport, had for
neighbors Secretary Conway on the
west and DIR. Emerson and bred Scott
on the east DR.. Emerson came to
Davenport after leaving government
service, built a house still standing on
East Second street, and practiced
medicine here.
In this desultory chapter no mention
has been made of Antoine LeClaire.
who, like Colonel Davenport, ought to
be good for a page, anytime. Hallet
Kilbourne was a Davenport auctioneer
before his professional loquacity de-
serted him under the inquisition of
congressional committees.
Professor F. l. Herriott OF Drake
university has been developing for
years the proof that Hans Reimer
Claussen and his associate Germans of
Davenport are more responsible for
the nomination of Abraham Lincoln
for the presidency than any other
equal number of men in the country.
The points in the argument are too
numerous to be here rehearsed.
What a company of noted soldiers
that comparatively unimportant con-
fiict, known as the Black Hawk war,
brought together, Zachary Taylor.
Winfield Scott, Jefferson Davis, Abra.
ham Lincoln, Henry Atkinson, Henry
Boone, w. S. Harvey. Albert Sidney
Johnston. Joseph e. Johnston, Henry
Dodge, John Reynolds. John A. Nc
Clernand-this Is an incomplete list.
Pages Are volumes of History.
This doubtless seems an intermina-
BILE article to the reader-yet, gentle
friend. DO you know that 1t is remarka-
BILE only for what has been neglected.
Tri-city history is not matter of para
graphs or columns, but OF pages and
volumes. The only pity is that TO one
has time to write it down-will Mecse
could do it, but he has work enough
planned TO last him 175 years and de-
clines TO live longer. And who would
print It were it written?
| To all interested In local history
should come the feeling OF Indebted
ness to the future citizens Of our
splendid sisterhood of cities to- let il
be known where sources OF historical
information may be found. to see that
these treasures are preserved and ac-
cessible TO the student of history
These things are important now; they
Will grow still more important with the
passing Of the years.
HARRY e. DoWNER.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01

and then we joined hands and worked
on the two sides of the same table.
That confederate bullet Ballou re-
ceived at the battle of Wilson's Creek
gave him trouble for more than a
score of years. Some of his bright
est stories were written in pain.
Three Have Signed $50"
On Der sDemokrat, three of my ear
Iy friends have signed go" to theil
last sheet of copy. They were DR..
Stibolt, the patriarchal editor; Koch,
the city man and Henry fischer, the
proprietor. The better one knew
them the more he liked them. For
tunate it is that Father fischer left
sons to bear the good name he made.
Gustav Donald was a great actor
then, as he has since been one of the
best of orators in his native tongue.
Newspapering has been large part
of his life.
1 take pardonable pride in some
of the things have done during my
term at the desk; and one of them
is in giving Sherman w. Searle his
Arst chance to show the fine mettle
that is in him. Whether driving the
business or the news end he is one
of the most tireless workers l ever
knew Never throw down a young
man who is ready to show what he
can do. Give him chance.
You all know Charles Edward Rus
sell at least by reputation, who is
more widely read today than any
other writer for the magazines. /
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01

succeeded him as city editor of the
Davenport Gazette in 1880. There
are many other nervy young men,
and some women, too, whom l have
seen start at the bottom and force
their way to the top. Miss Susan
, Heating Glaspell is one of the lumin-
Gus stars. She began as a Davenport
Republican reporter under that hap
py genius, Charles Eugene Banks.
Miss Alice French OCTAVE Thanet)
proved to be one of the most original
and effective political interviewers
and writer's to whom 1 ever gave an
assignment. Very few know the i'm
portant part she played in the hard
money campaign of 1896. Now most
of your papers have their society re-
porters-a comparative novelty.
The reformer's father, Edward
Russell, gave me my first discharge
1t came for writing what he thought
was a hbelous attack on candidate
of the opposing party, but by happy
luck the record bore out the state
ment made. / was rebuked and re-
instated. Mr.. Russell, senior, was an
ardent abolitionist and an agent of
lions in Davenport and Moline and
few years earlier he once sharply
reprimanded me for printing the
word niger" 1t was explained
that the term referred to a device
on steamboats,, not to a human be-
ing of ebony hue. That kept me on
the pay roll.
When a Man Remembers.
When a mans head begins to look
like the egg of an ostrich he is in
clined to become reminiscent. But
pardon me if some more recollections
intrude.
Your worthy former president,
Ralph W. Cram, who more than fills
my old chair, was at the ease" when
he first made the types follow my po-
lice reports. He has since been
through the MILL
Dr. August Richter, few weeks
since, was reminded by his Office fam
lily that he had been with them
quarter of century. 1 wish l knew
English history as Richter knows
German; and among US all he is the
local historian who has gathered
most of value.
Harry Downer was blown out" of
Grinnell by the great cyclone there.
From college he followed me on the
city on the referred to Gazette. He
is one of the most many-sided and
helpful of all the scribes among us
AN artist in song; a Mark Twain
in humor; and teacher who converts
raw boys into finished men.
The grandfather of us all is Gen.
eral Add Sanders who came long be-
fore the railroad or the telegraph
and blazed the way. Sanders is now
watching the sun of life go down
at the home of his daughter in Geor-
gia.
My boys, most of you were not
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01

destroyed almost all of the old out
post, and when the storehouse with
the clock tower was erected near the
site of the fort the remaining struc-
lures were RACED. All that is left of
Fort Armstrong is some oak wood
which enters into the construction of
this arsenal storehouse.
The. history of the establishment of
the great arsenal and armory on Rock
Island. interesting as it is at every
step, cannot be even touched upon.
The Original Bridge.
A tri-city event of great interest
was the crossing of the river by the
first bridge to span the Father of
Waters from its source to the gulf.
The Chicago and Rock Island railroad
had been completed in 1854; the Mis-
'sissippi and Missouri road was under
construction in Iowa and the neces-
sity of bridge for the transit of trains
brought about the erection of two
structures, one from the Illinois shore
to the island and the other from the
island to the Iowa shore. This last
named bridge gave great offense to
the steamboat interests, and suits for
damage to boats and attempts to burn
the bridge followed its opening. In
this litigation the railroad had the as
sistance of a springfield lawyer, Abra-
ham Lincoln, who came from Chicago
one afternoon with some officials of
the road and made a study of the river
currents from the draw pier. This
was Lincoln's only visit to the tri-
cities, but other presidents-to-be and
ex-presidents honored us. With the
of the road from Chicago to Rock ISL
and, company of 1000, came many
distinguished people, Senator John A.
Dix, Colonel William Davenport, Epes
Sargent, Bancroft, the historian, and
President Fillmore, just out of office.
The last was given reception in Dav-
export, made cordial address and a
street was named in his honor. Presi-
dent Roosevelt came to the tri-cities
in his campaign days; President Taft
was once the guest of the Press club
and President Taylor once reached
Credit island.
When Attorney Lincoln was en-
ployed in the bridge cases he made
much use of chart of the Rock Island
rapids. prepared by government lieu
tenant of engineers, Robert E. Lee.
This young officer was immensely pop
ular in the tri-cities and developed a
plan for rapids improvement which
moved local public meeting TO pass
resolutions asking that the govern
ment give Lee charge of the work of
clearing channel for navigation. The
request was refused, the lieutenant was
transferred and next was heard of by
tri-city friends in command of the
United States marines besieging old
John Brown in his Harper's Ferry en-
CINE house. Later he was the great
general of the confederacy.
A Pinkerton detective, Timothy
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01
WHAT PRESS CLUB
is AND THE MEN
WHO COMPOSE 1T

Continued from Page One.)
Brand and ]. K. Brandenburg.
10O4-05.
President-Robert Rexdale.
First vice president. B. Havi-
Second vice president-John Sun
dine.
Secretary-E. E. Buffum.
Directors. r. Blackman, F. w.
Rinck and R. w. Cram.
19O5-O6.
President-B. F. Tillinghast.
First vice president-John Sun
Second vice PRESIDENT. j. La
velle.
Secretary-E. P. Rundquist.
Directors-R. w. Cram, A. T. Eos
ter and Val J. Peter.
19O6-O7.
President-John Sundine.
First vice PRESIDENT. ]. La
VeIle
Second vice president-R w.
Cram.
Secretary-E. P. Rundquist.
Directors. H. McKeever, j. E.
Hardman and F. w. Rinck.
19Oz-OS.
PRESIDENTIAL J. Peter. 4.
First vice president-R. w. Cram.
Second vice president-A. T. Fos-
ter.
Secretary-E. P. Rundquist.
Directors-F. J. Mueller, B. F.
Tillinghast and j. H. McKeever.
10000.
President-R w. Cram.
First vice president-A. T. Fos-
ter.
Second vice PRESIDENT. NJ. Col
ligan.
Secretary-E. P. Rundquist
Directors-D. G. Poole, o. B.
Hampton and Hugh Harrison.
19O9-1O.
President-A. T. Foster.
!. First vice PRESIDENT. M. Colli-
gan.
Second vice president-J E. Hard
man.
Secretary-Roy A. Sears.
Treasurer. NJ. Barton; w. L..
Purcell.
Directors-s. w. searle, E. P.
Rundquist and w. L. Purcell.
Following is the complete roster of
the .Tri-City Press Club membership:
HONORARY MEMBERS.
President William H. Taft. Washing
ton, d. C.
Colonel William Jennings Bryan. Lin
coin, Neb.
Sir Robert Ball, Edinburgh. Scot
land
Admiral George Dewey. Washing
ton, ID. c..
Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans,
Washington, D. c.
Colonel Henry Watterson. Louis
vile, Ky
Commander Robert E. Peary. Wash
ington, ID. c.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01

Webster, who came to the tri-cities TO
secure evidence of incendiarism for
Attorney Lincoln and was elected I'M
der the name of ]. B. Reed to repre-
sent the Fifth ward in the Davenport
city council, afterward disclosed a plot
to assassinate President Lincoln and
saved his life. ]. w. Bissell, upon
whom it was sought to fasten the crime
of incendiarism through the efforts of
Timothy Webster, went south during
the interim between his arrest and
trial and helped Grant capture a fort
or two through his skill as an hy-
draulic engineer.
Slaves In the Tri-Cities.
Slaves in the tri-cities? Yes, and
one more noted in history than all the
rest-Dred Scott. To Fort Armstrong,
DR.. John Emerson, post surgeon,
brought from Missouri his negro slave,
bred Scott. DR.. Emerson saw a chance
to make money on the Iowa shore,
took up claim on the river just above
Davenport, built a shack and there in
stalled his colored man to hold the
claim. DIR. Emerson was transferred
to Fort Smelling, and after becoming
established there came back, sold his
claim, and took his slave with him to
Minnesota. The rest of the story
everybody knows.
Mention was made a minute ago of
Osawatomie Brown. He was a Daven-
port visitor when he was buying pro-
visions for his expedition to the east
ward. On another occasion he was
in box car with some of his adher-
ents and lot of slaves he had taken
from Missouri masters when the train
to which his car was attached was
searched by United States marshals at
the Davenport depot in quest of the
stolen slaves. The whole party of
fugitives were heavily armed and
there would have been something
going on for the morning papers if the
door of the box car had been opened
trifle. Barclay Coppec, one of John
Browns Harper's Ferry party made
his way back to Davenport where he
had once clerked in a store and lay
hidden In loft while officers were
searching for him. Jefferson Davis
was one of the soldiers who made
friends while stationed at Fort Arm
strong. Later when secretary of war
his knowledge of the island aided in
securing the arsenal for this commun-
ity. 1t was into the charge OF this
young American officer that Black
Hawk was placed when turned over
to the troops of his Winnebago allies
and as Jefferson Davis prisoner the
fallen chieftain made the trip down
the river to Jefferson Barracks.
First I'm Everything.
From the tri-cities the first train
ran westward from the Mississippi
river. In the tri-cities the first bank
went into operation under the national
banking law In Iavennorf was huflt
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01

ton. A polygIot brigade, two COM
panies of Spanish from st. Louis, two
of French from the Illinois settlement,
and the remainder of the $50, Ameri-
soldiers in the world for the work in
hand, left Cahokia in June, 1880, and
proceeded by way of Peoria lake to
the village of the British band on Rock
river, fought the indians to a stand
still, and burned their town which was
settlement of several thousand in
habitants at that time. The incidents
of that march as narrated by the COM
manding officer sre those of border
warfare. no more no less. The loot
was small, and the Spanish and French
contingent were greatly depressed by
its paucity.
The tri-city interest is naturally
more intense in the Black Hawk war
than IN the other conflicts. for Black
Hawk was neishbor, and many of he
settlers Of Rock Island county enlisted
for the war and took creditable part
therein. One company was made up
entirely of Rock Island county men
with one exception, another was hearly
filed by enlistments there and the
whole community was aroused.
Patriotism Always shown.
There has never been any doubt of
the patriotism of this community. 1t
has been shown at every opportunity
during the life of the tri-cities. During
the war between the states no COM
munity Furnished men of greater brav-
cry or those who made more honorable
records. From the Illinois side men
rallied to the standard at the call to
arms. In Davenport three military
companies offered their services when
only one could pc accepted. Adjutant
General Baker come to Davenport and
there supervised the mastering of Iowa
troops and from that city there went
to the front regiments of Iowa infantry
and cavalry trained in the four camps
which had been established to make
soldiers out of recruits. When the
Sioux Indians of the northwest, taking
advantage of the war with the south,
massacred the settlers of Minnesota
the murderous redskins under SEN
tence of death were brought to Daven-
port and there guarded until their
cases were given further considera-
ton. Upon the government island was
established in the later years of the
war prison where thousands of men
captured on southern battle fields
were kept until discharged
At the close of the war of the rebel
lion returning Iowa soldiers were mus
tered out in large numbers in Daven-
port and there dispersed to their
homes. Then societies for mutual help
were formed, the one in Davenport
antedating the forming of the Grand
Army of the Republic, although it was
disbanded that the veterans might
form Post No. 1 in Iowa. There are
seven posts in Rock Island county.
Around old Fort Armstrong clusters
much history from its establishment
in 1916 to it's evacuation in 1886, and
even later when, a picturesque item
in the foregoing it tested the de
scriptive ability of many writer who
sorted and weighed his adjectives to
do the subject justice. In 1856 fire
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01
James whitcomb Riley. Indianapolis

James Whitcomb Riley. indianapolis.
Ind
John T. McCutcheon, Chicago. Ill
George AIDE, Chicago, Ill.
Major John T. Thompson, Washing
ton, D. c.
Charles McHugh, Chicago, II.
Henry Barrett Chamberlain, Chica-
go, Ill.
Richard Henry Littles Chicago. Ill
]. F. Lardner, Rock Island.
w. A. Meese. Moline.
Rabbi W. H. Fineshriber, Davenport.
Harry E. Downer, Davenport
DIR. Edward Howard Griggs, Boston.
Mass.
Henry L. Kiner, Geneseo. Ill.
Rev. Alexander Francis, London,
England.
General William Crozier. Washing
Colonel Stanhope E. Blunt, Spring
field, Mass.
General j. Franklin Bell. FIT. Meyer.
Va
Major c. s. Richie, Detroit. Mich.
ACTIVE MEMBERS.
Rock Island.
H. P. Simpson. Roy A. Sears.
S. w. Searle. Ralph MacManus,
]. M. Colligan. George Schneider.
e. e. Buffum. F. ]. Mueller.
F. o. VanGalder. Edward Breen.
Robert Rexdale. Lyman Weld.
Charles Golf F. w. Rinck
J. X. Brandenburg. A. G. Anderson
Paul Kersch. o. B. Hampton.
w. r. March J. Rachman.
James Fitzgibbon Hugh Curry.
w. A. Frewert P. A DOMAIN
Shirley D. Folsom, Ebert L. Fulmer
Moline.
P. s. McG1ynn. e. P Rundquist.
A T. Foster. Hugh w. Rolf
L. r. Blackburn. A. NJ. zimmerman.
o. r. Rundquist. John Sundine.
c. j. Zaiser. Harry Sward
R. w. Fishbach. Jay Moltzner.
L. P. McClarren. F. D. Blake.
George Berndt. E e. Ryden.
Davenport.
r. w. Cram. ] H. Harrison.
F. B. Sharon. w. L. Purcell.
j. B. Richardson. Ed fischer.
A. Peterson. D. c. Stibolt.
j. e. Hardman. A. F. O'Hern.
Realf Otteson. Joe Carmichael.
Victor Martin. NJ. H. Richardson
J. j. Richardson. Vincent Dorgan.
Robert Harrah. c. w. Boggs.
E. P. Adler. G. F. Feeney.
Non-Resident.
Guy V. Petit, Reynolds, Ill.
w. d. Hall, Port Byron, III.
B. F. Tfllinghast, Crescent City, Fla.
]. H. McKeever, Aberdeen, S. D.
Robert H. Wiley, San Angelo, Texas.
L. M. Barton, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Val ]. Peter, Omaha, Neb.
Ralph Sisson, Decatur, III.
]. E. Calkins, Lordsburg, Cal
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01
"REMINISCENCES OF LEADERS IN
TRI- CITY NEWSPAPER FIELD

Number of Notable Writers Have Been
Developed in the Gruehng Struggle to
Gather and Prepare for Publication the
News of This Vicinity.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01
NOTABLE EVENTS
IN THE HISTORY
OF TRI- CITIES

CONTINUED from Page One,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01

B. F. Tillinghast, Veteran Editor of Dav-
export Democrat, Tells of the Men He
Associated With in the 40 Years He Was
Actively in the Harness.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-01
First I'm Everything.

From the tri-cities the first train
ran westward from the Mississippi
river. In the tri-cities the first bank
went into operation under the national
banking law. In Davenport was built
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-10
NaeAmae~,

weather bureau tower brought out a
better crowd for the races Saturday than
any day during the cold week. II was
warm in the sun and everyone made an
effort to hover around the sunny side
Of the grand stand and in open space
In front of the stand. where the sun
would get in its warming work. The
running was good and the offerings
were all up TO class. especially the over
night handicap which was fourth on
the program.
The three furlong dash for 2yearolds
was another interesting event as it
brought out a colt which promises all
kinds of performances when he is in
condition. Frank MullenS from the
Wood stables ran the distance in
0:34 Is and won pulled up This is Aex-
cellent time for colt going to the post
for his second time and the Mullens
youngster will be closely watched in
the future.
Jockeys Disciplin d.
Judge Shelly called a little session
Of the riding boys together and dis
tributed a few belated New Years pres
ents among some Of the rough riders
from the jockey room. Strang and
Pickens had their application for a new
license revoked by the stewards. ACT
ing upon Judge Shelly's suggestion J.
Wilson was reprimanded for his rough
tactics and his mounts restricted to his
contract employer, c. S. Wilson Mondan
drew a week on the ground and a call
ing down for his present and all of the
boys were given to understand that no