The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-11-25

A few years ago. ascending the
upper mississippi in the autumn,
when hts waters were low, was
compelled to travel by land past
the region of the rapids. Ny road
lay through the half-breed tract. a
fine section Of Iowa, which the unset
tied state OF Its land titles had APP
prcpriated as sanctuary for coiners,
horse thieves, and other outlaws. I
had left my steamer at Keoklk, AT
the foot of the lower fall, TO hire
a carriage, and to contend for some
fragments Of a dirty meal with the
swarmdng .fies, the only scavengers
OF the locality. From this place to
where the deep water Of the river re-
turns, my eye wearied to see every
where sordld, vagaibond and idle SET
tiers; and a country marred, without
being improved, by their careless
| hands.
| | was descending the last hillside
upon my journey, when a landscaps
in delightful contrast broke upon my
view. Half enctrcled by a bend of
the river, a beautiful city lay glitter
ing in the fresh morning sun; its
bright new dwellings,. set in cool,
green gardens. ranging up around a
stately dome shaped hill. which was
crowned by q noble marble edifice
whose high tapering spire was radi-
ant with white and gold The city
appeared to cover seyeraa miles; and
beyond 1t, in the back ground, there
rolled of fair country, chequerea
by the careful lines OF fruitful hus-
bandry. The unmistakable marks Of
industry, enterprise and educated
wealth, everywhere made the scene
one Of singular and most striking
i beauty.
It was a natural impulse to visit
this inviting region. procured a
skiff, and rowing across the river,
landed at the chief wharf of the city.
No one met me there. / looked and
saw no one. | could hear no one
move; though the quiet everywhere
was such that | heard the flies buzz,
and the water ripples break against
the shallow of the beach. | walked
through the solitary streets. The town
law as in a dream, under some dead
/ ening spell of loneliness from which
! almost feared to wake 1t. For plain
/ ly it had not slept long. There was
no grass growing up in the paved
ways. Rains had not entirely washed
away the prints of dusty footsteps.
Only two portions of the city
seemed to suggest the import of this
mysterious solitude. On the southern
suburb, the houses looking out upon
the country showed, by splintered
woodwork and walls battered to the
foundation, that they had lately been
the mark of destructive cannonade.
And in and around the chief oojec,
of my admiration. armed men were
barracked, surrounded by their stacks
OF nlusketry and pieces Of heavy
ordnance. These challenged ME to
render an account of myself, and why
4 had had the temerity to cross water
without written permit from a
leader of their band.
4 Though these men were generally
more or less under the influence Of
ardent spirits, after / had explain &c
myself as passing stranger, they
seemed anxious to gain my good opin
ion. They told me the story Of tht
Dead City; that is 1t had been a not
, able manufacturing and commercial
mart, sheltering over 10000 persons
that they had waged war with It's in
habitants for several years, and has
been finally successful only few
days before my visit, In an actor
fought in front Of the ruined suburb
after which they had driven then
forth at the point OF the sword. TIL
, defense. they said, had been obstiIl
, ate, but gave way on the third day
bonbardment
i. 1t was after nighttall, when wa
i ready to cross the river on my return
s The wind had freshened since tn
) sunset; and the water beating rougs
E ly into my little boat. headed high
+ er mp the stream than the point
had left
: Here among the dock and rushe:
( sheltered only by the darkness. witt
j. out roof between them and the sky
j. came upon crowd of several hur
t, dred human creatures, whom m
/. movements reused from uneasy stun
n Der upon the ground
g Dreadful, indeed, was the sufferir
y Of these forssken beings. Cowed an
9 cramped. by cold and sunburn, altel
mating as each weary day and nigh
I dragged on, they were, almost a
e OF them. the crippled victims Of di!
n ease. They we're there because the
D had no homes, no hospital nor poo
If house nor friends to offer them an,
e They could not satisfy the feebl
r cravings OF their sick; they had nc
= bread to quiet the fractions hunge
e cries Of their children. Mothers an
a. babes. daughters and grandparent
oil <.Fk T,1,, 81; n,