MISCELLANEOUS.

Adjustment of Land Claims.-It may seem somewhat strange to the people of the present, that there were not more serious differences between the conflicting interests of the early settlers-miners and farmers--than there were. When the first settlers came, in 1819, and up to the organization of the county in 1827, it may be said there were no written or statute laws to govern the people in any of their transactions. The agent representing the interests of the U. S. government issued certain pronunciamentos for the government of the miners. Those engaged in other pursuits governed themselves, and it is said by the surviving settlers of the early days that there was less of theft, larceny and kindred crimes in those days than there is now. The settlers were governed entirely by the laws of honor.

To give the young people an idea of how the pioneer settlers protected the claims of each other, we make the following extracts from the proceedings of a Settlers' Meeting, called to devise "ways and means " for that purpose:

"Pursuant to public notice, a meeting of the settlers on the public lands in Township 28 N., R. 2 E. (Galena), was held at the school-house on Saturday, the 2d day of January, 1847. On motion of James D. Rawlins, Samuel W. Hathaway was called to the chair, and E. Baldwin chosen. Secretary.

"Mr. G. M. Hallett offered a resolution pledging the meeting to concur in the resolutions adopted at a Settlers' Meeting held in Galena, on the 5th of December, 1846, which was adopted. [No written proceedings of the meeting referred to in this resolution were to be found.]

"M. Hallett, S. Snyder, F. Stahl, J. Hawkins and J. Holman were appointed a committee to report regulations for the government of claimants in the township. The committee reported, recommending the election of a board of arbitrators, consisting of five persons, authorized to settle all disputes between conflicting claimants, on principles of equity and justice, their decisions to be final. If any claimant objected to either arbitrator, and a majority of the board sustain the objection, the member objected to should retire during that trial, and that his place be filled by a good and suitable citizen. The board to appoint their own clerk, who, at his own expense, shall provide books, paper and plats. The clerk was directed to provide for the registry of claimants before the first day of February next, and to receive a fee of ten cents for each claim presented for registry.

George Troxell, David Matlack, H. Willard, II. Singer, and John Crumbellick, were appointed arbitrators, and the gentlemen present pledged themselves to each other to "use all just means in our power to sustain the decisions of the arbitrators for this township, and to abide by such decisions in all cases in which we are interested."

The meeting adjourned to meet at Dixon on the morning of the first day of the land sales, prepared for two weeks active service.

The claimants of the public lands in township 28 north, range one, east of the 4th principal meridian, held a meeting at Mount Hope Meeting House on Tuesday, the 5th day of February, A. D. 1847, and adopted a constitution and by-laws similar to the provisions above quoted. The arbitrators chosen under the proceedings of that meeting, were Samuel Hugh

lett, A. Snyder, Michael Byrne, R. S. Norris, Charles G. Thomas, Patrick McAllen, and S. M. McMaster. The following was their written pledge:

"We hereby pledge ourselves to each other, that we will use all just means in our power, to sustain the decisions of the arbitrators for this township; and that we will abide by such decisions as they shall make, in all cases in which we are interested."

To this pledge ninety-two signatures were attached, only three of which were by "his X." In no case was the pledge violated. No appeal was taken from the decision of the arbitrators-no "motion made for a new trial." Many of the ninety-two whose names grace the book from which the pledge is copied, still remain in the county, and have always been useful and influential citizens.

Fires.-Galena has never suffered seriously, but once, from fires. On 3 o'clock on the morning of April 1, 1854, a fire broke out in M. O. Walker's stage stable, situated on Commerce Street, in the rear of the next block north of the De Soto House. The fire extended northward across Main, Washington, and Bench Streets. Thirty-two buildings were burned, comprising a large part of the business part of the town, and including St. Michael's Church, on the opposite side of Bench Street. Among the buildings destroyed was the office of the Courier. The total loss estimated at $300,000. The Gazette of that date attributes the fire to an incendiary.

River Improvements.-In 1854, various projects were discussed for improving the navigation of Fever River, and it was seriously proposed to construct a dam and lock of seven feet lift, at, or near, its mouth. It ended however, as it began—in talk.

The present winter (1877-'8), Congress was petitioned and strongly urged to include Galena River in the appropriations for harbor and river improvements, with some hopes of success. M. Y. Johnson was sent by the Galenians, as a delegate, to present the subject, and urge it upon the attention of Congress. He labored earnestly and faithfully, and received many assurances that the appropriation would be made.

Casualties. On the 18th day of August, 1868, a sad and melancholy accident occurred on the Illinois Central Railroad, that brought sorrow and death to several homes in Galena. The particulars of this terrible event, we gather from a pamphlet published a few days after its occurrence, the facts of which were compiled from the Galena Democrat:

At about 8 o'clock on the morning aforesaid, Conductor James Woods started out from Galena with his ditching train, consisting, at the time, of two dirt cars, destined for Apple River. He had some thirty workmen on the train, most of whom occupied the second car from the engine. The train was "backing up." When rounding a curve, within about half a mile of Council Hill, and going, at the time, at a full rate of speed, they collided with two detached cars, which were approaching from the opposite direction, at a rate, it was thought, of thirty miles per hour. They were both heavily loaded; the first with railroad iron, the second with a cast iron wheel, of 4,500 pounds weight. Owing to the curve in the road, the detached cars were not perceived by the men, until they were within two or three rods, and as the larger number were old men, the instinct of self-preservation had not time to take any definite action. A horrible crash-the heavy, iron rails were pushed forward-the large iron wheel rolled forward, and Thomas Boyd and Michael Niland were still in death. Mr. Boyd with his head crushed to jelly. Patrick Maghan, a young man of twenty-one years, had his skull fractured, and an arm horribly mutilated. He survived but a few hours. Mr. Thomas Mulligan, Cornelius Howe, and Mr. McClann, were also injured, it is feared fatally. The others, by jumping, managed to escape fatal injuries, but were more or less hurt. Master M. Birmingham, one of the injured, who escaped with the loss of five teeth, said that he had no thought of jumping from the car, but rushed to the forward brake of the rear car, thinking that with that support he could stand the shock. He was picked up after the collision in an insensible condition, close by the engine, having been thrown more than the length of the car. So soon as the engine could be run back to Galena, Drs. Hempstead, Campbell

and Newhall, accompanied by Father Power, were brought to the relief of the wounded. But one, only, of the three first fatal cases, then needed their help, and that was young Maghan. Upon consultation, it was decided to amputate his fractured arm, but his sufferings were ended by death before they were ready to commence the operation. He died calling on his mother, but his last audible words were: "lay me down to die." A jury was summoned and an inquest held, by two Aldermen of Council Hill. The jury rendered a verdict in accordance with the facts herein stated.

At half past nine, the morning after the catastrophe, three hearses, carrying the bodies of three of the victims, were slowly driven up Main street, and came to a stand before the Church of St. Michael. On either side of the hearses were the pall-bearers-those by the body of the young man were youths, and some of them fellow-companions of the deceased, when he was in life but yesterday. The chief mourners were driven in carriages, and a long retinue of sympathizing friends were in attendance. The scene, as the three bodies were carried in close succession into the church, was profoundly impressive. The poor widow of one of the aged victims, borne, almost fainting up the long steps of the church; the blanched countenances of all those nearest kin to the dead; and the hundreds of spectators, moving slowly up, with the bearing of deep sympathy, all tended to produce a sensation which will not soon be forgotten.

The deceased were all members of the St. Michael's Church, and hence their funeral rites were served at one and the same time, in that church, Father Power officiating.

The solemn and impressive ceremonies were concluded with an address by the Rev. Pastor, in which he spoke eloquently and feelingly.

The Blue Ribbon Movement.-The tidal wave of the Blue Ribbon. Temperance Reform Movement reached Galena the first days of October, 1877. Under the labors and directions of Messrs. Hoofstetter and Rowell, a reform was inaugurated that promises to result in great good. As showing the effect of this movement, the following figures are presented, showing the falling off in the consumption of beer in Galena from October 1, 1877, as compared with the same period in 1876:

In October, 1876, 456 barrels were consumed; in November do., 382; in December do., 424. Total in three months, 1,262 barrels.

In October, 1877, 250 barrels were consumed; in November, 198; in December, 266. Total, 714-a falling off of 548 barrels. Reduced to gallons, the falling off was equal to 17,536 gallons. Reduced to glasses, and estimating twenty glasses to the gallon, the cash falling off in the beer trade for the three months named was equal to $17,536.

A Reform Club was organized October 11, 1877, and continues in good working order.

FINALE.

The Buffalo-When Did They Disappear? When the first settlers came to the Fever River region, there was but little underbrush in any part of the country. Its growth had been kept down by the Indians, who started fires for that purpose, that their hunting grounds might be the less obstructed. Forty years ago this Winter (1877-'8), says Captain D. S. Harris, I was out hunting with an old Indian, and we came to an open prairie or plain, to one portion of which my attention was particularly directed because of its circular form and the heavy growth of old weeds and grass within it. I applied to my Indian companion for an explanation, and he gave me this traditionary solution:

"Seventy years ago this Winter (1838) was the coldest ever known. During the Winter a heavy, deep snow came on, and the buffaloes were snowed in. The snow fell so deep they could not travel, and in making the attempt they went round and round, just like a white man when he becomes lost on the prairies or in the woods. The snow was so deep and remained so long, that they fell exhausted and starved or froze to death. Their carcasses decayed and enriched the ground where they died, and so the weeds

and grasses, different from those natural to the prairie, came to grow over their bones. After that Winter the buffalo left-crossed the Mississippi, and none have ever been seen on the east side of the great river since."

Captain Harris says within the circle and beneath the old grasses, and weeds, and mould, there were a few remnants of bones, and that he has every reason to believe the Indian's traditionary narrative to have been correct. If true, the disappearance of the buffalo from this part of the country may be fixed at one hundred and ten years ago, or in 1768, as any one can determine by the application of a little arithmetic.

Any one who has noticed the fact that on a wild spot of ground where an animal has died and decayed, a new growth of grass and weeds, different from those natural to the ground, will spring up, will see the reasonableness of Harris' Indian companion's theoretic explanation for the growth of weeds in the circle to which his (Harris') attention was called, while on a hant "forty years ago," whatever of credit may be given to the remainder of the tradition.

The Weather.-The Winter of fifty years ago-1827-'8-was so mild and open that, on the 25th of February, 1828, the steamer Josephine arrived at Galena from St. Louis, bringing a cargo of flour-an incident related elsewhere. The present Winter seems to be equal to that one in temperature. At no time has the Mississippi been closed with ice for more than a few days at a time. For the greater part of the time it has been as open and as free to navigation as in the summer months. The roads to the country have remained almost impassable from the time Winter commenced, while the streets of Galena have either been dry or sloppy nearly every day from the first of December to this, the 28th day of February. Only on one or two occasions was there a sufficient fall of snow to justify an attempt at sledding or sleigh-riding, and that for but a few hours. The ice harvest is a failure-in fact the Winter of 1877-'8 may be set down as a season of ice famine to the people of Galena.