USA > Iowa > Story County > A history of Story county, Iowa: Carefully compiled, from the earliest settlement to the present, March 1, 1887. > Part 37
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We find also a fair quality of rock in sections 28 and 32 on Bear Creek in Howard Township.
On the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 13, township 85, range 22, there were many years ago many large and beautiful white lime rocks which made a singular and delightful appearance. Twenty-five years ago they were visible for miles; but time and other mishaps may have robbed this lovely spot of much of its beauty. This beautiful group was miles from timber.
*The Iowa Agricultural College owns one acre of stone quarry in the southwest part of the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 32, township 84, range 24, and it has the appear- ance of an excellent quarry.
390
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA. THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE AT CHARLESTON.
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CHARLESTON IN RUINS-DESPATCHES IN DETAIL-SCENES OF WOE AND DESOLATION.
CHARLESTON, S. C., Sept. 1, 1886.
An earthquake, such as has never before been known in the his- tory of this city, swept over Charleston last night, shortly after ten o'clock, causing more loss and injury to property and far more loss of life than the cyclone of the year before. The city is wrecked, the streets are encumbered with a mass of fallen bricks and tangled telegraph and telephone wires, and up to an early hour it was almost impossible to pass from one part of the city to another. The first shock was the most severe. Most of the peo- ple with families passed the night in the streets, which even this morning are crowded with people afraid to re-enter their homes. More than sixty people were killed and wounded, chiefly colored, Among the whites killed and fatally injured are: M. J. Lynch, Dr. R. Alexander Hammond and Ainsley Robinson. Fires broke out in different parts of the city immediately after the earthquake, and some are still burning, but there is no danger of their spread- ing. There is no way of leaving the city at present.
CHARLESTON, S. C., Sept. 1, 1886-6:30 P. M. The gloomiest day ever known in Charleston is drawing to a close with no improvement in the condition of the people. Great fears prevail to-night of another violent earthquake, as slight shocks have been felt at intervals during the day. Tents are rigged up on the streets. The whole population, nearly, will pass the night out of doors. The people are greatly depressed, as the aggregate loss amounts up to millions, and may be increased indefi- nitely at any moment by a gale of wind or,additional shocks. The houses generally are in no condition for further trials.
The principal streets are littered with bricks and rubbish. The City Hall escaped damage, but the steeples of St. Michael's and St. Philip's churches will have to come down. The massive portico of St. Michael's was wrenched from the body of the church, and the cracks in the main building extend to the foundation. All the porticos of Bishop Northrop's residence were swept away. The Charleston hotel loses ceilings and part of the coping. The Ger- man Artillery hall is somewhat injured. Several buildings in Haynes street are gutted. The injury to St. Philip's church is almost indescribable.
CHARLESTON, S. C., Sept. 2, 1886.
Women and children are running about in the open air, terribly agitated. There are three or four steamers in port, including buoy- tenders, and many of the inhabitants are provided with berths on
391
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
these boats. Fortunately the weather has been good, and hard- ships are not as severe as they might have been. The situation, however, is becoming horrible. Cut off from communication with the rest of the world, afflicted and haunted with a prospect of im- mediate death, that is about the condition of this community. No trains have departed or arrived here in twenty-four hours. It is said all the railways leading into the city are crippled. The state- ment is made that all railway tracks are twisted into the shape of snakes.
The official total of deaths is thirty-three. The wounded will probably number 100. Business is still suspended, the whole attention of the people being given to providing for refuge and making residences safe. Bricklayers have advanced their rates to six dollars a day. There were shocks last night at 8:30, 11:15 P. M. and 5 A. M. All were light. Confidence is gradually returning, but much apprehension is still felt.
FISSURES IN THE EARTH.
A special report from Mount Pleasant, opposite Charleston, says that a sink near the German church, which on Tuesday was per- fectly dry sand, is now full of fresh water. Near Shell street there is a cabin occupied by a colored man that is completely surrounded by yawning chasms extending through the earth's surface for ten feet and over. All around this there are sinks of fresh water and masses of mud, with queer looking soft substances that have never been seen before. It is contended by many that the mud and other substances found around the village are volcanic matter. Just after the first shock on Tuesday night there was a decided and dis- tinct smell of escaping sulphuric acid gas over the entire village. The smell lasted throughout the night, and was distinct in those localities where the cavities in the earth were most numerous. Some say that portions of the mud thrown up by the water-spouts are strongly impregnated with sulphur, and that small portions of sulphur can be found in the mud.
Not far from Charleston, on the road to Summerville, extensive mounds of clay were thrown up, and hillocks of sand, in most cases in the shape of inverted cones, the hollow parts of which had evi- dently been formed by the action of the water returning into the depths from which it had been raised. In many cases the erupted matter had streamed away from the breaks in the surface of the earth to a distance of twenty to fifty feet. In other places there were fissures, almost invariably extending from north to south. These cracks were not wide, and extended downward always in a slanting direction. The matter that was thrown up was of a dark dull slatey color, and was mixed with gravel. There was also a little shale, and in general the mud resembled that which is thrown from the bottom of the phosphate pits along the river. The water in some places had the taste of our artesian water, but in many instances it was just as clear and limpid as from a mountain spring.
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392
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
ERUPTIONS OF MUD AND WATER.
These evidences of the great convulsion are not sporadic; they extend far and near in every direction from the city limits of Charleston to Summerville, and at the latter place it was found from trustworthy information that the cracks and fissures are eve- rywhere visible for miles and miles around. Strangely enough, some of these were in active operation, and the shocks that were felt at Summerville sent the water out of these fissures in jets to the height of from fifteen to twenty feet. This was evidently the result of the cracks being filled with water and then the sides open- ing and closing by each succeeding shock. These appearances were, of course, suggestive of still more violent eruptions, and there was a constant dread everywhere that there would be a gen- eral inundation, caused by some extraordinary force of the earth- quake. Not only was the water emitted in the low places where it might be expected to exist all the time, but on the tops of the highest elevations the mud could be seen. This latter fact indi- cated that the force was being exerted at rather more than the depth that was at first thought to be the limit of the force.
On Sullivan's Island the shock was severe, but comparatively little injury was done, and no lives were lost. Many of the sum- mer visitors came up to the city this morning. On James Island the earth was cracked in many places, and from the fissures issued large bodies of cold water mixed with sand and blue mud.
THE SITUATION IN SUMMERVILLE.
The horror of the situation in Summerville on Wednesday was much intensified by certain manifestations that were not observed in Charleston to any great extent. All during the day there was a constant series of detonations, now east, now west, and from all possible directions. It resembled the discharge of heavy guns at intervals of about ten minutes, and was like the sounds of a bom- bardment at a great distance. All these explosions were not ac- companied by tremors of the earth, as it was only occasionally that the earth would quake from subterranean discharges. A remarka- ble fact was noted in Summerville in respect to the bulging of the water from the interior of the earth; nearly all of the wells had been at low water. There was a sudden rise in all of these wells, and the additional water was pure.
Looking down into one of these wells the observer could, on the eve of any of the loud detonations, see the water rise up the walls of the well, and after the shock again subside.
FIRST TRAIN TO CHARLESTON.
SAVANNAH, GA., Sept. 2, 1886.
The first train from Charleston to this city since the earthquake reached here this afternoon. The passengers say that since the shocks, holes in the earth resembling artesian wells have opened in
393
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
the neighborhood of Charleston, and for miles this side. They vary in diameter but average two feet, and are apparently bottom- less. Mica, and other minerals not known in that section before, are found around their mouths. Mud of a bluish color oozes from fissures in the ground surrounding them, and the waters savor of soda. People living near them report that when the water first burst forth from the ground it was steaming hot, and shot fifty feet into the air. On Pac Island, near Beaufort, a fissure in the earth twelve feet wide and 400 feet long still remains. All the islands in that vicinity report similar fissures, with mud and water issuing from them. Predictions that another shock may be expected are keeping the people of Charleston in a state of terror.
The damage to the Northeastern Railroad that leads into Charles- ton has been repaired, and connections are now complete to Savan- nah and beyond, via the Atlantic coast line of railways.
CHARLESTON, S. C., Sept. 4, 1886.
Many families who are unable to sleep in their houses provided themselves with out-door quarters in yards and enclosures, in cases where these are sufficiently large to avoid danger from falling walls. In the upper wards many families are accommodated in box-cars and passenger coaches which have been placed at their dis- posal by the railway companies. The effects of the earthquake are not visible in the harbor. Every ship in port is crowded with women and children who go there to sleep. The most pressing want is tents which will give the women and children shelter. The weather has been good up to this time. Should rain set in the suffering must become intensified one hundred fold.
One of the most singular features of the earthquake was the spouting wells in Beaufau street. The covers were torn from the wells and sent flying in the air. Then came a huge column of water and mud which was sent up to the height of fifteen or twenty feet. Most of these wells were emptied of their contents, but were speedily refilled. After this shock the surface of the streets in the vicinity of these wells was covered by a yellowish clay deposit, which may have come from the bottom of the wells or from the lower stratum of the earth. In some portions of the city vast jets of water were thrown up from crevices formed by the force of the earth movement. Soon after the shock most of these closed, leaving exposed a large mound of sand of an entirely differ- ent character from the surrounding soil. Hundreds of people who have sufficient means to leave the city are departing by every train.
Careful examination of the cracked buildings leads to the con- clusion that Charleston is an utter ruin. Most of the devastation is toward Water street, where live the fashion and wealth of the city. There are not three houses out of sixty magnificent man- sions in the locality whose front and rear walls will not have to be rebuilt or entire buildings reconstructed.
394
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
CHARLESTON, S. C., Sept. 5, 1886.
Having looked over a large part of the city this morning, Gen. Batchelder this afternoon telegraphed Gen. Drum that in his opin- ion the accounts of the destruction had been in the main correct. In some cases they had understated rather than overstated the losses. It is his belief, and he plainly declares it. that fully one- third of the buildings south of the Charleston Hotel and east of Meeting street are so badly damaged that they must be torn down.
The damage done from Calhoun street to the Battery, all across the city, is about as great everywhere as in the small section named by Gen. Batchelder. Calhoun street crosses the city from Ashley to the Cooper River, about a mile from the Battery. There are many frame buildings in the area indicated, but fully one-third are brick, and few brick buildings are free from injury requiring the removal of walls. They have settled so badly about windows as to make it impossible to open doors or to close doors that were thrown open when the great shock came. City Assessor Kelly, who has been revising his estimate of the losses, has concluded that to re- place the brick houses and stores that are damaged beyond repair must cost not less than $5,000,000. To this loss must be added the value of ruined furniture, household implements, bedding, clothing, and stocks of goods in stores, so that there is great prob- ability that when the people come to foot up their losses closely they will be found to reach $8,000,000 or $10,000,000.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept. 3, 1886.
The following despatch was received by cable to-day from Queen Victoria:
BALMORAL, Sept. 3, 1886.
To the President of the United States:
I desire to express my profound sympathy with the sufferers by the late earthquakes, and await with anxiety fuller intelligence, which I hope may show the effects to have been less disastrous than reported. THE QUEEN.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, 1 WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 1886. 5 To Victoria, Queen and Empress, Balmoral, Scotland:
Your Majesty's expression of sympathy for the sufferers by the earthquake is warmly appreciated and awakens a grateful response in American hearts. GROVER CLEVELAND, President.
395
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
TERMS OF COURT FOR ELEVENTH JUDICIAL DIS- TRICT OF IOWA, FOR 1887.
The times and places of holding the regular terms of the District Court in and for the Eleventh Judicial District of Iowa, are hereby fixed as follows:
JUDGES.
COUNTIES.
MIRACLE.
WEAVER.
STEVENS.
Marshall. .. |Jan. 24, 6 weeks
|April 4, 5 weeks
Aug. 22, 6 weeks
Oct. 31, 5 weeks
Webster
March 7, 4 weeks |May 9, 4 weeks Dec. 5, 3 weeks
Oct. 3, 3 weeks
Boone.
[April 4, 4 weeks
Aug. 22, 4 weeks |Jan. 24, 4 weeks Oct. 24, 3 weeks
Story .
May 2, 3 weeks
Sept. 19, 3 weeks |Feb. 21, 3 weeks Nov. 14, 4 weeks
Franklin .
|May 23, 3 weeks
Oct. 10, 2 weeks
March 14, 3 weeks Dec. 12, 2 weeks
Hardin . . ..
Aug. 22, 4 weeks
|Jan. 24, 4 weeks Oct. 24, 4 weeks
April 4, 4 weeks
Hamilton .. |Sept. 19, 3 weeks|Feb. 21, 3 weeks
May 2, 3 weeks
Nov. 21, 3 weeks
Wright ..
Oct. 10, 3 weeks| March 14, 3 weeks|May 23, 3 weeks Dec. 12, 2 weeks
The grand jury in each county shall be summoned to appear at 11 o'clock in the forenoon of the second day of the term. The trial jury in each county shall consist of twenty-four members who shall be required to appear at one o'clock in the afternoon of the third day of the term. The clerks of the District Court shall cause the publication of this order in their respective counties, as provided by law.
D. D. MIRACLE. S. M. WEAVER. JOHN L. STEVENS.
Judges Eleventh Judicial District of Iowa. Dated Jan. 1, 1887. Filed Jan. 1, 1887.
I. L. SMITH, Clerk.
DRAINAGE CONVENTION.
The fourth annual convention of the Iowa Tile and Drainage Association was held at the Capitol building last Wednesday and Thursday. The attendance was good from beginning to close and the interest and good feeling manifested throughout highly gratify- ing. The address of welcome by Governor Larrabee, a paper on
396
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
"Farm Drainage" by C. F. Clarkson and Col. Scott's address on "Road Drainage" and the discussion following the presentation of the latter subject, occupied the afternoon of the first day's session. The address of Col. Scott was enthusiastically received on its de- livery, and its subsequent discussion only served to bring out more fully its high merit. It was complimented with publication in full in the Register and the appointment of a committee to secure if possible its publication in large numbers for distribution among the road commissioners of the state.
During the above discussion Representative Nelson, on invitation, fully and happily explained the laws of Iowa on the subject of road drainage. Mr. Nelson's knowledge of and interest in the matter of tile drainage was subsequent and fully recognized by his election to the Vice Presidency of the Association .- (January 9, 1887.)
Nevada people were a good deal shocked yesterday morning on learning of the sudden and unexpected death of Mr. Geo. Tomlinson who lives about two miles of Peoria. Mr. Tomlinson was in attend- ance at the Monday meeting of the Agricultural Society and appeared in good health and spirits. He was found dead in his sleigh near midnight a short distance east of Maxwell. We are not advised as to the cause of his death .- Night of Jan. 10, 1887.
LATER .- In regard to the above death of Mr. Tomlinson it appears he was found dead in his sled to which his team was still hitched. The coroner's jury-W. M. Starr, J. O. French and Miles Pearson being the jurors-on examination found a jug in the sled partly filled with proof alcohol, and that he had frozen to death probably under its influence.
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
Auditor McCarthy's annual report to the Board of Supervisors shows the following facts of especial interest concerning county finances for the past year:
Net assessment for 1886
· $4,611,062 00
AMOUNT OF TAXES.
County
$ 18,444 87
State. .
11,527 69
County School
4,611 05
Bond.
4,611 05
Bridge
9,222 10
Poor. .
6,916 57
School house.
4,475 80
Purchase of highway to school house
580 91
Teachers .
37,683 44
Contingent.
12,439 79
Road.
7,823 36
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA. 397
Corporation
$ 3,520 90
Library .
298 82
Drainage
674 16
Sidewalk
228 44
Poll.
1,923 50
Dog
881 00
Total $125,863 45
Total tax 1885 134,400 36
EXPENDITURES FROM COUNTY FUND.
Supervisors $ 1,284 66
Witnesses
691 70
Jurors.
2,627 35
Attorneys
397 50
Sheriffs and bailiffs
1,376 76
Jail expenses .
713 55
Court reporter.
265 40
Justices and constables
788 44
Clerk's fees in state cases
98 25
Fuel, lights and repairs.
1,338 66
Assessors, township clerks and trustees
2,388 65
Clerk and deputy hire
1,946 00
Books and stationery
593 05
Printing, blanks, etc.
803 60
Superintendent of Schools
1,076 00
Surveyor.
42 25
Bounty on wild animals
9 00
Salaries of county officers
1,300 00
Janitor hire. 188 85
Coroner. 34 75
Miscellaneous .
390 24
Insurance premiums
675 00
Total $19,029 66 The county treasurer's salary, $1,500, is not included above.
TOTAL EXPENDITURES FROM THE SEVERAL FUNDS THE PAST THREE YEARS.
County fund, 1884 $22,072 83
66
1885
19,924 32
66
1886
19,029 66
Poor fund, 1884 66
5,990 14
66 1885
5,378 99
66
66 1886 5,439 33
Bridge fund, 1884 7,010 72
66
66 1885 7,461 61
66 1886 13,289 19 Appropriation from domestic animal fund, 1886, $37.50.
Number of insane at state asylum, six .- (January session, 1887.)
398
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA. COUNTY FARM APPRAISEMENT.
The day was occupied by the Board in visiting, inspecting and taking an invoice of the County Farm and infirmary, from which the following is summarized:
320 acres-farm and improvements. $10,000 00
Horses, cattle and hogs 2,840 00
Grain and hay on hand. 483 50
Farm implements.
649 70
Household effects, beds and bedding
694 85
Total $14,668 05 The number of inmates at infirmary, fifteen (15).
Board Supervisors adjourned to meet to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock .- (January 5, 1887).
STATE INSTITUTIONS-NUMBER OF INMATES.
Governor Larrabee reports the following number of inmates in the different state institutions: Orphans' Home, Davenport, 301; Penitentiary, Fort Madison, 384; Penitentary, Anamosa, 287; In- sane Asylum, Mt. Pleasant, 658; Insane Asylum, Independence, 783; Feeble Minded Institute, Glenwood, 285; Girls' Reform School, Mitchelville, 125; Boys' Reform School, Eldora, 331; Deaf and Dumb Asylum, Council Bluffs, 269; Blind Asylum, Vinton, 166; Normal School, Cedar Falls, 260; State University, Iowa City, over 500; Agricultural College, Ames, 300.
TREASURER'S REPORT, JANUARY, 1887.
RECAPITULATION.
County
Fund
$ 9,024 74
State
309 37
County School
1,751 37
Bond
66
441 84
Bridge
66
2,369 31
Poor
66
1,221 89
Insane
1,817 20
School House
570 68
Teachers
66
5,175 69
Contingent
66
1,765 23
Road
66
646 87
Corporation
66
468 85
Library
8 55
Cemetery
66
16 13
Railroad
22 55
Institute
66
653 52
4
DES MOINES
UNIVERSITY OF
!
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA. 401
School House Site Fund
99 50
Permanent School 66
1.283 80
Temporary School
1,088 02
Board of Health
5 36
Drainage
66
203 73
Domestic Animal
66
721 90
Cash on hand January 1, 1887 $29,666 10
COAL BANKS-COAL PROSPECTS.
Collins Township-Find an account of coal in the history of the township. It is a boom to the township as well as to the town of Collins. It seems to be of good quality and quantity.
At different times " prospectors" have tried son.e for coal near Nevada. It has been found at several points near Nevada, but did not seem to be in paying quantities.
Mr. T. E. Alderman, of Nevada, has, within a few days, discovered a fifty-three inch vein at a depth of about 220 feet. He may bore deeper, and if a better vein is to be found he may find it. This is near his fine farm residence, and probably one mile from the court house. It will be of incalculable value to Nevada and surrounding country when a good vein of coal can be found so near the city.
Mr. A. Duff, of Ames, is also making efforts to find coal on his farm just north of Ames. Mr. and Mrs. Duff have proved them- selves good and energetic citizens, and it is to be desired Mr. D. may find for his reward plenty of coal and of first quality.
THE PRESS OF THE COUNTY-NEWSPAPERS.
AMES .- The Ames Intelligencer, a weekly paper, commenced publication about April, 1868, by Mr. A. McFadden. He was suc- ceeded, if I mistake not, by Capt. J. E. Duncan, who is giving us one of the best papers in the county. Politically Republican.
A paper called the "Monitor," weekly, commenced at Ames in August, 1885, edited by Mr. E. W. Clark, who died March 20, 1886, and the "Monitor" ceased being published in August, 1886. There is a monthly paper "The Aurora," being published at the Iowa Agricultural College. It has been published for twelve or more years, but I think it appears about nine months each year only.
CAMBRIDGE .- "The Reporter" commenced probably about Mr. - Dolph was its editor. When it ceased publication is not certain.
26
402
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
"The Cambridge Herald" is a weekly paper, (Republican,) edited by Mr. Charles D. Parks. It commenced about January, 1884. It is yet being published and makes a fair appearance.
MAXWELL .- "The Maxwell Tribune" is a weekly print, (Republi- can) edited by Mr. L. R. Shepherd. It commenced about Decem- ber, 1882, and is an interesting paper, and is still being published.
NEVADA .- "The Story County Advocate" was the first paper published in Story County. It commenced about the eighth of January, 1857, over thirty years ago. Was Republican-Was edited by R. R. Thrall. Thrall sold to Geo. F. Schoonover in 1862. Schoonover then named the paper "The Reveille." Politically it was a Union or Republican. He sold the press to John M. Brain- ard late in 1863. Brainard changed the name to "The Story County Ægis," and still Republican. Brainard sold to V. A. Ballou, October, 1868. It still retained its name. Ballou sold to W. H. Gallup, April, 1870; still Republican, but the name was changed to "Nevada Representative." He sold to W. P. Payne September 1, 1882. Mr. Payne still owns it; it still retains its name-Representative.
THE WATCHMAN .- "The Watchman" commenced August, 1874, edited by Stoddard & Vaughn; and I. Horton succeeded Vauhgn. Politically it was Anti-monopoly. They sold it to J. A. Fitchpat- rick; he sold it to R. H. Rodearmel, and Rhodearmel to V. A. Ballou, who still owns it. It is Democratic.
"THE HIGHWAY"-a religious paper, commenced November, 1875, at Nevada, where it still remains. Is published by Rev. Isaiah Reid. Press work done by steam power. There is a steam power press at Ames, in the "Intelligencer" office used to ad- vantage. The above papers are all weekly publications.
"THE NEVADA DEMOCRAT"-was published during a portion of the Rebellion. Its style was not commendable on the war ques- tion. It did not continue long.
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