USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River, Vol. I > Part 2
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER XVIII .- 1812-1813.
British Army Under Muir, Sent Against Fort Wayne, is Turned Back.
Captain George Croghan at Fort Wayne-Revolt of Captain Ward's men-Winchester's rosy view of the future-Death of Ensign Leg- gett-Winchester's army puts to rout the expedition under Major Muir, designed to destroy Fort Wayne-Suffering of the Ken- tucky troops-General Tupper's disobedience-Harrison's inspir- ing address-The battle of the River Raisin-Death of Colonel Allen-The siege of Fort Meigs-Harrison finds Fort Wayne in peril-Colonel Richard Menter Johnson sent to protect it-John- son's men massacred by savages within sight of the fort- Closing incidents of the war of 1812 in the west-Death of Tecum- seh
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CHAPTER XIX .- 1813-1815.
Jenkinson and Whistler, Commandants-Rebuilding Fort Wayne. .
Major Jenkinson in command at Fort Wayne-A savage attack on his convoy-Major Whistler succeeds Major Jenkinson-The Sut- tenfields and tlie Bouries-The residents of the fort-How the Fourth of July was celebrated in 1814-Whistler declares the fort was "an ill-constructed thing at the first"-Purposes to rebuild the stockade-When John Kinzie's scalp was valuable-Hostile chiefs plan attack on the forts-Whistler fears for "the poor devils" in the Indian camps-"No whiskey, no soap"-Whistler rebuilds the fort-John W. Dawson's observations concerning the build- ing and reconstruction of Wayne's and Hunt's forts-Description of the fort buildings and surroundings.
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CHAPTER XX .- 1816-1820.
The Evacuation of Fort Wayne-Wild Gatherings of Savages. Richardville becomes the most wealthy Indian in the west-Major Vose succeeds Major Whistler in command of Fort Wayne-Relig- ious services in the fort-Doctor Trevitt and Lieutenant Clark- Vose builds the council house-The beginning of decisive canal activity-James Barnett and Samuel Hanna-The fort is aban- doned by the troops-Lonely situation of the pioneers-Captain Riley's prophecy concerning Fort Wayne-Rev. Isaac McCoy braves the perils of western travel and establishes the first Prot- estant mission and the first school-The voyage from Terre Haute-Rev. Mr. Finney's account of the annuity distribution to the Indians-Unprincipled traders-Rumsellers described as "rob- bers. thieves and murderers"-Scenes of debauchery-Major Long's unkind description of the "worthless population" of Fort Wayne
CHAPTER XXI .- 1821-1823.
Platting the Town of Fort Wayne-Allen County Organized. Doctor Turner, John Hays and Benjamin B. Kercheval, Indian sub- agents-The first postoffice-Kercheval and Hanna, postmasters -The American Fur Company-Alexis Coquillard, Francis Com- paret, James Aveline, the Ewings, the Hoods, William Rockhill, General John Tipton, the Swinneys, Paul Taber and others locate in the village-"Father" Ross-The first secret order, Wayne Lodge of Masons, organized within the fort-Why General Harri- son blocked the way against the establishment of a town in 1805- The government decides to sell the lands about the fort-The land office-Captain Vance and Register Holman-Allen Hamil- ton-John T. Barr and John McCorkle-Robert Young surveys the original plat of Fort Wayne-Ewing's tract-Why the original streets run askew-Allen county is organized.
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CHAPTER XXII .- 1824.
Pioneer County Government-The First Lot Buyers. Settlers pour into the village of Fort Wayne-Arrival of the commis- sioners to establish the government of Allen county-Ewing's Washington Hall and Suttenfield's tavern-The first officials of Al- len county-Grand jury activities-The first attorney's license, trespass suit, divorce case, naturalization grant, tavern license and marriage license-Barr and McCorkle's plat of the town is accepted-Valuable gifts to the county-The original lot-buyers- The county library-Fate of the institution-Wells's pre-emption is opened-The first brick building-A near-war between the Miamis
and the Ottawas assists in the foundation of two fortunes.
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CHAPTER XXIII .- 1825-1828. Beginnings of the Wabash and Erie Canal.
How the authorities obeyed the laws-The first murder case-The log jail on the courthouse square-The debtors' prison a faulty bas- tile-The County Seminary-The canal "fever"-Judge Hanna re- veals a plan to David Burr-The canal survey is authorized- Engineers succumb to attacks of fever-Judge Hanna in the legis- lature-Congress passes the canal bill-A close call-The "feeder" canal-An early lawyer's story-The first gristmill-Pioneer enter- prises-A disastrous flood-The Ewings establish extensive fur trade-Fort Wayne loses the government land office. .. 277
CHAPTED XXIV .- 1829-1831. The Village Incorporated-"Underground Railroad"-The First Courthouse.
The village decides to incorporate-The original town trustees-Laws governing the river ferries-Fort Wayne a "station" on the "under- ground railroad"-The slaves pass through the village-Earliest permanent Catholic and Protestant churches-The Big Leg mur- der-Keel boats on the Maumee-Trade over the St. Mary's-The government authorizes the state to sell the military tract at Fort Wayne-The doom of the old fort-Taber's addition platted- The first courthouse-Cheap rent at the "transfer corner"-The steamboat from Defiance-A cruel winter. .288
CHAPTER XXV .- 1832-1834. Canal Construction Begins-The First Newspaper-The First Fire Company.
Congress and the canal-The Indiana legislature appoints a board of canal commissioners-Jesse L. Williams, chief engineer-Fort Wayne thrills with new life-Beginning of construction work is celebrated by the people on February 22, 1832-The awarding of the construction contracts-Opening of the canal land office- Construction of the "feeder"-The first newspaper, the Sentinel, established by Tigar & Noel-Hugh McCulloch-His first impres- sions of Fort Wayne-"The Phenomenon"-Pioneer mail service ... 303
CHAPTER XXVI .- 1835-1837.
Canal Celebration of 1835-The "Irish War"-The First Bank. The canal is opened between Fort Wayne and "Flint Springs" (Hun- tington)-A gay Fourth of July celebration-Oratory at the "feed- er" dam at the St. Joseph-The feud of the factions of Irish work- men on the canal-David Burr summons militia and averts a bloody clash between the "Corkonians" and the "Fardowns"-A hastily organized military company-The voyage by night to the scene of trouble-The belligerents disperse-Establishment of the first bank-"Four kegs of specie"-Charles McCulloch's story of the bank-A woman's description of a pirogue journey over the Maumee-Hard times in the valley-The first church structures- Early taverns-The first cookstove -- How the pioneer rats came to town
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CHAPTER XXVII .- 1838-1839.
Boat Yards and Other Pioneer Enterprises-Early Hotels. The state of Indiana "goes wild" over the internal improvement pro- gram-The canal begins to earn money-Early factories and boat yards-Names of some of the earlier boats which plied the canal -An estimate of Alexander McJunkin, schoolmastetr-"Rockhill's Folly," a step in advance of the times-History of the hotel-The Palo Alto (Mayer) house-Other pioneer hotels-Churches . . . . .337
CHAPTER XXVIII .- 1840-1842.
Fort Wayne City Incorporated-The First Officials and Their Work. The town votes to become a city-Franklin P. Randall prepares the charter-George W. Wood, the first choice of the voters to serve as mayor-The new city officials confronted by many vexatious problems-Rapid growth of the town-Canal troubles-Indiana's fatal misstep-The earliest bands of music-Building of the sec- ond courthouse-The organization of the Fort Wayne Guards- Establishment of the Fort Wayne Times-Joseph Morgan chosen to succeed Mayor Wood-The failure of them silk culture enter- prise.
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CHAPTER XXIX .- 1843. The Great Canal Celebration-General Cass's Address. The canal is opened between Toledo and Lafayette-The memorable Fourth of July, 1843-Commodore Perry's cannon booms a wel- come to the visitors-The Toledo Guards-The parade-The exer- cises at the Swinney farm (Swinney park)-General Cass's mem- orable address-Peter Kaiser and the barbecue-The toasts- Gen- eral Cass receives a "ducking"-Promoters of the celebration- The packets and the freight boats-Early boat owners-Passen- ger and freight rates-Henry Lotz. mayor-The first daily mail- Highway building-The first daguerreotypes-"Johnnie Apple- .362 seed."
CHAPTER XXX .- 1844-1845.
The Miamis, "Hunted Like Wild Animals," Taken to the West. Flooded conditions in the spring of 1844-The "Post" and the "Or- wick"-The first land drainage-The removal of the remnants of Miami nation to the western reservations-"The trail of death"- Savages taken through Fort Wayne on canal boats-Deplorable scenes-Whiskey destroys the lives of many-The favored chiefs -Richardville "play safe"-John M. Wallace, mayor-William Stewart, postmaster-High rates of postage-The first Catholic school. .376
CHAPTER XXXI .- 1846-1847. Troops to Mexico-Methodist College-Concordia. L
Allen county sends three companies of volunteers to the Mexican war -Troops take their entire passage by water-Founding of the Methodist college-Its development and disappearance-Lutheran Male Academy-Concordia College-The Hedekin house, a well- known hotel of canal days-Merchant W. Huxford. mayor-The third courthouse is erected on the public square-Beginning of the end of the Wabash and Erie canal-"White dog." "blue dog" and "blue pup"-A story of disappointment and despair-The last of the waterway .388
CHAPTER XXXII .- 1848-1850. The First Telegraph Service-The Scourge of Cholera. Fort Wayne secures telegraphic connection with the outside world- Chester Griswold, the first telegraph operator-Wire troubles- A week of "no service"-The cholera scourge brings death to hun- dreds-Heroes of the epidemic-The cause-The "black swamp"-
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California "gold fever" is contagious-Fort Wayne victims-Some of the "Forty-niners"-William Stewart, mayor-Arrival of the steam propeller, "Niagara"-Samuel Stophlet, postmaster-The earliest dentist ... 397
CHAPTER XXXIII .- 1851-1852.
The Building of the First Railroad-A Plea for Immigration. Jesse L. Williams suggests a great railroad project-The beginning of the Pittsburgh. Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad-Allen county votes financial aid-Construction work begins-The first locomo- tive-Discouraging failures-Tribute to Judge Hanna-A line west from Fort Wayne-Subscriptions paid in land and labor-The first railroad excursion to Fort Wayne-Banquet and speechmaking- Railroading before the war-The launching of the "H. H. Stout" A plea for immigration-The vote to exclude the negroes-Dr. Philip G. Jones, mayor-"Egging" the anti-slave editor-Court of common pleas-The earliest "bloomers" cause a near-riot. 408
CHAPTER XXXIV .- 1853-1854. While the "Free" Schools Fought for Existence.
The discouraging beginning of the public schools-The first board of education and its problems-The opening of the first schools- Citizens vote against proposition-George A. Irwin-Schools close for want of financial support-E. S. Green and James H. Smart, superintendents-The first graduates-Charles Whit- more, mayor-The Hamilton bank-Colerick's hall-Wayne town- ship library-Beginning of artificial gas service-Illuminating the streets-When Fort Wayne went "dry"-The first daily newspap- ers-First county fair-Origin of the name "Summit City"-A "roast" of the city market-John G. Maier, postmaster-Mad An- thony Guards .419
CHAPTER XXXV .- 1855-1856.
The Execution of Madden and Keefer-Workingmen's Library.
Two murderers put to death in the jail inclosure-A tale of horror- The building of the Wabash railroad-The earliest photographs- The Workingmen's Institute and Library-Organization of the fire department-Major Curtis and his bank-Valuable storage- Horace Greeley's apology-Early slavery discussion. .432
CHAPTER XXXVI .- 1857-1859. "Regulators" and Criminals-Railroad Shops-Lindenwood Cemetery.
Desperadoes terrorize northern Indiana-"Regulators" capture and hang Gregory McDougall "with order and decorum"-The haunt of the criminals-Kekeonga Guards, the Perry Regulators, the New Haven Vigilants, the Adams Township Rangers and the St. Joe Detectives-Samuel S. Morss, mayor-Charles Case, congress- man -* Bishop Luers and the Fort Wayne diocese-"Planking" downtown streets-Beginning of "Pennsylvania" railroad shops- Tollgate receipts-Lindenwood cemetery-Franklin P. Randall, "war" mayor-The first city directory-The city seal .. .440
CHAPTER XXXVII .- 1860-1861.
Ovation to Douglass-Knights of the Golden Circle-Enlistments for the Civil War.
Vast crowds greet Stephen A. Douglas, opponent of Abraham Lin- coln-The parade-Nature's amphitheater-Douglas pleads for "half slave, half free" policy-Opposition to the war-Knights of the Golden Circle-Patriotic demonstrations-"Indiana for the Union!"-The news from Fort Sumter-Allen county's pledge-
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The first enlistments-Flag raising at the Wabash railroad shops -Hugh McCulloch's address-Camp Allen-Henry W. Lawton- An exciting city election-Building of the fourth courthouse- Troubles of the builders. .451
CHAPTER XXXVIII .- 1862-1863.
Police-Baseball-The First Park-"Shinplaster" Currency. The homecoming of the dead-Enlistments for the war-Patriotic women and children-Political riots-The first police force-The beginnings of baseball-The development of the game-Joseph K. Edgerton, congressman-Old Fort Park purchased-The First Na- tional bank-"Shinplaster" currency issued by the city-Hugh McCulloch named by President Lincoln to serve as the first comp- troller of the currency of the United States-Secretary of the Treasury-The success of his service-The Fort Wayne Gazette- The Aveline house .463
CHAPTER XXXIX .- 1864-1866.
Strikes and Early Labor Unions-The First Street Paving-The State Fair.
The strike of the employes of the Pittsburgh. Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad-Troops sent to protect property-The earliest labor unions-The railroad men and the printers-Fincher. the organ- izer-Bitter opposition to Lincoln's policies-Helping the needy families of the soldiers-North Side (Lawton) park purchased by the city-Fort Wayne entertains the Indiana State Fair-The Pomological Society-The first street paving-James L. Worden, mayor-The original Kekionga baseball team-The town "goes mad" over the coming national game-The Kekiongas spread the fame of Fort Wayne-In the first National League-Peter P. Bal- ley, postmaster . .. 470
CHAPTER XL .- 1867-1870. A Den of Thieves-The Beginning of Hospitals-Building of Four Railroads.
A reign of lawlessness-Burning of the rendezvous of the criminals- Henry Sharp, mayor-Beginning of three hospitals, Hope, St. Joseph and Lutheran-The criminal court-The first observance of Memorial day-Building of four lines of railroads-The disas- trous flood of 1867-The Fort Wayne Journal-Olympic theatre, Hamilton's and Ewing's Hall-"The Ghost at the Vault"-Wallace A. Brice and his history of Fort Wayne-Westinghouse and his airbrake-The Rink (Academy of Music)-J. J. Kamm, postmaster -Washington Haskell and his original bicycle. .. 480
CHAPTER XLI .- 1871-1874.
The First Horse-Drawn Street Cars-Equal Suffrage-Free Mail Delivery.
The first street car ride-Development of the original system-Organ- ization of the first society for the advocacy of woman suffrage- Free mail delivery-Charles A. Zollinger. mayor-The fair grounds at the present Swinney park-Race meets-The Fort Wayne Light Guards-The town well a costly "hole in the ground"-Bishop Dwenger-The Lauferty and Cheney banks-The Fort Wayne Daily News 490
CHAPTER XLII .- 1875-1878.
Railroad Strike-Rival Medical Schools-Lawlessness. Industrial controversies precipitate a general strike of railroad em- ployes-Mayor Zollinger reads the "riot act"-Officials in clash with strikers-Troops sent to quell the outbreak-Settlement of
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difficulty-Rival medical schools and their differences-The grand jury's report-Grave robberies arouse alarm and indignation- First graduates of medical schools-Superior court is established- The great meteor-James H. Smart, superintendent of schools- Olympic (Bijou) theatre .498
CHAPTER XLIII .- 1879-1884. Water Works-Telephone-Electric Lighting-Political Dis- turbances.
The proposition to use the "feeder" canal as a means of city water supply precipitates a warm fight - Moses Lane's plan -J. D. Cook's plan is adopted - The first pumping station-The first telephone system proves to be a financial failure-The Western Union venture-Absorbed by the "Bell company-Development of the "Bell" and "Home" systems-Building of the Nickel Plate railroad-The first electric lights-Beginning of the Fort Wayne Electric Works-The execution of Samuel McDonald-Crowds pre- vent James G. Blaine and William Mckinley from speaking-Rival torch-light processions-The Masonic Temple-Knights of Labor- The first typewriter-A world championship baseball game. .506
CHAPTER XLIV .- 1885-1890.
Natural Gas-The State School-South Wayne Tangle. When Fort Wayne was a "natural gas" town-Wanton waste- First company formed in 1885 fails to find gas within the city limits -Citizens invest heavily in Salamonie company, which lays nine- ty-eight miles of pipe to convey gas from Blackford county to Fort Wayne-Charles F. Muhler, mayor-Beginnings of the plant of S. F. Bowser & Company-James B. White, congressman-The Robertson episode in the legislature Founding of the Indiana School for Feeble Minded Youth-The South Wayne tangle-The first Labor day celebration-Daniel L. Harding, mayor-The first football game-The beginning of golf-Marvin Kuhns, desperado ... 516
CHAPTER XLV .- 1891-1894.
"Trolley" Cars-Strike of Street Railway Men-City Building- Public Library.
Electrically-driven street cars supersede the horse-drawn cars-De- velopment of the system-Slattery storage battery-Wayne Knitting Mills-The city building-Allen County Orphan Home- Strike of the street railway employes-Prominent deputy sher- iffs-The public library-The new city charter-Chauncey B. Oakley, Mayor-Dedication of soldiers' monument-The Woman's Club League-The Wayne Club .524
CHAPTER XLVI .- 1895-1899.
Centennial Celebration of the Building of Wayne's Fort-The Sixth Courthouse-The First Automobile.
Fort Wayne celebrates the one hundredth anniversary of the establish- ment of George Wayne's fort-The central committee-Perry A. Randall, general chairman-The parades and drills-The sham battle-Building of the sixth courthouse-Temporary quarters for county offices-The laying of the cornerstone-The first automo- bile-William D. Page, postmaster-Troops for the Spanish-Amer- ican war-Memorial to General Henry W. Lawton-The Citizens' Trust Company-The first rural mail delivery. .532
CHAPTER XLVII-1900-1908. Interurban Railroads-Commercial Advancement.
The building of five electric lines gives Fort Wayne a place of prom- inence as an interurban center of the middle west-Henry C.
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Berghoff mayor-Police court-Newton W. Gilbert congressman- William J. Hosey mayor-German-American National Bank-Lin- coln National Life Insurance Company-Clarence C. Gilhams con- gressman-Municipal Electric Lighting and Power Plant-Anthony Hotel-Loss of twelve lives in the burning of the Aveline Hotel- Scottish Rite Cathedral-Cyrus Cline congressman-Robert B. Hanna postmaster-Activities of nine years of progress. 539
CHAPTER XLVIII-1909-1915.
Civic Awakening-"Indiana's Second City"-Track Elevation- The Flood of 1913.
Legislature authorizes Fort Wayne to proceed with civic improve- ments-Revision of park laws-The work of Charles Zueblin, Charles Mulford Robinson, George E. Kessler, Metcalf and Eddy and others-Growth of the park system-City Forestry Depart- ment-Fort Wayne awarded second place among Indiana cities in point of population-Jesse Grice mayor-The Boy Scouts-Weath- er Bureau-Art Smith, aviator-Elevation of railway tracks-The disastrous flood of March, 1913-The Rotary Club-The Palace theatre-The new county farm-Lincoln Highway celebration- Commercial, religious and civic advancement. .546
CHAPTER XLIX-1916-1917.
Indiana's Centennial-Coliseum-Y. M. C. A .- Troops to the "Border."
Fort Wayne celebrates the one-hundredth anniversary of the admission of Indiana to statehood-The committees-The Industrial Exposi- tion-The parades-Wm. H. Taft guest of honor-Harmar's Ford "marker"-The great Historical Pageant, "The Glorious Gateway of the West"-Donald Robertson and Wallace Rice-The six great scenes of the pageant-The Centennial Hymn-The Fort Wayne flag-Two companies of troops sent to the Mexican border-The Anthony Wayne monument-The Municipal Coliseum-Young Men's Christian Association building-History of the organization -Fort Wayne Anti-Tuberculosis League-"Fort Recovery," tu- berculosis camp-Perry Randall fresh-air school-Erie-Michigan barge canal-Monument to Perry A. Randall-The "Johnnie Apple- seed" tablet-The Vocational Public Schools-Infantile paralysis epidemic-The Presidential election-Strike of street railway em- ployes-The Boy Scouts-Civic health parade-News-Rotary swimming pool-Nearly one hundred miles of paving-St. Joe river dam and park .. 555
CHAPTER L-1917.
Fort Wayne's Answer to the Call to War with Germany. Patriotic response to the President's call to service-Fort Wayne mili- tary district leads the nation in number of men who enlist for the war-The Lexington Day demonstration-Resolutions of loyalty- -Enlistments for the Regular Army-The departure of Battery D -Battery B, the second unit-Company E, First Infantry-Com- pany B, signal Corps-Recruits for the navy-The Navy League branch-The Motor Reserve Corps-The Officers' Reserve Corps -Council of Patriotic Service-Allen County Council of Defense- Splendid response to Red Cross Appeal-Central Red Cross supply depot-Fort Wayne Red Cross chapter-The Red Cross hospital unit-Selective conscription registration-The "Liberty" parade- -Registration of "Alien Enemies"-The "Liberty" bond sale- Y. M. C. A. fund over-subscribed-Catholic War Fund-The "War" gardens-The adoption of "Eastern" time-War activities-Con- clusion 571
The Story of the Townships of Allen County 587
Index 707
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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
CHAPTER I. The First White Man of the Maumee.
A LAKESIDE FANTASY.
W HEN, three centuries ago, the naked, painted savage, paddling his bark canoe with the flow of the St. Mary's turned his course into the counter-current of the St. Joseph, and there greeted his feather-bedecked brother ap- proaching from the northward, he displayed in triumph the fruits of the hunt and chal- lenged the other to show evi- dence of superior skill with the bow.
The challenge was never answered.
With simultaneous move- ment, each nimble-witted son of the forest grasped his weapon and turned in alarm to behold a sight new and terrify- ing. To the southward, round- ing a bend in the Maumee, scarce an arrow-shot distant, appeared a strange canoe. The Kiskakons1-for they were of that ancient clan-were not THE FIRST WHITE MAN. The illustration of the "coureur de bois," or wood-ranger, is after a draw- ing by Frederick Remington, which ap- pears in Vol. II of President Woodrow Wilson's "A History of the American People." It is reproduced by permission of the publishers, Harper & Brothers. The first white man to paddle his ca- noe along the south shore of Lake Erie and thence up the unexplored Maumee was doubtless of this reckless, advent- urous type. concerned in the movements of the two red men at the paddles of the mysterious craft. It was the third man whose appear- ance brought the quick heart- beat and threw over them a spell of silence. Slowly the canoe lessened the distance which separated it from the attentive Kiskakons. Suddenly the watchers were brought to a sense of danger; but the savages in the
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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
approaching canoe dispelled momentary fears by standing, with outstretched arms, while they proclaimed in resounding calls that the mission of the visitors was one of peace and friendship. The people of the Kiskakon village, startled by the commotion, ap- proached cautiously and marvelled at the sight of the stranger. He was clothed in garments of unknown material; he carried in his hand a thing of steel and wood-his substitute for bow and arrow-but, above all, he was of a strange and unknown race. His face seemed white in comparison with those of his inspectors, and his light brown hair and blue eyes proclaimed him to be a visitor from afar.
At last-after the lapse of untold centuries-The First White Man had arrived !
To the wild people of the forest he appeared as a messenger from the gods. He might have been; but he wasn't. He was, in truth, the advance spirit of destruction-the forerunner of the hordes of the whites who would one day, with magic power, tear the boundless wilderness from the grasp of the Red Man and scatter the remnants of his people to the obscure corners of the earth.
As he stepped ashore and bestowed upon the wondering savages his gifts of sparkling beads and bits of shining metals, The First White Man saw before him not the beautiful place of homes which we call Lakeside, but only the smoke rising from the fires of the village of the Kiskakons, hidden by the trees and the high banks of the river. He heard not the "honk-honk" of the whizzing auto- mobile or the "clang-clang" of the pay-as-you-enter trolley car, but only the intermingling of unknown tongues and the call of the wild fowl.
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