USA > Minnesota > Goodhue County > History of Goodhue County, Minnesota > Part 52
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1895-The Twenty-ninth Legislature assembled January 8,
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and adjourned April 3. Goodhue county representatives were O. J. Wing in the senate, J. H. Boxrud, JJ. K. Grondahl and J. S. Scofield in the house.
1897-The Thirtieth Legislature assembled Jannary 5, and adjourned April 21. Goodhue county representatives were O. J. Wing in the senate. C. L. Brusletten. J. K. Grondahl and E. A. Bigelow in the house.
1899-Thirty-first Legislature. By the apportionment of 1897, Goodhue county was constituted the Twenty-ninth district. The legislature assembled January 3, and adjourned April 18. Good- hme county representatives were William B. Diekey in the senate, C. L. Brusletten, S. B. Barteau and J. K. Grondahl in the house.
1901-The Thirty-second Legislature assembled January 8, and adjourned April 12. Goodhue county representatives were William B. Diekey, S. B. Barteau. Christian Von Wald and Albert G. Scherf in the house. An extra session was called for the pur- pose of considering the report of the tax commission, created by chapter 13, general laws A. D. 1901. The extra session convened February 4, 1902, and adjourned March 11, 1902.
1903-The Thirty-third Legislature assembled January 6. Goodhue county representatives were Ole K. Naeseth in the sen- ate, W. H. Putnam. C. Von Wald and A. J. Rockne in the house.
1905-The Thirty-fourth Legislature assembled January 3. Goodhue county representatives were Ole K. Naeseth in the sen- ate, W. H. Putnam, J. A. Gates and A. J. Roekne in the house.
1907-The Thirty-fifth Legislature assembled January 8. Goodhue county representatives were Ole K. Naeseth in the sen- ate, W. H. Putnam, J. A. Gates and A. J. Roekne in the house.
1909-The Thirty-sixth Legislature assembled in January. The Goodhue county representatives were Ole K. Naeseth in the senate. W. H. Putnam, J. A. Gates and A. J. Rockne in the house.
The principal county offices, up to 1891, were filled by the following :
Auditors-E. Norelius, in 1858. but did not qualify ; Jonathan Going appointed to fill vacancy, Hans Mattson, F. Joss, S. J. Willard, C. C. Webster, E. H. Druse, Carl N. Lien.
Sheriffs-P. S. Fish, H. C. Hoffman, M. S. Chandler, H. F. Armstrong, F. A. Carlson, A. F. Anderson.
Treasurers-M. Sorin, James Lawther, Thomas F. Towne, Charles Connely, Orrin Densmore, W. P. Brown, Ole Hegna. L. A. Hancock, D. B. Scofield, Hiram Howe.
Judges of Probate-W. D. Shillson, O. F. Smith. William Ladd, Leman Bates, Orrin Densmore, C. G. Reynolds, Robert Deakin, N. Q. Werner, O. D. Anderson.
Register of Deeds-J. W. Hancock. L. F. Hubbard. C. C.
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Webster. T. B. McCord, Charles MeClure, Charles Ward, C. H. Johnson, J. H. Webster.
Clerks of Court-P. Sandford. William Colvill, J. Going, William W. Clark. JJ. F. Pingrey, Robert Deakin, Hans Johnson, Albert Johnson.
County Attorneys-P. Sandford, J. F. Pingrey, J. II. Parker, W. Bristol. J. C. MeClure, C. N. Akers, F. M. Wilson, S. J. Nelson.
Superintendents of Schools-J. W. Hancock. HI. B. Wilson, J. F. Pingrey, A. E. Engstrom.
Since then the officers have been :
1893-Auditor. Carl N. Lien, Red Wing; treasurer, Hiram llowe: sheriff, A. Fred Anderson. Red Wing; register of deeds, John II. Webster. Red Wing; judge of probate, O. D. Anderson, Red Wing : attorney, S. J. Nelson, Red Wing; surveyor, Louis P. Wolff, Red Wing; coroner. Dr. Otis J. Brown, Red Wing; clerk of district court, Albert Johnson, Red Wing; court commissioner, S. J. Nelson. Red Wing; superintendent of schools, A. E. Eng- strom. Cannon Falls. County commissioners, J. F. Oliva (chair- man). Red Wing: first district, Adolph Grosse, Hay Creek ; sec- ond district. Andrew Larson, Vasa: third district. A. T. Kjos, Norway: fourth district. Henry Weiss, Zumbrota; fifth district, J. F. Oliva.
1895-Auditor, Carl N. Lien, Red Wing; treasurer, Hiram Howe. Red Wing : sheriff. P. J. Lundquist, Red Wing; register of deeds. John II. Webster; judge of probate, Axel Haller, Red Wing: county attorney. John C. MeClure, Red Wing : surveyor, William Danforth. Red Wing; coroner. Dr. F. W. Dimmitt, Red Wing; clerk of court. Charles H. Booth, Red Wing: court com- missioner, John McClure, Red Wing; county superintendent, A. E. Engstrom, Cannon Falls. County Commissioner, second district, Andrew Larson, Vasa: fourth district, N. A. Stageberg, Hader : first district. J. F. Oliva, Red Wing: third district, A. T. Kjos. Norway; fifth district. Adolph Grosse. Hay Creek.
1897-Auditor, Carl N. Lien. Red Wing; treasurer, Hiram Howe. Red Wing; register of deeds. John H. Webster. Red Wing; sheriff. P. J. Lundquist, Red Wing; attorney, Albert Johnson, Red Wing; judge of probate, Axel Haller, Red Wing; surveyor, William Danforth, Jr., Red Wing: coroner, John Seastrand, Red Wing: clerk of court, Charles HI. Booth, Red Wing; court com- missioner. J. C. MeClure. Red Wing: superintendent of schools, A. E. Engstrom. Cannon Falls; County commissioners, first dis- trict. J. F. Oliva, Red Wing; second district, Andrew Larson, Vasa ; third district, A. T. Kjos, Norway; fourth district, N. A. Stageberg, Hader : fifth district, Adolph Grosse, Hay Creek.
1899-Auditor. Carl N. Lien, Red Wing: treasurer, Hiram Howe. Red Wing; register of deeds. John H. Webster, Red Wing;
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attorney, Albert Johnson, Red Wing : judge of probate, Axel Ilal- ler. Red Wing ; surveyor. Wm. Danforth, Red Wing; coroner, Dr. J. E. Crewe. Zumbrota ; clerk of court, Chas. H. Booth, Red Wing; superintendent of schools. A. E. Engstrom, Cannon Falls; court commissioner, S. J. Nelson. Red Wing. County commissioners, first district. J. F. Oliva; second district, P. N. Allen, Cannon Falls : third district, A. T. Kjos, Norway; fourth district, N. A. Stageberg. Hader : fifth district. Adolphe Grosse. Hay Creek.
1901-Auditor, Carl N. Lien, Red Wing; treasurer, Hiram Howe. Red Wing: register of deeds, John H. Webster, Red Wing; sheriff, P. J. Lundquist. Red Wing: attorney. Albert Johnson, Red Wing; judge of probate. Axel Haller, Red Wing; surveyor, Wm. R. MeKinstry, Red Wing; clerk of court, Chas. H. Booth, Red Wing: court commissioner, Geo. M. Gnlbranson, Red Wing; superintendent of schools, Prof. Julius J. Boraas, Red Wing. County commissioners, first district, W. C. Krise, Red Wing; see- ond district. P. N. Allen; third district, A. T. Kjos, Norway ; fourth district, N. A. Stageberg. Hader; fifth district, A. II. Dieke. Red Wing.
1903-Anditor. Carl N. Lien. Red Wing; treasurer, Fred See- bach, Red Wing; register of deeds, John H. Webster, Red Wing: sheriff, P. J. Lundquist, Red Wing; attorney. Albert Johnson, Red Wing; judge of probate, Axel Haller, Red Wing; surveyor, Wm. R. Mckinstry, Red Wing: coroner. A. H. Allen, Red Wing: clerk of court. Chas. H. Booth, Red Wing: court commissioner, John F. Merrill. Red Wing; superintendent of schools, Prof. Julius J. Boraas. Red Wing. County commissioners, first dis- triet, W. C. Krise. Red Wing ; second district, P. N. Allen, Cannon Falls ; third district. A. T. Kjos, Norway; fourth district, N. A. Stageberg, Hader : fifth district, A. II. Dicke, Red Wing.
1905-Auditor, Carl N. Lien, Red Wing; treasurer, Fred See- bach, Red Wing; register of deeds, Gust E. Freeman, Red Wing; sheriff. P. J. Lundquist. Red Wing; attorney. Albert Johnson, Red Wing: judge of probate, Axel Haller. Red Wing; surveyor, R. W. Mckinstry, Red Wing; coroner, A. H. Allen, Red Wing; clerk of court. C. H. Booth. Red Wing: court commissioner, John Merrill, Red Wing; superintendent of schools, Prof. Julius J. Boraas, Red Wing. County commissioners, first district, L. C. Stromberg. Red Wing : second district, P. N. Allen, Cannon Falls ; third district. W. R. Callister, Skyberg: fourth district, N. A. Stageberg, Hader; fifth district, A. H. Dicke. Red Wing.
1907-Auditor, Carl N. Lien, Red Wing : treasurer, Fred See- bach, Red Wing; register of deeds, Gust E. Freeman, Red Wing; sheriff, P. J. Lundquist, Red Wing; attorney. Albert Johnson, Red Wing; judge of probate, Axel Haller. Red Wing; surveyor. W. J. Longeor. Red Wing; coroner, A. II. Allen. Red Wing;
.
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clerk of court, Chas. S. Dana, Red Wing; court commissioner, John F. Merrill, Red Wing; superintendent, Julius J. Boraas, Red Wing. County commissioners, first district, L. C. Stromberg, Red Wing; second district. P. N. Allen, Cannon Falls ; third dis- . triet, W. R. Callister, Skyberg; fourth district, P. P. Finstuen, Zumbrota ; fifth district. A. H. Dicke, Red Wing.
1909-Auditor, Charles H. Meyer, Red Wing; treasurer, Fred. Seebach. Red Wing; sheriff, P. J. Lundquist, Red Wing; attorney, Wm. M. Ericson, Red Wing; clerk of court. C. S. Dana, Red Wing; register of deeds, Gust. E. Freeman, Red Wing; coroner, Robert L. C. Geib, Red Wing: surveyor, Jorgen M. Simmons, Red Wing; judge of probate, Axel Haller, Red Wing; superin- tendent of schools. Julius Boraas. County commissioners, first district, Fred A. Scherf, Red Wing; second district, P. N. Allen, ('annon Falls ; third district. W. R. Callister, Skyberg; fourth dis- triet, P. P. Finstuen, Zumbrota : fifth district, A. H. Dieke, Red Wing: Henry Johnson. overseer of poor farm, Red Wing.
Goodhue county is included in the First judicial district and the district court is organized as follows: Judges, Hon. F. M. Crosby of Hastings ; Hon. Albert Johnson, Red Wing; clerk, Chas. S. Dana ; attorney, William M. Erieson ; sheriff, P. J. Lundquist ; court reporters, Loren M. Powers, Owen H. George.
The congressional district (the Third), including Goodhue county. is represented at Washington by Hon. C. R .. Davis, of St. Peter.
W. II. Welch was chief justice from 1853 to 1858. W. W. Phelps (Democrat) was a member of Congress from 1858 to 1859. O. M. Hall (Democrat) was in Congress from 1891 to 1895. Charles Me(lure was judge of the First judicial district court from 1864 to 1871. W. C. Williston was on the same bench from 1891 to 1909. Albert Johnson was appointed to the same position in 1909. II. B. Wilson was superintendent of publie instruction from 1870 to 1875. William Colvill was attorney general from 1866 to 1869. L. F. Hubbard was governor from 1882 to 1887. John Lind was governor from 1899 to 1901. Hans Mattson was secretary of state from 1870 to 1872. S. P. Jennison occupied the same office from 1872 to 1876. S. P. Jennison was private seere- tary to the governor from 1860 to 1861 and from 1867 to 1870; Tams Bixby was private secretary to the governor from 1890 to 1897. Charles MeClure and Aaron G. Hudson were delegates to the convention that framed the state constitution in 1857. A. J. Rockne was speaker of the house of representatives, session of 1909.
Goodhue county has a population of 32,268 according to the census of 1905 taken by the state. Of these, according to the report, 11.963 live in villages and 20,305 in the country. These
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figures, however, as will be seen, leave a discrepancy of several hundred. There are 9,391 males of voting age. The principal peeupations are enumerated as follows: Farmers, 3,337; skilled laborers, 1,269; common laborers, 3,935 ; lumbermen, 3; merchants and dealers, 501: railroad men, 117; liquor dealers, 80; clerks, agents and salesmen, 558; professional men, 196; teachers, 322; capitalists and retired, 174; unclassified, 198. The nativity of the people of the county is as follows: Native born, 3,303; Minne- sota born, 19,553; German, 1,757; Swedish, 3,013; Norwegian, 2,898; Canadian, 148; Irish, 168; Danish, 114; English, 89; Bo- hemian, 7; Polish, 8; Finn, 7: Russian, 12; Scotch, 21; French, 3; Welch, 1; other nationalities, 83. Total foreign born, 8,329. The nationality of the fathers of those now living in the county is as follows: United States, 10,002; German, 5,259; Swedish, 6.536; Norwegian. 7,300; Canadian, 297; Irish, 766; Danish, 217; English, 355: Bohemian, 28; Polish, 34; Finn, 13; Russian, 20; Austrian, 32; Scotch, 10; French, 8; Dutch (Holland), 11; Swiss, 152; Belgian. 27. The increase in the population of the county is told in the following table: 1860, 8,977; 1865, 14,860; 1870, 22,- 618; 1875, 28,500; 1880, 29,651; 1885, 31,113; 1890, 28,806; 1895, 32,268; 1900, 31,137 ; 1905, 31,628.
The officers of the towns and villages of Goodhne county at the present time are:
Belvidere-Anton Schaefer, chairman, Lake City; H. E. Bol- lum, clerk, Goodhue, R. 3; C. W. Senkpiehl, treasurer, Goodhne ; John Brunkhorst. assessor. Lake City.
Burnside-A. B. Swanson, chairman, Red Wing ; John Tyler, elerk, Red Wing; C. A. Sargent, treasurer, Red Wing; P. L. Heggstrom, assessor, Red Wing.
Belle Creek-M. J. Barry, chairman; John A. Cavanaugh. clerk, Goodhue: D. D. Ryan, treasurer, Goodhue; Charles I. Doyle, assessor, Goodhue.
Cherry Grove-John J. Quam, chairman, Kenyon : Ole Ore- dalen, clerk. Kenyon; K. J. Bergum, treasurer, Kenyon; A. L. Kolsum, assessor, Zumbrota.
Central Point-R. M. Merrill, chairman, Lake City; Charles Gould, clerk and assessor. Lake City; Edwin Wilson, treasurer, Lake City.
Cannon Falls-J. E. Johnson, chairman : Emil Blomberg, clerk, Cannon Falls; O. E. Haime, treasurer, Cannon Falls; L. A. Rapp, assessor, Cannon Falls.
Cannon Falls City-F. B. Seager, mayor; George Wilson. clerk ; Ed. Mattson, treasurer; W. N. Wilkerson, assessor.
Dennison Village-J. E. Norswing. president; W. R. Daven- port, recorder; W. W. Westcott, treasurer : Charles Hoberg. asses- sor.
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Featherstone-Grant Featherstone, chairman; C. T. Taylor, clerk; B. J. Featherstone, treasurer; O. H. Bang, assessor; ad- dress all Red Wing. .
Florence-Louis Carlson, chairman; Herman Scherf, elerk ; F. J. Sehloer, treasurer; E. T. Terwilliger, assessor ; address all Frontenac. Minn.
Goodhue-J. H. Nibbe, chairman. Goodhue; W. J. O'Reilly, clerk, Goodhne: M. J. Skramstad, treasurer, Red Wing. R. 9; Kurt Diercks, assessor, Goodhue.
Goodhue Village-H. M. Scovell, president; A. E. Adler. clerk ; L. N. Schineert, treasurer; John McHugh, assessor.
Holden-M. S. Jellum, chairman; L. H. Underdahl, clerk ; E. T. Odegaard, treasurer; K. E. Tasa, assessor. Address all Ner- strand, Minn.
Hay Creek-J. II. Giledorf, chairman ; Albert Helmeke, clerk ; Dedrich Deden, treasurer; Adolph Grosse, assessor. Address all Red Wing, Minn.
Kenyon-G. F. Solberg. chairman. Kenyon; John F. Grosse, clerk. Kenyon; N. Nyhagen, treasurer, Skyberg; E. R. Rosen. assessor, Skyberg.
Kenyon Village-J. C. E. Holmen, president ; F. A. Ohe, clerk ; B. J. Borlang. treasurer; O. A. Osdal, assessor.
Leon-F. I. Johnson, chairman; F. J. Vanberg. clerk; L. J. Johnson, treasurer: M. C. Jacobson. assessor. Address all Can- non Falls. Minn.
Pine Island-Ilenry Ahneman, chairman; Louis Starz, clerk ; Oliver Berg. assessor: John Ihrke. treasurer. Address all to Zumbrota. Minn.
Minneola-Oscar Steberg. chairman; Ed. HI. Starz, clerk; John Starz. treasurer: Oscar Loken, assessor. Address all Zum- brota, Minn.
Pine Island Village-D. C. Sheldon, president ; R. W. Holmes. clerk : Ang. Reiter. treasurer; L. Ferber. assessor.
Roscoe-E. M. Matchan, chairman; P. O. Finstuen, clerk : Henry G. Hoven, treasurer; S. R. Gresseth, assessor. Address all Zumbrota. Minn.
Stanton-F. J. Deline. chairman, Cannon Falls; A. W. Swin- ton, clerk. Stanton; E. A. Dibble, treasurer. Cannon Falls; Francis Goudy. assessor, Stanton.
Vasa-O. E. Samuelson, chairman, Red Wing; Arthur W. Peterson, clerk. Red Wing: Sam Pearson, treasurer. Red Wing: A. J. Velander, assessor, Cannon Falls.
Wacoota-John Olson, chairman; H. J. Alms, clerk; Fred Saupe. Jr .. treasurer : Nels Thornberg. assessor. Address all Red Wing. Minn.
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Wanamingo-John J. Ree, chairman, Zumbrota; Peter L. Paulsness, clerk, Kenyon; H. O. Naeseth, treasurer, Wanamingo; S. S. Homedahl, assessor, Cannon Falls.
Warsaw-Carl Veck, chairman; J. P. Stedman, clerk; T. L. Soine, treasurer; S. J. Svien, assessor. Address all Dennison, Minņ.
Weleh-J. M. King, chairman ; Frank Boothroyd, clerk; John Berg, treasurer ; John Munson, assessor. Address all Red Wing, Minn.
Zumbrota-M. C. Morgan, chairman, Goodhue; Charles A. Ward, clerk, Zumbrota; William Heydman, treasurer, Zumbrota; George W. Giles, assessor, Zumbrota.
Zumbrota Village-M. H. Baskfield, president; Albert Sever- son, clerk ; R. J. Staiger, assessor; A. E. Mosher, treasurer.
CHAPTER XXVII.
CALAMITIES.
Terrible Cyclone-Vasa the Greatest Sufferer-"Sea Wing" Dis- aster-List of Those Who Perished-The Survivors-Ter- rible Blow to the Whole County-"Galena" Burned at the Levee in Red Wing-Shooting of Chief Daily and Officer Peterson-Red Wing Fires in By-Gone Days.
Goodhne county has been singularly free from calamities. There have been some, however, which can never be forgotten. The most terrible of these was the "'Sea Wing" disaster, which, while more particularly affecting Red Wing, was profoundly felt throughout the length and breadth of the whole county. The "Galena" bore no local people, but its burning was one of the important events of the early days. The cyclone at Vasa also eaused sorrow throughout the entire neighborhood, and the shoot- ing of Chief Daily and Officer Peterson struck horror to the hearts of the farmers as well as to the residents of the city. Red Wing fires have also had their influence on county life, as business for many miles is largely affected by any disaster which strikes a blow at the industrial activity of the county seat.
CYCLONE AT VASA.
A terrible cyelone visited this locality July 2, 1879. and spread death and desolation in its path. In Burnside several buildings were demolished. in Belle Creek buildings suffered greatly, and in Wanamingo three lives were lost. Vasa was the center of the storm. The following account of the disastrous events ap- peared in the Red Wing Republican :
About 12 o'clock. between July 2 and 3. 1879, a furious hur- ricane commenced its destructive course near the center of the south line of section 16. in Vasa, going in a northeasterly direc- tion, and hitting Featherstone near its northwest corner, beating down almost everything in its track. varying from 40 to 80 rods wide. and marking its course with terrible destruction of life and property. Commencing by tearing down trees in the school sec- tion. it crossed the Red Wing and Cannon Falls road at the house
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of Charles Roos, where it tipped over a granary. Gathering force and volume it next struck the house of M. Turnquist, cleaning the place entirely. This performance it duplicated at the house of Mr. Lindstedt. A young son of Mr. Lindstedt was killed and the rest of the family, four in number, injured severely. Then an unfinished building belonging to P. Jonson was strewn around and the house of N. Anderson was cast into a wheat field, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson being slightly injured. The Orphans' Home was scattered in all directions with frightful results. Three children was found dead. one died later, and fifteen were severely in- jured. Mr. and Mrs. Stranberg and Mr. Wigman were injured. The residence of Mr. and Mrs. Holm was carried past the Or- phans' HIome, and Mr. and Mrs. Holm killed, a son of the family found near by. dying later. The hurricane just passed the Luth- eran church but lifted the roof off the parsonage. The next victims were E. Swenson and a four-year-old danghter, who were killed during the destruction of their house. Mr. Swenson died the next morning, Mrs. Swenson was badly injured. and the daughter escaped injury. Frank Hallberg lost a child eight months old and all his property. Thence in due course Ola Anderson, August Peterson. Peter Larson, Mr. Gulbranson and Peter Johnson lost their houses, barns and other property. Other buildings and property were also destroyed."
BURNING OF THE "GALENA."
The burning of the "Galena," a large Mississippi river steam- er, July 3. 1858, was a red-letter event in the early days of the city of Red Wing. The fire broke out a little past midnight, just before the boat reached the landing. and the glare of the burning boat furnished light enough for a large part of the pas- sengers and crew to seek safety in the water, and eventually to reach the land, drenched and suffering from the nervous shock, but otherwise unharmed. A passenger describes the disaster as follows: "The boat's freight had all been discharged at the foot of Lake Pepin. An attempt was made to gain time by increasing the speed. Before I retired the chimneys appeared like volcanoes emitting showers of sparks, and the upper deck and mid air presented a scene worthy of a pyrotechnic of the first water. But this, you know, is not uncommon. No danger was anticipated from this sonree, and it is not known, and prob- ably never will be, whether the disaster originated from that source. My impression is that the fire was communicated from the lower portion of the chimney to the surrounding woodwork. Abont 1 o'clock, to give my own experience, some one caught my foot and shouted, 'The boat is on fire.' My state room door was
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left partly open for ventilation. Fortunately I had not doffed my trousers and vest. Leaping from the upper berth, I told my wife, who was also aroused, to be ealm, undoubtedly with some tremor in my voice. I seized my boots, put them on, also my coat, and looked out. The alarm had not yet become general, and I hoped that the fire might not prove disastrous. The first look I gave to the bow of the boat was sufficient. The red flame, made lurid by the accompanying smoke, pierced through the cabin like a devouring tongue of an insatiate demon at the very instant. One look ! You may have read descriptions of burning ships : you may have become in imagination, a participant in the sublime horror of the scene, which human pen can never portray ; but to stand as I stood there, a living present witness, and a part of the scene itself. is fearfully and wonderfully different. One look, as I said. at that mad, wonderfully, hellish looking fiend tongue, lapping with hot greed, the ceiling, doors, eurtains, glass, and stabbing through into the opposite apartments, produeed a strange reaction in my soul. aweing me. as it were, into coolness and deliberation. It was but for an instant. Hurrying up and down the long saloon were crazed women, and men almost frantie. 'Where shall I go? Save me! Save me!' 'Oh, my ehild, my child!' 'Fire! Fire!' 'We're all lost!' 'This way. I will save you all!' mingled in one confused uproar, with piercing shrieks and lacerating cries high over all. If I spoke then, I cannot now recall more words than these: 'Quick. Mary, give me my boy,' and those little boy hands are still clinging around my neck and the quick beat of that baby heart still meets the louder pulses of my own, as I live again in memory that thrilling night. Just at this moment, when a master was so much needed. no one knowing just what to do, Captain Laughton, of heroie memory. appeared like an apparition in the midst of us and said firmly, 'This way and you will all be saved. Steady. this way.' The tide turned in one direction at the master's command, and with a few exceptions, followed without crowding, through the side entrance next the shore, which was somewhat obstructed by trunks, which eager men were anxious to get ashore, or off the boat at least, and to our joy we found the boat's bow near the shore and a plank launched. A group of ladies were in advance of me, and 1 set up a six-foot Hoosier barrier against the crowd behind, holding back with all my ability. In the confusion I missed my wife, but thought her in advance, and was satisfied. so walked the plank teetering with its excited burden, and struck foot on shore with my boy in my arms. A moment more and Mary was at my side, and all our friends were saved. We turned to look at the scene before us. Already had the flames reached to the extreme ends of the long ship extending high above the pilot house, still
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HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY
occupied by the brave man at the wheel, holding his charge hard on the shore, and the whole heavens seemed lighted by the conflagra- tion. Still amid the flames could be seen a flitting form and heard a wild shriek of agony; and now a boy leaps from the cabin deck and swims with vigorous stroke down the stream until the yawl reaches him. The cry of 'powder on board' startles with a new fear, and the crowd recedes far up the bluff and down the shore. Down falls the deek, up shoot the flames, renewed with strength, vaulting high above the tall black chimneys; crash came the huge black monsters themselves over the deck. The river seethes and hisses, as if wounded and mad with pain; the high wheel-house blazes and tumbles into the water, the cylinder head ex- plodes and the liberated steam outrushes. The boilers fall, the flames begin to droop, the hull is burning low; the water's edge is reached, in flows the adverse element ; the boat fills and sinks, and with one loud hiss the flames expire and all is silent and dark. Among the nore notable incidents of the scene is the pilot stand- ing bravely, coolly, at the wheel, enveloped by the flame until the boat was safe aground. He made his escape over the decks and down the rigging. Captain Laughton was twice knocked down by trunks thrown from the deeks in his passage up and down to save the passengers. He had several children on board, all of whom were saved. A poor Norwegian woman, who had a cow tied on the lower deck, in attempting to liberate the poor dumb animal, lost her own child. There were several oxen and cows on board. Most of them, after being badly burned, broke overboard and swam ashore. The greatest distress and sympathy was felt for a poor girl of fourteen years, whose mother, with two younger sisters and a brother, were all lost. They were a plain, honest, earnest looking family on their way from Michigan to meet the husband and father at Mankato, Minn. This poor girl went alone to convey the sad intelligence to her father. Perhaps no one saved suffered more than William Bradley, of Keokuk, Ia. He was too late for the gang-way, and after spending his best exer- tions to save some children who clung to his limbs, and some women who persistently refused to jump into the water, although small boats were waiting as near as the flames would permit, he let himself down from the guard, and fell exhausted into a skiff then half full of water. He reached the shore and was saved, but that was all. The boy who leaped from the wreck and swam so finely said he never swam before in his life, but preferred drowning to burning and so sprang overboard. Instinct taught him how to swim. A bridegroom and bride, young and joyful, from Orin, N. Y., got ashore, he dressed in the unique costume of a hat and shirt and she ditto minus a hat. Scarcely any bag-
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