USA > Wisconsin > Iowa County > History of Iowa County, Wisconsin > Part 72
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Fever River .- David Southwick, 9; Fortunatus Berry, 10; J. W. Blackstone, 10; Bev- erly Blackstone, 4; John Cairns, 1 ; Roland Eweberry, 7 ; Rawly McMillan, 6 ; John Rob- erts, 6 : John White, 2; Benjamin Funk, 9; Francis Cliney, 10; Humphrey Taylor, 9; Alexander Moore, 9; Judah Hall, 6 ; Joseph Camp, 6 ; Thomas Beano, 5; John Slaughter, 7 ; William Fearman, 6; Anthony Millen, 3; James Woods, 5; John Woods, 5; Susanna Hlelm. 5; Green Watson, 4: Robert Anderson. 6; George Helms, 6; Jonathan Helins. 4 ; Isaac Robertson, 7 ; James George, 7 ; John Eneas, 2; Peter Tranquille, 6; Charles Gre- goire, 11; Ezra Lamb, 8; Frederic Iunnel, 9; George Carroll, 14 : Alexander Simpson, 5 ; Peter Corish, 11 ; John B. Shultze, 5; Aaron V. Hastings, 12; John M. W. Lace, 3; Zeria Beebe, 10; Frederick Rodolph, 3; Thomas Shelton, 7; Sarah Hale, 5; Isaac Wall, 6; Russel Baldwin, 10; John Ray, 9; James Tolley. 7; Jameson Hamilton, 13; R. H. Scott, 8; Samuel George, 9; John Dougherty, 7; William Oliver, 1; Ezra Heldreth, 5; John Conroy, 7.
Blue Mounds .- Matthew G. Fitch, 6; Thomas Webster, 2; John Hook, 2; John J. Van Metre, 8; Peter Parkinson, Jr., 3; Peter Parkinson, Sr., 6; William Parkinson, 7 ; John E. Berneger, 1; Elizabeth Stevenson, 5; Jonas Shook, 7; Elias Shook, 7; Robert Campbell, 7 ; Leonard Ross, 5 ; George Skellenger, 12: William Burrette, 9: John Trotter,
475
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
7; Adam Collins, 9; S. L. Taft, 6 ; Jesse Miller, 8 ; John Campbell, 5; Crawford Million, 3; Robert Threadgold, 3; Robert Oliver, 4; Jacob Caegle, 7; William Dobbs, 8; Thomas Davies, 11; John Helms, 11.
Lost Township .- Alexander Higginbotham, 7; William King, 6; James McMurtry, 7; Bethel Williams, 5; James MeKnight, 5; Joseph MeKnight, 6; Miles MeKnight, 7; Anthony MeKnight, 4 ; Henry Johnson, 4; John Armstrong, 8; John W. Osborn, 7; Henry Compos, 5; John Lane, 2; Benjamin Million, 7 ; James Riggs, 5.
TERRITORIAL ROADS.
By act approved December 9, 1836, Draper Ruggles, Joseph Payne, Noah Davis, Joseph Kelly and Andrew Kline were authorized as Commissioners to lay out a Territorial road com- meneing at James' Ferry, in Rock County ; from there to Rockford, passing through Center- ville, New Mexico, White Oak Springs, in La Fayette County, and thence to the Mississippi. The road was simply marked by blazing trees. The road was to be platted and a plat filed in the office of the Clerk of each county.
The first Territorial road of 1837 was laid out under an act approved December 30, 1837. John Moore, John Van Matre, Andrew Kline, Thomas Chilton and Robert C. Hoard, were appointed Commissioners to lay out a road commencing at the north boundary line of the State of Illinois, in Town 1, of Range east, and running thence on the nearest route to New Mexico, in Green County, and by way of Wiota, in La Fayette County, Mineral Point, in Iowa County, and Belmont, to the Mississippi. They were to begin the work on the first Monday in May, 1836, at Mineral Point, and complete it as soon as possible. This road was to be kept in order by the counties through which it passed.
By an act of January 3, 1838, Territorial roads were to be laid out under a general law.
By act of January 11, 1838, John Dowling and James Sproule were authorized to build a toll bridge over the West Pecatonica, at a point near their furnace, providing that said parties made good macadamized roads over the flats at that place.
Under a Legislative enactment, approved June 23, 1838, William Baldwin, Dennis C. Neal and James Kendall were appointed to lay out a Territorial road between Mineral Point and White Oak Springs, now in La Fayette County, where it united with the old Territorial road laid out in 1836. The road ran by the way of Kendall's Mills and New Diggings. Work was to be begun on the second Monday of August, 1838.
On June 23, 1838, Lewis Curtis, W. J. Martin and G. W. Hickox were appointed Com- missioners to locate two roads ; one from Mineral Point, through Elk Grove to Galena. and another, from Mineral Point easterly, to intersect the military road near Blue Mounds, running from Prairie du Chien to Green Bay.
By the same act, R. C. Hoard, John Messersmith, Sr., and H. L. Dodge were appointed Commissioners to establish a road from Mineral Point, through Dodgeville, to Helena, on the Wisconsin River.
Charles F. Legate, Henry M. Billings and C. Moore were appointed to lay out a road from Mineral Point, through Diamond Grove, to the Wisconsin River.
George H. Williston. Il. F. James and James Briggs were appointed to lay out a road from Janesville to Mineral Point.
FIRST COUNTY SCHOOLS.
Education is the invisible monitor that controls our existence, and teaches us to diserimi- nate between moral obligations and the insidious advances of evil. Without knowledge, man would be a helpless barbarian, deprived of all æsthetie sense, to appreciate the beautiful that ineets the range of our vision, and equally powerless to encompass the dominating beauties of creation. The groveling savage, content with the fleeting pleasures of a day, and reckless of what the morrow will bring forth, is but a type of besotted ignorance. Environed, as we are, with educational facilities ; with schoolhouses multiplying in geometrical proportion, the senses fail to grasp the incalculable advantages gained in the possession of even rudimentary instruction.
470
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
That knowledge alone. circumscribed as it may be, is sufficient to teach us how to approxi- mate the value of earthly and ethereal entities. Wisconsin is predominant in the character of her scholastic institutions, and annually their importance is augmented by the perfection of details governing the discipline and management of rural schools, supervised by the County Superintendent of Education.
According to an act adopted by the Legislature at an extra legislative session convened in August, 1839, the county was divided into sixteen school districts, in conformity with the pro- visions of the enactment. At a subsequent meeting of the Board of Supervisors, the number wa- inercased to twenty-one. The limits of the various school districts, and the first inspectors elected, appear below.
School District No. 1 .- To comprise Town No. 1, and sonth half of Town 2. Range 2 cast. Inspectors-James Howe, James Murphy, Abraham Looney, R. H. Champion and Charles Gear.
District No. 2 .- The north half of Town 2, and the south half of Town 3, Range 1 east. Inspectors-Charles Dunn, John Messersmith, Sr .. D. J. Seeley, Alexander Willard and Justus DeSeelhorst.
District No. 3 .- North half of Town 3, and Towns 4 and 5, of Range 1 cast. Inspectors -John Moore, F. C. Kirkpatrick, James Wiswell. John Newman and C. DeLong.
District No. 4 .- Towns 6. 7 and 8. of Range 1 east. Inspectors-Thomas D. Potts. D. E. Parrish, Moses Darnell, Moses Meeker and Lemuel Gillam.
District No. 5 .- Towns 1 and 2. north of Range 2 east. Inspectors-John W. Black- stone. Samuel II. Scales, Henry Smith, Fortunatus Berry and Charles Gratiot.
District No. 6 .- Towns 3 and 4, of Range 2 east. Inspectors-Francis Vivian. R. W. Carson. Benjamin Denson, Abner Westrope and Joseph Hatch.
District No. 7 .- Towns 5. 6, 7 and S, of Range 2 east. Inspectors-John B. Terry. Stephen B. Thrasher, Paschal Bequette, Charles F. Legate and Alex Blair.
Distriet No. 8 .- Towns 1 and 2, of Range 3 east. Inspectors-R. II. MeGoon, Benjamin Funk, Francis Clyma, Alexander Moore and Peter Corrish.
District No. 9 .- Town 3. Range 3 east. Inspectors-John Ray. Elihu Hall, Joseph Bailey, Elias Pilling and John P. Sheldon.
District No. 10 .- Town 4 of Range 3 east. Inspectors-Charles Bracken, John Loof- borrow, Robert W. Gray, James Hitehkins and John Smith.
District No. 11 .- Town 5. of Range 3 east. Inspectors-Levi Sterling. Curtis Beech, Stephen Taylor, George Beatty and Henry B. Welsh.
District No. 12 .- Towns 6. 7 and 8, Range 3 cast. Inspectors-Henry L. Dodge. John Jenkins, John Lindsey, Robert S. Black and Thomas Jenkins.
District No. 13 .- Towns 1 and 2, of Range + east. On the petition of A. Carrington and others, this district was set off April 9, 1840, as follows, and named the Big Springs Dis- triet : Sections 25, 26, 35 and 36, in Town 3, Range + cast, and Sections 2. 3. 4. 5. 7. 8, 9. 10, 11, 14, 15. 16, 17. 18. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33. 34 and 35, in Town 2, Range 4 east. Inspectors-Ezra Lamb, George Carroll, Col. Shultz. Anthony Mil- ler and Russel Baldwin.
District No. 14 .- Towns 3 and 4. Range 4 east. Inspectors-Jesse Miller, William Park- inson. John Van Metre, William Burrett and M. G. Fitch.
District No. 15 .- Towns 5, 6, 7 and 8. of Range 4 cast. Inspectors-George W. Hiekox, James Morrison, John B. Skinner, John Metcalf and William Garrison.
District No. 16 .- Towns 1 and 2, Range 5 east. Inspcetors-James McKnight. James McMurtry, Benjamin Million. Thomas Chelton and Henry Johnson.
District No. 17, or Willow Springs District .- Comprising Sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, of Town 4, Range 3 east.
Otterbein School District, No. 18 .- Town 2, Range 3 cast, south half of Town 3, Range 3 cast. and Section 6, in Town 2. Range 4 cast.
477
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
Wiota District, No. 19 .- Sections 1, 12, 13, 24. 25 and 36, in Town 2, Range + east, and Sections 4, 5. 6. 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 30, in Town 2. Range 5 east.
Platte District. No. 20 .- Town 5, Range 1 east, north half of Town 4, and Sections 19, 20. 21, 22, 23 and 24. in Town 4, Range 1 east.
Apple River District, No. 21 .- Town 1, Range 3 east.
The first organized movement to foster education is noted in 1841. A tax of $2,967.50 was levied by the County Board of Supervisors, for the support of schools and erection of schoolhouses. This year the first school return furnished proof of the existence of seventeen school districts, comprising 763 children of school age. Divided into districts the school popu- lation was as follows: District No. 1, 100 scholars: No. 2, 40; No. 3, 76; No. 17. 41; No. 7. 53; Apple River, 14; Union District No. 9, 77; No. 11, 143; No. 12, 42; No. 13. 42; No. 14, 51; No. 16, 32; No. 17. out of 13 and 16, 62.
The apportionment of the school fund was at the rate of $2.25 for each scholar reported in attendance.
COUNTY SCHOOL WORK SINCE 1843.
The County Board of School Commissioners was organized April 23, 1844, when the first meeting was held. Only two Commissioners, James I. Bawden and William Baldwin were present. The subject of re-organizing the existing school districts, and establishing them on a recognized basis of operation occupied the meeting. The question of collecting rents on min- eral mined in school lands. and issuing licenses to miners was determined, and a notice was issued requesting the Trustees of the several organized school districts to meet the Commission- ers at Mineral Point in May, 1844. All persons interested, where the country was not dis- tricted into school sections, were asked to be present at the same time and place, furnished with a plat of their district as organized, or a plat of any district that was to be set off into a sepa- rate district. Also to recommend to the Commissioners such persons as would be reliable to collect rents on mineral, where mineral was raised in any such section. and to guard against trespass. Teachers who had not submitted to an examination and received certificates, were also notified to attend.
Districts that had not chosen Trustees were ordered to hold an election on Monday, May 13, 1844, and elect one Clerk. three Trustees and one Collector. All free white male inhabit- ants, over twenty years of age, were qualified to vote.
This notice was published in the Miners' Free Press, and fifty extra copies were struck off for circulation.
At the ensuing meeting, twenty school districts were organized. Teachers' certificates were granted to Edward Sullivan and Croyten Sargent. A number of petitions for leasing school lands were received, and, pending the issuance of leases, mining permits were granted to Israel Woodward & Co., Andrew Roberts, Broke & Simpson, David & J. F. Roberts, James L. Clark, G. F. Rock, John Ryan and A. A. Townsend & Co. At another meeting, all School Trustees were appointed legal agents to collect this rental, and they were ordered to report to the Com- missioners. at their next session, the disposition made of all mineral in their district ; that they take charge of the 16th Range nearest them, and to report trespassers and the amount of dam- age committed, and to report any person then settled on the 16th Seetion, " as it is impossible for the Commissioners to personally superintend all the forty 16th Sections in the county."
In September of the same year. the following school districts were laid off: Coon Branch District No. 4: Benton District No. 3; New Diggings Precinct No. 1 ; Mill Seat Bend Dis- triet No. 2; White Oak Springs, Corrish District, Barreltown, Upper Diggings, Union. Hunt- er's, Whiteside Branch, Fever River, District No. 1. Town 18, and Prairie District.
The receipts from lead rents in 1844 amounted to $383.65, which was distributed amongst the several school districts at the rate of 18 cents per scholar. After allowing for 1,921 scholars, the balance, $37.40, was passed to the credit of school accounts for 1845. On petition, Blue River District, in Town 6, Range 1 east. was attached to Towns 6 and 7, Range 1 west, in Grant County, for school purposes.
478
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
During the past year, three new schoolhouses were built, and two of them furnished with the latest style of patent seats. There are, however, several schoolhouses in the county totally unsuited for school purposes. Some of these are in wealthy districts, that, according to the County School Superintendent's report, ean present no excuse for not building new schools, ex- cept a mistaken idea of economy. On the whole, the buildings and surroundings will compare favorably with any in the State. Those in the western and northern parts of the county were highly eulogized, on their neat and comfortable appearance, by the State Superintendent in his address before the Institute of Dodgeville, in August, 1879. One hundred and seventy-eight applicants attended the annual spring and fall examinations.
The compulsory system has been a dead letter, so far as this county is concerned, not a sin- gle instance of enforced attendance having occurred. This is not due to the fact that the par- ents not all law abiding in this respect, but it must be attributed entirely to the indifference or lack of inclination to enforce it on the part of school officers.
The Institute at Dodgeville was, in many respects, the most successful ever held in the county. The work was principally primary, and was just what a large majority of the county teachers needed. The attendance was 125, with an average attendance of 102. Nearly all the districts have adopted series of text books, and present appearances indicate that their in- troduction will soon become general. From observation and comparison, it is believed that the schools are in a fairly progressive state, and will compare favorably with those of surrounding counties. Much remains to be done by teachers, school officers and friends of the public school system, to elevate the schools to the highest standard to which they can attain.
The county is now divided into 102 school districts, all of which have conformed to the State laws by furnishing an annual report. From these reports, it is found that the number of chil- dren of school age in Iowa County aggregates 8,211, of whom 4,205 are boys, and the remainder (4,006) are girls. Of 1,718 children in the district, between the ages of 4 and 7 years, 1,197 attended school. Between the ages of 7 and 15, there were 3,886 pupils, of whom 3,449 were reported in attendance at school. The number of teachers engaged to marshal the foregoing, aggregates 201, inclusive of males and females. Situated in the different districts of the county are 135 schoolhouses, with the most commodious located in the village of Dodgeville, with a reputed capacity of 1,450 pupils ; Clyde claims the smallest, with accommodations for 200 schol- ars. The value of school property is estimated at $44,580, with apparatus valued at $1,902. The average salary disbursed to male teachers monthly, is $29.83; to females, $21.36. There is a high school at Avoca, operating under a curriculum, having one male Principal, and two female teachers. This school was established in 1876, and, during the past, averaged an attend- ance of 39 pupils.
A teachers' institute was held at Dodgeville August 28, 1880, under the conductorship of D. McGregor and Abbie White. The session was continued for nine days, during which time 125 teachers attended.
The amount of school dues and State school fund received during the year amounted to $34,546.25, apportioned as follows : Arena, $2,974.49 ; Clyde, $952.64 ; Dodgeville. $7,694.16; Eden, $1,636.28 : Highland, $3,056.41; Linden, $2,660.01; Mifflin, $2,616.41; Mineral Point, 82,877.69 ; Moscow, $1,671.85 ; Pulaski, $3,071.10 ; Ridgeway, $12,989.74 : Waldwick, $1,255.96 ; Wyoming, $1,489.51. The amount received from the State school fund was $3,803.20.
CHAPTER 1II.
THE BLACK HAWK WAR-DODGE'S LETTER AND THE MINERAL POINT MESSENGER-FIRST MILI- TARY MOVEMENT AND FORTS-DISTRIBUTING SUPPLIES-ACCOUNT OF ARMS DISTRIBUTED AT MINERAL POINT-OCCURRENCES AT MOUND FORT-FORT JACKSON ALARMED-BATTLE OF TIIE PECATONICA-BATTLE OF WISCONSIN HIEIGIITS AND BAD AXE-GRIGNON'S RECOLLECTIONS.
BLACK HAWK WAR.
Dissatisfied with the embodiments of the Rock River treaty of 1831, Black Hawk, and the Indian tribes paying him allegiance as their chief, proceeded, in the spring of 1832, to assert their misconceived right to the disputed land at the mouth of the Rock River. In April, 1832, he crossed the Mississippi with his braves, squaws, tepees, and the general litter of an aboriginal encampment, intending to ascend the Rock River and unite his forces with the allied strength of the Winnebago and Pottawatomie tribes. Gen. Atkinson, with a body of United States troops, had ascended the Mississippi in steamboats, and, learning of Black Hawk's infrac- tion of the treaty, dispatched several express messengers to the renowned chief, ordering him, peremptorily, to return within the prescribed reserve. Black Hawk replied with a resolution expressing his adamantine determination to pursue his course in peace, if not molested. The infor- mation of the Indian transmigration struck terror into the heart of the mineral regions and par- alyzed trade ; the pick and gad were forsaken for the more deadly musket and bayonet, and, throughout this widespread district, the news was conveyed with remarkable speed, by special couriers or express messengers, as they were designated.
The warlike rumors reached Mineral Point in the first week of May, 1832, accompanied by the intelligence that Black Hawk had crossed the Mississippi and taken possession of his ancient village at Rock Island ; also that Gen. Atkinson was ascending the river from St. Louis with troops. It was likewise reported that Gov. Reynolds was to join him at Dixon's Ferry. on Rock River, with the Illinois militia, for the purpose of protecting the country and compelling Black Hawk to evacuate the Territory. In this predicament, fears were justly entertained by the miners, that, in the event of defeat, the scene of war would be transferred to their own vicinity.
DODGE'S LETTER AND THE MINERAL POINT MESSENGER.
In anticipation of such an untoward circumstance, Col. Henry Dodge addressed the fol- lowing letter to Gov. Reynolds, requesting a resume of his plans of operations.
MINERAL POINT, May 8, 1832.
HIS EXCELLENCY, JOHN REYNOLDS :
Dear Sir-The exposed situation of the settlements of the mining district, to the attacks of the Indian enemy, makes it a matter of deep and vital interest to us that we should be apprised of the movements of the mounted men under your Excelleney's immediate command. Black Hawk and his band, it is stated by the latest advices we have had on this subject, was to locate himself above Dixon's Ferry, on Rock River. Should the mounted men under your command make an attack on that parly, we would be in great danger here ; for, should you defent Black Hawk, the retreat would be on our settlements. There are now collected, within twenty miles above our settlements, about two hundred Winnebagoes, and, should the Sauks be forced into the Winnebago country, many of the wavering of that nation would unite with the hostile Sauks. I have no doubt it is part of the policy of this banditti to unite them- selves as well with the Pottawatomies and Winnebagoes. It is absolutely important to the safety of this country, that the people here should be apprised of the intended movements of your armny. Could you detach a part of your command across the Rock River, you would afford our settlement immediate protection, and we would promptly unite with you with such a mounted force as we could bring into the field. Judge Gentry, Col. Moore and James P. Cox, Esq., will wait on your Excellency, and receive your answer.
I am, sir, with respect and esteem, your obedient servant,
HENRY DODGE,
Commanding Michigan Militia
480
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
Soon after. Daniel M. Parkinson was dispatched from Mineral Point as a messenger to John Dixon, of Dixon, Ill., who was a particular friend of the Sacs and Foxes, and to Henry Gratiot, the Winnebago Indian Agent, to ascertain the true state of affairs. Mr. Parkinson was gone three days : the result of the mission being to confirm the above reports. This created no little aların among the inhabitants, and caused them to at once begin to prepare for defense.
FIRST MILITARY MOVEMENT AND FORTS.
After the battle of Stillinan's Run. Gov. Reynolds vouchsafed to dispatch an express messen- ger with a reply to Col. Dodge, informing him of the facts of Stillman's stampede, and that Iowa County was in imminent danger from attacks of the Indians.
In the meantime, Col. Dodge, despairing of an immediate reply, collected together a few trusty and stout settlers and miners from the vicinities of Mineral Point and Dodgeville, among whom was the Colonel's second son, Augustus C. Dodge, now of Burlington, Iowa. This organized corps of volunteers departed from Mineral Point about the Eth day of May, for a reconnoitering expedition to the supposed location of Black Hawk's warriors. They proceeded by way of Apple River to Buffalo Grove, at which place an Indian trail was discovered, leading to Rock River, at a point nearly opposite the Kishwakuee, and within a few miles of the ground on which Maj. Stillman and his entire command were so disastrously routed. On receiving the Governor's communication, Col. Dodge instantly returned home, alarmed the inhabitants of the mining country, and advised them to fortify and unite for mutual protection and defense. Unanimous in aim, and animated by the vital impulse of self-preservation, the respective settle- ments organized and erected forts and stockades, whereby the insinuating redskin could be repelled with the minimum of danger to those protected by the stout oaken timbers. Fifteen block-houses were built. They were named and located at the following exposed points : Fort Jackson, at Mineral Point: Fort Union, at Dodge's private residence, south of Dodgeville ; Fort Napoleon, at Diamond Grove, in the town of Linden : Fort Jones, in the Blue River Dis- triet (town of Highland), and a block-house at ITelena, in Iowa County; Fort Hamilton. (in town of Wiota); Fort Defiance, in the town of Willow Springs ; Fort Gratiot. at Gratiot's Grove ; fort at Shullsburg ; Fort de Seelhorst, in Elk Grove and White Oak Springs ; fort in La Fayette County : Parish's Fort, at Wingville ; fort at Cassville, and fort at Platteville, in Grant County : Mound Fort, near the Little Blue Mound, in Dane County.
Fort Jackson was situated on the land now occupied by a livery stable, on Commerce street, in the vicinity of the Mineral Point depot, and faced in an easterly direction. The east front extended from the south corner of James James' harness shop to what was then Jerusalem street, since changed to Fountain street. From that point, the outer walls extended sufficiently far north and west to form a perfect square. Since 1832, seven or eight feet of land have been excavated from the side of the hill, completely changing the conformation of the surface and destroying all relics of the old stockades. Work was commenced by digging a deep trench, or ditch, around the outlined area ; then the men were dispatched into the surrounding woods to cut down and prepare appropriate timber for the outer defenses. Logs were taken from contig- nous cabins, and, being sharpened ou one end, were planted in the ditch ; the soil was then filled in, firmly imbedding the posts three feet deep. Inside the walls, slabs or puncheons were spiked over spots wherever an opening or aperture presented itself. In the southeast angle, was a block- house and sentry box. projecting above the tops of the palisades, and a similar structure occupied the northwest corner. Two openings furnished means of exit and entrance : one, a gateway in the southeast corner. was composed of massive timbers ; a smaller entrance smilarly constructed was located in the northwest angle. Centrally situated, were several cabins to shelter the garrison and their families. Col. Moore was the commandant. Indolence was not an attribute of those early times, and the long summer days swiftly glided by in the manufacture of bullets to supply the volunteers then afield. The process was simple. A hearth or fire-place of stone would be built, whereon a huge cauldron would be placed, then a pig of lead would be inserted, and, when it was reduced to a fluid state by the brisk blaze, the women of the fort would colleet and ladle
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