Lincoln City (part 5 of 19)

Remarkable Groavth And Improvements

The city voted the Lincoln Street Railway Company right of way on the streets in April, 1881. Now that company has lines'connecting all parts of the city, of which C. J. Ernst is the efficient manager! Besides, there are four other lines. The Rapid Transit line Mas built in 1887, and extended in 1888. At first its cars were operated with dummy engines, but these are now used only on the part of the line from U street to West Lincoln. The Rapid Transit connects West Lincoln with the asylum, by way of Twelfth street in the city. The Capital Heights line has its present terminus at O and Twelfth. It thence runs to N, thence to Eighteenth, thence to G, and eastward about two miles. This line was built in 1888. The Standard Street Railway was built in the fall of 1888, to connect the Lincoln company's line on North Twenty-seventh street with the Wesleyan University. . The Bethany Heights line is being built this year, to connect the Lincoln company's line at V and Thirty-third with the Christian University. One of these companies has a capital of Si, 000,000 and all now operate over thirty-one miles of track.

Tiie City Water Works were begun in J88'2, and consisted for seven years of a single well in the park bounded by D and F and Eicrhth and Sixth. The supply then was only about 1,000,000 gallons per day. This well proving inade(|uate to the demands of the growinocity, an attempt was made in 1887 to increase the supply bv sinking a pipe in the center of the well. This caused the water to become salty in taste. The same year ]\Ir. Joseph Burns was employed by the city to attempt to construct a system of driven wells in Sixth street, and connect them with the pumping station. These wells were driven a little too deeply, perhaps, and most of them produced salt water after a few days' use. After great annoyance and much delay, it was finally decided to attempt to establish a Avell near N and the channel of the Antelope. This well was completed in July of the present year, and is now producing about 1,000,000 gallons of pure water daily, to the great satisfaction of the city. Operations for an additional supply in that vicinity are now going forward. During the last six weeks operations have been progressing at the j)ark wells, and it is now believed that the trouble will be done away with, and that pure water will hereafter be supplied from that well also.

with a capacity of 10,000 hogs. Now there are two hirge packing houses there, capable of handling all the hogs that can be bought for many miles around. The dressed beef business is also carried on there, having been begun last year. The packing business of the city is growing constantly, and will soon be one of the most important commercial interests of Nebraska. There are extensive stockyard facilities connected with the packing houses.

The Board of Trade was organized January IGth, 1880, with a large membership, designed to benefit the city in every })ussible way. It is now in a very prosperous condition, and has sevei'al hundred members. It raised $10,000 by subscription this summer to advertise the city, and is a most enterprising organization, from which the city will reap great benefit for years to come. The officers of the board are given elsewhere in this chapter.

In 1887 a contract was awarded to H. T. Clarke and Hugh Murphy to pave the central portions of the business part of the city, from N to S on Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth, and from N to Q on Tenth and Eleventh, and from N to P from Eleventh to Fourteenth, the outside streets named being included, and all comprising the first and second paving districts. The city had had no experience in pavino- whatever, and when the contractors were ready to lay blocks, it was found that gas pipe, water mains, sewer pipe, and street car tracks, must all be put down before paving could go on. This required a vast amount of work and expenditure, and delay upon delay accumulated until the patience of the public was wholly exhausted. The newspapers were filled with criticisms of the council, board of public works, and contractors. The streets presented the appearance of a fortified citv, with ditches, trenches, heaps and ridges of earth, and business men were blockaded for entire blocks, for weeks at a time, with no outlet but the sidewalk, and in many cases with no crossings for pedestrians. The streets were frequently flooded with water to settle them. The worst siege was around Government Square. The Capital Hotel was confronted with a small swamj) for several months.

But the work was finally done, in 1888, and everybody agreed that the results were worth the worry. The c^ity was beautified, verily transformed from a raw-looking western town, with sidewalks lull oi' ups and downs, and a general evidence of disorganization and lack of system. The paving was followed by a general leveling down and extending of the walks to conform to the line and grade of the curbstone, and now the city is as beautiful as any phice of its age in the United States. During 1888 and the present year, Stout & Buckstaff, who have contracted for paving districts tliree, four, five, six, seven, and eight, have added several miles of paving, so that over eight miles of the streets of the city are now paved, and about fifteen miles are under contract. Much of the paving has been done with cedar blocks, but that now being constructed is being laid with vitrified brick, manufactured for the purpose in this city by Stout & Buckstaff'. It is believed that this kind of paving will prove durable and successful.

The sanitary sewerage of the city is an extensive system, now in perfect operation. The storm-water sewers perform the service intended, in the heaviest storms. The water service of the city is very complete in all but the supply, and that defect will l)e fully remedied within a short period.

In brief, Lincoln is in a condition to continue its prosperity, and afford such enjoyment to its inhabitants as only a completely-built city can do, possessed of such ample improvements and acquirements in the way of educational, commercial, social, and religious facilities. With equal progress, relatively, for ten years, such as Lincoln has made in ten years past, it will be one of the most beautiful home cities in the Nation. The real value of the property of Lincoln is now not far from fifty million dollars. Owing to the pernicious system of assessment in vogue, it appears much less; but it is believed that a careful calculation will show that the genuine worth of the property within the city limits is fully equal to the sum stated.

The county is now erecting a court house in the city, to cost about $200,000. It will probably be completed the present year. The Board of Trade announces the material ])rogress of the city during 1888, taken from official sources, as follows :

The State Fair is located at Lincoln, and has been very succe-ssful ever since it opened at this point. Funke's Opera House, at the southwest corner of O and Tweltth, is a first-class theatre, and supplies all the leading attractions. It is now under the direct and very skillful management of INIr. Robert McReynolds, who, with Mr. L. M. Crawford, of Topeka, Kansas, organized a large theatrical circuit in 1S8.S, covering Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, and several other States. Companies can be engaged at the Lincoln office for all the theatres in the circuit, which includes all the jn-incipal towns, and may be billed through without further trouble to their managers.

In 1888 Mr. E. H. Andrus supplied a great need to the city Ijy improving a well watered and amply shaded tract oi" land, about three and one-half miles west of the city, with conveniences for outdoor recreation. He has since conducted it as a })ark where picnics, conventions, camp-meetings, games, and all manner of excursions, can resort and find pleasant accommodations at all times. Outings of an entire, week are often held there, and excursions of twelve and fifteen hundred people frequently visit the park, especially on Sunday, when excellent musical and appropriate j)rogrammes are carried out by the leading musicians and speakers of the city.

The city possesses a public library, founded in December, 1875, which is sujjported by taxation. It contains over 5,000 volumes, designed for common use, and most of the leading periodicals of the day are in its files. It is open every day in the week.

The State Library, at the cajMtol building, comprises over 30,000 volumes, mainly on legal subjects. As a law library it is considered very complete.

The State University library includes over 10,000 volumes of miscellaneous books. Its list of works on science and special subjects is very elaborate.

The Young Men's Christian Association has also begun to found a library, so that I^ineoln is well supjilied with scholastic a]»i)urtenances for a place but twenty-two years old.

Lincoln is at the point of confluence of five or six small streams of different sizes, wiiich together drain a surface of over 700 s(piare miles. During Monday, August 12, 1889, and part of the following night, the rain |)oun(l down «»vcr all tiiis territory. The combine<l waters began to gather at the Lincoln basin during Monday, and rose rapidly all night, covering niiich of the low land near the city and along the creek to various depths, depending on the elevation. From one to two thousand families live on this low ground, mostly in little cottages, and before Tuesday morning many of these houses were surrounded by water, and in many eases partly submerged, though generally the water only covered the first floor but a few inches. In many cases, however, the water rose to the dei)th of two or three feet in the buildings, and in a few instances even to greater depths. Hundreds of people were not aware of the raj)id rise of the water until it began to penetrate their houses, and then there was a general hurry to eseaj)e; but wading to high ground over submerged and mirey streets in the dark, was no easy task, and many did not dare attempt it. The waters continued to ])ile uj) until 'J'uesday morning, and then the police, city officers, and many citizens, came to the rescue, and the frightened residents of the valley were gathered on shore, along the hill. Many came to dry land on small rafts, others in boats, and still others waded. The unfortunate people whose homes were flooded were generally poor, and they presented a forlorn spectacle as they huddled along the margins of the advancing floods, and watched the progress of the threatening waters. During the day Mayor Graham and other city officials threw open the Park schoolhouse and other buildings to the refugees, and they were cared for the best that circumstances would permit. All were rescued by Tuesday noon. The water readied its height toward evening on Tuesday, the l;3th, and before morning began to recede, and contiinied to fall slowly until within usual limits, which rc(piired most of the week. Fortunately the weather was warm and pleasant after Tuesday morning. After the flood the houses were wet, the yards sloppy, and the streets mirey, in the flooded district, and it required several days for the people to get back into their homes. Not much damage was done the houses, though gardens were ruined, furniture partly spoiled, and the atmosphere rendered unhealthful and disagreeable. No lives were lost.

Many factories, lumber-yards, and similar business institutions, were flooded and damaged. The water Avas over most of the tracks south of O street, and trains were delayed on all lines. The Union Pacific to Beatrice did not use its own track for three or four days, and the Burlington road to Tecumseh was impassable for a longer time,

The water did not quite cover the crown of the pavement at the crossing at Seventh and N streets. The blocks on that corner were nearlv all displaced, and the pavement had to be repaired a little distance north on Seventh and east on N, Boats landed against the bank on the west side of the northwest corner of the park, at F and Sixth streets.

This was not the highest that Salt creek has been since Lincoln was founded, though it was vastly the most damaging tlood the city has known, owing to the development of property on the low lands. In fact, big freshets have been frequent, and the waters have piled up in front of Lincoln in a formidable way on several occasions, especially since the stream was blocked by dams below the city. There was a good deal of a flood in 1868, and a deluge in 1869, when a prominent editor of the city went boating, fell in, and Nvas tortured with cramps for hours afterward. The torrent of 1874 was especially memorable, the water being made very high by a gorge of brush and drift below the town. Boats landed at the foot of the hill, Eighth and O streets, and a son of William Hyatt Avas drowned on the block bounded by Seventh and lOighth and O and P streets. A man named T. W. Taylor was also drowned near the city during this freshet. But Mr. ]\L (}. Bohanan, who had particular reason to observe the relative rise of the creek on account of the location of his slaughterhouse, is sure that the flood in April, 1887, following the winter of almost imprecedented snow fall, surpassed all other freshets before or since by a foot or two. Owing to the accumulations of ice, and succeeding cold weather, it was the hardest deluge to contend with, though it affected the city but little, as there was but little settlement few factories on the low land at that time.

Salt creek has shown a disposition to flood the flat land once or twice since, but there lias really been no freshet of the formidable rf^haraetcr of that of the present summer for several years ])ast.

Lincoln Politically

Lincoln Politically froji the Beginning to the Present - Her Priti.ic Improvements - Paying, Seweracje, and Water-works - Semi-puhlic Works - Her Fire Department - The Police Force - The Present City Officers and Officers of the Board of Trade.

In 1870 the Town Trustees elected were C. N. Baird, D. S. Smith, D. A. Sherwood, C. H. Gere, and H. J. Walsh. C. li. Gere was elected Chairman, R. O. Phillips was chosen Clerk, and N. C. Brock was continued as Treasurer of the board.

On March 18, 1871, the town was organized as a city of the second class, under a charter. The election occurred on the third of the following April, and the officers then chosen were: W. F. Chapin, Mayor; C. H. Street and R. E. Moore, Police Judges; A. E. Hastings, Marshal; T. F. L. Catlin, Clerk; G. W. Ballentine, Treasurer; Councilmen - First w^ard, L. A. Scoggin ancl,C. C. Burr ; Second ward, D. A. Sherwood and J. M. Creamer; Third Mard, J. J. Gosper and J. L. McConnell; T. T. Murphy, City Engineer. Thereafter, until 1889, the city officers elected were as follows:

2,S';\^>^ - The city officers of 1872 were : Mayor, E. E. Brown ; Councilmen - First ward, J. R. Fairbank (two years) and L. A. Scoggin, (one year;) Second ward, William McLaughlin (two years) and D. A. Sherwood, (one year;) Third ward, G. G. Owen (two years) and .1. J. Gosper, (one year;) Clerk, Thomas L. Catlin; Treasurer, William A. Coleman; Marshal, John McManigal; City Physician, J. O. Carter; Police Judge, R. E. Moore; Engineer, Tom I. Atwood.

1S7J. - Mayor, Robert D. Silvers; Councilmen - First ward, L. A. Scoggin and J. R. Fairbank; Second ward, T. P. Quick and William McEaughlin; Third ward, N. S. Scott and S. G. Owen; City Clerk, R, N. Vedder, (resigned September 2d, and E. P. Roggen ai)pointeil to fill vacancy ;) Treasurer, William Coleman ; Marshal, Brad Ringer; Enoineer, Thomas I. Atwood ; City Physician, S. W. Robinson ; Po- lice Judge, Lewis A. Grotf, and C-. Green, Police Judge to fill vacancy ; Street Coninjissioner and Fire Warden, George B, Skinner; and T. P. Quick, Cliiefof the Fire Department.

IS74.. - Mayor, Samuel W. Little ; Councilraen - First ward, L. A. Sco^gin and Jolin Plato n ; Second ward, William ^NIcLauuhlin and T. P. Quick; Third ward, R. O. Phillips and N. 8. Scott; Clerk, E. P. Roggen; Treasurer, William A. Sharrar; Marshal, P. H. Cooper; City Engineer, A. Roberts; Police Judge, J. H. Foxworthy; Street Commissioner and Fire Warden, George B. Skinner; Chief of the Fire Department, T. P. C^uick, and Gran. Ensign Assistant.

187o. - ]Mayor, Amasa Cobb ; City Clerk, R. W. Charter ; Treasurer, B. F. Fisher; Police Judge, R. W. Taylor; Marshal, P. H. Cooper ; City Engineer, A. Roberts; Cemetery Trustee, Philetns Peck ; Councilnien- - First ward, James Led with, and J. P. Fairbank to fill vacancy; Second ward, Fred. W. Krone; Third ward, (), Kingman; T. P. (^uick. Chief of Fire Department.

1H77. - Mayor, H. W. Hardy; Clerk, R. C. Manley; Treasurer,. James McConnell ; Police Judge, J. S. Dales; Marshal, Thomas Carr; Engineer, J. P. "Walton ; Cemetery Trustee, J. J. Turner; Councilmen - First ward, James Ledwith ; Second ward, Rufus Yard and J, B. Wright, (elected in September to fill vacancy;) Third ward, J. K. Honeywell; T. P. (^uick, Chief of the Fire Department.

1880. - Mayor, John B. Wright ; Clerk, R. C. Mauley ; Treasurer, D. B. Cropsey; Police Judge, J. S. Dales; Chief of Police, I. L. Lyman. Councilmen - First ward, R. Grimes and J. Ledwith ; .Second ward, J. L. Caldwell and J. Frederick Krone; Third ward, ]I. J. Walsh and John Doolittle; City Engineer, J. P. Walton; Chief of the Fire Department, T. P. Quick.

1881. - John B. Wright, Mayor; R. C. Mauley, City Clerk; A.CCross, Treasurer ; J. S. Dales, Police Judge; N. S. Scott, City Engineer; Cemetery Trustee, L. J. Byer, and to till vacancy, A. M. Davis. For Councilmen - First ward, C. C. Munson; Second ward, S. B. Linderman ; Third ward, J. H. Harley.

The question of voting the Lincoln City Street Railway Company right-of-way over north and south streets from Seventh to Seventeenth, and on east and west streets from A to R, was carried in favor of the license by a vote of 841 to 405.

188.?. - At the city election of April 4, 1882, 1,899 votes were cast, with the following result : Mayor, John Doolittle; City Clerk, R. C. Manley ; City Treasurer, A. C. Cass ; Police Judge, B. F. Cobb ; City Engineer, J. P. Walton; Cemetery Trustee, A. M. Davis. Councilmen - First ward, H. Shaberg; Second ward, Fred Krone; Third ward, C. L. Baum.

1883. - At the city election held on April 3, 1883, 1,705 votes were polled. The election resulted in the choice of the following officers : Mayor, R. E. Moore; City Clerk, R. C. Manley; City Treasurer, John T. Jones; Cemetery Trustee, Lewis Gregory; Councilmen - First ward, W. C. Lane, Second ward, S. B. Linderman ; Third ward, Charles West; Fourth ward, W. J. Cooper long term, and J. H. liarley short term.

1884.. - The city election of 1884 was held April 1st, and 1,550 votes were cast. Mayor^ R. E. Moore ; Clerk, R. C. ]\Ianley, and Treasurer, John T. Jones, held over. The elected officers were : Police Judge, M. Montgomery; Cemetery Trustee, H. J. AValsh. Councilmen - First ward, N. C. Brock; Second ward, H. P. Lau ; Third ward, J. W. Winger; Fourth ward, J. R. AVebster.

At this election Jiurr received 1,115 votes, Fitzgerald 1,085 votes, and H. W. Hardy 247 votes. The votes were counted on the 9tli of April, and on the evening of the 10th the Council met to consider a notice of contest by John Fitzgerald. The attorneys for Fitzgerald, AVhedon, Sawyer & Snell, objected to the jurisdiction of the Council to hear and determine the contest. On motion of Billingsley and Webster, the objection was sustained, and the Mayor and Clerk were ordered to issue certificates to candidates having a majority on the face of the returns. Attorney Whedon gave notice that he would a])]»ly to the Supreme Court for a perpetual injunction to restrain those officers from issuing the certificate; but the matter was dr()pj)ed M'ithout further proceedings.

J886'. - The city election of 1880 was held on April (jth. Police Judge, Cemetery Trustee, and Councilmen, were elected, as follows : Police Judge, A. F. Parsons ; [removed from office and place filled by appointment of H. J. Whitmore;] Cemetery Trustee, Lewis Gregory. Councilmen - First ward, N. C. Brock; Second ward, John Fraas; Third ward, H. H. Dean; Fourth ward, R. B. Graham. The total vote cast was 2,668.

1887. - The city election of 1887 took place on April 5th, and '>,i>19 votes were cast. E. P. Roggen was the regular Rei)ublican nominee; A. J. Sawyer, the independent reform movement nominee, and A. J. Cropsey, the straight-out Prohibition nominee. This election Mas carried on without regard to party affiliation. Roggen received 1,478 votes; Sawyer, 2,013 votes, and Cropsey, 428 votes. The election resulted as follows: Mayor, A. J. Sawyer; Clerk, R. C. ]Manley ; Treasurer, J. T. Jones; Cemetery Trustee, L. J. Byer. Councilmen - First ward, J. H. Dailey; Second ward, L. W. Billingsley; Third ward, J. M. Burks; Fourth ward, W. J. Cooper; Fifth ward, long term. Gran. Ensign ; short term, .1. Z. Briscoe; Sixth ward, long term, (tw(j years,) L. C. Pace; short term, (one year,) Fred. A. llovey. The question of voting right-of-way on the streets to the Jiapid Transit Street Railway Company was settled at this election in

18S8. - The city election of 1888 was held on April ;5d, and the total vote was 4,063. The following officers were elected: Police Jndge, W. J. Houston; Cemetery Trustee, A. M. Davis. Councilmen - First ward, A. Halter; Second ward, John Fraas; Third ward, H. H. Dean; Fourth ward, R. B. Graham; Fifth ward, Louie ^Meyer; Sixth w\ard, H. M. Rice. G. M. Lambertson Avas appointed Citv Attorney,

1889. - At the city election of April, 1889, R. B. Graham was elected Mayor; D. C. Van Duyn, Clerk; FIraer B. Stephenson, Treasurer; O. N. Gardner, City Engineer; I. L. Lyman, AVater Commissioner.

The Legislature of 1889 gave the city a new charter, which provided for an Excise Board, designed to have exclusive control of the liquor licenses of the city, instead of the Council, as theretofore. Tiie first board, elected in April at the city election, were John Doolittle and C. J. Daubach. The Mayor is an ex-ojficio member of the board, so that Mayor Graham is the third member of the first board. The Councilmen chosen at this election were : First ward, P. Hayden ; Second ward, J. C. Saulsbury ; Third ward, William McLaughlin; Fourth ward, F. A. Boehmer and W. S. Hamilton ; Fifth ward, H. M. Bushnell ; Sixth ward, L. C. Pace.

Having become a candidate for Mayor, Mr. R. B. Graham resigned his chair in the Council before the election. Mr. W. J. Cooper was nominated for the place, and elected. But it afterward seemed that there was some technical invalidity in his election, and it was thought best to go through the formality of an election again. So the Mayor called a special election ; and, there seeming to be no opposition to Mr. Cooper, less than half the vote in the ward was polled. But during the dav some schemers quietly put W. S. Hamilton in the field against Cooper, and to the surprise of the city he was elected. His friends had completely surprised and taken the camp of the Cooper people. This and other causes led up to the appointment of a committee of Councilmen, by the Council, to investigate allegations of corruption on the part of the Council of 1887 and 1888. The committee consisted of W. S. Hamilton, H. M. Bushnell, H. H. Dean, L. C. Pace, and William McLimuhlin. Aftci- intcnnittont .sittings for several weeks in Mav and Juno, during which uunierous witnesses Avere examined, it appeared bv the report of the committee that nothing of much consequence could be charged against any one. The city bonds had been tairly well handled, the storm-water sewers had been well constructed, and the charges against Councilmeii of having been subsidized were not sustained. It appeared that W. J. Cooper had sold material to the city at high prices, while Couucilnuui, undei- the name of one of his men ; and this was about all that seemed worthy of criticism. The atmosphere now cleared up, and no more was heard about the matter.

City Organization Hoard Of Trade

HOARD OF TRADE. President, R. IP Oakley; Secretary, C. A. Atkin.son. Directors. - \{. H. Oakley, President; T. P. Kennard, T. W. Lowrey, J. d. Iniholl". |-:ii I'lunimer, Joseph Boehmer, C. J. Eru.st, A. E.

Fire Department

The Fire Department has kept pace with the growth of the city, and to-dav is recognized bv the Board of UnderMriters to be one of the best organized, disciplined, and equipped, departments in the West ; in fact, second to none. The first volunteer fire company was organized in 1875, and was named the Phoenix Hook and Ladder Company. In 1872 the growth of the city demanded better protection, and a Silsby steam fire engine was purchased, and named The W. F. Chapin, the Hon. W. F. Chapin being the Mayor of the city in that year. Two hose carts, and 1,000 feet of rubber hose, were i)urchased at the same time, and a company called theChajMu Hose Companv was organized, w^ith a roster of fifty men. In 1880 it was found necessary to increase the strength of the department, and a second size Silsby steamer was purchased and added to the equipment. No changes were made in the department until 1882, when the Chapin Hose Company was disbanded, (the Hook and Ladder Company having disbanded in 1879.) Two new hose companies were organized, known as the Merchants' Hose Company No. 1, and the Fitzgerald Mose Company No. 2. The '^Fitzgeralds" have a national reputation, having won the Nebraska State championship belt and cart in the years 1884 and 1885, and the w^orld's championship at the city of New Orleans in 1886. On January 4, 1886, the department was reorganized, Hon. C. C. Burr, Mayor, by Fire Warden Newbury, and five full-paid men appointed and a two-horse, four-wheel hose carriage purchased and put in service. In January, 1887, the Merchants' and Fitzgerald Hose Companies were disbanded, thus ending the life and use't'ul caiver of tlio volunteer tiro departinent of Lincoln, which had performed faithful and efficient service for twelve years. But the rapid growth and increasing area of the city demanded a change, and a metropolitan system, with trained and experienced men, constantly on dutv, was placed in service. In the month of January, 1887, Hon. A. J. Sawyer Mayor, the department was reorganized by Chief W. H. Xewburv and placed on a solid and substantial basis. The fire de})artment at present consists of thirty-five full-paid men, the organization being as follows : one Chief of Fire Department, one Assistant Chief, three Captains, two engineers of steamers, and twenty-eight men. Salaries: Chief, 8140.00 per month; Captains, $75.00 per month ; engineers of steamers, §75.00 per month ; drivers, pipemen, linemen, $70.00 per month. Apparatus in service: Two four-wheel two-horse hose carts, one hose wagon, two four-wheel two-horse chemical engines, hook and ladder truck, one aerial hook and ladder truck, one chief's buggy, one supply wagon, nineteen horses. Annual expense of maintaining department, present equipment, $35,000.00.

The engine houses are large double houses, fitted up with all the modern and best improved electrical appliances, and will contain four pieces of apparatus each. Fire department head(|uarters - Engine house Xo. 1 is situated at the corner of Tenth and Q streets. Engine house Xo. 2, corner of O and Twenty-third streets, and engine house Xo. 4, at F street, between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets.

The first chief of the volunteer department was the Hon. Seth Lindermai). His successor was T. P. Quick esq., who held the position for about ten years. The Hon. X. C. Abbott, Hon. I. M. Raymond, Hon. (iran Ensign, and Hon. I. L. Lyman, gentlemen who have represented the State, county, and city, in different positions of trust and honor, were at different times chief of the volunteer organization. The present chief, Wm. H. Newbury, was appointed Fire AVarden of the city in July, 1885; appointed Chief of the Fire Department in April, 1887. Through his untiring efforts the city of Lincoln has to-day a fire department of which it is justly proud. No city in the country of the same size has had so small a percentage of loss from fire as Lincoln has had since the organization of the paid department.

One of the most snccessfnl institutions of the city is the Red Ribbon Club, -which Avas organized by John B. Finch in Xovember, 1877, at a place on the east side of Tenth street, about four doors north of Tenth and N streets. For years it held its meetings in "Red Ribbon Hall," at the northwest corner of Twelfth and M streets. Every Sunday afternoon in the year Mr. George B, Skinner, who has been president, manager, and inspiration to the organization from its beginning, would be found on the platform directing the meeting. The programmes consisted of singing from " Gospel Hymns," or similar musical books, and voluntary addresses by persons in the audience, though Mr. Skinner would often call upon men or women whom he thought could make short, useful addresses. Hundreds of drinking men have been induced to sign the pledge by this club, and by it assisted to keep the good resolution. The club now meets at a large assembly room on T street, between Eleventh and Twelfth street. The roll of the organization now numbers fully 17,000 persons, including many of the leading men and women of the city and State. For twelve years it has lived and expanded, and is now, perhaps, the largest, oldest, and most successful, association of its kind in the United States. For all this growth and power it is substantially indebted to George B. Skinner.

Lincoln has hotel accommodations for fully 2,000 persons. A sketch of the earliest hotel history has already been given in another chapter, where reference is made to the " Pioneer," the " Cadman," and the "Atwood."

In 1869 Wilson constructed a store foundation on the southwest corner of P and Eleventh streets. This lot and one other to the southward, were sold to James Griffith, who still resides in this county, who disposed of them to Cropsey & England. That firm passed the propertv over to Dr. Scott, who completed the building on the foundation already there, and opened a drug store in it about 1869. In 1870 he converted the building into a hotel, which was managed bv John Douglas, aiul it was called the "Douglas House." Mr- Douglas conducted it until November, 1873, when Mr. J. J. Imhoif bought it, called it the "Commercial Hotel," and at once greatly enlaroed it. Its })atronage increased constantly under his control, and he was obliged to enlarge it to its present dimensions of 150xl08|^ feet, and to three stories in height, so as to possess a capacity to accommodate easily 300 guests. It soon became the political headquarters (if the State and the principal rendezvous of politicians, associations, and ])ublic affairs generally. INIr. ImhoflF owned the hotel until the oj)oning of 1886, when Mr. C. W. Kitchen bought it, changed its name to "The Capital Hotel," and managed it until May 1st, 1887. Then Hon. Edward P. Roggen became its landlord, Mr. W. H. B. Stout having bought it, and so continued until March, 1889, when Mr. G. F. Macdonald, formerly of the Millard Hotel in Omaha, bought an interest with Mr. Roggen, and since that date the house has been managed by Roggen & ]\Iacdonald. It still continues to be the political hub of the State, being Republican State headquarters annually. It possesses all modern conveniences and improvements and is the best knoAvn hotel in Nebraska. Mr. Richard W. Johnson, who was chief clerk with Mr. Imhoif, occupied the same position with !Mr. Kitchen, and has been the chief clerk with Mr. Roggen and Messrs. Roggen & Macdonald. He is one of the worthiest and best hotel men in Nebraska, and one of the best known.

Next in order of origin is Opelt's Hotel, at Ninth and (^ streets, which was built by Mr. J. S. Atwood, who completed it in 1880. It was then named the "Arlington" house. It was the largest hotel in Nebraska at that date, and yet ranks among the most spacious and excellent hostelries in the State. Mr. Joseph Opelt, its present laudlord, became its first landlord and conducted it until 1881, when it was ])urchased by J. S. JNIcIntire, who managed it for a short time, and it passed into the hands of Capt. AVm. Ensey, who controlled it about three years. It then was without a landlord for about three months, when ^Iv. Joseph Opelt, on March 15, 1880, again became its lessee and landlord, and so continues to the present time. He has always had a large and profitable business. The house is fitted up with modern iinjirovcments and has an easy capacity of about 250 gue.-ts. Mr. Stanley C, A\'icks is the efficient chief clerk of this ex- (-ellent hotel. It is now owned by AV. H. Atwood, of Kinderhook, \. A'., the son of tlic liiiilder.

The next larjxe liotel built in Lincoln was the AVindsor, at first <'alle(l the '' Goriiani House," located at the southeast corner of Eleventh ami <i streets. This hotelwas erected by Mr. T. F. Barnes, in 1884, and was opened January 5, 1885, by Gorham cV: Brown, who managed it about a year, when it passed into the hands of Glass S: Montrose, who also conducted it al)out a year. ^Plieu it came into the control of its presentable managers, Messrs. E. K. Criley tV: Go., ^[r. E. K. Griley being in immediate charge. In his hands it has been much improved, and its business and capacity extended. The same firm controls the "Paddock House" at Beatrice, and other noted hotels in the AVest. The Windsor is equipped with the most improved hotel facilities and has a capacity of over 200 guests. It is still owned by Mr. T. F. Barnes. Mr. S. J. Whitmore is the chief clerk of the Windsor, and is an excellent and capable man in the position. y The "Lindell liotel" is an excellent hostelry, located at the northwest corner of Thirteenth and M streets. This is a pleasant, quiet, home-like place, new and tidy, and managed by Dr. A. L. Hoover and his son, Mr. 8. G. Hoover, under the firm title of Hoover & Son. It is a favorite resort for people who wish excellent accommodations away from the noise and disturbance of the business part of the city. The site of the Lindell has been a hotel location for twenty years. In 1869 J. N. Townley opened a boarding-house there, which was managed by John Douglas for a short time before he took charge of the ''Douglas House," at Eleventh and P streets. The property passed through various vicissitudes, and finally came into the hands of Dr. Hoover, in 1885, who removed the old frame to one side for a kitchen and erected a brick structure in 1886, which the growing business of the house required to be enlarged in 1888. It has a capacity of over 100 guests, and is furnished with the leading hotel conveniences. It discards a bar.

The "Tremont Hotel," at the southwest corner of P and Eighth streets, is an excellent public house, possessed of steam heating, electric light, and other facilities of that kind, and its rates are very low for the accommodations it offers. It is conducted by Mr. R. W. Gopeland, and can accommodate about 100 guests.

The "8t. Charles Hotel," on the south side of () street, between Seventli and Eighth, is a well-known hostelry of the city, long conducted by Mrs. Kate Martin, who still owns it. Mr. Jacob Rocke is now the laiullord and lessee. It enjoys a good trade, and can accommodate loO guests. It is managed by Mr. Chris. Rocke, brother of Jacob Rocke, the County Treasurer.

The " Washington House," on the southeast corner of M and Ninth, and the " Peoria House," on the northwest corner of Q and Ninth, are frame hotels, of smaller capacity, with rates at $1.00 per day. The "Ideal Hotel,' on the west side of Fourteenth street, between N and O, is conducted by AV. C. Trott as a hotel and select boarding-house, and has a capacity of about 100 guests. There are a number of smaller public houses in the city, so that I^incoln can comfortably entertain a large nundjcr of persons of all tastes as to accommodations and price.

The regular police force of Lincoln consists of but seventeen men, or one to about each 3,000 inhabitants. Yet few cities in the United States are better policed, owing to the high grade of the citizenship in the city as well as to the excellent class of men on the force and the effective discipline maintained. The criminal record of Lincoln ranks with the minimum records of the very best governed cities of e([ual population in the Avorld. The excellence of the police discipline was largely effected under the administration of Mayor A. J. SaM-yer, by Marshal P. H. Cooper, and Captain W. T. B. Ireland, both being officials of long experience, the latter being especially efficient in the administrative details of the department. Officers A. L. Pound, C. M. Green, and J. K. Post, were also men of experience and fine record on the old force, and Officers Splain and Kinney also deserve praise as guardians of the city.

In June, 1889, the force was reorganized by Marshal AY. W. Cardei', who came into office at that time. Marshal Carder has already added a number of features of excellence to the department, and the force is in a most effective condition for the duties belonging to it. It nf)W consists of nine night men and eight day men, including the Marshal. The roster of the force is as follows: Marshal - AV. AY. (.'arder. Night Captain - C. M. Creen. Sergeant - F. A. Miller. Officers - (icorge F. Sipe, James Malone, A. L. Pound, J. K. Post, \Y.T. B. IrelaiKl, M. V. AhAYilliams, AYilliani Splain, Joseph N. Sny- - Icr, W. II. i'alincr, Thomas CiiiiKihan, jjoiiis C. Otto, .J. E. Kinney,

John Keane. Special - W. S. Crick. General Police Officers - Health Commissioner, A. M. Bartram ; ISIeat and Live Stock Inspector, W. C. Rhode; Driver of the Patrol Wagon, John H. Simpson.

Hon. Robert B. Graham, chief executive of the city of Lincoln, is one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of Lancaster county, a man who has done much to advance the material interests of both city and county. That he is of Scotch parentage can readily be told at a glance, his sturdy, well knit frame and kindly face proclaiming the nationality of his birth. Mr, Graham Avas born in New York City on the 17th of May, 1842. His early youth only was passed in that city, his parents removing to St. Louis when he was only five years of age. Here his youth and early manhood were passed and here he married. The early education of Mr. Graham was obtained at the public schools of St. Louis, where he was in almost constant attendance until he was fifteen years of age. In 1859, when in his seventeenth year, the young man entered the Bapti.'^t College at Burlington, la., and pur.sued his studies there uninterrupted ibr two vears. But at that time the same circumstances that spoiled tlie colleiic Wi'e of so many young men of the land, that changed the Avhole course of life for so many hundreds of the loyal men of the North, intervened to cut short his college years; for although under age, he enlisted in the sixty -seventh Illinois infantry at the beginning of the war and was soon sent to the front. His army experience only lasted for eighteen months, he being discharged at the end of that time on account of disability. After his discharge he returned to St. Louis, where he lay sick for some time. AVhen he recovered sufficientl}^ to be able to work, he entered the steam cracker factory of Thomas Miller, as bookkeeper, and after a year was admitted to partnership, the firm then being Thomas Miller & Co. The firm then took a government contract for furnishing hard tack, but in 1863 the factory burned out, and was never rebuilt. From that time until 1867 Mr. Graham was engaged with the firm of Tossig, Livingston & Co., traveling through the South and Southwest buying wool, etc.

On the 12th of IMarcli, 1868, Mr. Graham was married to Miss ]\rarv E. Hilton, of St. Louis, soon after which he moved to Glenwood, la., where he engaged in the milling business, buying an interest in a steam flouring mill at that place. At the end of a year he sold his interest in this mill and turned his face again w^estward, locating in the spring of 1869 in Lancaster county, in the northwestern part, in what is now Mill precinct. Mr. Graham's coming to Lancaster county w'as upon the suggestion of George Harris, the original B. & M. land commissioner, well known to many of the pioneers of the early days. From the spring of 1869 ]\Ir. Graham has been a continuous resident of the county, and has, during that time, been connected closely w'itli its growth and development. In 1870 ^Fr. Graham and his brother built a flouring mill in Mill precinct, the third mill built in the county, which he operated for a number of years.

In 1880 the people of the county concluded that Mr. Graham's sphere of usefulness could be profitably enlarged, and hence he w'as elected a member of the House of Representatives of the State Legislature, that being the sixteenth session. The result was very satisfactory to his constituents, as he displayed much ability in dealing with questions of legislation. As a legislator he was careful, watchful, and prudent, tiikiiin bi(j:i(l and conservative views of all (juestions requiring liis attention and decision. In 1881 Mr. Graham was elected County Treasurer, being reelected in 1883. As county treasurer his duties required his presence in Lincoln, and hence his residence here dates from his first election to that office. Mr. Graham showed great financial ability in dealing with the money matters of the county, and is entitled to great credit for his work during his two terms. By bringing to his duties as treasurer the same care, prudence and thorough business methods that had made his private business a success, he succeeded in so improving the finances of the county that all warrants or other evidences of indebtedness, except bridge warrants, were paid in cash, something before unknown. This result he accomplished by a close and careful collection of taxes, and a carefully arranged system of accounts. The system inaugurated by Mr. Graham has been followed by Mr. Roche, the present Treasurer, so well that all warrants, including bridge, are now paid on presentation.

In 1886 Mr. Graham was elected a member of the City Council from the Fourth Ward, and was reelected in 1888. The duties of this office he discharged most satisfactorily to the people until he resigned, in the spring of 1889, to take the office of Mayor, to which he had been elected on April 13, 1889. No man, as member of the City Council, has done more hard work for th(! good of the city - work that was always well and honestly done. And his three years' experince in that body has enabled him so far to avoid many of the mistakes of his predecessors. As chief executive of the city, he is energetic, yet conservative, mindful of all interests and classes. He is particularly safe and able in guarding the reciprocal relations and welfare of the business and working people, to the end that everything shall work together for the general present prosperity and the continued development of the city. Mr. Graham and family belong to the most respected social circles of the city.

Hon. Elmer B. Stephenson, Treasurer for the City of Lincoln, holds one of the most responsible offices in the city government. As a representative young man, citizen, and official, a short biographical sketch of his life has a very appropriate place in this volume.

His father, John M. Stephenson sr., Avas born in Kentucky, on a plantation, his father being the owner of slaves. While yet a young aiian the father emigrated to Southern Illinois, and became a pioneer farmer near Mount A'ernon. When the war came on he enlisted iit the Seventh Illinois Cavalry, though a positive Democrat in politics. His son, John Stephenson jr., joined the same company, though a mere stripling, and both served during tlie great conflict with honor to themselves. John Stephenson jr. was daring to the point of audacity, and on one occasion while on a foraging expedition, he captured three rebel soldiers single handed, although his gun was so out of repair as to be useless. Later on he was himself seized while out foraging, and lay in Libby prison until reduced to a mere skeleton from disease and starvation. He finally escaped through a tunnel, and reached the- Union lines, almost dead with sickness and exhaustion. The father of the Treasurer was a friend and admirer of Jolm A. Logan, and was acquainted with Abraham Lincoln, who practiced law before the war in Mr. Stephenson's county.

liefore marriage the mother of the Treasurer was a Miss Esther Mclcher. She was born in Maine, and her mother was a cousin of S^ F. 15. Morse, the great electrician. When young she removed with her parents to Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and there grew np from childhood with John M. Stephenson sr. In her young womanhood she was a successful school teacher, and her characteristics are those of persistent industry, courage, and love of learning and progress. In political sentiment she was always a Republican. Her brother, Josiah Melcher, is a prominent minister in Bloomington, Illinois, who has written several works on theology.

Elmer B. Stephenson, the Treasurer, was the third son and child, and was born at Troy Grove, La Salle county, Illinois, on December 7, 1858. When a child his father's family removed to a farm near Troy Grove, where he spent his boyhood life. His occupation was that of attending the district school in winter, as soon as old enough, and working on the farm in the summer season. And while a farmer he performed many a month of hard work, doing the labor of a full hand in harvest field, corn gathering, or elsewhere, from the age of fifteen to eighteen.

When eighteen years of age he entered the office of Dr. AV. G. Houtz, with the intention of studying medicine, and while there gave the subject some investigation, and also devoted some time to the improvement of his education. AVhen twenty-one years of age he made a year's tour of the Southern States, exploring as far south as Texas. Upon returning he found that his old friend Dr. Houtz had removed to Lincoln, Nebraska, and upon the doctor's urgent invitation, Mr- Stephenson followed him to Lincoln, in 1880.

Not having the means with which to pursue a professional career, and finding it difficult to secure remunerative employment, his first three years were spent in incongenial labor at low wages. To add to his discouragement, if his natural unflagging resolution had allowed him to get discouraged, the end of the first and second year each found him prostrated with severe illness. Having succeeded in saving a little money during the third year, he was enabled to unite with Mr. D. W. Moseley in the real estate business in 1883, under the firm style of Moseley & Stephenson.

But wealth did not rush in to overwhelm the firm immediately, and the first year was a hard contest to make expenses. But 1885 was a year of high-tide prosperity to Lincoln, and Moseley & Stephenson, having laid a careful foundation, were rewarded with a successful business. This continued during 1886, and they were able to close up the year's work with the biUance sheet decidedly in their favor. A\'liile together Messrs. Moseley & Stephenson placed upon the market, for a syndicate, the lots of l)oth Belmont and Riverside additions to the city of I^incoln.

The following year, in 1887, Mr. Stephenson severed his business connection Avitli Mr. Moseley and entered into a partnership with Mr. M'hitney J. Marshall for the transaction of the real estate business. This association was continued with profit to both members until Mr. Stephenson was elected to the office of City Treasurer in April last, having been nominated to that over sevei'al strong competitors. He was elected by a majority of about 1,300. Mr. Marshall, his partner, was fortunate also, having been appointed a member of the Board of Public Works by Mayor Graham, wlio was elected on the same ticket with Mr. Stephenson.

The success of Mr. Stephenson has not been due to favoritism nor the influence of powerful friends, nor to accident. It has been accomj)lished in the face of many discouragements, and a man of less persistent determination would have failed. Hard work, courage, and good management, have won for Mr. Stephenson a comfortable fortune and an honorable position, which he now occupies with prudence and efficiency.

His fatiier was Samuel I..ambertson, who was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1815. Though not an educated man, he is a lover of books, learning, and progress, and has never neglected any opportunity to secure additional knowledge or advance the education of his family. Early in life he Mas apprenticed to tlie tailor's trade, and having learned ihv. art thoroughly, he opened a merchant-tailoring house at Franklin, Indiana. He followed this occupation most of the time for fifty years, and accumulated a little fortune at it. He never held any ])olitical office, but was at one time a Knight Temj>lar in the Masonic fraternity, and has for many years been a member and officer in the Bai)tist church. He was naturally a ])atriot. fn ])olitics he was first a Whig, when the Whigs were the best party. Then he became an Abolitionist; then went into the ranks of the IJepublican party. When the war began he was early in the field as a staunch defender of the Union. He promptly organized Company F of the Seventh Indiana Infantry, with tiie opening of hostilities, and became its captain. During the first two years of service, he participated in eighteen important battles, including those of Antietam and the second Bull Run. At the close of his second year he returned to his home county to encourage enlistments, and succeeded in raising a regiment of thirteen companies, Mhich were called the "Home Guards." These he equipped, and then was elected Colonel of the regiment. The "Home Guards" were immediately called into service by Governor Morton to repel the invasion of Indiana by John JNIorgan, which the guards aided to thoroughly accomplish.

The mother of Mr. G. M. Lambertson was born in Kentucky, in 1818, and was the daughter of a Baptist minister, who preached in Kentucky and Indiana, named Lewis Morgan. She was a woman of energy, courage, and positive thought, and had j)ower to influence those with whom she caiiu' in coiitaot. 8he was devoted to works of charitv, religion, and the elevation of her fellow man. Her death occurred in 1877, at the age of sixty years. Her children were G. M. Larabertson, Mrs. G. H. Elgin, now of Logansport, Indiana, now aged thirty-seven; Mrs. U. M. Chaille, living at Indianapolis, aged thirtyfive; Mrs. I. B. Lavelle, of Louisville, Ky., aged thirty-three; and Dr. O. F. Lambertson, of Lincoln.

Genio Madison Lambertson was born at Frankfort, Indiana, May 19, 1850. He began his education in the public schools of his State, and later became a student in the Baptist college at Franklin, Indiana. He then attended AVabash University, at Crawfordsville, Ind., for six months, and then entered Chicago University, from whence he graduated, in 1872,

He then studied law with Messrs. Overstreet & Hunter, leading attorneys of Franklin, Indiana, and having carefully fitted himself for a legal career, he selected Lincoln for his future home, and located here June 1, 1874.

He began his life work as a clerk in the law office of Lamb & Billingsley, and later became a member of that firm. In December, 1878, ;Mr. Lambertson w^as appointed United States District Attorney for the District of Nebraska, by President Rutherford B. Hayes, and continued in that position for eight years, with high credit to himself. In this position he made a State-wide reputation. At the close of his second term he was tendered a temporary reappointment by President Cleveland, but this he declined.

From the expiration of his second term, in February, 1889, he has been steadily engaged in the practice of his profession in this city. He now^ ranks among the most able and successful attorneys of Lincoln. Among his most recent important achievements was the procurement of a writ of luihcdx corpua from the Supreme Court of the United States for the liberation of the Councilmen from the jail at Omaha, wherein they were incarcerated by order of Judge Brewer, of the United States Circuit Court, for alleged contempt. Mr. Lambertson also represented the city before the Inter-State Commerce Commission, in its suit to require the Union Pacific railroad to deliver shipments from San Francisco at Lincoln as cheaply as at Omaha, when the merchandise passed through Lincoln in reaching Omaha, and< pro rata when shipped otherwise. The Commission sustained the proposition ad- vanced by Mr. Lambertson and the city secured the relief demanded. He was appointed City Attorney in 1888, and Mayor Graham reappointed him to the same office in the spring of 1889. In this position the business men of the city consider him a prudent and safe adviser.

Mr. Lambertson was married on June 10, 1880, to Miss Jane Gundry, daughter of Mr. Joseph Gundry, a prominent capitalist of Mineral Point, Wis. She was born at Mineral Point, Wis., August 29, 1855, and was educated at Kemper Hall, Kenosha, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Lambertson rank justly among the most respected people in the best social circles of the city. Their children are Margery Elizabeth, born August 23, 1881, and Nancy Perry, born August 26, 1883.

Mr. Lambertson is a prominent and respected member of the Baptist Church in this city, and he is ever ready to contribute to the progress of the city and welfare of mankind by both voice and deed.

Lixcoi.N's Kailroads - WiiK.v Btilt and the Bonds Voted Them - The Tekritohy Into Which They Penetrate - The Commercial Advantage Given Lincoln by Her Railroad Lines - Her Telegraph and Express Systems.

As a railroad center all must concede that Lincoln stands at the head among AA^estern cities. Her great lines of road reach out in everv direction, controlling for her the trade of a territory vast in extent, unlimited in resources, and wonderful in its possibilities. The showing which can be made demonstrates conclusively that Lincoln is the heart of the most complete system of railroads over which commerce passes to and from any trans-Mississippi city, and the best distributing point in the western half of the L^nited States. That such is the fact makes it of interest to consider in detail the lines of road over \\hicli our commerce passes, when they were built, how they came to be built, the inducements offered them to come, and the other facts in connection therewith which suggest themselves to the inquiring mind.

First, let attention be called toTjincoln's Eastern connections. Three great trunk lines from the East operate their own tracks into the city : the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley, (Northwestern,) and the Missouri Pacific. Lincoln is the terminus of the Missouri Pacific's northwestern line, which gives the city an outlet direct to the Gulf and the Atlantic. In addition to these the Omaha & Republican Valley branch of the Union Pacific is virtually an extension of the Rock Island and Milwaukee roads, and it may be considered a certainty that the Rock Island will come into Lincoln soon over its own track. Thus it will be seen that this is virtually the terminal distril)uting poiiu for seven great railroads. There is no distributing point west of I^incoln in all the vast region that lies between the Missouri and the Jiocky mountains, and Lincoln and the cities on the Missouri reach too easily into the territory of Denver on the west to leave a field for the growth of any new city of importance in the intervening territory.

Prior to 1869 the sound of the locomotive engine was unheard on the prairies of Lancaster, nor had its shrill notes echoed throuo-h the streets of Lincoln. But at that time a change was accomplished. The Legislature of 1869 started the building of four roads by appropriating 2,000 acres of land to each mile of road constructed in the State within two years. These four roads started from points on the Missouri river and headed for Lincoln. The first was the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska, Avhich started from Plattsmouth ; the second, the Atchison & Nebraska, from Atchison ; the third, the Midland Pacific, from Nebraska City, and the fourth, the Omaha & Southwestern, from Omaha. To-day these all belong to the same system ; but they started as competitors, and the race was to get for each as much as possible of the 250 miles that would exhaustthe 500,000 acre appropriation.

The Midland Pacific gave promise, in consideration of so large a bonus, to locate large car shops in Lincoln, but the promise was never carried out. The road was, however, extended to York, and the $150,000 has proved to be a good investment.

When these lines had been completed into the city from the east and southeast, and the B. ct M. had been extended Avest to Kearney, the people began to realize that the city was already a prominent railroad center, and could be made the hub of the State by a continuation of the efforts to attract new roads. Great enterprise was shown in this direction, and the reward came in due season. For several years hard times and poor crops interfered with railroad building seriously, and no change was made in the map until 1879. In that year the city gave $25,000 in bonds to aid the Lincoln & Northwestern in starting its line to Columbus, and when that road was under way the Union Pacific retaliated by sending a branch of its own down from Valparaiso, and extending it to Beatrice a few years later. An extra inducement in the shape of a bonus was given by the city for the Valparaiso line.

between 1876 and 1878, the B. S: M. began a movement that made it the greatest system in the State. The Nebraska railway was leased, and im}K)rtant extensions were j)rojected. Among the first was a line from Hastings to the Republican A^Uley, which in time developed into a great through road to Denver.

The Lincoln cV: Northwestern, a northern branch of the A. & N., was built from Lincoln to Columbus, in 1879, and in the following vear the B. & M. secured possession of the entire property. This Mas not regarded as favorable to the city at that time, but later events have shown that it considei'ably increased the importance of Lincoln, considered from a railway standpoint. The city became the hub of the B. c\: M. system, six lines belonging to that company running out in all directions. The operating head-quarters were located here, and in time the offices of the general superintendent, the superintendent of telegraph, the general baggage agent, the chief engineer, the stationer, the car accountant, and other officers, whose duties extend over the entire B. & M. system, were removed from Omaha and Plattsonuith and permanently located in the fine building erected in 1880 for a passenger depot and head-quarters building.

After the Union Pacific had been secured and had been extended south to Beatrice, and into Kansas, there were still a number of roads that the city greatly desired. The roads were willing to be courted, and the wooing went on for several years. The Missour Pacific was the first to capitulate, building a line from Weeping Water to the city in 1886, after receiving a donation from the city of $70,000. But a few months later the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley was also completed to the city, coming from Fremont, and receiving a bonus from the city of $50,000. The effect of the building of these roads was tremendous. The following spring saAv the greatest activity in real estate the city has ever known.

The Burlington Road

Lincoln is particularly interested only in that portion of thcB. tt M. system west of the Missouri river. The total length oi' the various B. ct M. lines is 2,753 miles, and it is practically traversed by traveling men icpresenting T^incoln jobbing houses. On only a few miles oi' road southwest of Omaha, a few miles west of Atchison, and a .short stretch of road east of Denver, are the jobbers of Lincoln unable to df» a profitable business.

The impregnable position held by Lincoln as the distributing center of all the vast territory covered by this system, can be better understood bv studying a Burlington map than by reading pages of argument. It will show that the main C. B. & Q. line from Chicago enters Nebraska at Plattsmouth, twenty miles south of Omaha, comes directlv to liincoln and west to Denver. Lincoln is situated almost midway between these great cities, being 555 miles from Chicago and 484 miles from Denver. From this city four additional trunk lines extend in as many directions. These, as Avell as the main line, cover a large territory with their branches. Taken in the order of their importance to the city, the Wyoming branch ought to be considered first. This is an extension of the old Midland Pacific from York through Aurora and (Traiid Island, up into Custer county, and on to the new citv of Alliance, in Box Butte county, 360 miles from Lincoln. From Alliance, a branch is now being constructed to the Black Hills, in Wyoming, 168 miles to the northwest. Another line will, without doubt, be pushed west from Alliance, perhaps to the Yellowstone rey;ion, and on to a connection with the Northern Pacific. This road traverses a very promising region. Between Lincoln and Broken Bow the country is famous for its fertility. Between Broken Bow and Alliance the live stock industry will always thrive. The Box Butte region is excellent for agricultural products again, and AV>omino; is rich in minerals and has inexhaustible beds of coal. Lincoln is the terminus of this road. All trains are made up here, and the entire line is managed from this city. Two passenger trains each way as far as Ravenna and one the remainder of the distance to Alliance, enable the people along the line to communicate easily with Ijincoln. Freight trains are obliged to make an early start in the morning for the northwest, and in the shipment of goods on this line the I.,incoln jobber is from twenty-four to forty-eight hours ahead of all competition. The entire road looks naturally to Lincoln for supplies.

Another long line on which the city finds a ready market, reaches to Ciicyenne, Wyoming, a distance of 488 miles. The natural course of traffic on this line is west to Crete, twenty miles on the main line, south to Dc Witt, thirty miles, thence west through Strang, Edgar, Blue Jlill, and Jloldredge, all junction points for north and south branches of the same system, and into Colorado and Wyoming, where

Cheyenne is the present terminus. The country traversed is exceptionally fertile, and the towns are thriving, Lincoln jobbers sell goods on the entire road.

The main line west ought to be mentioned as the road upon which the best cities of the western part of the State are situated. It runs to Denver, 484 miles, and the Lincoln jobber is able to cover 400 miles of it with profit to himself and his customer.

It will thus be seen that the B. & M. has three great lines running west out of Lincoln, which extend the entire distance across the State, which are connected by branches at frequent intervals.

The Burlington is moving toward northern Nebraska. Branches have been extended from Central City in three parallel lines, and it is probable that the road now in operation from Lincoln to Columbus will also be pushed into the North Platte region.

The southern and southeastern portions of the State are gridironed w^itli B. & M. lines, and as all roads once led to Rome, so they now lead to Lincoln. Nebraska City, fifty-five miles east, on the Missouri river, has the original Midland Pacific branch, which is now connected with the "Q" system in Iowa by means of a magnificent steel bridge opened in the past year. This gives Lincoln another connection with Chicago.

The Atchison & Nebraska became a part of a system connecting St Joe, Kansas City, and Atchison, with Lincoln, and also with Denver, by means of a line through the southern tier of counties of Nebraska, meeting at Oxford with the main line from this city. From this southern trunk three important feeders extend into Kansas.

vSome idea of the strategic position of the city Avith respect to these lines may also be gained from a visit to the offices and yards and shops. Nearly 100 trains enter the city daily on the various lines, but not a single locomotive passes through. The train crews have their head-quarters here, and the number of employes stationed here to look after the business of the company is nearly 800. The yards are the most extensive in the entire system, forty-two miles of track being inside of the yard limits.

The Lincoln passenger depot is the best owned by the system, and is the center of more business than any depot occupied by a single railroad in the country. Twenty-five passenger trains arrive and depart every day. One-half of the people entering the State come through the gateway called Lincoln.

As a means of sho\vini>' the business done here by the B. & M, system and the increase of business during the past three years, the following table will be of service:

No. Cars. I Tonnage

During 1888 the average number of men employed on the B. & M. in Lincoln was 793, to whom an average monthly wage of 143,443.50 was paid. Within the city limits are forty -two miles of track, a very large showing for a city of this size.

The Union Pacific

This road has usually been considered an Omaha road, and many are now firm in the belief that the U. P. would do nothing for Lincoln beyond that which is absolutely necessary to its own welfare; but the facts arc that the L^nion Pacific is becoming a more important road to Lincoln every year, and the management is looking toward Lincoln with favor as time passes. The road appreciates that Lincoln is an important and growing commercial center, and is willing to give all the facilities that are afforded by its immense system of road in Nebraska and Kansas. As evidence of this, the treatment given I^incoln upon the opening of the K. C. ct O. railway may be cited. This road was built to occupy vacant territory in the southwest. Extensions were made from Fairfield west to Mindcn, and tiicnce southwest to Alma. At the .same time the road was built east and north to a connection with the O. ct R. A", at Stromsburg. During the l)uilding of this line Lincoln looked upon it with suspicion. It was to be a part of the V. P. .system, and that, in the minds of many people, meant that its business must go either to Omaha or Kansas City. It was somctiiing of a surprise, then, when the road upon completion was operatetl as a line running directly out of Lincoln. Through trains were put on running from Alma to Lincoln by w'ay of Stromsburg and Valparais(j, A car goes to Omaha, but the solid train, with this exception is run through to Lincoln. That it increases the railroad busi- ness of the city not a little is shown by the fact that this train carries, according to the statements of the conductors, 150 passengers per day on an average. Equal facilities are given for reaching that line with freight, and thus it turns out that one of the most important extensions made by the Union Pacific for several years is practically a ncAV line out of Lincoln.

This city is situated on the branch connecting the Nebraska and Kansas divisions of the road, and is about midway between them- Direct connection is made with the roads traversing the northern tier of counties of the State of Kansas, and distributing rates are given tliat enable the Lincoln jobber to reach that territory on advantageous terms. The L^nion Pacific system in Nebraska includes the main line from Omaha west and a number of important branches. On all of those lines tlie Lincoln merchant has nearly the same facilities and rates as are enjoyed by Omaha. In connection with the Kock Island the road forms a through line to Chicago, and a good pijrtion of the "in" business comes over this road. For "out" business this system is very important. The main line and brandies traverse nearly forty Nebraska counties, nearly all of them favorably located and capable of sustaining a large population. Lincoln goods go out over the system to Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho, according to the statements made by the jobbers and also by the agents of the company. The buiness of the Lincoln offices has increased steadily since the road was built into the city. When the Missouri Pacific and the Elkhorn were completed to this point, they shared with the older roads the Eastern traffic. The Union Pacific was able to give them a liberal portion of it and still receive for its own share a much larger tonnage in 1886 than in 1885, and a still greater increase in the two following years. Although the exact figures of the business cannot be given, the local agent, Mr. Miller, gives the information that the increase has been most wonderful in the past three years. This city has thr<iugh trains or excellent connections on all the roads of the Union Pacific system, which includes over 1,000 miles of road in this State and fully as much in Kansas, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Idah*., all regularly traveled bv salesmen from Lincoln jobbing houses.

The Missouri Pacific

THE MISSOURI PACIFIC. When (uuild built liisfii>t Nebraska extension, in 1880, he thought that Ijincoln was too insi_i>nilicant a city to reach with his main line, and lie therefore passed it thirty miles to the east. This was a mistake, as the managers of the road soon discovered. In a few years a Lincoln branch was projected, and in 188(J it was completed to this city. This line caused not a little of the unparalleled prosperity of the last three vears. By giving a direct road to St. Louis shorter than the Omaha line, it placed the jobbers at an advantage which they understood and knew how to use. Freights on all southern business are now the same as to Omaha, and a« the out rate is lower than from Omaha, the Lincoln jobber is very well cared for on all goods from the south- -ern market. The r<»ad was also important in opening up the coal fields of the south, and in bringing the yellow pine and oak and other hard woods of the Missouri and Arkansas to Lincoln. The importance of the traffic from that region is great, and it is swelling in volimie from year to year. The system includes about 7,000 miles of Toad. Kansas City and St. Louis are reached by two daily trains. Through cars run from Lincoln to Kansas City, where close connections are made for trains to all points on the system, east, west, and south. This has become a favorite route for the traveler who does not care to pass through Chicago, but would prefer to visit the cities further south. The road has also done a large California business in Lincoln, taking the traveler over the southern route.

The Missouri Pacific was wanted by the city because it Avas thought that it would be particularly valuable in bringing in coal and lumber. The books of the freight office show that it has filled every promise in this regard. Yellow pine, hard wood, coal, and southern products, form the bulk of the business. A considerable amount of miscellaneous freight is also brought from the east via St. Louis. By comparinir the record of the year month by month with that of 1888, it is found that the business of the Lincoln freight office has increased fully fifty per cent for the entire year.

The Northwestern

Previous to 188G the wholesale trade of the city of Lincoln was confined to the soutii half of the State of Nebraska. The territory occupied was known to be by far the most fertile })ortion,but still it was felt thai much advantage would result from a connection with the entire State. A line reaching the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley was particularly desired, as that would not only give access to the entire Elkhorn system in Nebraska, but the Northwestern system reaching to Chicago and to the great lumber districts of the north. At one time a company was organized to build the Lincoln & Fremont road, in order to secure such a connection, but the enterprise failed. It is, perhaps, well that it did, for in a short time the city was able to attract a branch of the road.

Lincoln became a city on the Northwestern lines in 1886, the Elkhorn railway building a branch from Fremont. Direct connection was thus obtained with a system of road covering 7,005 miles, 1,252 miles of this belonging to the Elkhorn, over 1,000 being in Nebraska. The main line extends from Blair, on the Missouri river a short distance north of Omaha, to Fremont, on the Union Pacific in Dodge county. From that point it follows the valley of the Elkhorn river toward the northwest, and traverses the entire northern portion of the State. At Chadron, in the extreme northwest, a branch diverges to tap the Black Hills, while the main line continues until the Wyoming coal fields are reached. There are numerous feeders : one connects Lincoln with Fremont, another gives Omaha connection with the main line. It will be seen that the branch to this city is in general direction a continuation of the main line. It places Lincoln practically the same distance away from the main line as Omaha. The two competing cities have the same out rates and the same train service- They are on an equality in battling for the business of Northern Nebraska.

In the year 1885 the State Legislature of Nebraska passed a law adopting the commissioner system of railroad control, a system which so far has proved to be the best devised for regulating and controlling the operations of railroads. The State Constitution expressly forbids the creating of any new State offices, and hence to get around this constitutional impediment, the law provides that the Board of Commissioners shall consist of the Secretary of State, Auditor of Public Accounts, Attorney General, Treasurer, and Commissioner of Public Lands and Buildings, who shall appoint three secretaries, to whom the duties of the board are in a large degree delegated. Accordingly the present "State Board of Transportation" is composed of Hon. G. L. Laws;, T. H. Benton, William Leese, J. E. Hill, and John Steen. The ^r^ecretaries are J. R. Gilkeson, L. W. Gilchrist, and W. S. Garber. The law of 1885 provided that the Auditor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General should constitute the board, but the law of 1887 added to these officers the Treasurer and Commissioner of Public Lands and Buildings.

Taken all together Lincoln's railroad facilities are unsurpassed in the West, and the extent to which the business done by her roads hasgrown is the surest and best indication of the wonderful growth of the business of the city.

As Lincoln is well equipped with railroad lines, so is she with telegraph lines and express facilities. The Western Union is, of course, here, and has been ever since the coming of the first railroad. The Pacific Mutual, or the Postal Telegraph Cable Company, has been in operation in the city for nearly four years, and does a thriving business.

At the time of the settlement of I^iincoln, the express business of all the country w^est of the Missouri river was by common consent of all the other express companies, conceded to be the exclusive territory of the Wells-l'^argo Express Company, with headquarters at San Francisco^ That company established an office in Lincoln early in 1868, with Austin Humphrey as agent. He conducted the business in one corner of the Humphrey Brothers' hardware store, in the old frame building^ that stood on the northwest corner of ninth and O streets, on the ground now occupied by the fiv6 story brick block of the same firm.

In a few years the increased business requiring the exclusive time «»f an agent, W. H. Wallace, an experienced expressman, was sent here to take charge of tlie business, opening a regular office on ninth street, between (> and P, with a new wagon, and Morris Turner as clerk.

In the sunnncr of 1875 the Union Pacific Railroad Company decided to do the express business of its line, and as this was the only railroad upcjn which the Wells Fargo operated, and as the territory was isolated from the headcjuarters at San Francisco, and as the business of the company was greatly reduced by the grasshopj)ers of 1873, 1874, 1875, the company on July 1, 1875, withdrew from its business, and abandoned all its territory east of Ogden. Its place was immediately filled by the Liiion Pacific Express Company, on the Unioa

Lincoln S Railroads, Etc

Pacific railroad ; the American Express Company, then operating on the C. B. & Q. system, taking the B. & M.; the United States Express Company, operating on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific and Kansas City & Council Bluifs, taking the Midland Pacific from Brownville to Seward, and the A. & X. from Atchison to Lincoln.

The American Company took the office and fixtures, with the agent of the Wells- Fargo Company and the United States Company occupied a frame building on Tenth street, back of the First National Bank, with Mr, DeKay as agent. The frame building referred to had done duty for years on the comer now occupied by the First Na- tional Bank, as a first class fiimily grocery, kept by Thomas Sewell. In November, 1875, J. S. Atwood having extended the Union block on O street to the alley between Tenth and Eleventh, the American Express removed its office to the room next the alley, the agent living in rooms above, stairs leading down into the office.

On July 1, 1876, Mr. Wallace was succeeded by S. W. Chapman, who held the agency until December 1, 1880, when he was succeeded by S. J. Roberts. During this time the growth of business of the companies was more than 300 per cent. In February, 1877, Mr. DeKay, agent of the United States Company, was succeeded by J. E.

R. Millar, who still holds the place; and the office was moved to the Union Block, on O street. In May, 1884, Mr. Roberts, agent of the American Company, gave place to J. L. Hopkins, who held the place until June, 1887, when he Mas succeeded by C. S. Potter, Avho was in turn succeeded in .lanuary, 1888, by C R. Teas, who now occupies the position.

When the Southern Pacific completed its connection with the Santa Fe at Deming, N. M., the Wells-Fargo Company began a systematic warfare to recapture the West Missouri territory abandoned by it five or six years previous. After fighting more than a year with the Adams Express Company on the Sante Fe road, the Wells-Fargo Company finally succeeded in driving its competitor out of the territory west of Kansas City, and then demanded the surrender of Nebraska. The American Company retired from the B. tt M., but tlie United States Company for several months held on to the A. & N., it and the Wells- Fargo running opposition, with two messengers on each train, and two agents at each station. At length the United States Company grew tired, and the Union Pacific railroad being completed to Lincoln in 1880, the United States Company turned its business, with agent, office, etc., over to the Pacific Express Company, and retired from all the field Avest of Omaha. Early in 1886 the Missouri Pacific came into Lincoln with the Pacific Express Company, which had worked on to that line, giving the city direct communication with St. Louis and all the lines belonging to that great system. In the fall of the same year the Elkhorn line came in with the Wells-Fargo Company in connection Avith the American Express, opening Lincoln to the Black Hills, Minneapolis, Chicago, and all the 5,000 miles of the Chicago & North Avestern system.

Ijincoln now has in name but two express companies - the Wells- Fargo and the Pacific - although really Avith the advantage of the four ; the Wells-Fargo and the American being under the control of one company, and the Pacific and L^^nited States being consolidated.

State Institutions. 21 & Chapter Xvi

State Institutions - The Penitentiary - Hospital for the Insane - Home for the Friendless - The Penitentiary Revolt - Warden Nobes's Story of that Occurrence- Some of the Principal Actors - New Incidents of the revolt - The Explosion at the Asylum.

At the time the Commissioners had in consideration the selection of a site for the location of the capital, Messrs. W. T. Donovan, of Lancaster, Nebraska, and Hon. G. H. Hilton, of Cincinnati, O., as an inducement to the Commissioners to select the present site, offered to donate to the State forty acres of land, situated about two and one-half miles south of the town of Lancaster, upon the express condition that said land should be reserved by the Commissioners, and used by the State as the site of the proposed penitentiary. Upon the final decision locating the seat of government, this grant was accepted and the reservation and location made accordingly, it being understood that in case the State Penitentiary should not be erected upon this site, the same should revert to Mr. Hilton, in whom the legal title was then vested. This explains why the penitentiary is located in a hollow instead of being on the hill either this side or beyond.

Among the subjects for legislation named by the Governor to be submitted to a special session of the Legislature, called to meet in Lincoln, in February, 1870, was that of erecting a State Penitentiary, and providing for the care and custody of State prisoners. Accordingly an act to provide for both these objects was passed at that session, and received the approval of the Governor on the 4th day of March, 1870. The act provided for the election of three State Prison Inspectors, who were to take charge of the sale of lands for the raising of the necessary funds, and also of tiie erection of the buildings. A temporary building was immediately erected on the ground to accommodate the present necessities, which did duty until the new building was completed, and which now stands within the prison walls.

Stout, then of Washington county, Nebraska, and J. M. Jamison, of Des Moine.<, la., were granted the contract for $312,000. The work, as far as the contract extended, was completed in the fall of 1876, but since then numerous additions have been made to the capacity of the institution. At the opening of the penitentiary the number of prisoners was 18, but at present nearly 400 boarders are accommodated.

Henry C. Campbell was tiie first warden, appointed and he was succeeded by William AVoodhurst, in 1873, during whose wardenship occurred the famous "revolt" among the prisoners, on January 11, 1875.

About four o'clock in the afternoon of that day, Deputy AVarden C. J. Nobes stood with his hand upon the latch of the door that gave admission to the old stable which was then used as a shop for the convict stone-cutters. The window panes near by were covered with frost. Had they been clear, so that he might have seen into the shop, or had he seen the eyes that peered out at him through the little holes that had been scraped through the frost, he would not have entered. But no suspicion of anything wrong had entered his mind, and he opened the door quickly and stepped in. If his pulse did not beat a trifle quicker as he did so, his must have been an extraordinarily imperturbable nature. As he closed the door there .stepped quickly from behind it twelve men whom he recognized by a hasty and comprehensive glance as the most desperate convicts in the prison. Wm. ]\IcWaters, who was afterward killed by a guard while attempting to incite a revolt, stood immediately in front of Mr. Nobes, with the muzzle of a revolver which he had taken from the guard almost touching the warden's face. Quin Bohanan, afterward a murderer, stood near by with a pick i-aised over the warden's head. Grouped around tiicm, armed with stone-hammers, which their vengeful and detei-mined faces showed they wonld not hesitate to use, Avere AN'arrel, McKenna, Thompson, Gerry, Elder, and five others, equally desperate but not as well known as these leaders.

A glance was sufficient to reveal everything to the warden. A conspiracy to take the prison had been formed, the guards in the shop had b(>en overpowered and disarmed, and the conspirators had lain in wait for the warden. Their plan had worked admirably, and when Mr. Nobes was invited to surrender, he replied, "All right boys; wiiat do vou want?"

State Institutions

Nobes had always conveyed the impression that he did not carry a "gun," and his heart gave a throb of hope at McWaters's remark. ^'I began to work my hand around to my liip pocket, kind of careles= like," he says when he tells of the experience, " but Bohanan soon discovered what I was doing, and catching my hand, with the remark, 'I'll take care of that,' took my revolver from my pocket."

The conspirators let him have his own way about it, and soon had him stripped to his underclothes. It was suggested that they put a striped suit on him, but he told them they could not do that, and they contented themselves with dressing him in a teamster's clothes. It was then suggested that they shave him, but he declared that he would not submit to it. It was finally put to a vote, and Elder and Jennings voted to shave him, while the other ten voted against it. The barber, who had been brought in, was accordingly not called upon to exercise his art upon the warden.

The convicts sat their prisoner in a chair, tying his hands behind it, and tying the chair to a post. The guard was disposed of in the same way at the other end of the shop.

McWaters then arrayed himself in the warden's clothes, and blacked the sides of his face with the stove poker, so as to represent the warden's whiskers. Taking Nobes's heavy cane, McWaters formed seven of the men in line and marched them across the yard to the cell house and warden's quarters. The guards on the walls saw the moving group, but as they marched in the usual manner, each with his right hand on the shoulder of the man in front, and as McWaters was dressed in the deputy's suit and carried his cane, nothing was suspected.

The convicts found the doors open, and had no difficulty in making Warden Woodhurst and the guards prisoners. They then went to the armory, sending one of their number to Nobes for the key to the door. He pointed out the key to the dispensary, and declared that it was the key to the armory, knowing that if they had to force the armory door open they would be likely to alarm the guards on the

Malls, whom, of course, they hiul had no opportunity of capturing. Thev did liave to batter down the door, but the guards had in the meantime been alarmed in quite another manner.

Four men had been left to watcli the deputy warden, the guard Cochran, and Mr. C. B. Fox, who were in the stone shop. Besides the mutineers, there were about twenty other convicts in the shop, who took no part in the revolt, but kept on working. When Mc Waters and Ids seven fellow-conspirators had gone, Nobes called a convict named Johnson to him and asked him to untie him. The four conspirators left to guard him told Johnson they would kill him if he did. "You are not afraid of these fellows," said Nobes; ''you untie me and J 11 protect you." Johnson was a fellow of a good deal of nerve, but he looked at the four desperate men before him, calculated on his chances with McW^aters and his seven comrades, and said that he believed he would not take sides in the trouble either way.

It has always been supposed that Mr. Nobes succeeded in loosening his bonds himself, and tliat statement has been made in every account of the revolt. The truth is that he was released by one of the mutineers who was left to guard him. This man's name was AVarrell. Observing that the deputy was struggling to free himself, Warrell came back to him with his hammer in hand and said : "You had better keep quiet, or I'll have to tap you with this hammer."

"You wouldn't hit anybody," replied Nobes. "A man with only four years to serve here is a fool to go into a scheme like this. You untie me and I '11 get you out of here."

" They needn't know it at all," said Nobes, "and if you let me loose, Mc Waters and his gang will not get back here. You come down here and swing your hammer over my head and swear you '11 kill me, and then get down behind the chair and untie the straps, while pretending to tighten them. I tell you I will get you out of here if you '11 do it.'*

The noise made by the hammers of the men who were working enabled the convict and the imprisoned deputy to carry on this conversation without being overheard. Warrell followed the deputy's directions, and after threatening to brain him with the hammer, got down behind him, and while apparently tightening his bonds, loosened them. The other convicts were in front of the deputy, and could not see what Warrell was doing. But the deputy's feet were also tied and- there was uo way of loosening them without immediate detection. Fortunately, as Warrell rose and moved away, two shots were fired at the cell-house. Two of the mutineers went to the window, and, scratching away the frost, pressed their faces close to the window. Another one, Edwards, who stood in the door, was also watching the cell-house. All of them had forgotten their prisoner for the moment. It was a valuable moment, and Nobes made the most of it. His hands were free, and he soon succeeded in untying his feet. Lying near him was a hoe. As he sprang up and seized this, Kd\vards, who stood in the door, saw him and gave the alarm ; but it was too late. The deputy swung the hoe into the air and knocking Edwards, crowbar and all, over a pile of stone, escaped from the shop and ran across the yard to the stable. Getting out of range of the convicts' guns, he called to a guard to throw him a six-shooter, and taking this in hand, he went back to the stone shop. Arrived here, he made Thompson, one of the mutineers, untie the guard, and the two got outside the walls.

There was a board wall at the southwest corner of the yard, and the plan of the mutineers was to dress themselves in citizens' clothes, procured from the warden and guards, secure arms from the armory, kill the guard at the southwest turret, and escape at nightfall. The two shots which attracted the attention of the conspirators left to guard the deputy, and which gave him the opportunity to escape, were fired at the guard in this turret. His name was Julius Grosjean. The first shot cut his vest and the second wounded him slightly in the leg.

It took the deputy warden but a short time, when he had regained his liberty, to get the guards together and dispose of them to the best advantage. They were stationed at knot-holes and other improvised port-holes where they could command the yard, and were instructed to shoot the first man who came into the yard with a gun. Innings, one of the mutineers, appeared at the kitchen window with a gun, and the deputy himself drew a bead on him and fired. The man disappeared. After the surrender Nobes learned that he had gone up stairs and surrendered to the warden. A bullet-hole in the casement and a scratch on Innings's neck gave evidence of the accuracy of the deputy's aim.