Green City (part 13 of 14)

But a few days later we-met the real relief trains, sent out by the generous-hearted people of Sacramento and San Francisco, on the report of the earlier emigrants, that there was likely to be terrible suffering among those yet to follow, these trains not only affording needed relief to those in the the Carson Valley, but crossing the desert, and extending their humanitarian efforts some distance up the Humboldt.

Packinc Becomes GENERAL. - Owing to the weakness of our animals, and the extreme labor of getting wagons over the almost impassable ridges of the Sierras, the rest of us, except the Tallmadge messes, also concluded to pack the balance of the way. We left our wagon and tent intact, and such other conveniences as we had 'to dispense with, in good order. Another company with ox-team, observing our operations asked permission to substitute our lighter wagon for their heavier one, which was granted on condition that they would leave theirs standing in like good order. Many "household": conveniences, of course, had to be abandoned with the wagons and tents, but nearly every one had some highly cherished article that he very greatly desired to carry through. The writer, for instance, slung his nice little seven and a half pound rifle across his shoulders, but in a day or two it became so burdensome, that he "cheerfully" gave it away. So, also, with McMasters and his drum - his constant companion for twenty years, and which was such a source of comfort to us all upon the journey - light as it was it got so heavy that on the second morning of our packing life, it was left, not exactly "hanging upon the willows," but on the limb of a large cottonwood tree.

Carson Valley, which we traversed for about 100 miles, was © really the Garden of Eden of our journey, abounding in innumerable streams of fresh water, luxuriant meadows of timothy, clover and other wholesome grasses, with a sufficiency of fuel for culinary purposes.

CROSSING THE SIERRA NEvADAS. - Taking leave of Carson Valley, we pass through a five-mile zig-zag canon with vertical walls a thousand feet in height, traversed by a rapid mountain creek with many difficult crossings, in which many of the animals of the earlier emigrants had stuck fast and perished, though before our arrival the approaching relief parties had humanely constructed corduroy bridges over the worst of them.

Getting through this canon, we encountered a succession of 'beautiful valleys sandwiched between lofty and almost inaccessible mountains, up and down the craggy sides of which men and animals climb with the utmost difficulty, and over which wagons and other similar commodities had to be carried, piece by piece, and hoisted and lowered over the most difficult places, by ropes.

OvER PERPETUAL SNOow. - The tops of these mountains were covered with snow, and on ascending the highest, properly denominated "Snow Mountain" - 10,000, feet above sea-level - on July 31, we passed over hard-packed snow apparently from 50 to 100 feet in depth, the continual tramping of animals and men with a slight softening by the midday sun, having sunk the traveled road from fifteen to twenty feet below the general level. Overcoats and blankets were by no means uncomfortable at high noon, while in the valleys where we encamped, ice would form upon the streams at night nearly half an inch in thickness.

On THE Home Stretcu. - On the western slope of the Sierras, the road was tolerably good but feed scarce and difficult of access, being found only in narrow valleys and ravines, considerable distance from the road. But way-side (tent) groggeries were abundant, and it was strange to see men, reputed to have been abstemious and thoroughly temperate at home, throwing off all restraint, and becoming uproariously intoxicated on this the last stage of their long and perilous journey, though I am happy to say our entire company should be excepted from that imputation.

Hay Five Hundred Dollars Per Ton

grass three miles from the road, we found one of these whisky shops - a cloth affair - called the "Mountain House," the proprietors of which had caused all the grass of the meadow in question to be cut, cured, hauled to the road and stacked, to be sold to the incoming immigrants at 25 cents per pound, or at the rate of $500.00 per ton. Other similar philanthropists were found further on, every available blade of grass being thus appropriated, though the price declined, first to 20, then to 15 cents per pound, or $300.00 per ton. Ofcourse, the owners of animals had to have it, our mess treating each of our eight head of stock to half a pound or so, each, twice a day.

FAIRLY IN THE "DiccInGs."'--On the westward slope of the Sierra Nevadas we saw large areas of the more diminutive of the celebrated big trees of California - one of the smaller of which, a redwood, straight as an arrow, having been broken off several feet from the ground, and with the top entirely gone, measured five feet in diameter and 240 feet in length.

Leaving our last camp about 8 o'clock, on Sunday morning, August 4, 1850, at 10 o'clock we rode triumphantly into the mining town then known by the confidence-inspiring name of " Hangtown," .so-called because of the summary execution, by strangulation, of two or three offenders against the unwritten "code" of the mines, on a tree standing in front of the principal (cloth) hotel of the village, a year or so before. It has since been known by the more euphonious, and equally appropriate name of " Placerville."

Here we found several Akronians, the Garrett crowd having got into the "diggings" about two weeks ahead of us, and having had about the same p/easurable experiences that we had enjoyed. Here, too - Sunday though it was - our animals and other saleable effects were disposed of - the four horses for $250.00 and the four mules for $175.00, just about one-half what they had originally cost us.

We had now been just four months and a half from home, ninety-four days of which had been consumed in making the journey from the Missouri river, a distance, by the route traveled, of just about 2,000 miles, involving, in addition to the time consumed, an amount of labor, fatigue and privation that can scarcely be conceived by those who now, in a palace car, perform the journey in less than one week.,

In rHE GOLDEN MErTrRopo.is. - Spending one day in the mines, among old acquaintances and obtaining a little inkling of the modus operandi of delving for, and the immense amount of downright hard labor involved in securing, the coveted metal, I hied me to Sacramento City, and after spending a day with the "boys" there, to San Francisco, where I remained until the first day of September, 1852, my rooms being the headquarters of the Summit county boys, when visiting the Bay City, either on business, or en route trom the mines for home, via the Isthmus, or, by the same route, from home to the mines; also, during the entire two years, writing semi-monthly letters to the BEACON, and part of the time to the Democratic Standard, thus keeping the good people at home largely advised of the movements and welfare of their loved ones upon the Pacific coast.

command, a full history of the individual fortunes and misfortunes of all of those who went from Summit county to California, in those early days. It should, perhaps, suffice to say that while a few "struck it" reasonably rich, and a somewhat larger few secured fair compensation for time and labor expended, and the privations endured, the great majority of those who lived to get home, were infinitely worse off, financially, physically, and, in some instances, morally, than when they started.

One of the great drawbacks to the success of the average miner, was restlessness andimpatience. Getting fairly at work on aclaim yielding a fair return for his day's labor - say $6 or $8 - reports reach him that in the newly discovered "Humbug Diggings," one hundred or two hundred miles away, from $100 to $500 can be gathered in a day,and incontinently off he goes, to find either every inch of the new territory occupied, or the dust less. plenteous than in his former, claim in which, meantime, his more patient successor may have struck a regular bonanza. Then off he goes again.to some other reputed rich placers or gulches, only to be again disappointed, and so on to the end of the chapter.

AxrRoN's BONANZA KinG. - For several years previous to 1850, Akron had for acitizen, one "Abe" Curry, by profession a horsejockey. With a companion named Gould, prospecting in the mountains, these two men stumbled upon a rich quartz-lead, and not having the money to purchase the necessary machinery for its development, the ''Gould and Curry Mining Company" was organized, an agreed upon ratio of stock being assigned to them, as a consideration for the find, but not sufficient to give them a controlling voice in the management of the affairs of the corporation. A few years later, by combinations, watering the stock, and other sharp practices, though millions upon millions of dollars were extracted from the mine, the original discoverers, and other small shareholders, were completely "frozen out," and at last accounts our "Abe" was reported to be impecuniously and nearly hopelessly prospecting for another find - and has probably long ere this, in miner's parlance, "passed in his checks."

FamiLy Tres STRONGER THAN LOVE oF GoLp. - While thousands upon thousands braved the dangers and privations of the plains, mountains, ocean, etc., to better the condition of their families, there were innumerable instances where men who had been separated from their loved ones for several months, voluntarily abandoned the fortunes within their very grasp, for the purpose of expediting their return, of which class Akron furnished the following notable examples:

One of the writer's most intimate friends, both before and since, Mr. Lewis Hanscom - the younger of the well-known Hanscom brothers - had been in California some eight or nine months without making any particular headway. In the Spring of 1851, pooling his little "pile" of some $450, with like amounts furnished by two other gentlemen, they opened a miners' hotel and boarding house, called the "Kastern Exchange," on Long Wharf, in San Francisco. Besides paying a rental of $600 per month, and the expense of fitting up (which occupied about a week) and all their help, their profits the first month were equal to their entire investment. During the three succeeding months their net monthly profits were $600 each.

Successes, Reverses, Homesickness, Etc

Coming into my place of business one day, Hanscom informed me that he had sold out and was going home. "Sold out!" I exclaimed in surprise, "at what figure?" 'Six hundred dollars," he replied. "Lew Hanscom," I responded, "You're an egregious fool! After struggling and striving for nearly a year to get into a paying business, now that, on a $450 investment, you are clearing $600 per month, to sell out for $600, and go home witha paltry $3,000, when by holding on a few months you could realize enough to make you independent for life."

"Tane," said he, with quivering lips, and tears coming into his eyes, 'I've got a wife and four little girls in Akron, and I would give one hundred dollars apiece to see them this very minute." The secret was out - homesickness. Itis proper toadd that "Lew" subsequently seeing 'where he missed it," returned to California, this time taking his loved ones with him, where a fair degree of prosperity has attended his efforts, his time being now about equally divided between his San Francisco home and a valuable farm in Ashtabula county, Ohio, of which he is the proprietor.

OTHER SIMILAR CaAsEs.-- Similar were the cases of Akron's two well-known bakers, Henry McMasters and William Sinclair, who came home on the same vessel with Mr. Hanscom. They had been in California nearly three-fourths of a year without getting a start, when they established a bakery in a new mining camp, a hundred miles or so above Sacramento City. At the end of three months they divided $2,700 net profits each, over and above their investment, when they sold out their rapidly increasing business for about what the fixtures had cost them, and pulled out for home.

On being interrogated by me as to the cause of their foolishness, Mr. Mac. said that his wife kept writing, "come home! come home!" declaring that she would rather live in a cabin, in poverty, than have him longer away, and that Mrs. Howe had written him that his wife was pining her life away, on account of his absence, and as he had got more than he thought would satisfy him when he started, he couldn't bear to stay away from home any longer. Sinclair's reasons were similar, both ever afterwards régretting their folly.

ComMEerciAL Urs ANpd Downs.--Mr. James G. Dow, whose trials and tribulations in reaching California, ria the Isthmus, in 1849, have already been described, after barely subsisting on such odd jobs as he could pick up for several months, finally, with a young man from Massachusetts, engaged in the auction business, closing up in October, 1850, with about $20,000 each. Charles G. Caldwell, another Akron Forty-niner, who had accumulated some money in the. milk, butter and egg business, at Sacramento, in company with the writer suéceeded Dow & Co. with a cash investment of $3,000, with the prospect of making money as rapidly as their predecessors had done. But, by reason of the stagnation of business caused by the breaking out of the cholera on that coast, and the over-importation of all kinds of merchandise, Caldwell & Co., at the end of five months, instead of having cleared $40,000, had sunk their entire capital, and were $1,500 in debt for rent. Caldwell, returning to his cows and chickens, continued to do well for a year or two, but in an evil hour invested in a quartz mill, dying, in San Francisco, some two or three years ago, in abject poverty.

Charles W.'Tappan, proprietor of the well-remembered Tappan Hall block, on East Market street, after nearly dying from a gunshot wound and Panama fever, upon the Isthmus, in the Spring of 1851 arrived in San Francisco without a dollar. :

Entering into partnership with a Mr. Guild, of Cincinnati (the latter furnishing $3,000 capital on which he was to draw ten per cent. a month interest), he engaged in the same business (auction) that had so recently swamped Caldwell & Co., and at the end of the first month, besides expense of fitting up, help, and the stipulated ten per cent. to Mr. Guild, Mr. Tappan's share of the profits was $2,700.

Dow and his former partner, having meantime returned from the East, purchased Mr. Guild's interest, the business continuing equally profitable for a year or two longer, when they entered into a general jobbing trade in which their gains were larger still, finally retiring from this business, two or three years later, possessing from $125,000 to $150,000 each. Tappan invested in real estate and embarked in the lumber and coal business. Fora time his profits were larger than ever, but after a year or two a panicky shrinkage in values of the large stocks of coal and lumber that he had purchased, and of his real estate, the title to most of which proved worthless, every dollar was sunk, a calamity from which he never recovered, afterwards keeping lodging houses, fot longer or shorter periods at Elko, Nevada, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Deadwood, Wyoming Territory, being killed at the latter place, in March, 1878, by a pistol-shot at the hands of a drunken gambler whom he was endeavoring. to eject from his premises; Mrs. Tappan dying at Oakland, California, in absolute poverty, in 1888.

Mr. Dow, also, swamped everything in real estate speculations, except a few thousand dollars, invested in the name of his wife, in the stock of the "Gould & Curry," on which, after three years of litigation, in resistance to the "freezing out" process referred to, in 1867 she obtained a judgment for $36,000 in gold, which, bearing a high premium at the time, netted her from $50,000 to $60,000 in currency, one-half of which was securely invested in New York City, by Mrs. D.; Mr. D., after sinking about one-half of the balance in mining operations, in Montana, investing the residue in, and becoming the cashier of, the First National Bank of Bozeman, where he died in the Winter of 1881, '82.

Tor SummiInc Up. - Many incidents and reminiscences of California life - floods, fires, earthquakes, murders and robberies, vigilance committee operations, ete - - might be given that would doubtless be exceedingly interesting to the present generation, as well as to surviving gold-seekers themselves, But space forbids.

It may be proper, however, in summing up, to say, that while a very large percentage failed to realize their expectations, Summit county may congratulate herself that she did her full share in the commercial, agricultural and financial development of one of by Sigs intelligent, enterprising and loyal states in the American

Chapter Evi Early Crimes And Other Incidents Within The Present Limits Of

EARLY CRIMES AND OTHER INCIDENTS WITHIN THE PRESENT LIMITS OF SUMMIT COUNTY - CAPTAIN SAMUEL BRADY'S FLIGHT AND WONDERFUL LEAP FOR LIFE - SHOOTING OF DANIEL DIVER, OF DEERFIELD, BY THE SENECA INDIAN, JOHN MOHAWK - PURSUIT OF INDIANS INTO HUDSON, BOSTON AND RICHFIELD - KILLING OF NICKSHAW, AND ESCAPE OF MOHAWK - CAPTURE, TRIAL AND ACQUITTAL OF THE INDIAN CHIEF, BIGSON, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF HIS TRIBE - SHOOTING OF CANAL DRIVER, NATHAN CUMMINS, BY ABNER S. BARRIS - CAPTURE OF THE MURDERER - EXAMINA- - TION BEFORE JUSTICE JACOB BROWN, OF AKRON - TRIAL IN SUPREME COURT OF PORTAGE COUNTY - CONVICTED OF MURDER IN SECOND DEGREE - SENTENCED TO PENITENTIARY FOR LIFE - SUBSEQUENT DEATH, ETC.

Pioneer Life And Incident

HOUGH, of course, largely traditional, the thrilling adventures, and the wonderful nerve and prowess attributed to our pioneer settlers, in their contact with the aboriginal owners and occupants of the beautiful country which their descendants and successors now inhabit, possess an interest and charm that will steadily increase as the years go by.

Among the most authentic, as well as among. the most heroic, of those early episodes, in which Summit county has a direct interest, were the wonderful exploits of Captain Samuel Brady, briefly narrated as follows:

CaprTaIn SAMUEL Brapy. - Captain Brady, who is described as of medium stature, but of wonderful nerve and great power of endurance, was a resident of Western Pennsylvania, on Chartier's creek, near the Ohio river, and was one of the most daring and successful, of the many daring and successful "Indian Hunters" of those early times. The cause of his implacable hostility to the Indian is said to have been the massacre, by a marauding expedition from the Falls of the Cuyahoga, of several families in the neighborhood where he, when a boy, resided with an uncle, he alone escaping; another boy about his own age - an adopted son of his uncle - named Simon Girty, being captured and carried into captivity by the Indians. Young Brady then swore eternal hostility to the entire savage race, and as he grew to manhood, most faithfully and fearfully did he fulfil his oath.

Tradition is rife with his almost innumerable and superhuman efforts in this direction; but with one, only, can we properly deal. And of events immediately leading to this, in the data before us, there are several different versions. One account states that about the year 1780, on one of his excursions west of the Ohio river, accompanied by three or four trusted companions, they were surprised, near the Sandusky river, his companions all killed, and himself captured and taken to the Sandusky Indian village. 'There was great rejoicing over his capture, and great preparations were made for torturing him by slowly burning him at the stake. While the ghastly preparations for his torture were going forward before his eyes, Brady recognized, in one of the chiefs who had come in to take part in the savage pow-wow, his youthful friend,. Simon Girty, who, grown to manhood among his captors, had adopted their customs, and by his prowess, risen to the high position he then occupied. Brady appealed to his former playmate to assist him to escape, but without avail. :

A DESPERATE EXPEDIENT. - The hour of execution arrived; the captive was lashed to the stake; the combustibles were laid; the fires were lighted; the savage orgies commenced; the flames circled nearer and nearer; the withes about his arms and legs began to crackle from the effects of the heat; but, watching his opportunity, he suddenly, by almost superhuman strength, broke the bands that held him to the stake, and seizing a handsome young squaw, who was circling near, threw her upon the blazing faggots, and, in the confusion of the moment, made his escape into the darkness. of the surrounding forest.

The very audacity of this act, and the momentary horror and panic resulting therefrom, delayed pursuit, until a considerable distance into the wilderness had been gained by the fugitive. A vigorous pursuit was begun, however, and kept up forover a hundred miles to, and across, the Cuyahoga river, in what is now the township of Northampton.

Another version of the story is that Brady and his companions. were following a band of Indians, who were returning from a predatory excursion into Pennsylvania, and that on nearing the Cuyahoga river, in the present township of Northampton, they encountered a larger force of Indians than they could successfully cope with, and that Brady, ordering his men to separate, and each takea different direction, himself started directly east, toward what is now the village of. Kent, in Portage county, with the entire band howling like demons at his heels; his companions being too small game to merit consideration at their hands.

"Bravy's Lear'' - Whichever of these and of the several other versions is the correct one, all accounts of the flight from the Cuyahoga river eastward, the pursuit and escape, are substantially agreed. To properly understand the situation, it should be stated that the Cuyahoga river, rising in Geauga county, pursues a southwesterly course through Portage county into Summit, where, a mile and a half north of Akron, it turns abruptly to the north, emptying into Lake Erie at Cleveland. Thus, in going from Bath, in Summit county, to Ravenna, in Portage county, on a direct line, two crossings of the river would necessarily have to be made.

Brady forged steadily ahead, intending to make the eastern crossing at a point known as "Standing Stone," a short distance above the present village of Kent. The Indians, however, being in considerable force, divining his intentions, had spread themselves out in that direction, and were making a superhuman effort to intercept him before he could gain the crossing. Seeing this, Brady sought to turn to the right and make acrossing lower down; but in this, also, the Indians had anticipated him, and were likely to head him off there, too.

In this extremity, Brady's mind was instantly made up to attempt the dread alternative - a leap for life across the rocky gorge, with a span of nearly, or quite, 22 feet, a few rods above the present site of the fine stone bridge across the Cuyahoga river at the village of Kent. The Indians, who were now close upon his heels, could have killed him at any moment, by a shot from any one of their rifles; but their great object and desire was to secure him alive, in order to glut their savage and brutal vengeance upon him; never dreaming that he would attempt what the most agile among their own number would not dare tu do.

PERILOUS PREDICAMENT. - On, on, they come, yelling like demons incarnate. Their hated foe is, in imagination, already within their fiendish clutches. The brink of the precipice appears in view, with no perceptible diminution of speed, of either the pursued or the pursuers. Knowing full well the terrible death that awaits him, if taken alive, and reflecting that the failure of the attempt he was about to make could only result in a less cruel death, Brady summoned all his remaining powers of body and mind for the one supreme effort of his life, and, to the horror of his pursuers, sprang boldly across the fearful chasm.

The point whence he sprang was a large flat overhanging rock, from twenty-five to thirty feet above the surface of the water; the opposite side, also overhanging the river, being somewhat lower, and covered with small evergreen trees and bushes. In landing, Brady struck upon the edge of this bushy projection, and came near falling back into the seething waters below; but, clutching hold of the scraggy bushes, he finally drew himself upward and forward, and escaped into the timber, on the east side of the river.

The Indians, for a moment, could only hold up their hands in sheer astonishment, and utter unintelligible ejaculations of surprise. Realizing, as they almost immediately did, that their prey was about to escape them, several shots were fired at him, as he was clambering up the bank, only one of which took effect, producing an ugly flesh wound in the right thigh.

Tue Fuiciur Nor Yer EnpEp. - Taking a momentary breathing spell, to recover somewhat from the shock of his fall upon the edge of the ledge, Brady, though suffering severely from his wound, continued his flight eastward, but speedily became aware that the Indians, having effected a crossing both above and below the scene of his daring exploit, were again in pursuit, on either flank. He now made directly towards a large pond, a mile or so east of the river, where, in full view of his pursuers, he boldly plunged in, and started as if to swim to the opposite shore. After swimming a short distance, however, he dove beneath the surface, and changing his direction, made for a dense mass of pond hlies, or as some accounts state, the top of a fallen tree, under which he managed to hide himself, with his nose and mouth above the surface, and so near the shore that, understanding their language, he could hear the speculations of his bloodthirsty enemies as to his probable fate; their belief being that he had become exhausted from his long run and leap, and from the wound that, from the blood left along his track, they knew he had received, and had sunk to the bottom and drowned. The Indians, at length satisfied that their mortal enemy was surely dead, left the vicinity of the pond and retraced their steps, to tell to their astonished fellows the almost incredible story of the white man's daring "Leap for Life," and his subsequent death from drowning.

To make sure that they were not still lingering about the shores of the pond, Brady remained in his uncomfortable position through the night, when, hearing no.sound, nor seeing any signs of further pursuit, he leisurely continued his weary way to his home in the Valley of the Ohio; and from this event, and the other traditional story that upon the banks of the same pond Brady and his companions still later ambushed and slaughtered a considerable body of Indians, it has long been, and will probably continue forever to be, known as

"Brapy's LAKE." - This beautiful little lake has, within a few years, become quite a resort for picnic parties, and other Summer pleasure seekers in Portage and adjoining counties. The encroachments of modern improvements, canals, railroads, etc., to say nothing about the encroachments of time, have very greatly changed the aspect of the various points of pioneer, as well as Indian prowess and adventure, so that it is difficult, at this remote period, to tell the exact distance covered by the intrepid Brady in his alleged "leap for life.' The late Frederick Wadsworth, who pretty thoroughly investigated the matter, some forty-five years ago, found the distance from point to point to be then a trifle less than twenty-five feet. But as nearly, or quite, half a century had then gone by since the reputed adventure, it is probable that time's unceasing abrasions had already wrought a marked change upon the edges of the overhanging rock, though the leap, if made at all at the point named, which the writer sees no reason to doubt, even if but twenty-two feet, as most versions state it, was one of the most wonderful ever achieved by mortal man; although men, in desperate straits, have since been known to make wonderful leaps; three persons, within the knowledge of the writer, having been caught in the upper part of a burning building in San Francisco, Cal., in 1851, saving their lives by ascending to the roof and jumping across a sixteen-foot alley to the roof of another buiiding a few feet lower.

At the annual meeting of the Portage-Summit Pioneer Association in September, 1886, it was suggested by the secretary, Dr. A. M. Sherman, that a movement be inaugurated by the Association towards erecting a suitable monument, at the point on the river bank where Brady's wonderful leap is alleged to have been made, in commemoration of the event; a proposition that the people of both counties should have a deep interest in carrying into effect. '

THE SHooTING OF DANIEL DivER. - A more recent reminiscent incident of pioneer intercourse and trouble with the Indians, is compiled from reasonably reliable data, and may, therefore, be considered substantially accurate; though there is some discrepancy of authority as to the exact cause of the trouble, and the name of the tribe to which the Indians implicated belonged; one account naming them as ' Mohawks," and others as ''Seneeas," the preponderance of evidence being in favor of the latter.

Be thisasit may, inthe Winter of 1806,'07 there was an encampment of Indians in the township of Deerfield, in Portage county, which had been opened to settlement about seven years. Among the white inhabitants at that time were two brothers by the name of John and Daniel Diver. The former had traded a mare and colt to an Indian named John Nickshaw, for an Indian pony, and though it does not appear that either iad obtained any considerable advantage in the trade, for some reason or other the Indian pis pas dissatisfied and wished to trade back, which Diver declined o do. On the 20th of January, 1807, while John Diver was entertaining a sleighing party at his house, five Indians from the camp, 'John Nickshaw, John Mohawk, John Bigson and his two sons, all under the influence of whisky, rudely intruded upon,the party, and on some pretense, endeavored to decoy John Diver to their camp. Failing in this, they became quite boisterous, but were eventually quieted down by the mildness of Daniel Diver. <A little later they renewed the disturbance, charging Daniel Diver with having stolen their guns, but were finally persuaded by him to leave the house.

The night was bright and cold, there being about two feet of snow upon the ground. Stepping out of doors, about 10 o'clock, Daniel Diver saw the five Indians standing in a row in a slight ravine a short distance from the house. Going rapidly towards them he saluted them pleasantly, and was, in turn, cordially greeted by the Indians; each shaking hands with him as he passed, until the last one, John Mohawk, was reached, who not only refused to shake hands with him, but, as he was turning to go back to the house, the treacherous savage raised his gun and shot him through the temples, destroying both eyes. Hearing the report of the gun, John Diver ran to the assistance of his wounded brother, the Indians fleeing to their camp, and from thence, the same night, into the wilderness in a northwesterly direction. Although Daniel Diver was not killed, he never regained his sight, though afterwards raising a family and dying in 1847.

SEEKING VENGEANCE ON Monawk, But KILLING NIcksHAwW. - Before daylight the next morning, so rapidly had the alarm spread, a party of twenty-five determined men were on the track of the murderous red-skins. The weather was intensely cold, and several of the pursuing party froze their feet and hands, and their places were filled by other settlers along the route. The night following, the five fleeing Indians were surprised and surrounded, in their camp, on the west side of the Cuyahoga river, in the west part of Boston, or the east part of the present township of Richfield. John Bigson and his two sons were captured, but Mohawk and Nickshaw got away. They were followed by two Hudson men named George Darrow and Jonathan Williams, overtaken, and commanded to surrender, but not obeying the summons, Williams fired upon them, instantly killing Nickshaw; but Mohawk, the Indian who shot Daniel Diver, entirely escaped. A squaw belonging to the party was said to have been left to take care of herself, and it was afterwards reported that she perished in the snow. Bigson and his two sons were returned to Deerfield, and, being examined before Justice Lewis Day, were committed to the Warren jail. They were subsequently tried in Court of Common Pleas and acquitted.

An INprAN War IMMINENT. - -The excitement attendant upon this affair, both among the whites and Indians, was most intense, andcame very near resulting in a bloody war between the two military commander for Northern Ohio, and between Gen. W adsworth and Judge Samuel Huntington, of the Supreme Court. at Cleveland; several personal interviews also being had between Judge Huntington and Chief Seneca, in behalf of the tribe of Indians involved in the difficulty.

The people of Deerfield demanded that John Mohawk, the shooter of Diver, be delivered up for trial; the Indian Chief as strenuously insisting that Darrow and Williams should also be arrested and tried for the killing of Nickshaw, and promising to surrender Mohawk when legal steps for the punishment of the white murderers should be taken. Seneca,in his talks with Judge Huntington, Major Carter and others, said he did not want to go to war; he simply wanted justice. Nickshaw had been murdered; shot in the back, while fleeing for his life. He, with Major Carter and Mr. Campbell, had gone to the place where Nickshaw was killed, and had buried him. There was no evidence of any struggle, and Nickshaw had fallen in his tracks with the bullet hole in his back. Seneca sententiously remarking: "Indian may lie; white man may lie; but snow tell no lie," and adding that all he wanted was, that "the same measure of justice should be dealt out to the Indian as to the white man."

The excitement finally died away, and neither Mohawk nor Williams or Darrow were ever brought to trial, though it was a long time before the parties were restored to their former friendly relations; the event, taking all the circnmstances into consideration, furnishing additional proof that the greater portion of the trouble between the early white settlers and the Indians grew out of the fact that the former were not as ready to do justice to the latter as to exact it from them.

MURDER OF NATHAN CuMMINS, A CANAL DriveR. - Though a little out of its chronological order, the following account of a wanton homicide, perpetrated within the present limits of Summit county, may properly come in here. On the night, of the 8th day of September, 1832, a dissipated fellow by the name of Abner S. Barris, living ina log shanty on the west side of the Ohio canal, near Old Portage, got upon the canal boat " Victory," some distance below, to ride up as far as his own place. On the way he got into a wrangle with the hands upon the boat, accusing them of stealing his wood, demanding pay for the same, etc., and was put off the boat, in which operation he was either purposely or accidentally thrown into the water, by the steersman, whose name was Hart Lepper. Threatening vengeance upon Lepper, he disappeared into the bushes, in the direction of his house.

Later in the night he appeared upon the bank of the canal, further south, carrying a gun, and hailing the steersman of the downward bound boat, " Fair American," inquired for the boat upon which he had been riding, saying that they had stolen his wood, pushed him off the boat into the canal and snapped a gun at him, and that if they wanted bush-whacking, he would give them plenty of it, for he had a gun and plenty of ammunition, and knew how to use them, too. When the "Fair American" reached the lock, below Old Portage, an up-bound boat was found in the lock, and while waiting there, the report of a gun was heard by the two crews, it being presently discovered that the driver of the up-bound*® boat - the " Victory'' - a boy about seventeen yearsold, by the name

Murder In The Second Degree

Barris was, of course, immediately suspected, followed and captured, while skulking in the bushes, near his own shanty. He was brought to Akron, and being examined before Justice Jacob Brown, was committed to the Portage county jail, at Ravenna, to answer to the charge of murder. At the May term, 1833, of the Court of Common Pleas for Portage county, an indictment was found against Barris, charging him with deliberate and premeditated murder. To this indictment Barris entered a plea of not guilty, and elected to be tried in the Supreme Court, to convene early in the following September.

TRIAL IN SuPREME Court. - The Supreme Court, for Portage county, for 1833, convened at Ravenna on Monday, September 2, with Judges Bbenezer Lane, of Norwalk, and John C. Wright, of Cincinnati, upon the bench. L, V. Bierce, then prosecuting attorney for Portage county, and Hon. Peter Hitchcock, of Geauga county, appeared on behalf of the State, the defendant being represented by Van Rk. Humphrey, Esq., of Hudson, and Eben Newton, Esq., of Canfield.

The trial was short, only eleven witnesses being sworn and examined on both sides, the entire proceedings, including the empaneling of the jury, examination of witnesses, arguments of counsel, charge of Court, verdict of jury and sentence of prisoner, occupying less than two days, being in striking contrast to the "long drawn out" trials in similar cases in these modern days. The killing of the boy was not denied by either Barris or his attorneys; the former, on being brought to the hotel of William Coolman, Jr., on his arrival from Akron, saying to that gentleman, who had previously known him, that "it was not Barris, but it was whisky that did it." The principal effort of counsel for the defense was to bring the offense down to manslaughter; but the jury, under the able charge of Judge Lane, brought in a verdict of murder in the second degree.

"ABNER S. BARRIS: - You have been found guilty, by a jury of your own selection, of murder. In most countries, for this offense you would pay the forfeit of your life; but under the benign provisions of that section of the statute under which you are convicted, you do not forfeit your life; but the law adjudges you unworthy longer to associate with your fellow citizens. This law leaves with the Court no discretion. We have no alternative but to deprive you of your liberty for the remainder of your life. Your sentence, therefore, is that you be taken hence to the Penitentiary of the State of Ohio, and that you be there confined at hard labor, for and during the remainder of your natural life."

No effort was ever made for his pardon, and Abner S Barris, forty years of age at the time of his conviction, fully expiated the offense committed by him while under the influence of that incarnate devil, of all earthly devils, whisky, by faithful service to the State until released by death, February 3, 1842, just eight years, four months and five days from the date of his incarceration.

Otpapa Erk Eve To Keep His Appointment, But Officers Wright And Townsend

SOME SHARP DETECTIVE OPERATIONS - WEALTHY FARMER TURNS DETECTIVE TO AVENGE THE MURDER OF HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW - FOLLOWS THAT CALLING AS A DUTY TO SOCIETY - MARSHAL WRIGHT "ARRESTS" HIM AND MAYOR NASH "COMMITS" HIM ON THE "CHARGE" OF FORGERY - TWO DAYS AND NIGHTS IN A FELON'S CELL - HIS DISCOVERIES WHILE IN JAIL - HIS RELEASE ON "BAIL" - TAKES WITH HIM A LETTER OF INTRODUC- - TION TO THE BROTHER OF AN ALLEGED COUNTERFEITER - MAKES THE ACQUAINTANCE OF SAID BROTHER AND HIS PALS - CONTRACTS TO PUR - CHASE A BURGLARIZED STOCK OF BOOTS AND SHOES FROM THEM - FAILS TO KEEP HIS APPOINTMENT, BUT OFFICERS WRIGHT AND TOWNSEND PROMPTLY ON HAND - THE BURGLARS ARRESTED WITH THE "SWAG" IN THEIR POSSESSION - TRIED, CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TO THE "PEN" FOR THREE YEARS - DISCOVERY OF PLOT TO ROB THE TREASURY OF SUMMIT COUNTY - ROBBER CAUGHT IN THE ACT - TRIAL, SENTENCE AND CONVICTION - EXTENSIVE GANG OF COUNTERFEITERS BROKEN UP, ETC. - SOME DECIDEDLY "CLEVER" WORK BY 'HOME TALENT."

A Volunteer Detective

HOUGH not claiming to have much detective talent myself, it was nevertheless my good fortune to have assisted in some very clever detective operations, during my first two terms as Sheriff of Summit county, from November, 1856, to January, 1861. A year or two previous to my accession to that office, the brotherin-law of a wealthy and enterprising farmer, near Loudonville, in Ashland county, had been killed in a neighboring city, by being struck on the head with an iron dray-pin. The authorities of the county where the crime was perpetrated failing to trace the murderer, our farmer friend, whose name was E. W. Robeson, started out upon a line of detective operations on his own hook. Though not succeeding, after long and patient search, in running down the slayer of his kinsman, yet he obtained such an insight into the existing crookedness of the day, that for the benefit of society at large, he gave himself up, almost exclusively, to the detection and exposure of crime, and in aiding the authorities of his own and contiguous counties, in bringing the rascals of their several localities to justice and merited punishment, and that, too, without compensation or expectation of pecuniary reward, other than his actual expenses when operating away from home.

With this justice-loving gentleman Marshal J. J. Wright and Constable James Burlison had become acquainted, and had often co-operated with him in ferreting out crimes in several of the counties to the south and west of us; the latter gentleman at one . time actually buying out, and for some time running, a saloon in one of the most notorious 'Rogues' Hollows" in Holmes county; and in the denouement of whose discoveries, and consequent police requirements, Marshal Wright, Deputy Sheriff Townsend and

Early Detective Operations

"WORKING" THE County Farir. - Among the large number of huckster's stands at the ninth annual fair (October, 1858) of the Summit County Agricultural Society, upon their original six acre grounds, on South Main street, opposite the present Rubber Works and Match Factories, was one kept by a man by the name of J. M. Foster, hailing from Franklin Mills (now Kent), in Portage county. Something about the fellow had early attracted the attention of the officers who were policeing the grounds, but no overt act, on which an arrest could be based, was detected until towards night on the last day of the Fair. Then Marshal Wright and Constable Burlison caught him in the act of passing a counterfeit two dollar bill upon a young man from the country, took him into custody, and lodged him in jail.

Marshal Wright having already had some inkling of the crooked propensities of the Fosters, of Franklin Mills, thus having one of them 'in limbo, thought it would be well enough to apply the "pumping" process to him, and accordingly wrote to Mr. Robeson to come to Akron at once, which summons was promptly responded to. '

AKRON'S ORIGINAL " REL Por."- - At that time the late Frederick A. Nash was mayor of Akron, and to fully carry out our plans, as in "council of war" agreed upon, he was taken into our confidence and promised us a hearty co-operation. At that time, too, the Hanscom brothers - George, Charles and David - were the keepers of the principal grocery and family supply store of Akron, in their new brick block, on the northeast corner of Howard and Market streets. This grocery store was the evening loafing place of that time - the original "Kel Pot" of Akron - and among the numerous other Joaters there congregated on a given evening, were Marshal J. J. Wright and Sheriff S. A. Lane.

While old-time jokes and antique "chestnuts" were being rapidly fired at each other by the congregated "eels," a rather rough-looking stranger entered the storé and "Dave" Hanscom pulled himself out of the charmed (or, more properly speaking, charming) circle, and stepped towards the front to wait upon his new customer. Calling for a paper of "fine-cut,' which "Dave" produced, the stranger threw upon the counter a two dollar bill in payment. Glancing at it, "Dave" indignantly exclaimed:

By this time the attention of the "eels" was attracted to the conversation between "Dave" and the stranger, and Marshal Wright hastily stepped forward, saying: "Here, let me look at that," and after scrutinizing the bill a moment, said: "Yes, that's counterfeit, fast enough!" Then, looking at the stranger, the Marshal exclaimed: "Hello, you're just the man I've been looking after for some time!" and pulling a pair of handcuffs from his pocket, undertook to slip them upon the wrists of the stranger. This was vigorously resisted, however, and quite a tussle ensued, but the stranger was finally subdued and triumphantly escorted before the mayor.

"CoMMITTED" TO JAtL. - The entire crowd of intensely interested "eels," the writer included, followed the marshal and his "prisoner" to the office of Mayor Nash. The mayor gravely read the warrant to the "prisoner," charging him, under the name of "John Doe," "Richard Roe" or some other equally accurate cognomen, with having forged the name of some other equally mythical personage to a bank check. To this charge the "culprit" put in anemphatic plea of "not guilty," and waived an examination, whereupon His Honor required him to enter into bonds in the sum of $1,000, for his appearance before the Court of Common Pleas, and in default of bail filled out a mittimus in due form committing him to jail. Saying that he would be all right as soon as he could get word to his brother, a wealthy merchant at Canal Dover, he started with Marshal Wright and myself for the jail - the handcuffs, of course, being removed on leaving the mayor's office and getting beyond the observation of the keen-sighted and highly interested "eels."

Tuk Pumprinc Process. - At that time every cell in the jail was occupied, and it would never do to puta "criminal" of that grade in so insecure a place as the " Debtor's Room" on the upper floor. So it was arranged to have the new man bunk in with Foster, as being the previous latest comer. Of course, the reader understands by this time that the supposititious forger is our detective friend, Robeson. Foster at once "took" to him, confiding to the stranger everything he knew about either himself or his friends, while in turn the stranger told Foster everything he knew, and probably several things that he didn't know.

A number of other prisoners also sought the confidence of the new, but jolly and wide-awake, " prisoner," and made certain' revelations to him which were afterwards of great value to the officers, Ikobeson possessing one of the most retentive memories, as to names, places and dates, of any person that I ever knew. He remained in the jail, living upon regular jail rations, and submitting to prison regulations and accomodations, for two days, until, by a preconcerted signal, he intimated to me that he had thoroughly mastered the situation, when I handed in to him what purported to be a letter from his brother, enclosing a certificate of deposit for $1,000 for him to deposit with the clerk of the Court, in licu of bail, for his appearance for trial.

A ComPLETE Succrss. - On reaching my office, in the court house, Robeson gave to myself and Deputy Townsend a full history of his experience while in "durance vile.' Foster told him that he had a brother at Franklin Mills, who with certain confederates, were carrying on quite an extensive store-cracking business, and who then had in their possession large quantities of different kinds of merchandise. To this brother Foster gave Robeson, under his prison cognomen, a letter'of introduction, together with minute directions for the fabrication of a saw, with which to work hiniself out of jail, in case an indictment should be found against him.

Having a matter of business to look after in the neighborhood of Ravenna, I dispatched Deputy Townsend thither, with that wellremembered span of gray horses I then owned, taking Robeson with him to within a short distance of the village of Franklin Mills, with the understanding that he would pick him up at the same point on his return to Akron the next morning. Though quite dark when he walked into the village, Robeson had no difficulty in finding the Foster domicile, so minute had been the directions given him by his late room-mate in the Summit county bastile. On presenting his credentials, Robeson was received with open arms, as it were, by the brother and his family, including a brother-in-law confederate. During the evening they not only opened up to Robeson in regard to their crooked operations, but absolutely made arrangements to transfer to him, for a stipulated cash equivalent, a large quantity of boots and shoes, to be delivered at the hotel in Clinton, in the south part of Summit county, at a given time.

He Fats to "Marserrarize.'" - The day agreed upon duly arrived, and so did the "Commercial Travelers,' with several large trunks full of boots and shoes. These were taken into the parlor of the hotel, while their team was taken to the barn by the ever-attentive hostler. But for some (to them) unaccountable reason their expected 'cash customer" failed to put in appearance. Not so, however, with Marshal Wright and Deputy Sheriff Townsend. Having approached the village, on an indirect and somewhat obscure road, they had taken the precaution to leave the gray team a short distance out of town and had managed to reach the hotel unobserved. As they entered the sitting room, though utter strangers to the Franklinites, those gentlemen instinctively scented danger and hastily retreated from the room ° - one breaking for the rear and the other for the front door of the hall. Wright overhauled the one just as he was passing through the back door, while Townsend froze to other as he was climbing over the railing to the front platform. They both struggled desperately, but the officers were too much for them. They' were securely ironed and, with their plunder, taken to Ravenna and delivered to the authorities of Portage county.

"On Thursday last, Deputy Sheriff Townsend and Marshal J. J. Wright, arrested at Clinton, in this county, two men named Foster and Clark, charged with robbing the store of Coffin & Co., in Ravenna, some weeks ago. The prisoners, and some $400 worth of boots and shoes, which were recognized as belonging to Enos & Martin, of the former place, were taken to Ravenna, and as they waived an examination, Justice Conant held them in $1,000 each for appearance at the next term, for that burglary. In default they were committed to jail. Our detectives are as keen at scenting scoundrels as terriers after a rat; and they rarely fail, if any game is within their bailiwick."

TRIAL - CONVICTION - SENTENCE. - The two men thus handsomely nabbed, were respectively named, William H. Foster and Charles Clark, and at the February term of the Court of Common Pleas of Portage county, for 1859, they were jointly indicted for both burglary and larceny, and for receiving and concealing stolen goods the property of the boot and shoe firm of Enos & Martin. The proof as to their having actually entered the store, and personally stolen and carried away the goods, being a little obscure, while the fact of their having the goods in their possession was abundantly evident, they were convicted upon the latter charge, only, and sentenced to the Penitentiary for three years each.

The reading of this article, if they are still living, and it should perchance fall under their observation, will probably give them their first inkling as to why their anticipated purchaser failed to come to time, and how it happened that the Summit county officers appeared upon the scene just in the nick of time to " gobble them up" with the evidence of their guilt so conspicuously palpable. =

THE ORIGINAL Foster Gores Scorr FrEE. - The original Foster arrested by Wright and Burlison upon the fair grounds, for passing counterfeit money, was not indicted by the grand jury of this county, no other spurious money having been found about his person or belongings, and the evidence being not at all conclusive that he was aware that the bill passed by him was other than genuine; but if he ever "caught on" to the little game that was played on him by "weuns" and our friend Robeson, it probably taught him not to "talk too much with his mouth "even to a supposed kindred spirit, occupying jointly with himself a felon's cell.

"TisHE" Warr AND GEORGE Sapp. - Among Northampton's "celebrities," from 1850 to 1860, was '"Lishe" Wait, who was not only extremely fond of whisky, but also possessed of'an inordinate desire to finger other people's belongings. Though often in "durance vile" on serious charges "Lishe" was generally sharp enough to escape conviction, or at least get off with very light penalties. Far less sharp, but equally inclined to whisky-guzzling and crookedness, was George Sapp; one of their alleged joint operations being the burglarizing tf the house of Thomas J. French, and stealing therefrom the sum of $500 in money, on the night of August 27, 1854. For this crime they were indicted and tried, but though morally certain of their guilt the evidence was too obscure to warrant the jury in legally so finding and they were accordingly discharged. '

This narrow escape did not cure their drinking or thieving propensities, and both were often in limbo on minor charges, Sapp being in jail on a thirty day's sentence for stealing a quantity of wheat from one of his neighbors at the time our detective was there, as above related. Though Robeson sought to confine his "pumping" operations to Foster, among the most pertinacious to pour his 'tale of woe" and his schemes of vengeance into the detective's ear, was the aforesaid George Sapp.

GEORGE Sapp's GRIEVANCES. - George had been unjustly dealt with; Lishe Wait had euchred him out of his share of the "Tommy" French swag; he had been several times unjustly imprisoned or sentenced for longer terms than his light offenses warranted, and he was bound to have revenge; when he got out of jail there would be a few bon-fires; several barns had already been touched off and several more would be; Akron had been pretty well scorched and would soon be lighted up again; the barrel factory made a hot blaze and he' knew who touched it off, etc.

THE Barret Facrory Frre. - For many years the millers of Akron had wholly depended upon the local coopers of the several adjacent townships for their supply of barrels, flour in those early days not being so largely sold in sacks as at the present time. This mode of supply not being reliable, and perhaps too expensive, a number of interested parties organized the Akron Barrel Company sometime along in the middle of the fifties, and erected a factory on the site lately occupied by the Miller Chain Works and

County Treasury Robber Nabbed

This scheme was regarded by local coopers as inimical to their interests; but it was not believed that the frequent threats of demolition which from time to time found whispered utterance, would ever materialize. On the morning of October 7, 1858, however, the second day of the Fair of that year (the Fair grounds then being directly opposite on the east side of Main street), the barrel factory was burned under circumstances which rendered it almost certain that the fire was of incendiary origin; the company immediately offering a reward of $1,000 for the detection and conviction of the incendiary. .

Sapp's pointed allusion to the matter, in his confidential communications to Robeson, was strongly presumptive, to the local officers, that a clue to the perpetrators thereof might be reached through him. Accordingly, after the expiration of his sentence, the services of our whilom '"forger,"' Robeson, were called into requisition. Sapp was visited in his native haunts, but though he talked freely in regard to his prospective crookedness, he was quite reticent about what he knew (if anything), in regard to the burning of the barrel works, further than that a certain voung man, whose name he declined to disclose, had been hired to set the fire, and that he had since gone west.

" BIGGER GAME" IN PRospEct. - But one important scheme was developed by the interview, which was no less than the project of robbing the county treasury by himself and two "other fellers'' - ~ well-known crooks - whom he named, which project was only awaiting the "dark of the moon" to be carried into execution. This declaration was deemed of sufficient importance, by the local officers, to be followed up. The treasurer's office then occupied only one-third of the space it now does, the sheriff's office being then upon the east, and the grand jury room upon the west; there being no vault in the treasurer's office then as now, the public funds being confided to the keeping of one of the old-fashioned boiler-plate safes; the only fastening to the single window of the room being a nail over the lower sash. In anticipation of the contemplated raid, a night watch was organized, consisting of the writer, Marshal J. J. Wright, Deputy Sheriff A. Ik. Townsend, Constables David A. Scott and James Burlison, Auditor Charles B. Bernard, and Deputy Clerk Alden Gage, who were to take turns in watching, the sheriff's office being the rendezvous, and well-supplied with buffalo robes, blankets, etc., to make us comfortable during the long cold wintry nights, no fire or lights in the room being permissible, while the most profound silence was deemed absolutely necessary.

WATCHING AND Warrinc. - Thus for several nights the vigil was kept up, but neither George Sapp, nor any "other feller put in an appearance. But while still continuing our vigilance, it was thought best to have our detective "accidentally run across George again, to ascertain the occasion of the hitch. George said they were on hand at the time designated, but became apprehensive that the court house was being watched, as one night, about 11 o'clock, they thought they saw a flash of light in one of the rooms as though a match had been struck, which had actually been done by one of the watchers to ascertain the time of night. "But," continued George, "they're not watching now, and (as soon as the nights get dark again, we will do the business sure.

ARSON AS WELL AS ROBBERY. - So the watch was kept up, but no longer from the sheriff's office. At that time the jail coal-house stood flush with the street, about where the driveway now is between the jail and the large brick building upon the north. Krom the interior of this building, Marshal Wright and Deputy Sheriff Townsend kept watch for several nights after the moon began to darken, while Constable Burlison occupied another point of observation near by.

About 11 o'clock on the night of January 29, 1859, while the attention of the people of the town was drawn towards a burning school house at the corner of Middlebury and Spicer streets (believed to be a part of the robbery game), the sharp eye of Marshal Wright caught sight of a man stealthily creeping across the court house yard, diagonally from the northeast corner. Reaching the court house, he hastily passed entirely around the building (this was before the wings were added), and then, turning upon his heel, ran around the other way, stopping at the treasury window. Presently, the officers saw him disappear through the window, when, leaving their covert, they closed in upon him, observing, as they did so, another man rapidly running down the hill upon the west side of the grounds.

Caucut IN His Own Trap. - Summoning the burglar to come forth, and receiving no response, Marshal Wright, with revolver in hand, boldly entered the office, through the open window, and groping around got hold of his man, whom he at once shoved through the window into the hands of Deputy Townsend, by whom he was immediately invested with the proper "jewels," and forthwith placed in jail.

Procuring a light, it was found that Sapp had pried the window open with the broad blade of an old-fashioned mattock, with which primitive implement it was evidently the intention of the burglars to work their way into the safe in question; scientific safe-cracking not being as well understood then as it is now, though some extensive jobs were even then successfully accomplished with as simple means as the clumsy mattock in question.

TRIAL - CONVICTION - SENTENCE. - At the March term of the court, 1859, Sapp was duly indicted, tried and convicted of burglary, but in consideration of his rather weak intellect, and the failure of his enterprise, as well as the probability of his being simply the tool of sharper heads, Judge Carpenter gave him the shortest sentence known to the law for the crime of burglary - one year's imprisonment in the penitentiary.

As to his alleged accomplices nothing was developed further than his statement to the detective, and the shadowy glimpse of the second party as he was fleeing down the hill on the night of the burglary; though the fact that the principal one, on Sapp's arrest, immediately absented himself from the county, and has never returned, would seem to corroborate Sapp's statement in that regard.

Sapp's SUBSEQUENT Lire. - Having served out his term, Sapp returned to his old home in Northampton, but a few years later floated off West, where, at last accounts, he was living with a brother-in-law, in the State of Indiana, a poor demented wreck, occasionally returning to Summit county, where, under the real or simulated hallucination of ownership, he attempts to assume

Some Other Neat Operations

LAarGE GANG OF COUNTERFEITERS BROKEN Up. - Clues obtained by the detective in question, and others, being followed up by the officers named, and their Ravenna coadjutors, resulted in the breaking up of an extensive gang of counterfeiters in Portage, Columbiana, Mahoning and Cuyahoga counties. In these raids some $15,000 or $20,000 of Spurious money - paper and coin - and a full wagon load of apparatus and material, consisting in part of a bank note press, rolling mill, machine for stamping coin, dies, coin in the rough, finished coin, engravers' tools, crucibles, galvanic batteries, paper, ink, acids, chemicals, and a lot of dentists' tools and daguerreotype apparatus, under cover of which the bogus business was carried on.

Several quite important parties were captured, who, with the evidences of their guilt, were turned over to the authorities of the several counties interested, and of the United States authorities at Cleveland. But as these operations were outside of Summit county, it is not necessary to follow them here, and are only alluded to in this connection to show how extensively the counterfeiting virus ramified the social fabric a third of a century ago, and as demonstrative of the zeal and skill exhibited by the public and private officers and detectives of Akron and Summit county, in the detection and punishment of crime, during the same

The Sheriff Himself Victimized

During the writer's first incumbency of the sheriff's office, from 1856 to 1861, among other official civil transactions was the closing, on attachment, of quite an extensive dry goods store at Cuyahoga Falls. Delaying the appraisement for a few days, to give the parties an opportunity to amicably adjust matters with their creditors, if possible, it was found, on proceeding with the inventory, under the direction of the chief clerk of the firm, that about one thousand dollars' worth of choice goods had meantime been abstracted from the stock.

Efforts were immediately made to trace the robbers, among other things a copy of the private cost mark of the firm being sent to Chief of Police Michael Gallagher, of Cleveland. This was on Friday. On Saturday morning I took Marshal J. J. Wright with me to Cuyahoga Falls, to aid in the investigation. We soon struck a supposed clue, by which it was deemed important to intercept a box and several packages of goods which had been shipped to parties in Detroit a few days previously. There was then no telegraph office in either Akron or Cuyahoga Falls, and at about 11 o'clock A. mM. I started, by team, for Hudson, for the purpose indiear heA about half way between Cuyahoga Falls and Hudson, on the diagonal road, I met a young man in a buggy driving as rapidly as myself, who, recognizing me as we passed, shouted that he had a message for me. On tearing open the envelope, I found it to be a telegram from Chief Gallagher, saying: "I've got the thieves and the goods stolen from Cuyahoga Falls. Come quick. Finding, on inquiry, that a Cleveland bound train was due in Hudson in about twenty minutes, I let that little grey team of mine go, pulling up at the Hudson depot just as the train was pulling in.

Giving my ponies to a boy to take to a livery stable, I boarded the train for Cleveland. On reaching police headquarters, | found two large satchels full of the Cuyahoga Falls goods, with a portion of the cost marks still attached, and on going to the jail I found two most villainous looking fellows who had been captured with said goods in their possession. It appeared that they had boarded a Detroit steamer, and had endeavored to exchange a portion of the plunder for transportation to Detroit, but exhibited such awkwardness in handling, and such ignorance in regard to the value of the goods, as to excite the suspicion of the clerk of the boat, who put the police upon their track. Being found shortly afterwards in a river saloon, endeavoring to sell their plunder, they were taken into custody, and on arriving at the police station, Gallagher needed but a glance at the contents of the satchels to indicate the source whence they came, and wired me as stated. :

Borrowing the necessary "jewels" from the Cleveland officers, I chained the two "commercial travelers" together and brought them and their plunder home with me. The goods captured amounted in value to perhaps $50, while as near as could be calculated at least $1,000 worth had been stolen. The application of the "pump" failed to elicit any definite information in regard to the missing goods, though it was found, from them and other sources, that the fellows had, for several weeks, without any visible occupation, been making their headquarters with a brother of one of them living on the outskirts of the village. The next day (Sunday) this house and vicinity were most thorougly searched by myself, Deputy Sheriff A. R. Townsend, Marshal J. J. Wright, and Constables James Burlison and David A. Scott. The only clue found to the missing goods was several cost mark tags, in a cavity found on the top of a buckwheat straw-stack, where they had evidently first been concealed until they could be removed to safer quarters.

The house in question stood on a sidehill, being a story and a half in front, with a basement kitchen in the rear, and a small cellar opening out of it under the front part of the house. In this cellar I noticed quite a quantity of loose, gravelly dirt, in a sort of bin, across one end of the cellar, creating an impression on my mind that the goods in question might be concealed in the cavity below, whence said dirt had come, the proprietor of the house, in reply to our questions, saying that in excavating for the basement kitchen it had been saved to make the mortar for plastering the kitchen, adding that though he knew it was not very good plastering sand the plasterer thought it would do, for a rough job like that.

Apparently accepting his statement as true, we left the premises without discovering any further traces of our goods. But that dirt continued to agitate the minds of both Wright and myself, and the next day we repaired again to that cellar, armed with the proper implements, determined to ascertain what there was underneath the dirt. Shoveling the dirt out of the bin, we found the cellar bottom perfectly hard and sound. Assuring ourselves that no excavation had been made there, in which the goods could have been concealed, we shoveled the dirt back into the bin, and began exploring the other parts of the cellar. The space being a little cramped for two to work to advantage, I left Wright to continue the digging there while I went on a prospecting tour elsewhere. There was a small pantry underneath the stairs leading from the basement kitchen to the room above, and it seemed to me that, on removing the flour barrel and sundry other articles from the pantry, the floor could be raised up like a trap door. This supposition, however, was found to be incorrect, but on feeling around, in the darkness, I fished out of a little cubby-hole in the lower angle of the stairs, about a bushel of packages of spices, sauces, etc., which the marshal recognized as part of quite a quantity of goods stolen a week or two previously from the grocery store of Adam Schaaf at Bettes' Corners, and also a quantity of carpenters' tools recently stolen from the pattern shop of the Akron Stove Company.

Loading this find into his buggy, Wright proceeded to Akron, and arrested the owner of the house in question, who was working there during the day, and lodged him in jail. The next day, being unable to go myself, Constable Burlison accompanied Wright to the scene of operations, with instructions to dig until they found those goods, if they had to tear up the kitchen floor, or, if necessary, dig over the entire lot. Commencing where Wright had left off the evening before, they had not been long at work, before, close to the partition between the cellar and the kitchen, they struck into soft earth, and presently, a foot or so below the surface, came upon a large tool chest and a smaller box, which, on being elevated to the surface and opened, were found to be filled with the burglarized goods in question. On taking an inventory, the total of the goods thus found, at cost prices, was found to be about $800, the chief clerk of the firm. from his familiarity with the stock, insisting that about $200 worth of the stock was still missing, though the most diligent search of myself and others failed to discover them.

A Sixteen-Year-Old Boy Implicated

Further investigation implicated the sixteen-year-old son of one of the most repectable families of the neighborhood, and in whose straw-stack the cost-tags above spoken of were found, and he, too, was taken into custody. On being interrogated by Prosecuting Attorney Henry McKinney, he made a clean breast of it, relating how he had been inveigled into the schemes of the burglars and had assisted them in removing the goods from the store to the straw-stack, whence, on a subsequent night, they were transferred to the place where found, but that no part of the plunder, or the avails thereof, had as yet come to him.

The outcome of the affair was that the two parties arrested in Cleveland were convicted of the crime of burglary and grand larceny, and sentenced to the penitentiary for ten years each, the owner of the house where the goods were found, having been shown by the evidence to have known thereof, though taking no part in the burglary itself, was convicted of concealing stolen property and sent to Columbus for one year, while the boy, by reason of information imparted to the authorities, and important testimony given for the State, was discharged without prosecution.

At that time there was living at Cuyahoga Falls an "American Gentleman of African descent" by the name of Robert Hurst, for short called " Bob," who was reputed to be the possessor of a full complement of extremely "light fingers," and who had many times been arrested and punished for petty pilfering. About a year after the occurrence of the events above narrated, a raid was made by the local officers on " Bob's" domicile, in the loft of which, ingeniously concealed, was found nearly a thousand dollar's worth of almost every conceivable kind of property - shirts, sheets, calico dresses, clothing, hats, caps, boots, shoes, crockery, hardware, dry goods, etc., and among the rest, in perfect good order, the remainder of the goods stolen from the store in my custody as narrated, and invoicing just about $200. The only thing that we could get out of "Bob," in regard to them, was that the two ten year convicts above written of had given the goods to him to keep for them, and it has ever since remained an open question whether "Bob" had a hand in the main robbery, or whether he had independently raided the store in question on his own hook. Owing to this uncertainty, "Bob" was indicted for, and convicted of, receiving and concealing stolen property, only, and sent to the penitentiary for one year.

A few years later "Bob" immigrated to Akron, where he mainly resided until his recent death, and though seemingly diligent in the pursuit of a legitimate " profession" - that of hodcarrier - his theiving proclivities probably clung to him to the end, a raid by Akron officers, on his premises a few years ago, unearthing a quantity of miscellaneous goods and chattels, nearly equal in value to the find at Cuyahoga Falls, as stated.

Apropos ot the foregoing, while " Bob" was in jail during the long vacation, awaiting trial for the offense named, he apparently went into a rapid consumptive decline. Being lean and lank in build, failing to consume his customary rations, with an apparently distressing cough, and an occasional spitting of blood, my kind-hearted and sympathetic jailer, the late John L. Robertson, transferred him from the lower to the upper jail, where he could be made more comfortable, and more readily cared for. Here, though carefully doctored and nursed, he rapidly grew worse, his face, from nearly a jet black, assuming a sallow hue, with an increasing flow of blood from between his gradually bleaching lips, and it was thought by both the jailor and the attending physician that "Bob's" days on earth were numbered. In my occasional visits to the jail, I at length became suspicious that "Bob" was shamming, and determined to keep an eye upon him.

One day, on visiting him, I found him very feeble indeed, hardly able to speak above a whisper, and apparently exceedingly troubled for breath. After sympathetically expressing the hope that he would soon be better, I took my leave, closing the outer door and turning the key in the lock with a snap, but quietly reversing the bolt and leaving the door unfastened. I then walked down the stairs with a heavy tread, and removing my boots noiselessly ascended the stairs in my stocking feet, and applying my eye to the peep-hole in the door, I found, as I anticipated, that the invalid was skipping around the corridor, with the agility of a French dancing master. After watching his antics for a few minutes, giving him no warning of my approach, by the usual sounds of ascending the stairs and unlocking the door, I noiselessly threw back the door and confronted him in the midst of a half-executed pigeon-wing. By thus simulating sickness "Bob" had hoped that either he would be sent home to die, from whence he could have skipped to parts unknown, or that his enfeebled condition would so enlist the sympathies of the court and jury as to save him from the penitentiary on the pending charge. On investigation I found that the copious discharges of blood had been produced by the puncturing of his gums with a sharp-pointed nail concealed about his mattress, while the pallor upon his face and lips was produced by the use of dry lime procured by scraping the whitewash from the walls of his room.

A year or two after his return from the "pen" "Bob" found himself in "durance vile," charged with a states-prison offense. As the day of trial approached, it was discovered by his keeper that he was unable to walk, having, to all appearance, entirely lost the use of his right leg. Believing that the fellow was again shamming, physicians were called in, and some very severe tests were made, such as violently pinching the leg, thrusting needles, pins, etc., into the flesh, etc., but without producing the slightest indication that there was any feeling in the leg whatever. The trial of the case had consequently to be postponed until the next term and during the vacation " Bob" was sent home to be taken care of by his wife. Here he was occasionally seen by the neighbors hobbling about his yard on crutches, and it was generally supposed that he would never again be able to walk or work, or even steal. Under these circumstances, the proper authorities, believing that he would be worse than useless to the State, if convicted, and deeming it inadvisable to carry the case longer upon the calendar, a nolle was entered at the ensuing term of the Court, and "Bob" left to hobble through the balance of his hfe, on crutches or otherwise, as best he could. Soon afterwards, however, the neighbors were surprised to see "Bob" without his crutches, cavorting around his lot as nimble as an organ-grinder's monkey, his "paralysis" having "mysteriously" left him.

On inquiring of "Bob," subsequently, how he managed to stand all those pinches and punctures without wincing, he very frankly explained that he had produced the numbness in his leg by applying a ligature of black silk or linen thread to his thigh, drawing it so tightly, that it was so covered by the indentation of the skin, as to escape the notice of those who examined him, while at the same time deadening its nervous susceptibilities as indicated.

1809; educated in city public schools, learning the trade of cabinet maker, which business he followed until his removal to Akron, in July, 1854; a few months later associating himself with his old playmate and _ first cousin, the late Charles Webster, and Mr. James B. Taplin, in the machine business, under the firm name of Webster, Taplin & Co.; changed on the withdrawal of Mr. Taplin, in 1860, to Webster, Camp & Co., and in January, 1869, on the accession of Mr. Julius S. Lane, incorporated as The Webster, Camp & Lane Machine Company, which name it still bears. November 2, 1834, Mr. Camp was married, at Weathersfield, Connecticut," to Miss Lucy Butler, born in Weathersfield, September 11, 1814, who bore him one child, Lucy Frances, who died at six years of age. Mr. Camp was not only zealously devoted to the business interests of his firm and of his adopted city, but a most liberal supporter of the National government during the War. After long and severe suffering, from kidney affection, Mr. Camp died, March 30, 1869, at the age of sixty years, one

Alfred R. Townsend

LFRED R. TOWNSEND, - born in Cazenovia, New York, February 14,1810; educated in common schools, learning tailor's trade, in which business he established himself in Akron in 1834, on March 24, of that year being married, in Akron, to Miss Evelina Blodgett, a native of Starksboro, Vermont. A few years later Mr. Townsend traveled extensively in Ohio and Kentucky as agent for month, and twenty-nine days, his remains being taken to Hartford, Connecticut, for interment. Mrs. Camp, in the enjoyment of a fair degree of health, excepting seriously impaired eye-sight, still survives and still retains her stock interest in the prosperous corporation, which her husband aided in founding, over a third of a century ago, and which still bears his name.

map publishers, Mannings & Darby; was then for several years employed as collector for Akron's first tinware and stove manufacturer, Col. Justus Gale, after his death assisting Mrs. Gale in settling estate; then for several years ran a packet boat, between Columbus and Chillicothe, on Ohio canal; was Akron's first village marshal and tax collector; 1856 to 1861, deputy, under Sheriff Samuel A. Lane; 1861 to 1867, director of County Infirmary; 1862 to 1873, Deputy United States Internal Revenue Assessor; 1873 to 1879, Infirmary director and clerk of board, resigning by reason of failing health. The high esteem in which Mr.and Mrs. Townsend were held was evidenced by the fact that on their 50th wedding anniversary they were presented with a purse of $1,086.50 in gold by their neighbors and friends. Their children were Henrietta S., married toz m chief telegraph operator at Dunkirk, New York, their only grandson, Charles A. Townsend, now occupying the family homestead, 512 West Market street. Captain Townsend died November 16, 1887, aged 77 years, 9 mouths, 2 days, Mrs. Townsend dying January 22, 1888, aged 83 years, 1 month and 16 days.

Personal And

*;LISHA NASH BANGS, - son of James and Martha (Nash) Bangs, born April 10, 1800, at Stanstead, Lower Canada, parents having, about four months carlicr, removed thither from Hampshire county, Mass.; common school education; learned carpenter's trade, at 19, removing with parents to Norwalk, Ohio, where, in 1821, he was married to Miss Abigail Wallace, a native of Petersham, Mass.; in 1825, removed to Richfield, and engaged in farming, in 1836 removing to Akron and resuming work at his trade andatmill-wrighting. Mr. and Mrs. Bangs were the parents of two sons Henry L.and William Wallace, both deceased, and four daughters - Adeline A., now Mrs. Barnard, of Chicago; Mary M., now Mrs A. A. Tinkham, of Akron; Louisa H., now Mrs. Simmons, of Chicago; and Celestia E., now Mrs. P. J. Moersch, of Akron. In Politics Mr. Bangs was originally a Whig, casting his first vote for John Quincy Adams, for president, in 1824; later he became an ardent anti-slavery man, allying himself with the Republican party on its organization, in 1855; was chief fire warden of Akron many years; First ward assessor seven years; school enumerator seven years, and

Peter

ETER J. MOERSCH, - son of Peter and Catharine (Wollmer) Moersch, was born in New York City, January 12, 1842; educated in public schools and at Anglo-German-Franco College, of New York, with Franz Siegel; canal inspector four years. Firmly believing in the fatherhood of God, andthe brotherhood of Man, and that religion consisted in doing right, because it was right, Mr. Bangs died November 18, 1878, at the age of 78 years, 7 months and 8days; Mrs. Bangs dying September 24, 1880, aged 78 years.

Republican

at 18 learned printer's trade in office of Schoharie Patriot, edited by General Husic Mix; in 1859 worked in office of New York Sun; in 1866 came with father's family to Ohio, settling in Buena Vista, Tuscarawas county; owing to failing eyesight, changed occupation, working at carriage painting, at Shanesville and in Cleveland, from there coming to Akron with Mr. Henry Gentz, in 1869, to start the Akron Germania, on which he operated as superintendent and local editor two years. November 13, 1871, was married to Miss Celestia E. Bangs, youngest daughter of the late Elisha N. Bangs, who has borne him one son - Wallace P., now a clerk in business office of Akron Daily BEACON and REPUBLICAN. Mr. Moersch was for six years, 1878-83, inclusive, clerk of Portage township; six years --1882-88 - justice of the peace; assistant secretary of Summit County Agricultural Society twelve years; publisher of Fair premium lists, and of Christmas Magazine and Almanac for many years, and is at present in charge of the advertising department of the Akron Daily BEACON and REPUBLICAN.

Rev. William Street Disaster Of November 7, 1891, With A Fine View Of The

FROST CRISPIN - BUCHTEL COLLEGE ADDENDA - ANOTHER VICTIM OF THE FEARFUL HOLOCAUST OF DECEMBER 13, 1890 - -DEATH OF A WARM SUP- - PORTER AND TREASURER OF THE COLLEGE, MR. JOY H. PENDLETON - OTHER RECENT DEATHS OF WELL-KNOWN CITIZENS - THE GREAT HOWARD STREET DISASTER OF NOVEMBER 7, 1891, WITH A FINE VIEW OF THE COLLAPSED BUILDINGS - -NEW HIGH STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST, ETC.

Ev. William Frost Crispin

- son of William and Mary E. (van Kirk) Crispin, born November 4, 1833, near New Martinsburg, Fayette county, Ohio, being of English ancestry, the remotest known being Rear-Admiral William Crispin, of the British Navy, brother-in-law of Sir Admiral Penn, uncle of William Penn, the American ancestors being Friends; removed with parents to Highland county, when young; early education very limited, in log school house; at majority borrowed money at ten per cent. interest to go to Ohio Wesleyan University one term, working for father at $18 per month, to pay note; next summer taught home school, and next winter taught in Illinois; then chopped wood, at fifty cents per cord, to go to what is now the National Normal University, at Lebanon, Ohio, where, by self-boarding and teaching winters, he received the teacher's degree (I. J.), in 1860; after partly completing Senior course, in Spring of 1862 was called home by illness of father; later teaching, in all about five years, mostly in Highland and Clinton counties. May 25, 1865, was married to Miss Drusilla D. Evans, of Greenfield, who bore him three children - Mary Frederica, Fannie Forester and Willie D., the latter dying in infancy, the mother, preceding him, dying May 16, 1872. Was again married, June 28, 1876, to Miss E. Emma Reed, of Sabina, Ohio. After first marriage engaged in drug and grocery trade, continuing until 1876. Though raised a Democrat, Mr. Crispin early espoused the anti-slavery cause, allying himself with the Republican party, on its organization ; served as census enumerator for his township in 1880, but for the past ten years has been a zealous Prohibitionist. Religiously a Universalist, besides occasionally preaching and _ lecturing, since 1870, traveling for denominational publishing house two years, and in the interest of Buchtel College nearly six years, and published a book on Universalism in 1888; since his ordination in 1890, has, unaided, established a Mission, resulting in the organization of a Church in Mansfield, and preached for a time in the city of Springfield, Ohio, besides officiating, since 1885, as the fortnightly (paid) correspondent of the Chicago Universalist.

Death Of Another Lady Student, 1163

labors in the interest of that beneficient institution. Notwithstanding the munificence of Hon. John R. Buchtel and others of its founders, there was a time, about 1879, '80, when the College was struggling under such an incubus of debt (about $65,000) as to very seriously embarrass its operations, if not absolutely to threaten its existence. In this emergency, by reason of his strong love for the Universalist Church, and his interest in the.cause of education, Rev. J. S. Cantwell, D. D., recommended Mr. Crispin to the board of trustees as a suitable successor to Rev. D. C. Tomlinson, as financial agent of the College. In accordance with this recommendation the Executive Board made an arrangement with Mr. Crispin, by which he entered upon the work of canvassing the southern half of Ohio, and Summit county, Rev. W. P. Burnell being employed to canvass the rest of the northern half of the State. In this work Mr. Crispin was so successful that he .was soon regularly employed as financial agent at a stated salary and expenses paid, removing his. family to Akron in the Spring of 1881. By reason of the embarrassments alluded to, and other causes, the work of raising money was at this period at a standstill, many of its friends having so nearly lost faith in its success that it was very difficult to rally them to its support.

But through the tact and perseverance of Mr. Crispin, these difficulties were overcome and disaster to the institution averted - unremittingly laboring through the week, soliciting money and students, and often lecturing on education or preaching on Sunday. This strain, in the language of Mr. Crispin, was kept up for about five years without vacation - travelling in all sorts of ways and weather, often in the night and broken of rest, and frequently with the very poorest of accommodations, which, with the care in part of his wife in her severe sickness, wrecked his own health, producing nervous prostration and partial paralysis, practically "shelving" him for many years, if not for life. Besides largely aiding in the cancellation of the debt alluded to, by collections on old and new subscriptions, Mr. Crispin secured nineteen one thousand dollar scholarships, being the first to interest Mr. Henry Ainsworth, of Lodi, in the College, securing first from that gentlemen properties valued at $7,500 and later properties valued at $10,000, also interesting him in the chair of mathematics which he subsequently endowed with $30,000, his total benefactions and bequests amounting to over $70,000. Besides the securing of many other smaller sums, the College was thoroughly advertised through Mr. Crispin's lectures on Education before some twenty High Schools, and doubtless his work, in cultivating loyalty to the College among the Universalists of the State, will bear good fruit in years to come, all the money secured by him, outside of Akron, being Universalist money, given for the maintenance of a college under the auspices of the Universalist church, which could have been secured for no other purpose, Mr. Crispin's experience being that soliciting money is the most difficult, the most unpleasant and the least appreciated employment in whicha person can engage, and yet a most essential part of the work of founding and maintaining a college.

Sad Ending Of Another Young Life Death Of Mr. Joy H. Pendleton

lady students were deprived of life, and several others severely burned, as described in Chapter VIII. of this work, it is proper to say that since that Chapter was printed, another of the injured young ladies - Miss Myrtle Louisa Barker, of Peru, Ohio, has also passed away, as a result of the injuries then received. After removal to her home, the burns healed rapidly, and though still a great sufferer, she pluckily returned to the College, and, passing safely through the Spring term of 1891, was promptly in her place again on the opening of the Fall term. But though her mental powers were unimpaired, her physical and nervous system could not stand the strain, Miss Barker dying suddenly, October 9, 1891, to the general grief of not only her family friends, and of her college mates and the faculty, but of the citizens of Akron generally. The rest of the injured young ladies, so far as known, have substantially recovered from the fearful results of that unfortunate event. DEATH OF MR. JOY H. PENDLETON.

Since that chapter was printed, also, one of the most devoted friends and liberal supporters of the college, Joy H. Pendleton, Esq., has passed away, his death occurring October 10, 1891, at the . age of 81 years, 8 month and 9 days. Mr. Pendleton was a member of the board of trustees, a member of the executive committee and treasurer of the college, Hon. George W. Crouse having been appointed to succeed him on the executive committee, and Albert B. Tinker as treasurer, the vacancy in the board of trustees not yet having been filled.

In this connection, and as a closing word in behalf of the college, it is proper to say that the prospects for the speedy erection. of the Science Building alluded to on page 165 are still bright, while the college authorities are negotiating for the purchase of several acres of land, a short distance south of the college, for athletic grounds, which, if secured and properly fitted up, will prove a source of healthful amusement to the students, and of pleasure to the citizens of Akron generally.

The Howard Street Disaster

Originally, the entire west side of Howard street, from Market street south to the present site of Rohrbacher & Allen's hardware store, was covered with one and two-story frame business and residence buildings, with the exception of the two-story brick tavern, immediately south of what is now Phoenix Hall, a part of which is still standing, the Perkins Company, heretofore written of, about 1845, erecting the three-story brick block, now occupied by Greenwood Brothers, as a clothing store.

On the night of September 16, 1848, all of. those wooden structures, between the Perkins block and the alley on the north, were destroyed by fire, as described on page 333, of this work, involving a total loss about $25,000, The burned buildings were replaced by plain, but substantial two and three-story brick structures, during the years 1849, '50, the present Dussell block being erected by one of Akron's early druggists, the late Leverett J. Ives, a brotherin-law of our well-known citizen, Thomas H. Goodwin, Esq.

On the night of February 17, 1851, the entire square, bounded by Canal, Market and Howard streets, and the alley, was devastated, except the partial escape of the two-story building on the alley, belonging to the estate of the late Col > present site of Cutter's fine brick block, He Bedetanne Ieee beta acc ie se the sufferers being Johnson & Pratt, ates: 3 rian on ket and: Canal streets (where the fire origiposton Pit : E Seg oe a en Howard and Market, general mer- Bld Perce ture »d orc O., clothing; A. Hibbard & Co. (the aera pela ry ee Abbey & Rose, dry goods; and Sum- : vi Be ads merchandise; a large proportion of the contents or several of the stores named being removed, however, before the flames reached them.

These burned frame structures were also replaced by plain, but substantial three-story brick buildings as rapidly as the mechanical facilities of that day would admit of, the block of P. D. Hall & Co., on the corner, extending back, on Market street to the corner of Canal street, and including that portion on Howard street now occupied by the City National Bank; the building lately occupied by S.B. Lafferty, by the late Allen Hibbard, and that lately occupied by Herrick & Son, by C. Johnston & Co. (Cornelius Johnston and Daniel McNaughton), the old Gale building, on the alley, saved from the fire, about 1865 giving place to the fine brick block, still standing there, erected by Cutter & Howe (Morrill T. Cutter and the late Charles R. Howe), all of the buildings, as then erected, being shown in the upper engraving, on page 462.

These several buildings, exteriorly, have since remained substantially as originally erected, except the Johnston block, which, then occupied as a clothing store by one Jonathan Long, was "mysteriously" burned out on the night of June 28, 1872, in rebuilding which its present owners, Messrs. Israel Isbell and Henry H. Clark, added a handsome stone front, as shown in the lower engraving on the page above named.