Mineral Point Town (part 3 of 3)

The liquor taken in by the patrons of this hotel was usually kept in "groceries " conveniently near, and presumably at times there was some to be had without going to the groceries. One of those institutions is described as having been connected with the hotel, where all sorts of amusements were indulged in. The following spicy sketch of a night spent here in 1837 is from the pen of A. F. Pratt, of Waukesha, in this State, which was published some years ago in the Waukesha Plaindealer. It is doubtless overdrawn, but not without truth :

We arrived at the Point a little after dark on Sunday evening, and were conducted into a room at the principal hotel, kept by Mr. Nichols, where were all kinds of fun, sports and music going on. Such a sight as presented itself to our view we never saw before or since. It seemed that the miners were in the habit of assembling there on Saturday nights to drink, gamble and frolic until Monday morning. The house was composed of three or four log cabins put together, with passage-ways cut from one to the other. The bar-room in which we were sitting contained a large bar well supplied with liquors. In one corner of the room was a faro-bank, discounting to a crowd around it; in another corner a roulette, and in still another sat a party engaged in playing cards. One man sat back in a corner playing a fiddle, to whose music two others were dancing in the middle of the room. Hundreds of dollars were lying on the tables, and among the crowd were the principal men of the Territory - men who held high and responsible offices (then and afterward). Being pretty much worn out by our journey, we expressed a wish to retire ; the landlord then showed us through a dark room and opened a door of another, in which two men were also playing at cards, while a third lay drunk on the floor. The landlord sat down his light, seized the drunken man by his collar and dragged him into the next room, then returned and informed us we could choose between the beds, there being two in the room, and bid us good night. We sat down upon the side of the bed and began to figure in our mind upon the chances. We had several hundred dollars in our pockets which we had brought with us for the purpose of entering land, and we imagined that in case they .-hould get " short '" they might "call" for our pile.

After studying awhile we threw down the outside blankets and quietly crawled into bed with our clothes on, except cap and boots. We hail a good bowie-knife in our belt, and a pistol in each pocket, so we clasped a pistol in each hand, and in this way we lay until daylight, and a longer night we never wish to see. When daylight made its appearance, we got up and found our room-mates were still playing cards. On going out to the bar-room, we found that the crowd had mostly disappeared : there were here and there one or two asleep around the room, and all was still. The next day * * * ,ve entered our lands and returned to the Blue Mounds, where we laid in a store of provisions and left for home, which we reached in four days, having learned the way, the fare, the manners and customs of the miners, and having seen enough in a new country to last us from that time to the present."

Tuk Old .I.Ail And Othek Notes

" Among the other evidences of the rude and primitive condition of the town was the almost unceasing howling and barking of wolves during the night, around and within its very borders, sounding, at times, as though the town was invested by scores of the brutes, much to the alarm and annoyance of timid strangers. The municipal arrangements of the town and county were by no means so systematic and perfect as in some older and more experienced communities, nor were the court house and jail particularly adapted to the uses for which they were intended. The jail (or, rather, pen) was constructed of rough, unhewn logs, some ten or twelve feet square, with a roof, as I now remember it, of flattened logs, the interior of a height barely sufficient to admit of a man standing upright in it, and a door made of boards about an inch thick, which was hung with wooden hinges, and fastened on the outside with a chain and ordinary padlock.

" On one occasion, during my residence in that region, the strength of the bastile was ludicrously tested, and from that time declared an unsafe depository for experienced and during criminals. It was after this wise : A long, lank ' Yankee,' as he was called, being arrested on a charge of horsestealing, was committed to prison to await a hearing on the following morning, but, miraculous as it would seem, when morning came, one corner of the prison was found raised up and secured by a stake or stone, some twelve or fifteen inches above the surface of the earth, and lo! the bird had flown. The fugitive was pursued by SheriflF Gentry, I think, and his officers, in different directions, but, so far as I was informed, made good his escape."

One of the amusing, yet sad, occurrences of the early days here, and which exhibits both the improvidence of the miners as well as the scarcity of lumber, is illustrated by the following : In the fall of 1836, a man died in the place, who had no interested friends to attend to his burial. As a consequence, the matter was referred to the public, and a man by the name of Ben Martin employed to make the coffin ; but alas I when it came to that, there was no lumber. As certain ends justify almost any means, it was decided by the parties in authority that the lumber must be filched from the county court house ; but, when it came to getting it, lo ! there were only two or three small planks. These were taken, and, with such pieces as could be obtained from broken boxes, were pieced together, and thus the burial-casket was made. However, it is fair to presume the one who rested therein slept as serenely as though he had laid on velvet and lace.

Of the sturdy men who came here before 1836, who are remembered for their sterling qualities of heart and head, there were a noble host, the most of whom have long since paid the debt of nature. To give the names of all of those known and endeared to the men and women of to-day, would be a pleasant task could it be performed, but to attempt such a feat would be folly ; therefore, such as have enjoyed exceptional prominence, and were best known, are mentioned : Peter Hartmann, James Hitchins, Nicholas Uren, John Philips, William Henry, John Caserly, J. S. Bawden, E. B. Corson, Richard Martin, Josiah Tyack, J. F. Dunn, Milton Bevans, Samuel Thomas, Henry Fake, M. V. Burris, George Cubbage, James Hugo, Stephen Taylor, Henry Plowman, H. B. Welch, Curtis Beech, Ed Coade, P. W. Thomas, D. W. Jones, Stephen Prideaux, Joseph Tregaskis, John Phillips and Maj. Legate.

50 per cent on what he receives of ore in pig lead ; thus the smelter receives 35 per cent of lead as his profit by his smelting furnace. From this profit is to be deducted his daily expense of fuel, payment of hands, keeping of stock, wear and tear of materials, implements and live stock, and also the interest of the capital employed. A smelting furnace that will yield from five to seven thousand pounds of lead daily, and many are calculated to produce this result, must certainly be profitable."

" About one and a half miles northeast of the town, on the hills which rise into the great prairie extending to the Blue Mounds, are found the copper mines. Here have been raised immense quantities of copper ore which is said to have yielded from 20 to 30 per cent." This was an enormous product when it is considered that the best mines of Europe do not yield above 12 per cent, and the profit must have been proportionately large, considering that the European mines are worked at a profit. In 1836, 58,000 pounds of copper ore were shipped from the ' Point ' to England, which yielded 33 per cent of pure material. This copper brought in Boston 22 cents per pound, while other ore brought but 18 cents per pound.

The following remarks are selected from " A Canoe Voyage up the Minnay Sotor," written by G. W. Featherstonhaugh, who came here in 1837 for the purpose of making a geological survey of the lead and copper mines. After a hard ride, he finally reached Mineral Point, or, rather, its suburbs, where were various small wooden houses stuck up. * * * " With diflSculty, we procured a room to sleep in at the Postmaster's, and, it being evening, had scarce got our trunks out of the vehicle when we were marched to his brother's, who was an apothecary, to supper. The supper consisted of fried ham, coffee, bread and butter and treacle, served up in a cleanly way, and, being hungry with our drive, we made a very hearty meal." Subsequently, he speaks of the never-failing repasts of coffee, rice, bread and butter and treacle.

miserable place, built there apparently on account of a small rivulet which is a branch of the Pecatonica River. * * * It contained two taverns, into which I ventured to enter for a moment, both of which seemed to be very full. A court of justice, being held at the time, had collected a great many parties and witnesses. We had been referred to those taverns for lodgings, as the Postmaster had told me it was not possible for him to give us quarters for more than one night ; but I was not sorry to learn that none were to be had, being thoroughly disgusted with the appearance of everything; and then such a set of 'ginnerals, colonels, judges and doctors ' as were assembled there, was anything but inviting, and most of these dignitaries, as I was informed, were obliged to sleep on the fioor. This was exactly what I had to do at the Postmaster's, whose house at any rate was clean.

" On awakening the next morning, I found it exceedingly cold, and asked permission to have a fire lighted." Just as he was about to get up, he says: "An unshaven but confidinglooking fellow walked into the room with nothing but his nether garments on, and, immediately turning his back to the fire, engrossed it all to himself His free and easy way was not at all to my taste, and threatened to interfere very much with my comfort. Under other circumstances, I should not have hesitated to have turned him out; but, situated as I was, it was far from a safe proceeding, or, indeed, a justifiable one. It was certainly very cold, and I should have been glad to have had the fire to myself, but I had been treated hospitably, and the least I could do, was to be hospitable to others ; besides, my barefoote<l friend hail an air about him that imparted sometliing beyond the low swaggerer, something that smacked of authority - for authority is a thing that, from habit or from the dignity inherent in it, has a peculiar, inexplicable way of revealing itself This might be the Governor, or some great man, en deshabille ; so I thought it best to meet him in his own manner, by slipping a pair of pantaloons on, and then addressing him in a friendly way. It was most fortunate that I acted just as became me to do ; for he soon let me know who he was. He was no less a personage than ' the Court,' for so they generally called the Presiding Judge in the United States, and was beyond all question the greatest man in the place. He was, in fact, the personage of the locality for the moment, and it turned out that the Postmaster had given him up his only good bedroom, and that he had good-naturedly given it up to me for one night, and had taken the majestyof the law to sleep behind the counter, in a little shop where the post office was kept, with blankets, crockery, cheese, and all sorts of things around him, and had very naturally come to warm himself in his own (juarters. (Judge Dunn.)

" ' The Court ' and myself now got along very well together. He had been bred to the law in the Western country, did not want for shrewdness, was good-natured, * * * j^yt ,v^ evidently a man of low habits and manners. He was very much amused with my apparatus for dressing, which was simple enough ; a nail-brush was quite new to him, and he remarked that ' it was a considerably better invention than a fork,' which he said he had seen people use when they had too much dirt in their nails. He once carried one, but it was troublesome, though the handle was convenient to stir brandy-sling with."

After dressing and eating, our testy Englishman goes out with a "scientific friend," to make a " regular survey, and ascertain the real geological structure and nidus of the metallic contents of the rocks." They first went to the copper mines, and found that very little work had been done, and that altogether superficial. " Very extravagant accounts of these copper mines had been circulated by interested persons, and we saw at once that they would require a great deal of gullibility on the part of purcliasers to be got rid of

" After wandering about the whole day," they finally got back in the evening to the customary "ham and treacle." They were then informed that the " good-natured Court " declined to repose behind the counter a second night, that not being according to the ideas of the "majesty of the law," and therefore Mr. F. and his friend had to come down to the realities of their situation, and take lodgings on the floor of the eating-room with the " ginnerals, colonels, etc.," for company. He says, " Everything was makeshift at Mineral Point," and he also adds, "but certainly we found everybody very obliging." Thus it appears, at the last, that the kindness of the people had penetrated the cuticle of his sensibilities and extracted an acknowledgment.

His berth proved "both cold and hard," and he longed for morning. At 5 o'clock, he was roused by the woman of the house, who wanted the room to lay the breakfast, so he arose, and, to keep himself warm until the repast was ready, took a walk about town, of which he says : " Not a leaf was to be seen on the few stunted trees here and there, and the chilly, comfortless state of the weather was in perfect keeping with the dismal aspect of the place. * * * j found that the inhabitants produced nothing of any kind whatever for their subsistence - not even a cabbage, for there was not a garden in the place, and that they were as dependent upon others as if they were on board ship. Everything they ate and drank was brought from a distance by wagons, at a great expense Flour, the price of which in the Atlantic States was §5 and $6 per barrel, was as high as 81-i here. * * * * Everybody lived from hand to mouth, without once dreaming of personal comfort. The sole topic which engrossed the general mind was the production of galena and copper, especially the first, upon which they relied to pay for everything they consumed, no one possessing capital beyond that which a transient success might furnish him.

" It was, in fact, a complete nest of speculators, with workmen following in their train ; traders again upon their traces, to sell goods and provisions ; doctors to give physic and keep boarding-houses, and lawyers to get a living out of this motley and needy population.

"With but few exceptions, the diggings for metal were quite superficial. Such a thing as a steam engine, to drain a shaft or hoist out the " mineral," as it was called, was unknown here ; so that, as soon as the superficial diggings were exhausted, the population was always prepared to flock to another quarter. But change of place is not often accompanied with wounded feelings in the United States. Men do not always seem to s6lect situations in that country with a view to living tranquilly and happily, but to try to find ready money by digging for it, or to

" A more melancholy and dreary place," he says, '' than this Mineral Point, I never expect to see again. We had not tasted a morsel of fresh meat, or fish, or vegetables, since we had been here. There was not a vestige of a garden in the place, and the population seemed quietly to have resigned itself to an everlasting and unvarying diet of coffee, rice, treacle and bread and salt butter, morning, noon and night, without any other variety than that of occasionally getting a different cup and saucer."

Mr. Featherstonhaugh was evidently an irascible personage, and imbued with vasty notions of his own merits and ability ; but, in making the geological survey while here, he committed so great an error, either willfully or ignorantly, that nearly every geologist who has been over the ground since has spoken of it. There were some peculiar circumstances and results connected with Mr. Featherstonhaugh's visit that are especially worthy of mention.

Some time before the survey was made, John D. Ansley, who was then the principal business man of this locality, went to Philadelphia and made arrangements with a stock company, on the ground of his representations, for the sale of a large part of his copper mining lands. A large amount of money was secured as an advance purchase, and everything went well until the advent of Mr. Featherstonhaugh, who was deputized to report as to the correctness of Mr. Ansley's statements regarding the value of the land. At that time. Mr. Ansley kept a carriage and horses, which iSIr. F.. who desired to ride about the country, sent for; but owing to a previous engagement made with Mrs. Alexander Hamilton, who was here at that time visiting her son, Mr. Ansley was obliged to refuse. Mr. F. then sent demanding the team, and was again refused; a'third time Mr. F. sent, peremptorily ordering Mr. Ansley to comply with his wishes under pain of his displeasure as a representative of the mining company, but with the same result. Subsequently, Mr. Ansley was sent for by the company and went East, where he was thrown in prison under charge of obtaining money under false pretenses. From this dilemma, he was rescued by William li. Smith, but his mining company scheme was exploded. He then went to England, and very soon succeeded in interesting a company of English capitalists ; but one day, while Mr. Ansley was sitting in his hotel, waiting to complete final arrangements, who shouUrwalk up to him but Mr. F., saying; " Ansley, I am after you," or words to that effect. And in all probability he was, for the next day Mr. Ansley was informed by the capitalists that, notwithstanding they had already advanced a few hundred pounds, they should drop the matter. Thus Mineral Point mining interests began to suffer, and were retarded through the operations of a designing party, a circumstance which has been repeated, in effect, in different ways, by others, with far more disastrous results.

The Bank Ok .Mineral Point

This bank was the second opened in the State, and in its day was one of the noted institutions of the country. Like many similar establishments of an early day, it started out with bright prospects, but within a few years became the tool of swindlers, and exploded as a grand fiasco, leaving those who had invested poorer, but not much wiser respecting the crookedness of public victimizers, as illustrated by some of the principal events which have transpired here within the last twenty-five years.

By an act of the Territorial Council, approved December 2, 1836, a charter was granted to two commissioners to establish a bank at Mineral Point, in the town of Pecatonica. The capital stock was limited to §1^00,000, and, during the following May, after thirty days' notice had been given, the stock was to be opened for subscription. The superintendents and commissioners appointed were William S. Hamilton, J. F. O'Neill, M. M. Strong, James Morrison, John Atchison. Richard McKinn and G. V. Dennison. who were to control the bank interests until the stock was sold and an election could be hehl. The subscri[)tion books were to be kept open six days, and any one was at liberty to subscribe to five shares.

The charter was granted to continue until 1857, under the management of seven directors. The bank was not to incur an indebtedness which would at any time exceed three times the amount of capital stock actually paid in. If at any time bills became due and they could not be settled on demand, the corporation was dissolved. Votes were to be issuetl according to the number of shares. A less denomination than a five-dollar bunk note could not be issued, and then not until §40,000 had been paid in. Whether enough stock was taken in 18-37 to allow of the opening of the bank or not, is immaterial to the narrative, as it appears that the bank was not then put in operation. The heaviest buyers of stock were a Mr. Webb, who represented the Erie Transportation Company, that was then operating in Helena and vicinity, and James D. Doty. Each of these parties entered into a strife to gain a controlling interest, which resulted in favor of Mr. Doty, who finally became the bank (so to speak), he having gradually bought up nearly all of the stock, at the nominal rate of 20 per cent on each share.

In the fall of 1838, or spring of 1839, S. B. Knapp and Porter Brace put in an appearance, and, either as purchasers or representatives for Mr. Doty, took charge of the bank. Mr. Knapp was the financier of the establishment, and Porter Brace was his a.ssistant. It is supposed, from subseijuent circumstances, that the young men came here, having but little cash in store, with the intention of absorbing the bank, and making what, in common parlance, would be called " a stake." Although, in the event, the design was frustrated, yet, as will be seen, the institution was swamped by them.

In connection with receiving deposits, the principal business of the bank was transacted with the smelters, who, upon the purchase of lead from the miners, drew orders upon the bank, to be taken in exchange for drafts on the Eastern banks, where the lead was sold. In accordance with this condition of affairs, about the first thing done by the new firm, on commencing business, was to issue what were called "post bills," which were indorsed across the face with red ink. to be paid in two or three months after date. Although this was an innovation upon the plan of banking contemplated by the charter, yet it was not expressly forbidden ; so the business men and miners, with a little grumbling, accepted the situation, and contented themselves by dubbing the bills " red dogs." The -' red dogs " had not been in use over a year before Mr. Knapp, according to his plan of operations, concluded to make an advance on the enemy, and issue "post bills ' for six months. These notes were indorsed with blue ink, to be paid in six months after date. No sooner did the public get hold of them, than a perfect storm of indignation was launched at the wily banker by his proposed dupes, who saw through the fraud at a glance, and refused to accept them, in most instances. These bills were familiarly called the " blue bellies."

Public meetings were held, and the bank proceedings denounced by the speakers in the strong language of those days. At one of the meetings, M. M. Strong made a bitter speech against Mr. Knapp, and, in the evening, after his return home, he was waited upon by that gentleman, who informed him that he had called to demand satisfaction (at the same time drawing a couple of pistols), and that they could then and there settle the difficulty, according to "the code," in the dark. To this Mr. Strong demurred, stating tliat he did not care to kill him, and much less did he care to be shot himself; but if, after mature deliberation, he should decide that they must fight a duel, why, well and good, providing suitable and gentlemanly preparations could be made. To this Mr. Knapp agreed and witlulrew. and that was the last of the duel.

The bank continued to operate until the general dissatisfaction became so great that an official examination into the affairs of the institution began to be mooted. When Messrs. Knapp and Brace heard of this, they ijuietly "folded their tents," locked up the bank " and stole away." The following day. when it was discovered that the birds had flown, a party of eight, led by I. P. Tramel, I)ei)uty SherifT, started for Galena in pursuit of the fugitives, whom they captured at that point. Mr. Knapp had nothing when taken, except his traveling-bag and two volumes of Dickens' novels ; the latter he presented to Mr. Welch, who was then editing a paper at Galena. Something about the circumstance attracted the attention of some of Knapp's captors, and they demanded the books, when lo ! what should they discover, pasted within the fly-leaves of the books, but the notes and bills of exchange which represented the assets of the bank - a sum not less than $50,000. Delighted with the success of their expeilition, the party returned to the Point, having the absconding parties in charge.

Soon after their arrival, a public meeting was held, and Pascal Beckett, J. F. Dunn and W. H. Banks were appointed Bank Receivers. A short time subsequent to this, after the affairs of the institution had been overhauled, Mr. Banks was deputized to go East and collect on the sureties. In the end. Banks turned out to be the greatest rogue, and, by his conduct, very aptly illustrated the aphorism of " There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip," for he never returned, nor was he heard from, and, up to date, the " red dogs " and " blue bellies," if there are any in existence, remain unredeemed. The eifect of the bank failure and eventual loss of the funds proved a serious set-back to the community at large, for a time, and afflicted a good many very severely. However, within a brief time, business was restored to its wonted vigor, and the matter of the loss of $50,000 or $75,000 was soon forgotten. The bank was opened in a log building on the public square, and, in 1889, was transferred to a stone structure erected for the purpose, which stood where the Episcopal schoolhouse now stands.

From 1838 to 1844, there was rather a diminution of business than an increase, owing to the many bank failures through the country at that time. However, no particularly marked depression in the general activity could be noted, as the place fairly held its own against the financial adversity of the times. Immigrant arrivals were not large, neither were the departures for other fields very great, therefore it can be said that Mineral Point had at last settled down to a more temperate and judicious pace, the result of which could scarcely be unfavorable under any circumstances. The following are the names of several of the more prominent men who came here and settled permanently between 1836 and 1844, who have left or are dead : W. Tregay, Ed Cornish. J. J. Miner, Dr. David Ross, D. Richard Ridglev, Henry Lanehan. 0. P. Williams, Parley Eaton, A. W. Parish. G. B. and Phil Morrison, C. C. Washburn, Cyrus Woodman, Jabez Pierce, Judge M. M. Jackson, Edwin Whitmore. S. Pulford, M. D., Henry Koop, Whitney Smith, Crane Floyd, Samuel Baker, Thomas Davey, George Hardy, Henry Tollier and William Bennett.

The Trial And Hanging Of Caffee

Probably the most thrilling episode that ever occurred in Mineral Point was the trial and hanging of William Caffee for murder in 1842. The crime was one of revolting brutality, committed with slight provocation, and therefore with scarcely an extenuating circumstance. A man by the name of Berry had erected a new house in the town of White Oak Springs, now in La Fayette County, and, as is customary in rural districts, invited his neighbors in to " a housewarming," among whom was the man Caflee. The manager of the amusements, a man by the name of Southwick, had the dancers numbered oft' upon a piece of paper, from which the names were called in turn. Professing to be offended at some trivial circumstance, Caffee seized the paper and ran out doors with it. Southwick, it is said, grasped a stick of wood and pursued Caffee, threatening to knock him down if he did not return the list. At this, Caffee drew a pistol and shot him dead. In the prosecution, it was proved that Caffee had made a boast that he would kill his man that night; consequently, although he was ablv defended by M. M. Strong, he was found guilty of murder in the first degree, and was sentenced by Judge Jackson (now a foreign Consul) to be hanged by the neck until dead- As usually happens, the friends of the criminal attempted to get the sentence revoked, or commuted to imprisonment for life, but without avail, and in November, 1842, William Caffee suffered the extreme penalty of the law and paid blooil for blood. During the first part of his incarceration, he was lodged in the old jail, and watched day and night by four armed men, and sometimes more, as it was rumored that an attempt was to be made to set him free. At that time, they did not have the conveniences now in vogue for shackling criminals, so irons were riveted on liis legs by James James, the blacksmith. Each week the process of unriveting and riveting had to be gone through with, and at those times Caffee would say to James, -' You had better be careful how you put the irons on. for, if I should get loose, you might be sorry." Just before the wretch was Uiken to the gallows, he expressed ;i wish to have a raw slice off from the heart of Judge Jackson, to eat. The gallows was erected on the old Russell lot, near the depot, and it is said that one of the largest crowds that ever assembled here was present and witnessed the finale. After the horrid affair was over, the body was taken by the friends of the deceased, and an attempt made to restore life, but, fortunately for society, without success.

The verdict returned by the jury is a voluminous document, the quaint phraseology of which is sufficiently explicit and conclusive to render the finding a cast-iron and unequivocal judgment. For the benefit of modern Solons who return sententious verdicts, we reproduce the paper :

"The grand inquest of the United States of America, inquiring for the county of Iowa, in the Territory of Wiskonsin, on their oaths do present that William Caffee, late of the county aforesaid, yeoman, not having the fear of God before his eyes, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil, on the twenty-third of February, in the year of our Lord one thousanil eight hundred and forty-two, at Gratiot's Grove, in the county of Iowa aforesaid, and within the jurisdiction of this court, in and upon one Samuel Southwick. in the peace of God and of the .said Territory, then and there being feloniously, willfully and of his malice aforethought, an assault did make, and that the said William Caffee, a certain pistol of the value of one dollar, then and there loaded and charged with gunpowder and one leaden bullet, which pistol the said William Caffee, in his right hand then and there had and held to and against and upon the said Samuel Southwick, then and there willfully, feloniously and of his malice aforethought did shoot and discharge ; and that the said William Caffee, with the leaden bullet aforesaid, out of the pistol aforesaid, then and there by force of the gunpowder and shot sent forth as aforesaid, the said Samuel Southwick, in and upon the left breast of him, the said Samuel Southwick. then and there feloniously, willfully and of his malice aforethought, did strike, penetrate and wound, giving to the said Samuel Southwick, then and there with the leaden bullet aforesaid so as aforesaid shot, discharged and sent forth from the pistol aforesaid by the said William Caffee in and upon the said left breast of the said Samuel Southwick, near the region of the heart of him. the said Samuel Southwick, one mortal wound of the depth of six inches and of the breadth of one inch, of which said mortal wound, the said Samuel Southwick, on the said twenty-third day of February, in the year aforesaid, at Gratiot's Grove, in the county of Iowa aforesaid, instantly died, and so the jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths aforesaid, do say that the said William Caffee, the said Samuel Southwick, in manner and form aforesaid, feloniously, willfully and of his malice aforethought, did kill and murder against the form of the statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and <lignity of the United States of America.

Border Justice .4Nd Vendettas

One of the methods of punishment prevailing here forty years ago was whipping. Whenever the people were particularly incensed, they seldom waited for the slow processes of the law if they could avoid it, but took the offender to some convenient spot and gave him fifty or a hundred lashes. Such diversions as fist fighting, an occasional knifing or shooting fray could be tolerated, but petty trickery or stealing was exceptionally odious to the average miner. The actual state of society at that time will be best illustrated by giving a few incidents. One day a man from Galena came into town in search of a couple of men who had hired four yoke of cattle from him to come here after loads of mineral ; they not having returned in due time, he had started on foot in search of them. A little inciuiry revealed the fact that they had sold the oxen 10 Francis Vivian and Thonia.s Jenkins. As soon as it became known what the men had done.

a lot of sturdy fellows got together and hunted around until they found the thieves. Then they took them out a short distance from town and gave them such a thrashing as they had never received before, in all probability. More dead than alive, they were then set at liberty and allowed to depart, with the warning that they must never show themselves here again.

At one time a professional gambler and blackleg by the name of Bunce came to the Point, and began to hoodwink and fleece the boys unmercifully. They stood the game for awhile, but at length, finding that they could not match his knavery in any way, they determined that he should emigrate. When told that he must leave the village, ''Will you, nill you?" he swore roundly that he would not, and no one could make him. Upon that, a stalwart fellow b}^ the name of Mills took a cowhide and told him he must either go at once or he would whip liim out of the place. The fellow again declared that he would not, and Mills went at him and literally whipped him step by step out of the village.

One day, in 1830, a cracking of fire-arms was heard on High street, at the old Burris grocery. When the crowd came to the spot, whom should they find but good-natured Uncle Ab stoning the worthy Burris for dear life, while the latter was returning the fire with pistolshots. When Uncle Ab was fivirly aroused, he was a terror, and, before he could be stopped, Burris w\as put to ignominious flight, fire-arms to the contrary notwithstanding.

The terrible and sanguinary fierceness of some of those early encounters is hardly describable ; neither can the coolness and determination which was characteristic of most of those men be fully comprehended. At one time, while H. B. Welch was editing the 3Iiners Free Press, and Charles Bracken, the stern old pioneer, was conducting the Galena Commonwealth, Welch published an article peculiarly odious to the opposing journalist. As a result, the first time they met. Bracken deliberately cowhided Welch. One day, not long after, Mr. Bracken was walking leisurely down High street, leading a horse, when Welch came out of his log building, which stood on the Coade lot. No. 41, armed with shot-gun and pistols, and started in pursuit of Bracken, firing at him as he went. Within a minute the male residents of High and Commerce streets were out looking on in great excitement, but nothing was done except that diff'erent parties stepped forward with pistols for the belligerents. Mr. Bracken turned neither to the right nor the left, but walked along until he reached Commerce street, Welch having in the meantime shot at him six times ; then he turned, coolly drew a pistol, and, taking deliberate aim, fired at his antagonist, laying him out, but not killing him. Bracken then, without more ado, pursued his way. This was one way that early differences were settled quite often, and sometimes in a still more terrible manner, as in the case of Ben Salter and Phil Thomas, who fought with knives and stones one day on High street to satisfy an old feud. But, for some reason, these encounters seldom ended in death.

The Sunday amusements of that time may be characterized as iiaving been free from all restraint. Gambling, foot-racing, horse-racing and what-not were the standard sports. One old miner, called Kentuck, came here on Saturday night, on one occasion, and stopped over Sunday, but went away dissatisfied on Monday morning, saying that he had not had any fun because he did not liave but fifteen fights.

A French Princk Visits The Borough

In 1840, Mineral Point enjoyed a visit from one of the imperial family of France, the Prince de Joinville, who came to this country at that time in search of the lost Prince or French Daupliin. He stopped witii his suite overnight at Uncle Ab's while en route from Fort Crawford to Green Bay. The newspapers of the time, in commenting on the treatment extended to the illustrious foreigner, stated that at Galena the landlords, conceiving that he was a legitimate prey, charged him enormously, and ridiculously as well, for everything that the party received, and, it may be added, did. for they were required to pay $5 for using a piano during an evening. But " Uncle Ab " never thought of such a piece of unwarrantable extortion, and did not charge any more than would have been demanded from any first-class guest : thus every tavern in the country suffered in comparing the quality of the entertainment.

The individual who created the greatest interest in the minds of the /French people subsequently was Eleazer Williams, a half-breed Iroquois, son of Thomas Williams, one of the famous old Williams stock of preachers and missionaries. Eleazar, or rather Lazare Williams, was bred among the Indians, and became a missionary or preacher and teacher among the Oneida Indians, large numbers of whom, during the early part of his career, he converted to Christianity. Being ambitious of establishing a grand Indian empire, west of and between the great lakes and the Mississippi, he succeeded in getting the six nations to entertain the scheme, which was agreeable to the Government. But a treaty, known as the Schermerhorn, was made in 1836, which effectually ruined Mr. Williams' empire scheme, as it limited the possessions of those tribes to a small area. He was with the Indians a good many years, a portion of which were passed at Green Bay. But, at last, the Indians rose en masse, and made such bitter complaints against the Rev. Eleazer, accusing him of malfeasance, that he was dismissed from his post. For some time after this, nothing was heard of the gentleman until finally, one day, who should turn up but the " lost prince " in the person of our quondam preacher. However, his second scheme for the acquisition of greatness also miscarried, for he was unable to sustain the identity. It may be said of him that he is regarded as having been the prince of knaves and charlatans.

The California Exodus

The discovery of gold in California, and the subsequent e.\aggerated reports from that region, fired the hearts of many and carried dismay to the landholders in the county. The effect was magical ; the large floating population, attracted by the glittering ore, forsook their lead diggings and disposed of all their available assets to defray the expenses of a trans-continental trip. A hegira of unparalleled proportions set in, and all business was paralyzed. The few growing industries fostered by the mineral operations were effectually crippled, and the land was irretrievably depleted of a frugal and thrifty class of citizens. Every branch of trade was prostrated, and the mechanic and merchant, the miner and smelter, suffered alike in the general ruin. The fever of emigration, once fairly inoculated upon the people, developed into an irremediable contagion. Panic-stricken, all classes fled toward the West, deluded by the mirage of wealth that beckoned them on to the golden fields.

Merchants, on awakening from the hallucination, found themselves surrounded by heavy stocks of merchandise, with vacant stores filled with tlie stillness of the grave. No busy tiile of customers lined the counters, and the voice of traffic was hushed in perpetual gloom. Promissory notes matured and were presented for payment, only to be met by a liberal display of book debts. To avert financial disaster and total ruin, stocks were literally thrown on the market and sacrificed for what they would bring in ready cash.

The proceeds were usually small, as at that time merchandise was cumulative, and failed to realize anything. In this dilemma, stores were closed, and the capitalists joined the eager throng pressing on toward the Pacific coast. The army of enterprising native American prospectors, whose shrewdness and energy founded the cities of Mineral Point and Dodgeville, abandoned their remunerative claims. ,\niraated by that restless spirit of adventure that first drew them to the Mississippi lead fields, they, with little reluctance, -' pulled stakes," and shifted the scene of their operations from Wisconsin to California.

The first adventurers to cut adrift from Iowa County were three from Mineral Point, consisting of John J. Ross, Alexander Turner and William J. Tilley. They proceeded by water via Galena, thence down the Mississippi to New Orleans, whence they embarked for the Isthmus of Panama. In the spring of the same year numerous contingents from every nook and corner in the county cast their fate with the generality of their fellow-citizens. Tliat season was marked with remarkable activity, the streets and shops resounded with the bustle and traffic incidental to the preparation of mining outfits. The roads were crowded with prairie schooners, whose balloon tops obscured the view, and impressed the spectator with a faint idea of the extensive emigration. During the summer of 1849, a lull occurred in business circles, and the torrent of outpouring humanity was temporarily stemmed, awaiting tidings from the advance guard of the array preparing to follow. John J. Ross was the first man to return, and the flattering reports circulated by him accelerated the tardy ones and stimulated the unbelievers to renewed action.

A Mineral Point Craft And Her Adventures

One of the peculiar features of 1849 was the construction of a sea-going schooner at Mineral Point. Work was commenced in the fall of 1848 by several tradesmen, who with unusual prescience foresaw the wave of emigration that was to set in in the following year, and prepared themselves accordingly. The boat was built according to the plans, and under the immediate superintendence of Henry Butler, a carpenter. Oscar Paddock was the capitalist who supplied the pecuniary means to further the construction. Another person who lent his assistance was a sailor named Vance, who with the roving habits peculiar to his class, had become stranded in the mines far away from his native element. The keel was laid opposite the present site of the depot, and there the three shipbuilders employed their time during the long winter. When completed and ready for launching, the little craft measured thirty feet keel by seven feet beam. In the spring of 1849, all was in readiness for the auspicious event of removal. Amid much excitement, the boat was loaded on to a large mineral wagon and propelled on wheels by two teams to Galena. Here it was launched under most propitious circumstances, which augured well for the venture. The services of Vance were now impressed to step the masts and rig the vessel in schooner fashion. Having accomplished this necessary work, a cargo of provisions was stowed away in the hold, and one bright day in May the lines binding the boat to its native shores were unloosened, and on the turbid waters of the Mississippi she was rapidly borne toward the ocean. Tradition does not preserve the title of the boat, nor does it relate whether the hardy crew condescended to the frivolity of christening it by the time-honored custom of breaking a bottle of wine on the prow. If, however, we are allowed to infer from a knowledge of the habits and customs of the mining community, we would surmise that the conventional practice was foregone, the precious liquor being assimilated by the crew in honor of the success of their enter, prise.

The port of New Orleans was attained without any catastrophe occurring to detract from the enjoyment of the trip. Here, the miilge of a craft attracted much observation from the assembled mariners of all nations, wliose admiration for the pluck and hardihood of the crew was unstinted. Recruiting the stock of provisions and renewing the water supply, Vance, who was elected Captain, boldly put to sea, eschewing the customary formality of visiting the Custom House and procuring certain papers prescribed for such cases by the omnipresent Uncle Sam. Whether this step was taken advisedly, does not appear, but, from subsequent experience, the embryo mariners must have repented the indiscretion which induced them to violate the international code of laws, ^'erily, the way of the transgressor is hard, and, in this instance, their path was paved with troubles dire and deep. While cruising off the coast of Cuba, keeping a sharp lookout for a bayou that promised safe landing and a copious supply of fresh water, they were espied by a Spanish gunboat. With magnified visions of filibustering expeditions in aid of the latent rebellion, the Captain of the cruiser bore down on the miners, and, by a significant grape-shot, ordered them to heave to. In the face of such a formidable disp'ay, the summons could not be disregarded : so, with reluctance, the peak halyards were dropped, and the schooner swung around into the wind. A swaggering Spaniard, fiercely mustaciied, with "fight" traced distinctly on every lineament of his countenance, sprang aboard, and, in the absence of all documentary testimony to the contrary, confiscated the vessel and contents as contraband. A sundown. Disarmed of their suspicions bv the apparent contentment of the Americans, the officer took no measures to insure the detention of his captives, but allowed them the freedom of the deck. At dusk, a majority of the Spanish sailors went ashore to carouse, leaving a guard of three armed marines to protect the prisoners. The hours wore slowly away, and the sleepy sentinels relaxed their vigilance. Bv a concerted movement, they were all seized, firmly bound hand and foot, and gagged to obviate an alarm. Sail was made, and, noiselessly, the little craft cleared her way through the surging waters until an offing was attained, when, spreading her wings to the increasing breeze, she rapidly put distance to flight. When within sight of the Cuban shore, the marines were bundled into the ship's boat and cut adrift. Profiting by this experience, the voyagers were satisfied to abide at a respectful distance from the Cuban isle.

A similar fate befell them on the Mexican coast. Hovering around, and uncertain how to make the port, their action arrested the attention of the coast guard, and, for the second time, they were involved in the toils of captivity. The authorities were willing to hazard the safety of their prize by simply tying it up alongside a national gunboat. With the instinct of freedom irrepressibly active in their hearts, the bold sailors, at the instigation of Paddock, slipped their cables and put to sea. Owing chiefly to the insignificance of the capture, no attempt was made to retake them.

These hair-breadth escapes instilled a little caution into Capt. Vance, who, thereafter, conducted his voyage with circumspection, prudently avoiding war-like craft, and only venturing ashore for supplies after dusk. The Nicaragua River was eventually reached, and up the unknown channel of this stream Capt. Vance boldly pushed, using sweeps or long oars when the wind was light or unfavorable. At one of their anchorages, Don Ramirez d'Escobeda, a local trader, was so captivated by the adaptability of the boat for his trade, that he entered into negotiations and, finally, purchased the boat for an amount equivalent to §1,000. Satisfied with the barter, the crew relinquished their respective claims and pursued their course across the Isthmus to Aspinwall, where they secured passage through to the Golden Gate.';

In 1850, the exodus evinced no signs of abatement, as, in point of fact, more emigrants took their departure this year than in the preceding season of 1849. In the height of the ebb, sixty teams and two hundred persons left Mineral Point in one day. This is only a fair criterion of the progress in other sections of the county. When it is considered that each person or head of family took with him sums of money ranging from §-00 to §500, an idea may be gained of the impoverished condition of a territory deprived of two thousand lusty laborers and a proportionate amount of wealth. Business was restored to equanimity in 1851 and 185"2, when a reflux set in, and money was received from the gold fields to cheer the desolate ones at home.

It would be an utter impossibility to approximate the number of persons who visited California during the reign of the gold fever, but herewith is presented a list of the principal men who staked their fortunes:

Henry Martin. George Kislenbury, Thomas Martin, M. J. Levison, John Martin, William J. Tilley, wife and child, John Bascoe, Samuel Code. Thomas Lyons, Adam Gilts. Fifty from Willow Springs. Up to 1852, 700 had left.

Waldivick - Derilc J. Difley, Jonathan White, E. Bennet, John White, B. Gove, A. Bennet, Sara Bennet, George Bennet, Martha and Mellissa Benret, Pleasant Fields, B. Smith, Dan Minor, A. Graham, Charles Stewart, G. Stewart, John Bennett, Hardy Elf, Andy Elf, A. Munson, George A. Martin, M. Heath, Z. Van Norman, R. Gribel, William Ball, James Kitchen, John Phillips, William Welles, Abe Boyd, Milton Matthews, Franklin Cox:, A. White and Thomas Flint.

On January 30, 18ol, the California fever broke out anew in this district, and from primary indications, promised to surpass the exodus of the preceding spring. Among the number were the following person who took steamer, via New Orleans, in February : Joseph Stephens, Henry Martin, Chris Boden, Samuel Waters, Mrs. Nancy Crocker, Mrs. Caroline Wasley, Miss Emma Wasley, John Prideaux, Samuel Richards, James Thomas, John Martin, William Opie, John O'Neill, John Tregal, Joseph Murrish, Robert Riddell, Daniel Tilley, John Grey, Joseph Prideaux, Ole Torson, Jonathan Meeker, Thomas Martin.