TRAGEDIES

Reuben Williams, being assailed by James Fierman, in his defense killed him by accidentally breaking his neck. The men were shelling corn for William Gayle when the difficulty occurred. This was in the summer of 1851. Williams was forthwith arraigned at the September term of the circuit court, pleaded guilty to the indictment charging him with manslaughter, and was sentenced to the penitentiary for nine months, one day's solitary confinement and the remainder of the time at hard labor.

Mrs. Ungles, the aged mother of W. J. Ungles, was suffocated in. her bed by the clothing taking fire from the stove. This occurred about 1855.

In 1858 William, son of James C. Stevens, was drowned at the foot of Mapes' island. He was eleven years old.

A little daughter of G. L. Dunn fell into a tub of hot water and was so badly scalded that she died after six days. April 22, 1859. Her age was four years.

Francis Marion Gruwell was billed November 9, 1859, by the bursting of a cannon while firing a salute over election news, the particular theme of rejoicing being the success of Warren Shedd, republican candidate for county clerk.

Catharine, wife of James Geiger, and her infant child perished from a foolish attempt to fill a fluid lamp while burning. This was on September 1, 1860. Mrs. Geiger lived six hours in terrible suffering.

In the summer of 1860 Columbus Canfield shot and killed Jake Price in self-defense. Canfield was fully exonerated by the coroner's jury. At another time he killed a man in New Boston township and departed the country and has not since been seen.

Two years later Nathan Shockley, a Missouri secessionist and des­ perado, stabbed and billed North Fleming. Political malignity was the moving cause, though a trumped-up subterfuge was assigned and so effectively used as to secure the murderer's acquittal. He was afterward fatally cut to pieces in Missouri by a butcher whom he was on the point of shooting down in cold blood.

On. the third of November, 1864, Alexander Holland was thrown. from his buggy by a runaway horse at the corner of Main and Second streets, and died in a few hours from his injuries.

A little nine-year old daughter of Joseph Wadsworth's caught her clothes on fire from the stove while the rest of the family were out, and was so burned that she died in a few hours. This was in the autumn of 1864.

Hannah Jane Frazier, the handsone and intelligent daughter of Andrew Frazier, lost her life in 1868 by the imprudent use of kerosene in kindling a fire. Her body was horribly burned and she lived only a few hours, but in excruciating agony and conscious to the last. She was about sixteen years of age and had a disposition of great sweetness.

Francis Johnson, son of John Johnson, was drowned in the river about 1869.

The most considerable fire which ever took place in this town was on the night of July 4, 1870, and broke out in the livery stable belonging to H. N. Ives and situated on the west side of- Fourth street, between Main and Jackson. The Nelson House adjoining was burned, as were also Mrs. Emily Wade's and Joseph Thompson's dwellings, and 0. Holland's corn house. The total loss, after deduct­ing $5,500 of insurance, was $13,000. The distressing feature of this sad misfortune was the loss of the two young boys, Frank Ives and Willie Dempster, who perished in the flames while sleeping in the livery stable. These lads were about fourteen years old. They suffocated, it is thought, before the fire reached their couch. Their charred bodies were removed and the burial took place from the Methodist church where most solemn and impressive funeral services were performed. The fire is believed to have been incendiary.

John T. Calhoun was drowned in the river at the foot of Main street, on Sunday morning, May 12, 1872. He and his wife were in a skiff which was capsized by the current. She was insensible when rescued but recovered.

George H. Frick was killed by a bursting cannon when celebrating election news on Wednesday, November 6, 1872.

Willie Phares, son of W. H. Phares, a very beautiful and prom­ising child of little less than four years, was left sleeping in bed in the morning. The family being startled by his screams rushed to the room and found his night-clothes in flames. It is supposed that he set himself on fire with matches. This was .on July 22, 1875. He survived until the next day.

M. Kelly, of this place, while 'on a trip to Canada for his health, committed suicide by drowning at Michigan City, Indiana, September 19, 1876.

On June 23, 1877, John Moore lost his little son John, eight years old, by drowning in Pope creek.

Mrs. Julia Strong, a useful and respected woman fifty-six years of age, living in the country, was . thrown from her buggy by an unmanageable team, and after being dragged some distance violently struck a tree on Main street, which fractured her skull and caused instant death. This melancholy accident happened . November 26, 1880.

Frederick Fry, a saloon-keeper on Black Hawk or Willett's island, was shot and mortally wounded by William A. Griffin, on the evening of February 28, 1881, when avoiding arrest upon a capias in the hands of Thomas L. Rippey. These men were in pursuit of him upon the ice near the main land, and when within twenty yards of him he began shooting at. Griffin, who returned his fire with fatal effect. He lived twelve hours. Upon the inquest Griffin was acquitted of blame.

About ten years ago some boys were pushing a car on the track near the Rockford, Rock Island and St. Louis depot, when Frank Gotchalk, aged ten or twelve years, was crushed under the wheels.

An infant child of Samuel Woods was burned to death at the stove, while left alone, some seven years ago.

 

 

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