Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1903 — THE WEEKLY HISTORIAN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE WEEKLY HISTORIAN

Dr. Waterhouse announced his plan to exterminate smallpox in the United States by a general vaccination, “somewhat similar to that now commencing in London.’’ Plans for the first theater at Washington, D. C., were announced, SIO,OOO stock having been subscribed in other cities toward the enterprise. The treaty for the purchase of Louisiana territory was signed at Paris by James Monroe. ) News was redelved that the Spanish frigate Juneau, bound from Porto Rico to Cadiz, had foundered jat sea with all but seven of the 400 persons on board and SIOO,OOO in specie. FIFTY YEARS AGO. Four hundred passengers and $2,300,000 in gold dust reached New York by ship from California. Ex-President Martin Van Buren and son sailed for Europe after being escorted to the New York steamship pier by Benjamin Butler aud other statesmen of the day. FORTY YEARS AGO. , r The War Department at Washington announced that it would enlist 20,000 disabled aud discharged soldiers for garrison duty. A Texan legion was captured at daybreak near Franklin, Tenn., by Gen. Gordon Granger’s cavalry. Col. Ilenry L. Scott, son-in-law of Gen. Winfield Scott, was accused of being in correspondence with the Confederate agents at Paris, where he had gone on his retirement from the army. Chicago negro citizens held a mass meeting at Quinn Chapel and pledged their “lives aud honor” to the defense of the Union. George Dodge of Hamilton, Ohio, was sentenced to tour months at hard labor for expressing sympathy with the Confederates. Gen. Hooker’s army crossed the Rappahannock river near Fredericksburg, Va., and began what was predicted to be a decisive campaign. Ex-President James Buchanan was publicly cursed by Union soldiers while on a train near Lancaster, Pa. A* general fast and prayer service for the success of the Union army was observed in the United States. Ex-Gov. Matteson's estate, Including 107 acres near Chicago, was sqld at Springfield tor $300,000 to reimburse the State of Illinois for bonds which the Governor had purloined. Brig. Gen. Asboth ordered the arrest of all persons at Cairo, 111., and vicinity who expressed sympathy for the Confederates, and their imprisonment in Columbus (Ky.) jail.

THIRTY YEARS AGO. Jay Gould, Henry N. Smith and Alden B. Stockwell were charged with cornering $45,000,000 in cash loans at New York and ertorting high interest rates to depress stock prices. An expedition of twenty-nine companies of United States infantry, an artillery detachment and seventy-six scouts was organized at Washington to protect surveyors laying out the Northern Pacific Railroad line from a threatened Indian attack. Nineteen United States soldiers, Including Capt. Thomas and Lieut. Howe of the Fourth artillery, were killed in a battle with Modoc Indians in the Southwest. William Charles Macrendy, the famons English actor and central figure of the Astor place (New York) riot, in which twenty-two persons were killed, died in London, aged 80 years. Jay Gould was said to be planning « direct railroad and ferry line between New York City, Baltimore, Washington and Norfolk, by way of the New Jersey Southern Railroad and the Narragansett Steamship Company’s line. A convention wns called to meet at the Astor House, New York, to start a national movement against railroad combines, subsidies and trade monopolies. TWENTY YEARS AGO. United States secret service agent* were reported attending the Irish National convention at Philadelphia because of complaints by Great Britain that Fenan dynamite plots were being hatched in America. One million acres of Mexican land were said to have been bought by Bismarck for German colonization, while 9,000,000 acres more were being negotiated for. , TEN YEARS AGO. Erastns Wiman, New York millionaire, failed with $1,000,000 estimated liabilities. * The great Columbian naval review waa held at New York with tht warships of all nations participating. William Townsend was arrested In London for a supposed attempt to assassinate Gladstone. Secretary of the Treasury Carlisle appealed to New York bankers for a $50,000,000 gold loan at 3 per cent to replenish the $100,000,000 reserve. The Philadelphia liberty bell reached Chicago by special train and waa received by a citisena’ delegation and a display of fireworks. Tha Duke of Yeragna, a lineal descendant of Christopher Columbus, reached Chicago for tha World’s fair

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.