Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 May 1904 — THE WEEKLY HISTORIAN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE WEEKLY HISTORIAN

One Hundred Years Ago. Discontent prevailed in Egypt at the ascendency of the English in «. that country, and In Alexandria, much anxiety was felt lest the English should send a garrison to that city. The acquisition of Louisiana by the United States was celebrated in all of the thirteen States. Thomas Young, claimed to be the first decipherer of the Rosetta stone, died. The population of Washington, D. Gv, was less than 5,000 persons. The Dutch surrendered the Island of Surinam to the British. The Boston Board of Health issued new regulations for farmers who kept live stock in the town limits. Seventy-five Years Ago. The market of Philadelphia was said to be the finest in either Europe or America, being fully a mile long and well supplied. Venice became a free port. The Turks were preparing for an attack on Sizebold, the Russian stronghold, on the Danube. A law for the expulsion of Spaniards from Mexico was promulgated a* Tampico, and thirty days was allowed them to embark.

Fifty Years Ago. Garibaldi arrived at In command of an English coal vessel from Newcastle. A German professor fell into the* crater at Vesuvius. News reached New York of the evacuation of lower California by Colonel Walker; The New York and London Cable Company was organized to lay a cable from New York to Liverpool. The Bank of England raised Its discount rate and the Bank of France reduced its rate, a-s a result of the Crimean war. *' A severe earthquake shock was felt at Acapulco. Forty Years Ago. General R. E. Lee made his famous blunder over the location of Grant’s army at Spottsylvanla. which led the Confederates into an almost impregnable position. The first day’s battle of Spottsylvenia was fought between the armies of Grant nnd Lee, including Colonel Emory Upton’s capture of the “bloody angle” in the Confederate line. The indecisive battle of the Wilderness, one of the bloodiest of the Civil War, was fought between the armies of Grant and Lee. General Grant made Ills flank movement from the Wilderness battlefield to Spottsylvania in the effort to get between Lee’s army and Richmond. The army of the Potomac was under marching orders, with seven days’ rations, ready for a decisive blow aganist Lee. General U. S. Grant wrote his famous words, “I • * * propose to flgh'Jllt out on this line If it takes all Bummer," In a letter to Halleck on the Wilderness campaign.

Thirty Years Ago. The Republican House Committee on Postofflees was criticised for not ordering an Investigation of alleged Postoffice Department frauds.The trial of Professor David Swing for heresy was beguh by the Chicago presbytery. A New York newspaper declared Chicago was destined to collapse aa a commercial city because It had built enormous stores and hotels that could not be filled. The House of Representatives refused to appropriate $3,000,000 for the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. The congressional Investigation of boodllng In District of Columbia contracts ended, Governor (“Boss") Shepherd publicly assuming responsibility for all acts of his subordinates. Twenty Years Ago. The banking firm of Grant & Ward, composed of General U. S. Grant and Ferdinand Ward, and the Marine National Bank of New York failed for over $1,000,000. Supporters of Cheater A. Arthur In Illinois and Wisconsin were said to be planning to throw their Influence to Robert T. Lincoln for President The flrat news was received that the steamship State of Florida bad been sunk in collision off Bird rocks, 183 Uvea being lost .out of a. total of 820 delegates chosen to-the Republican national convention 878 were pledged to James G. Blalna for President, 271 for Chester A. Arthur, and 70 for Senator Edmunds.