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Newspaper Articles
From the Crawford County "Robinson Argus", quoted in the Jasper County "Newton Press" on October 8, 1874 - Sheriff Houston reports that the man Banks, whom he took to the penitentiary last week, was recognized as a former convict who had served out a sentence of 4 years from Sangamon County, under the name of Brookbank. Donated by Source #2. Former Auburn Boy Married: Frank Biehle, of Dayton, Ohio, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Riehle, of this city, was married to a young lady of Dayton, Ohio, in that city Monday, Sept. 27, 1915, after the wedding they went to Chicago where they spent a few days, then came on down here, arriving last Friday for a short visit with Mr. Biehle's parents. The happy young couple left Monday for their home in Dayton, where they will go to housekeeping at once in a nicely furnished home previously arranged by the groom. Taken from the Auburn Citizen on Friday, October 8, 1915. Submitted by Source #1 At about three o'clock Wednesday norming, March 16, 1910, the sleeping inhabitants of Auburn were awakened by the clanging of the fire bell, firing of revolvers and various other alarms, signifying that a fire of unusual magniture was in progress. Soon after the first alarm was sounded most of the city was illuminated by the burning buildings on the east side of the swuare. Starting in the rear of the Nackros grocery store, the fire spread rapidly to the surrounding buildings and soon the whole east side was a mass of flames. It was soon apparent that our equipment for fighting fire was inadequate even for the protection of the surrounding buildings, and help was summoned from Virden and Springfield but long before help arrived, the fire was beyond any possibility of being controlled. Everything along the east side was consumed except the two story brick building on the northeast corner, owned by Reisch Bros. Brewing Co. which was of sold brick walls with no windows and soon nothing was left but fragments of the tottering walls. All other buildings in the path of the flames were wooden and veneered structures and offered little or no opposition to the progress of the fire. The following buildings were totally destroyed with their contents: two story building owned by W.H. Hummel, occupied by the George Nackros grocery and meat market; two story building owned by Schlitz Brewing Co., unoccupied; two story building owned by Mrs. Henry Riehle, Armstrong pool room below, Miners Hall above; two story Commercial Hotel, owned and occupied by Mrs. Henry Riehle; one story building owned by Mrs. Henry Riehle; occupied by meat market; two story building owned by J. Dabaugh, Dabaugh shoe shop below, unoccupied above; two story building owned by Reisch Bros. unoccupied; two story building owned by J.W. Wineman, occupied by Jos. F. Smith, farming machinery; two small buildings owned by A.E. Irwin, unoccupied; three small buildings owned by T.J. Nuckolls. The total loss amounts to almost $50,000 most of which was fairly well insured. This was one of the most disastrous fires in the history of Auburn. No definite reason can be assigned for the origin of the fire. It will require only two or three such fires as this to fully pay for a good system of waterworks that would be of inestimable value, to our city, would increase the value of its property, invite to our city various industries and furnish adequate protection against fires. Taken from the Auburn Citizen. Submitted by Source #1 The Village of Auburn from 1874 to 1875. In a young and vigorous town like our own, it is well to occasionally note the progress of improvement and business, and as things have pretty well settled down for the fall and winter, this is perhaps as good a time as any to look over the field. The past three years have witnessed great transformations in the appearance of this village. Persons returning after a two or three years' absence express great astonishment at the change. The two Kessler's additions, that three years since were part of a cornfield, now comprise a beautiful suburb, with attractive and some costly residences, facing wide and pleasant streets, where it is a pleasure to drive upon a lovely afternoon. Since our last sketch of the business part of the town, written about a year since, there has been considerable transformation. On the west side of the public square, the grocery house of Messrs. Stout and Burtle has been organized, which commands a large increasing trade, inso-much that they have found it necessary to erect a brick building of their own, of two stories, work upon which is speeding rapidly. Samuel Lewis, after extending the room, which he formerly occupied, about twenty feet, has opened business with a large stock of groceries and provisions. Mr. P. Mayer, Clothing Merchant of Virden, opened a fine assortment and stock from eastern cities at the old post office building. Messrs, Houck & Schrantz, emigrants from Christian County, have already acquired an enviable reputation for consistent dealing and courtesy as vendors of drugs and accompaniments at Bumgarner's old stand. Messrs, Sinniger & Hummel are now the incumbents of the hardware store just north, with a magnificent stock. Their uprightness, and style of doing business are unquestioned. One the northside, Messrs. Geo. Bremer and Benj. L. Kessler have consummated a fine double, two story brick block, one side of which is occupied by those eminently reliable men, Welch & Gordon, [groceries, flour and provision], the other side by B.L. Kessler's finely arranged confectionery, restaurant and bakery. On the west, Bremer's boot and shoe store and shop are in full blast, with a corps of aids. The meat department is now in the hands of Messrs. Bridges & Shumway, who, to supply the rapidly enlarging demand, are compelled to provide from six to ten beeves per week, with a frequent mutton thrown in. The corner store has been capaciously extended and much done in the way of conveniences and ornamentation. Nuckolls & Bro's, with their prime minister, Charley Meyers, [who knows all about the dry goods trade really worth knowing,] have already attained to a heavy trade. Mrs. Nicholes carried on the dress cloakmaking business to the general satisfaction. G.W. Armstrong & Son have instituted an entire new branch of trade [for this village] in Kessler's house, east side. An exclusive four meal and feed store, including shorts, shipstuff and bran. D.C. Routzahn has taken control of the old harness and saddlery house of C.L. Bridges, and turns out excellent work and a great deal of it at fair rates. The milliner's store on State Street, superintended by Mrs. D. R. Buck, finishes our list of changes and fluctuations about the square. This establishment is a praise to our town, where good goods and good work may be found. Though the fire fiend has deprived us of a fine flour mill, another one is nearly ready for business, the new one of F. McKay & Co. rapidly approaching completion. Just west, A.D. Sanders has commenced and built up quite a trade in wagons, implements etc., and added a sightly suite of shops. The style of the grain Elevator Co. has changed, having absorbed G.W. Hutton and I.J. Poley, and now known as Poley, Hutton & Co. The proprietor of the Auburn agricultural works, has found it necessary to procure a larger steam engine and boiler, to furnish additional power for his immense laboratory. At the machine shop north of the square, $1,000 or more in machinery has been added, and beautiful work in the various branches is here produced. All the above changes in addition to the large number of dwellings erected, have taken place within the year. The old standard business houses, Smith & Sims, and Williams, Hutton & Co., dry goods; F.P. Buck, family groceries and provisions; W.W. Lowdermilk, stationery, books, notions and toys; A.R. Barr, drugs, paints, oils, etc; McCoy & Son, furniture; Harris & Bro., livery and feed establishment, are all running in the good, old reliable way. Likewise, W.P. Brooks, wagon and blacksmith works; J.A. Ogg, F.M. Nicholes, H.M. Hart, R. McCoy and D.D. Martin, contractors and builders; H. Day and G. W. Sanders, painters, paperers and grainers; G.W. Gates, stone mason and cistern builder; and Bradley & Spencer and M. Pike masons and plasterers; W. D. Wheeler and M.S. Wheeler, physicians and surgeons; Thos. S. Parks, police magistrate, and G.W. Murray, attorney-at-law. Submitted by Source #1 An editorial of April 6, 1876 - The South Road We intend to pertinaciously continue to fulminate the terrors of the Auburn press into the cars of our highway officials, until something shall be done to ameliorate the condition of the road leading south from town, and the unlucky people who are compelled to use it. This road is a chronic disgrace to our village, our township and to Southern Sangamon generally. As is well known, the most part of this road is now within the corporate limits of the village, and the incoming municipal administration must or ignore an indignant public sentiment, take some steps to make this road passable during such a time as the present. Taken from the Auburn Citizen - Submitted by Source #1 The Quincy Daily Whig - March 10 1880 - TELEGRAPHIC SUMMARY The Lincoln Guard of Honor, of Springfield, ILL., met on Tuesday and decided to hold suitable commemorative services at the Lincoln Monument, on the anniversary of Lincoln's death – April 15. Submitted by Source #19 - 2008 Date: 1885-01-20; Paper: Macon Weekly Telegraph, published as: The Telegraph and Messenger
AN ASYLUM FIRE Submitted by Source #20 - 2008
Seventeen Of The Patients Lose Their Lives--Many, Pulled Out Into the Bitter Cold, Rush Back Into the Flames. The south infirmary of the Illinois eastern hospital for the Insane was burned this morning at 4 :25 o'clock. The fire originated in the furnace room and had obtained a strong headway before discovered. The woodwork of the building being of Southern pine, It burned very rapidly.The building was occupied by forty-five patients six attendants and one night watchman. Seventeen patients in all are missing and thirteen bodies have already been recovered, burned beyond recognition. All of the patients were infirm and Incurable The bedridden ones were rescued first and those who were to help themselves did not realize the danger in time and were the ones who perished. The attendants lost all their personal effects and many narrowly escaped with their lives, one of them having to tie bed-clothes together to escape from a window to the ground. There were no facilities for putting out the fire, the State not having made any appropriation for that purpose. The building was new and cost about $16, 000. It is a total loss, The following are the names of those who perished:
Henry Brown, Rock Island The building destroyed was a two story stone and brick structure, with no wood about it except the floors and stairways It was completed last August. Twenty-three of the patients were on the first floor and twenty two on the second. Attendants Brown and Rose and the latter’s wife slept on the second floor. Attendants Reid Williams and firemen Lofrage slept on the first floor. The building was heated by hot air furnaces. It was twelve degrees below zero when watchman Cobb discovered smoke issuing from the floor immediately above the furnaces. He at once awoke the attendants. The smoke was drawn through the hot air flues and along the halls and stairways to all parts of the building, The fire spread so rapidly that all efforts to save the building, In the absence of a fire alarm to summon help and for want of facilities to quench the flames, were found to be in vain. Attendant Reid began dragging and carrying out patients. Many patients clad in their night clothes only rushed from the bitter cold air back into the building. Reid at the risk of his life, struggled on till twenty-one of the twenty three patients on his floor were rescued,when he became exhausted and was carried away. On the second floor Attendant Rose and his wile heard the alarm and escaped down the stairway just before it fell. Attendant Brown was awakened by the smoke and attempted to save a patient in an adjoining room, but failed, and sliding down by the aid of a sheet from a window jumped to the ground. Superintendent R. Dewey reached the scene and with ladders climbed to the second-story windows, smashed them and was able to rescue some of the patients by this means. Almost all the patients refused to co-operate in the efforts being made to save them, and were only rescued by being dragged from the flames and held from returning. A marvelous escape was that of an inmate who fell with the second floor, striking the burning debris over the furnace, and bounded through a window to the ground uninjured. The remains of the bodies of twelve patients have been taken from the ruins burned to fragments, and only to be identified by the location in which they were found. The coroner's inquest was held this afternoon, at which Superintendent Dewey testified that he had asked the Legislature two years ago for $2,500 to protect these detached wards from fire; that $1,000 was allowed all of which was used in mains and hydrants; that the amount was insufficient to answer the purpose. He suggested that the floor above the hot furnaces be changed. It being shown in evidence that it was only four inches from the outside and ten inches from the inside of the furnace to the pine joints. He gave two reasons for the great number of deaths first , the patients were almost all suffocated by smoke before they could be reached and, second, the inability or unwillingness of the insane patients to try to help themselves. The remains of the bodies were, with one exception, represented simply by a handful of charred ashes. The entire remains of ten victims were spread on a small table two feet square. Friends are arriving in search of loved ones. The scenes on their arrival and view of the charred remains were very heartrending. Telegrams are pouring In from all parts of the State from parties asking as to the safety of their friends among the 1,500 inmates of the hospital. The coroners jury, which adjourned till tomorrow afternoon, Is investigating as to whether the furnaces were defective, The fact that there is no general fire alarm between the various buildings of the hospital, or any system of water works to protect life and property there, accounts largely for the vary large loss of life.
KANKAKES, ILL., January 19 One of the attendants describes a horrible scene. He says as he looked into the burning building he saw a number of bodies lying on girders burning the heads and feet dropping off and the bodies finally going Into the cellar below, There were no means for putting out fires, excepting the waterworks supply, but that was useless as there was no hose or other apparatus.
Chicago, January 19.
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