Fort Smith Weekly New ERA
January through June, 1879
The Journal
Fort Smith Historical Society
VOLUME 3, NUMBER 1, APRIL, 1979
Jan. 8, 1879
We had the pleasure of a call on Monday from our portly friend, Hon. F. M. Neal, Mayor of Van Buren.
He walked over all the way, crossing on the ice, a feat not often possible.
*****
The firing of guns, pistols, fire-crackers etc., etc., on Christmas and New Year's was very conspicuous
by its absense, (sic) to the intense relief of the community. Some other obnoxious customs might also
be improved upon or dropped. The police with the Mayor and Marshal had their hands full.
*****
THE MASQUERADE
The grand masquerade ball of the Fort Smith Schuetzen Verein, on New Year's eve, which was
looked forward to with so much interest by the gay and the gallant, was as everyone supposed it would
be, a success in every way, and nothing occurred during the entire evening to mar the pleasure and
enjoyment of the numerous participants. The following is a list of the names of those in mask and
their costumes as near as we could come to them:
Gentlemen's list
Anton Schuster, school boy; Wm. Vogel, Prince South Sea Isles; Albert Neis,
King Reginold; Cas. Munder, Aragon; Edward Woolum, Marquis; Henry Euper, Spanish Prince;
M. Hallie, Fancy Darkey; George Heckler, Turk; Dr. H. Nathan, D.O.F.;
Dwight Wheeler, Commanche Chief; John Landerback, Spanish Brigand; Niel Pryor,
Mexican Don; Chas. Fleming, Clown; Judge Clayton, English
Swell; Horace Douglas, Lord Raven; Martin Theurer, Mexican Ranger; George Schmidt, Daniel
Boone; John Slosson, Pirate; Ed. Devany, Black Prince; Charley McManus, Confederate
Officer;
Frank Freer, D.F.; T.F. Linde, Henry Ward Beecher; Dick Bourland, plain mask;
H. Appel, Spanish Peasant; Ed. Bollman, Pommeranean Farmer; Jas. M. Sparks,
Great Unknown; Sim Thurston, Spanish
Cavalier; C.M. Barnes, Domino; G.W. Schulte, German Peasant; Tom Hurley, Mother Hubbard;
George Tilles, Louis XIV; Ben Bloch, Memphistocies; Gen. D.P. Upham, fancy.
Ladies List
Miss Lena Refeld, Huntress; Miss Kate Neis, Pink Domino; Mrs. M.C. Wallace,
Mary Queen of Scots;
Miss Bettie Fitchner, Pocahontas at wedding dance; Lelia Ruddy, fancy dress; Miss Thompson
, folly;
Miss Nellie Collins, Flower Girl; Miss Ludie Haag, Spanish Danseuse; Miss Annie Steiner,
Bohemian
Peasant girl; Miss Jonnie Chollar, Kittie Puss; Miss Katie Emrich, Queen of France;
Miss Lizzie Euper,
Fashionable Old Lady; Mrs. Minnie Hook, Old Lady; Mrs. Baer, Poor Old Lady;
Mrs. Clayton, Jockey;
Miss Ida Fannin, Polly Put the Kettle On; Miss Irine Dibrell, fancy dress.
A great many ladies and gentlemen appeared in the usual ball dress, and seemed to enjoy the fun as
well as those in costume. The de-masking of the ladies took place under the supevision of
Mrs. R.M. Johnson, wife of the ex mayor.
*****
January 15, 1879
Pork is now selling at from 2 1/2 to 3 cents on our streets. This is a good time to save your bacon.
*****
The Weather
We have seen severer weather here, notably in the first days of January, 1864, when the Arkansas River
was frozen over, so that the heaviest army teams could cross with safety. But never have we experienced so protracted a cold spell The stock, much of which is left to shift for itself in woods and
prairie is suffering severly.
*****
Deputy U. S. Marshal J. H. Mershon arrived on Wednesday last from the far famed Oklahoma,
bringing with him three prisoners. One of these is a Cheyenne Indian of the band that made the murderous
raid into Kansas last Fall. He was arrested at Fort Reno, and is charged with stealing. The other two
prisoners are white men, one charged with horse stealing, and the other with contempt of court.
They are all boarding with Jailor Burus. The marshal was out 80 days and had some rough experiences.
*****
January 22, 1879 Legislative Scraps
Pretty Near the Truth. — During the discussion on employing a clerk for the Senate Judiciary committee,
Senator Ferguson said; "We are paid six dollars a day, and we are not worth six dollars." With few
exceptions, the Senator put the correct valuation on his colleague.
*****
On the motion of Representative Lee, of Newton County, the House adopted a resolution to hoist the
stars and stripes over the capitol during the session of the legislature.
*****
An investigation into the alleged cruel treatment of penitentiary convicts is ordered. It will not
amount to anything. There is too much money on the other side.
*****
So far, the Solons at our state capital have employed their time chiefly in wrangling over the
appointments of clerks, doorkeepers, janitors, allowance of postage stamps, newspapers, giving
audience to ticket peddlers etc., etc., etc., at the rate of one thousand dollars a day.
*****
Senator Armistead of Franklin County, has introduced a bill to have the State elections, now held in
September, take place on the same day with the elections for Members of Congress, etc. This is a
very sensible thing saving the people much expense, time and trouble. Let the bill become a law
by all means.
*****
Mr. H. Hoffman, has opened a neat little saddlery and harness shop in the Picchi building, between
the shops of Limberg Bros, and Joe Sherman, on Garrison Avenue.
*****
The railway transfer boat is below Van Buren and has to wait probably for another rise to get over the
bar below town. For the present trains only run to Van Buren and passengers for the East from this city
have to be on hand at 6:40 a.m. The mail is brought over in a hack and will be opened about the usual
time. It closes here at 5 p.m. A few days more and this inconvenience will cease and the cars run into
town.
*****
January 29, 1879
What It Means -- The election of James D. Walker, of Fayetteville, to the Senate of the United States
means simply, that Arkansas has broken away from the bull-dozers and declared in favor of young, progressive
men, whose hands are not stained with the blood of the victims of the rebellion, dragged into it against
their will by the treacherous and specious arguments of a corrupt Democracy.
*****
The Bloody Shirty Squelched. -- Last Wednesday one Thornton, a member of the State Senate,
"moved that the sergeant-at-arms remove the portraits of Grant and Lincoln and place instead the
portraits of General Robt. E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson."
Upon motion of Senator Kerr from this county, the offensive resolution was laid on the table by a vote
of 18-9. This was honorable both to Mr. Kerr and the Senate. It is too late in the day to gratify stupid
malignity and heap gratuitous insults on the great men of the nation.
*****
DIED
SPARKS ~ in this city yesterday morning at ten minutes past midnight, of consumption, in his 49th
year, Maj. James H. Sparks, proprietor, and for many years editor, of the Fort Smith Herald, of this
city. Major Sparks was a native of Streamstown, Roscommon County, Ireland, and came to Fort
Smith in 1850. He was a brother of the late Mitchell and Thomas Sparks.
*****
Buckner post office opposite this city has very properly been discontinued after the removal of the
terminus of the L.R. & F.S. Railway from that locality.
*****
Then and Now
We clip the following from the NEW ERA of April 11th, 1866.
Within a week the cars will roll into town and a trip to St. Louis will consume just one day at an
expense less than half that of old:
It will doubtless be gratifying to our merchants and the public generally to know that St. Louis
can now be reached in four days from this place. The rates of fare are as follows:
From Ft. Smith to Springfield, Mo., $20.00; to Rolla, $33.00; St. Louis, $38.00
By the river route the time consumed is from ten to fourteen days, at an expense of not
much less than $100.00.
In times of low water, the time and expense is considerably in excess of this estimate.
In the summer of 1864, on our return from the Baltimore convention, it took us just one month, —
from June 16th to July 16th — to get home from St. Louis.
The Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad Is now about finished to this place and the cars
may be in town tomorrow. The depot has been erected on the block between Walnut and Mulberry
on Ozark Street, just opposite Freiseis Brewery, near the St. Charles Hotel.
*****
February 5, 1879
W.H.H. Clayton, U.S. District Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, has been reappointed
and confirmed. G.D. Neville, a Choctaw, charged with the murder of L.C. West in the Choctaw Nation, was
brought to this place on Thursday by Deputy U.S. Marshal Kyle, and placed in the U.S. Jail. Neville was
arrested by neighbors and held till a regular U.S. warrant could be served. When his neighbors
arrested him, he asked for authority. One of them, old McHicks, promptly leveled a shot gun at him and
said: "Here it is". It was a conclusive argument.
*****
River News. — The heavy rains of the last week sent the Arkansas River up booming. It rose some twelve
feet and is still about the same.
The Maumelle, Capt. Darragh, came up from Little Rock on Friday morning. She left again late in the
evening with some cotton seed, hides, cotton, etc.
The John G. Fletcher, came up from Little Rock on Thursday evening with a small lot of freight and
left again next morning.
The Katie P. Koontz arrived here on Sunday from New Orleans.
THE LAST SPIKE
Last Thursday at 4 p.m. was completed the laying of the last rail of the Little Rock and Fort Smith
Railway, and the event was the occasion of some excitement and ceremony. To explain to our friends
abroad, we will say, that the railroad was finished to a point opposite this city about three years ago, but
our neighbors across the river in the Cherokee nation made a fuss about it ever since, not the people, who gladly welcomed the great improvement, but a few officials who took umbrage at the violation
of the sacred soil, Oklahoma, which was invaded for the space of about a mile.
Well, the railroad company a few days ago took up the rails on the north bank of the river from Van
Buren to Cherokee -- nine miles — and relaid them on the south side — only four miles; also took down
the station house and everything else at Cherokee and transferred it to this city.
On last Thursday at the hour named, the FORT SMITH, the first engine that ever blew its whistle
south of the Arkansas River and west of Little Rock, announced its arrival at the city confines, some half
mile from the depot. A large assemblage, in spite of the murky weather, had congregated there. All was
ready except the driving home of ONE spike. At that moment Colonel Hartman, Superintendent of the
road, Mayor Brizzolara and several members of the city council entered the dense circle and the former
in a brief and pointed address announced the completion of the road, inviting the Mayor to drive the
last spike. Mayor B replied eloquently and then took hold of the ponderous spike driver. He made a lick,
but missed the spike, another attempt, another and another were not more successful, in spite of the
cheering of the crowd. A stalwart African then took the hammer and in a blow or two sent the refractory
spike half way down into the tie. Alderman Wallace, then took hold of the hammer, and with a few well
directed blows finished the job, saying good humoredly, "that is my old trade."
The crowd cheered and then dispersed and the locomotive and train advanced. And thus was
ushered in the first arrival of a railroad train into the city of Fort Smith.
*****
February 12, 1879
The hillside and adjoining the old Presbyterian Church is being dug down and the ground used to
fill up in the block around the railroad depot.
*****
Those enterprising young merchants, Vogel and Wallace, have purchased for $750 from Gorey Booth
a lot fronting Garrison Avenue 23 feet and Green Street 100 feet, at which eligible corner they expect
to build soon a spacious rock, fire-proof store building. That's the way to do it. Away with your wooden
shanties and tinder boxes. Fort Smith can't afford it, and will pay dearly for it if not stopped.
*****
Miss Maudie Pettit of the Christian Church was baptized last Sunday afternoon in the Arkansas
River, at the foot of Garrison Avenue, by Rev. Mr. Scott of the Christian chapel, assisted by
Rev. D. Stark. A large concourse witnessed the ceremony.
*****
The Fort Smith furniture manufacturing company is beginning to make extensive shipments of furniture to
points along the Little Rock and Fort Smith railroad and points on the Arkansas River. What a
step in the right direction. Fort Smith is bound to be a manufacturing city and has all the material for it.
Some capital and enterprise is all that's needed to develop it.
*****
Our streets are in a horrible condition, and impress a stranger with the idea that the town is
about played out. Especially needing repairs are several near the railroad depot and steamboat landing.
There is more traffic there now than in any other part of the city, and ample material from the "burned
block" is very handy to do it well.
*****
February 19, 1879
The "Punch and Judy" "Puppett," or by whatever name it may be known attracted quite a concourse
of people at the Bank Corner on Friday and Saturday last, and the ventriloquist who conducted the
performance raked a rich harvest of nickels from the assembled crowd. In collecting contributions he
barred neither "race, color or previous condition."
*****
February 26, 1879
Arkansas has 73 newspapers, all weeklies, but two, which issue dailies together with the weekly edition:
the Little Rock Gazette and Democrat.
*****
OKLAHOMA ODDITIES.
An Unheard of Law -- Help and Redress Needed at Once.
If the people of the United States, outside of Oklahoma, knew what transpired inside it, they soon
would provide a remedy for the strange antics enacted there. But the Indian Territory is too remote
from the center of power and too unknown to have much attention paid it. A law was passed by the
Cherokee legislature recently, exacting a license of TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH from any
farmer, employing a farm hand not a citizen of the Cherokee nation. Words fail to express the absurd,
ruinous, bigoted measure; a measure that would be supremely ridiculous were it not for the terrible
injury it inflicts There are, too, hundreds of widows who depend upon hired white labor for the
cultivation of their land. They now must starve, or with their little children take hold of the plow and
hoe themselves. How much further is this folly to go?
*****
March 5, 1879
THE FORT SMITH INDEPENDENT of this week contains an article ostensibly written by someone in
Little Rock, but which in reality bears the earmarks of a man who was cashiered for being a coward and
a thief, and afterwards whitewashed by President Andrew Johnson and who now holds an important
federal office, which he obtained by means the most dastardly and through the influence of men known
as the worst ring of thieves in Arkansas.
The article in question contains two columns of personal abuse of V. Dell. We feel proud of it. Not
one scintilla of anything dishonorable in all that mass of slang, trivialities and venom against us
could the pen of the writer abuse. The very article is vindication of our whole public course, for it (the
article) is in its whole extent a shriek of rage and impotent fury against a paper, that can neither be
bought nor intimidated We know we are right.
Let the heathern rage. When, sixteen years ago, in the darkest hour of our country's history, we forsook
an honored profession in which we were highly successful, to kindle a feeble ray of patriotism, we did it
not from any mercenary purpose or personal animosity against any of our fellow citizens, God knows.
But, oh for the INDEPENDENT, John F. and John C. Wheeler, editors and proprietors!
John C. Wheeler, one of the editors and proprietors of the INDEPENDENT, tried his best to have us
hung for a Union man during the war by a publication in his paper and, when unsuccessful, made an attack
upon us in our old home at Belle Grove, while holding our firstborn babe in our arms in presence of our
wife and afterwards laid siege to the building, vietormis, after having us disarmed by order of the
confederate authorities.
We have yet in our possession the note if the wife of Rev. W.A. Sample, the Presbyterian minister here
who was boarding and rooming with us at the time, addressed to our wife, while both kept anxious
watch in the beleaguered building, one above and one below, while John C. Wheeler thundered at the
massive doors with revolver in hand, threatening to kill us, a disarmed and spotted Unionist John C.
was taken off by Mrs. Perry, his sister, now living in this city where she did then, and after John was
arrested -- the officer who arrested him is still here — two of the sisters of John C. came to Belle Grove,
the residence of V. Dell, to induce us to stop further prosecutions. For their sake we consented and we
might state many things then said by them not very complimentary to their brother.
Why is it then, that this same John C. Wheeler, whom we often befriended afterwards and upon
whose head we heaped coals of fire, and his father make themselves the tools of a lot of vile scoundrels.
*****
Let the people judge.
Let Us Investigate
For the last two terms of the United States court for the Western District of Arkansas, the Grand Jury
has failed to visit the hapless prisoners confined beneath the feet of justice, that is, just under the
room where justice is supposed to be dispensed.
Why is it thus? If reports are true, a close investigation of true and fearless men is needed to correct
abuses there. But it must not be a jury selected by D.P. Upham, the U.S. Marshal. That gross pecuniary
frauds have been practiced upon the prisoners is more than rumor, for we have a sworn affidavit to
that effect, besides the statement of others, that could go before a respectable jury.
There are also more than rumors, that prisoners, for some slight infraction of prison discipline, have
been CHAINED BY THE NECK in cells and loaded with irons during the terrible cold weather of last
winter. It is not to be supposed that either Hon. I.E. Parker, Judge or Hon. W.H.H. Clayton,
U.S. District
Attorney, are aware of this. But an impartial investigation will soon reveal whether there is any truth in
this matter or not.
*****
ROLL OF HONOR
BELLE GROVE SCHOOL
High School. — Martie Pettit, 87; Johnie Johnson, 86; Anna Grenade, 85; Cora Mayers, 85; Alice Sample, 85.
Grammar Dept. -- Mary Vaughan, 91; Robert McClure, 89; Dora Hunt, 89; Austee Pettit, 88; Mary
Johnson, 88; Gussie Eberle, 87; Blanche Hoffman,87; Mary Clark, 85; Mamie Hamilton, 85; Ida Powell,
85; Willie Seewald, 85; Robert Mayers, 85.
Intermediate Dept. — Hattie Dill, 95; Maud Sutton, 95; Anna Swift, 93; William Luce, 92; Bertie Roots,
92; May McClure, 92; George Horton, 90; Alice Powell, 90; Josie Eberle, 90; Eula Scott, 89; Mollie
Berman, 89; Albert Schaidt, 88; Millie Wheeler, 88; Eugene Woods, 88; Frank Bulgin, 88; Gussie Johnson 88; John Latham, 88; Mabel Clendening, 87; Fannie Tucker, 87; Fannie Clark, 87; Philip Baum,
85; Dora Paden, 85; Bennie Wall, 85.
Primary Dept. — Eddie Baum, 100; Phillip Berman, 100; Hoyt Bruce, 100; Dora Bowman, 100; Guido
Hook, 100; John Fiersteine, 100; Willie Mathes, 100;Stuart Miller, 100; Annie Nedry, 100; Felix Venny,
100; Willie Ayers, 95; John Tucker, 95; Matilda Schaidt, 95; Anna Hunt, 92; James Ward, 91; Manuel
Sleasinger, 91.
HOWARD SCHOOL
Emma Walker, 96; Walter Beal, 95; George Miller, 95; Willie Dean, 94; Mollie Merchand, 92; Samuel
Quinley, 92; Mary Sparks, 91; Wallace Trammel, 91; Nellie Ward, 91; Lizzie Taylor, 90; Henry Watson, 90;
Celia Whiting, 90; Daniel Kane, 89; Hiram Chism, 87; Anna Davis, 86.
*****
A Scandalous Nuisance. - The vacant lot, corner of Garrison Avenue and Washington Street, derisively
known as the city park and situated on one of the most frequented thorough-fares of this city, has
been converted into a cesspool, diffusing its pestilence breeding stench all over the neighborhood.
One night last week the night soil of a neighboring outhouse was removed and most of it turned out
toward Dr. Main's residence on Walnut Street, and a large part into the excavated lot spoken of so much
indeed, as to form a large pond. The most sickening odors prevail to this day in the whole neighborhood
It is astonishing that such an outrage could be permitted at all, and still more so, that after being
committed, it should remain undisturbed. And this is in an incorporated town, close to the railroad
depot, and too, within a few months after a terrible scourge, caused by such filthiness, desolated the
Mississippi Valley. Since the above was in type some more lime has been put upon the ground.
*****
March 12, 1879
MARRIED
Sparks-Dibrell - At the Presbyterian church on Tuesday night March 11th, 1879, by the Rev. W.A.
Sample, George T. Sparks to Annie E. Dibrell of Van Buren. No cards.
The interesting ceremony was performed in the presence of the elite of this city and Van Buren,
there being barely standing room in the spacious church. After the ceremony the newly married couple held
a reception at the residence of Dr. E.R. DuVal, brother-in-law of the bride. The parlors of the old
mansion were thronged with the friends of both families and an elegant, sumptuous collation was
served to the guests. Mr. Sparks and bride left on the early train for the east on a bridal tour. Our best
wishes to them on this and their life journey.
*****
Vogel and Wallace, the enterprising grocers, are about to commence to tear down the old shanties,
corner Green Street and Garrison Avenue and put up a fine stone, fireproof building.
During the last month (February) 296 car loads of merchandise entered and left this place. Then there
were numerous arrivals of boats that brought goods and left with cotton, hides etc., etc.
*****
Wednesday, March 19, 1879
The upper end of the wharf needs rip-raping very badly before the spring rise comes. If not attended
to now, the damage will ultimately cost much more to repair.
*****
Messrs Buckley & Welch have purchased a lot 50 feet front on Ozark Street, where the old theater
used to stand and are erecting thereon a substantial store house. The locality is close to the railroad
depot.
*****
A railroad excursion from this city to Coal Hill, a thriving new town in the eastern part of Johnson
County near the Pope County Line is in contemplation. Coal Hill is the center of a rich coal region,
worked by Pennsylvania miners.
*****
U.S. Deputy Marshal, J.H. Smith arrived from B.I.T. (Beautiful Indian Territory) on Sunday last
with one murderer and six thieves. If what Smith says is true, there will be a demand for rope for the
first mentioned individual.
*****
Is the city of Fort Smith so demoralized and sunk so low that it cannot put a decent municipal ticket in
the field? If the men have sunk so low, will not the wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, in fact every
decent woman in town, compel their male relatives to vote for a decent ticket in spite of all the outside
influence?
*****
March 26, 1879
Returned from the New Eldorado. — Mr. Zach Moody of the City Hotel of this place, returned last
Thursday from Leadville, Colorado, where he had been on a brief prospecting tour. Zach gives a glowing account
of the prospects of the place and says, he is going back there in a short time. From what we
can learn the scenes there are something like those of the early days of California.
*****
April 2, 1879
We had the pleasure of a visit today from Dr. Tom H. Bailey, a brother of our esteemed townsman Dr.
W. W. Bailey. Dr. Tom is a native of Fort Smith having been born in the old garrison in one of those
fine blocks since burned down used as officers quarters in the old fort in 1849. His father was Post
surgeon at the time. Dr. Bailey is much pleased to revisit the scenes of his early childhood, when "Fort
Smith" was almost in the woods. The doctor is a practicing physician in New York City.
*****
Election Returns.
The following is the vote polled at the election yesterday. It will be seen that it is the largest vote
ever polled in this city. The contest was a lively one.
FOR MAYOR.
John H. McClure 185.
Jas. Brizzolara 426.
FOR RECORDER.
G.W. Schneider 297.
S. Edmondson 255.
J. Frank Eberle 40.
John T. High 13.
FOR CHIEF OF POLICE.
John Kemp 487.
J.H. Reed 110.
Hays 11.
ALDERMAN
S.A. Williams 398.
S.A. Wallace 345.
D.B. Sparks 245.
W.H. Rogers 370.
Louis Bowlin 298.
Jesse Harlan 246.
Dr. J.H.T. Main 158.
Henry Hinch 229.
Henry Reutzel 205.
H.L. Rogers 138.
Alex Hoffman 20.
Scatterling 5.
*****
April 9, 1879
The result of the municipal election in this town, last week is regarded as a stinging disgrace by the
people in the country and neighboring towns. It will lose Fort Smith some trade, too.
Is it worthwhile to go to the expense of taking the census of Fort Smith to ascertain whether it is a city
of the second class, i.e., having over 5,000 inhabitants, or wait till the United States census is taken
next year?
*****
Ho! For Colorado
Day before yesterday a party consisting of thirteen young men left this town for Leadville, Colorado, the
New Eldorado. Their names are as follows:
T.J. Moore in charge of the outfit; J.C. Pitchard, clerk;
Simon Veasey, Jake Michols, John Baker,
John Eskin, Harrington Howe, Ed. Croke, Sam Adams, Doc. Perry, John Keely, Arch Fane and
Crawford Morris, the latter two colored.
They had three 4 mules teams, three 2 mule teams, one 2 horse stage, and some extra stock; the
whole belonging to Mr. Sam McLoud of this city, the transfer man, who had this stock surplus since the
change of the R.R. Depot to the south bank of the river. The outfit is valued at four thousand dollars.
Mr. McLoud is sending the teams out on speculation, the men accompanying them being charged
nothing for the transportation and are at liberty to seek their own fortunes, if they cannot find employment
with the teams. The property is in charge of Mr. Moore. We wish the party a pleasant trip and success
in the land of silver and lead.
*****
April 16, 1879
Mr. M.H. Sandels, our popular ex-Mayor, is to be married next Thursday, April 17, to Miss Bettie
Johnson, daughter of the late Chas B. Johnson of this city.
*****
April 23, 1879
There will be a convention of all the Sunday schools in the Indian Territory on Thursday, May
8th. We wish the undertakings a hearty success. A picnic of the colored Sabbath schools of this
city will take place to Mulberry on the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railway, on May 16th next. It will
doubtless be a success.
*****
A street sprinkler has appeared on Garrison Avenue. But with 6 inches of dust to overcome in a
street 120 feet wide, its success has been very limited.
*****
April 30, 1879
Three rafts, containing 100,000 feet of lumber, came down the Poteau on last Saturday from the
southern part of this county. The lumber belonged to that sturdy, old mountaineer, Col. McHicks and
was sold to M.A. Cohn — except a small portion.
*****
A fishing party consisting of Judge Clayton, Messrs, R.M. Johnson, Charles Weaver, Ed McKinney,
Jno. Gulerand W.H. Sewald returned Thursday from the Cavanaw mountains, after five days fine
sport. They caught immense numbers of black bass, some of them eighteen inches.
*****
The Atkins News is opposed to State Fairs. We met a man once intensely opposed to railroads and
steamboats, because they would blow up sometimes, and as for the telegraph, it told lies.
*****
May 14, 1879
General W.L. Cabell, for several terms Mayor of Dallas, Texas, arrived at his old home on Saturday
with his family. He stays with his mother-in-law, Mrs. Major Rector, near this city.
*****
The exodus of the colored people from the South has already had the effect of raising the price of
cotton in anticipation of a short crop this year. So hold on to your cotton, all that have any left.
*****
Circuit Court
This is the second week of the Circuit Court for this county and district. There have been three criminal
convictions the convicted being all negroes, viz: Charles Oliver, a hard case, got five years in the
penitentiary for stealing several skunk skins from poor, old B. Baer. Served him right. Elsey Hudson
made away with some of Sam. Bellinger's flour and justly got four years. But the poorest rascal of all
was a stupid looking cuss, Perry Wilkinson, who raised a quart of poor whiskey on a forged order.
Two years with Zeb. Verily, this is getting to be a righteous community, ain't it. D.P. Upham, Gen.
J.H. Clendening, Postmaster, etal? Why it is enough to make that mule laugh for joy. Don't it?
*****
May 21, 1879
J.A. Yantis, Esq. was elected yesterday special Judge in cases where Judge Rogers cannot sit. This
is a great improvement on some of the former selections.
*****
On Friday we made a flying trip to Van Buren going over on the 3:30 p.m. freight train and returning on the
6:30 passenger train. We had an hour and a half to spare for business, shake hands with a
number of friends and pick up a few more subscribers. Our neighbors look upon our city politics with
supreme disgust and wonder, how a decent community can so degrade itself.
*****
June 4, 1879
Indian Council
The five leading tribes of Oklahoma or Indian Territory, held a council last week — on the 26,27,
and 28th of May -- at Eufaula, to consider the movement now in progress of settling the ceded part of
the territory by whites. There were present delegates from the Choctaws, Chickasaws, Cherokees,
Creeks and Seminoles. The Fox tribe, lately settled on part of the "ceded" lands, was also represented.
An address was adopted, protesting against the "invasion" of the ceded lands, and thanking the
President and Secretary Schurz for their order, repressing the invasion. The council or convention
adjourned to meet again July 1st next, with representatives from every tribe in the Territory.
*****
June 4, 1879
The open air concerts by the Wizard Oil combination, under the director of Dr. McConkey, are with us
and on Monday evening gave us one of their inimitable open air entertainments. No one should fail to
hear them. They have a worldwide reputation, as has the article the doctor is advertising viz WIZARD
OIL.
*****
A number of boys and girls — perhaps we had better say young ladies and young gentlemen —
returned to their homes last week from Fayetteville, where they had been attending the State Industrial
University. Oh, for the short-sightedness, the folly, stupidity, and hatred to education and all institutions
that caused the failure to obtain for Fort Smith the rich boon of the State University! Instead of that
our citizens have to entrust their children to strangers, away from home, and spend thousands
besides.
*****
June 25, 1879
We are not in favor of women suffrage. But we know one thing, if the women of Fort Smith had had
a voice in the last city election, Fort Smith would not be disgraced as she is today. During the late
editorial convention, we were often humiliated to hear Fort Smith talked of as little short in wickedness
of Sodom and Gomorrah.
*****
If any of the readers of this paper are growing deaf, let them get at once a bottle of Johnson's
Anodyne Liniment. Rub well behind the ears and put a little into the ear with a feather.
*****
INCEST OR BIGAMY!
Remarkable Change of Tactics
In the Mrs. Brizzolara - Marre Matter.
The defendent admits herself Guilty of one of Two Crimes.
The divorce suit which has been pending for some time in the Circuit Court here took a curious turn last
week. Mrs. Marre, who is better known here as Mrs. Brizzolara, filed an amendment to her complaint
relating that she was lawfully married several year ago to James Brizzolara (present Mayor of Fort
Smith) at Little Rock, Ark., with whom she lived until she contracted the second marriage with Angelo
Marre; that the marriage with Brizzolara had never been dissolved or annulled by the decree of any
court, and that she is still the lawful wife of Brizzolara. To this amendment Marre answers that the
alleged marriage with Brizzolara was void on account of the relationship existing between them —
that Brizzolara is the brother of the mother of Mrs. Marre; that, she being his niece, the marriage
between them was incestuous and void under the laws of Arkansas. Marre also demurred to the
amended complaint. Judge Rogers last Monday morning sustained the demurrer on the ground that
Mrs. Marre, by her own showing, had been guilty of the crime of bigamy in marrying Marre; that she had no
standing in a court of equity for relief from a marriage which she confessed to be criminal and
entered into by her knowingly; that if her marriage with Brizzolara was lawful, as she asserted it to be,
her marriage with Marre was a crime and absolutely void, and if the marriage with Marre was valid, then
the marriage with Brizzolara was void and incestuous. On either side the woman is confronted with a
crime in respect to her marriages
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