Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Falls City tribune. (Falls City, Neb.) 1904-191? | View Entire Issue (July 23, 1909)
mmmMmmmmKmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmBmmmmmummuammammmmmmmmmmmmmmB* Reminiscences of a. Wayfarer Some of the Important Events of the Pioneer Days of Richardson County and Southeast Nebraska, as remembered by the writer, who has spent fifty one years here. The Meek-Devip Tragedy. There is something of the anti quary in everybody, more in some than in others, but a little in all. This predisposition for the antiquities forms the basis of the science ot Archaeology so much prized and studied by dreamers and thinkers, who have spent their lives delving in the ruins of dead nations whose only history, or at least that which is most visible, is written in the carved rocks of their fallen temples, mighty in their decay. Where men have been other men are likely to go and from the things they have' done intelligible to the senses, the explor er strives to learn the story of that precedent people—how they lived, were housed, and clothed; what they did, what religion they professed, and what altars they reared to their now forgotten gods. The impulse to do these things arises sua sponte out of the very nature of man, and can not be resisted any more than he can resist the desire for continued con sciouus life. Something very like it was at the bottom of that imposing pageant of the eleventh century called the Cru sades, when the hostile nations of Asia and Europe, representing two contending religions, were armed against each other and disputing the empire of the world. For a thous and years annual pilgrimages were made from all over the civilized world to the Holy Land, by the fol lowers of Christ, the ardor for which was increased under the reign of Constantine in the fourth century, until in the course of time the en thusiasm and fanaticial zeal inspired thereby took possession of all the western nations, and the shout, “It is trite will of God,” was taken up all over Europe and the general move ment, in which there was not the faintest glimmer of common sense, was made to the east to wrest from the infidel, the Holy sepulchre of the Saviour. The same impulse takes us to the silent cities where the dead are at rest, whether they were ours in life, or only fellow mortals who once were but arc not, as all now existant, one day will be. Far away to the southwest where the groat Colorado of the west ming les its waters with what the early geographers called the great South Sea, I once visited a spot in the midst of an everlasting desolation, and so lonely in its surroundings that, in the language of the Ancient Mariner, “So lonely ’twas, that God himself Scarse seemed to be there.” At this spot two hundred miles from any civilized habitation and about a quarter of a mile from the ship yard by the sea, two men, “nameless here forevermore” who had (lied at that ship's landing years before, lie buried out on a salt marsh, where the monster heaving sea covers it fathom deep, twice every twenty four hours, with its restless and re sistless tides. The graves were en closed by a rude fence that could only be seem at ebb-tide, and then not for long, except at neap-tide which occurs in the dark of the moon, and then for a few days the tides appear to sleep and the resting place of those lost men is freed from its accustomed salt baths from the Gulf. Spring tide at that place, which occurs at new and full moon, rises to the heighth of thirty-three feet, the second highest tide in the world. In an idle hour and when the tide was low, I went out to visit those graves on the lonely marsh. There was nothing in sight that appeared to be possessed of life, and not a sound was to be heard, except that produced by silence—for silence it self is sometimes so profound as to be audible. What I thought on that visit is not to the purpose, but I could not refrain from some specu ' lations on the monotony of the ete» nal ebb and flow of the tides above those lonesome graves, till the sea shall give up its dead and the heavens be rolled together as a scroll. Hut to be buried in such an out-of-the-way place, where habitation w-as impos sible, where the living can seldom come a,nd where no sound ever breaks upon the brooding silence, but the rush of the tides flowing from and back to the sea, seemed ah awful fate even for the dead. To me it was a shrine, a sacred spot, a small section of God’s acre, the like of which I had never seen and one I shall never forget. The same impulse that sends the pilgrims to the Holy Land, to the vast sol itary pyramids of Egypt, to the ruins of those crumbling cities of the plain, the mouldering castles on the Rhine, and in feudal countries over the earth, sent me to visit the rest ing place of two unknown mortals on tho salt marshes at the head of tlit’ t* 11 If of California in old Mexico. Next to an old ruin, an old tomb, or an old churchyard, is some ancient record or old docuuument, or legen dary story made or written by men long dead, for somehow they bring one in touch with lost lives, once vigorous, intelligent, and forceful who in a way swayed the thoughts and actions of others and illustrated the genius of the times in which they lived. I have before me an old record, but not particularly of t lie class just in dicated, but one that brings back in all its vivid and terrible reality a tragedy that was enacted in this city now nearly fifty years ago. It is the record of the coroner's in quest held over the dead body of one T. .1. Meek, who was killed in the Minniek hotel, the one built by Jes se Crook two years before, on the 16th day of April, I860, during an election then being held to perman ently locate the county seat of tills county. This was the second of the three authorized, by the act of the winter before and (lie one locating the county seat at Falls City, to com mence with. Rulo and Salem were in combination against Falls City, and certain parties from both these towns were at Falls City that day, and with the evident design to make trouble. Dr. J. H. Davis, William Holbrook, afterwards a citizen of this city, anti some others w< re here from Ruulo.and Dr. T. J. Dunn, and probably one or two others, were here from Salem. All these parties were heavily armed, and somewhat insolent in their con duct. Trouble was brewing all day and it required very little to devel op it. The poling place was near Squire Dorrington’s residence, on the corner where Sowles’ candy shop now is, and when the street duel opened between Dr. Davis of Rulo and T. J. Meek, a pistol ball struck a window case near which Mrs. Dor rington was at the moment standing, though she did not know it until an other struck the houuse in a different place. Meek was a man of fearless nature, had gone through the Kan sas trouble, and been wounded in sev eral parts of his body in numer ous fights down there. Davis shot Meek in the hip in the street fight, but whether Davis received his death wound on the street or in an upstairs room in the hotel was never known, i Meek though wounuded and his re-1 volver empty, went into the Bur- j bank store and procuured another revolver, and learning that Davis had ! gone to the Minnick hotel, followed, revolver in hand, to finish the fight with him. lie went into the hotel and Up the stairway leading from the door on the north to the second floor. At the top landing a door op ened into the northwest room in which Davis had taken refuge, and it was at that door ho received his death wound. There was but one witness to the last act in the tragedy, his name was William McFarland. It is certain that two or more shots were fired after Meek went upstairs, but no evidence on that point appears in the records before me, but I know the fact from others who heard them. Dr; H. O. Hanna who had just moved into the country from Ohio, performed the autopsy on the body of Meek, and the following is his testimony as T appears in the report of Sheriff Keefer, who was acting as coroner. H. O. Hanna sworn saith: Omitting formal questions as to age residence and occupation the doctor's evidence was as follows; Q. Were you acquainted with deceased (Meek)? A. I knew him when I saw him. Q. Where and what is his condi tion ? A. I saw him less than an hour sinee lying dead in the hotel. Q. Did you made an examina tion of the body? A. I did. Q. Did you perform a post mor tem on the body of the deceased? A. I did. * Q. Where and by what manner did he come to his death? A. His death was produced by a gun shot wound through the body the ball entering the right side be tween the fifth and sixth ribs, about four inches below and a little back of the arm pit, cutting in its passage the fifth rib about half off, passing through the upper portion of the lower lobe, and the lower portion of the upper lobe of the right lung. Thence into the right auricle and through the left ventricle of the heart through upper lobe of the left lung, thence between the fourth and fifth ribs lodging against the skin on the left side. Q. Were there any other wounds on the body ' A. There were several scalp wounds, and also a gun shot wound through the fleshy portion ot' the j right hip. Q.Wore these last wounds suffi | dent to cause death? A. 1 think not. (signed) H. c. iiajsisa. This testimony is important as showing that Meek had been shot in the hip before ho went to tile hotel, and that whoever shot him was stand ing at right angles to the direction lie was facing,at the time, making Meek, the target for at least two as sailants. Holbrook was thought to be the man who shoot Meek in the tiip, while tlie street fight was on be tween Davis and him, but tills is mere eonjeetuure. The report is in tin' hand writing of Mr. .Vug. Selioenlieit, long a resi dent of tliis city, but who only the day before had arrived at Falls City, from till' state of Ohio. It seems he hud been asked to supervise the post mortem examination,as he was a law yer and was willing to accomodate the sheriff. I was in the state of Illi nois on the day of the trouble and therefore hud no personal knowledge of the facts, but as 1 came to know them afterwards, I was, and always have been, of opinion that Davis was not the man who killed Meek. The circumstances, and the location of th parties, made it impossible foV Davis to have killed Meek. Meek went up a stairway leading from the north. That brought his right side to the west. When he got to the top of the stairs he had i/i turn hts face to the west to see into the room where Davis was; that would bring ills right side to the north. If Davis had shot Meek at all, the ball, instead of hitting him in the right side, would have struck him in the breast, but that was not where lie was shot, t’liere was a narrow passage or hall Upstairs on the east side of the stair way, with a door opening into a bed room In the northeast corner of the hotel, about the sizi of the room in which Davis was on the other side of the stairway. This latter door was local ed at the north end of the passage or hall, while the door on the other side, opening into the west room where Davis was, was at the extreme south end of that passage, so that when Meek turned at the top of tlie stairvaj to attack Davis, his right side would have been exposed to any one desiring to shoot him from live duo: at the north end of tlie passage, and whoever shot him was af I ha t. door or near it in the passage. The circumstances all contradict what Mi Farland said about who killed Meek, and besides I have an other and convincing reason for know ing, but I shall not give it here—that his uliole story was a fabrication. navis nad emptied ms revolver m the street fight, or he would not have used it as a cluub when Meek at tacked him in the hotel. Every cir cumstance points unerringly to the fact that some one other Ilian Davis j killed Meek. Dr. Dunn was upstairs . in the hotel when tlie muurder was done, hut he was not in the room with Davis. That he was suspect <1 of complicity in the killing of Meek, is shown by the verdict of the jury sitting in the inquest: to-wit: “And we the jury do further find that one Dr. T. J. Dunn was concerned in the perpetration of said violence and death as an ac cessory.’’ From what premise that conclu sion was drawn, does not. appear in the evidence returned with the re port of thq coroner. The general con census of opinion of those who hie w most about the facts was that Dunn, and not Davis, killed Meek. Certa'n it is,that Dunn was never in Falls City afterwards, and in a very short time left the country and has nevei lived here since. Ro ended the bloody chapter, but not its prenici ous effects. Meek was killed instant ly, hut Davis died of the wounutls re ceived in the fight the day after They were both brave but reckles: men, and both were looking for trouble that day, and found it in abundance. The report of that day’s awful doings is before me by grace of our accomplished and accomodating clerk of the district court, Mr. Charles I.o ree, who kindly placed it at my dis posal for the purpose of this sketch, and for which I am greatly obliged. It is worn and old; it’s inkfaded, and the wasting finger marks of time are apparent on every sheet of the paper it is written upon. The witnesses, the jurors, the physician who per formed the autopsy on the body of Meek, the sheriff who acted as coro ner and the lawyer who conducted the proceedings and formulated the report, are all dead; gone out of life into the same land of shadows to which those two misguided men hurried each other on that pleasant, smiling spring day—nearly fifty years ago. •XDBUUBqj B.JJOM £XupO} SOApBXBT oupto Xu* lou XqM ’soApnxui Ajbujpuo puB Bind 0} jopiad'ns iisnui si ub sioMoq aq} saqBinaaj puB joaji aqi saiBinraps XpuaS ‘qtaa-iq puB qaBino-js aip sua^aoMS II uopBdpeuoo pm -IjqBq puB aiqnoj} aaAii puu qaamofs joj e.vpBXB'i oupo s.Xaiog SaiqB) I Xq papijanaq aq pino.w auoXja.vg WHAT THE NEIGHBORS SAY. Opinions of County Exchanges Re garding the Missouri Facific. Kails City is to got the division of thi- Missouri Pacific. II is well that the citizens of that burg are not par ticular enough to look their gift horse iu the mouth. Vuburn Republican. About the only effect that the re . nioval of the division from Auburn to Falls City will be to mark a semi colon in the history of the city. Au burn Republican. Incident to the establishing of the new freight division at that place, Falls City is in midst of discussion on several matters of public policy, such as i xtending the city limits, paving the business district and furnishing all day service at the power house for the benefit of those who wish elec trie motors.—Humboldt Leader. To give some idea of what the M. I’, is doing in the way of surface im provements, Mr. McManus, roadmas tcr for this division, says that the team work alone amounts at present to over ten thousand dollars a month. Verdon Vedette, "The division coming to Pulls City” Is no longer a vision but an estab lished fact —Verdon Vedette. Falls City is now sure of the Mis souri Pacific freight* division between Kansas City and Omaha. Pulls City gave thirty-five acres of land at. a cost of |12,!iOO. The land was pur chased from J. II. Miles and is lo cated south of the Burlington yards. The company agrees to begin work at once, and to spend $200,000 build ing terminals,which will include seven miles of side track and tut eighteen stall round house. It is said $00,000 lias also been set aside to cut down Kreellng hill and probably build a new depot.—Stella Press. As stated in this paper a couple of weeks ago, there was a strong rumor that the M. 1\, was intending to make Palls City a division point. This time it appears that the rumor was found ed on a basis of fact. A dispatch from Palls City states that the Mis souri Pacifi • railroad lias secured by donation thirty-five acres of land east of the Burlington depot at that place on which to build freight division yards to handle the traffic between K; nsas City and Omaha. The city gave the land and the company agrees to spend $200,000 in building the ter minals in January. The plans also font 'inplat.es the spending of another $100,000 In cutting down add chang ing Kreellng hill to Straussvtlle. The work will begin in ten days. It is fjtut' d that this will mean the mov ing of several families to Palls City, the number being estimated various ly from fifteen to twenty-six.—Auburn Herald. BARADA. C. H. Martin made a trip to Falls City Thursday. , Mrs. E. E. Bolejack Is suffering with a felon on her finger. John Morehend of Falls City was in Barada Monday evening. Mrs. Prine of Denver is here vis iting iter mice, Miss Carrie Rae. The Spickler Bros., delivered a new autq to Mr. Hogrefe at Stella. Jessie Cox was taking the teach ers examination at Falls City Satur day. Dr. VanOsdel was called to Lincoln Monday by the serious Illness of his niece. Miss Verda Kulilman is assisting R. J. Dunn & Son In the store this week. p. E. Smith of Auburn spent a few days with old friends at this place this week. Walter Rockwell of Farmington, la., is visiting his uncle and grandfather at this place. A number of relatives gauiereo at Mrs. Sarah Williamsons Monday to spend the day. Mrs. E. A. Thompson of Falls City spent several days visiting relatives in this vicinity. Miss Priscilla Woodring of near Shubert spent Sunday with friends at this place. Neil Piersol and family were visit ing Charles Thomas and family near Shubert Sunday. E. Butler of Brownville spent sev eral days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Butler. Elias Prine packed his grip and moved to Falls City, where he says he is going to make his future home. Byron Dunn returned to his place of business in Lincoln after a two weeks’ visit with relatives at this place. Mrs. Win. Bridgman of Verdon was the guest of her parents,Mr.and Mrs. Wilson Wamsley at this place Satur day and Sunday. Mrs. Spickler and daughter who have been visiting relatives in various parts of the country for a couple of months, returned home Friday. Earl Cox was surprised by about fifteen of his friends, who gathered at his home Sunday to celebrate his fourteenth birthday. The afternoon was spent in games after which re freshments consisting of Ice cream an cake were served. Earl received several nice presents. — 1 ■■'■II——■ ■ ■■■ II. - 1 ■ II ■■■> I '' !■■■■■—■ —— .. I . ■ ———W Excursion Rates Everywhere It is impossible to present a detailed list of the attractive $xcur cursion rates now in effect. You Can Go East on daily low rates to Atlantic cities and re sorts; every day rates to Wisconsin, Michigan and Canadian resorts, and for the celebrated tour of the lakes. Yoii Can Go West There are very attractive r tes every day to Colorado, Yellowstone l'ark, Seattle, California, Black Hills, Hot Springs; homeseekers' rates every first and third Tuesdays every where west- Inquire about the personally conducted camping tours from Cody into the Yellowstone Park. See Your Own Country. Between America's prosperity and low railroad rates there is every reason why you should join tt.e great summer travel throng. □ E. II. Whitpord, Ticket Agent. L. W. Wakbley, G. P. A , Omaha. ( . ' I I Seasonable Suggestions To be Found Here: Lowe Bros.’ Paint Pittsburgh Electrically Welded Fencing Fishing Tackle and Sporting Goods Alaska and White Frost Refrigerators Call Our Tinner Before the Spring Rains J. C. TANNER Falls City Nebraska Plumbing I lumber and Furnnne Man Hardware FALLS CITY CHAUTAUQUA JULY 24th to August 1st
