700 - TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY activities. It also has brought a number of prominent artists to city audiences, and great benefit to the city's musical culture has resulted from its organization. Space forbids even mention of many excellent orchestras and bands now entertaining and instructing the people of the city, at the head of which may be recognized Ruvinsky's Orchestra and Lower's Band. Several institutions of musical instruction exist and many able private instructors in violin, piano and of other instruments, as well as in voice, have salons. The leading churches have trained quartets and choirs, and the extent of individual ability in instrumental and vocal music in the city is very large in proportion to its population. The harvest of the labors of Louis Mathias is indeed noteworthy. CHAPTER XXXVI MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY THE PATRIOT WAR-THE CAROLINE AFFAIR-PUBLIC MEETINGS-THE SCHOONER ANN-BATTLE OF FIGHTING ISLAND-BRADLEY'S EXPEDITION-DROUGHT OF 1838—HISTORIC FLOODS-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION-DIXON'S MUSEUM-FIRE OF JANUARY, 1894-I M MORTAL J. N.-POST OFFICE ROBBERY. In Toledo and Lucas County, as in every other community in the United States, events of varied character are constantly happening. By the division of history into topics, as has been done in this work, these isolated events do not "fit into the table of contents," yet many of them are clothed with a certain historic significance. The purpose of this chapter is to record such of these events as exercised an influence upon the subsequent history of city and county, or excited more than ordinary comment at the time of their occurrence. First among these is the incident known as THE PATRIOT WAR In 1837, when Lucas County was only about two years old, some of the citizens of Upper Canada, comparing the conditions in their country with the prosperity of the United States, came to the conclusion that the difference in the form of government was responsible for the difference in conditions. A revolt was organized, having for its alleged object the overthrow of British rule and the establishment of the "Republic of Upper Canada." If the movement succeeded, it was the intention to extend it to Lower Canada, until the entire British possessions should be "independent." The "Patriots," as the revolutionists called themselves, took possession of and fortified Navy Island in the Niagara River, where they established a base of operations and began collecting troops, munitions and military supplies. Their leader issued a proclamation announcing the establishment of the "Provisional Government of the Republic of Upper Canada," and offering a reward of 1500 for the apprehension of Sir Francis Bond Head, then governor of Canada. The proclamation also declared that within a short time 10,000,000 acres of her Majesty's lands in Canada would be in the hands of the Patriots, and that 300 acres would be given to every volunteer who joined the revolutionary forces. The traditions of the Revolutionary war and the recollections of the War of 1812 led many citizens of the United States to espouse the cause of the Patriots. THE CAROLINE AFFAIR Soon after the Patriots took possession of Navy Island, early in December, 1837, the steamer "Caroline" was fitted out at Buffalo as a sort of privateer. - 701 - 702 - TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY She made regular trips between Buffalo and the island 'camp, carrying sympathetic visitors and, what was of much greater importance, large quantities of supplies contributed by friends in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The activity of this vessel finally aroused the Canadian officials to action. On the night of December 29, 1837, while lying at a little place called Schlosser, on the American side of the Niagara River, a British force silently approached and boarded the steamer. After a sharp fight, in which twelve men were killed, the "Caroline" was captured and burned. The destruction of the "Caroline" awakened greater sympathy in the United States for the Patriot cause and called forth vigorous protests from the American sympathizers, who threatened all sorts of retaliation, regardless of the neutrality laws. The campaign at the eastern end of Lake Erie collapsed with the loss of the "Caroline." Some interest was manifested by the people of Cleveland and Sandusky, but Toledo and Detroit became the storm centers. The war department then sent Gen. Winfield Scott to the border to preserve order and to see that the laws relating to neutrality were not openly violated. PUBLIC MEETINGS Following the burning of the "Caroline" public meetings were held in a number of cities on this side of the line to denounce the outrage and tender encouragement, if not material aid, to the Patriots. Maumee City was one of the first places to express the indignation of its citizens. Early in January, 1838, a call was issued for a meeting at the American House on the 17th. The call was signed by J. J. Bingham, A. G. Clark, William Copeland, George T. Case, T. W. Crowell, L. B. Dean, W. E. Dunham, John Dwight, Wheeler French, John Furey, D. S. Gregory, A. J. Hackley, George S. Hazard, S. T. Hosmer, David Howe, F. E. Kirtland, John Morian, Guy C. Noble, E. P. Parkman, E. A. Pierson, Alanson Powers, D. R. Ranney, Henry Reed, Jr., George Richardson, John Sargent, J. F. Shepherd, D. B. Taylor, G. B. Warner, W. C. White, James Wolcott, Charles and Jonah Woodruff. At the meeting James Wilkinson acted as chairman and Henry Reed, Jr., was chosen secretary. The committee on resolutions, consisting of J. J. Bingham, John Dwight and H. L. Hosmer, made a report extending strong sympathy to the Patriots. The report was unanimously adopted. Three days after the Maumee meeting, a meeting was held at the Mansion House in Toledo, at which Dr. Jacob Clark presided and Charles W. Hill acted as secretary. Samuel Allen, C. E. Brintnall, E. B. and E. S. Dodd and Daniel 0. Morton were appointed a committee on resolutions. When the report of this committee was presented to the meeting it developed that sentiment was divided. The resolutions deplored the destruction of the "Caroline" as "an outrage upon a body of unoffending and unarmed citizens of the United. States, an open violation of the laws of nations, and an unprovoked invasion of our soil and a wanton massacre of our citizens." A considerable minority opposed the adoption of the resolutions. In the interest of harmony another resolution was offered. While it expressed in moderate terms "sympathy with the people of Canada in their grievances and pledging them whatever aid a neutral TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY - 705 people can consistently render, we will use all. our power to prevent the unlawful organization of armed forces within our territory, .and avoid any and all measures calculated to involve our nation in difficulty," etc. The "Blade" of Toledo, then published by Fairbanks & Willard, was opposed to any open expression of sympathy for the Canadian revolutionists and "raised a' voice of resolute condemnation against the high-handed enrollment of American volunteers to invade the coast of Canada." On the other hand the "Morning Post" of Detroit, published by Kingsbury & Burnham, openly advocated the cause of the Patriots, urged the people of that city to contribute liberally to the support of the revolution, and even counseled the invasion of Canada. Early in 1838 the Canadian authorities defeated the Patriots at several points and about three hundred refugees sought shelter in Detroit, where they were given a cordial welcome.. At a public meeting $125 was subscribed and ten rifles were donated for the benefit of the Patriots. THE SCHOONER "ANN" About 3 A. M., January 5, 1838, a small party of armed and determined men went to the Detroit jail, where 450 stands of arms and a quantity of ammunition were stored, overpowered the jailer without hurting him and carried away the arms and ammunition. About daylight the same morning the Patriots took forcible possession of the schooner "Ann," manned the vessel with 132 men, and with the arms taken from the jail, set sail for Fighting Island. On the way down the river she was joined by several small boats bringing reinforcements and the whole force was landed on the Michigan shore about ten miles below Detroit. That evening the force was augmented by the arrival of sixty men from Cleveland, commanded by a Scotchman named Sutherland. After the arrival of this reinforcement it was decided to cross over and capture Fort Malden (now Amherst-burg), and Sutherland was chosen to command. Sutherland first attempted to take possession of Bois Blanc Island,, but f mind it defended by a force of British regulars and Canadian militia. He then retired to Fighting Island and sent word to Dr. E. A. Theller, commanding the "Ann," to join in an assault on the Canadian mainland. Theller agreed, but in maneuvering the schooner brought it within range of the British guns, her rigging being so badly damaged that she drifted on shore and was captured. Theller and Sutherland were captured and the main body of the Patriot's returned to Michigan, where they were persuaded to disband by Governor Mason. The disbanding of the Patriots proved to be only a lull in the storm. They quickly reorganized, pillaged about one hundred barrels of flour from the steamer "General Brady," captured a number of rifles intended for the Michigan militia, and on the night of February 23, 1838, took possession of Fighting Island. BATTLE OF FIGHTING ISLAND Gen. Donald McLeod had been selected to lead the Patriot forces after the capture of Sutherland. His every movement was closely watched by the Canadians and a strong force was mobilized opposite the island. On Sunday, February 25, 1838, the British artillery opened upon the Patriots on the island. McLeod, finding the island untenable, retired to the American side of the river. The following account of the affair is taken from the Detroit "Free Press". of February 26, 1838. 706 - TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY "Yesterday the war commenced in or near Canada. On Saturday P. M. the Patriot forces, which had been lurking in small and detached squads at various points between Toledo and Gibraltar, collected on the American shore, opposite Fighting Island, belonging to the British, their number amounting to between 200 and 300, without arms except five or six muskets and a small field piece mounted on two rails. In this condition, after receiving and cheering a patriotic speech from General McLeod, who commanded them, they crossed on the ice and took possession of the island. They did not, we understand, intend to cross until their arms, which were undoubtedly delayed, had been received but they were forced immediately to abandon the American territory, in order to evade the civil authorities, which, aided by the United States troops, were in close pursuit of them. In the course of the night about fifty stands of arms were conveyed to them on the island. About daylight yesterday morning the British troops opened fire on them with grape-shot from the Canadian shore. "After receiving two or three shots and returning as many, the Patriots retreated in confusion to the American shore, with three wounded—one severely and two slightly. At the shore they were met by the United States troops, who arrested and disarmed them as fast as they landed. The British troops took possession of the island as soon as it was evacuated. We have seen and conversed with one of the men who was on Fighting Island, and who informs us that they were assured by their officers that 500 men had crossed into Canada below Malden from Sandusky. This is the prevalent belief here, as heavy cannonading was heard during the forenoon of yesterday in that direction. . . . General Vreeland, of the Patriot forces has been arrested by the United States authorities." Two companies from Toledo took part in the engagement at Fighting Island. They were commanded by Captains Dodd and Crane, whose bravery on that occasion is fully attested by the following communication from General McLeod, which was published in the "Blade" a few days after the battle : "To the Citizens of the City of Toledo : "I beg to recommend to your favorable notice the gallant and intrepid conduct of Capt. William Dodd of your city, and his company, who so gallantly and intrepidly sustained me in the unequal contest of the morning of the 25th instant. I have seen much service in Europe and America, but never witnessed officers of a commission who conducted themselves so coolly, determinedly and deliberately as did Captains Dodd and Crane for three and one-half hours, with 40 men against 500 British troops, well armed. "DONALD MCLEOD, "Brig.-Gen. Patriot Army." BRADLEY'S EXPEDITION About the middle of February, 1838, Col. Edwin D. Bradley began collecting a force at Sandusky, to cooperate with General McLeod in an invasion of Canada. On the day of General McLeod's defeat at Fighting Island (February 25th), Bradley and his men reached Point Pelee Island, having marched from Sandusky on the ice. They found the island deserted, though the owner, a man named McCormick, had left his live stock, which gave the Patriots a supply of provisions. TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY - 707 About daylight on March 3, 1838, a force of British troops was discovered approaching the island from the Canada side. In his report to General McLeod, Colonel Bradley thus describes the action that followed : Their main force, about 700 strong, was marched down quietly in front ; their left, about 200 strong, flanking off in the direction of the light-house at North Point ; and their right, consisting entirely of regulars, were pushing on with great speed along the west side of the island to gain our rear, for the purpose of cutting off our retreat, should the main force succeed in driving us from our position. I did not think it prudent to await the attack of the main body. The men were therefore instantly mustered and filed off toward the southern End of the island, a distance of seven miles, to meet and fight the regular force, which had already gained our rear. "When we arrived in view of this force, which consisted of about 350 heavy infantry and 75 well mounted cavalry, drawn up in ordinary battle array on the ice, one and a half miles from the shore, in the direction of Middle Island—as we had no time for delay, in consequence of the enemy's main force, which was fast approaching—I gave instant orders to form in line of battle, which were cheerfully obeyed by officers and men. When all was in readiness, the line moved forward and advanced within half musket shot of the enemy, when they opened a tremendous fire on our whole line, checking its progress and compelling us to commence the action at a greater distance than we first intended. Nevertheless (some of our troops having fired without orders), to prevent confusion it was thought proper that the action should become general. For half an hour we sustained the shock of three times our number of British regular troops, twice throwing them into confusion and strewing the battle ground with their dead and wounded. "The near approach, however, of the main force in our rear induced some to leave the ranks in spite of their officers. Still, the battle was continued by a few of the men until the greater part of the troops had retired to the island, where all assembled to deliberate upon the best mode of escape. It was concluded to cross over to the west side of the island and under its cover retreat, which was safely effected, although the enemy's cavalry hung continually on our flank and rear." Colonel Bradley's force numbered about 125 men. He reported his loss as "one major, one captain and eight privates killed ; and one captain and fifteen privates wounded." In a postscript to his report he states that he learned from a Frenchman that the British loss was fifty-eight killed and seventy-five wounded. Colonel Bradley was for a long time a resident of Williams County, Ohio, after the Patriot insurrection was over. He served as captain in the Mexican war and commanded the Thirty-eighth Ohio Infantry for some time at the beginning of the Civil war. The battle of Point Pelee Island marked the end of hostilities so far as Ohio was concerned. There were some desultory operations in the vicinity of Detroit until the close of the year 1838, when quiet was restored. The arrest and trial of General McLeod by the authorities of the United States, for the part taken by him in the revolt, led to some complications and discussions with the British Government, which for some time excited more or less alarm and apprehension of serious trouble, but the matter was finally amicably adjusted.. 708 - TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY DROUGHT OF 1838 The summer and autumn of 1838 was long remembered by the people of Northwestern Ohio for the severe drought. The "dry belt" extended from the vicinity of Monroe, Michigan, around the head of Lake Erie as far eastward as the Huron River, and up the Maumee to the Auglaize and Tiffin rivers. Even beyond these limits there was a lack of rainfall, but the damage to crops and the suffering of the people in these outlying districts was much less than nearer the lake. Dr. Horace A. Ackley, who was then practicing medicine in Toledo, kept data on the weather and afterward stated that no rain fell in the region about the mouth of the Maumee River from the 3d of July to the middle of October. Judge John Carey, of Wyandot County, says that there was no rain in the upper valley of the Sandusky River from the 17th of May until October. At Tiffin, the county seat of Seneca County, all the wells went dry early in July. Wild animals of all kinds apparently forgot the antagonism of their species and collected in large numbers along the banks of the rivers in search of water. Many of them perished of thirst and starvation. Between Toledo and Maumee deer and raccoons were numerous and so tame that they watched travelers passing along the road without showing any signs of fear. At that time there were small swamps over a large part of the present City of Toledo, particularly in the western part and along Swan Creek. As these swamps dried up, the frogs migrated to the Maumee, passing through the Toledo streets in great droves. All the wet prairies of the interior, and even the great Black Swamp, became so dry that the earth cracked open, the crevices often extending to a depth of three or four feet. Grass became like tinder, the leaves on the trees withered, many of the trees died, and crops in some localities were a total failure. Beds of the smaller streams became so dry they were actually dusty. In Toledo and the immediate vicinity most of the wells were shallow and went dry before the middle of the summer. The dry weather and the lack of pure drinking water brought on an epidemic of fever—probably typhoid—which taxed the skill and endurance of the doctors. The death rate that season was the highest in the history of the city. Some four or five hundred laborers were engaged in the excavation of the canal between Maumee and Manhattan. Dr. Daniel Drake, in his account of the epidemic, says these laborers were "chiefly Irish, who generally lodged in temporary shanties, while some occupied bowers formed with green limbs of trees. It does not appear that a greater proportion of these operators suffered than of the resident population ; but a far greater pm oportion died." Doctor Ackley says : "One canal contractor kept a liquor store and sold whisky to all whom he employed, which was freely drank by themselves and their families. The mortality among these was very great. Another contractor lodged his employes on straw beds, in the upper room of a large frame house, made them retire early, kept them from the use of whisky, and nearly all escaped disease." This statement of the doctor's was afterward seized upon with avidity by the temperance people as an argument that whisky, even as a medicine, does more harm than good. About the middle of October refreshing rains fell, followed almost immediately by frost, and the drought and epidemic were broken. For weeks before the rains fell, superstitious persons believed that the world was com- TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY - 711 ing to an end. Many families left the Maumee Valley and never returned. Years afterward gossips were wont to fix the date of events by comparison with those of 1838; as "he was born the year before the drought," etc. HISTORIC FLOODS While the Maumee River, like other streams of similar size and extent, has always been liable to overflow its banks, only on a few occasions have the floods proved disastrous to property. The most destructive floors have occurred in February and March, and were caused by the breaking up of the ice, especially when accompanied by heavy rains. In 1832, when the ice went out of the river, the people of the lower Maumee Valley had their first experience with floods. Little damage was wrought, chiefly for the reason that there was but little property along the banks of the river that could be injured by the high waters. However, the flood swept away what was left of the once pretentious town, "Orleans of the North," which had been built on the low ground between Fort Meigs and the river. Fortunately, the rivalry of other towns had deprived Orleans of its inhabitants, and the value of the property destroyed was negligible, as only a few old buildings remained. For fifteen years after "the flood of '32," the people along the Maumee were not seriously disturbed by high waters. In the early spring of 1847 the river rose several feet in a few hours, owing to the heavy rains near its source. Many farms were overflowed and the cemetery at Maumee was entirely covered with water. There was no ice in the river at the time and the actual damage was slight. In the spring of 1849 the Maumee broke all previous records for high water. Early in March the ice began to break up, accompanied by a heavy fall of rain, and by the 7th the water had reached its highest stage. At Perrysburg B. F. Hollister lost four horses, drowned ; several canal boats were torn from their stocks ; 400 barrels of salt, belonging to Mr. Hollister, were ruined ; fifteen head of cattle on the island between Perrysburg and Miami were carried away by the current, and Kirk's slaughter house and the ferry house were washed away. At Maumee the bridge was wrecked and Hubbell's warehouse- was undermined and fell into the river. Several warehouses at Miami were destroyed. The Swan Creek bridge at Toledo was demolished and several buildings near the river were damaged. On February 17, 1867, there were three feet of water standing in Water Street for the greater part of the distance between Monroe and Elm streets. Considerable damage was done to goods stored in cellars along the street. The Cherry Street bridge—the property of a toll company—was carried away by the flood, and the Middle Grounds were completely submerged. On the lower floor of the Island House, the hotel connected with the Union Railroad Station, the water was about fifteen inches deep. Some damage was done to shipping. About a year later (March 10, 1868), an ice jam in the river caused the Middle Grounds and the river front to overflow. Two abutments of the Cherry Street bridge were damaged and several hundred logs at David Smith's and Mitchell & Rowland's sawmills were swept out into the Maumee Bay. Many of these were afterward recovered. 712 - TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY But the damage wrought by early floods was far less than that caused by the floods of more recent years. The reasons for this are to be found in the fact that the growth of the city has brought more destructible property within the range of the high waters ; and the great improvements in draining the swamp lands have made it possible for the surface waters to find their way to the river more rapidly. Early in February, 1881, a "wet spell" set in. Rains fell almost every day for a week. The rising water caused the ice to break up' and the snow remaining on the ground melted under the heavy rainfall. About 7:30 P. M. on Friday, February 11th, the floating ice began to form a gorge at the island near Walbridge Park. The ice in the river at that point, already softened by the rains, was unable to withstand the pressure. It gave- way and the entire mass swept down the river. Logs outside the booms at Tracy Brothers' and Mitchell & Rowland's sawmills were picked up and their weight was added to the great body of floating ice. The Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad dock, on the east side, was badly damaged. The steamer "Emerald" and font. schooners—the "Atmosphere," "Dunford," "Mediterranean" and "Stalker"—were torn from their moorings and carried out into the bay. During the night and the morning of the 12th the water rose at an alarming rate. By noon it was several feet deep in Water Street at Adams and in Summit Street at Monroe. A few hours later a strong current was flowing down Water Street, carrying huge cakes of ice, lumber, wrecked fences and other debris. Before midnight the water was five feet deep in the Island House and the Union Railroad Station was deserted. There were about seventy-five guests in the Island House at the time. They occupied the upper rooms until morning, when they were taken in boats to higher parts of the city. The Pennsylvania Railroad bridge was wrecked ; all the railroad property on the Middle Grounds was so badly torn up that it was several days before any trains ran to the Union Station. The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern used a branch of the "Y" at the west end of the Middle Grounds, receiving and' discharging passengers near Broadway. Great damage was done to sawmills and factories near the river. The water in the river rose to such a height that it was backed up into the sewers and forced out through the intakes and manholes. By this means the flood was carried to parts of the city that would otherwise have escaped. This was especially true of the Monroe Street sewer. Merchants on that street, as well as those on Perry, Summit and Water streets, were among the largest losers. The total property loss was estimated at one million dollars. Although the flood of 1881 was disastrous, the height of the water was not as great as it was two years later. On February 17, 1883, the river was fifteen feet above the normal stage, or almost three feet above the highest mark of 1881. One would naturally suppose that, if the flood was three feet higher, the damage was correspondingly greater. But such was not the case. While the weather had been rainy for several days prior to the flood of 1881, the people thought nothing of it. The breaking of the ice gorge caused the river to rise so suddenly it caught everybody unprepared. In 1883 the rise in the river was gradual, there was very little ice, and the citizens had more. warning than they did two years before. And they did not fail to heed the warning. There were a number of steamers and several sailing vessels lying at the docks. Extra hawsers were attached to every TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY - 715 one, portable property liable to injury was removed to a place of safety, and other precautions were taken, thus reducing the loss to a minimum. The Island House, the Union Station and the Wabash Railroad Company's elevators were all flooded to a depth of six feet or more ; a span was torn out of the union railway bridge—belonging to the Pennsylvania and the Wabash ; three of the four spans of the Cherry Street wagon bridge—this time the property of the city—were completely wrecked ; and factory buildings and machinery near the river were damaged to a considerable extent. Merchants in the inundated districts, who neglected to remove stocks from their cellars, suffered for their negligence by sustaining more or less severe loss. In many stores and residences water found its way into the cellars, either directly from the river or by way of the backed-up sewers. In fact, the value of the property thus rendered worthless was greater than that carried away by the flood. There have been floods and high waters several times since 1883, but none of these has caused serious injury, either to person or property. In 1884 United States engineers worked out a plan for deepening and straightening the channel of the Maumee River, and otherwise improving the harbor. As these improvements were made, the river was given a greater capacity for carrying off the surplus water. The advantages to shipping have been great, but no more important than the advantages that have accrued to the City of Toledo by rendering it immune to destructive floods. CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION July 4, 1876, was the one-hundredth anniversary of American independence. That day was observed in all the principal cities of the nation with more than ordinary Fourth of July ceremonies. In no city of the Union was the day celebrated in a more enthusiastic or appropriate manner than in Toledo. For weeks prior to the Fourth committees of arrangements were busy, selecting speakers, decorating the grounds on Monroe Street near the Milburn Wagon Works, etc. The citizens responded liberally to every demand and when the time arrived flags and bunting were to be seen on every hand. The day dawned bright and clear and at an early hour all the roads leading to Toledo were thronged with vehicles filled with people anxious to participate in the ceremonies. Railroads ran excursion trains, bringing many from a distance, and the crowd was estimated to be the largest ever seen in the city up to that time. The "Spirit of '76" was everywhere. The ceremonies were ushered in with an artillery salute. Then the parade of six divisions, headed by a detachment of the city police, was formed under the direction of John E. Hunt, president of the day, and started for the grounds. Prominent features of the procession were Myers' Cadets, with their band and drum corps ; the Walbridge Light Guards, with drum corps ; the First Independent Ohio Battery ; Milverstedt's Band ; Knights Templars, in full dress uniform ; the Grand Army of the Republic, the members of which wore the uniform of 1861-65 ; and more than a score of carriages, carrying the orators of the day, members of the Pioneer and Historical Society, etc. As the procession started a number of steamboats lying at the wharves turned loose their whistles. Although the day was a holiday and the machinery in the factories was silent, steam had been kept up especially for the occasion and the 716 - TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY factory whistles added to the din. Upon arriving at the grounds, John E. Hunt delivered a short address of welcome. James M. Ritchie then read the Declaration of Independence. He was followed by Thomas Dunlap, Rev. W. W. Williams, Col. D. F. DeWolf and Gen. W. H. Gibson, who delivered patriotic speeches. R. M. Streeter, principal of the Toledo High School, read a "Centennial Ode," and Martin Friedberg spoke in German. On July 4, 1922, forty-six years had elapsed since this memorable celebration. In these forty-six years Independence Day, though still observed as a holiday, has degenerated into a day of picnics, joy rides, dances, the senseless noise of fire crackers, etc. Now, when there is so much agitation for the restriction of immigration, to keep out "undesirables," and so many plans for the "Americanization" of the foreigners in our country, it is a matter of sincere regret to every true American, that there is not more of that real spirit of patriotism and loyalty manifested in Toledo on July 4, 1876. DIXON'S MUSEUM In the building at Nos. 44-48 St. Clair Street, Toledo has a collection of curios that is without a parallel in the country—perhaps in the entire world. This collection is the property of Charles N. Dixon, an eccentric individual well advanced in years, and is not open to the public. The owner admits no one unless introduced by one of his few trusted friends in the city. For many years the building in which this rare collection is housed, was known as. "Dixon's Inn" and bore a rather unsavory reputation. Here, it is said, men and women of questionable character met to indulge in wassail, plan their escapades, robberies, and even worse crimes, though there is no evidence that the proprietor was ever an accessory. When the Government put a stop to the liquor traffic, Mr. Dixon closed the '"Inn" and has since lived the life of a recluse, having no companions except, his faithful dog and an old crony or two, friends of by-gone years, who pay him an occasional visit. Mr. Dixon, a native of New York City, ran away from home at an early age and was taken to a farm in one of the far Western States, where he grew to manhood. There, as a youth, he began collecting queer Mexican hats and utensils, Indian relics, cowboy weapons, etc. Unable to overcome the longing for his boyhood city, he began working his way eastward, always keeping his collection with him. Upon reaching Toledo he decided to stop there. He has prospered and is the owner of several valuable pieces of property in addition to the "Inn." He never lost an opportunity to add to his museum. In the collection are weapons of all kinds, including many from the South Sea Islands ; the old stone face unearthed many years ago while excavating for the Monroe Street sewer, presumably a relic of the Mound Builders ; rare specimens of coins and paper money, in which almost every nation on the globe is represented ; skeletons of prehistoric animals; skulls of various human races ; fine examples of the taxidermist's art ; burglars' tools ; curious mechanical clocks, etc. Some of the relics are rather gruesome, but each one has its historic or scientific value. Connoisseurs have estimated that the collection could not be duplicated for much less. than a million dollars, though it cost its owner less than one-tenth of that sum. One of the professors of the University of Toledo has repeatedly tried to induce Mr. Dixon to leave the collection to that institution as his memorial, but he has steadfastly refused to "give it away." TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY - 717 THE FIRE OF JANUARY, 1894 Toledo was full of thrills during the evening and night of January 3, 1894. About 6 o'clock, in the top of Ouale's elevator, standing at the foot of Madison Street on the right, fire was discovered. Intense work by the fire department failed to control it, and it was soon extended by an explosion. The elevator, having a capacity of 100,000 bushels, was full of grain. The fire quickly communicated to King's elevator across Water Street, also full of grain, and with a similar capacity, and spread until there were consumed all the corners of Madison and Water and both corners of Madison and Summit, now occupied by the Waldorf Hotel and the Chamber of Commerce building. Down Summit the fire extended to the building now occupied by The Daudt Glass & Crockery Company, whose fire wall stopped it. On the opposite side of Summit Street buildings were badly damaged, right and left, by heat and otherwise, the damage being particularly severe down the street to and including No. 223, occupied at present by The JuddGross-Jordan Company, jewelers. On the southwest corner of Madison and Summit stood the pride of the city from an architectural standpoint, the five story mansard-roofed Chamber of Commerce, erected in 1870. This was the leading office and business building in the city, with every room occupied. It had lately been partially rebuilt and remodeled and was then owned by the late T. P. Brown. Its basement was occupied by the main offices of The Western Union Telegraph Company. The building immediately south on Summit was the Wonderland theatre, filled with curiosities of all sorts, living and otherwise. From its situation and character of combustible material the fire was very spectacular. It occurred at a time when all the people were awake. Early in its progress the line affording an opportunity to sound a general alarm was severed. The alarm was then given by the wife of the janitor of the Central High School building, who climbed into the cupola of the building, tapping 4-11-44 on the bell with a hammer. The situation became so intense because of popular excitement that it was necessary to call out the Sixteenth regiment of militia whose companies patrolled the streets all night. Before midnight two other fires occurred, one from crossed wires and one on Twelfth street and evidently incendiary. These added to the general confusion and excitement. The King block north on Water Street beyond the elevator, which contained some important business houses, was also destroyed. Probably never anywhere did a fire department work more heroically and sacrificingly than on this occasion and to its excellent work is due the fact that the city was saved, for until near midnight the fire was aggravated by a strong wind. Capt. James Fraser lost his life; his body was consumed in King's elevator. The exertions of Chief Wall and Assistant Chief Mayo were so severe that each was prostrated and many of the firemen received severe cuts, bruises and sprains. The fire wiped out the last relics of canal days existing in the center of the city. Quale's elevator was built in 1832 and King's in 1848, afterwards remodeled. These were steam-operating and were specially adapted to canal traffic. THE IMMORTAL J. N. No history of Toledo would be complete without some reference to a late frequenter of its streets known all through the middle west as the "Immortal J. N.," a title which was self-conferred. This "immortal" was J. N. Free. No character in 718 - TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY Ohio was better known generally in northwestern Ohio during the last third of the nineteenth century. He was born near the little village of McCutchenville, fourteen miles west of Bucyrus, of well to do and intelligent people, his father being a teacher who wielded a great influence in the early school history of northwestern Ohio. It was a home of culture, with the equipment of a very pretentious library, and the son was carefully reared and educated. When gold was discovered in 1848, young Free, who had already made a reputation for oratorical and literary ability, was among those who crossed the plains, reaching California in 1849. There he was very successful. He lost, however, all of his accumulations in a great fire which destroyed the then city of Marysville, Calif., in 1852. This disaster affected his mind.. He soon returned to the states, his mental aberration taking the fancy that he was "the Demosthenes of America," charged with a special mission to reveal the truth: He was, when at his best, a fine speaker —a successful debater and orator, with a striking personality. Thereafter, for more than forty years, he moved about the state, from county seat to county seat, making the acquaintance of all the leading men. Arriving in a county seat town, the first place visited would be a newspaper office where he would prepare an announcement generally of this tenor : "The Immortal J. N. reached town this morning. Tonight at the courthouse he will lift the veil and marshal the forces to relieve the pressure." The lecture seldom materialized, however. During the Civil war he held to the notion that 'Lincoln and Davis were both right on the war "viewed from their standpoints." He announced that "the Immortal J. N." would become a "martyr for the truth," holding the theory that if he were confined in a dungeon such a light would break upon these magnates that the war would come to an end, his confinement being indispensable to such a result. He so followed the sheriff of Seneca County with a demand that he be confined for this purpose that at last his desire was granted, and from his cell he bombarded the newspapers of the state with his views. He would not permit the sheriff to release him unless the officers and the Tiffin papers should acknowledge the correctness of his theory. They had to make this concession in order to get him out. He then made his way to Washington, where an interview with Lincoln was had, the harrassed president being entertained by the quaintness and eccentricities of his. visitor. From Washington he went to Richmond, getting through the pickets and dodging the lines of guards until he reached the capital of the Confederacy. There he was confined as a Yankee spy until it was discovered that his madness had nothing mischievous about it. His unique and queer ways triumphed over the suspicions of the Confederates and at last he was accorded an interview with Davis to whom, he unfolded his theory. He was then allowed to return through the lines, believing that he had made converts of both Lincoln and Davis. Until prevented by the passage of the Interstate Commerce law he was given passes on practically all of the railroads of the central west. A story was prevalent throughout the territory frequented by him that early in his career as a revealer of the truth, a hotelkeeper, impressed by his grandiloquent manner and dignity of carriage, said he would "throw off" half of the hotel bill, whereupon the "Immortal" said that he would not be outdone in generosity by any tavern-keeper, wherefore he would "throw off" the other half. In fact, no hotel expected to be paid for his entertainment. With great assurance he would register at a hotel, accept of its 'accommodations, and walk out with no .reference to an obligation to TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY - 721 pay. He was a good speaker, but was unable to keep to a subject and his lectures, when he occasionally deigned to deliver them, were made up of singular expressions and strange thoughts, although he had once possessed, obviously, the arts of literary address. It was a favorite expression of his that "I made a moving speech last night. When I began all of the seats were full. When I finished no one was left but the janitor." Every one who knew him had a great deal of sympathy for him, for he was of a kindly nature, and he was never refused hospitality. He had a singularly comprehensive memory for names and faces. Once seen and known by him, a person would be readily recognized in any distant part of the country, even after a great lapse of time, and hailed by his right name. His quaint personality was a familiar sight on the streets of Toledo for years and likewise in most of the county seats of northwestern Ohio. A newspaper man who knew him well for years thus describes him : "He was over six feet tall, straight as an arrow, with black, straight hair falling to his shoulders; which were massive. His carriage was erect and he possessed small, searching eyes which seemed to be black ; great; shaggy black eyebrows and an eagle-beak of a nose. He always wore a black slouch hat, a string bow tie, and-presented a professional and shabby genteel appearance, with a very dignified bearing." Other accounts, but apocryphal, have been given of Mr. Free's insanity, one that he had been crossed in love, and another that reason had departed upon the discovery that a client he had successfully defended from a murder charge was actually guilty. In March, 1906, his condition made necessary a formal finding of insanity and he was committed to the Toledo Hospital. In less than three months he died. The date of his birth is uncertain. It is believed to have been in 1828, and that he died in his 78th year. POST OFFICE ROBBERY OF 1921 On the morning of February 17, 1921, the city was startled by the news that the post office had been robbed of valuable mail. Shortly after midnight two postal employes were held up on the "dock" or the Fourteenth Street side of the post office while unloading a truck of mail just arrived from the east. It transpired that five men were in the attacking party, with a sixth in an automobile, and that there were obtained by the robbers six lock-pouches of registered matter and four bags of ordinary mail. The men in charge were ordered to throw up their hands and lie face downward on the dock while the robbery was accomplished, the bags being quickly loaded in the automobile which was driven off in the direction of Madison Avenue. The next morning the car, a Studebaker belonging to a citizen living on. Rockingham Street, was found standing in Bates Road, a street off of Collingwood Avenue, above Central. The government's loss was about $900,000 of Liberty Bonds, and something like $30,000 of new currency, besides many valuable registered packages consigned to individuals, the bonds and currency going to local banks. Ultimately, about $200,000 in bonds and currency were recovered by. the government, and to a large extent its loss was further curtailed by holding up the redemption of the bonds whose numbers had been preserved, the banks throughout the country being notified that they were not collectible. The automobile employed was discovered to have been stolen from a public garage on Collingwood Avenue on the night of February 15, where shortly after midnight several men held up the 722 - TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY garage employes, binding them with wire, and, after spending some time trying to start a Marmon car, finally stealing and driving off with the Studebaker in question. At an early session of the April term of the Federal court, following, twenty-five persons were indicted in two cases, one for conspiracy and the other for the robbery in question, six as principals, and the rest as confederates, either before or after the fact, and in May a trial was had of many of those who had already been apprehended, including, in fact, four of the six principals. The trial was on the conspiracy indictment and resulted in the conviction of Joseph Urbaytis, Charles Schultz, James Sansone, George L. Rogers, Walter Foote, Harry Thrush, Edwin G. Zellick, Helen Furrier, Emma Marvin, and Pearl Sommers, the first four being identified as participants in the robbery. Several defendants were acquitted, and others were used as witnesses for the government. Urbaytis, Schultz and Sansone were convicted on seven counts for conspiracy and Rogers on six, Zellick on one, Helen Furrier, Emma Marvin and Walter Foote on five each, Wanda -Urbaytis on seven, Pearl Sommers On four. Sentences were deferred until the principal case should have been tried. But on Labor Day, 1921, Urbaytis, Schultz and Rogers made their escape from the county jail, for suffering which two jailers were subsequently convicted in Federal court. Later Schultz and Rogers were recaptured. These men pleaded guilty to the second indictment, and, later, Edward O'Brien, one of the principals, was captured in Los Angeles and James Colson, the last of the six, was arrested in Davenport, Iowa. In May, 1923, O'Brien and Colson were tried on the principal charge, and convicted on eleven counts. Sentences were imposed as follows : Helen Furrier, seven years ; Emma Marvin, five years, these two to be confined in the penitentiary at Moundsville, W. Va.; Pearl Sommers, four years, four days, to be served at an institution for young women at Rockwell City, Iowa ; Walter Foote, five years, three days ; Harry Thrush, six years, six months, and Edwin G. Zellick, eighteen months, to be served at Leavenworth penitentiary, Kansas; Charles Schultz, forty years ; James Sansone, thirty-nine years, and George Rogers, sixty-seven years, to be confined in the penitentiary at Moundsville, W.. Va. ; Eddie O'Brien and. James Colson, fifty years each, to be served at McNeill's Island, Wash. The developments of the principal case disclosed that Wanda -Urbaytis, a sister of Joseph Urbaytis, had proceeded to Chicago a few days after the robbery, carrying with her $90,000 of the stolen bonds, meeting at Englewood a priest by the name of Anthony Gorek, who formerly had been an assistant priest in Toledo. Gorek received the bonds, negotiated the sale of a few of them, burying the rest.. From him these were recovered. As a result of this discovery, these parties were separately indicted, the case being consolidated with the conspiracy case on trial: Wanda Urbaytis, Anthony Gorek, John Paulek, Stanley Bartnikowski, Albert Murzyn, and John J. Epps, the last four being taken as purchasers of the bonds with knowledge. The priest Gorek became a witness for the government. Epps was acquitted, Wanda Urbaytis was convicted and was sentenced to seven years and three months in the penitentiary at Moundsville, and the other defendants, pleading guilty, receiving consideration in brief imprisonment sentences. The defendants who helped the government with their testimony having remained in jail for extensive periods, the priest for nine months, were given an hour in the custody of the marshal as a final punishment. At the date of this writing the prisoner Joseph Urbaytis had not yet been recaptured. TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY - 723 An interesting development of the investigation was the fact that the post office had been "marked" for robbery by another gang of desperadoes from. New York, whose assault was anticipated by a very few clays by the crowd actually accomplishing the result. The first clue to the identity of the robbers came through the use of some of the new currency which was of different issues; some of it from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. The serial numbers of the Federal Reserve notes had been retained by the bank and when some of them appeared in circulation it became a matter of a short time to trace them to the thieves. The robbery would have been attempted on the previous night had the robbers not been delayed in trying to start the Marmon car they had attempted to steal from the garage. They drove to the post office in the Studebaker to find the mail they were after had already been taken in. One of the robbers has said that in passing the corner of Jefferson and Fourteenth on this occasion the "marker" was recognized for the other or New York gang, being there to familiarize himself with the customs of the postal employes. Had the robbery occurred as planned, the government's loss would have been trifling. Two of the parties very deeply implicated were surrendered without trial to other states ; one of them, Ladell, being convicted in Michigan of murder in the first degree.