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Letter From G. W. Clark

Letter From G. W. Clark image
Parent Issue
Day
18
Month
July
Year
1846
Copyright
Public Domain
Letter to the Editor
OCR Text

Somonauk, 111., July 9, 1846. Dear Fostf.u: - I think you left Chicago before tho Convention closed. We held on until 10 o'clock, the 3d night, a glorious time we had. After the Convcnlion closed, 1 gave two concerts which went off first rote. Squire Collins then took me into his carriage nnd drove out ncross the extended land and rolling prairies toSt. Charles to atlend a 4lh of July celebration. For several miles nrourid Chicago the land is low, flat nnd neat prairie, bul as you go farlher into the country you rise gradually tiil you cotne upon what are called the ruiling prairies. They are gently undulating, with now ihen a bluft', and here and there a little grove of Trees. On these prairies, 15, 20 and 30 miles back f rom the city, are rrnny ery beauiiful farms, quite rich and lu.vurinnt crops of YVheat, Oats, Corn, Potaloes, &c. Though these farms with thnir large and extended fields, look as though they had been cultivated a thousand years, yet there are few or no barnsand very few and small uncomfortable looking houses. But at the rate they are growing all sorts of grain} and growing rich, they will doubtless soon bo able lo build good houses and bornea - - Tho country along the Fox River for the most part is splendid. lam happily disappointed. I like that porlion of the State I have travelled over, better than I expected. The people are now in the midst of their harvest, and I regret to ndd, many whole fields of wheat are entirely destroyed by the rut. At St. Charlos we had a "grea! time.'11 The Liberty men made good preparation, and had a big tent for us. There Was an old fnshioned celebration at the same time and place, but the Libertv-loving men and women were threc to one. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon, however, a black cloud carne up sudflenly froin the west, and began to pour down upon us a most copious shoWer of cold water. Soon after the rain began to drive upon us, a terrible tornado came sweeprng oc'r the prairies and striking the tont, broke us all up, and scatlered us in the wildest confusión. Such shrieking and screaming for wives and hubbands and children! The bonnets, shawl?, umbrellas, parasols, handkerchiefa, cc. &c, were flying in all di reclions, while tieclemcnts drov3 a most terrible tempest for half an hour. The houses nearést the tent were crammed to suffucation while evcry floor was covcred with thick mud. Bul of all the looking sights, the ladies in while dresses capped the climax!! Severul persons were considerably injured, yet it was thought none dangerously. A very interesting and pious pro-slavery Methodist parson who was present, informed the dear people tnat God was pouring out his judgments upon the naughty aboliüonisls! From St. Cliarles, I have accornpanied Mri Lovcjoy down the Fox river, attending meetings, and though in the midst of harvest, we have had great and enthusiastic gatherings. Converts to Liberty are inulliplying fast, and all is encouragement and They will come nenr electing Lovejoy this vean In another year they will succeod. Illinois, which shed the blood of the first martyr in this cause, should send the first Liberty man to Congress. Op. the 28th and 20lh we have a coünty convention in Lake Co., after which Codding and myself make a tour through Wiskonsin. Yours in hoste for the cause,G. W. CLARK. flCSomebody has Britten from the camp at Matamoros : "Lest I should sëem only to sce the fa vorablë sido of the picture, I müstinform you that this country has a great nümbéi and a greater variëty of inséets of all kinds than I ever saw in all rhy life böf'oré - ants, li'ards, worms and black spidurs said to be as poisonofis as the rattle snake I killed one in my tent last nighL Bu worst of all are the flies that swarm about us. For the first time in my life I have seen fresh meat flyblown in a few minutes. Our chaplain's horse was galled on his side yésterdny morning. The poor creature was on the injured side a mass of maggots A man of the camp went a hunting, he returned almost crazy, he was fly-blown in the ear. Another soldier has sufiered ih the same way. V ooien blankcts are fly-blown. The wild horses in this part. of the country always die when attacked by the flies.'5