BURNING OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, ILL., THE COMMERCIAL METROPOLIS OF 1871
THE NORTH-WEST.-Most Destructive Conflagration in the History of Civilized Nations.—A
Thirty Hours' Tornado of Fire in all Directions.-Vast Billows of Inextinguishable Flame.-Up-
Wards of Two Thousand Acres, or Seventy-Three Miles of Streets, with 17,450 Buildings, Destroyed:
Loss, $200,000,000.
653
ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD, AT THE BALTIMORE AND POTO- 1881
MAC RAILWAY STATION, IN WASHINGTON, JULY 2.—His Departure from the White
House with Secretary Blaine on a Brief Tour of Recreation.—Excellent Health and Spirits.—Arrival
at the Depot.-A Lurking Assassin, C. J. Guiteau, Approaches in the Rear.-A Startling but Harm-
less Shot, followed by Another which Enters the Body.-The President Sinks to the floor.-A Hideous
Tragedy.-Capture of the Murderer.-The Wounded Victim Conveyed to the Executive Mansion.—
The Nation Horrified, and the Whole Civilized World Shocked.-Condolences from the Remotest
Courts and Governments.-Unaffected Sympathy from all Political Parties.-Past Differences Hushed
and Forgotten.-Eleven Weeks of Suffering.-Heroism and Resignation of the Patient.-Devotion
and Fortitude of the President's Wife.-Removal to Long Branch, N. J.-Temporary Relief.—Hover-
ing between Life and Death.-Solemn Prayers for his Recovery.-Sudden and Fatal End of the
Struggle. A Pall over Four Continents.-Tributes from Sovereigns and Peoples the World Over.-
The Wail and Lamentation of Mankind.-Funeral Procession and Ceremonies.-Queen Victoria's
Floral Offering on the Bier.—At Rest, in Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio. 705
CELEBRATED CRIMINAL CASES, TRAGEDIES AND CONSPIRACIES, ETC. TREASON OF MAJOR-GENERAL BENEDICT ARNOLD.-Darkest Page in American Rev- 1780 olutionary History.-Plot to Deliver West Point, the Gibraltar of America, Over to the British.— Movements of the Guilty Parties.-Discovery and Frustration of the Crime.-Major Andre, the Brit- ish Spy, is Captured, and Swings from a Gibbet.-Escape of Arnold to the Enemy.-Is Spurned and Isolated in England.-Arnold's Unquestioned Bravery.-Commended by General Washington.-In- famous Personal Transactions.-Reprimanded by His Chief.-Determines on Revenge.-Correspond- зnce with the Foe.-Ingratiates Washington's Favor Again.-Obtains Command of West Point.- Midnight Conference with Andre.-Andre Seized while Returning.-Astounding Evidence Against Him.-Attempts to Bribe His Captors -Carried to American Head-Quarters.-Arnold Apprised of the Event.-A Hurried Farewell to His Wife.-Quick Pursuit of the Traitor.-He Reaches a British Man-of-War.-Washington's Exclamation at the News.-His Call on Mrs. Arnold.-Andre's Trial and Conviction -Arnold's Reward for His Crime.-His Unlamented Death.. 48
FATAL DUEL BETWEEN MR. BURR AND GENERAL ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 1804 -Fall of Hamilton at First Fire.-His Death in Thirty Hours.-Profound Sensation and Solemn Obsequies in all Parts of the Land.-Mourned as One of the Founders of the Republic.-Indictment of the Assassin for the Crime of Murder.-Hamilton's Brilliant Public Life.-Washington's Right- hand Man-Champion of the Federalists.- Burr's Career in the Revolution.-His Notorious De- bauchery. Finally Dismissed by Washington-Becomes Vice-President in 1800.-Deadly Personal Hatreds.-Criticisms on Burr by His Opponents.-Challenge Sent to Hamilton.-Pacific Explana- tions Spurned.-Forced to Meet Burr.-Makes His Will in Anticipation.-Sings at a Banquet the Day Before.-Arrival of the Fatal Hour.-Hamilton's Mortal Wound.-What He Said of the Event. -Conversation before Dying.-Partakes of the Communion.-His Testimony against Dueling.- Heartless Conduct of Burr-A Fugitive and an Outlaw.. 127
CONSPIRACY AND TRIAL OF AARON BURR.-Lawless Scheme of Conquest and Domin- 1806
ion at the South-west.-A New Empire Contemplated, with Burr as Sovereign-Seizure of His Flo-
tilla and Dispersion of His Men when Ready to Embark, by the Federal Forces.-Capture and Ar-
raignment of Burr for High Treason. Melancholy End of the Conspirator.-" Theodosia, the
Beloved."-Reckless Character of Burr.-His Unscrupulous Ambitions.-Enlists Blennerhassett in
His Plans Their Expedition Arranged.-Mexico the Ultimate Point.-Discovery of the Whole
Plot.-Its Complete Frustration.-Burr Flees in Disguise.-Scene at His Arrest.-Attempt to Es-
cape. The Iron-Hearted Man in Tears -His Social Fascination.-Preparations for the Trial.—Its
Legal and Forensic Interest.-Acquittal on Technical Grounds.-Shunned as Man of Infamy.-De-
votion of His Daughter Theodosia -Lifelong and Unalterable Love.-Her Mysterious Fate.-Burr's
Anguish and Agony.-A Moral Wreck and Warning.
. . 142
DUEL BETWEEN HENRY CLAY, SECRETARY OF STATE, AND JOHN RANDOLPH, 1826
UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM VIRGINIA.-Randolph's Bitter Insult to Clay on the
Floor of the Senate.-Accuses Him of Falsifying an Official Document.-The Puritan and "Black-
leg" Taunt.-Clay Challenges the Senator to Mortal Combat.-Words and Acts of these Two Fore-
most Men of their Times, on the "Field of Honor."-Result of the Hostile Meeting.-Fame of these
Party Leaders.-Ancient Political Antagonists.—Origin of the Present Dispute.-Randolph's Gift of
Sarcasm.-Applies it Severely to Clay.-Clay Demands Satisfaction.-Reconciliation Refused.-
Bladensburg the Dueling Ground.-Pistols the Weapons Chosen.-Colonel Benton a Mutual Friend.
-Incidents the Night Before.-Randolph's Secret Resolve.-Going to the Field of Blood.-View of
this Shrine of "Chivalry."-Salutations of the Combatants.-Solemn Interest of the Scene.-Dis-
tance Ten Paces.-A Harmless Exchange of Shots.-Clay Calls it "Child's Play!"-Another Fire,
No Injury." Honor " Satisfied.-Pleasant Talk with Each Other.
. . 196
CAREER, CAPTURE, AND EXECUTION OF GIBBS, THE MOST NOTED PIRATE 1831
OF THE CENTURY.-His Bold, Enterprising, Desperate, and Successful War, for Many Years,
Against the Commerce of all Nations.-Terror Inspired by His Name as the Scourge of the Ocean
and the Enemy of Mankind.-Scores of Vessels Taken, Plundered and Destroyed.-Their Crews and
Passengers, Male and Female, Instantly Murdered.-His Capture and Execution. 222
ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT JACKSON AT THE UNITED 1835
STATES CAPITOL IN WASHINGTON, BY RICHARD LAWRENCE.-Failure of the Pis
tols to Discharge.-The President Rushes Furiously upon His Assailant, and is Restrained from
Executing Summary Vengeance only by His Friends.-Political Hostility Supposed to have Insti-
gated the Act.-Lawrence Proves to be a Lunatic without Accomplices.-His History and
Trial..
286
MUTINY ON BOARD THE UNITED STATES BRIG-OF-WAR SOMERS, CAPTAIN A. 1842
S. MACKENZIE -Deep Laid Plot to Seize the Vessel, Commit Wholesale Murder of Her Men,
Raise the Black Flag, and Convert Her into a Pirate.-All Prizes to be Plundered, Burnt, Their
Crews Butchered, and Women and Girls Ravished.—Midshipman Spencer, Son of a United States
Cabinet Officer, the Ringleader.-The Chief Conspirators Hung at the Yard-Arm.-First Mutiny in
the United States Navy.-Spencer's Hold upon His Comrades.-Death the Penalty of Disclosure.-
Confidence Fortunately Misplaced.-A Man of Honor Tampered With.-Captain Mackenzie In-
formed of the Plot.-Treats it as Wild and Improbable -Confronts and Questions Spencer.-Orders
Him to be Ironed.-Plan Found in His Razor Case.-Alarming Disaffection of the Crew.-None of
the Officers Implicated.-Close Investigation of the Case.-Spencer, Cromwell, and Small, to Die —
Their Fate Announced to Them.-Spencer's Account of His Life.-They Meet on their Way to be
Hung.-Treatment of Each Other.-Spencer Begs to Give the Last Signal.-Closing Scene of the
Tragedy.-All Hands Cheer the Ship -Raising the Banner of the Cross.
REIGN OF THE VIGILANCE COMMITTEE IN CALIFORNIA.-Revolution in the Admin- 1851 istration of Justice.-Powerlessness and Indifference of the Regular Authorities.-Robbery, Arson, and Murder, Alarmingly Prevalent.-The Committee's Secret Chamber of Judgment.-Sudden Seiz- ure and Trial of Noted Criminals.-Solemn Tolling of the Signal Bell.-Swift and Terrible Execu- tions.-Renovation of Society.
REMARKABLE REFORMS, DELUSIONS, AND EXCITEMENTS IN THE MORAL, EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS WORLD, ETC.
BREAKING OUT OF THE TEMPERANCE REFORMATION.-First Temperance Society 1840
in the United States.-Origin, Rapid Spread, Influence and Wonderful History of the Movement.-
Enthusiasm Attending the "Washingtonian " Era.-Its Pioneers Rise from the Gutter to the Ros-
trum, and Sway Multitudes by their Eloquence.-Father Mathew's Visit.-His 600,000 Converts.—
Career of Hawkins, Mitchell, Gough, Dow, and Others.-Anecdotes of Washington.-General Tay-
lor's Whiskey-Jug.-Farragut's Substitute for Grog. 276
EXPECTED DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD.-Miller as a Man and Preacher.-His Ex- 1843
citing Prediction of the Second Advent of Christ.-The Speedy Fulfillment of the Latter-Day Bible
Prophecies Boldly Declared.-Zealous Promulgation of His Views.-Scores of Thousands of Con-
verts.-Public Feeling Intensely Wrought Upon.-Preparations by Many for the Coming Event.-
The Passing of the Time.-Miller's Apology and Defense.-His Calm and Happy Death. . . 307
TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF FREE POPULAR EDUCATION.-An Experiment in Behalf 1844
of the Highest Civilization.-Condition of the Country Previous to such Efforts.-Early Scenes and
Customs.-Public Law Invoked and Applied.-Impulse Given to the Work.-Progress and Results.
-America in the Van.-Most Enlightened and Successful System in the World.-Female Educa-
tion.-Colleges, Universities, etc.-A Very Modern Idea.-No National System of Education.-Un-
dertaken by the Individual States.-Effect of Wise Legislation.-State Vieing with State.-School-
houses in "ye olden time."-The East and the West.-Wonderful Changes in Public Opinion.-
Some Strange Contrasts.-Architectural Splendor of the Present Day.-Ingenious Helps and Appli-
ances.-Congressional Grants in Aid of the Cause.-Government Bureau at Washington.-Grand
Aim and Scope.-Standard of Female Instruction Raised.-Principles and Methods.-The Higher
Institutions of Learning.-Ideas and Plans at the Start.-Founding of Harvard, Yale, etc.-Then
and Now. Nearly 400 Colleges in the U. S.-Some 8,000,000 Common School Pupils. 667
SPIRITUAL KNOCKINGS AND TABLE-TIPPINGS.-Familiar Intercourse Claimed to be 1847 Opened Between Human and Disembodied Beings.-Alleged Revelations from the Unseen World. -Singular and Humble Origin, in a Secluded New York Village, of this Great Modern Wonder.— Its Development Among all Nations in all Lands.-Astonishing and Inexplicable Character of the Manifestations.-Theories of Explanation.-Investigations and Reports.-Views of Agassiz, Her- schel, and Other Scientists.—Press and Palpit Discussions.-Tendency of the Phenomena.—Thirty Years' History.
THE "GREAT AWAKENING" IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD.-Like a Mighty Rushing 1857 Wind, it Sweeps from the Atlantic to the Pacific.-Crowded Prayer Meetings Held Daily in Every City and Town, from the Granite Hills of the North to the Rolling Prairies of the West and the Golden Slopes of California.—Large Accessions, from all Classes, to the Churches of Every Name and Denomination.-The "American Pentecost."-Early American Revivals.-Moody and Sankey in Great Britain, in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston, etc.-Dr. Franklin and Mr. White- field. The Revival of 1857 Spontaneous.-No Leaders or Organizers.—Its Immediate Cause.—Uni- versal Ruin of Commerce.-Anxiety for Higher Interests.—All Days of the Week Alike.-Business Men in the Work.-Telegraphing Religious Tidings.-New York a Center of Influence.-Fulton Street Prayer Meeting.-Scenes in Burton's Theater.-New Themes and Actors.-Countless Re- quests for Prayers.—A Wonderful Book.—Striking Moral Results.-Men of Violence Reformed.— Crime and Suicide Prevented.-Infidels, Gamblers, Pugilists.-Jessie Fremont's Gold Ring.—“Aw- ful" Gardner's Case.
CONSECRATION OF THE FIRST CARDINAL IN THE UNITED STATES.-The Venera- 1875 ble Archbishop McCloskey, of New York, Selected by the Roman Pontiff, for this Great Office.-He becomes a Prince in the Church.-The Highest Ecclesiastical Appointment in the Catholic Hierarchy. -Reasons given for this Step.-Solemn Investiture, in the Cathedral, by Clerical Dignitaries from All Parts of the Country.-An Unparalleled Scene.-Illustrious Nature of this Office.-Special En- voy sent from Rome.-Announcing the Event to the Archbishop.-Time of Public Recognition Assigned.—A Mighty Stream of Humanity.—Decorations of the Church.-Procession of Priests.— Incensing the Altars.—Sacred Vessels and Vestments.-Insignia Peculiar to this Rank.-The Scar- let Cap.-Profoundly Impressive Service.-Unprecedented on this Continent.-Imposing the Ber- retta. Intoning and Chanting.-Official Letter from the Pope.-Use of the Latin Language.-In- spiring Strains of Music.-Incidents Attending the Ceremonial.-Pontifical Benediction by the Cardinal.-Retirement of the Celebrants.-Dispersion of the Vast Throng. 675
POPULAR OVATIONS, NATIONAL JUBILEES, PAGEANTS, FEATS, ETC.
VISIT OF LAFAYETTE TO AMERICA, AS THE GUEST OF THE REPUBLIC, AT 1824
THE INVITATION OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND OF PRESIDENT
MONROE.-His Tour of Five Thousand Miles through the Twenty-four States.-A National Ova-
tion on the Grandest Scale.-Cities, States, Legislatures and Governors, Vie in their Demonstrations
of Respect.-The Venerable Patriot Enters the Tomb and Stands beside the Remains of His Great
Departed Friend, Washington.-Washington and Lafayette.-Noble Qualities of the Marquis.
BRILLIANT MUSICAL TOUR OF JENNY LIND, THE QUEEN OF SONG.-Twenty 1850
Thousand Persons Welcome Her Arrival.-Transcendent Beauty and Power of Her Voice.-A
Whole Continent Enraptured with Her Enchanting Melodies.-Pleasant Exhilaration of Feeling
Throughout the Land by the Presence of the Fair Nightingale.-Honors from Webster, Clay and
Other Dignitaries.-Her Praises Fill the Wide World.-The Vocal Prodigy of the Age.
TOUR OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, ALBERT EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES, 1860
THROUGH THE UNITED STATES.-Friendly Letters Between President Buchanan and Queen
Victoria on the Subject.-The Prince's First Entrance into American Waters.-Unbounded Hospi-
talities Extended Him.-Hunting Excursions, Military Reviews, Balls, Illuminations, Etc.-Splendid
Banquet at the White House.-England's Appreciation of these Honors to Her Future King.-Heir
to the British Throne.-Arrival at Detroit, Chicago, etc.-Enthusiastic Crowds Greet Him.-His
Way Completely Blocked Up.-On a Hunt: Fine Sportsman.-Receptions at Various Cities.-Lo-
comotive Ride to Washington.-Guest of President Buchanan.-Courtesies and Ceremonials.-Visit
to Mount Vernon.-At the Tomb of Washington.-Unparalleled Historical Scene.-He Plants a
Tree at the Grave -Rare Scenes in Philadelphia.-New York and Boston Festivities -Present from
Trinity Church, New York.-Greatest Balls Ever Known.-He Meets a Bunker Hill Veteran.-
Impressions of America.-Incidents, Anecdotes, Interviews.-His Looks, Manners, Dress, Etc.-
Brilliant Farewell at Portland..
CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION OF THE BIRTH OF THE REPUBLIC.-Year of 1876
Jubilee, Festival, and Pageant, throughout the Land -Prosperity, Power, and Renown of the Na-
tion.-A Union of Nearly Forty Great Commonwealths and Forty Million People. -Anticipations
of the Coming Anniversary.-Legislation by Congress for its Patriotic Observance.—A Grand Expo-
sition of the Century's Growth and Progress, the Principal Feature Decided Upon.-Vast Work of
Preparation. The Whole World at Peace, and all Countries and Climes in Sympathy with the Re-
public and its Auspicious Era.-Ushering in the Year's Ceremonials.-Every City, Town, and Vil-
lage, Covered with Gay Streamers and Waving Flags.—Pomp, Parade, and Universal Fraternization.
-Wondrous Microcosm of Civilization Concentrated at Philadelphia.-The Culminating Art and
Skill of Sixty Centuries of Human Advancement, and the Products of Every Quarter of the Globe,
Displayed in Their Richest Illustrations.-An Unprecedented Scene: President and Emperor Re-
ceiving the Salutations of the American People-Oratory, Music, Poetry, Bells, Illuminations, Can-
non, Regattas, Banners, Hallelujahs, and Huzzas.-The Beauty, Utility, and Magnificence of the
Orient and Occident, in Boundless Combinations. -The "Glorious Fourth" All Over the Land.-
Congratulatory Letter from the Emperor of Germany 689
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