American Progress

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.

291

MURDER OF DR. GEORGE PARKMAN, A NOTED MILLIONAIRE OF BOSTON, BY 1849

PROF. JOHN W. WEBSTER, OF HARVARD COLLEGE.-High Social Position of the Par-

ties.-Instantaneous Outburst of Surprise, Alarm, and Terror, in the Community, on the Discovery

of the Deed.-Remarkable Chain of Circumstances Leading to the Murderer's Detection.-Solemn

and Exciting Trial.-Account of the Mortal Blow and Disposal of the Remains. Similar Case of

Colt and Adams.-Parkman's Wealth and Fame.-His Mysterious Disappearance.-Arrest of Web-

ster at Night.-Behavior in Court-He Boldly Addresses the Jury.-Hung Near the Spot of His

Birth.

876

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.

395

ASSAULT ON THE HON. CHARLES SUMNER, BY HON. PRESTON S. BROOKS.- 1856

Twenty Sudden and Terrible Blows, with a Solid Gutta Percha Cane, Dealt upon Mr. Sumner's

Bare Head. He Staggers and Falls, Senseless, Gashed and Bleeding.-Sumner's Great Kansas

Speech for Free Soil and Free Labor.-Speech by Senator Butler, of South Carolina.-Mr. Sum-

ner's Scorching Reply.-South Carolinians Offended.-An Assault Determined On.- Mr. Brooks

Their Champion.-Two Day's Watch for His Victim.-Finds Him Alone at His Desk.-Approaches

Unobserved.-A quick and Deadly Blow.-Mr Sumner is Instantly Stunned.-His Ineffectual De-

fense.-Brooks's Accomplices at Hand.—Their Advantage Over Sumner.-Storm of Public Indigna-

tion.-Action Taken by Congress.-Reign of Terror at the Capital.-Mr. Sumner's Three Years'

Illness.-Recovery.-Illustrious Career.-Death of Brooks and His Allies.-Time's Retribu-

REMARKABLE REFORMS, DELUSIONS, AND EXCITEMENTS IN THE MORAL,
EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS WORLD, ETC.

RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE MORMONS, OR "LATTER-DAY SAINTS," UNDER 1830

JOSEPH SMITH, THE “PROPHET OF THE LORD."-Smith the "Mohammed of the West."

-His Assumed Discovery of the Golden Plates of a New Bible.--Secret History of this Transaction.

Organization of the First Church.-Apostles Sent Forth and Converts Obtained in all Parts of the

World.-Founding and Destruction of Nauvoo, the "City of Zion.”—Smith's Character and Bloody

Death.-Brigham Young His Successor.-Removal to Utah, the "Promised Land.”

214

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.

340

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.

456

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

IX.

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