Iowa Old Press

Hawk-Eye
Burlington Des Moines co. Iowa
October 19, 1858

Fatal Accident -- The Muscatine Journal says an Irishman named Andrew
McLaughlin was instantly killed at 12 o'clock last Saturday night, by
falling to the bottom of a coal pit, at Wm. Beany's coal mines, some seven
miles from that city, on the opposite side of the river.  He was being drawn
up from the pit by a windlass, and discovering when nearly to the top that
the bucket was unfastened he grasped the chain with his hands, and was thus
drawn up to the surface, but as soon as he loosened one hand to take hold of
assistance offered him by Mr. John Ray, the other hand also lost its hold,
and he fell to the bottom -- 80 feet -- and he was instantly killed.  He was
about thirty years of age, and leaves a wife and two adopted children.

The Iowa State Fair.
We cut from the Oskaloosa Herald's report some few items of interest in
regard to our State fair held in that City some two weeks since --

Flowers and Plants.
The exhibition of flowers, plants &c, was not very extensive.  We noticed
some fine collections by Mrs. S.S. Smith, Mrs. S.P. Farrington, and Mrs.
E.C. Owen, of Oskaloosa, and by Nealy Brothers & Beck, of Burlington.  There
were specimens of strawberry plants by J.H. Garretson of Keokuk County, and
garden flowers by G.M. Elsey of Oskaloosa.

Fruits - Professional List.
Of fruits in the strictly professional list, Nealy Brothers & Beck,
proprietors of the "Birds Nest Nursery," Burlington, Iowa, made the only
entries.

Apples.
In this class Messrs Nealy, Brothers & Beck, exhibited some fifty-five
varieties.

Pears.
Mr. Nealy, from the Bird's Nest Nursery had also on exhibition a splendid
variety of Pears.

General List.
Apples
- George W. Seevers of Oskaloosa exhibited about thirty varieties in this
class. Mr. Seevers carried off several premiums.
- Wm. Bean of this county, also had on exhibition some excellent apples.
Mr. Bean took first premium for winter cooking apples.
- N.C. Smith, also of Mahaska, had some dozen varieties.  Mr. Smith took
several premiums.
- C. Haskins, of Pleasant Plain, had a small lot of excellent apples on
exhibition.
- Mr. Hasket of Newton, had splendid specimens of a single veriety - the
Bellflower.

Pears.
- R. Seevers, of Oskaloosa exhibited fine specimens.
- P.H. Bousquet, of Pella also had superior specimens of pears.

Grapes.
- Mrs. Dr. Owen, of Oskaloosa - beautiful show of Isabella and Carnwba
Grapes
- W. Bullard, of Oskaloosa - White Grape Currants, Cherry Currants and
Gooseberries

Cattle.
- John M. Cannon, of Scott County exhibited 10 head of Short Horns, Thorough
Bred
- H.G. Stuart, of Lee County, also exhibited ten head of short horns,
thorough bred. Mr. S. is one of the most enterprising and public spirited
farmers in the State.  He is always on hand at Fairs, and never fails to
carry away a full proportion of premiums.
- Timothy Day, of Van Buren County, exhibited nine head of thorough bred and
a number of full-bloods and grades. Mr. D. as a farmer and cattle raiser, is
an honor to his County and State.
-Jno. Edgar, of Henry County, exhibited six head of thorough breds. Mr.
Edgar has been engaged in raising thorough bred stock only two years, and
his cattle, though not quite able to compete with those of Messrs. Cannon,
Stuart and Day, are nevertheless, very creditable to his County and State.
-Daniel Hunt, of Marion County, had one bull "Rough and Ready", a light
roan, four years old, weighing 1,600 lbs. This is a fine animal and a credit
to Central Iowa.
- Matthew Picken, of Wapello County, exhibited two thorough breds. These are
both very fair animals.
- J.W. Adkinson, of Monroe County, exhibited one red bull, three years old.
- David Mineur, of Davis County, exhibited one red and white bull, four
years old; a fine animal, though rather thin.
- E.C. Clemons, of Washington County, exhibited a white bull, "Frank
Pierce," four years old; a splendid animal.
- Abram House, of Mahaska County, exhibited two cows.
- H.H. Mitchell, of Marion County, one white two year old bull "Mahaska", a
very good animal
- A. Cox, of Mahaska County, exhibited one two year old bull.

Devons.
Of Devons there was but one lot exhibited, that of C.D. Bent, of Johnson
county, conprising in all ten head.

Short Horns - Full Blooded.
- Timothy Day, of Van Buren county, had four head.
- Perry Hutchinson, of Black Hawk county, one bull.  Came in last evening,
after a journey of one hundred miles, and though jaded, is certainly a very
fine animal.
- J.M. Cox, Mahaska county, one bull
- T.G. Phillips, Mahaska county, six head

Grades.
- Timothy Day exhibited five or six head.
- T.G. Phillips, Mahaska county, one red and white cow and calf.  Also a
large stout yoke of work oxen.
- D. Bradley, of Keokuk county, one brown bull
- J.L. Hennis, of Mahaska county, a bull
- S.J. Murphy of Iowa county, a bull

Oxen, Steers and Fat Cattle.
- T.G. Phillips, yoke of work oxen
- John White, yoke of work oxen.  He also had a yoke of oxen entered as fat
cattle.
The trial of strength and tracinbility between the oxen of White and
Phillips was quite an exciting scene.  The load consisted of a wagon with a
frame work for hauling logs, on which were piled some thirty or torty men.
In trying to start the load once, the team turned suddenly, upsetting the
wagon and spilling the men into a pile, to the great amusement of the crowd
of spectators who cheered and laughted excessively.  The contest was close,
though the committee with some hesitancy, finally decided in favor of Mr.
White.

- A. Hurst, of Jasper coounty, exhibited two heifers as fat cattle.
- Robert GAston of Mahaska county had a fine well matched yoke of red two
year old steers.

Farm Horses.
The whole number of entries in this list was quite large.  Among those shown
were many of fine appearance and good quality.
- Josiah Stark, Davis county, coal black stallion
- W.C. Norris, Van Buren county, dark chestnut stallion "Young Tom Marshall"
- J.A. Logan, Marion county, a large bay stallion, "Pennsylvania Farmer"
- E.P. Bowles, Mahaska county, two Stallions: "Nelson", a dapple gray and
"William", a gray.
- Wm. Spencer, Marshall county, a bay stallion
- A.W. Huran, Jasper county, a roan stallion
- F.N. Randolph, Davis county, a superb black stallion "Bill Allen"

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note: the list of Fair exhibits was extracted from full text
transcribed by S.F. Mar 2004