Iowa
Old Press
Maquoketa Sentinel
Maquoketa, Jackson County, Iowa
May 8, 1856
SENATOR JONES OF IOWA
The following well-merited compliment to General George W. Jones,
of Iowa, we clip from the Daily Dubuque Tribune of the
12th inst. Coming as it does from a political opponent, it is
certainly an evidence of the high standing of Senator Jones among
the constituency he has so long and faithfully served; and truly
may we be permitted to add, the Northwest can claim and does
possess, in him an active energetic and faithful public servant.
We are in receipt of documents from this gentlemen, who as usual,
is laboring to advocate the interests of the Northwest. We wish
it to be distinctly understood that we are not a disguised, but
an open and avowed Jones man, if due appreciation of his untiring
services in behalf of the interests of the Northwest makes us so.
Politically we are opposed to Gen. Jones, as we are to every
pro-slavery man, everywhere and always. But as a faithful,
untiring, and successful advocate of the personal and general
interests of his constituents, there is (in our estimation) no
man in the Senate of the United States who is more truly entitled
to warm and heartfelt acknowledgment of gratitude from his
constituents than he. -Washington Union
TERRIBLE CONFLAGRATION - ROCK ISLAND RAILROAD BRIDGE GONE
- STEAMER EFFIE AFTON
GONE
Through the politeness of Mr. R. B. Clancy, who has just returned
from Davenport, we learn that 250 feet of the great Railroad
Bridge that spans the Mississippi at Rock Island, was burned
down, together with the splendid new steamer Effie Afton,
on Tuesday last. No lives lost, but the cargo is reported as
being entirely destroyed. It appears that the steamer caught in
the bridge, the river being very full and the current swift, it
was impossible to keep between the piers; consequently she came
in collision with the bridge, smashed her pipes, and in her
efforts to free herself, became closely wedged in, that all
efforts to get loose were unavailing.
[*see transcribers note]
--
John Smola, a German of this place, was indebted to Francis
Mittaker some sixteen dollars, and in order to cancel this
liability, eloped with his better half on Monday night inst. This
is a rather novel way of paying debts, and does not appear to be
quite satisfactory to Mr. Mittaker, who is endeavoring to
discover their whereabouts. Should our brethren of the press at
Davenport or elsewhere discover this “wife robber,”
they will confer a special favor upon the disconsolate and
inconsolable husband, by passing him along with a warning to all
Dutch ladies to be on the look out.
WARNING
My wife Josephine, having eloped with a man named John Smola on
the night of the 5th inst., I hereby warn all persons from
harboring or trusting her on my account, as she left without any
just cause or provocation.
FRANCIS MITTAKER, Maquoketa, May 8, 1856
[Transcribers note: In a subsequent lawsuit filed by the
owners of the Effie Afton against the bridge company for
obstruction of navigation, the bridge company was defended by
attorney Abraham Lincoln. -Transcribed by K.W., May 2009]