Here is more from the book "Sawdust City" by Lois Barland, whose family has graciously given permission for me to use these materials on our website (which I have yet to do) and on this mail list. I hope you are enjoying these very early stories from the Eau Claire area. Right now we are concentrating on items of interest in the 1850s. The Kangaroo Court There were two lawyers in Eau Claire and no cases back in October 1857 so they decided to make a case. Some of the prominent citizens got together and told the constable to arrest a farmer who had come to town to sell his pig. They arrested the farmer and charged him with stealing the pig. A court was formed in the banking room of Gleason and Seeley and Pitt Bartlet was the defense lawyer. Meggett acted as prosecuting attorney for the state. Witnesses were called who were sworn in on a copy of Scribner's "Ready Reckoner," a book much used by loggers and lumbermen. They swore the testimony they would give would not be the truth, nor the whole truth, nor anything like the truth. The Judge made a pretext of taking notes and the jury was composed of Stephen Marston, foreman, George Sprague, D. R. Moon, John O. French, Tom Gliddings, Chas. Allen, J. P. Hathaway, and W. T. Galloway. It was a warm night and all were in their shirtsleeves except for the prisoner who had on a big overcoat and needed it for the evidence sent cold shivers down his back. The two lawyers contested every point and hurled vitriputive epithets at each other. There were rebuttals and each lawyer addressed the jury. The jury retired to the alley ostensibly to consult, but in reality to assuage their thirst. The alley was called Duck Lane a title never amiss for it was ever a thirsty thoroughfare. The jury came back after an hour and Bartlett beckoned his client over and whispered to him to keep his hat in his hand and stand near the door for if the jury found him guilty, he should make a run for it. The jury did find him guilty of stealing his own pig and he bolted out the door like a shot out of a gun and took off down Barstow Street to Main and over by the steamboat landing, into the river which was low and between wading and swimming made the other shore. The court, jury and witnesses all took after him, but the farmer took to the woods and probably didn't come back for ten years. This was the first and only Kangaroo court for soon the lawyers had all the business they could handle. The Flood of 1858 From the Madison "Argus and Democrat," March 30, 1858. "On Friday last, March 19, the ice was out of the Chippewa between this place and Reed's Landing but at the Dells, about one mile above this place, the ice, logs and flood wood had lodged in the bend, making a jam, reaching over two miles, which yesterday gave way, and the 'back water' caused by the damming of ice, etc., came down with a tremendous rush, causing the river to raise about five feet in the short space of half an hour. The freight boat "Pincher," owned by Charles M. Davis, Esq. was lying at her dock when the ice and logs came against her 'starboard' side, crowding her on shore, where she now lies 'high and dry' a perfect wreck. The "Pincher" was a new boat, built last summer, and was used by Mr. Davis for a freight boat. His loss will be quite heavy, as the cabin and furniture were all washed away, leaving nothing but the hull of the boat. The ferry-boat, "Union" was lying at her landing, but Captain George W. Deming, with his crew soon got up steam and ran her in safe quarters on the levee. In the course of two hours, the water commenced to fall from the unnatural height, and this morning, Capt. Deming found the "Union" on dry land. Last night about one hundred cribs of sawed lumber passed this place. It probably came from Chippewa Falls; if so, the loss to H. S. Allen & Co. must be quite large. The Chippewa is now about fifteen feet deep at this place. Steamboats are expected this week. Five hours later; We have just learned that the cause of the sudden rise of the Chippewa yesterday, was the breaking up of the ice above Chippewa Falls, and coming into Allen & Co.'s boom with such force that it carried away the boom, also 120 feet of the dam. The company lost a large quantity of logs, and over $10,000 worth of sawed lumber, lying in the river below the dam which was all rafted ready for running to the market. The total loss to the Chippewa Falls Lumbering Company cannot be less than $40,000. Third dispatch; Messrs. Editors -- My statement in regard to the loss of H. S. Allen & Co. of Chippewa Falls, last week was not correct. The total loss to the company, including the loss of lumber, boom, etc. will be over $100,000. The dam cannot be rebuilt before fall, consequently the mill will remain idle all the season, which will be a great loss to the company. ++++++++++++++ Tomorrow we'll be reading about the first local murder. -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net