Site Menu


The Capitol
First Floor
Second Floor
Third Floor
House
Senate
Fourth Floor
Dome
Exterior Views
Exterior Statuary
Basement, Etc.
Rumors
Trivia
Construction
Cornerstone
Past Capitols
The Kid Zone


News From The Past
Souvenir of Springfield
Babeuf's 1881-82 Springfield Directory

 

 

 1869


            AN ARK – An eccentric old man living near Carlinville, on the line of the Alton, St. Louis & Chicago Railroad, has constructed a veritable ark.  This curious craft has a stern wheel of ample dimensions at one end of it, and an engine with its attachments nearly ready to set things in motion, when the great floating day arrives.  He eats and sleeps in his ark, determined not to be caught napping, at least outside of his ship.  During the recent pluvial visitation, it is said, this modern day Noah was noticed to be very busy getting ready for a trip to Mount Ararat.
Illinois State Register - July 14, 1869


            THE SNAKES AGAIN – The REGISTER first published the facts in relation to the shower of snakes which fell near Taylorville in June last.  Some ignorant people, editors among others, thought the story a sensation without any foundation, but it is well known that snakes and other living creatures have been deposited on the earth by clouds.  The following, which we clip from the Memphis Post of the 9th inst. is a recent instance of the kind.

                An extraordinary and most wonderful phenomena occurred at Indian Grave Gap, in Campbell county, Tennessee, through which the Knoxville and Kentucky railroad is being built, on Sunday afternoon.  During a severe thunderstorm, and while it was at its height, the gap was suddenly filled with countless numbers of snakes, which were seen falling for nearly ten minutes.  They were of the common ringed species, and measured from five inches to two feet in length.  They were all dead, being killed it is supposed, by the fall.  The news of this freak of nature soon spread among the farmers of the region, and created the most intense excitement.  By evening the gap was crowded with hundreds of people, drawn thither to witness this spectacle.  Numerous surmises were indulged by the puzzled spectators, but the general opinion was that the mysterious shower was the premonition of some dreadful scourge.
Illinois State Register - July 15, 1869
 


A PLEASING SPECTACLE – Yesterday noon two dogs began to worry a good sized hog on North Sixth street.  The pleasing spectacle was witnessed by a large number of that class of people, of both sexes, who loaf about the streets on Sunday.  The fun was unexpectedly stopped, in the course of about two hours, by the death of the hog, and the police failed to provide another.
Illinois State Register
- July 19, 1869