1850 CHICAGO

1805 LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION. The Balance and Columbian Repository. Hudson (New York), Sept 17,1805, and Nov. 5, 1805. 11 1/8” x 9 1/8” 8pp. Two small reports of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The first is an extract of a letter regarding the appearance of six of the corpses of discovery members, along with about twenty Indians (intending to visit Thomas Jefferson in Washington., arriving in St. Louis. Also mentions that the expedition was about to leave their winter quarters. The second newspaper articles “Louisiana Curiosities” basically dismisses the two animals, a prairie dog and a Magpie, that the expedition sent eastward. One issue vg- to fine, the other exhibits moderate to heavy foxing on two pages, with a torn page (not affecting text). Both from bound volumes.(H.768) $150.

1850 CHICAGO - CHOLERA EPIDEMIC LETTER. 10" x 8" 0ne page pen written, from Chicago 1850 from George Roberts to his brother William (in Grand Rapids). Stampless cover ,red 5 cancellation. (H.767 ); $95.

Chicago, Aug. 3.1850
Brother William
I arrived in Chicago early Saturday morning had rather a time on the lake but got along quite well . I found that many of my old aquaintances & old residences had died. During my absence the Cholera has been quite severe during my absence & many are quite sick now with fevers. I think the cholera is rather abating, not quite so much of it as there has been but a good deal of it is at present, there was a man near the States well & hearty yesterday , weighed 200 lbs, about 27 years old died last night, there is a great many sick in Town. I hope to keep well (that is) so that I can live through the month of August, the sickly season. (?) news some sea sick found Mr. Brook & Parker had gone down the Canal when she returned. The boys had not sold much of anything in my absence. I told them that I did not think I should pay a week without selling 500 at least. I was a little disappointed but it cannot be expected that it would go off quite as well as if I had been here. Tell Father he may select a piece of paper to write his name & I will be obliged to him for the amount of $500. Yours in haste
From Your Brother
Geo. R. R.

ALS 1835 NEW YORK CITY FIRE. Four page, 10” x 8”pen manuscript letter dated: SINGED PLACE, SCORCHED ROW, DEC. 1, 1835. A very nicely written letter from an eye witness to this large fire that hit New York in 1835. [This famous fire was first done in picture print by N. Currier in 1835]. The author of the letter is a young lady seated in a cold cellar writing the letter, writing to her brother. She begins w/ family talk (her father arriving and falling off the boat, about going to Philadelphia, Washington and then on to Richmond.), but then turns her attentions to the fire: "we were at the University as usual listening to Dr. Skinner.....we were startled to hear the words, FIRE, FIRE, TURN OUT., at first no one obeyed the call, but pretty soon a young arose and went out, but soon came back, sat down, and looked as if nothing was happening.....then another youth came in...Lucy's little eyes teared up for fear of the baby being in a house., ..the fire took hold the carpenter shop, and the buildings opposite, one house was burning....we sat as the men went out., some prayers and hymns but our minds were not on the present., ...when we went out the whole block was in flames....the wind was high...a large crowd was gathering...windows were breaking from the heat....." she goes on and on about the destruction., the people killed, people going in all directions, the water and the wind affecting the fire, much more. A nicely detailed letter; the vast majority is very legible, however she ends the letter in very tiny writing and cross writing to get in the most information (which unfortunately makes the reading a bit strained). Folded as a stampless letter with postal markings from New York dated Dec. 3, with hand written rate of18. (H.760) $275.

JOHNSTOWN FLOOD. Albumen photograph 5 7/8" x 8 1/8" , on 11" x 14 cream mount. View of the aftermath of the great Johnstown Pennsylvania flood of May 31, 1889. Imprinted caption "The Ruins at Johnstown, After the Flood, May 31, 1889, along w/ (photographer) Rothengatter & Dillon Photo's 912 Arch St. Philadephia. Pa. Printed on verso is their list of views; they published 15 views and 4 stereoviews of the disaster. This is pencil noted as No.3 View of Stony Creek River above Johnstown. Image is fine, mount has some soiling and t/r corner has crease. (the scan has cropped the perimeter of the mount).(H.773); $145.

GALVESTON FLOOD. THE TERRIBLE TEXAS STORM. 1900 sheet music, "The Terrible Texas Storm” 14” x 10 1/4” , complete . Cover art of devastation “A Beautiful Song portraying in Words and Music the Awful Calamity at Texas, Sept 8^th, 1900. Not seen this title before, spilit spine, exhibits light use and wear, overall Vg-Fine . (Sm.32); $75.
The Hurricane of 1900 hit the city of Galveston, Texas, on September 8, 1900. The hurricane caused great loss of life with the estimated death toll between 6,000 and 12,000 individuals; the number most cited in official reports is 8,000.

SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE NEWSPAPER. Original and complete April 20, 1906 The Washington Post, Washington. Features bold headlines announcing “Homeless Thousands Flee Before Fiery Avalanche” , with accompanying articles detailing the ruin and destruction following the great earthquake and subsequent fire. The newspaper consists of 8 pages, a large amount devoted to the event. The newspaper is in good condition, a somewhat pulpish paper, though stable should be handled with some care. The are some tears, and some weakening along the fold lines.(H.763); $SOLD.
The 1906 San Francisco earthquake was a major earthquake that struck San Francisco, CA and the coast of Northern California at 5:12 A.M. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. The earthquake and resulting fire is remembered as one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the US. The death toll from the earthquake and resulting fire, estimated to be above 3,000 is the greatest loss of life from a natural disaster in California's history

TITANIC NEWSPAPER. Waterloo Evening Courier. Waterloo, Iowa, Monday, April, 15, 1912.22" x 17". 12 pp. Headline reads: Titanic, Largest Steamer Ever Built, Strikes Ice Berg and Calls for Help. It is believed at this point that all passengers are being transferred aboard the Carpathia and all passengers are safe. The White Star Lines stance at this point is that they have great faith the Titanic cannot sink and they feel there is no significance to the fact that they have received no more Marconi messages from her. Paper in Good condition, has wear around edges, minor rips & tears, middle fold (tr.774); $175.

TITANIC NEWSPAPER. Waterloo Evening Courier. Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, April 18, 1912. 22" x 17" Front cover has large inset picture of Captain Smith & Officers of the Titanic. Headline reads: Silent Carpathia Holds World in Suspense, Even President Unanswered. Other article in front page is "Sacrifice of Life for Luxury Foreseen in Titanic's Build". 12 pp., page 6 has small article about some of the passengers whom may have perished, article about how a friend of Capt. Smith's states that he thought shipped poorly equipped with lifeboats. Page 8 has picture of some of the prominent passengers aboard the Titanic. Page 9 has a small article on Earl E. Taylor who was a passenger aboard Titanic. Paper has wear around edges, rips, tears, lower left corner is worn & missing pieces, upper right corner has wear and pieces missing. Paper has light discoloration, soiling, some interior pages exhibit tears. (Tr.775); $145.

TITANIC NEWSPAPER. The Evening Gazette. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Tuesday, April 16, 1912. Bold headline : Marine Tragedy Stirs World; 1,341 Perish in Great Disaster, $20,000,000 financial Cost. Secondary article: Women and Little Ones Saved First. Not complete. Should be 12 pgs. has 10 pgs. Fair condition, has wear around edges, rips, tears, small pieces missing, most wear is where the middle fold is with some loss of text, brittle and age toned. (Tr.778); $145.