Indian River Country : Volume 2: 1890-1892

By Bonnie Garmon and Jim Garmon

A collection of articles from the Florida Star newspaper. This newspaper was published in Titusville, Florida from 1880 to 1914 and served the people of the central east coast of Florida from New Smyrna to Ft. Pierce and Port St. Lucie. These articles tell the story of the Indian River inhabitants and how they lived and worked in this new frontier of the United States in the last part of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Genealogists, historians, and lovers of history will discover a rich source of information about the ordinary, and not-so-ordinary, people who made the Indian River Country their new home. This volume covers 1890 through 1892 and includes an index of all names mentioned in the articles, along with images of some of the advertisements carried by the paper.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 6, 2011
• ISBN: 9781257409570

Book preview

2009

1

BUTLER ESCAPES FROM THE COUNTY JAIL--Sheriff Bowman loses his prisoner

Florida Star July 10, 1890, Page 1

Brevard County has enjoyed the reputation for some time of being the only county in South Florida whose iron cell in her county jail have not been cut open by one of her prisoners. This record, which has been a source of pride to Sheriff Bowman during his term of office, was broken last Friday night, and no one is more astonished at the way it was done than the Sheriff himself.

A man named Butler was placed in the jail about two months ago for breaking into Fred Losley’s saloon. This is the man who cut out of jail.

The cell door is locked by a large hasp which passes over a bolt which is riveted on the inside of the iron framing of the cell. After the hasp is placed on this bolt the lock is passed through a hole in the bolt which locks the cell door in the same manner as a common hasp and staple secures any common door.

By some means Butler must have secured a brace and a hollow ground bit, for in this way he cut off the head of the rivet on the inside—then all he had to do was to tap the bolt outward and the door was open. The bolt shows the cutting was done in this manner, and the grindings of the bit on the cell floor are also positive proof of the method used. After getting out of the cell he first tried to excavate a hole under the palisade around the jail, but struck a log or piece of wood and gave up. Then he scaled the high fence and effected [sic] his escape.

The Blanchard woman was the only other prisoner in jail with him at the time, and she refused to run away. The cutting was very silently done, for no one was awakened by any noise. Sheriff Bowman is of the opinion that such articles as were necessary to do the work must have been secreted on the persons of recent prisoners put in jail by the town authorities, as he is always very careful to search thoroughly all county prisoners when placed in jail. The bolt that was cut will be replaced by one made of chilled steel.

[Note: The Blanchard woman mentioned above is Belle Blanchard. The following was published in the Florida Star September 4, 1890, Page 3:]

Yesterday morning the Grand Jury considered the case of the State vs. Belle Blanchard, who was charged with the killing of her daughter at Cocoa, several months ago, and found no true bill against her and she was discharged.

2

THE KILLING OF JOHN HILBURN—Justifiable homicide, judge rules

Florida Star, March 13, 1890, Page 4

John Hilburn, who has lived in Titusville for several years, died last Friday night from the effects of a pistol ball fired by James Silvertooth. The shooting occurred about half-past six o‘clock in the evening, at Ray’s store on Main street. It appears that Hilburn had been under the influence of whisky a good part of the day, and was creating considerable disturbance by profane and abusive language to several persons before his encounter with Silvertooth. He first commenced at Sheriff Bowman, and drew his knife, but did not endeavor to cut him. He also got into a quarrel with S. D. Geiger, one of the clerks at Ray‘s store, and finally became more abusive and made for Silvertooth, cutting his clothes with a knife, when Silvertooth drew his revolver and shot him in the right side, the bullet ranging toward the heart. He fell almost immediately, but while life lasted never ceased abusing Silvertooth. He gave the name of a person living in Mississippi to the Sheriff, asking him to write concerning his death. A coroner‘s inquest was held and a verdict returned that the deceased came to his death from the effect of a gunshot wound.

It is generally considered Silvertooth acted purely in self-defense, and did not use his pistol until compelled to save his own life. Hilburn is reported by several who knew him in former days to be a very desperate character. His present age was about sixty years. He was a carpenter and lived at a camp on the Delespine grant just below town. His body was buried by the county the following day. The next morning Silvertooth was seen by a Star reporter, and was quite excited over the affair, and stated that he was exceedingly sorry it occurred. He promptly gave bond in the sum of $500 for appearance at a preliminary trial to-day. There are different versions now afloat and the Star will endeavor to give the testimony, if not too lengthy, next week. The taking of evidence will probably be completed this afternoon.

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The Trial of Silvertooth

Titusville, Fla. March 16, 1890

Editor, Florida Star

Florida Star, March 20, 1890, Page 1

It was my privilege on last Thursday, the 13th, to listen to the arguments in the case of the State of Florida, Brevard County, against James Silvertooth, charged with the murder of John Hilburn, before our able and impartial justices, B. R. Wilson and A. Brady.

The State in this unfortunate case (considering the testimony) was very ably represented by our distinguished young and rising County Solicitor, James Saunders, who presented his side of the case, doing his duty to the full letter of the law as the prosecutor, and not the persecutor, with credit to his County and State.

Mr. Silvertooth was fortunate in securing the services of the talented, well known firm of our city, Messrs. Jones & Atkinson. Too much credit cannot be given these talented attorneys for the masterly manner in which they presented their case. We have witnessed many similar trials in other States, and can say with the utmost candor that we never heard their efforts excelled. Theirs is truly a happy combination of talents. Mr. Jones opened the case for Mr. Silvertooth in an argument of over two hours‘ duration, and kept the court and audience spell-bound by his magnificent display of forensic ability and knowledge of law. His citation of authorities was exhaustless, covering every point of the case, and his periorations were truly grand. It seemed as if for the moment that he spoke by inspiration, and Brevard County and the State may be proud of him, and we predict for him a brilliant future. The combinations of mind being so mixed in him, who can say but that he may yet develop into a future Choate or O‘Connor?

The case was then continued by Mr. Atkinson for the defense in a manner worthy of our highest praise. His was a searching, analytical and deep logical argument, covering the grounds thoroughly in every feature of the case, and his effort was worthy of a Legare or Black.

Then came the closing (as is the law) by the State through her able representative, the County Solicitor, Mr. Saunders, who was fully equal to the occasion, and who did so with ability, with credit to himself, his county and State. The case was then submitted to the court, who reserved their opinion, however, giving the same the following day in a verdict of justifiable homicide.

Signed, JUSTICE

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Trial of Silvertooth

Florida Star, March 20, 1890, Page 1.

The preliminary trial of James Silvertooth for the killing of John Hilburn was held before Justices Wilson and Brady last Thursday, and after hearing all the evidence the justices reserved their decision until the following day, when they decided for the defendant by a verdict of justifiable homicide, and Silvertooth was released from the custody of the law. Messrs. Jones & Atkinson, attorneys for the defendant, James T. Sanders representing the State.

3

LOOSE HORSES IN TITUSVILLE—An ordinance to keep horses and mules in at night

Florida Star, June 12, 1890, Page 1

The proposed ordinance prohibiting horses and mules running at large on our streets has been an important topic of discussion the past week. As soon as last week‘s STAR was out petitions for and against the new ordinance were quickly circulated around for signatures which will be presented at the meeting of the Town Council this afternoon. The majority of our citizens seem to think that horses and mules are, properly speaking, stable animals in an incorporated town and should, therefore, at least, be kept shut up during the night time. The Town Council will, probably, pass an ordinance to this effect.

4

SGT. HERSEY’S BEAR—Escape attempt foiled

Florida Star, June 19, 1890, Page 1

An exciting scene occurred in Titusville on Sunday. While Sergeant Hersey was busily engaged attending to his weather reports news was brought to hand that his bear had escaped, and that Mrs. Hersey was trying to prevent it getting into the scrub. He was soon on the spot where Bruin was found, in a very excited state, surrounded by a crowd in a similar condition, who were attempting his capture in vain. Mr. Hersey now made a dash for the bear, who was making off for his native wilds, and managed to seize the chain with which he had been kept in durance vile; but Mr. Bear clung to a tree like grim death, and in so doing undid the patent clasp that held the chain and collar together. The bear was now free once more, but our Signal Service officer, like one of the bold six hundred, made a sudden dash for him, and by a superhuman effort captured and marched this denizen of the Florida forest. back to his home at Capt. Paddison’s late residence. With the exception of a few scratches Mr. Hersey was uninjured.

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Florida Star, February 1891, Page 3

Last Friday afternoon it was noticed that the steamer St. Sebastion stopped after she had steamed about a half a mile from her wharf and those on shore did not know the cause thereof, but subsequently it was found out that Sergeant Hersey had shipped his pet bear that afternoon to its new owner, Mr. J. M. Lee, at Rockledge. Bruin was allotted to the lower deck with the deck hands and among the freight. The surroundings being rather unusual to her, she broke the cord which held her, and seeking to escape from her new quarters, made a dash for the river and jumped overboard. The steamer was stopped and several deck hands sent to her rescue in the small boat, and it seemed, for a while as though she would have to swim ashore or drown, but Capt. Lee and Herman Fischer went out and caught Bruin by the collar and pulled her into the boat. We expect that she is once more happy enjoying the nice food provided by her new owner, and she is quite an attraction for the tourist and pleasure seekers who stop at the Hotel Indian River.

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Florida Star, April 2, 1891, Page 3

Sergeant Heresy has received notice from the Signal Service department of his transfer from this place to Santa Fe, New Mexico. As he has not received his transfer papers or transportation yet from the department he will probably not leave for a week or ten days. Mr. and Mrs. Hersey‘s numerous friends here regret to learn of their departure, but an officer of Uncle Sam always has to go where duty calls him, but we hope they may be able to return to Indian River some time, which to them must seem to be really their home.

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Post-war Signal Corps

From: Military Images, Nov/Dec 2001

Unlike some other war-time creations, the Signal Corps proved so useful to the U.S. Army that it was maintained after the Civil War ended. In July 1866 Congress set up the Corps under a Chief Signal Officer of the Army, a colonel, with six officers and a hundred enlisted men in the Corps.

As time passed, however, the job of the Corps expanded also. In 1870 the army was given the job of taking meteorological observations in the interior of the continent and at other points in the States and Territories of the United States, and for giving notice on the northern lakes and on the seacoast, by magnetic telegraph and marine signals, of the approach and force of storms. This job was delegated to the Signal Corps.

In 1873 the Corps was given the job of setting up signal stations at life-saving stations and light houses. With all these new jobs, the corps was authorized 400 enlisted men in 1876. In 1880 the rank of the Chief Signal Officer was raised to that of a brigadier general.

The meteorological duties of the Corps were taken