Border Issues

“On Saturday night 2 large corn cribs and a stable containing wagons, carts and gear, and over 600 barrels of whiskey, attached to the distillery at Milton, Kentucky, were burned.  One of the cribs was 120 feet long and 44 feet wide, admirably fitted for storing and discharging corn, which cost nearly $5000.00 to build; it was entirely destroyed – the loss is estimated at $[blank] – one half covered by insurance.

 The fireman of Madison responded to the call of their Kentucky neighbors – the light of the fire being the signal of their distress.  The Western No. 3 had their engine on the bank, and the Washington No. 2 fired up their steamer after a delay of some minutes which seemed hours to the impatient crowd.  Steam was raised on the ferry boat, the steam fire engine and her 2 hose carriages were put on board, and some 500 firemen and citizens went over to aid in extinguishing the fire.  The river was rough, the wind high, and the danger of accident imminent.  The officers and crew of the ferry boat partook of the excitement, and pushed off with barely steam enough to work the boat.  The passage was made with safety, however, and the steam-fired engine threw an incessant stream on the burning building for 2 hours.

 The first contest on the border was a generous strife to save property, and emulous strife to see who could do the most good.  What should be the fate of unscrupulous politicians if these people are set to cutting each others throats and to destroying each others property.”

 Also in the Courier is this letter to the editor:

 “The thanks and heartfelt gratitude of the undersigned sufferers from the late fire t Milton, Ky., are respectfully tendered the firemen and citizens of Madison and Milton.  Such noble and disinterested conduct proves they ‘know no North, no South,” when suiffering humanity calls them to duty.”  Keyt, Wallace and Co.

 Ten days later, May 16, 1861, this item appears in the Courier:

 “Fire in Kentucky

 The barn of Mr. Lindsey Cooper, who resides in Cooper’s Bottom, a few miles below Milton, Ky. yesterday afternoon was entirely consumed by fire.  It contained about five hundred bushels of corn, three hundred bushels of wheat, and most of Mr. Cooper’s farming utensils, all of which were destroyed.  Mr. Cooper was absent at Milton at the time, attending the organization of a company of Home Guards.  The fire was undoubtedly the work of an incendiary.  The night previous the saddle house adjoining the dwelling of Mr. Cooper was fired, but was discovered in time to prevent much damage.  A man who had been lurking about the neighborhood for sometime is suspected as the incendiary, and efforts are being made to arrest him.”

 And skipping forward to August 27, 1864, we have one final article:

 The guerillas are again committing depredations upon the Union citizens of Trimble county, Ky.  On Wednesday night Mr. Enoch McKay, living on the hill opposite to this city, was robbed of a valuable horse.  The Villains also fired seven times into his residence, but failed to hurt anyone.  The outrage was committed at mid-night.

From the Madison Courier, May 6, 1861 and other