Reminiscences of Early Peoria
by Odillon B. Slane
Chapter 16
page 35
THE METEOR STORM
Two small boys during the early 30's, Moses Dusenberry
and Benj. F. Slane, both described the great meteoric shower which took place
Nov. 13, 1833. It is said that the falling stars made it as light as day and
many people were frightened, many of whom resorted to prayer, thinking the world
was surely coming to an end. Mr. Dusenberry says that he was not frightened, but
climbed on top of his father's log cabin in order to see how the stars fell or
how near they came to the earth.
Mr. Dusenberry
also recalls the first Sunday School he ever attended. It was held in the log
courthouse near the bank of the Illinois river. One Sunday afternoon when the
school was opened, the hymn was sung, the prayer concluded, and the lesson about
to begin, when one of the boys looking out of the window and hearing a familiar
sound shouted, "Steamboat, by thunder!" and bounded out of the room.
Teacher and scholars all followed suit. All rushed to the shore of the river to
watch the vessel puffing her smoke and swishing her steam as she plowed the
waves. There was no more Sunday School that day.
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Copyright © Janine Crandell
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Updated September 20, 2005