History of Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

Knoxville, a flourishing city, capital of Knox county, Tennessee, and formerly the seat of the state government, is beautifully situated on the right bank of the Holston river, 4 miles below its confluence with the French Broad river, 185 miles E. from Nashville, and 204 miles S. E. from Lexington, in Kentucky. The situation is elevated and healthy, commanding a beautiful view of the river, and of the Blue mountains of Chilhowee. some 80 miles distant. The river is navigable for steamboats at all seasons from this point downward ; and during winter and spring they extend their trips up the river as far as Kingsport. The region, however, in future will not be dependent on the river for the means of transportation. The East Tennessee and Georgia railroad, which extends from Knoxville to Dalton in Georgia, connecting with the extensive railways in that state, was opened in 1862, and has given a new impetus to every department of business. Another railroad has been commenced, which will...

The vicinity of Knoxville, Tenn., was visited a few mornings ago by a very heavy earthquake shock. Buildings were caused to creak and strain, and much alarm was created. It was accompanied by a heavy sound resembling thunder.

Knoxville, Tenn., July 4. - The eastern-bound passenger train due at Knoxville at noon to-day, met with an accident fifteen miles from this city. The engine ran over a cow, throwing it from the track, and wrecking two baggage and mail cars. The passenger-cars remained on the track. None of the passengers were injured except one negro who was standing in the platform of the forward car, and had both feet crushed. Charles Harvey, the engineer, had a leg and should broken, and was otherwise dangerously injured. The western-bound train was detained [illegible] the scene of the wreck until 8 o'clock P. M., when the wreck was cleared away and trains proceeded.

Knoxville, a city, the capital of Knox co., Tenn., is beautifully situated on the right or N.W. bank of the Holston River, about 180 miles E. of Nashville, and 200 miles by water above Chattanooga. By railroad it is 112 miles N.E. of Chattanooga. It is on the East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia Railroad, and is a terminus of the Knoxville & Charleston Railroad, which connects here with the Knoxville & Ohio Railroad. It is built on a hilly or uneven site, and is surrounded by picturesque scenery. It is the seat of the University of Tennessee, which was organized in 1869 and has 17 instructors and about 250 students. Connected with the university is the Tennessee Agricultural College. Here is an institution for the deaf and dumb, founded by the state, an asylum for the insane, also a public building erected by the United States for a custom-house and post-office. This is built of a beautiful gray marble quarried in the vicinity, and cost about $400,000. Two bridges cross the river here....

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., April 8. – Never in the history of Knoxville has the city suffered such a loss by fire as it did today. The very heart of the city, including some of the largest wholesale and retail business houses in the South, were destroyed. The loss is variously estimated at from one to one-and-a-half million with about 60 percent of insurance. The loss of life is uncertain as the registers of the Hotel Knox in which fifty-six people were sleeping was burned, the proprietor of the hotel says that he had five or six guests who have not put in an appearance. A.E. WEEKS, of Locke, N.Y., drummer for a Rochester stamping company, is known to have perished in the flames. R.W. HOPKINS, a St. Louis drummer, was last seen in the burning building in a suffocating condition. W.H. KEPHART, ex-secretary of the chamber of commerce, saved the life of JOHN BOGLE, an old farmer, by dragging him to the roof of another building. KEPHART jumped one story and was injured.

When the firemen thought ...